RACA Journal I January 2026 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za 15
EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
negative –“ I can’ t, I’ m tired, I’ m not good enough” – it becomes self-fulfilling. Her antidote is deceptively simple: repetition of the positive:“ Yes, I can. Yes, I will. Yes, I’ m enough.”
Her message resonated deeply with an audience of engineers and technicians who are used to thinking in terms of systems, balance and efficiency. Israel translated those same principles into mental maintenance: check your inputs, release the pressure and clear the blockages – not of refrigerant, but of emotion.
© RACA Journal events and exhibitions
THE CHOCOLATE BUCKET AND THE HEAVY LOAD In one of her more memorable metaphors, Israel introduced the concept of the‘ chocolate bucket’ – a humorous but powerful analogy for emotional release. Just as systems need relief valves, people too must find ways to discharge built-up stress.
“ Imagine how heavy the bucket feels by December,” she laughed,“ carrying all our clients’ nonsense and the nonsense we create ourselves.” Her solution: empty the bucket regularly through movement, reflection or laughter – before it overflows.
Israel drew laughter as she described working for a painfully slow boss who once“ irritated the living daylights out of me” until she realised the lesson was patience.“ The minute I got the lesson I just let go. That’ s when growth happens,” she said.
The theme ran throughout her talk: that every frustration, whether it’ s traffic, a client or a colleague, can be reframed as a lesson rather than a punishment.“ When you’ re angry, you won’ t learn the lesson. But once you see the purpose, it all makes sense,” she warned.
LESSONS OF LETTING GO AND LOOKING UP Israel’ s closing moments turned reflective. She spoke candidly about forgiveness – drawing from personal experience – and left the audience with a quote that lingered long after the applause:“ The first to apologise is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest.”
The audience in attendance. She reminded everyone that mental health and personal growth are not luxuries but essentials for sustained success. Through her trademark humour, she encouraged the crowd to reconnect with joy, playfulness and gratitude.
As the event drew to a close, guests were left with more than just a good meal and good company. They carried with them a renewed sense of perspective – a reminder that while SAIRAC’ s members might be experts in cooling systems, sometimes what needs the most attention is the system inside ourselves.
And on that day at Woodmead, Israel conquered SAIRAC – not with weapons, but with words. RACA
The Fellows table.
© RACA Journal
Image supplied by Michelle Israel
Mariet Pieterse, SAIRAC Johannesburg secretary and Michelle Israel.
The SARACCA table: Left to right( visible faces only): SARACCA NEC member Phophi Nematangari, RPM Engineering Group MD Barry Wallett, SARACCA executive director David Botha, your editor and Brett Campher.
Image supplied by Michelle Israel
RACA Journal I January 2026 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za 15