I recently attended a writing retreat at Joe’s working space, and the lesson packed experience is worth sharing
As an aspiring academic, the want for uninterrupted, focused writing time often feels elusive. The pressures of daily responsibilities—laboratory work, writing for the newspaper, authoring my books, and personal commitments—create a fragmented schedule, making sustained concentration on writing projects challenging.
For two blissful days to the academic in me, I had the privilege of attending a writing retreat designed specifically for academics, an experience that not only rejuvenated my writing process but also provided invaluable insights into productive scholarly work.
Joe’s is equipped with amenities tailored to the needs of all kinds of writers, or anyone looking for a space to work. Spacious conference rooms and co-working spaces were available, providing both collaborative and solitary work environments.
Here, I share my reflections on this and the valuable lessons learned from this retreat.
Structured Writing Sessions
The retreat emphasized the importance of structured writing sessions. Each day was divided into blocks of uninterrupted writing time (which lasted an hour to an hour and a half), allowing for deep focus and productivity.
These sessions taught me the value of disciplined writing habits (and phones were not allowed during the writing session). Setting specific goals for each session and sticking to them improved my writing efficiency and output significantly. This disciplined approach is something I’ve carried back into my daily writing routine and I can, hopefully, maintain.
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We have hit the mid year mark and that means we have to go over our ’24 things for 2024′. One third of the things done and dusted, lets do a quick review:
Market stalls
We (Chateaux) had a stall at Farmer’s Market and we sold that six figure revenue I keep yapping about in my 24 things for 2024! A big shout out to the person lurking in the picture for being the best sales assistant!
2. Publish 2 books
The goose that lays golden eggs, writing. I have been doing alot of it lately and I can only attribute that to being divinely inspired. Seriously, I am not running out of words but it is better than writer’s block so I will take the win and shut up!
3. Couch set
Welcome to my house! I can finally call it that. It was empty aside from my bed, y’know, humble beginnings. The middle of this story is far from humble as we have almost fully furnished this baby of mine. I have really enjoyed watching my space become more reflective of the sanctuary I have in my head!
4. Get another dog
World, meet Olly, the newest addition to my little family. Yes, I still want more dogs! Olly is playful and sweet, loves being held and cuddled and she is getting along okay with our first baby, Coh. Olly has separation anxiety and abandonment issues but she is a darling. We absolutely love her and we (read as ‘I’) want more DOGS!
5. Invest in the hobbies
I continue to write for the weekend Nation as a fake millennial (I am Gen Z). I still enjoy showering people with my unsolicited advice and receiving feedback from my loyal and beautiful readers. I always want to hear from you guys because I grow with each comment. My email is ready to receive your comments, questions, queries, etc.
Email: myraokumu@gmail.com
6. 6-figure revenue for Chateaux
SEE THE FIRST ONE! x
7. Speak at events
I was invited as a speaker for the Girl Up elevate Future Leaders Mentorship program at Stella Maris to share my career trajectory as a Medical Microbiologist. Full time writer, yes but that does not take away from the fact that I am a proud Microbiologist!
The Utawaleza Sharing Session, where I got to read excerpts from my books. I have never read to a crowd in my life, with my only audience being Abdullah. It was thrilling and exciting, I loved it!
2024 has been, as promised, a year full of beautiful people an amazing memories. Yes, I have had moments where I thought it was the end but my new year resolutions have come true each time. I am grateful, as always, for all the good things that happen in my favor.
I still have half the year to go and I will be here to show you what happens when one is consistent with their goals, plans for success and follows through.
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
Dr. Seuss
To: fellow perfectionist ponderers and imperfectly perfect pals!
There is no perfect life or person, no perfect world or love, no perfect smile or situation. There is simply nothing perfect.
Know this and know peace.
Seeking perfection is being a candle that’s burning out on both ends. It is detrimental and will prove to be your biggest enemy. Now, don’t get me wrong. Letting go of perfect doesn’t mean letting go of ambition or striving for excellence. It simply means accepting that life isn’t always going to go according to plan – and that’s okay. In fact, it’s more than okay – it’s liberating.
