Taking Stock: February 2016

Hey beautiful...

How are you?
Really.
How are you doing?
Are you happy?
How are your relationships?
How is your school/career progressing?
Are you anywhere near where you want to be?

A person of mine asked me this and it definitely did bring me back to a point of self reflection.
Sometimes we get so caught up in living we forget to actually consider how we are truly doing.

As we start this month number 2 of 2016, take time to check on yourself. Life is too short. If anything needs fixing, baby the time to fix it is now.

So anyway here is what I've been up to.
Enjoy :)

Making: Mental plans to come up with ideas for a blog for a school project. Why is writing so hard to do when you are under pressure????

Also I started keeping a journal again. Been doing it for a week but I feel this is one habit I will be glad I picked up. I can feel that healing coming to me already.

Cooking: A fried egg for dinner in the next few minutes.

Drinking: Lots and lots of herbal teas. I'm all about healing and I think relaxing teas at the end of a long day is totally a part of this process.

Reading:  Words from a Wanderer by Alexandra Elle. As mentioned earlier I'm at this point where I am focusing a lot of my energy into positive self healing and this anthology is full of positive affirmations about self that are truly uplifting.
Also just finished Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye. This one is sad. Like honestly is it even normal to imagine a life this miserable????

Playing: Color Switch. This one is cool. Hard and frustrating as fuck but fun.

Wishing: For a tablet. Like somebody hear my prayers and just gift me a nice little Samsung Tablet. I will be eternally grateful.

Enjoying: Something very brand new. And I am so happy.
*insert shy giggles here*

Waiting: To stun in some new skirts from Toi that are just the ones!!!!
Thrift shopping never disappoints.

Loving: February and the bright sunny summery days. The heat is annoying but the sun makes me so happy. Time to make memories :)

Watching:War room..or rather wanting to watch it. I hear it's a good one.

Hoping: That this little brand new thing I am loving lasts. Like never in my life have I wanted something to work out as much as I want this one to.

Marvelling: At my little adorable kittens. I am in love with those little creatures. So so in love.

Wearing: This black skirt that is giving me curves I wish I had. If anyone is asking why I was feeling all super fly today its because I was feeling like a had a Kim K booty. Lol.

Following: This blog which makes my ovaries do ten back flips everytime I open it.
Like is it even normal to have a family this cute. Is it?????

Feeling: PMS. And happy. But peaceful because I am all about those kind of vibes.

Bookmarking: Veon's blog. Because her taking stock posts make me happy.

Have a beautiful month lovelies.
Love and Sunshine.
Megan.❤

Also feel free to drop a comment if you did a Taking stock post too. Would love to read it :))

The Reflection Edition: 4/4

So for the final post in the series I was a bit unsure what to write about. In her blog, Tabitha only gave 3 sets of questions so I'm not sure where to take this. But it would be wrong to reflect without giving thanks.

Gratitude is important, everything that happens, happens because it was meant to. I believe in timing and sometimes life has this way of making sure her timing is always right. So give thanks: for the happy times, for the bad times, for everything in between.
Do you pray? Thank God for letting you see this year. If you count your blessings you will realise that life is where it all starts.

So here is my list of 22 things I am thankful for, randomly listed because choosing a number one would be way too hard:

1. My mother.
Because she is the only one I got. My cheerleader, provider, confidant and basically everything.
2. My brother.
We may have two very conflicting personalities. I probably will never fully get him and him me, but he is blood. And I am glad he is around.
3. My special friend (whose name I shall change to Mufasa lol).
He is pretty much one of the very few people whose opinion on my writing MATTERS heavily. I value the input he has added to my work and lately his friendship. I am also thankful for the random times I'd be having a bad day and a text from him, who was initially an acquantaince, would come through telling me how he thinks my work is pretty amaze-balls. People like him keep my flame burning because my desire in life is to be able to touch someone with my words. So thank you for being a pretty amazing human Mufasa :-D:-D
4. All the people who read my work.
I am thankful for everyone who dropped by my posts both here, on my other home Messed Up Too and even on the Story Moja Festival blog. I value feedback. And nothing put a smile on my face more than an email showing a new like or comment. Thank you for reading.
5. Friends, old and new.
I made some pretty awesome girlfriends this year. And I am thankful for lunch dates and conversations and basically having people willing to share a little bit of them with me.
6. The Story Moja Festival 2015.
When I applied to be a blogger for the festival I did not know what I was getting into. I just knew I wanted to write and to meet people as equally in love with writing as I am. It proved to be that and so much more, for the first time I found my people and I learnt so much and had such a phenomenal time being a part of that team.
7. My internship.
I talked about it before and even now I still cant believe how blessed I was to work in that company. I gained a new kind confidence as well as valuable career experience and basically it was a great time.
8.The places I have been to.
I haven't travelled that much this year. In fact the only major out of town place I went to was Amboseli. But I am still grateful for all the new places within the city that I dicscovered because they were all really beautiful. I'm a lover of nature, and even things as simple as going to the outskirts of Nairobi made all the difference in terms of helping me clear my head.
9. School.
I know it is easy to take the ability to learn for granted but I am glad that this year I never had to miss a class because of lack of fees. Education is power and I believe no knowledge ever goes to waste so for finishing yet another academic year peacefully, I am super thankful.
10. My blogs.
I started blogging to keep my writing talent alive. But as I kept at it, it became my platform to vent and to just let my mind race freely. What I love are the opportunities it creates: being able to confidently say that 'yes I am a writer', to the conversations it sparks. Blogging is definitely one of my highlights of this year. I am also thankful for my writing-the one thing I was always sure I could do, the one thing that makes me awesome :-)
11. Clothes.
I am not a fashionista but there is something about dressing up that always has a way of instantly uplifting my moods. So I think fashion is something to celebrate because at the end of the day once you look good, you gain a confidence that can help you conquer anything. 
12. Protection.
This is something I do not take for granted. There has been so much insecurity lately, in Kenya and around the world so I am thankful that through it all, me and mine were kept safe and I haven't lost anyone this year.
13. Books that changed my life.
Pen will always be mightier than sword. In my world at least. This year I read so many books and blogs that touched my heart. The biggest winner of course is Steve Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I also read the Hunger Games trilogy and the 7 People You Meet in Heaven which I think were some pretty amazing pieces of work.
This is the year I also discovered my favorite mordern age poets-Nayyirah Waheed, Rupi Kaur, Warsan Shire, Tapiwa Mugabe and Yrsa Daley Ward. Their words go straight to my soul and I was blessed to discover that kind of beauty.

