Remember, you don’t have to attend every gathering, and you don’t have to interact with certain people. It’s also important to remember that you don’t have to make excuses for anyone just because they share your last name or bloodline. Depending on the issues your family faces, sometimes the best thing can be to leave toxic people behind. It can be considered rude to not attend family gatherings, as it can be seen as a lack of interest or respect for your family. However there are many valid reasons for not attending. Whatever your reason for not wanting to attend, know that you are not alone. Take time to think about what the healthiest decision for you is.

You don’t always fall in love with someone your own age. Sometimes the age gap in years can be surprising. Despite their age differences, some can compliment one another really well. The purest form of love is consideration. When someone thinks about how things would make you feel. Pays attention to detail. Holds you in regard when making decisions that could affect you. In any bond, how much they care about you can be found in how much they consider you.

Nowadays, travelling alone is very normal! The ability to be okay with being by yourself, not to need constant stimulation and company, is extremely empowering. It opens up choices for you that are not contingent on what others want and it enables you to be out in the world with others and then be with yourself to reflect, to regroup and to feel replenished. When you’re going through challenges related to loneliness and anxiety it can be helpful to stay mindful of the growth opportunities form solo travel.

What springs to mind when you hear the word “weddings”. It is only in marriage where you can be who you are without being worried about what the person will think of you, in this union, you won’t have to hide your flaws or imperfections, and pretend to be somebody you are not. You won’t be judged.

Office politics refers to the complex social structure of a workplace. Which usually involves employees using their position for their personal agenda. It’s more than just a game, it’s a skill. It refers to the ability to use one’s power to push their own agenda to gain some sort of personal advantage over their colleagues.

Many of us enter the dating world not knowing that a lot of our beliefs about relationships are toxic to begin with. A toxic relationship occurs when one, or both, people are prioritising love over the 3 core components of a healthy relationship - which are respect, trust, affection.

Why do people do “scandalous” things? Perhaps we have all been through so much trauma that now the journey of life isn’t really about becoming anything, but perhaps now it’s about “un-becoming” anything and everything that isn’t really you. In turn you then become who you were meant to be in the first place.

Should you date a coworker? Before you act on your feelings, it’s important to think through the risks - and there are quite a few. If you still want to move forward, research shows that your intentions matter. Your coworkers reactions will reflect what they believe your motives to be. It’s also important to know your companies policies. Many companies prohibit employees from dating coworkers, customers or suppliers so you’ve got to investigate before diving into a relationship with a colleague. Before proceeding with a romantic relationship with a colleague - understand that there may be a chance that the relationship won’t work out and feelings will be hurt on one, or both sides. Having multiple relationships with someone creates possible conflicts of interest that can be incredibly difficult to resolve. Set boundaries - while you want people to know what’s going on, you don’t have to subject them to your relationship. Finally. As painful as it may be, you need to prepare for a break up.

Money is an essential commodity that helps run our lives. Exchanging goods for goods is an older practice. Money has become important because people are trying to save their wealth for their future needs - rich people are rich as they know or realize the true value of money. In this second instalment of “The Money Hour” I’ll be discussing the upgraded South African currency, what helps me save my money and what doesn’t.

Whether you’re pursuing a career in education, retail, culinary, editorial or HR, just remember the future depends on what you do today. Your time is now. Chase that dream now. Live now. Be here now. Follow your heart now. Take chances now, because if you don’t take every opportunity now, who knows when it will come again. Now or never. So, pick now.

Journaling has long been recognised as an effective way to reduce stress, help with depression & anxiety, focus your mind & organize your life. It can be a great too to use for meditation, to open up, and let go of anxious thoughts that bother you, in a healthy way. It presents an opportunity for emotional catharsis and helps the brain regulate emotions, providing a greater sense of confidence and self identity. “Quinton’s Journal” is an opportunity for me to talk about nothing, and everything. My mental state of mind, what I’m cooking for dinner this week, what upset me, or just a general catch-up.

