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I Choose to Live: Life After Losing Gugu
In July 2016, racing champion Gugulethu and his wife Letshego Zulu set off to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro along with the 42-strong team of the Trek4Mandela initiative. Tragedy strikes and Letshego returns to South Africa days later with her husband’s body in a coffin.
Told in mesmerising detail, this is the remarkable story of a wife’s courage and stamina to make sense of her loss and to find an authentic life after Gugu’s untimely death. Through her get-up-and-go attitude and insightful life lessons, Letshego’s journey shows that, despite adversities, it is possible to Choose to Live.
Told in mesmerising detail, this is the remarkable story of a wife’s courage and stamina to make sense of her loss and to find an authentic life after Gugu’s untimely death. Through her get-up-and-go attitude and insightful life lessons, Letshego’s journey shows that, despite adversities, it is possible to Choose to Live.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2019
14 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 13, 2019
Letshego Zulu brings us a story of love, courage, resilience, self-love and positivity. My eyes are still swollen from all the crying, my head is woozy and my body is exhausted yet the day has just begun.
Letshego showed strength and bravery to carry on. Her reclamation of her life months after Gugu's death, showed determination to live not only for herself, but for Lelethu and Gugu amidst uncertainty, heartbreak and heartache. I am so happy that she opened up her heart and life like this. I am so happy that she has and still has a group of people, family from both sides, friends, colleagues and a community, who carried her and still do during this difficult journey. The twelve lessons she shared had my heart in my throat. The start of part 3, "The Return", left an indelible ache in my heart. There is nothing bigger and more important than returning to oneself.
Accessible writing, no bells and whistles. The story is narrated with so much sincerity and bravery. As much there is sorrow in this tale, Letshego's power and strength shines through. This narrative is told from a position of ownership. This narrative is told by the one who owned her destiny.
Highly recommended. If you are facing an immensely difficult period in your life, pick this up. Read and reread part 2. It is not dictatorial in any way but you will glimpse a sliver of hope and cultivate a little faith that you too shall rise aboveground.
Letshego showed strength and bravery to carry on. Her reclamation of her life months after Gugu's death, showed determination to live not only for herself, but for Lelethu and Gugu amidst uncertainty, heartbreak and heartache. I am so happy that she opened up her heart and life like this. I am so happy that she has and still has a group of people, family from both sides, friends, colleagues and a community, who carried her and still do during this difficult journey. The twelve lessons she shared had my heart in my throat. The start of part 3, "The Return", left an indelible ache in my heart. There is nothing bigger and more important than returning to oneself.
Accessible writing, no bells and whistles. The story is narrated with so much sincerity and bravery. As much there is sorrow in this tale, Letshego's power and strength shines through. This narrative is told from a position of ownership. This narrative is told by the one who owned her destiny.
Highly recommended. If you are facing an immensely difficult period in your life, pick this up. Read and reread part 2. It is not dictatorial in any way but you will glimpse a sliver of hope and cultivate a little faith that you too shall rise aboveground.
April 21, 2020
I've written a review on my website:
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https://bit.ly/2VHJJTg
September 9, 2019
Gugu Zulu was a man loved by many. I was fortunate enough to interact with him over the years and was heartbroken, as many were, when he passed away. My respect for Letshego in how she has been able to forge ahead holds no bounds. This book is both a testament to the man Gugu was and the woman Letshego is. I am better for having read it. I
April 15, 2020
As much as I anticipated the tragic loss Letshego went through, the way she told the story was so personal and cut so deep that I cried so much when I was reading this. I felt every single emotion she was going through on Kilimanjaro, I also kept hoping Gugu would still make it even though I knew he has already passed away.
Letshego is so brave and I still dont understand where she got the strength to pick herself up after going through the tragic loss she went through. She is such a strong and amazing woman and I enjoyed the lessons in the book. The one thing that also cut me deep were the letters that everyone wrote for little Lelethu at the end of the book that she will one day be able to read in honour of her Dad. That was so touching and beautiful.
Letshego is so brave and I still dont understand where she got the strength to pick herself up after going through the tragic loss she went through. She is such a strong and amazing woman and I enjoyed the lessons in the book. The one thing that also cut me deep were the letters that everyone wrote for little Lelethu at the end of the book that she will one day be able to read in honour of her Dad. That was so touching and beautiful.
May 8, 2021
An easy read. The book is divided into 3 parts; the first covers details and events around Gugu’ s death and also how the couple met. The second part is about the life lessons Letshego embraced as she learnt to live without her life-long partner/soulmate. The lessons are written in a simple, relatable way with daily life examples provided. Lesson 5 (Chapter 13) is my personal favourite because in my opinion it summarises the essence of the book; which is choosing to live (and thrive) through all the experiences of life. The 3rd part covers Letshego’s triumphant journey to and from Kilimanjaro.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2020
What a traumatic event yet what a rise from tragedy to find the wings to still rise above the sudden loss of the love of your life. A beautiful narrative of Letshego’s lessons from this loss and finding her will to Live again. Loved the authenticity although felt she could have delved more into the man Gugu was, I appreciated the closing chapters of letters to Lelethu their young daughter from friends of Gugu these portrayed what a beautiful soul the young man was. Letshego’s tenacity & going against the grain is something to be admired.
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February 11, 2020Tough to digest but such an upgrade for one's thought. So greatful for Letshego's insight. She challenges women, societies and black nations to move with the times, in thoughts and actively!
July 10, 2020
It is a good read. Letshego and Gugu's love for one another brings hope to every reader. I can do this attitude of the author is what we all need in our lives.
November 21, 2019
I knew of Gugu from TV and following Motorsport. I have always thought he seemed like a really nice person and this book really enshrined that. I was so sad when I heard he had died.
Letshego’s writing is so full of energy, I laughed and cried deeply in equal measure. There is also so many lessons to learn that I will be returning to this book in years to come.
My thoughts are with all who knew Gugu.
Letshego’s writing is so full of energy, I laughed and cried deeply in equal measure. There is also so many lessons to learn that I will be returning to this book in years to come.
My thoughts are with all who knew Gugu.
January 7, 2020
Loved this book. A woman’s journey of loss of her loved one, conquering, survival and living her full life.
Thanks, Letshego for sharing you love story, the pain and choosing to live.
There’s so much to learn in this book, also a very inspirational and motivational book well written with simple tools and self affirmation.
Thanks, Letshego for sharing you love story, the pain and choosing to live.
There’s so much to learn in this book, also a very inspirational and motivational book well written with simple tools and self affirmation.
March 17, 2020
I haven’t been so emotional, reading a book before! 😭 I’m so happy to announce that this book is one of my favorites ever!
This book is beautifully written and so descriptive. The way in which Letshego shares this story is almost as if one was part of it. I appreciate it so much!
This book is beautifully written and so descriptive. The way in which Letshego shares this story is almost as if one was part of it. I appreciate it so much!
October 3, 2019
Loved this book. There are so many lessons to learn form this book.
Light, Love and Blessings to you Letshego and Lelethu.
Light, Love and Blessings to you Letshego and Lelethu.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews