Tag: Yearly goals

500 things for 2025: Part One

December 31st, 2024

I am literally lost for words as I write this because this year had been a lot and nothing at the same time. The highs peaked and the lows almost brought me to my knees, still, a year is a year and we continue to thank God for it all.

At the beginning of every year, I write a list of goals and make a vision board but I want to try something different for 2025. Instead of 25 things for 2025, I am doing 500 things for 2025. 500 moments, experiences, lives lived. I find 25 very limiting and as much as I always try to make SMART goals, I think my time will be better served completing 500 small and random tasks and each will count as a win.

Why 500? 300 looked awkward, anything below that seemed limiting and every about 500 seemed excessive.

Find full post on my Instagram:

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A post shared by Myra Trudea Okumu (@myraokumu265)

Always, I am thankful for the people that always show up for me on this blog despite my unexplained haitus. So, 500 things for 2025 below:

Travel

I have recently found out I do not have the full traveller spirit in me but I enjoy the experience of new things, peoples and cultures. Like the recent trip I took with my boyfriend and his family, a solid 10/10. I would go into much detail but my mother reads this blog.

Anyways, I have come to the realization that I have not seen much of Blantyre, much less Malawi and this country is my travel bucket list for the year. From conspicious lodges in different parts of this country to its high end hotels, I will be seeing and doing it all, best believe.

Yes, I have been to the Thyolo tea estates but I have never been to Makoli, or the stables or Huntingtons. All places I plan on visiting this coming year. Am I venturing into travel blogging? Big NO.

I had never been to Cape Maclear until December 2024. Same goes for a boat ride, eagle spotting, boat tours. Hell, I had never even seen so many boats in one place. That experience taught me that I am missing out on a lot of things I would love and enjoy.

2025 better buckle up, because I am barrelling through!

Personal Growth

Growth looks very different to everyone, and for me, the definition evolves every year and changes seasonally. This time, I just need to feel more free, more in control of my life and my well being.

Gosh, I love being me but there is so much room for improvement.

I used to sprint but I have not in a while. I actually won medals for it but I do not think my legs could take it now. I thought about it and I am willing to put in the effort to at least try and run a marathon.

Never been much for TED talks but I will not shoot something I have not tried. I want to make that money as I grow hence launching an online course (which will possibly be free) and working intently on being consistent with my passive income.

End of part one:

Catch my instagram for more parts as they come!

Truly, I love you all for your support and all the love you show me. Happiest end of 2024 and beginning of 2025!
xoxo,

The lady with the wildest dream.
Quarter life crisis averted!

May 8th, 2024

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!

🤍⛅️

The girl who survived a quarter life crisis.
Life Audit 2023/24

February 16th, 2024

“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.

💕💕💕

Love,

The biggest dreamer.
24 things for 2024

January 18th, 2024
Dedicated to Yewo Mzembe.

A new year is the symbol of hope, light, and hard-core determination to do great things. It’s the time of year when everyone strives to do better in life and of course, be delusional about how the year is going to go. Don’t worry, we support delusion here!

The best way to make this year all about growth and achievements is to set resolutions for yourself. Ask yourself, “The year is 2025, what did I do in 2024 that has got me here–the place you aspire be?”

By doing so, you hold yourself accountable. You also get motivated to see your goals through till the end.

While you might be all pumped up about making 2024 the best year of your life, it’d do you well to focus on your overall well-being. Self-care will never let you down, that is a promise.

The joys of January. New year, new possibilities. Everyone is bursting with productive energies, making plans, setting up challenges, and writing resolutions. If only this blissful state could survive the first couple of weeks back at school/work and the long, dark winter nights. But sometimes we lose track of the goals we set, the many amazing adventures we envisioned for the new year and quickly settle back into our everyday routines.

We may rediscover that ambitious and exciting list of New Year plans sometime in the summer, but those fresh energies are already gone, so the goals list goes back into the drawer. Been there, done that. And of course, it’s silly, as it’s never too late to change things.

