An Ubuntu Reminder, from the Cricket Pitch...

Behind a lens, you notice things: The smallest gestures, the intense emotional expressions, the subtle human interactions.

Sometimes you’re fortunate enough to click at exactly the right moment to capture these.

A few days ago, I was that cricket mom.

Standing in the blazing sun on the side of the field, snapping shots of all the goings on.

This was one of the many meaningful exchanges I witnessed between members of this team.

Throughout the match, as the players came on and off the field, there were handshakes, bat nudges, encouraging embraces, gloved high-fives and enthusiastic cheering.

Every player gave every part of the match their all and although the words were never spoken, it was clear that these boys held a deep understanding of their interconnectedness.

It didn’t seem to matter that they lost the game.

They had supported one another and in doing so, each of them was able to give the best of themselves.

As I watched the match play out, I thought about a South African word which embraces so much of this… A philosophy…

Ubuntu: Humanity towards others. A deep understanding that I am only who I am, because you are who you are. Because of this, I have a moral responsibility to be my best self. To care. To encourage. Every action I take has a ripple impact on all of humanity because of the intricate connection we share, no matter where we are geographically. We are an interdependent global community.

Yet, we live in a society that forgets this too easily.

Our everyday world continues to reinforce the “dog-eat-dog” mindset. Success at all costs. Selfishness. Stomp on another to get ahead.

We see it in every sector: work environments, social media, education systems, governments, churches... the list is sadly too long.

This insecure mindset is rooted in fear.

Fear of not doing enough… of not being enough… of being “outshone”… of being rejected.

We fear supporting others in their success because somehow, we believe another’s light may dim our own.

We fear staying in the shadows while our peers seem to “get ahead”.

We fear being left behind... But our fears don’t help us shine.

• They leave us burdened with feelings of insecurity, jealousy, and inadequacy
• They leave us stagnated
• They leave us in darkness

Here's where we have it completely wrong: The light of those around you isn’t a threat.

• It gives you the potential to see your path ahead
• It gives you the courage to see what is possible
• It gives you the direction to find your own way

Your success isn’t dampened when you support someone else - It is amplified. It is the collective light of others that enables each of us to shine brighter.

This cricket team reminded me how it should be done:

• Instead of feeling threatened by someone else’s success, be their cheerleader
• Instead of judging them, be their sideline encourager
• Instead of criticising and trying to shine alone, remember that the light of a thousand candles is far more powerful than one

We are a forever interconnected global community. We heal when we connect. We heal in togetherness.

I am because you are. How we treat one another matters.

Ubuntu.

With love from a cricket pitch,

Naomi ❤️