"I got burned from a candle when I was 11 months old. My mom lifted me up from the bed and my right hand literally stayed behind. From 11 months until 15 years, I had a total of 104 surgeries just to fix me up. I tried to commit suicide three times because I felt like I didn't belong here. But then in 2007, I met God, and He told me: 'You have a purpose. Your purpose is to bring hope and healing to my children.' And from that day on, my life has never been the same again..."
In this deeply moving episode of The Grit Reapers, we sit down with Itumeleng Seku, entrepreneur and founder of the Itumeleng Seku Foundation, for an extraordinary conversation about trauma, healing, and finding purpose in the most unexpected places.
What You'll Hear:
🩷 Itumeleng's incredible survival story and journey through 104 surgeries
🩷 How childhood bullying led to three suicide attempts and the darkest period of her life
🩷 The spiritual awakening that completely transformed her perspective on her scars
🩷 Why she chose to face her greatest fear by starting a candle business
🩷 How external scars taught her that everyone carries invisible wounds
🩷 The healing power of having difficult conversations about mental health
🩷 Why taking rest days doesn't make you weak - it makes you human
🩷 How her foundation has impacted 250 schools and changed countless lives
Itumeleng shares her profound wisdom: "Mastering others, that is called strength. But mastering yourself, that is called true power." Her story proves that our greatest traumas can become our greatest triumphs when we choose to transform pain into purpose.
Whether you're facing your own battles, building a business, or seeking inspiration to overcome life's challenges, this episode offers raw truth about resilience, the importance of self-love, and how one person's healing journey can light the way for thousands of others.
"I got burned from a candle when I was 11 months old. My mom lifted me up from the bed and my right hand literally stayed behind. From 11 months until 15 years, I had a total of 104 surgeries just to fix me up. I tried to commit suicide three times because I felt like I didn't belong here. But then in 2007, I met God, and He told me: 'You have a purpose. Your purpose is to bring hope and healing to my children.' And from that day on, my life has never been the same again..."
In this deeply moving episode of The Grit Reapers, we sit down with Itumeleng Seku, entrepreneur and founder of the Itumeleng Seku Foundation, for an extraordinary conversation about trauma, healing, and finding purpose in the most unexpected places.
What You'll Hear:
🩷 Itumeleng's incredible survival story and journey through 104 surgeries
🩷 How childhood bullying led to three suicide attempts and the darkest period of her life
🩷 The spiritual awakening that completely transformed her perspective on her scars
🩷 Why she chose to face her greatest fear by starting a candle business
🩷 How external scars taught her that everyone carries invisible wounds
🩷 The healing power of having difficult conversations about mental health
🩷 Why taking rest days doesn't make you weak - it makes you human
🩷 How her foundation has impacted 250 schools and changed countless lives
Itumeleng shares her profound wisdom: "Mastering others, that is called strength. But mastering yourself, that is called true power." Her story proves that our greatest traumas can become our greatest triumphs when we choose to transform pain into purpose.
Whether you're facing your own battles, building a business, or seeking inspiration to overcome life's challenges, this episode offers raw truth about resilience, the importance of self-love, and how one person's healing journey can light the way for thousands of others.
