Local author and fitness trainer Mirna Bothma is sharing selected excerpts from her book, When Fitness Ignites the Soul, offering readers a glimpse into the reflections and life lessons captured throughout her writing. The book explores themes of personal growth, resilience, belonging and the deeper meaning found in everyday moments.
This excerpt reflects one of the heartfelt themes explored in When Fitness Ignites the Soul — that becoming a grandparent is not simply another stage of life, but the beginning of a beautiful new journey filled with love, purpose and unforgettable moments. It forms part of an ongoing iNews snippet series, where selected passages from the book will be shared with readers.
Chapter two
Hello Nina …
Recently I read the words of a grandchild that melted my heart:
A grandmother doesn’t have to do anything – she just has to be. She never tells you to hurry. With grannies you can have jelly and ice cream for dinner and leave crumbs in your bed. Everyone should have a grandmother – they are grown-ups who still have time to play.
One of the biggest things I have learnt from the grannies who exercise in our studio is this: grandmothers are no longer grey-bunned ladies with dough-dusted arms. The grannies I know are fit, fun and full of imagination …
On 24 September 2024, Schalk and I became grandparents for the first time. Our hearts grew a new chamber, and our world has never been the same.
Although I am the ‘faraway granny’, I have already learnt that there are many wonderful roles waiting to unfold: the cool granny, the playful granny, the fit granny, the loving and praying granny, and one of these days the Padel-granny.
Nina Smit is correct when she says that a granny is born on the same day as her grandchild, although the dates may differ.
… Nina, your name means, among others, ‘grace’. You are like gentle raindrops from the sky who brought Heaven to our world … (Read further)
To read the excerpt from Chapter one click here.
📖 To find out more or order your copy of When Fitness Ignites the Soul, WhatsApp Mirna on 082 779 0507.