For me, the best way to ensure that I do not lose sight of my goals, or of the things I want to do is planning, organizing, and constant tracking. Yes, while I do like spontaneity to some degree, it IS a quite low degree – I much, much prefer planning everything in advance when it comes to the major areas of life (at least the things I have power over).

My system is a mix of big dreams, budgets, bucket lists, yearly goals and monthly plans. Ask around, I plan ALOT and I make list upon list. It keeps me accountable and organized. I believe in gradual improvement and breaking your goals into actionable steps.

Habits are hard to step into and get used to.

Set a goal and then work backwards by listing the steps you should make towards the goal!

Helpful tips for setting actionable tasks:
- Make sure that every goal you set has actionable steps that you can know you are definitely taking.
- Also make sure that the goals are measurable. So you can see your progress and know if you have successfully completed the goal. It would not hurt to also set milestones between now and the end goal; not only are they going to motivate you but they are a sign of progress.
- Keep your monthly goals list visible so that you can have daily motivation and inspiration to keep working on them. If you can pin a printed version somewhere, extra points!
- Be realistic about the amount of time you really have in the month to complete your goals. Are they even goals that can be completed in a month or a year?
- Always be patient with yourself if you don’t hit a goal by it’s deadline. It’s so much better to have tried and missed than to have not tried at all.
- But also don’t underestimate yourself- you are capable of achieving incredible things!
Every last of the every month, go through your calendar/monthly goals/monthly to do list and cross out all the things you managed to do. Revisit your vision board, restrategize, make amends where necessary and plan your next month. Before you know it, you are actively crossing out so many things off your list and the year is progressing nicely!

Tip: You can use a binder or journal to keep track.

Love,

The biggest supporter of delusional dreaming.

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2024 life board

January 10th, 2024

I am INVESTING in myself this year in every possible way you can imagine! Let’s begin there and the rest of my ‘ridiculous’ plans will make sense.

It’s incredible how many of us forget to include ourselves on our list of priorities. Or, on a list of any kind for that matter. I made the 2023 list and stuck to it with my chest and I saw monumental changes in different aspects of my life, and it also allowed me to fine tune on all the things I missed out or overlooked.

I took a face-first nose-dive into this hard lesson this previous year.

Time was one of my favourite excuses.

You know, the good ole’: “I just have too much going on right now (which I did, by the way).” But, I recently made a pretty big 180 in my life and there is time aplenty when I schedule myself right.

The best and most important thing you can do for yourself is deciding what the vision you have for your life looks like. What does successful you do, what does she look like, what does her day encompass, what does she prioritise or love.

I have two vision boards set for this year and they may not look like much but to me, they are everything:

1. The first one is for new closet, new shoes, gym?, new car, more books, conferences, more accessories, more travel!

2. The second board is for more money, successful businesses, vlogging equipment, book launch, perfume collection, more projects, more water.

2023 was an amazing year for my vision board and I nailed most, if not all, of my goals. Because of that, I had to make a completely new board mid year and I have saved myself the trouble by making two from get-go.

Everything I have achieved, I want to maintain and multiply. Everything I started, I wanted to overdeliver and finish. Everything I want, I want more.

I truly believe in myself and my ability to make my dreams come true and to make my life easier and more beautiful and maybe, even happier. Dreams keep us alive and give us something to think about and look forward to, they are the hope that make this world worth experiencing.

I’m a big yearly goal setter, and all throughout the year I think about ways I want to challenge myself or grow in the following one – but every end of December and beginning of January, like clockwork, it’s like all those good ideas disappear from my brain and I can’t remember where lto start. 2023 changed that for me and I am simply carrying it forward.

Every now and the , I’m struck by the realization that life is extensive and I am still very young, and there are numerous wonderful experiences yet to unfold and be felt by me– from exploring new places and savoring diverse cuisines to meeting interesting people, embracing love, acquiring new skills, and reveling in hearty laughter.

