Perspectives by Mary

14/04/2026

God bless the Irish…

One of my favourite things about travelling one corner from one corner of the globe to the nooks and crannies inbetween that might not make ‘sense’ to many, has been the unexpected strangers who become storytellers and somehow quick friends.

In one of those moments, we were swapping stories about where we come from. I shared mine… South African heritage, adopted into an in*******al family who were technically illegally married in 1987 under apartheid laws.

One of the guys at the table pauses, puts his hand up and says, “Mary… did you know the Irish helped abolish apartheid… by the power of a grapefruit?”

I laughed, “Go on then… I’m listening.” I was not prepared for what came next.

A story about three Irish women who, after hearing what was happening in South Africa in the late 70’s early 80’s, decided to boycott Outspan grapefruits… Which eventually expanded into other South African imports.

At first, no one cared or took them seriously, but they believed in what they were doing deeply, so they kept going and somehow… that belief travelled.

It reached people who had proximity to power, including one of Nelson Mandela’s former cellmates and eventually, Mandela himself.

As incredible as the story is, what stayed with me wasn’t just the history, it was the belief. These ladiesi initially had no audience, immediate impact or visible proof it was “working.”

Just conviction.

It made me question how often we start/don’t start something needing to see the end result straight away instead of trusting the beginning enough to let it unfold?

Those women didn’t wait for validation nor did they need the full roadmap, they simply stood firm in what they felt was right and let the right people, moments and opportunities find them.

That part has sat with me for weeks now… Maybe it’s not about having the perfect plan but about holding a belief so steady, that eventually, the world has no choice but to meet you there.

So yes…

God bless the Irish but most of all what a reminder about the simple yet profound power of belief 🇮🇪 ☘️

https://youtu.be/SPa7lRWY01w?si=ZQeZ7lSGlMHiH6gG

The Dunnes Stores Strikers story taken from my full show about books and reading recommendations, Shelf Help. For the historically accurate there were actual...

08/04/2026

Celebrating the faculty of movement
Inspired by “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Lao Tzu

Im currently eating a Bahn Mi on top of a Vietnamese rooftop restaurant, reflecting on being 38 today and the last 365 days..

I often hear ‘Girl, you’re doing so much.. Or.. Another trip, didn’t you just get back?🤣’

Here’s the thing about having autonomy of your body taken away ‘albeit for some time’ to where even blinking your eyes, let alone trying to get out of bed feels like climbing Mount Everest..

NO present moment goes for granted!

In the last year I’ve not only added 8 more flags to my growing list of lands visited, self published a book to tell my story my way, launched a podcast channel where authentic stories for myself and others are given a safe space to be told, hosted another ancestral and cultural sound immersion workshop internationally, finally grown my hair into a decent afro and finally take the leap into passion projects I was too afraid to dive into but….

I’ve also cried in front of waterfalls, drawn hearts in soft snow, laughed loudly with strangers and have been shown some of the greatest kindness in places deemed ‘unsafe’ by headlines.

My life never really has and now more than ever, not always conforms to the copy and paste template of the majority which is A ok with me.. For anyone who resonates with this (fitting in/ being understood by everyone is overrated anyway)!

Today I’m grateful and look ever forward to more ‘doing nothing’ and ‘doing the most’.

Happiest birth/earth day to moi

14/02/2026

Honouring old love and Choosing new love ❤️

Today’s reflection comes with a mulled wine in hand, insane mountain views, a sore bum after falling during my first ski lesson and squeals as it’s my first time ever SEEING SNOW!!!

There’s something about falling in front of strangers on a mountain that humbles you quickly. One minute you’re trying to stay upright, the next you’re fully horizontal, staring at the sky wondering how snow can be both soft and unforgiving at the same time.

As I sit here warming up, I’m reflecting on love.

Looking back at my experiences with love in the past, well-intentioned as they may have been, I can see now that some of it came wrapped in limited emotional language, limited safety and limited regulation yet as a child, I didn’t know the difference.

You simply adapt I suppose, just like the slopes, I learned to balance on unstable ground but growth invites choice.

HONOURING:
They did the best they could and loved how they knew.

CHOOSING:
I no longer have to live on slippery ground that has me bracing for impact at any time.

As I look down at the little cottage still standing despite being covered in snow, solid, warm and rooted, I’m reminded that strength doesn’t have to be dramatic, it can simply be stable so with that, I honour what was and I allow myself to choose differently.

Happy Valentine’s Day: no matter what that may look like for you, may the love you choose feel safe enough to fall and steady enough to stand. 🍷❤️

11/02/2026

IM BACK!!! Excuse the absence, I was a little busy diving deep into the last parts of shedding parts of my life, letting go of my job, house, car - packing up my life into a suitcase, laptop bag with just my handpan, African thumb piano and nervous system regulation sound alchemy project and a big wide world ahead.

It’s a scary prospect diving 100% into the unknown and yes I suppose you have to be a little ‘crazy’ too, but I think living a life of ‘what if’ is even crazier!

Here are few highlights of my first time in London.. This is not just travel but field research as I complete my sound alchemy offerings inspired by real life experiences, conversations, environments both chaotic yet historical.

Living my nervous system recalibration experiment in real time feels much more authentic than creating an offering from theory, I’m excited to share this with you all 🤩

15/01/2026

This reminds me of my time in Valetta, hearing a song and seeing strangers dancing but hopping in anyway..

No names exchanged, just united by music, laughing and leaving with our hearts full..

No one cares as much as you think they do, DANCE like no one is watching 🤩

03/01/2026

2026 = Alchemy

Sound alchemy for me, is the art of working with vibration to meet the nervous system where language cannot.

Through original vocal work and cross-cultural sound textures, I create immersive experiences that invite regulation, remembrance and a return to inner coherence.

Stay tuned as I make my way across Eastern Europe, introducing my original works rooted in African ancestral resonance but totally reimagined to new spaces, with new faces and open to the creation of entirely new magic 🤩

02/01/2026

Time is the one currency you never get refunded and the meaning of life is how you spend it. Not hoarding certainty or waiting for the perfect moment but daring to experience: to move, to feel, to risk being changed by what you meet.

I’ve been changed by so much this year be it the clients I’ve worked with, the travels I’ve taken, stories I’ve shared, the book I published and support everyone has shown along the way.

2026 is off to an amazing start, may you all have a joyous, prosperous, healthy and magical 2026.
#2026

23/12/2025

My Christmas wish:
May we finally not simply survive life but choose to instead thrive through and with it. Keep choosing to make magic no matter how ‘crazy’ it may seem to those that don’t understand ’yet’…

Merry Christmas beautiful people 🫶🏾

18/12/2025

I wear a few hats and love anything that allows me to assist authentic story telling.. Thank you for having me as the vendor social media coach for the day

I delivered my Streamlined Coaching Model to 17 E-Shed stallholders in 15-minute micro-sessions and it was powerful.

Here’s the truth: Most people don’t need more information about social media, they need less overwhelm and more clarity.

So instead of long workshops, I use a simple, human-first model:
- 1 pain point
- 1 real action
- 1 confidence win
- 1 take-home cheat sheet

It’s light, structured, empowering and perfectly suited for small businesses who want to show up online without burning out.