Book review: “Honouring the vision – never stop trying” by Puseletso Maseou

When circumstances derail you from the goals you have set for your life, when every aspect of your goal is challenged and prolonged, how do you readjust while ensuring that you do not defer from what you had set out to achieve?

Do you quit? Or decide to strap on, gear up, and get ready to work at creating your desired reality?

‘Honouring the vision’ is about a journey that details the resilience needed to rise every time you fall; the resilience needed to stand up, dust yourself off, and still be willing to do it a thousand times more; and most importantly, having God as your center. It’s about having the kind of hope and faith that allows you to move not by sight, an all-encompassing faith.

Spiritual goals, academic goals, family goals, career goals, and living out her purpose – that was Puseletso’s vision board.

Building and maintaining a strong relationship with God is a continuous goal for her, especially as one who grew up in a Christian household. Matriculating and qualifying for tertiary – that was fairly easy. Tick! She got into a friendship, which actually developed into a love interest that quickly turned serious. She had been found. Family goals loading!

But then she got a cancer scare that affected her fertility. Well, there goes building a family. Surprisingly, while on her goal of obtaining her degree, chapter six titled “A stick that tells the future” changes that narrative. Puseletso found herself pregnant. But still in her teens. There was the stigma of being a pregnant student; the stigma of being yet another statistic of a young mother leaving her child with her parents to continue with her studies. Considering the fact that there was uncertainty as to whether she would conceive in the future, Puseletso had to make a decision. She continued with her studies until her due date.

Puseletso acknowledges that as young adults, we don’t have to make decisions that would lead us to such dire consequences. It sure wasn’t easy for her, but she pulled through, graduated and completed her Honours. Then there was unemployment. She eventually found a permanent post, but it didn’t last long. It was her first permanent job but was already faced with unfair dismissal.

Regardless of all that was happening, she was in a committed relationship with a supportive partner. As much as their relationship was threatened by external forces, the love and commitment to each other never wavered. It was no question that they were two peas in a pod. Young love at its peak, with a promising future. Lobola negotiations and wedding preparations continued. But as Puseletso’s goal of building a family was starting to accelerate, her parents’ 30-year marriage was coming to an end.

Today, Puseletso has ticked off five of her set goals, with being a published author adding to that. One would think there’s only so much one can take. These challenges and occurrences are enough to discourage anyone from obtaining their vision. However, that’s the whole point of this book: understanding that each person’s reality is different; that success and turning points are at their appointed time. ‘Honouring the vision’ is about living your truth, creating your desired reality, and working each day at crafting your stronger and wiser self.

We are not built to break. We bend and shape up, but we never quit.