When you do the inner work (self reflection, meditation, mindfulness and practicing gratitude), you will create a beautiful life on the outside. It doesn’t mean that life will be perfect, it just means you will have the tools to navigate the twists and turns that it brings.
Don’t sabotage something that is meant for you because you think that you are not good enough. If it comes your way, it means it’s meant for you. They say that comparison is the thief of joy, and ain’t that the truth?
Personally, I have no attachment to being remembered as a “good person”. Should I pass on (which I will most certainly do), the only thing I want people to say is that she lived her truth, and yes, I do things that are deemed to be ‘good’, but my highest intention for self is to live a life that makes me happy.
My advice to you is, let go of whatever attachment you have to a label or role if it is causing you to behave in a way that does not serve you. ‘The good person’, ‘the strong one, ‘the perfect one’, ‘the understanding one’, ‘the non-confrontational one’; let it all go. You have carried this around with you for long enough.
Your best will never seem like it’s good enough, when you are giving it in an environment that does not allow you to thrive. And those toxic relationships/environments will never allow you to fully perceive yourself as good enough or worthy.
You have to unpack and heal the experiences that made you believe that you are not worthy. And yes, I have certain values that I live by. However, I am not held hostage or limited by people’s perception of me. Being myself is enough for me.
Doing well in life isn’t always about being perfect. It is also about how you handle some of the experiences life throws in your direction.
You were not given this life (by chance or otherwise) to be perfect, you were simpy called a live a full human life. The human experience is ever changing, it has highs, it has lows, sometimes you will not want to be a part of it, but joy will eventually come, it will call you from your corner, remember to answer when it does.
P.S. You do not have to be perfect to be loved, cared for, respected or appreciated.
Purpose is heartfelt, benevolent, and personally meaningful to you. It’s a state of being that you desire for yourself, yet you recognize its importance in the world, and you want it for others too.
Karen Whitten
The quarter-life crisis: that moment when I realized adulthood isn’t all it’s cracked up to be (the training wheels of life having been unceremoniously yanked away), and I was left wondering if I missed the memo on how to adult properly or I was just skipped in the circulation all together.
It was waking up one day and realizing that the plan I thought I had for my life was actually just a crumpled, beverage-stained napkin with some vague scribbles on it done by someone (me) who had no idea what they were doing.
For the first time in my life, I was faced with a list of existential questions that hit harder than that first shot of gin.
I was sitting in my house, surrounded by unfinished writings, endless unanswered emails, publishing quotations, unanalysed documents and bills, and wondering if that is what I actually signed up for. I was questioning every decision I had ever made – from my choice to pursue my career to your latest newspaper submission.
Social media did not help.
I would be scrolling through Instagram and LinkedIn and see people getting married, buying houses, going on vacation, living their (supposed) best lives, nailing every goal on my list and having babies, while I can barely remember to water my small garden (RIP, yellow peppers), drink water (sorry, babe) and the only thing I’ve managed to commit to is my Netflix (which my uncle pays for) and Spotify subscriptions.
I felt (infinitely) trapped, (divinely) uninspired and (comically) disillusioned.
I can’t believe it is a phase of life often dismissed as a myth or exaggerated melodrama and I brushed it off at first, attributing it to burnout or temporary dissatisfaction with the trajectory of my life.
I am a person that is blessed in more ways than one and that was why I felt that I had no reason to be struggling because these years are supposed to be fun and relatively easy. Your 20s (they say) are supposed to be filled with joy and excitement and discovering new things and yourself.
But things were falling apart all around me and I felt like I had made the discovery and lost it, somehow.
I felt disconnected from other people, and even though I knew I was spiralling, I approached the situation with a sense of apathy that made it difficult to find the motivation to change or try to make things better.
Even for the things I did (with so much struggle) manage to get done, I was not experiencing milestones, or achievements. More like just living through them or watching them in third person.
I forget to offer myself grace. I forget to forgive myself for my shortcomings and for all the things that do not make sense.
As a 22 year old living a full life, I am still figuring out what I like, want, and find fulfilling. It is cruel of me to think I am not doing enough when I am constantly trying to make and build a better life for me and the people I love.
I am allowed mistakes and options, so it’s OK to try things and decide that they are not right for me.
