Many people ask my: “Why Big Bear?”
Well, the answer is actually not that simple. It starts many years ago when I was starting high school. We have just returned from a family holiday in Pilanesberg. My parents always dreamed of going there, but we couldn’t really afford it. We weren’t poor, but also couldn’t live luxuriously. My father was always ill. Often family trips had to be cut short or we couldn’t go places as he was never really well.
Little did we know that this would be our last family holiday. My father fell ill with cancer and had to have his prostrate and bladder removed. He was in remission and eventually it came back 2 years later and took him from us.
From when I was thirteen I had to do chores for the house, which included driving to the shop to do grocery shopping and to be a big brother for my little boet. Often I worked on Saturdays helping my mom at the business. First it was the car wash and then she had the doggy parlour. Washing dogs and cars are very similar, the only difference is that cars rust and dogs have fleas.
I then started working in the afternoon after school at our local Spar as a merchandizer from 3pm till 8pm, and weekends from 8am till 8pm. The bills had to be paid and I needed to help.
During my studies I had to work to pay my way through university, or rather, Technikon as it was called at the time. After class I would often work long shifts till 10pm (11pm on Fridays and Saturday). I delivered pizzas to pay for my classes.
I worked while my friends played in school and went out in university. Missing out on being a kid, and taking responsibility at a young age.
At 24 years old, I had to take the responsibility of becoming a manager in the corporate environment. Joining a multinational company manufacturing tyres. Often having to tell people 3 times my age what to do.
Through this journey I had to take a lot in my stride. I didn’t really have anyone to talk to, and often had to suppress my tears and soldier on.
The reality is that I am only one of many. Many people have the same, or even harder stories. Stories we don’t share, were taught not to share and we were taught to just bit the bullet and push on. This was one of the main reasons why I started Big Bear. To make sure people like me know, it is okay to not be okay. But through all the healing and growth we need to remember one thing, we can’t just lay in the fetal position and cry. We need to get up. We need to look forward. We need to heal. And we need to keep moving….hence, “Chin up. Boots down.”
It is okay to not know the full journey, but we need to at least keep our chins up and boots down to see at least just that one next step that will take us one step away from where we were and one step closer to where we want to be. Life is a journey and it progresses one step at a time.
Put on your socks. Put on your shoes. You got this.
Chin up. Boots down.
Love and respect, Big Bear.