Introverts and extroverts are often viewed in terms of two extreme opposites, but the truth is that most people lie somewhere in the middle. Having an introversion personality simply means that you’re someone who tends to turn inward, focusing more on internal thoughts, feelings and moods rather than seeking out external validation or stimulation. Extroverts are those who really enjoy being around other people. They have a strong need to socialise and talk to others, which makes them seem more sociable. There is no better or worse, neither is more successful than the other. Stop losing energy worrying about other people not understanding you. Instead, focus on yourself, your soul, the things you love to do and what makes you happy. You are your biggest commitment. Start loving your unusual qualities, your eccentric ways, your intensity, your vulnerability and everything else that defines you.

A perfect date lets her/him see and feel all the essential things they’re looking for in a partner, such as thoughtfulness, romance, effort and quality time. It should let you get to know one another without forcing awkward conversation. That perfect first date should be all about building an initial connection and discovering what you have in common. Some of the best dates are unexpected, creative and adventurous so never be afraid to think outside of the box.

A catfish is someone who pretends to be someone else online. They use fake photos, and sometimes a fake persona, to find friends or romantic partners on the internet. In some cases, a catfisher steals another individuals complete identity - including their image, date of birth, and geographical location - and pretends that is their own. I think people catfish others for a number of reasons but ultimately, the goal is to find true love in the form of friendship and a relationship, whether it’s online or in reality. We are all just longing for true love. Be careful, guard your heart, state your intentions & be vigilant.

A guide to understanding sex & relationships. Starting with aphrodisiacs and understanding the fear of intimacy. Aphrodisiac foods. These are foods that aim to stimulate the love senses. But no matter what you eat, it doesn’t mean you will have better sex, but foods & the act of eating can suggest sex to the mind, which in turn can help stimulate desire in the body. Fear of intimacy is often subconscious and affects a person’s ability to form or maintain close relationships. We know that relationships are not easy, and a fear of intimacy may be more common than you’d expect.

Wanting something really badly means that you care, and that’s a good thing. Remember that the goal in life isn’t to avoid all negative feelings, because if you did that, you’d rarely put yourself out there and try reach your goals. There are times in our lives where we anticipate big news, and we’re almost always concerned that things want to go our way. Unfortunately these are often the times where sleep suffers and you spend most of the early morning hours with very deep and dark thoughts about what the future might bring.

The psychology of showing love on social media. Why is it so important for the world to see the love that is meant to be shared between two people? Why does romance that is supposed to be a very intimate and personal emotion, require public exhibition? In a world dominated by social media, it seems natural to seek approval for themselves & their relationships through the medium, and that there is no harm in sharing warm photos of a couple’s time spent together. I think for lost couples, they have a need for showing off their relationships on social media because that action is usually motivated by a need to feel more conceited to their partners, and to announce to the world that they are taken. Maybe it’s one of the many ways to make your partner feel special and celebrate their love with the world. Share kindly and authentically.

Do all the things that scare you, because they’re worth it. Apply for that job. Date that person. Buy that plane ticket. Transition is change. It’s life’s way of asking us to reexamine our present way of being and forces us to develop and grow as individuals. Our brains are hard wired to resist change, and within change, our brains become powerful tools or weapons.

We use “flags” to refer to signs or indicators that evaluate a relationship, whether they can be healthy for us or may harm us. These two flag indicators of what we can look for in evaluating whether our relationships are positive. Both healthy and unhealthy behaviours can exist in a single relationship. Human connection is a vital part of our mental & physical health. We are biologically wired to connect with others & seek out people who make us feel loved, appreciated & understood. Welcome to “A Journey with Quinton Monyake”

Crazy how peaceful life becomes when you realize it’s not your responsibility to regulate other people’s emotions, manage their insecurities, pacify their inner wars, heal their wounds, do their inner work and be the version of you in their minds. Growing apart can be a natural progression of evolution. However it’s extremely important to remember that it’s the way you let go that matters. We have to adjust how we reject people. Don’t apologise, but be honest and firm about boundaries. As human beings we craving authenticity, so the more you date and the more unsuccessful you are, the more discouraged you get. Ghosting has a lot to do with someone’s comfort level. Sometimes people anticipate that talking about how they feel is going to cause confrontation. Usually that mental expectation makes people want to AVOID things that make them feel uncomfortable. Most of the time, the best course is to let someone go, even if you were once close.