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Read Episode Transcript
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [00:00.3] Welcome to the Grit Reapers, the NoBS podcast for online entrepreneurs.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [00:04.8] I'm Gail.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [00:05.6] And I'm Candice. And we're here to cut through the crap and give you the real truth about what it really takes to be successful online.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [00:12.8] Let's get down to business.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [00:16.0] Welcome back, everybody.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [00:17.0] To the Grit Reapers.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [00:18.3] And to.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [00:19.1] A special.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [00:19.9] Episode of our show called.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [00:21.5] The Human side of Grit, where we host incredible people everyday people who have had.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [00:27.7] Extraordinary, and challenging experiences in their life and what they've done with those experiences and kind of how they've metabolized them and created things in their life from these experiences.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [00:43.5] So today it gives me great honor, to introduce Itumeleng to our listeners. Welcome to our podcast, Itumeleng.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [00:54.4] Well, thank you so much, Candice, for having me. I'm really, really grateful. And I, and I'm so grateful to share the afternoon with both you and Gail. I'm so excited and thank you so much for having me.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [01:08.3] Oh, awesome stuff. So, I know I've told Gail how I met you, but for our listener I met, well, let me rather say I first heard Itumeleng speak at a Woman of Courage, day that was hosted last year.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [01:27.4] And the story, her story was mind boggling, which you'll share with our listeners. But more than the story, what struck me was, what you have done in your life following what happened to you.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [01:47.1] And, and when, when Gail and I started the podcast, I said to her, at some point we have to get it on this podcast to, to share her story because she's the epitome of the human side of grit.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [02:02.7] So I'm going to hand the floor over to you and maybe you can share with our listeners. I'm sure you very used to sharing your story, but if you could share with our listeners what happened to you and what you've done with that experience in your life now as an adult.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [02:24.1] Well, thank you so much again and I'm so happy to share my story. So I got burned from a candle when I was 11 months old. I was sleeping on the bed and then the candle then fell over and, and it caught my dress and then it caught me and it became a 70 degrees, fire Celsius fire.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [02:49.4] And then my mom and my mom and her brothers were in the very next room and then they just started smelling smoke. And then they found me burning on the bed. My mom then lifted me up from the bed and then my right hand literally stayed behind.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [03:05.5] She rushed me to hospital wearing just a petticoat and underneath. And then I was there for three months. I was there for another three years. And in total from 11 months until, until 15 years, I've had a total of 104 surgeries just to fix me up and make me look the way that I.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [03:30.9] Yeah. Today. So the burnt tragic was so bad that my brain skulls were showing. I lost four fingers, you know, in my left hand. My ears were, were completely burnt off.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [03:48.0] So the, the right, the right ear that I have is man made. My four little stompies on my left hand are also man made.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [04:06.4] And yeah, but I think for me. Life for me started when I was around nine years old. And I was in class and a fellow learner said to me, hey, you also burned. You look like a franchise meat. And I was like, what do you even mean? You know?
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [04:23.7] And that just crippled my self esteem to a point where I then tried to commit suicide. And my very first suicide attempt, I was in grade five and I. And I made like a cocktail, you know, I took Handy Andy.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [04:40.2] I took Jake, I took Sunlight Liquid, and I took Domestos and I just mixed them up and I drank. And then nothing happened to me. And then when I was around 15 years old, I then tried to commit suicide again with my late brother.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [04:57.9] And then that also didn't succeed. And then when I was in grade 11, I took 300 pills. I then wrote a note. Hi, mom, thank you for your love, thank you for sexual sacrifices, but I just don't want to be here, you know?
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [05:15.8] I then drank the 300 pills and a couple of hours later I woke up, you know, in that very same bed with nothing but just the letter that I had written. I was so annoyed.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [05:33.4] I was like, why? You know, like, why didn't this happen? You know? But then in 2007, when I was doing my metric year, I then met God, you know, and I met God through a friend who had, sort of like forced me to go to, like a church service, you know.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [06:06.1] And I think my spiritual journey is what got me to where I am here today. Because I learned in, through that journey that, that actually every single thing that happens happens for a purpose, you know? One, but two, I went through a very huge healing journey with God where, where God had to make me realize that, listen, my dear, you can do everything through me.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [06:36.1] There's nothing that you cannot do. I am, the first and I am the last. And I'm the beginning and I am the end. And therefore I'm the one that created you. So please just get up and stop feeling sorry for yourself.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [06:53.1] You know, you have a purpose. And your purpose is to bring hope and healing to my children. And from that day on, my life has never been the same again. Sorry, you see you sneezing on the truth, you know?