It is always a fulfilling reminder, like a hug telling me to calm down and enjoy the moments. So much to look forward to, my loves🤍

How did your 2023 go? Have you already set goals for this year? Let me know in the comments!❤️

Love always,

The girl with delusions of grandeur!❤️‍🔥
A year of many firsts: Tales of 2023

December 5th, 2023
The year I let myself live.

The year I decided to wake up and put myself first, to prioritise my peace, my space, my happiness and my inner sense of self. And my goodness, what a year it has been! From moving out, to my first pet and my first permanent job? I do not have words to describe how wonderful, breathtaking and awe-inspiring this year has been.

While 2022 was my year of healing, 2023 allowed me to live in that healed space and to thrive in my own life. I never thought I would achieve all that I have and that just goes to show that time does heal all the wounds we clean and tend to, it fades scars as well, and clears all the smoke from the bridges we had to burn.

What made my 2023 do great and better than the last 4 years of my life? A deep dive:

1. I let myself live

In every sense of that sentence.

I let myself find joy in the small things and the most mundane of tasks. I let myself dream big and vividly, pushing myself in the pursuit of said dreams. In the many times that I failed and life tasted a little sour, I reminded myself that I have come so far and I can only make it further. I have lived, I have laughed and cried a little too, and I am so grateful for the year 2023 has been.

2. Everything that came, I was there.

For my mistakes, I was there to witness them, to let them roll off my back and leave lessons. For my wins, I was there too to cheer for myself and cry a little tears of joy. For my most human days, I was there to remind myself that it is okay to feel lost, to feel like you are not doing enough, to feel left out, to feel all those emotions.

For everything I have encountered in this year, I have not strayed from my presence. I have been rooted in my body and in the present, letting myself sit in my miseries and in my joys and allowing myself the intensity of many emotions.

3. I believed in myself

Yes, we have all heard to believe in ourselves but I did it!

I did not let fear or anxiety govern what I do or how I operate in certain things. I have asked for what I want, worked hard for what I deserve and written my heart out on any page that would allow me.

I am a dreamer and a believer. I dream in vivid colours, and believe in the endlessness that is imagination. My dream remains Tapatsidwa Writers Program and that will be my legacy. Do or die.

4. I allowed myself to make mistakes

Small things. Allowed myself to sleep past my life to allow myself a chance to absorb the day, prepare myself mentally and make a to-do list in my head.

I did not beat myself up for the things I cannot control or the things beyond my reach. I cannot be everywhere at once, the day only has twenty-four hours, and I only have two hands and one brain. There is only so much i can do in a day. I am human.

5. I loved

Where I could, I loved.

WHAT WERE THE MANY FIRSTS?
1. A puppy named Coh
2. I moved out and I am working on furnishing my house
3. I became a full time columnist (Thoughts of a millennial in The Weekend Nation)
4. I organized an online event for writers across Africa
5. I got my first permanent job!
Anyways, I have to go, my loves and I will be seeing you all on the next one! The dreams are calling me by my full government name!

Love,

Myra Trudea Okumu
Life Lately + 10 personal goals before 2024

November 22nd, 2023

I have been playing journalist lately, or columnist more like. I have been writing for The Weekend Nation, every weekend as the name stipulates and it has kept me…writing. Something I have been having a pretty hard time with even though it has always come so easily to me. I have had my ups and down like everyone else and I am currently still sorting through the mess that was the last four weeks but life has been great overall.

Like I said, the universe has a tendency of meeting me as far as I meet myself and even though that hasn’t been very far out, my cup has not run empty. I am still grateful for the opportunities that continue to arise and the challenges I move past; and for the opportunities I did not have the courage to face, tizakumanaso. It just wasn’t the right time for me.

What’s new? First, I am a dog mummy! Yes, I am having the time of my life adjusting to having someone to attend to; feed, bathe and take care of. He is so noisy and very energetic, and why is he always hungry? Nonetheless, the company has been good for your favourite bachelorette and the company goes by the name of Coh. (Please, don’t bother asking what it means and no, it is not short for Kondwani.)