Comparison may be a natural tendency for most of us, but it can truly be the thief of joy. It’s hard not to look around and feel like perhaps everyone has their lives more together than you. Or they are luckier. Or life is unfair for not rewarding your efforts.
But we don’t have the same 24 hours and we can only do our very best. There will always be someone doing better.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Me? A superstar!
I may already be grown up in some ways, but I probably have many decades of life and marvellous stories ahead. And that means I have time to carve new destiny paths and define what I want my life to look like. A loving husband, bestsellers, a garden, bottomless brunches, a luxurious life.
The key to surviving a quarter-life crisis (to all those currently wallowing in one) lies in being kind to yourself and being proactive. Best believe, they will feel like the worst days in the last decade but you will get through it.
Don’t beat yourself up because you aren’t where you thought you’d be, or because everyone seems to be doing so much better than you.
When you feel anxiety creeping up, try to slow down your thoughts.
Breathe. You are not Atlas, the weight of the world does not rest on your shoulders.
The world will not stop spinning because you stopped pushing it.
Pull out your list of goals and review it—this can help center you and remind you that you are indeed making progress.
Write down every small win to look back at on the seemingly endless days of self-battle.
Despite bumps in the road, you will survive this and make it out alive on the other side. You got this!
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
Mother Theresa
🩸Did you know? On average, a woman menstruates for about seven years during their lifetime.
What is period poverty?
Period poverty is a social injustice where the financial constraints and societal stigma surrounding menstruation force individuals into a disempowering struggle, denying them access to essential menstrual hygiene products and perpetuating a cycle of inequality.
In Malawi, almost half of the population lives below the poverty line and 25 in every 100 people live in extreme poverty.
Q: How does period poverty affect individuals?
Limited access to sanitary products can lead to unhygienic practices, increasing the risk of infections and health complications. Lack of affordability and access forces women to use alternatives such as socks, dishrags, newspapers etc.
Inadequate access to menstrual products may force students to miss school during their periods, impacting their education and long-term prospects. If a girl misses school every time she has her period, she is 72 days behind her fellow male students. Period poverty can contribute to a cycle of disadvantage, limiting opportunities for education, employment, and overall social participation.
Q: Why should we stop period poverty?
Period poverty exacerbates existing inequalities, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities where resources and support are often scarcer. Stopping period poverty is important because it’s about ensuring that everyone has fair and equal access to something as fundamental as menstrual products. No one should face barriers to education, work, or well-being just because they can’t afford basic necessities during their period. It’s a matter of dignity, equality, and making sure everyone has the chance to thrive without unnecessary challenges.
Q: How can I help?
You can make a real impact by donating menstrual products to local organizations, spreading awareness on social media, or supporting initiatives that work towards menstrual equity. Every small effort adds up!
Join the conversation and raise awareness. For social media use hashtags “#endperiodpoverty” “FLOW” “#changethecycle”
Q: How can I support FLOW?
While we are not currently accepting donations, you can join our community where we will be advocating and supporting the revolution!
We will open donation channels and you can be part of our volunteers!
Let’s talk about the bloody issue, am I right?
Addressing period poverty requires an approach that includes improving access to affordable menstrual products, advocating for policy changes, promoting menstrual health education, and working towards destigmatizing menstruation. This collective effort aims to create a more equitable and supportive environment for individuals affected by period poverty.
We can make a difference!
Every voice matters, and together, we can break the silence surrounding menstruation, dismantle barriers, and ensure that everyone has dignified access to menstrual products and education. Let’s turn our advocacy into action.
🩸we bleed and don’t die🩸
For more information contact me (Myra), myraokumu@gmail.com
🩸Calling for Your Voice: Share Your Thoughts on Period Poverty!
Dear Community,
Your perspective is invaluable in our efforts to understand and combat period poverty. Please take a few moments to fill out our questionnaire. Your insights will contribute to raising awareness and making a real impact.
Let’s come together and break the silence on period poverty. Every response brings us one step closer to a future where menstrual equity is a reality for all.
Starting my new year on March 1st because January and February were failed trial runs. The growing pains are keeping me up at night. x
I have not had a good beginning to this year. It has really been one struggle after the other, it is bordering biblical trials and tribulations. There is so much to write home about but currently, it will come off as a rant and that is not what we do here.