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [07:14.2] And from that day, my life has never be being the same again. Because from the day I knew that there was a reason why I'm here, you know, and that's when I also learned through, through like different journeys, you know, in my life.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [07:31.2] Like, for example, I became brand ambassador for JAV Unilever. And during that project, you know, that's when I realized that a lot of people have got scars within them, you know, and, and then my purpose sort of like dawned on me, you know, that, you know what, that my scars, they are more external but every single person has got a scar within, you know, and therefore because of that, you know, I'm here to help people through their own scars and help them to become better people, you know, in life.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [08:15.6] And yeah, that is my purpose. That is the reason why I wake up each and every single day. But before that I went to Varsity, graduated as a BA Audio Visual Communications, degree.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [08:37.9] And then after that then I started working in the media industry. And, and I worked for a channel called One Gospel. I worked for the SABC for a while for shows like Friends, like these, making Moves, your tv, and so forth.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [08:59.8] And then I then moved to radio and then I became a content producer, on radio for four years, for two different shows. And, and from that moment on that's when my husband who was my boyfriend at the time said to me that you know what, let's start a foundation called the Itumeleng Seku Foundation.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [09:24.7] And when we did that it was primarily just to bring hope and healing to people and sort of like get from the media and come down to people so that people can have that access to have like real conversations with me to say that actually what happened actually are there times where you feel like you can't wake up?
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [09:52.4] Actually, how else do you wake up? And just so bubbly and you're so vibrant every single day. And I think those are real questions that people always want to ask but they don't know how to. And I think when you're just, and I think when you're like just behind the camera or you are, you are like behind the mic, then it's more difficult for people to sort of like get to know you personally.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [10:22.8] And yeah, that was the reason for, for us starting the foundation. And at the time we ended up adopting 250 schools, motivating young kids on, on purpose but as well as on, self esteem.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [10:43.9] And there's nothing as more rewarding as meeting somebody in the mall. And they're like, you know what? Seven years ago you came to my school and you have like changed my lives.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [11:02.4] Like we did so many testimonies from like people who are not like professionals and they're like, you know what you changed my life six years ago when I was in, grade 11 and UK and you poured your heart out.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [11:19.9] You know what I mean? And I think for me, that is the reason when God said hope in healing, that is what he was talking about to say that. You know what? If people can see you smile, then people can look at themselves and say, if she's smiling, then what is stopping me from, smiling?
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [11:40.5] Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [11:41.6] Itumeleng. Sorry, what was the name of your foundation? I didn't catch it.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [11:47.2] The Itumeleng Seku Foundation.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [11:50.1] Okay, that's amazing. That is amazing. I can imagine how amazing it is when somebody comes up to you and says to you and you don't even know. You don't even know that you touched them and they come up to you and they like it actually just gives me goosebumps.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [12:08.1] Know, it's just, like, such a rewarding thing. And I think that is what helps us to also just keep on going, you know? Because we. We know now that we are making such a huge difference, you know, in people's lives. And I think that is all that matters, you know, in life.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [12:25.8] I never knew that my story could help people get out of their own, deep pits, you know, in their lives. And I think the moment that I realized that that was the case, I knew that I had a bigger, journey and a bigger life purpose than most people.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [12:47.4] Because for me, it's so important to keep on sharing my story, because when one new person hears it, they feel like, you know, what if she is reaching her full potential with only one hand and with only one finger, then what is stopping me from reaching my full potential?
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [13:08.4] And I think that is what God birthed us for. You know what I mean? He brought us, you know, into this world for us to fulfill and for us to live the lives that he has made for us to live, you know? And I think the moment we tap, you know, into that purpose, that your life just.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [13:29.3] Just so fulfilling. You know what I mean? Yeah, I guess.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [13:36.0] I guess. Sorry, Cands, Just gonna say, I guess in business, just bringing it back to business because, you know, I so often I see parallels between our human, side of grit and our business. I guess what you talking about when you talk about, you know, your purpose is what every business owner needs to think about, like, their North Star.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [13:56.4] Like, what is it? Why. Why is this business even running? Why are you running this business? What is your North Star? And I think so often we lose sight of that. You know, you get into the everyday busyness of it, and you often lose sight of it.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [14:12.0] And I think it's a very good reminder that you've just given us. Yeah, about what. Why you doing what you're doing?
