I feel like every year is a chapter in the book that is my life. In the final week of the year, I contemplate events of the past twelve months and then sum it up, like assigning a title to a chapter. I entitled 2023 ‘Slowing Down’.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not even close to retiring but I decided that in 2023, I’d make the extra effort, rather than work like crazy, to live in the moment, take it easy, explore new countries and spend as much time as possible with my family while also being more selective of the work I undertake. While I have enjoyed some down time, behind the scenes, a lot has been going on too – I rebuilt my recording booth, fixed up my business website which had been down for a while as I was too busy to get it sorted. I’ve also voiced some very good quality content with great scripts and very importantly, revived my blogging schedule which has been very satisfying.
One of the amazing things that has kicked this year off for me is meeting a little boy whom I’ve adored for some time, after coming across his videos on Instagram last year. Known as ‘The I Feel Good Kid’, 7-year-old Desmond Koolen hails from Johannesburg in South Africa and is utterly adorable, talented and very smart, and has also won numerous awards for various stage performances. When you see his videos on his Life According to Desi Instagram and YouTube Channel, you’ll understand why – this little lad has character far bigger than his 1.15 metre frame. He sings, he dances, acts, does voiceovers and is unbelievably comfortable and confident in front of crowds of thousands!
Now, it is worth noting that all his endeavours are very much his own. His parents’ unconditional and sacrificial love for him is not unlike the love that any parent would have for their children. They don’t push him into doing what he doesn’t want to, but instead, let him lead his own journey, supporting what interests him and guiding him along the way. The decision to undertake work is his and any income derived from that is put in a trust fund for him while he also gets to enjoy the fruits of his talents by being able to spend some of that money on a favourite something of his choice.
So, how did I get to meet him? Well, I came across a video showing the family packing for an upcoming trip – that trip would take them to Australia, New Zealand and… Singapore! I posted a comment, saying that it would be great to meet the little star while they were here. I then got a private message from Desi’s Mum, Adele, who manages his Instagram account, saying that they’d be travelling during the same period that I’d be away. I could only hope that the stars would align for me – and they did. Little Desi, Adele and his Daddy Johan were scheduled to arrive in Singapore on the 30th of December, a day after I was to return from Sydney. We exchanged contact details and then arranged to meet on the 3rd of January for dinner.
That fateful day arrived and I was so very excited from the moment I awoke. I got ready early and my husband Leon and I set off on our drive to meet the family at their hotel lobby. We got there, and there they were! I couldn’t believe it! I shook his little hand and gave him a big hug and then of course Leon and I got acquainted with Mummy Adele and Daddy Johan. We proceeded to the Arbora Hilltop Garden & Bistro at Faber Peak for dinner and had an amazing time getting to know this gorgeous family and about their beautiful country. Desi was like any other 7-year-old, saying the most adorable things, being fidgety, busying himself with drawing and colouring, bugging his mum for her phone, talking about his aspirations and running off every so often without his shoes on – it was so easy to forget that he’s such a sensation not only in South Africa but well beyond. The great Will Smith even shared one of Desi’s videos – particularly the one of him singing the classic James Brown number, ‘I Feel Good’. What a star!
I don’t know about you, but my 2024 has certainly gotten off to an incredible start. I wonder what this year will be entitled when we get to the close of this chapter. Well, we shall see.
For now, I wish you all a wonderful new year – may it be one of tremendous growth, new opportunities, good health and precious moments with loved ones.