Yes, dear friend, it's been a while.
Life had other plans.
I could give you the polite list of reasons — new role, new commitments, new hat, new hat, new hat. And they'd all be true. But that's not the story worth telling.
The real story? I stopped trying to fit everything into neat boxes.
The Work That Matters
A few months ago, I was asked to serve as Vice-Chair of the Eastern Cape Region for the Association for Skills Development in South Africa. When I say "yes" to things, I mean it. This isn't a title on a CV. It's a real responsibility to a community of people who care deeply about how we learn and grow.
Here's what surprised me: I'm learning as much as I'm giving. The skills development space in South Africa is full of passionate people doing quiet, meaningful work. Being part of that? It fills something in me.
Three Ways I'm Showing Up
Montego Cares brought me into their charity committee. Through this work, we're touching hundreds of lives — real families, real needs. It's not about looking good. It's about showing up when it matters.
Scouts South Africa is where I grew up. As an Assistant Troop Scouter and committee member (Secretary and PRO), I get to give back to the organisation that shaped who I am. Young people need adults who actually show up, not just show out.
And yes — I'm still the tech guy. Websites. Digital forms. Content. An academy for future leaders. These skills have a home here.
The Plot Twist
In May, Liezel and I got married.
What started as joining two people became joining two families — and a whole new reality. I'm now stepfather to three young humans, each with their own story still being written. An 18-year-old on the edge of adulthood. A 16-year-old who is still figuring out who they are. A 9-year-old with an open mind and a future full of possibilities.
They didn't ask for a stepfather. Life just handed them one. So I'm showing up for that too — really showing up, not halfway.
Why I'm Telling You This
Because here's what I've learned: You can't pour from an empty cup, but you also can't grow by staying small.
Yes, I'm busier. Yes, my life looks chaotic on paper. But I'm not stretched thin — I'm stretched wide. There's a difference. One breaks you. The other builds you.
I'm building something. Not just at work. Not just in the community. In my family. In myself.
And I'm back to writing about it.