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [14:22.7] And I mean, I think also what. What you said that, like, struck a chord with me. Like, just before we started recording our episode, we were just chatting a little bit, and I was saying, yeah, you know, this. This podcast is because we wanted to create something that would speak about the stuff everyone's thinking, but not everyone is saying.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [14:40.8] And your foundation, you know, you said it was, like, to talk about the real stuff, like, the stuff that people are scared to ask, but actually, like, they are important conversations to be having. You know, so clearly we are all three of us in.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [14:59.0] In the habit of having difficult conversations or talking about the hard stuff. You know, the best part, though, can you share with our listeners.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [15:16.4] Sorry, did you want to say something?
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [15:20.4] I was saying that we have to have the hard conversations because if we don't, then a lot of people, the reason why they stay in depression and like mental health problems is because they think that they are the only ones going through those things.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [15:38.4] And I think the moment that you are able to say no, I can relate to that. I know exactly, exactly what you're talking about. Actually. You see me here smiling each and every single day. There are days when, when I just cannot get you out of bed.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [15:54.0] And I think when people hear such things from us, the so called strong ones, then they get to a point where they realize that, oh my goodness, I'm normal, you know what I mean? And this is okay. And I'm allowed to, to sit in bed sometimes and not even feel bad about it.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [16:14.3] And I think for me, it took me growing up and maturing to get to a point where you actually realize that, hey, actually, you need to be okay for you to be able to be there for the world. You know what I mean?
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [16:30.6] So if there are days like you can't get out of bed, don't get out of bed that day, you know what I mean? And allow yourself, listen to your body, listen to your mind, so that the next day that you're able to get up, and grind and be there for the world, but you cannot.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [16:51.1] There is, I've never met any person who can say to me that they are 100% energetic every single day. And life is just like, oh my God, go, go, go, go, go, go. There is no such thing. I think, you know, even, even God says that, that on the seventh day you need to rest.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [17:11.3] You know what I mean? Like, we all need to rest. And that can be any day for you. It can be on a Monday, it can be on a Tuesday, it can be on a Wednesday. But you have to choose a day where you just rest and you just shut out the noise and you are like, you know what today is for me?
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [17:30.1] You know what I mean? But you have to have these types of conversations because, because if we don't, then people feel like, oh my God, and I'm slacking or I'm not doing enough. You know what I mean? Like, people just walk in, so much guilt, and they allow themselves to feel like they can never ever be enough.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [17:49.9] And I'm like, no, actually, that is just normal. You know what I mean? But those are the type of things that we need to be talking about. Because before, when I was Younger. I always had this thing that, oh, my goodness, no, life is perfect. We great years.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [18:06.5] And I was like, no, actually, that's not the reality. You know what I mean? But I think it also comes with age as well, that the older you become, the more realistic you are with certain things, and you allow yourself to live your life in the pace that you need to live your life.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [18:27.0] Of course, that doesn't mean that you need to, like, sleep in bed for the whole week. You know what I mean? That's a different situation. Then you really need to go and talk to a therapist. But what I'm saying is that there will be days when. When like, you're just like, you know what? Today I just want to shut the world out.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [18:44.2] And that is okay. You know what I mean? Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [18:48.2] Yeah.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [18:48.9] Oh, my God. Hallelujah.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [18:50.6] I was thinking, Gail, Gail, we needed to hear that. K. We did.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [18:57.0] You're allowed to take a. For your time.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [19:01.3] But. Okay, so now it. Can you share with our listeners what it is that you do now?
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [19:10.8] So I am, an entrepreneur. So in 2017, it just dawned on me to start making candles, you know, and it was like, years ago, actually, even way before, like 2017.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [19:29.8] I always knew that I had to face that phobia, you know, at some point, you know, in my life, because I. I was the type of person who was afraid of anything that was hot. So if it's like a gas heater, I was scared of that, gas.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [19:46.8] Anything, I was scared of that. Candles, I was scared of that, anything that is like fire and everything, I just stayed away from. So in 2017, I then came, across a video on YouTube of, of a person who was making candles.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [20:04.5] And I was like, I. I've always known that I've had to do it, you know, at some point, but for me, doing it in that moment, it was never like a business in idea or like something like that. For me, it was more of like a personal journey thing to say that I.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [20:23.2] To at some point do this so that my inner child can feel like, you know, what we have now overcome. You know what I mean?