14. Great restaurants.
I don't have a particular favourite place but I do have a favourite food so as far as food is concerned this year I'm thankful for FRENCH FRIES because fries=happiness :))

15. Jack my hairdresser and the ladies that do my braids.
As a lady I think it is key to have someone who helps keep your mane tamed. That for me is Jack who is an expert at processing hair and keeping these roots straightened. Also the ladies who have been braiding my hair since I was 7, mad love for them because they are awesome people.❤

16. My extended family.
We may not always see eye to eye but I am glad I have them. Family is everything

17. Home.
Nothing beats coming to your little place at the end of a long day and I do not take that for granted.
I am thankful that I have a place I can call my shelter.

18. Good health.
Surprisingly I haven't been that sick this year, except for a little cough I caught sometime earlier this year.
I certainly do not deserve it but the fact that I have barely seen the corridors of a hospital this year is something amazing.

19. All the lessons I have learnt this year.
I've grown. I can say that for sure. I am a little wiser even in the least of ways. I understand that letting go is a process and that it will hurt. I have learnt that fear is a bad thing and I am learning to stand my ground.
I am not the same person I was when I started this year. And the fact that I have grown is something I can celebrate.

20. Answered prayers.
I guess when time passes it is easy to forget those things that had our hearts in a storm but which somehow got fixed. I believe in praying over every little thing and for every little thing that was fixed because I prayed, well I thank God.

21.The internet.
There is a world of possibility out there. I know it sounds cliche but there is and this wonderful creation called the internet has helped link me to everything. And well that is amazing. From Cat videos, to phenomenal blogs to great music and even outfit inspiration, the internet is definitely one of the reasons I am happy to be alive in this era.

22. Turning 22.
It has been so much. I don't think I could write it all. I am glad I got to live to see my 22nd year. Not everyone made it this far and every day I am learning not to take that for granted.

Well I guess that's it. Possibly my last post of the year.
I thank God for everything.
And I thank Him for 2016, whatever it holds.

Have a blessed 2016 and thank you for dropping by. I would also love to know what you are thankful for :)

Love and light,
Me ❤

The Reflection Edition: 3/4

In between eating, making food and waiting to feel hungry again so I can eat I genuinely have not had time to finish up on this series because, well, Christmas.
Hope yours was beautiful too btw.

But I am back again to finish off what I started...

So

1. Do you have a female icon that you look upto? If so, who would that be and why?
For this particular year I'll pick Tabitha from of course Craving Yellow. An African Woman living in the diaspora, I feel she embodies what the mordern African Woman is all about: educated, stylish, bold and confident in her own skin. Her natural hair is errthaaang!!!! Lord knows the number of times I scroll through her Instagram and want to just go have the Big Chop and start all over again. In the past few months I have also found a lot of light in her self portraiture series posts, particularly this one. Her words are uplifting and I think that's why I'd pick her as my icon this year.

2. What do you do to chill out, say over the weekend or after work/school?
I nap. In fact, I take very long naps. I'm that good in bed.. I can sleep for hours!!

3. What's your greatest value in life? (Patience, Selflessness etc)
Kindness. It's something I respect. It is a virtue I want to build. In a world where it's all about chasing your individual happiness, the ability to give your love, time, self and resources is something I truly value and I hope to cultivate this more as I get older.

4. If you could improve one area of your life, what would it be and why?
I'd improve who I am socially.
I guess I still haven't changed much from the socially awkward teen I was. Which sucks. I feel I could do better at opening up to people and building solid meaningful friendships. And next year I want to work on not being so scared around new people and strengthening the few ties I have.

5. What's your favourite online shop?
The online shopping bug is still yet to hit me. But I would sincerely like to thank my local thrift market, TOI, for keeping me fly on a serious budget this year. Mad love to it❤

The Reflection Edition : 2/4

Okay so now we are live with part 2.

1. Name one person in your life that has made all the difference this year.
Mum. Just because she is every super hero ever invented and soo so much more. My woman. My super woman.

2. What aspect about yourself have you grown to love this year?
My booody. I am perfect. Even with my size 10 feet and barely A cup and tiger stripes on my behind. I love me. Soo so much.

3. What is your absolute favourite movie or series of the year?
Power. Because Omari Hardwick. Enough said.

4. What's been difficult this year? What/Whom have you lost?
Letting go of some pretty strong bonds. It took a lot. Soo many tears and wondering if I did the right thing letting these people go. But sometimes we let go so we move on. And I know that they had to leave for a reason.

5. What are your holy grail beauty products of the year?
Arimis Jelly. Do not judge! But honestly it is the best 85 shs I ever spent. Super mild and super moisturing. I recommend it for smooth hands and feet though some people swear by its Acne healing ability.
Also Matte  Red Lipstick. The bolder the better. I mean you just cannot not have a nice liquid matte lippie to brighten even the dullest of days.

Love,
Me. ❤

The Reflection Edition: 1/4

This blog suffers from one thing: neglect. I guess that can be blamed on the blog for the equally as messed up. But I thought that as I end this year, the least I could do is come back to where it all started and reflect on what chasing dreams felt like in 2015.

It's been a good year. Scratch that. It has been a very good year. And I am thankful for all the epic shit I did, beautiful people I met and unforgettable memories I made. Even for the lows that colored some days dark, I am still thankful for those too.
So to celebrate another year chasing dreams I thought to follow the prompts that Craving Yellow is using in her blog here to talk about everything that this year was and wasn't as I look forward to 2016.
So here goes...
PART 1 OF 4

1. What was your happiest moment this year?
Sooo many. I travelled, made new friends, worked hard, drank (clear liquids lol) and enjoyed every minute. 
I discovered my comfort zone and then the place right outside and the experiences that came with saying 'why not' instead of 'why' filled me with so much life.
Basically this year, those were the moments I enjoyed, those moments I made a concious decision to LIVE.

2. What significant transition have you made this year?
Moving into that unknown zone outside my place of comfort. That statement captures so much because it doesn't just mean doing daring things. It meant walking away from relationships that were more exhausting than uplifting despite that lonely feeling that follows. It meant something as simple as saying hello to strangers because ignoring them was way too easy. It meant taking risks. That wasnt easy but making those changes were some of the best decisions I have made this year.