I am back to content creation on my YouTube channel and I am dedicated to uploading videos weekly (fingers and toes crossed) . I have been actively working towards making videos and I am relearning the processes with feedback from all the viewers of course (eggs and omelettes). Please do subscribe! And I will see you every Sunday!

Myra’s YouTube Channel

I would have loved to do a life audit in this post but I will save you the hustle by making a separate post.

December is days away and I am scared that I will not be able to meet all my goals even though I have made such significant progress in all of them (or Atleast made steps towards them.) Anyways, that does not take away the fact that there are some short term goals that may correlate to the original goals that I can tick off before the big 2023 finals. Let us get into the personal goals before 2024:

1. Donate blood again.

2. Donate 90% of my closet (I have already sorted through my clothes and if you would like to donate yours too, send me an email myraokumu@gmail.com or comment below!)

3. Organise a sanitary products drive! (If you would like to a part of this, please let me know!)

4. Be patient and more appreciative of myself! (I deserve the soft and gentle side of myself)

5. Finish writing my book (Check out my last post, 18th November 2023).

6. Write weekly articles, blogs, stories and essays! (One piece a day keeps the thoughts away.)

7. Learn a new language with Duo Lingo (Settled on Swahili and Arabic)

8. Get a funeral policy!

9. Complete a 30 day challenge (could be anything right? Any suggestions?)

10. A solo staycation🧘🏾‍♀️

I was going for ‘more collaborations’ as one of my end goals but I have put a brake on that one for now. Instead of set goals, I have put more focus on creating systems that work towards the goal, if that makes any sense. Dividing my goals into tasks and setting milestones, eases up the pressure for me to reach the end and also allows for accountability along the way.

2023 has been…something, to say the least and this year has not turned out as I initially thought it would. Remember the beginning of the legacy, we are nearing the end of the beginning and I guess things can only get better from here.

I haven’t been okay, lately. I am one to admit my humanity in times like this because I do not have unrealistic expectations of myself. Good news, I am doing so much better and you will be seeing more of my writings now as I transition into a space that allows for me to breathe, live and focus on my well being. It has been lovely and therapeutic writing again, I absolutely missed this.

That is all I had to say, subscribe to my blog and my YouTube channel and let’s stay connected!

With all my love,

Just the girl.
Habits of an aspiring Malawian bestseller

May 24th, 2023
For as long as I can remember I have loved words, reading and writing them. I was first introduced to books when I was 7 by my dad, who was a reading addict (if that is a thing ). I was rammaging through my grandmothers things and found a book about habitats, the cover blew my tiny brain away and it was the first thing I showed my dad when I went to see him that weekend. He read the whole book with me and then helped me define the words I couldn’t even pronounce (eg. wilderness).

My dad has always been a reader, and I think that rubbed off on me as the years passed. The first Stephen King book I ever saw and read was from his collection, an absolute delight.

Proud dad and daughter moment❤️📌

Once my dad saw my fascination with books, he made it a habit to drop me at the Good Shepherd library every Saturday at 8, bring me a hotdog at 12 and pick me up at 3. My job was to tell him the books I had read and all the new words I had learned that day. Memories! My vocabulary is not so bad because of the times I spent pouring over words and being shocked by big words. What do you mean impromptu or conglomerate? I laugh now but I used to throw words around never knowing what they meant but knowing how to use them in a sentence.

Writing followed, inspired by the teen romances I started reading and the eloquently written books I loved to spend my days drowning in. Crying at endings, heartbroken for days when terrible things happen in worlds that only ever existed inside the writer’s head. (I was inconsolable at the ending of Mirror image by Danielle Steele — then I read 4 more times just to be sure).

