Every now and then life slows us down just enough to remind us of something we know, but too often forget.
That everything changes.
Over the past few weeks I have been reminded, again, how fragile and fleeting this journey of life really is. I have lost two dear friends:
Jeanette Dryden, our beloved Homes of Distinction rentals agent who was part of our everyday lives for 26 years. Jeanette brought laughter, warmth and an unmistakable energy into the office every single day. She was larger than life in the best possible way and the silence her absence leaves behind reminds us how much one person can shape the spirit of a place. We extend our sincere condolences to John, Lauren, Heather and Grant, their families and loved ones.
Jeanette and I
I also lost a dear friend and long-time service partner, David Elliott from Pro IT Services. David was one of those people you could always rely on. Quietly dependable. Always willing to help. The kind of person whose presence made things feel steady.
On the 8th March my son Alex rode the Cape Town Cycle Tour (Argus) in David’s memory. It feels like a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much of himself to the people around him. He will forever be remembered.
David (left) and I on a cycling tour
Loss has a strange way of bringing life into sharper focus.
At Jeanette’s funeral, Marilyn Michau described a beautiful analogy. Imagine standing on the beach watching a yacht pass beyond the breakers, full of happy passengers and you are all happy and waving to each other until it slowly disappears out of sight beyond the horizon. From where you stand it feels like the end of the journey. But somewhere beyond your view, the boat is arriving at another shore where people are waiting and welcoming it in. I really loved the analogy and have chosen to use it to think about those we lose.
On the 18th of February 2026 the world also lost Clem Sunter, one of South Africa’s great thinkers. Clem spoke often about recognising and accumulating green flags in life: the signals that tell us we are heading in the right direction.
One of his quiet pieces of wisdom was that the real green flags in life are not wealth, status or success.
They are kindness.
Integrity.
Generosity.
And the way we treat people when there is nothing to gain.
Moments like these remind me that life is short, astonishingly short. And yet we live so much of it as though there will always be more time.
Because at the end of the day, the legacy we leave behind is not measured in career achievements or the things we accumulate.
It is measured in the way people remember how we made them feel.
And in the quiet ripples of goodness we leave behind in the lives of others.
Warm regards,
Jonathan Broekman