3. What new food did you discover this year?
Steers Fries. Because they are life. And I frankly dont know what else. I am still yet to perfect some recipes so I cant post about that. But yeah. Fries. Not because they are anything new. But because fries=life :-D

4. What book/author/blogger did you find super informative this year, and why?
This one I'd say my Nayyirah, Warsan and Yrsa. Because their various anthologies: Salt and Nejma, Teaching my Mother to Give Birth and Bone speak to my soul. And they made me fall in love with words again.
And of course Tabitha of Craving Yellow. I am not a Naturalista, still thinking about going that way though but her blog is just amazing and filled with so much love and light it is amazing. ❤❤

5. What new spaces/places did you discover this year?
Amboseli was EPIC. I'd write about it but you know what happens in Vega.. I mean Amboseli stays in Amboseli lol. :D

6. What fear did you overcome this year?
Definitely the fear of trying. I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't tried applying to be a Story Moja Fest blogger. Or if I hadn't tried to go above and beyond to make my internship as fulfilling as it was. I wonder how I would be ending if I hadn't tried hanging out with strangers.
So many beautiful things happened because I said no to that fear.
And that's why I can say this year maybe I did actually do some dream chasing. And I got a little bit closer

So how has 2015 been for you?
Comment, email or even blog about it and tag me or drop a link.
You can use the questions above or add your own.
I just hope as you reflect you may find beauty worth celebrating and more reasons to be thankful for this year.
Love and light,
Me ❤

P.S next post coming up tomorrow :)

Taking Stock in October:)

I shouldn't be writing this. I have an exam in a few hours. I should read. But look where my very low attention span has me ending up? I apologize for my silence. With the past few weeks trying to keep up with my blogging for the Story Moja Festival and posting content on my new baby I just haven't had time for this site. Also school. School is the reason. For me neglecting this blog. For my stress. For headaches. For global warming. For everything negative including bad WiFi lol :D.

But I hope you, my dear readers are well. I miss you guys. And the occasional sweet comments you tend to leave. I promise a post on how the Story Moja Fest went once I can clear up my schedule a bit. Believe me it was everything and a bag of Awesome Ugandans lol. In the meantime here is a little Taking Post because let's face it you have nothing better to read or why else are you here? 

Enjoy.

And have a month filled with beauty, flowers and dreams coming true.

Love and Light.

Me xoxo.

Cooking: (next question please)

Eating: Alpenliebe sweets. Because caramel just makes me melt :))

Drinking: Water. I can finally finish a litre of that h20 easily and I have been doing this daily for almost 2 weeks now. Yaay me:). I notice the difference too. My legs look great. Yes my legs. Because they are very sensitive to positive changes in my diet. So this is me joining the drink more water bandwagon, try it:))

Reading:Salt by Nayirrah Waheed. Best anthology I have come across, except that one she also wrote called Nejma. And of course Bone by this steaming cup of melanin called Yrsa Daley-Ward which is equally awesome. Poetry is where I find the unspoken words of my soul and those poets are just life!!

I downloaded the three from Kindle thanks to some super amazing offer sometime in September. Loove them.

Wishing:That 18th could get here already. I have a trip I am craazy excited about and I wish we could fast-forward to that time and then let that weekend last forever. Also to blog about it or not? Hmmm.

Enjoying: The sunshine

Dear el nino, please take your sweet sweet time getting here.

Waiting: To do an exam at 2 p.m.

Loving: Some sweetheart people I have been hanging with lately. They may be strangers but they are such sweethearts(although they may be too G to admit it). Love you guys :**

Watching: Nothing. But tomorrow the Love and Hiphop addiction continues after my paper. Also I realized I have a thing for trash TV. Like my new program of interest is E!'s WAGS.

Hoping: That my grades this semester will be decent. Because hoping for perfection is a bit of a stretch. Degrees are hard. Think twice before doing them. Seriously.

Listening: To Miguel's album Wildheart. It is everythaaang! Some of the lyrics are kinda twisted, but you can always skip those tracks right? But his is what I like to think of as whiskey music. The kind of music to get you all zoned out while you sip a little something something on the rocks. And his voice is just soo yummy. I am in love. So so much love.

Wearing:Red lipstick. I feel like I may have a lipstick smudge somewhere though. It's one of those days.

Following: Nayirrah Waheed's instagram. Best poetry page I have come across thus far.

Feeling: Nothing. Like this whole waiting for afternoon papers is not my thing.

all my images from Google.

MEG'S 5 MORE LESSONS LEARNT FROM HER INTERNSHIP- 2ND TIME AROUND

So, remember when I did this post about what I learnt the first time I dared myself to commit to an internship. It was a very interesting post especially now that I feel I am a totally different person from that girl who was 5ft 8 who wrote that.
Since then I have grown. Literally. I had my BMI checked recently and since then I have added an inch in height and two kilograms in weight which I believe has gone to some desirable areas . *cue Destiny's Child's Bootylicious here*


Aaaanyway.

I really didn't think my recent internship warranted a full post. It has taken a lot to let go of a place I finally felt content in. The past few months I have been in such a good place, revisiting that happiness would mean going through the whole emotional roller-coaster I had when I had to end it all and let go and  believe me doing that shit is hard.

Sometimes I feel that the world as it is is so full of unhappiness it feels like letting go of happiness in pursuit of whatever life holds ahead means exposing yourself to all the bad that comes before the next time you feel happy again and I never feel ready for that. Not now after coming out of a seriously grey moment in my life when I almost went completely under. 

But after reading Miss I's post on how her first day at Google Dublin went I feel inspired to just share a little glimpse of what happy in my life felt like through these lessons I learnt in the past 3 months so here goes..

MEG'S 5 MORE LESSONS LEARNT FROM HER INTERNSHIP- 2ND TIME AROUND

1.No matter how you feel, GET UP DRESS UP NICE AND SHOW UP.

It wasn't easy. Let us start there. Some days especially when you are all new, the thought of showing up each day is scary. The uncertainty around how that day will be and if you are in the right place can be overpowering but I have learnt that there is progress in doing whatever you are called to. Even on those days when everything around is telling you to quit be strong enough to get up, dress up and show up. That's all you have to do. Every thing else will take care of itself just be there.

2. Don't Overthink think it. Just do it.

I reference my previous worry on uncertainty. Sometimes self doubt comes over you like a dark cloud and makes you question everything. But don't do that. The worst that could happen to you at any point is that you will make a mistake and you will learn from it so stop stressing just go ahead and act. And if you fail, remember you can go nowhere but up.

< I apologize for how I just referenced Justin Bieber :))>

3. Take a risk, Take a chance. Make that change.

Yes, I have just quoted Kelly Clarkson but those lyrics really got me through. I learnt to be more confident in the past few weeks than I have in my whole life and I blame my colleague and my mama who told me once that I should just be confident because that's what matters. And as cliche as this sounds, this actually works. Whether it is being confident enough to reach out to that colleague who you know would make a great friend or mentor or approaching that boss so he can give you that assignment that you really know will give you the exposure you need; confidence will take you to heights you never knew you could reach. And along the way you will unlock some levels of strength you never knew you had.

