MelCreates
Bio
Creative home cook sharing soulful South African meals and stories. Food is my therapy, culture, and love-one dish at a time.Follow for tradition,comfort,and connection.
Stories (19)
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Carried by Grace: How God Held Me Together
Life doesn't always go the way we imagine. I've walked through seasons of grief, heartbreak and loss that made me wonder if I'd ever find my way back. But in every single moment, one thing has remained the same God's grace.
By MelCreates6 months ago in Confessions
How I Learned to Grieve Someone Still Alive
I never thought it was possible to mourn someone who's still alive - until my younger brother changed in ways I never imagined. Not through accident or disability, but through emotional disconnection, addiction and slow fading of the person I once knew.
By MelCreates6 months ago in Humans
What it Means to Let Go and For Once Focus on Yourself
I've always been an introvert - a quiet girl who never needed much from people except peace. But somehow, from the time I was little, I became a people pleaser, always pouring from an empty cup. I spent years trying to fill a void I didn't even fully understand, only to realize later that some voids are not meant to be filled - they're meant to be released.
By MelCreates6 months ago in Journal
How sharing My Healing Journey Became My First Digital Breakthrough
In April thisyear, I felt completely overwhelmed. Everything in my life felt heavy - especially financially. I was deep in debt, relying on family even for basic needs, and unsure how I'd even find my way out. It's hard to dream when your biggest focus is survival.
By MelCreates6 months ago in Motivation
The Premature Baby Who Brought Our Broken Family Back Together
When my little sister graduated from varsity and moved in her first apartment, I felt like the beginning of everything. She had a good job, her own space, and had just found love. She was glowing- the happiest we had ever seen her.
By MelCreates7 months ago in Families
She Never Came Home the Same: The Day They Tried to Steal My Daughter
In 2023, I was already walking through the wreckage of my life. Just six months earlier, I had tried to end it all. I was drowning in depression, barely breathing through anxiety. Every day felt like a silent war with my own mind. I was trying to find pieces of myself again, slowly rebuilding from nothing.
By MelCreates7 months ago in Confessions
My journey with Faith: From Trials to Healing Through Cooking
I started attending Sunday school at the age of five. I grew up with a loving mother who supported me endlessly, even though life was never easy. I still remember when we moved out of our family home. My mom had just given birth to my baby brother in 1986 - through a C- section and we were renting a back room at our church, a Roman Catholic cathedral.
By MelCreates7 months ago in Families
"Khanyisile: The Light My Grandfather Couldn't See"
I'm still unsure if my grandfather ever truly loved me. I'm the oldest grandchild in my family, born just a year before my cousin who was always seen as the who needed attention. She had health issues growing up, allergies, sensitivities - so naturally, she was doted on. But that attention quickly became favouritism, and with it, came the feeling of being invisible in my own family.
By MelCreates7 months ago in Families
My Mental Health Comes First: How Cooking Saved Me
In 2022, towards the end of the year, my life spiraled into chaous. Everything I had built with love and hope suddenly felt like it was slipping through my fingers. I was running a small call centre focused on short-term insurance. I shared the space with few guys I had known for a while-men I had mistakenly confused for friends.
By MelCreates7 months ago in Humans
"Spinach, Song & A Stranger: How COVID-19 Brought Me Love"
In 2020, like many others, I was hit hard when our country went into lockdown on March 26th. I had just started a new job-something I was truly grateful for, even though it came with its own set of challenges. I had previously worked in a travel agency, which naturally came to a standstill. My former boss couldn't understand why I left, but the truth was-I needed to keep moving, just like life always does.
By MelCreates7 months ago in Confessions
My Brother Emmanuel
I grew up with my older brother Emmanuel, just three years apart. We were raised by our grandmother in a small household filled with chickens, a bably sibling, and a whole lot of love. Emmanuel was a foodie before we even knew that word meant. He had an appetite for everything- especially eggs straight from the chicken coop. I still laugh when I think about how he used to eat them raw, right there in the yard.
By MelCreates7 months ago in Families
