We would love to challenge all South Africans, ourselves included. Why? Because we are all capable of so much more and by challenging ourselves every now and then we grow. And that is what South Africa needs: a nation that keeps on growing. You can of course read this and think whateva or you can note these challenges down and work on them, one at a time until you have mastered most of them. But we will be happy if you choose only 3 challenges and tackle them head-on.

Louise

Challenge 1: Get blogging
Start a blog about your life in Africa and punt the positives of this great country! Head over to www.blogger.com and create a free blog (it’s real easy, even for the technologically challenged) and then let us know so we can go visit and read your interesting stories! 
 
Challenge 2: Comment on Phuthu!
We really really really would love to hear your comments, thoughts, suggestions or ideas on anything South Africa related. If you’re reading this, I challenge you to leave a comment, no no actually I would like to change that to: I dare you to leave a comment! 
 
Challenge 3: Show respect
Okay this is a bit different to the others but it’s a challenge nonetheless: If you smoke, throw your cigarette butt in the bin pleeeeeeeease! It erks me when I see people stomping out cigarettes and leaving them on the ground for someone else to pick up. Please respect our environment.

Kerry

Challenge 1: Go somewhere different
Go somewhere different for your holidays.  We tend to get into a rut when it comes to choosing a place to go to, if we even get out at all. South Africa is a beautiful country and deserves our utmost attention. My suggestion is, get those fingers working and Google some exciting places of interest, there is an unlimited source of info on the internet. Go find a quaint little bed and breakfast along the wine route or a log cabin on the beach. Challenge yourself and do something different. The Holiday Inn will survive without your patronage.

Challenge 2: Fall in love every day
With the recession not yet a distant memory, financial stress is still a major worrying factor for most of us, it is so easy to get bogged down with so many negative thoughts and needless worries and in turn causing lots of negative energy, just needlessly floating around the place. So my second challenge is to fall in love every day and make everyday a special one. Do something nice for your loved one (believe me they will appreciate it), give your children an extra hug or kiss when they go to bed, and add an extra tasty treat  to your dogs supper and finally think about something positive that has happened to you that day.  When you feel the stress starting to creep in again, just hold onto that positive thought. You will find that happiness will eventually become a habit. A habit that you won’t want to give up.

Challenge 3: To Taxi/Tow truck drivers
Learn a bit of human decency. To the tow truck drivers, I suggest that you go on an Advanced First Aid course, learn how to save lives instead of just trampling over them in attempt to be the first one at the scene. To the taxi drivers, ok where do I begin? I challenge you to be courteous on the roads; the little flashing orange lights on either side of your vehicle are actually there to be used in conjunction with turning a corner and not just to add interest to your backend. A legal driver’s license would be an added bonus too.  But what I think would make the most difference to our roads in the long run, would be to send all registered taxi drivers on an advanced driving course, if they going to drive like lunatics, they may as well learn how to do it properly and without loss of human life.

Katrine

Challenge 1: Don’t drink and drive
I’ll always remember how shocked I was when I first moved to SA and discovered that everyone drinks and drives. Ok, I know there’s no public transport to speak of, but then rather have a house party or nominate designated drivers on a rotation basis. Respect your partner, your children and your parents. They don’t deserve to lose someone they love to a selfish, stupid act.

Challenge 2: Stop complaining about your country’s terrible situation
Stop reciting and recycling bad crime stories, corrupt politician stories and unfair racist stories. I am so tired of this being a topic of discussion at dinner parties and braais! Start spreading positive news, living your lives and embracing all the beautiful things SA offers instead. You’ll be surprised at how much your life will improve. Any change, small or big, starts with yourself and your attitude.

Challenge 3: Do something completely different
Now that you’re on your way to a healthier more positive way of life, kick-start it by doing something you’ve never done before. Get out of your comfort zone and go sky diving, visit the theatre, swim the Midmar Mile, do charity work, hike the Drakensberg, compliment you mother-in-law and most importantly: love yourself!

Elzet

Challenge 1: Get down and dirty
Please stop breaking down our beautiful country by constantly whining at socials. If you don’t have anything positive to say, best you say nothing at all. I challenge each and everyone one of you to get involved in your community. Don’t be a spectator, be a doer. Change starts with you.

Challenge 2: They-love-me-they-love-me-not
Not sure if it’s a South African thing, perhaps it’s a human thing… anyway, I would love to challenge all South Africans to practice some unconditional support. No more love-hate relationships . We set the bar very high – as long as everyone performs to our liking, we are pleased and life is all hunky dory. But boy, if anyone dares messing up we’re all over them. Nothing wrong with positive criticism but let our support be unconditional. This counts for sport, entertainment, politics and religion.

Challenge 3: Share the love
Let’s try and accept one another with our diverse characteristics, eccentricities, cultures and backgrounds. Look at everyone through monotone shades – we all deserve respect. You don’t have to like it but you need to respect it. It’s a nice thing to do.

If you are burning to send out your own challenge, all you have to do is leave a comment. You can do it!