4. Be grateful.

This spirit of thanksgiving is what got me through the hardest goodbye because giving thanks for the time I had was the only thing I could do to show appreciation for the opportunity I received. Every evening I made a conscious decision to tell God thank you and to ask him to remind me never to forget to do so. Any time someone gave me assistance with anything I would always say a little thank you, no matter how insignificant the assistance seemed. I did it simply because the gift of life isn't a guarantee. No one is born entitled to the opportunities that come their way so because all this is a gift that can be taken away, it is only right to recognize the fact that you have been blessed.

5. Lastly, enjoy, make memories and never forget them.

I do not regret any of the moments I had at firm X. I cherish the awkward introductory talk during my first days at work that grew to casual discussions over lunch that grew to taking selfies during sponsored golf tournaments and eventually getting to know strangers better. Those are the moments that made it unforgettable. And there is nothing more comforting than knowing that even if you never see a stranger again, the one thing you are sure you shared is a smile.  Whatever you are going through, take a minute, smile and enjoy whatever element of beauty is in it.

So this was a quickie so I guess that's it. If I could I could list all the names of the beautiful souls I got to work with and a sincere message of gratitude next to the bundles of love and well wishes I would attach I would. But I can't ;((

Instead I will just say dear people of company X where Meg worked recently, thank you for giving me a chance.

And for my dear readers, thank you for reading and I hope the lessons I shared can help you get through whatever you are going through.

Love and light always,

Meg.

Who am I? Really?

I never thought a day would come when my brain would rather think of writing pieces that revolve around me and not about fictional people I wish I knew.
But I guess that's just how it is. One day you love fiction and telling stories about others and the next you become this vain person whose favorite subject is yourself.
So this is me putting it out there that I am vain. Very.
I can spend hours making trips to the mirror just to look at myself and I take only a trillion selfies when I feel pretty.
But the most vain thing about me is that I AM MY OWN MUSE.
Everything about me seems to inspire me to write.
I write about myself when I am in love or lust or something in between.
I write about me when I am sad.
I write about me when I do something good.
I condemn myself when I feel I have not been a very good human being.
I write about my beauty and my insecurities.
I write about my dreams and my feelings.

I write about what I love.
I write about what I hate.
I am insanely fascinated by me so of-course my favorite topic to write about is ME.
Yes, vanity is real. Don't judge me. Or Kanye. Or all the other vain people in the world.
We don't want to be this way but we can't help the fact that we find ourselves so amazing.

But as I write about myself, the one question I constantly grapple with is who I am.

On some days I feel inspired and ready to take on the world, does that make me an alpha type of person? The truth is due to some serious genes I have classic serious Choleric tendencies. Sometimes.
But some days I want to do not a damn thing at all. I want to just sit around watch life pass me by and just be in my lazy happy place, am I hippie? The true phlegmatic. Some days that's who I am and who I wish I could always be.
And sometimes I become this Melancholic Person. The poet inside me prefers quiet,lonely time so that the creative juices can go crazy. That person thrives in silent spaces that allow me to be in touch with my deepest feelings.And I am in love with her.
But some times there is also this wild, full of energy fun-loving persona I become. In fact for some people that is the only person they know because they bring her out. And I love this version too.

And that's where I get confused because society expects us to be one thing and I am these four people and infinite shades of what lies in between so that's why the question comes up, who am I?
Really?

See,what I love about being alive is the fact that each day brings endless possibilities to exist in whichever way seems appropriate at that moment. Life means today I can wake up and decide to be this strong leader commanding the masses to move whichever direction I want and tomorrow I can choose to be the follower hiding unnoticed in the shadows.

Yet society does not appreciate this.

The society we live in insists on putting everyone in these boxes and condemning those who do try to get out of them.
If you are a leader you are expected to be one always even when you do not feel like being one. People do not believe in giving others breaks.
And if you are a bad, you are a branded a bad person even when you do try to be good you can not because the box society puts you in dictates that no good can ever come out of you. Ever.

I may have been a victim of this. And I may also have been a perpetrator of this.
Because at times it is not always easy to accept others for who they are and not treat them differently when they exercise their right to exist freely.
But because I was or can be both does not mean that is who I am.
I am good and bad and happy and sad and pure and impure and all these things. Who I am at one point is not who I will be.

My being is a complex totality of all these things I choose to be and I am happy to live as this complexity.

Everyone has this right too- to be who you were not yesterday and to again be someone totally different tomorrow.
The fact that you are a human being living your life in a way that makes you happy does not mean you are bad. You are just human and the world should respect you for being this.

So again I ask the question, who am I?
Really?
Truth is I don't know.
And I am not even going to try to figure me out.
I am simply Me, Whoever Me is at the moment.

The only thing I am sure of is I have learnt not judge you for being you. So go ahead and do you. Whoever or whatever you want to be at the moment.

<all my pretty images from tumblr and google images>

Taking Stock in Joyful July

Time does go quickly. It's a new month and while a part of me is battling with letting go of the happy feels and memories the last month brought, I also want to celebrate time.

I think the beauty about it is how it has this ability to do so much:
As time passes by, it brings new pain with the same energy that it heals old wounds.
As time passes by, it brings change with the same energy that it shows you how you can also stagnate if you refuse to deal with it.

Change scares me a lot. But the promise of better days to come, better memories and greater love, even though they will come after a lot of pain and hurt, keeps me still open to its scary winds.
So as this month begins, I hope to cling to that promise and I hope you will too.


Happy July beautiful earthlings...

And now for my taking stock post:

Cooking: Tomato soup. I have a recipe which I totally nailed the first time I tried it. Feeling all Gordon Ramsey right now. Tomato soup and fresh bread anybody?

Drinking: Let me lie and say lemon tea. Because I am dreaming of that right now.

Reading:The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty. A friend rated it highly so I hope I'll fall in love with it too.

Playing: Colouring. Because I realized I am an eight year old at heart and so I decided to download a coloring app on my phone. Please do not judge me. Please :)

Wishing Grateful: For the gift of everything. I am alive and blessed to be. And I am blessed to have so many beautiful people around me who are literally just diamonds in my life. I thank God for them and for everything. Today let me take a minute to not want but to celebrate.

Enjoying: Life. And the simple things like taking a nice long walk to work with your music playing loud on a cold day. I am starting to feel a little more happier and at peace. Or rather I am starting to embrace a life filled with more positivity and peace. And it feels so good.

