I am so thankful for those things that have been stable in my life. Change is good, but if everything changes, how hard would it be to stay grounded, to stay oriented, and to know who you are? As you go through this blog post, you can reflect on those things that remain stable in your life. Here are some of those things for me.

First and most important is the One I follow. He is the Friend in runningwithafriend.com. He is my ever-present guide, strength, and comfort—and more than I can express in this blog. Since I heard about Him and gave my life to Him, He has been a constant stabilizer in my life. I read the Bible and talk to Him. Even as I write this, I know He is here, Jesus, nudging me in the right direction.

Then there is running. I have been running road races since 2003, but even before that, I ran cross-country in school and continued to love running while I was in the army and university. It brought so many good friends to me. I cannot name names, since I would be afraid to leave someone out, but their kindness and support over the years have enriched my life. And Jesus is in my running too.

I need to mention music. I learned clarinet, recorder, piano, trumpet, and guitar while I was in school. I also wrote many songs, some of which ended up first on a YouTube channel and then later on Spotify. Obviously, I sing for my Friend, and I sometimes sing about running. And then there is the yearly caroling season! It is time to start preparing for that again! Thank you for the music!

Reading and writing are other things that may change but never really go away. This blog has entries as far back as 2011. I tried to write an Afrikaans children’s novel many years ago and enjoyed it, but never submitted it to a publisher. I wrote poetry through the years that recently found an outlet in the poetry book that I published. (In India this is very cheap now, probably since very few people are buying it 😅.) And my Friend is in my poetry. And so is running.

I also cannot forget technology. I wrote games for my first computer (Commodore 64) while in school. I studied Computer Science and it has been my bread and butter ever since. I love how things keep on changing and that one has to keep learning. Currently, AI is changing our lives almost like smartphones did some time ago, but even more comprehensively. Is God absent in this? No, I believe He is as actively involved in this area as in every other. And obviously, I use it for running all the time. For instance, in my Marathon and Half Marathon Planner. Thank God for computers!

In each one of these areas, I had mentors and people I mentor. And then there are those who do it with me and those who watch from the sidelines and support. And of course the constant love and acceptance of my children and other family. All of them are important because ultimately all I do is to serve God and the people made in His image. Success (something I did not see a lot of) is secondary. Here is a big THANK YOU, to each and every one of you.