A decade and years later, writing has become the backbone of my existence. It has saved me from myself, the world and most things that threatened my sanity. Sad? Happy? Grieving? Anxious? I write and my crooked world is suddenly upright and all is well with the universe. What are the habits that allowed me to transition from teen romance writer straight out of wattpad to following my head and writing every thought and building stories from scratch:
1. I realised that success is a broad term in any and every aspect. Success means different things to different people. Success for me means achieving my writing goals and living a life of contentment knowing that I shared, though my writing, what I know and what I feel. Knowing that I educated, entertained and inspired. Ultimately, success is whatever you make of it; it is defined by what you strive for and what you consider to be important. Success is an individual journey, and each person has the opportunity to define their own path to success and mine looks like being a bestseller, book tours and sharing feelings, thoughts and stories.
2. Live a life that is more meaningful and fulfilling to you. I can not stress this enough. It is important to define things for yourself including yourself. Do not let people define who you are for you. What matters to you? What works for you? Finding my writing space, mentally and physically, requires finding a certain level of balance in all aspects of my everyday life – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
3. Practicing self care and mindfulness. With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, I know it can be hard to find time to for yourself, but do it anyway. Listen to your mind and to your body and know when to stop, when to give yourself breathing room, when to rest.
I’m not a seasoned writer yet and i hope to be, to have my multiple award winning books listed on the first page, headed “Also by Myra Trudea Okumu”. Yes, I dream big and I dream in fabulous colours. (Update: I spent the better part of the cyclone editing my manuscript) and I made a new friend!
Moving out in Malawi 2023

May 9th, 2023

Being a person that grew up in a big family, moving out has always seemed daunting in the very least. That and being alone in a house I cater for. I grew up in the chaos of a full house and so much noise around that having my own space seems unnatural and weird. In casual conversation, I would be explaining something about home and someone randomly asks, “All those people live in one house?” And I would shrug and say yes because it is very normal for me to be around my big family. Absolutely adore it, if I am being honest.

The first place you live alone, away from your family, he said, is the first place you become a person, the first place you become yourself.
Ling Ma, Severance

My first move would be the time I went for my student internships at Zomba Central Hospital and had no choice but to kiss my mother’s house a sad goodbye. Still, everything was catered for by my parents and I didn’t have bills or groceries to worry about, all I had to do was call and my bills were paid and food delivered/eaten. That was in 2021. I lived in Kalimbuka and walked to and from work everyday. Funny thing is I moved once while I was in Zomba, same area but a bit closer to the hospital. I was in Zomba for 4 months.

I grew a liking for the solitude and the freedom I didn’t have much use for, seeing as I spent nearly all my time at work and the weekends resting my legs. Still, that small space of seeing the works of the world outside my norm grew on me…a seedling in fertile soil.

Enter 2022, graduation, end of first and second internship, job, businesses etc., I decide to try adulting again. A significant amount of planning later and here I am, planning the big move. House hunting has been excruciatingly hard, exhausting and costly and has proven to be the most draining things I have had to do in 2023. With the cost of living through the roof, trying to stock and furnish my future living space has had my budget and my bank account in tears. Someone said you grow up twice and the second one is when you learn the price of curtains, they were far from wrong. However, I have had a ton of help in most areas and one can say, my anxiety about all this is eased almost everyday.

Budgeting, purchasing, more budgeting and a lot of Pinterest later, I am half scared out of my mind and very excited for another chapter of my life, which may or may include living my best authentic life. I am choosing to see this as a step outside my comfort zone which is something I promised myself I would do. Moving and seeing the world just might be that boost and motivation I need this year, knowing mum and dad won’t be pitching in to save me because I spent too much on milkshakes.

I am betting on my own growth and my own success to see me through. I will be making other posts and of course, vlogs on my YouTube channel on this: how to budget, my 3 pages long to-do list, balling on a budget, choosing household items and everything else you will need to know when you also decide to jump out of the nest.
Fingers crossed, my lovelies.

Love,

Myra.
Vision Board Check in | Restrategising

April 1st, 2023
Can’t we all agree that we have had enough of 2023? Restart the year or just jump to the next? Merry Christmas and Happy New Year? No? Okay. Atleast I tried.

Welcome to Myra’s goal getting year , what has she gotten other than disappointments, failed balance and/or trust issues?