Waiting: ummm... for a lot so pass.

Loving: My very damaged but finally starting to grow a bit hair. Shout out to everyone on a hair journey like me.

Watching: Being Mary Jane season 2. There is a plot twist somewhere I really didn't like (read we want David back) but c'est la vie. I am still addicted.

Hoping: That the semester I am about to start will be bearable. At the very least.

Marvelling: At how I have a mother who is the number diamond in my life. Cheers to women who go hard for their children. If it wasn't for the blessing of an old school, loving and hardworking mama, I'm not sure where I'd be. And my daddy too. His legacy still illuminates my life 3 years after his passing. I had and still have the greatest parents ever.

Wearing:Matte red lipstick. I reference my history of being a lipstick junkie :)

Following:A bunch of smart intellectual cookies on twitter. Yes, I decided to join the twitter-verse because apparently that's where all the witty, cool and creative people are. A welcome change from the filth you sometimes can't quite get away from on Facebook. Follow me before I retreat into introverted writer mode and make my account private. I just might follow back.
My handle is  @the_amateurpoet

Feeling: Unsure. But peaceful. Praying in the morning helps by the way.

 

Bookmarking:  One Magunga's blog. Writers like him are the reason I am even more excited for the Story Moja Festival this year. It would be such an honour to meet the brains behind this fantastic site.

Once again, happy July loves. I hope this month will bring nothing but Joy, love, inner peace and every good thing that could possibly happen to you.

One more thing, my quote for the month.....

(all images from Google)

Okay. Bye :-**

Rules for Queens rocking their invisible Tiaras.

Hey you!

You with the pretty smile, despite your little overbite and the skin so flawless it makes the sprinkle of acne look like a million beauty spots.

I write this because I realized you, like me, are a queen. See sometimes even queens need to be reminded of their place. This life game gets a little too complicated and sometimes we forget who we are. When this happens we find that our tiara doesn't seem to sparkle the way it should.
And that isn't right because there is nothing as bad as a royal that goes around unaware of its status.
So fellow royal, let me remind you of a few rules. A few things to do to make sure your sparkle keeps on illuminating the world as it should.

1. Always remember to be thankful.
See our kind of royalty is a privilege. Every day it is a blessing to wake up and exist as a woman specifically a queen. The fact that we were given this body capable of bringing new life to this planet is an honour. That's why we are royalty and we owe it to ourselves to be thankful to the one who crowned us this. So my dear queen be thankful- for life, for health, for food, for family, for friends, for clothes, for your house, for your beautiful body, for the fact that you didn't get hit by a car on your way home, for that colleague who covers for you when you are late, for your cat that makes you happy. Be thankful FOR EVERYTHING SINGLE THING.

2. Always be kind.
Royalty shines brighter because of the brilliant heart inside. Always be kind.  Let the light of your beautiful heart shine through in everything. Give yourself: physically and emotionally and let your kind heart shine goodness into the lives of others.

3. Always look stunning- but do it just for you.
You are royal honey. Vanity is allowed. So don't be afraid to spend an hour doing your makeup in the morning and a fortune on your hair. And feel free to take a million selfies after ( say yes to the filter btw). Why? Because what's wrong with letting the outside match the inside as long as you are doing it to make yourself happy. And if high maintenance is not your thing, don't let anyone stop you. If you are having an oversized t-shirt and messy hair kind of day, that's cool too. Whether your style is simple and conservative or tattoos and piercings type of edgy and everything in between, you need to learn to rock that image happily. You owe no one an apology for the choices you make concerning your appearance because it is your body and you have the right to choose how you want it to appear.

4. Wear every colour- except green.
Honestly, a real queen has no reason to feel intimidated by another. Therefore thou shall not ever perceive another royal and feel jealous. Those are her blessings, do not feel obliged to count them on her behalf. Understand that every queen is on her own journey, you have no business offering anything but support and love to her.

5. Own and enjoy your femininity.
Just because you are a modern day fire spitting feminist does not mean you have any less of a right to act like a female and expect males to be okay with that. You have a right to be a woman because you are one. There is nothing wrong with being unashamedly proud of your feminine curves and having maternal dreams. There is nothing wrong with being a hopeless romantic. There is nothing wrong with expecting the male in your household to take the lead. There is nothing embarrassing about your menstrual period and expecting the people in your life to always be ready to do those Buscopan and tampon buying rounds when the cycle pain gets crazy. There is nothing wrong with expecting gentlemen to open doors for you and walk on the side closer to the road when walking on the side walk with you. It is not a sign of weakness. It just means you love your status and the benefits that come with it.

6. Be a sexual being, just don't let everybody know about it.
Chimamanda, one of ultimate queens observes that girls are raised to believe that they aren't supposed to be sexual beings in the same way men are. I concur with her. That mentality is utter BS. I think a queen owes no one an apology for the choices she makes with regards to this. If you want to be celibate and save your little gift for the right one, go you! Don't let social media tell you this isn't cool. But if you choose to play with it like Max from +2 Broke Girls, go ahead do you. Queen's advice: don't go advertising your goodies everywhere. Your sexuality is your a personal choice and a real queen is DISCRETE.

7.  Play hard. Work Harder.
The honest fact is the glass ceiling still exists even for queens like us. So the only way to smash through it is to work as hard as the same kings we work with or even harder. The life of your dreams won't just come to you on a silver platter. This isn't the movies. So work hard. Have a dream and fight tooth and nail to achieve it.

8. Have your people. And make it a point to show them that you love them everyday.
A queen is a queen because of the fellow kings and queens who keep her sane enough to keep at this life thing every single day. A queen is a queen because of her sisters( by blood and by choice) who stood by her when she was down and helped her get back up. A queen is a queen because of the brothers( again by blood and by choice) who have been there for her, protect her and constantly remind her how she should be treated by a King. Therefore a queen knows not to take these people for granted and she makes it a priority to show them her eternal love and friendship every single day.

9. Know yourself and fall in love with yourself.
Queens know better than to seek approval from others. They know that they can only accept and love others if they know and accept themselves. So always take time to know yourself dear queen. Spend time reflecting on your thoughts, why you act the way you do and generally who you are.Take care of that person physically, mentally, emotionally and physically.  Learn to love that person and in loving that person always strive to improve that person. Learn to fall in deep unconditional love with that person and never let anyone question that unending confidence and belief you have in that queen.


and lastly number 10.

