Chris Wilkinson - Messenger of Hope

  A Guide to Living with Less and Loving It More With life always pushing us to do more, buy more, and be more, it's easy to feel swamped. But the key to happiness isn't to add more, but to do with less. Simplifying our lives doesn't mean sacrificing happiness. It means redefining it. When we remove the unneeded, we make room for what matters. Declutter Your Space, Declutter Your Mind. Clutter isn’t just physical, it’s mental. The more we surround ourselves with things we don’t need, the more distracted and stressed we become. Start with a small area: your desk, a drawer, your closet. Ask yourself: Do I use this? Does this bring me happiness? If the answer is no, let it go. A cleaner space can create a clearer mind. Cut Down on Commitments. Modern life often feels like a calendar full of obligations. Social events, work meetings, and errands. It never ends. But simplifying your schedule doesn’t mean becoming a recluse. It means learning to say no to things that...

Many of us view life as a continuous journey of learning and growth.  We encounter a range of experiences, some positive and some negative.  Challenges, and opportunities to provide valuable lessons and insights.  We learn new skills and gain knowledge. Or improve our emotional intelligence. By trying different things, we get a chance to learn and evolve.  Adding to our personal and intellectual development.  Life as a learning exercise underlines our experiences.  Be they positive or negative.  Whether we are learning about Marketing.  Or How to Sell more using Email .  Or how to find a different way to market our own businesses with new methods.  Or even learning where we can buy stuff for loved ones.  Everything is all about learning - even how to earn a living.   First we Learn, then we Earn!  By embracing this perspective, we approach life with curiosity.  An open mind, and a willingness to learn from every situa...

Making plans is easy. But turning them into meaningful actions? That’s where the challenge begins. Whether it’s starting a business, learning a new skill, or building healthier habits. The gap between planning and doing often feels like a canyon. The good news? With the right mindset and strategies, you can cross it. Here’s how to turn your plans into real-world progress. Get Specific: Vague plans lead to vague results. “I want to get fit” is a nice idea, but it’s not actionable. Instead, define your goal clearly: Vague: Get fit. Specific: Go to the gym three times a week for 45 minutes. Break your big vision into smaller, concrete steps. This makes the task more manageable and gives you a clearer starting point. Set a Timeline: A plan without a deadline is just a dream. Assign dates to your goals and tasks. Use tools like calendars, habit trackers, or project management apps to stay on course. Avoid perfectionism by focusing on progress over precision. Deadlines create momentum—even...

Back to Basics: Food, Water, and the Illusion of Necessity Our lives are brimming with distractions, desires, and digital overload. It’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. We spend our days chasing goals, accumulating things, and striving for more. More success, more convenience, more recognition. But when you strip everything back to basics, what do we really need? Food and water. Nothing more. These two simple necessities sustain every human life on this planet. They are the foundation upon which all else is built. Yet we seldom stop to appreciate their importance. We've built complex lives filled with objects and obligations. Wrongly elevating wants to the level of needs. The truth is, everything beyond food and water is a luxury. Your new smartphone? A luxury. Your big, expensive car? A luxury. The soft bed, the streaming shows, the gourmet coffee, the gym membership, the new pair of shoes. All luxuries. That’s not to say luxuries are bad. They can enrich our lives, ins...

Just thinking about government and politics, it's so easy to feel powerless. Or Hopeless. When distant officials in high offices make the rules, they shape our lives. But ordinary people like us can influence how our country is governed. Here are a few tips that I hope will encourage more people to become involved in their local communities. Stay Informed and Educated Knowledge is power. Read, Watch, Listen and LEARN. Understanding how our government works is the first step to making a difference. What laws are being proposed, and how do different policies affect people? Read diverse news sources, attend community meetings, and don't hesitate to ask questions. When you're informed, you can make decisions. And have conversations with confidence.  Vote, and Encourage Others To Voting is one of the most direct ways we influence government. Local elections determine how schools are run, how policing is done, and how budgets are spent. Encourage friends and family to vote. Beco...

In this episode we cover the recent attempts by the ANC to put regulation on podcasters and social influencers in South Africa! 🔥 Stay Connected with State Of The Nation! 🔥

Senekal, a small town in South Africa’s Free State, became the centre of racial tensions in 2020 following the murder of farm manager Brendin Horner.  In response, local leaders formed the Senekal/Mtwabeng Community Forum to encourage dialogue and reconciliation.  Among those drawn to the town’s transformation was filmmaker Frans Cronje, brother of former cricketer Hansie Cronje.  Leaving Cape Town, Cronje joined efforts to help a team of volunteers to rejuvenate Senekal and he decided to establish a film in the Eastern Free State.  In an interview with BizNews, Cronje detailed how the teams started repairing the dilapidated infrastructure in Senekal including the local swimming pool and 5,000 potholes.  While the initiative has received widespread support, he said there were ongoing challenges in bridging political divides.  Cronje has big plans to establish Senekal as a filming destination.  His latest project, a gladiator film set in fifth-century R...

In this video, we explore a visionary blueprint for a non-racial, democratic South Africa.  One where race no longer defines opportunity, education unites rather than separates.  And political power is shared based on merit, not ethnicity.  Did you know that one of the ANC's founding fathers, Chief Albert Luthuli, was firmly against racism and segregation?  His vision was clear: a South Africa where unity, justice, and equal rights transcend racial categories.  This message challenges the ongoing normalisation of racial classification in politics and education.  Calling instead for a truly inclusive society where shared values, not skin color, shape our future.

Let’s All be  Messengers of Hope .  Because the world doesn’t need more opinions. It needs more wisdom. More empathy. More light.  And it starts with each of us.  With very best wishes,  Chris Wilkinson. Messenger of Hope. I Write Articles and Share Stories Concerning South Afri-CANs. I do not get paid for this service and would appreciate some help with the costs.   As a pensioner, all donations are gratefully received. To Donate via Back-a-Buddy, please  Click Here . Thank you. Subscribe to Wilko's Weekly Messages of Hope Email Newsletter. 

One of the brightest stars in South Africa’s political firmament is 38-year-old Geordin Hill-Lewis. He opens up here on how his current responsibility - the City of Cape Town - is surprising everyone on the upside.  After getting ratings agencies to differentiate between his city and its South African peers, the executive mayor celebrated a huge win this week.  This is something the former shadow Minister of Finance has pursued for years because of the massive impact lower borrowing costs bring.  In this interview with BizNews editor Alec Hogg he also addresses Frans Cronje’s warning about embracing possible political Trojan Horses.  And shares why he’d do whatever necessary to earn Cape Town a ‘free pass’ from Washington.