Here we encourage, nurture, promote and grow. When the time is right, I will come and take the stand for all that has transpired.
However, as the queen of being delusional, I see this as a chance to restart my life. I see all of this happening in my life as a sign that I am doing things wrong and I need to do better.
A life audit will help me reflect on my life and identify the gaps between my current and dream life. I already did a life audit earlier this year but so much has happened between then and now, I need to go back to the drawing board. The shift is astronomical.
What would it take to be entirely satisfied by each dimension of your life?
Define personal growth
What looks like growth to me could be so much different from what you perceive to be growth. That’s why it is important to have that personal definition of growth and success.
And if times changes, let your definitions change too. You are certainly not the same person you were last year or the year before that. People change, situations arise.
Having goals in mind also motivates me to keep going even when life gets in the way.
One mistake a lot of people make when goal-setting is not defining clear goals.
You will need actually to create a plan around your goals. And to be able to do it, you need to define SMART goals.
An easy way to write a plan is to break down the goal into bite-size chunks. It makes them more manageable than biting the whole thing down. Something I am eager to learn in this new chapter of my life.
There is no need to rush. I will have time to achieve the rest of my goals later in the year. We just need to be patient.
Self-care
To make a fresh start and improve my life, I need to re-understand the importance of taking care of myself and making myself my number 1 priority. Which is something I try to practice in my everyday life.
No, focusing on myself is not selfish.
It is necessary to live a well-balanced life and make sure I create a life I love. It is also important to remind myself that I are not defined by your bad days or the bad things that happen to me; it is just that, a bad day/event and not a bad life.
Focusing on myself means checking in with myself and planning rest time.
No matter my goals and how busy I am, I will not be able to stay motivated and productive in the long run if I burn myself out. Burnout is not nice and definitely, not funny.
However, focusing on myself means more than just lazy Sunday mornings.
It also implies learning how to say “no” when necessary. You can not please everybody or make them happy.
I have set goals and created a plan around them. But to make it work, I need to keep it in mind and say “no” to everything that does not support it or makes me happy.
Becoming my priority will help me protect my well-being and increase my life satisfaction.
Habits
Old habits die hard.
I can attest. I have habits I wish I could bury in the dirt and never get to see again. Like procrastination, I would trade that one in.
Being idealistic without the backing of action? In the bin.
Taking on multiple tasks and not giving 100% on them because I am stretched out too thin? In the garbage.
There is a lot I need to work on and I will, that’s the only way I will cross the finish line this year; otherwise, I will be screaming and throwing up all of this year.
Personal financial strategy
Having my finances under control is key to improving my life. I have such little financial discipline and I have a chronic spending addiction.
I need to get that in control and the first step to start fresh is to create a new budget. Sounds like saying ‘no’ to myself often.
Listing all expenses to better understand where money is going and identify possible savings and possibly investment opportunities.
I should start investing in tangible assets to cushion me later in life. We all should start building our wealth and portfolios today!
New streams of income
It does not hurt to have another source of income, if you can.
I mean it.
Having another way to fund yourself and your lifestyle is the most important thing to do in your life. Yes, you can have a career and a thriving business. Yes, you can have multiple businesses. Yes, yes and yes.
It takes time and effort but it is worth it.
“It’s never too late to become who you want to be. I hope you live a life that you’re proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start over.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald
To the people who are working to earn a living legitimately and live a meaningful life; to all those gunning for a fresh start, just be patient with yourself and your journey. Remember that whatever’s meant for you, won’t miss you at all as long as you work hard for it.🤍
“What you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it.”
Oprah Winfrey
Last year was all I envisioned and more and it’s all because I took the time to sit down and figure out what was and wasn’t working for me in my life, what I actually wanted (not what I was conditioned to believe I wanted), and built a MF plan around how to make it happen.
I did not have a 10/10 year but I was focused on making/building my dream life. My vision board manifested and mid-year, I had to go back to the drawing board and makes new goals!
While there is that rush to get everything done and to get your life to gather, remember you’ve got a whole lifetime to achieve your best life. All of the things DO NOT need to get done tomorrow, next week, or next year (although, if you’re anything like me, your brain will certainly try to convince you otherwise… That’s the road to overwhelm, frustration, burn out, and failure… don’t take it!)
