9 minute read
Living Limitless
We had the opportunity to sit down with three exceptional women who have taken on the challenges and limitations life has dealt them, and have not only overcome incredible odds, but turned these challenges into their greatest strengths. These three women certainly shot for the moon and landed among the stars.
Chantel Struwig
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Chantel Struwig is 20 years old and currently studying Bcom Fashion at Stadio.
She describes herself as probably the most competitive person you will ever meet and as someone who will work herself to the bone to achieve her goals and dreams in life. She believes in dreaming big. Chantel was born with a birthmark that takes up most of her face and neck and she absolutely adores it. Being blessed with a birthmark has allowed her from a young age to overcome a negative self-image. She tries to use her social media platforms to inspire others to do the same.
Chantel Struwig
What limits/ challenges do you feel you have faced in life?
I think the biggest limit I have had to face, and still face each day, is myself.
How did you overcome these limits/ challenges?
I forced myself to spend quality time on my own. I would use this time to train my mind. Our thoughts are so powerful and if we don’t take the time to train our mind to use that to our advantage, we’ll doubt ourselves over and over again. So I trained my mind to always look for the positive in negative situations, instead of constantly criticising and putting myself down, to rather give positive feedback and tell myself daily how good I look. Another thing that helps me is reading motivational books. There’s a quote from one of the books that I live by: “The credit belongs to the women who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, IF she fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”
What qualities do you feel helped you overcome these limits/ challenges?
I think my determination to give myself the life that I know I deserve helped me to realise that I would not be able to achieve anything meaningful if I constantly limit myself to thinking I only deserve a mediocre life. Another quote that I think about at least twice a day is: “Limitation is nothing more than a mentality that too many good people practice daily until they believe it’s reality”. It breaks my heart to see so many potentially powerful human beings believing that they can’t be extraordinary, professionally and personally. You need to remember that your excuses are seducers, your fears are liars and your doubts are thieves.
How did the support of others help you on your journey?
My biggest support always comes from my sister and my mother. My sister always gives me the tough love that I need when I feel sorry for myself and my mom is always there to comfort me when I’m down in the dumps. They are my best friends and I don’t know where I’d be without them.
What advice do you have for others who are facing challenges in their lives?
Just take it day-by-day and know that everything works out in the end. You just have to believe. If you think your life’s a mess right now, this is simply because your fears are just a little stronger than your faith.
How are you challenging yourself to live your best life every day, today?
I try and push myself out of my comfort zone each and every day, no matter how small that may be. Whether it’s asking a question in class that I feel dumb for asking or doing something bold like standing in the middle of the weight section and showing them what we girls are made of. This allows me to be a stronger, more confident and a better person with each passing day.
Zizipho Soldati
Zizipho Soldati is a 26 year old award winning film maker, content creator, social media influencer and an aspiring model who lives with a disability called Phocomelia of the lower limbs, which is a rare condition that causes very short limbs. Zizipho is passionate that her disability does not define her in any way.
Zizipho Soldati
What limits/ challenges do you feel you have faced in life?
I’ve faced a lot of challenges in life due to my physical condition, challenges such as not being able to perform duties requiring the complete use of my limbs. I’ve suffered through a lot of bullying throughout my childhood because of how I look. I was rejected by an agency representing entertainers because of my physical condition. It is really offensive to be told you have the looks and the character but your physical condition makes it hard to work with you. At times I don’t blame agencies for making the statement because we’re still facing a huge lack of representation within the entertainment industry.
How did you overcome these limits/ challenges?
If it’s something that I know I can’t do physically I rely on technology, everyone does these days so I know I’m not the only one. It can be simple things like washing clothes or cooking which we have washing machines and readymade meals for. In terms of bullying, I had to do a lot of healing internally. I relied on therapy and self-help content… again it gets better with time and with what you choose to believe. You are the master of your thoughts, if you let negativity take over your mind you are going to get negative results and that’s not how I want to live my life, I simply zone out. A month after the agency rejected me, I was signed by two modelling agencies, one in Rosebank and one in the UK. They saw my pictures, recognised my confidence and they definitely wanted me on board. Sometimes what we want is far less than what we are supposed to have, so all the rejections are preparing us for what we deserve.
What qualities do you feel helped you overcome these limits/ challenges?
Perseverance, consistency, hard work, allowing time and being optimistic. I know it’s extremely hard to have all of that when things are really not working out, but you need to remember why you started, your responsibility here on earth and to focus on the end goal.
How did the support of others help you on your journey?
I’ve had amazing opportunities to meet individuals who are selfless and who want to see me do well, this gave me that extra push to focus. I also have an amazing mother who supports all that I do and this has been the biggest motivation to go for anything I want to do.
What advice do you have for others who are facing challenges in their lives?
Start now, start where you are, and start with the little that you have, you can do all things but it all starts with you. Make sure you feed your mind because a positive mind attracts everything good. No one will do it for you, only you can make it happen. Don’t get stuck on regrets, as long as you’re still breathing it’s not over. So start again, challenges are there to strengthen us, look past them. Right now, there’s someone who could be in your position and making the most with what they have, so motivate that person.
How are you challenging yourself to live your best life every day, today?
By doing the things that look beyond my abilities and cultivating good energies in my mind. By encouraging others to tap into their inner powers to make life work, by representing the disabled community within the media space and by fighting for inclusion. Lastly, by enjoying life because we are living on borrowed time. It could be over at any time, so each time I take a breath I enjoy it, even when it’s stressful, I give thanks to the Most High for the gift of life.
Shirnell Swartz
Shirnell Swartz is a Special Olympics South Africa Short Speed Skater from Coronation Ville, Gauteng. She got involved with Special Olympics South Africa when she was 13 years old at Casa De Sol School, where she became involved in short speed skating because of the adrenaline rush. She also enjoys singing, as it is a form of meditation and relaxation for her.
Shirnell Swartz
What limits/ challenges do you feel you have faced in life?
One of the challenges I faced in life was discrimination from some of my peers, who always teased me for going to a special school and not a main stream school. It was also having to accept that I had to go to a special school because I had an intellectual disability.
How did you overcome these limits/ challenges?
The support from my family helped me a lot because both my mom and grandmother made sure that at home I never felt left out. Working hand-in-hand with the teachers at Casa Da Sol, they all helped me see past my intellectual disability and realise my potential.
What qualities do you feel helped you overcome these limits/ challenges?
The power of sports also played a huge role in helping me overcome challenges, because through sports we are taught discipline, selfconfidence, commitment and to learn to visualise the goal – which is to be the very best one can be in life.
How did the support of others help you on your journey?
The support of others in my life has helped me improve in a lot of things. My family are my greatest support structure and Special Olympics South Africa has played a huge role in my life especially when it comes to development using the power of sports. I am grateful to Special Olympics South Africa, for helping me realise my abilities. Special Olympics South Africa inspires not only the athletes but people everywhere to open their hearts to a wider world of human talents and potential. The Special Olympics has the power to make a real change all around the world. My love for Special Olympics will not end!
What advice do you have for others who are facing challenges in their lives?
They must always believe in themselves, train hard, work hard and believe that we all have a purpose in this world.
How are you challenging yourself to live your best life every day, today?
By not selling myself short, making sure that every day I remind myself that I am the best version of me.
There is only one person standing in the way of me achieving my goals and making my dreams come true, and that’s “ME” I am proud of the young woman I have become, I cannot wait to finish school and see what else is in store for me out in the world.
