We May Never Sit in Their Shade
"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."
Greek Proverb
Every generation inherits two things:
- The blessings created by those who came before them.
- And the problems that previous generations failed to solve.
Today, we enjoy roads we did not build.
Schools we did not establish.
Freedoms that others fought for.
And technologies created by people we will never meet.
Someone planted those seeds.
Now it is our turn.
We live in a world that often encourages instant gratification.
We want immediate results, immediate recognition, and immediate rewards.
Yet history was built by people willing to invest in a future they might never see.
- The parent who teaches honesty...
- The teacher who inspires curiosity...
- The volunteer who cleans a park...
- The neighbour who mentors a child...
- The entrepreneur who creates jobs...
- The citizen who votes responsibly...
Each one is planting a seed. Not every seed grows overnight.
Some require years before anyone notices the harvest.
That should never discourage us.
History remembers builders more than complainers.
Every positive action, however small, becomes part of someone else's tomorrow.
We cannot control everything our children and grandchildren will face.
We can, however, influence the values, opportunities, and examples we leave behind.
If every person planted just one seed of kindness,
One seed of integrity,
One seed of responsibility,
Or one seed of Hope each day.
Imagine what future generations would inherit.
Our legacy is not measured by what we accumulate.
It is measured by what continues growing long after we are gone.
Today is another opportunity to plant something worthwhile.
With very best wishes,
Chris Wilkinson.
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PS. Chris Pappas was set to leave politics for the private sector. Instead, he's back, seeking a second term as uMngeni mayor after talks from colleagues, community leaders and supporters. In this candid interview with Alec Hogg, Pappas explains why he changed course, reflects on the DA's prospects ahead of the 2026 local elections, defends the party amid recent controversies, and outlines his long-term ambitions. He also argues that uMngeni's governance record offers a blueprint for the rest of KwaZulu-Natal.