Black Girl Joy: We Came. We Danced. We Lived.

I have been intentional about making room for Black Girl Joy, and our journey to South Africa gave that joy room to dance! With each shared laugh, new adventure, and moment of connection, we celebrated the gift of being Black women embracing life together. Standing on the soil of the Motherland, learning its history, and receiving the warmth of its people nourished my soul.

This trip was a beautiful expression of the joy I am choosing this year. We honored our roots, nurtured our friendships, and gave ourselves permission to live fully. From Cape Town’s waterfront and the beauty of the Western Cape to Table Mountain, Boulders Beach and its African penguins, and the Cape of Good Hope, we experienced so much wonder. We enjoyed GOLD’s authentic African cuisine, visited Robben Island, and continued our journey through Johannesburg, the Mandela House Museum, the Apartheid Museum, and Soweto. Lesedi Cultural Village, Ivory Tree Game Lodge, and our safari experiences in Pilanesberg gave us even more unforgettable moments.

What I love about this country is hard to explain. Since my first visit in 2019, each experience in South Africa has been different. Each visit gives me something new to appreciate, something more to learn, and another reason to return. Its culture, compelling history, adventure, food, music, dancing, worship, and the hospitable spirit of its people have become more endearing with every visit.

There is something about being here that touches a deep place in my soul. I feel it in the welcome, in the music, in the beauty of the landscape, and in the stories that invite us to listen closely. With each return, my connection grows deeper. I find myself slowing down, opening my heart, and receiving what this beautiful country has to offer.

Our visits to Robben Island, the Mandela House Museum, the Apartheid Museum and Soweto invited us to pause and reflect. We took in stories of injustice, sacrifice, courage, the struggle for freedom and perseverance. We made room for the weight of that history and honored the lives and sacrifices of those who helped to shape it. Those experiences deepened my gratitude for the opportunity to be there and left me with much to continue thinking about.

As I reflect on this visit, I am especially grateful for the women who trusted me to lead them on this journey. Each woman embraced her bucket list trip with all her heart! What a blessing to witness their excitement, curiosity, and willingness to experience something new. God allowed me to share in fulfilling their dream of planting their feet on the soil of the Motherland, and I do not take that privilege lightly.

We laughed. We danced. We ate. We shopped. We toured. We learned. We prayed together. And somewhere amid all that living, we created memories we will carry long after our suitcases are unpacked.

There is something special about women traveling together. We make room for one another’s excitement, share discoveries, offer encouragement, and find so many reasons to laugh. I am grateful for the love, kindness, and support we shared throughout this journey. Those moments of connection were as meaningful as the places we visited.

We also shared that love through our support of South African businesses, hotels, lodges, restaurants, souvenir shops, local artisans, and markets in the cities and villages we visited. The people we encountered were part of what made this trip so memorable. Their hospitality, creativity, and pride in what they shared gave us so much to appreciate.

We gave ourselves permission to disconnect from the busyness of our daily lives. For a little while, we stepped away from our usual responsibilities and made room to be present. We lingered over meals, enjoyed beautiful views, laughed together, and embraced experiences we had dreamed about.

As women, we can become so accustomed to making things happen for everyone else that we keep postponing our own joy. We tell ourselves we will travel when things settle down, rest when the work is finished, or do something for ourselves when everyone else is taken care of. Meanwhile, time keeps moving.

This trip reminded me how much it matters to make room for ourselves now. Put the trip on the calendar. Make space for friendship. Try something new. Allow yourself to receive the rest, care, and joy you so freely encourage others to enjoy.

We were adventurous! We tried new foods, embraced new cultural experiences, and took in the wonder of wildlife during our early morning and evening safaris. There was something beautiful about watching, waiting, and discovering together. Those moments invited us to pay attention and marvel at God’s creation.

And yes, we danced! We allowed the music to move us and welcomed the joy of the moment. I love that we gave ourselves permission to participate fully, to be curious, to have fun, and to enjoy being right where we were.

That is part of what Black Girl Joy means to me this year. I am making space for experiences that nourish my soul and remind me how much life there is to enjoy. I am celebrating friendship, honoring my need for rest, welcoming adventure, and appreciating the woman I am in this season of my life.

It is also at the heart of Harmonize Your Life. Learning, laughter, rest, worship, friendship, and adventure all deserve a place in the rhythms of our lives. This journey gave us an opportunity to experience those gifts together.

My heart is full. I am grateful for safe travels, meaningful encounters, shared laughter, and the women who made this trip so special. I am grateful that we said yes to the experience and that God blessed us to share it together.

Thank you again for your prayers while we traveled. We are safely home, and I am grateful for God’s protection throughout our journey. We returned with beautiful memories, full hearts, and a little more love for South Africa.

We came. We danced. We lived. And I am so grateful we did.

I love South Africa. It feels like home.

Until next time… 🇿🇦💚

#drtoni #BlackGirlJoy #traveldiaries #southafrica #womenwhotravel #HarmonizeYourLife