and staying there…
The confusion that swarms my heart when I read a brilliant blog or listen to good spoken word poetry is almost on the same level as the joy I get.
Confusion because I wonder if I’m really going to go all out into media, art, and literature. My brain rations that a bit of writing and plenty of law. But that’s my brain. And that’s not today’s conversation.
Today’s conversation? That joy and not the confusion. That giddy joy I felt for a month after listening to Emi Mahmud recite three spoken word pieces some years ago, that joy I felt when I completed Ghana must go,the joy of seeing new travel documentaries, that joy I remember when I read CNA’s new short story at the time, or when last year Francine Rivers announced she’ll be releasing a new book March 2018(p.s: the last I asked the book amounted to N7,000. oh well), – Many causes of joy.
How do I stay in that joy?
How do I go about ensuring that life and responsibilities do not keep me away from reading blogs like the one I just read before writing this?
I started to follow Blessing Omakwu on IG some months back. I love her mother’s messages. Seeing she was the daughter, I simply followed. I enjoyed her insightful captions and discussions on social matters on Instagram. In her bio, I saw she had a blog but I never clicked through until today. At the time of typing this post, I have read only two and a half posts on the blog. The smile that flitted my face as my phone’s battery died on me, has led me to type this post.
That smile.
How do you find your happy place and stay there?
There is something God designed you to just like.
Hiii guys. I wrote the above over a month ago. This afternoon*, I wasn’t having a chilled time. I woke up with a cold and I drank a cup of ginger tea to ease the sore throat I felt building up. I spent quite a while doing my morning devotion. I hurriedly cooked white rice which I ate with chicken before going for class (10am). Well, I was late to class, blame it on the chicken.
Mid-way the class, my friend sent me a note discreetly. It read:
“she said there will be a test after this class”
I replied: “on this topic?”
I was going to do okay with any other topic because I’d brushed up. But today’s class? Up until that moment I was just going through the motions of writing the note, and not really enjoying the class, because, sore throat + late coming.
“yes” my friend nodded in reply. Tell me something I don’t know.
I began to pay keen attention to all the lecturer said. Said test didn’t later hold but she gave those of us in class three marks for attendance. Woo-hoo!
Before the next lecturer came in, I got an email from Scribd telling me my subscription issues had been sorted out. I wanted to listen to an audiobook but I just found it hard to flow with all three that I tried. Perhaps it was the noise in the classroom or the fact that audiobook I suspect, tends to demand all your attention in a pretty annoying manner. Isn’t it supposed to somewhat do the opposite?
I discussed Investment banking with my friend Taiwo for as long as she needed in order to be satisfied (heyy Taiwo!) .
When I got back to my hostel eventually, it was hot and I was nursing a headache. I took a pain-reliever. I previewed a few movies while thinking that I really should get to work. I didn’t later see any of them. I sent some messages that needed sending. Got ready to tie up my preparation note for my hostel’s fellowship meeting I was to coordinate in the evening. Just before doing that, I got another e-mail.
It was a newsletter from Blazers and Baby – A blog that teaches women how to maintain good work-life balance. So I read the newsletter she sent today and opened the links she referred to.
And after the first four or so lines in the newsletter, I smiled again. Same as the Blessing Omakwu’s blog smile. Then I eventually decided to put up this post on ‘Happy Place’.
Also, the Lord instructed the sun to go easy on me. I get a little cranky and uncomfortable when it’s hot. So it all went well.
Context of ‘Happy place’ in this blog post: Something which stirs your wonder, makes you experience child-like joy, especially in the middle of an impossible day or week. Something that just resonates with you.
I think you can find that thing and do a little more of it. We all love a happier version of you.
For me, outside of the pressure, I really like blogging. Inside the pressure? taah! (The other things I love doing will be in another blog post someday)
All I know is the more work you do, the more you must find time for what takes you to your happy place.
So tell me, what is one thing you enjoy doing?
P.s: if you ever feel guilty based on getting pleasure from your happy place, read this post of mine.
*This was on Thursday.
Love and happy places,
Debby.
Finding your Happy place
