Bettee de Groote is in her mid seventies but nothing daunts her, including tackling digital challenges head on. Here is her story.
‘After a high-powered job in Johannesburg with all the trimmings such as international travel, a personal assistant, vehicle, the lot, I, together with my husband, moved to the Cape, basically to get away from the rat race, internal politics and to seek a more peaceful existence.
The adjustment to the new life came understandably, with turmoil and was compounded by the fact that in my late 40s I could not find employment. I was treated like someone who had escaped from Noah’s ark. With surprise and disdain . . . why didn’t I just sit back and enjoy my “retirement”? At 48? Really? I felt as if my life was over.
But, since I was about 13 years of age I’ve had the inner knowingness that there is more to life than this physical body. Over time I had read much on death, reincarnation, NDE (near death experiences), etc. I joined a Mystery School where we were taught about life beyond the physical and I had finally found, for me, the answer.
I came to believe that
- we create our own reality
- we are spirit having an earthly (human) experience – not the other way round
- to always remember the greater scheme of things
- life is truly about choices
And most importantly, NEVER act as if we are victims.
I then realised that things and life do not happen to me and whatever happens there is always a lesson for me to learn from and move on.
Eventually I found a job as a receptionist with a branch office of an international company, in Cape Town. The requirement was for a woman in her late 40s, beyond child bearing age. I fitted the bill because I had decided very early on that I did not want children in this lifetime. Part of the job involved learning computer skills and this I tackled with a vengeance and loved learning what the mainframe computer had to offer.
In my spare time I was attending meditation courses and any talks on spirituality I could find. One evening I attended a full moon meditation when the presenter mentioned that she was looking for someone to organise her life. I heard bells ring and angels sing, literally! I knew then and there this was my calling. It took some convincing my intended boss, as she thought I was over-qualified. Fortunately she was persuaded and here I am 20 years later, and still loving it.
Over the years I have helped design course notes, kept track of courses, talks and retreat attendees and sent out notices on the database while taking care of the office routine, payment of accounts, arranging travel arrangements, etc.
In 2014 “The boss” wrote a book which I typed (640 pages) and eventually had to do everything to get it self-published. Wow, what an experience!
In the coming year I intend to add bookkeeping to my repertoire.’
Bettee, I love the choices you have made and how you were led to them. Thanks for sharing and inspiring.