In her editor’s letter, France Beyers ponders the value of relationships and how it influenced our editorial line-up for the latest issue. The autumn issue is on sale now.
What makes a good life?
In a nutshell: good relationships with family, friends and our community. These, I ventured, when recently giving a talk on the subject, are guaranteed to make us happier and healthier.
Instinctively, we all know that it is true.
But I also had a scientific study to back me up. Based on the findings of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which has been running since 1938, the answer is crystal clear and very convincing: social connections and good relationships not only protect our bodies, they also protect our brains.
That is one of the things I like best about Stellenbosch Visio, the connectedness to the people of our beautiful town and magnificent region, and getting to know individuals who have made a difference to their communities. People like Thuli Madonsela.
In this issue Jean Meiring talks to the formidable Thuli, who now occupies the Law Trust Chair in Social Justice at Stellenbosch University. This woman, who epitomises quiet grace, has made it her life goal to work for social justice in South Africa and has inspired a nation with her steadfast belief in values and the rule of law. Currently, she is dedicating her time to encourage and teach the next generation of South African leaders with her peerless blend of honesty, humility and passion for positive change. How blessed we are to have leaders of Thuli’s calibre in our midst.
Aan die begin van hierdie nuwe jaar het ek gewonder wat ek uit die verskillende dekades van my lewe tot dusver geleer het en wat ek kan gebruik om te sorg dat die res van my lewe betekenisvol en vreugdevol gaan wees. Kan ek onthou om te speel soos ek in die eerste jare van my lewe gedoen het? Kan ek aanhou leer soos in my skooljare? (Henry Ford het immers gesê: “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eight. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”)
My wens vir die res van die jaar is dat ons sal aanhou glo aan ons vermoëns en dit gebruik tot voordeel van ons gemeenskappe. Laat ons probeer veerkragtig bly en aanhou sorg vir ons fisieke en geestelike gesondheid. En laat ons as gemeenskappe mekaar help en ondersteun in die tyd wat voorlê.