Let’s get into my 2023 life audit, see what’s working and what can be improved:
Mental health
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
The only reason my mental health did not make 5 stars is because I hit a wall at the end of last year. As devastating as that was, I managed to pick myself up and “rebuild” my safe spaces. I am doing fine, thank you!
Physical health
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Do you remember when I tried the gym? Yeah, that did not work out😂. Sigh. Otherwise, I am healthy (again, my physical health took a dive in December because of anemia. Yikes.)
Family
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
My family is doing great and the problematic members stay being problematic. Overall, it’s great and I am not complaining at all. If I have learned anything in these past two years, it could literally be worse.
Hobbies and creativity
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
I am writing, aren’t I? You can still catch me on The Weekend Nation’s Thoughts of a millennial column, still giving my best pointers and unsolicited advice to this life thing. My book is still undergoing the processes of publication but God can forbid we pass June without hitting the shelves.
I have a garden now, and grew some maize in my backyard! Planning on taking this garden thing slightly serious and having vegetables to gift people. Sounds silly but that’s the dream.
I also took up painting, and cocktail making. Good luck to me!
Learning and personal growth
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Duolingo has become friend and partner as I relearn French and also dabble in Swahili. I tried Arabic but I got so frustrated with myself that I just dropped it, I swear. My attention span does not allow for such stresses, y’know?
I need more certificates and I think a Masters would look great for me. Imagine, Myra Trudea Okumu BSc. MSc (hopefully phD).
Career
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Another New Year’s resolution is to take every aspect of being a Microbiologist seriously. Reading more journals, attending trainings and conferences, all that.
Did I mention how I find my field of study so interesting and fascinating? Yes, I do. And I want to advance in it, this degree has given enough. It’s time for bigger fish, don’t you think?
Business
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
The plan for 2023/24 was to bring back srunchies and I am working on it! Promise! Everything else is doing great and we are expanding our reach to other fields/areas. Wish me some extra madness to convince myself I can have everything I want!💕
Adventure and travel
⭐
Rating: 0.5 out of 5.
I literally have nothing to tell you guys in this, sorry. I was home the whole time. I will do better in 2024, hopefully!
Home and environment
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Remember how I moved out and decided to be independent? I have news…it is everything it is professed to be and more! Does it get challenging? Yes, a lot. Would I have it any other way? Yes, with more money lol.
Still building my safe haven and paradise on Earth. The painting station, the bookshelf, the photo walls, all of it! A home tour in June on my YouTube channel? I would love to!
Finances
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Can we skip this?
I don’t want to talk about it. I am doing everything I can to reach a certain goal and until I do, I will refrain from this topic.
💕My level 10 life
My level 10 life means I have alot of good days, surrounded by the man I love and the people I love. I am making enough to live very comfortably in absolute luxury. In my level 10 life, I do what makes me happy.
Note: this is not how to manifest your level 10 life. Go into more detail and be very specific about everything you see yourself doing. What do you do on a daily? What are your hobbies and interests? How much are you earning? How often do you travel? Be very specific and set your lifestyle accordingly to lean towards that particular future.
Go big! Do not limit yourself or think anything is impossible!
“Ignore the glass ceiling and do your work. If you’re focusing on the glass ceiling, focusing on what you don’t have, focusing on the limitations, then you will be limited.”
Ava Duvernay
The key to an extraordinary life is dreaming big, not holding back or judging yourself for what you want or don’t want.
Don’t worry about how you’d go about making it happen. Just give yourself the space to get really clear on what your perfect year would entail.
Your goals and desires are going to evolve as you grow personally and professionally. Different seasons of life will call you to focus on different things.
Make sure the life audit isn’t something you do once and forget about. Revisit what you’ve written on a weekly basis to put you in the energy of achieving it. Go through the whole process again next year! See what’s changed, where you’ve seen the most improvement, and how your level 10 life is evolving.
When in doubt, remind yourself that you have been through more than your fair share, refrain from comparing yourself to others and cry!
I used to hate crying, oh my word! I thought it was such a time consuming and unnecessary activity to partake in and kept on going on with my days. I did not realise I was bottling up so much emotion, anger, sadness and frustration until it all came down at once. The actual pits!