No, I got none of that actually. What I have gotten is more blessings that I bargained for, more love, more friendship connections, more balance, and just more of everything I asked for. I can say, without any fear of contradiction, I am cruising softly.

Seeing as my vision board is coming to life and I have achieved more than half of the things I set out to do, I thought it would be nice to share progress and share my new, improved and revised vision board.

I was right to map out a physical manifestation of the things that I wanted because it did give me purpose to get up each day and strive to achieve those things. I could and can still see exactly what I want, those brightly colored dreams that never seen to dull and burn bright with passion! I have slacked on some of them and overdelivered on more, I simply remind myself that I am doing this for me: my fulfilment and my happiness. I would highly recommend setting up a vision board for everyone that has goals they want to reach and milestones they can measure their goals with.

You can find my old vision board here!

What have I cancelled out so far and what have I added:

1. I have gained more YouTube subscribers!

I have celebrated this win so much, you would think I have been consistent in posting content (askies guys!). I have not been able to stick to my proposed schedule and that really shows on my almost videoless channel but I am really working on that. I am learning to remember to film things and writing down ideas and all that. If you have not yet subscribed, use this link to join the family! I am truly grateful to everyone that subscribed to my channel and all the support means a lot to me. Y’all are amazing!

2. More money!
I am NOT rich please abeg (but may Allah(swt) grant me that privilege). I am just saying I am able to do the things I want to do when I want to do them, that is not something I could say a year ago and I am so grateful for that chance. I work a beautiful job with hardworking people, my business has been on hold due to unforeseen circumstances but I am here and I am giving myself the best of everything! The theme of my life is no wahala’rd, guys!

As for ChateauxMw, see all my loyal and beautiful customers soon with beautiful scrunchies, organic hair products and just more and better of everything!

3. Prioritsing my peace.

Ah yes, the goose that lays golden eggs: putting yourself first. I am here to testify that it pays off to be selfish with yourself: with your presence, with your space, with your time and with your energy. I cannot emphasize the absolute need to take care of yourself and to center your efforts in living a happy life, not the perfect one but a happy one. I will admit that one cannot be happy 100% of the time and sometimes, we are neither happy nor sad but living in moments and creating precious memories. My peace has been a focal point in my journey and has come with acceptance of situations.

I have become more accepting of life, more tolerant of people and their problematic views, more understanding of people’s choice and most of all, more patient with myself as I go through all the seasons that were meant for me. I have also accepted that not everyone will stick around through the said seasons and that is okay. It is okay and only right for other people to prioritise themselves and their peace away from me, I wish them well from a God-fearing distance.Change is tough and adapting to new things is tougher but I find that, more and more each day, there is nothing more serene, breathtaking and beautiful like learning to love yourself all over again!

4. Vlogging equipment!

I never understood why content creators had so many tripods until I launched by YouTube channel and that was my uhuh moment. Now, at my earliest convenience, you will find my googling the price of cameras, tripods, lighting equipment, microphones and I can not keep up with the prices! What a time to be alive, ladies and gentlemen. I have acquired a few things on the list and you can find a complete list of my vlogging equipment here.

Would I say I am more successful, more calm, more grateful, more soulful, more present and more personal? Yes, I am. I am everything I have worked to be and more. I am the things that have happen, continue to happen and are happening to and for me, a collection of priceless items. I have had my bad days, some I do not have the words for yet but it’s coming. I am sitting here at 00:02 on a Friday dawn writing this and pouring my heart and thoughts out and man, this is (almost) everything I wished for! I have problems like every other person but I get through them and life will forever go on for me.

Here is the new board, exempt of everything achieved, eager to tick more boxes:

My new board is mostly focused on giving me the softest life possible and yes, I will never stop manifesting more streams of income.More money, a book launch, a skincare routine, a knitting machine, what more could a girl ask for?

What was on your vision board that has been a big hooray! so far? Let me know in the comments!

Love,

The embodiment of multicoloured dreams!❤️🔐
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