10. Always remember to wear that invisible tiara. 
Wear it because you are proud to be that queen you were born to be. Wear it so that you always have that confidence to face whatever life will hit you in the face with. Wear it because you are unique and are unashamedly proud of your individuality. Wear it because you are royal and you deserve the best that life can offer.
Wear it and do that Naomi Campbell strut as you go through life with your head held high looking gorgeous and confident in who you are. 
Wear it because you owe not a damn person an apology for being YOU.

Love and light,

M, a fellow queen.

(all my awesome images are sourced from google images)

LIBERATION

I am learning now that the world does not revolve around me.

I can feel bad about that.
Unwanted.
I can feel like I am incapable of leaving an indelible mark in the universe.

I can cry, feel lonely and uncared for because of that.

Or I can use that as an excuse to finally go freely in the crazy, wild path of my dreams,free of baggage,

knowing more than ever that I owe not a damn person an apology for my existence.

So now I choose LIBERATION.

Taking stock: It's June!!

Can you believe it is June already?
First half of the year practically gone. I didn't know I'd make it this far but I did it. Surprise!
And look at you, if you are reading this you are alive so go you!
Look at you surviving and everything. Isn't the gift of being alive such a blessing?
Anyway as I look at my ultimate to do list for the year 2015 and see how many items I can confidently cross off, how about taking stock right?
So here goes...

Making:Umm... does preparing working papers count? Because at work that is pretty much 90% what I do. The other 10% constitutes convincing myself not to use company wi-fi to blog and drinking tea.

Cooking: Nothing. Let's stop lying to ourselves we are the classic cooking and cleaning female right? Personally, I am not.

Drinking:Tea. And later I will take mama's  yummy freshly made Mango Juice.

Reading: Noviolet Bulawayo's 'We need new names'. Or rather just finished reading it.
Amazing I tell you. Watch out for my review on it on the StoryMoja festival blog.

Playing: Not a damn thing. I gave up on Redball after level 2. Games just aren't my thing.

Wishing: That time could stand still. I work at this amazing company with the most patient and amazing people, I hate how this internship has to end in a few weeks. *sad face*

Enjoying: My new black opal lip-stick in vampire red. The lip-stick junkie in me is in lip-stick heaven. Talk about great buys.

Waiting: To go home. Trying to give this job my best is so damn exhausting.

Loving: This new literary creative streak I am on. The words have been flowing freely lately. I even participated in the May Short story contest . Even though I didn't win, I love the piece I wrote. Thinking of maybe re-publishing it on this here blog.

Watching: Keeping up with the Kardashians? Haven't had time to go to my regular DVD guy for a fix so re-watching old episodes on E! is what I'm about.

In other unrelated  news, Caitlyn Jenner can gerrit! Whatever your stance is on the whole trans-sexual agenda, you have to admit she came out looking amazing. And if you have no idea what I am talking about, Google is your best friend darling.

 Anyway back to taking stock:

Hoping: That this rain doesn't start till I am safely in bed. I have no issues with this wet and cold Nairobi weather but how it inconveniences everything when it starts suddenly in the middle of the day is not cool.

Marvelling: At how everything always works out in the end. I'm learning that with God, and a little faith, it will work out in the end. And God's timing no matter how much we get impatient with it is always the best.

Wearing: Typical work gear: Formal pants, shirt and a warm cardigan.

Following: Miss I's blog. This girl knows what's up when it comes to growing in the corporate world. Love it!

Feeling: Anxious. I have no idea why :/
 

Bookmarking: This lifestyle blog. Cool stuff right there. 

Thank you for taking stock with me and if you do a taking stock post as well comment below. Would love to read it.
Stay positive and love yourself a little more this June.

Hugs and Kisses,
Me.
:))

Taking Stock:Quarter Way There.

Hello and Happy New Month. We are officially a quarter way done with 2015 and what a great time to take stock and see how you have come along with this year.  So take a minute to look back on the goals you had set for the year. How far have you come in achieving them? Are you still moving in the direction you had set out or has life made you change course and you need to re-define yourself? As we continue chasing our dreams and figuring out this phenomenon called life it is good to have a little benchmark which we can use to compare our progress. So this month take a minute to reflect, take stock and psyche yourself to move on.

Anyway, here is my taking stock post for this quarter. Enjoy and if you are a blogger I challenge you to copy this template and share it on your blog.  It is a quick and easy way to share a little of your beautiful mind so that your readers get to know more of who you are.

Making: Countless draft posts for the Story Moja Blog. This year I'll be writing for the Story Moja Blog and I am super excited to see what my brain is capable of creating.

Cooking: Not a damn thing at all. Eating, on the other hand a lot of freshly made chapatis.
*takes a break to grab some tea*

Drinking:Hmmm..  to lie or not to lie? Okay so I took Jane Mukami's 21 day water challenge and failed miserably. I think I'm just not the biggest water fan. But I know this must change so I will still embark on this quest to make water a habit.

Reading: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. I have searched for this book for a while and I am super happy to have finally got it.

Playing: Hill climb Racing on my phone. Weird? I know. But for some reason I am just addicted to this simple game. I am also into a lot of brain training games. For anyone who also wants apps that can help boost your mental abilities e.g multi-tasking, arithmetic abilities etc I recommend the following Android Apps: Peak, Lumosity and Elevate. All available in the Playstore.

Wishing:I could pause and rewind time. These days just go by so fast. Sigh.

Enjoying: My holiday. I have been sleeping for like 18 hours a day and I have no regrets. One thing that is for sure is that I earned it.

Waiting: To start my new internship next week. I feel this weird mix of excitement and nervousness. I hope this one will go well.

Loving: My new braids. I feel so ready for the rainy season now.

Watching:(and re-watching) Empire.
So,  if you have no idea what this show that has taken over the entertainment spotlight is all about, I am sorry we just cannot be friends. We cannot at all. :-)

Hoping:(and praying) that all will be well with the victims of the recent Garissa Massacre. My prayers are with them and with this nation. May the Lord protect us from all evil.

Marvelling: At the beauty of sunset. Nature is just so beautiful.

Wearing: My pyjamas as I type this. They  feel so cuddly and soft.

Following: Andrew's blog. This cool friend has this way of writing that is just amazing. Love it.

Feeling: A myriad of emotions. Worried, peaceful, restless, grateful, nervous. I don't know. Could be PMS.

Bookmarking: The Story Moja Blog

AND IN OTHER NEWS..
I know I have been dropping hints the entire post. But once again let me say that I am looking forward to being a contributor for  this year's story Moja Blog. I am super excited because it will be a platform for me to play around with my talent. So watch out for my posts on Thursdays and Fridays. I will also try to repost some of the articles after they appear.
Last year the very same blog featured some amazing articles so I highly recommend you bookmark it as we wait very anxiously for this year's edition of the Story Moja Hay Festival.