Crying, I have learned, is so therapeutic and my pillow has stories for days. When I feel anxious about something I am doing or I am supposed to do, I let out more than a few salty streams and do it anyways. Doubt can try and stop me another day.
I realised (about doubt) that much of the self-doubt that we have been carrying is not even ours, it is just projections of how other people feel about us. From a snark comment someone made, a passing remark about our capabilities and our ability, or the way our ideas/dreams are described as heavy, daunting or even impossible.
“Don’t let them make you doubt yourself. All the greatest visionaries in history have been told they were insane at some point.”
Michele Jaffe
All this burden, all this luggage we carry around with us, day in and day out, is not even ours!
When in doubt (read imposter syndrome), it is always good to remind yourself that you are already in the room, and you’re there because you deserve to be there. You put in the work, the discipline and the courage, do not let self-doubt convince you otherwise. While there, open doors, build longer tables and invite people that share the vision!
Procrastination tip: Do it before the self doubt creeps in.
My 2024 has taught me never to compromise on my truth, no matter if it leads to broken or strained relationships with the people around me, and to validate my own experiences even when others try to make me doubt myself. I will cry it out and keep moving, always! My delusional self-belief is the difference between me and the Pearly Gates, believe me.
If you constantly compare yourself to others, nothing you do will ever be good enough cause there is always going to be someone better than you: better money, better car, better education, better job, better opportunities. Compare your progress to where you used to be, in your own lane. Measure where you are in relations to your own goals.
“There is in every madman a misunderstood genius whose idea, shining in his head, frightened people, and for whom delirium was the only solution to the strangulation that life had prepared for him.”
~ Antonin Artaud
Throughout the remainder of this week, pay attention to what your gut is telling you. If it tells you to call that person, they can help you, do so; if it tells you, “send that email,” do it. Keep uncertainty from setting in. Simply acknowledge your intuition —it has gotten you this far—and notice what happens.
You are on the right track, don’t let people fill your mind with doubt.
How often do you stop to appreciate the good things in your life? Like really affirm to yourself that bad days happen but it is not entirely a bad life?
The things that went well and beyond your expectations, the people who made you smile/laugh, or the food that tasted delicious?
It’s often those little insignificant things, the simple things, the funny things that slip right by and go unnoticed.
It can be all too easy to focus on what’s not going well in our days or life that we miss all the good stuff that’s right there in front of us.
I don't even know where to begin being thankful to God for making me. Exactly the way I am.
Negative bias stops us from seeing the good stuff right in front of us, no matter how much good there is to be seen.
Gratitude isn’t about ignoring or avoiding your problems or challenges. It’s about giving you a more balanced perspective on life. Yes, bad things happen all the time but good things are surplus too!
Sometimes I hate this era of my life and sometimes good things happen and I am content. Always, I am grateful.
I am incredibly grateful for the ability to revisit memories and things for which I should feel thankful when I am feeling like the world is conspiring against me and I cannot deal with it anymore. I still cling to them. They manage to calm and move me.
Here is 5 things I am grateful for in 2024:
1. Mi familia
I do not appreciate my support system enough for all the supporting they do; all the lifting and uplifting. I wonder what it is like for them to have an overachiever for a daughter or granddaughter, the constant dramas and non-existent potential problems fuelled by anxiety. I am so grateful for my biggest believers and cheerleaders and this is the thank you for being the exceptional people you are.
Yes. I am nothing without their love.
My parents have never ever told me to stop writing and focus on school. They always trusted me to find my balance and I am immensely grateful for that.
Whew! I would not survive this life, unfortunately. I rely so much on my writing to get me through every and all situations. I am grateful for the gift of stories, really.
I write about anything I can form a compound idea around, and that is how I have made it this far off. I grieve in my words, smile in my faceless characters and I have lived vicariously through my stories.
Writing chose me!
Recieving news about things I wrote down for myself has me speechless and grateful for chance.
I actually like my job, believe it. Above the fact that it keeps a roof over my head and puts food on the table, my job allows me a life. It is interesting too and requires a certain train of thought, and I cannot see myself in another profession that is not somehow related to microbiology. To think there was a times I had no idea what a microbiologist was or what they did!
