Young author deals with life’s challenges

Tsakane – The author of Are you healing or disturbed? Mxolisi Tshabalala pours his life’s challenges in the self-published memoirs.

Born in Bhaduza in KwaThema, and later raised in Tsakane, the author says he decided to write the book to share his life’s challenges as a way of motivating others not to give up, even as they face difficulties in life.

“I wanted to start a conversation about my life’s experiences, emotions and lessons which many could relate to.

“My journey started in 2009 after passing matric with flying colours, and obtained a bachelor’s degree admission to study at the university.

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“I was the first one in my family to achieve this milestone, and to receive a funding to further my studies.

“I had only a single pair of shoes, two pairs of trousers, two T-shirts and a jersey to wear for the whole year during my time at the university. This would continue for at least three consecutive years.

“I lost confidence in myself; I didn’t even have the courage to do presentations at group meetings. I missed tests and some exams.

“Sometimes I would go for seven to nine days without anything to eat, only surviving on tea and water.

“When other students focused on their studies, I was stressed about where my first and last meal of the day would come from.

“From being a top student at high school, I dropped to failing modules year in and year out. It took me six years to complete a strategic communication qualification at the University of Johannesburg,” he says.

“The book seeks to drive a conversation with parents to know their children better because parents don’t really know their children better.

“They don’t know what we go through daily. Sometimes it’s not that we don’t open up, but some conversations are difficult to understand because they may be culturally foreign in our black society.

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“More than anything else, some parents fail to motivate us.”

He further explains the book challenges young people to reach out to one another.

“The hate and bullying on social media do more damage than we realise.

About his book, he says he wrote it, edited it, proof-read it and came up with illustrations for the book cover. He even got the book printed on his own.

He describes his journey as a process of learning and trying to find a balance between his work and of making a success of his life. In addition, he says he has to find a way to keep at bay bouts of depression and anxiety.

“There is a need for creating conversations for both parents and the youth, especially at a time when depression tries to create a wall between the two.

“I want to heal others, I don’t want to wear more hats with this pain, depression,” he adds.