Love,
Me aka Meg the Amateur Poet.

Keep Calm.Press Pause.

This goes out to everyone struggling to keep their shit together.

*****

You know what I need? A break.
Like a serious time out from everything and everyone.
An extended period of nothingness to recover from life.
Why?
Well, like every other twenty year old, I am at that stage where shit is starting to get real.
Like suddenly everything from relationships to career to wellness just seem so overwhelming and I feel so ill-prepared. And I think this is funny considering how quite a large number of people around me SEEM to have it all together. While I on the other hand, am on the opposite end of the young people getting it together spectrum.
The terrific twenties are a point when one is this fireball of energy blazing through life.
It's awfully hard to do this when one isn't even sure if they are content with the path they chose to follow.
It's crazy.
It's like the walls just keep closing in and all these questions just keep haunting me at night.
Am I happy? Am I where I am meant to be? Am I doing the right thing with myself?
Are the decisions I made, convinced of their rightness, leading me down the wrong path?

Is this what being in my twenties is all about?
Are all those who seem to be all self actualized really just putting a facade?
Because they never show us the side of the struggle that isn't rainbows and butterflies.

Basically, a girl needs answers. A sort of reassurance that everything will be okay.
Actually, everybody who is at this breaking point needs that reassurance.

So that's what I am going to do. I will just take a break and remember why I chose this path.
Fall in love.
It's time to fall in deep love with my path again.
Maybe I'll also find the reason why my path chose me instead and in doing so find the strength to handle the sideshows that accompany my journey.

Even though I am in this state I am at least lucid enough to still believe in fate and the fact that I am exactly where I need to be.
God never gives anyone anything they were not wired to handle.

Love,
M.

http://www.thisisess.com/2013/08/being-in-your-twenties.html

Sisterhood of the Bloggers Award TAG

I really do not have much time to write this. Honestly, I have a CAT to read for and an anthology to compile and I need to get home but because when duty calls you obey, here I am. So please bear with any typos.

Let me first start by telling you about the most beautiful feeling in the world: appreciation.
Just think about what it feels like to be told a simple "thank you, you are awesome". That magical feeling  you get when somebody takes a minute to recognize the awesomeness you bring into the world. I don't know which compliments make you feel amazing but mine come in the form of the recognition of my writing. Like, that feeling when somebody looks at something I wrote and acknowledges it. I love that.

As a blogger and writer, I also believe in passing that high to other people and with that let me begin.

This beautiful internet has decided to appreciate we beautiful female bloggers and I definitely want to be a part of this.
So, I was nominated by +tesh imani and here goes a few randomly answered questions in celebration of this lovely Sisterhood of World Bloggers Award.

But before I go on I would like to nominate the following females who I think are doing great with their writing and the world should watch out for them;

+Kanyiri Laiboni of  Space Cadet Theories and Musings
+Michelle Moxie of The African Girl
 +Shasha Rshan of Beauty for Broke Girls,
 +The Lordess of the amazing style and beauty blog  thelordess.blogspot.com Enid of mwayulienid.com and lastly,
 Viqq of humanbeingforequality.wordpress.com because her mind is a work of art.

Oh and once nominated just copy the questions below, answer them in your own beautiful way and nominate bloggers who you celebrate as well.

So here goes

1. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
 Any feline, probably a Lion because obviously I am a Leo. However, I think lions and all cats are just beings of wonder. First of all their beauty and also their hunting prowess is just amazing. I sure would not mind living my life at the top of the food chain.


2. What legacy would you like to leave behind?
I would love to be a soft memory who impacted the world by having a clean heart and showing that there is more to life than negativity. I want the world to be a place where people love each other a little more and show it in their unique ways just because my life was filled with the same kind of energy.
I want the world to be a place where art is celebrated by everyone because beauty is universal and it is in everyone and everything.

 3. Name one thing you love about yourself, why?
My creativity, just because it is the one thing I learnt about myself at a very young age. My ability to be a great writer/poet is what makes me unique and gives me a million reasons to fall in love with myself everytime I look in the mirror.

4. What would you like to change about yourself or improve on?
Coming from someone who has had her fair share of self esteem issues growing up, you would expect this list to be lengthy but right now I am starting to accept myself the way I am. BUT! If I was to think about it hard enough I'd say I am not the most patient of people, I wish I wasn't. And also I am working on warming up to people more.

5. If you could fly for a day, where would you go?
Sydney in the Summer. Because I was there once and I fell in love with the sun and the sea and life and I would do anything to get that good feeling again.

6. If you could have supernatural abilities what would it/they be?
I am tempted to pass on this because I am not big on the supernatural.
However, the ability to go back in time seems very appealing to me right now.


7. Where would you like to live? Why?
Somewhere where the sun shines almost every day. Like in a tropical island without the tropical creepy crawlies ;)

8. If you could meet anyone, who would it be? {past, present, future}

Past- my dad, just to talk to him and feel like his little girl again.
Present- Fashion Blogger Sharon Mundia because I admire all that she has achieved just by following her passion.
Future- My future teenage daughter, just to see how she would turn out.

9. Why do you blog?
Because Meg=Writing and I feel happy when I write.
Because God gave me a talent and I feel bad wasting it.
Because writing is what makes me awesome.

10.Would you consider yourself happy?

Not yet.
But I am learning acceptance and to love myself a little more so I can confidently say I am in the pursuit of it.

Thanks for reading and to my nominees please tag me, I would love to read them.

Weird.

Maybe it is natural,
Automatic.
The constant worry of what the masses think.
This constant desire to please and appease.
The irrational fear of being the one they will tease.
The desire to impress even if it means it is your voice that you will have to surpress,
For people who at the back of your mind you know could not care less.
About you.

Or maybe, maybe
Like character it is acquired.
This desire to be desired.
To be angels we are not.
To cover up our every fault.
To blend in with the rest.
And from there be considered the best.
Irregardless of whether what we have to do,
Is seldom in our best interest.

Maybe this approval sought after
Is a figment of our imagination.
An inexistent creation.
Devised by our once clean conscience
Designed to steer us the wrong way
Perhaps to give us a justification
For every act done as a result of poor discretion.
To forever leave us in torment
And further from our state of perfection;
That ever elusive state of self actualization.

Maybe I should finally let them judge me for growing up.
For shutting these  voices down.
For wearing my wonderful weirdness like a crown.
For marching to the oh-so orthodox beat of my own drum
And not associating with those who will not make me conform to the erratic march of theirs.