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [20:34.1] Yeah.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [20:35.2] And. And. And that day, I then, wrote down the. The stuff that I needed to make the candles. And the next day, there I was. I started the car and I went and I bought all of these things and.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [20:52.1] And I started making the candles and. And I got so much peace. And so I felt so tranquil in that moment that I just felt like, why am I feeling this way?
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [21:07.4] You Know, of course, it was also quite, teary for me, because for me, it was just like, oh, my God, like, I'm facing the demon that sort of, like, changed my life. Right? But I made them and I took pictures, and then I put them on Facebook, and I don't know if people were being friendly or not, but they were like, oh, my God, are you selling those?
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [21:33.7] They are beautiful. We love them. We want them. And I was like, nope. No ways. I'm not selling these things. You know, I was just making them. Because, yeah, like, I was just trying to sort of like, get over this phobia, you know?
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [21:55.4] I then started making candles for a while. But not to sell. You know, it was sort of like a journey for me. For. For me, it was part of the healing journey that I was still going through in that moment, you know?
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [22:13.5] So I was still motivating, and I was doing everything else, but doing the candles. It's like a business thing, you know? So during COVID we were working a lot with the Angel Network, and we were supplying food parcels for them, you know, and so forth.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [22:35.6] And then my husband then came across a video of a lady who had a very successful business in candles. So then he showed it to me, and then he said to me, remember, you were actually making candles?
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [22:52.4] You know? And I was like, yeah, honey, not it. Not everything needs to be, you know, awakened. You know what I mean? Like, you just let that demon sleep type of thing, you know, it's okay. Like, we did it, and we got over it, you know, and I can now switch on a candle.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [23:09.6] So, you know, it's fine, you know? And then he said, and for some reason, I couldn't sleep from that day on. I just knew that, you know what? I just have to start making candles again. And I started making candles again.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [23:25.0] Again, not to sell, but again, part of my own, like, personal journey. And people just started bugging me for these candles, and they were like, listen, I want to buy a candle. How much is the candle? And I'm like, no, I'm not selling these candles. But anyway, fast forward.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [23:45.0] It's now, honestly speaking, such a beautiful and such a successful business. And I think for me, getting to bring hope and healing into people's homes through saints. Because also, the saints that we use in our candles, diffusers, room sprays, are scents that are healing.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [24:09.6] So we. So we don't just choose any fragrance because it smells nice. So every single scent that we have is there to do something, you know what I mean? So like a cinnamon vanilla, for example, that's very good with like stress.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [24:27.2] So, so cinnamon vanilla just knows exactly how to locate every single stress muscle and it just knows exactly how to calm you down, you know what I mean? Lemongrass, for example, is great for just like in uplifting you, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [24:45.4] So when you're feeling down, it just knows exactly how to just like make you feel better. And then now all of a sudden you're like, hi, how you doing? Meanwhile, you know, it's just the lemongrass that we have used, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [25:01.7] So, so like every single scent that we use is there for a certain purpose. And those are the saints that we use for our clients. Again, going back again to that hope and healing. You know that whenever you have our candles, our fragrances in June in your house, that you can feel the difference, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [25:26.5] In your mood, you know, in your calmness, the way that you relate to yourself even, and therefore the way that you relate to like, other people. So our candles and our diffusers and our room sprays are, more there to improve your life rather than just to make your house smell amazing.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [25:51.3] Wow.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [25:53.4] I can't believe that. I cannot believe that. That is just like so meta. Is that the right way of using it? It's so meta to now have a candle business. I mean, amazing.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [26:08.6] Yeah, yeah. And I will, I will be. I always tell her I'm like a raving lunatic, you know, like if I like something, I'm gonna go hard on it, you know, And I can tell you all I'm obsessed, like obsessed with my French, pear diffuser, and my.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [26:31.3] I think I got the lemon ginger grass candle. It's like they are just unbelievable. So, we will link everything if anyone is interested in, in getting one or 10 or whatever it is. But I think honestly, Itumeleng, like, you have got the most radiant personality.