You live, you learn.
4. My mistakes
I know that is a weird thing to say but I look at my past failures, poor decisions and mistakes with grace. I have learned so much from them and everyday, I continue to learn just how much they have shaped me as a person, a friend and as a partner.
Everything happens for a reason and no truer words have been spoken since. There are certain things that cannot be done no matter how hard we try. I am human, things go wrong and are thrown to chance. Failing is part of my human experience.
I am grateful for my previous shortcomings, they all led to the person I am now and boy am I thankful!
In May, I am betting on myself. Let her grow, let her fail, let her try again.
Much of the world revolves around the people and things we love, down to how to perceive the world.
Love has started and ended wars, fuelled revolutions and permanently altered the course of humanity.
Love swallows me whole.
And not just romantic love, no. Love for my passions no matter how short lived, for the way I see things, for friendships that become anchors, for this life that does not go beyond 100 and for little laughs I share with the people I love.
I love. Without restrictions, hesitation or fear, no matter how charged with punishment love is. There will always be room for love in my life.
And this comes from my recent realisation that no one is meant to do this life alone!❤️
No but this is by far my softest era. Thank you to the one that showed me my worth and made me realise that I need to appreciate and love myself more.✨
Make a habit of giving thanks for the good things you have in front of you , and the better things that are coming your way. It makes all the difference, I promise.
I am certainly proud of myself for how far I have come as a person, but I still know there is a lot of room for growth. What I have done so far is good and has served many purposes but I can always be better. So I pat myself on the back along the way, but I keep going, keep looking for spaces that foster and allow growth.
If you knew me back in the day, I’m proud to say that person doesn’t exist anymore.
Remember to give yourself credit for your non-material accomplishments, such as your character development, self-awareness and clarity, boundary-setting skills, and sense of self-acceptance, when you think back on what you wanted and what you have achieved.
I encourage people to write down the little things they are grateful for everyday. The small wins to look back on when life is if dealing you hard cards.
Express gratitude for what you want as though you already have it.
You can be thankful of certain aspects of your life and yet feel worn out, frustrated, let down, or any other sentiment. Gratitude as well as emotions can coexist; you don’t have any obligation to hide what you’re feeling in an effort to stay positive.
Beloved reader, have a great day!🤍 dont forget to subscribe!❤️
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
Aesop
If you have followed my blogging journey, you should remember my post on Glimpse “The last plague of Egypt”. It raked in wild numbers too and sets tone for what I am sharing today.
Same coin but a different side.
I have a platform that draws people from across the globe. I have this blog, my YouTube channel, my column and my social media pages, each with an impressive number of followers and combined, a platform that can be used to advocate for something worthwhile.
My posts will be as they always have been but every now and again, I will come to them about FLOW, about how we can each play a role in eradicating period poverty and advocating for menstrual health.
That time of the month.
Aunt Flo.
Monthly visitor.
The cleansing.
Red moon.
The crimson wave.
The period has a different name everywhere you go, but no matter what you call it, it is a natural phenomenon. But, as natural as it is, it also costs money. And not everyone who menstruates can afford period products.
Period poverty— limited access to menstrual products because of financial hardship — is a significant problem that impacts marginalized communities.
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
FLOW aims to help 100 school age girls gain access to menstrual supplies and knowledge on menstrual hygiene. The how’s, when’s, where’s and why’s will be shared in the next post: FLOW FAQS.
There are lots of ways that you can get involved and make a difference to help end period poverty. Here are some:
1. Donate period products to help people who cannot afford or access them.
2. Educate yourself!
3. Join the conversation and raise awareness of the issue. Don’t forget to use #endperiodpoverty and #flow
NEXT STEPS
While we identify beneficiaries for FLOW and set up donation channels, I can only ask that you take time to educate yourself on an issue that affects most women/ their physical and mental health, their work and education. Especially in a country where almost half the population lives below the poverty line and 25 in every 100 people live in extreme poverty.
If you would like to be part of FLOW, please do not hesitate to reach me at myraokumu@gmail.com. We would love to have you join!
Together, we can make a difference to end period poverty.
Myra Trudea Okumu 