For only associating with those who love me for the angel I am not
And the devil I try not to be.

Taking Stock: Birthday Edition

And this is Meg taking stock as she turns slightly less than a quarter of a century years old :)

Making: Plans for what my next blog post will be about. This blog is becoming my baby and I don't want to be that blogger who started with so much psyche only to ditch this blog leaving all you dear readers high and dry.

Cooking: Nothing at all. Eating on the other hand, well, anything full of sugar, salt or starch that tastes foo-gasmic. And I have no regrets. YOLO baby. (though in my defence, I walk a lot so that cholesterol gets burned pretty fast) And also Ola Chips in Cheesy Crunch because they are just sooo yummy.

source: Google Images

Drinking: Would have said water but left my bottle at home. But I will be drinking some orange soda in a few minutes. I mean screw the weather, if I want a cold drink I will take my cold drink. But I am keeping warm though. (Just in case mummy drops by this page)

Reading: For my Accounting CAT on Friday. Guess who is now an Accounting Major?

Playing: Not a damn thing at all.

Wasting: No time trying to do my best in everything. Because as I turn 21 (fine I said it) I realize that the time to let my star shine was yesterday and I am done taking a backseat and settling for mediocrity as far as my goals are concerned.

Wishing:For a chance to take a flight anywhere because it has been forever since I felt that amazing adrenaline rush during take-off and I just want to roam the skies and view a sunset(or sunrise) from 5000ft above sea level. Sigh.

Enjoying: Life. And Love. Especially in all the unconventional ways it tends to manifest itself around me.

Liking: The fact that my wardrobe is starting to shape up. Lately I have these days when I just look at my closet and think, damn, my outfit game is on point. And I have no shame in blowing my own trumpet because I do dress much better nowadays.

Wondering: Whether I made the right decision to be an Accounting major. I love what I do. Actually, I am in love with it because it is finally starting to make sense. But there is that voice that questions whether this is what I will spend the rest of my life doing. The way I am falling in love with writing lately, only time will tell.

Loving:  Ola Tortilla Chips. I am not a foodie. But I do have a slight junk food fetish. And Ola, I love you very much.

Hoping: That this state of slight normalcy that has returned to this country persists. I am super thankful for it because the past few months in this beautiful nation were crazy and I keep praying we never go back to those days again.

Marveling: At how fast time flies. Can you imagine a year ago I was this young lass coming to terms with the fact that I am not a teen anymore and now well, I am still in that state of disbelief, but now I have a blog :). And being legal is sort of cool so I love it.

Smelling: The air of our school library. I love that smell by the way, of pages of old books that are still in a very new condition. So beautiful.

Wearing: (as I type this) a heavy blue scarf because it is cold outside and my neck is super sensitive. But when this post shall be published, I will be wearing a bright Kitenge jacket. Because how else will they know I am the birthday girl?

Following:  This blog though it may be relatively new I love the perspective the writer is taking in talking about Nairobi. Also following Olive Gachara's Instagram account after watching her interview on Young Rich. Her story on how she started her business is just so amazing, definitely my role model.

Noticing: How my grammar lately is becoming atrocious. This will change. So if you hear me speaking in a new more polished accent, don't hate baby, emulate :)

Knowing: A lot more than I did a year ago. I know now not to judge others when they sin a little different than me. I also know myself better and how to handle myself better in situations that potentially bring out the worst in me. Most importantly I know now that at the end of the day people will judge you whether you do right or wrong so I now only listen to the most important voices, mine and that of my Maker.

Thinking: About what I am going to eat for lunch. I think I am hungry.

Feeling: Excited. I always do,every time I blog and share my mind.

Bookmarking: Nothing new. Same old fashion blogs although my photographer  friend The Masked Bandit has this really cool project going on that is all about sharing the voices and stories of people in this city. Check out his Instagram. Cool stuff right there.

Opening: a tin of Lip-balm maybe. Okay pass on this one.

Giggling: Instacomedy. Enough Said.

Listening: To Magic by Coldplay. This song is just all forms of deep. And the fact that I sort of relate to that deep-ness just makes it so beautiful. Good music right there.


Well, thank you for caring about what goes on in my mind on this day of my birth.


Happy birthday to all the Leos everywhere.

Thank you again for reading, your views are like my birthday gift, given all year round :-**

Carpe Diem

I was feeling very low and it was gradually becoming harder to use my brain to create beauty in the form of relatively well woven words. I was like this, that is until I did something... different.

I was feeling low and lazy until I  attended the funeral service of a true carpe diem. 

Or rather someone whose mantra 'happy days' reminded me of this latin phrase.

And it was beautiful.

Yes.

So if you ever feel like you need a reminder about why you should drag yourself out of bed each day, attend the farewell of a carpe diem.

Why?

Because only a true carpe diem leaves a legacy that inspires not only in life but in passing.

A carpe diem by the way is a person who lives life to the utter maximum. Call them YOLO, but with the right kind of ambition. The carpe diem doesn't set out to eat life with a big spoon, no honey, the carpe diem eats life with a freaking spade. And the most beautiful thing about them is that they are all action no talk. So a carpe diem doesn't go bragging about how they are doing this, it just shows. In everything. The risks they take, the passions they pursue.

They have talents and they use them.

But I think the most beautiful thing is that they live this beautiful life full of positivity and good vibes and the same positivity follows them even till they are laid to rest. That is how I realized the importance of this. It is in listening to the tributes said and sung for this particular carpe diem that I learnt that if you radiate happiness and love to those around you, that same happiness and love will follow you as you journey through life.

The world is big enough to accomodate your awesome. Really it is. Whichever form it may take, whether it is loud and happy like the one of my departed muse or whether it is quiet but full of inner beauty like the kind I like to believe I have. The carpe diem way is to make that light shine irregardless of the nature of the flame. Just let it shine bright enough to inspire someone else in days to come.

I am still learning more about the carpe diem way FYI so if I am getting this concept wrong forgive me. But all I know is if it means I can inspire a soul or two and I get to tell the Creator thank you by rocking my personality to the fullest, then I am in. I am so in.

And okay maybe the whole attending a funeral for a carpe diem sounds a bit too goth and all sorts of freaky. So instead find that one person you know who eats life with a big spoon. Engage them. If you are like me, who finds social interaction done outside the confines of sheer necessity quite the daunting task, then observe them. Whatever you do, just learn from them.

Life is such a beautiful thing when lived without regrets.

By the way Ombaye, R.I.P.
Only a champion can add sunshine to his friends by his life and inspire strangers in his death.