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [26:55.2] Like, I've met you in person, you know, you just like exude love. Like there's actually no other word for it. Iconics. Like, we're not good friends. We haven't known each other our whole lives. But like, whenever I see you, I just get this huge smile on my face because you've got like such a magnetic and loving energy about you.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [27:19.8] And I like, Gail, it was mind blowing to me when I heard you speak for the first time. That the thing that took so much from you is now the thing that is giving so much to you, you know, it is absolutely, like, boom.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [27:37.3] Like, just amazing and so inspiring and so happy to have had you on our podcast to share your hope and healing with us. And, it's just a phenomenal, phenomenal story, but you are a phenomenal, phenomenal woman.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [27:58.5] Thank you so much. I really, really, really appreciate that. And I think for me, honestly, it took me a lot for me to get here, and that's why I always be. Speak about the healing journey. I mean, like, when I launched the book, you know, I sort of felt like that was the last stamp to my healing.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [28:21.3] And then the candles then came through, and that still, like, started it all over again. And I always say that healing is not a destination, you know, it's a journey. But when you can embrace the journey, that's when you get to a point where you really, really start healing.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [28:40.2] Healing. And I think for me to even get to the point that I am now and to be able to exude that love, like you're saying, it's because I've had to go through it. I've had to start loving me again. I've had to start seeing me again.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [28:57.3] And I think everything starts with in. You know what I mean? Everything starts with self. And once you can get to a point where you start loving yourself the way that you need to, then you're, able to see and feel and love other people.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [29:15.0] But it all starts with self. But for me, it wasn't just a thing that happened. It was a. It was a long, journey that I was forced to go into because I hated myself for the longest.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [29:31.1] I resented how I looked like. I felt like I was a ghost. I felt like I didn't belong here. And. And. And I had to go through all of that for me to get to a point where I am now, where I'm able to even call people gorgeous.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [29:47.2] Because I feel like every single person needs to hear that. Every single person needs to hear that, hey, I'm beautiful. You are absolutely gorgeous. And me calling people gorgeous comes from that, you know, it comes from me being wanted to be called gorgeous and not even seeing myself as, like, a gorgeous girl.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [30:09.6] And, that is why I'm so intentional with, like, calling people gorgeous, with calling people beautiful, with saying, hey, you're beautiful. How are you doing, gorgeous? You know what I mean? Just to remind people that, you know what, you are an amazing human being. And I think it has to come from a point where I know exactly what I'm talking about.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [30:29.7] You know what I mean? So when I'm calling gorgeous, it comes from a deeper place for me because I've had to dig it through within me to say that, hey, I need to find that gorgeousness. You know what I mean? So, I think I'd love to leave your listeners with this.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [30:47.7] And it's a quote by Lao Tzu, and I really, really love this quote because it's just such a powerful one. And Lao Tzu says, mastering others, that is called strength. But mastering yourself now, that is called true power. And I think once you've found your true power, you become unstoppable.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [31:07.1] The world moves for you, the world just shakes for you, because it's like we've been. We've been waiting for such a force, you know, but it comes from a point of getting to know who you are and finding your true power.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [31:25.6] Wow.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [31:26.0] I can just see. I mean, we sitting on Zoom, and I can just feel. I can just feel it, and we're not even in the same room, you know, I can just feel your passion and. And, yeah, you just talking about that journey, I can feel. Not that I could ever understand what, 100.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [31:43.1] What did you say? 104 surgeries?
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [31:46.4] Yeah.
SPEAKER 2 - Gail: [31:47.8] Not that I could ever imagine what that must feel like. But I can feel the depths of your journey just when you talk about it like that, you know?
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [31:57.4] Wow.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [31:59.5] Thank you so much, Itumeleng. We will link everything about this gorgeous woman in our notes and on our website. If anyone wants to get hold of you or look at your products, we will link all of that.
SPEAKER 1 - Candice: [32:16.5] Thank you so much for giving of your time and for being vulnerable and sharing your story with us and our listeners. Itumeleng. And, I'm so lucky because I get to see you on Friday.
SPEAKER 3 - Itumeleng: [32:32.5] Thank you so much.
