The Re-entry

HELLO Bloggersphere. I know, its been way too damn long but lets be honest, if you are a blogger, or even if you pretend to be, you soon come to realize that this is a HUGE commitment, and being of the state of mind I was in last year, I just couldn't, not then but now after thinking upon the new year, what I like, what I love, and what I simply do not care for I came to the very real conclusion that story telling, in what ever form it presents itself, is one of my favorite things. I naturally overshare. I need to go to the loo, EVERYONE has to know, I'm feeling upset/happy/sad/thoughtful, someone has to know. Its the way I am, I like to share, to write, to tell my stories because after all, we are all just the sum of the experiences we have in what ever form they present themselves. That being said I thought long and hard about my little space of the internet and realized how much I missed it, however trivial it may seem to some. It was a way to keep record of my stories, my life and sometimes (ok often) rethink them, go back on them or simply laugh out loud and how little I knew. So now I am back, and this time, Inshallah it will be for the long haul.

I'm a woman. What's your super power?

Yes this is a feminist inspired post, and why shouldn't it be? For many years now women have been getting the bad end of the stick and society has been fashioned around patriarchal ideals that insist on keeping women down. Take the case of HIV for instance. Amongst the millions of people living with HIV more than 50% are women and the most at risk? Women. Why you may ask? No its not because we are genetically the weaker sex but because of the various social issues surrounding the spread of HIV infections including gender based violence (of which women are the most affected), poverty (again mostly women are affected) and I could go on and on. But still, despite all the social issues women face on  daily basis, we manage to rise, we manage to do things that only women can do, like multi task (ok this is a generalization I know but allow me this one). Its just that for my entire life I have been raised by women, strong willed, hard working women. Women who play mother and father, provider, protector and nurturer. And in my own life now living with two males (my boyfriend and our friend) I am astonished by how much is left in my hands. Not because men are incapable, but because whether society likes to admit it or not, women are capable. I mean between doing laundry (Yes people I actually do laundry), cooking, cleaning etc. Its all somehow left in my hands because on the odd occasion that I leave it I find myself frustrated with the untidy house, dirty dishes and dirty laundry. All things that men CAN and SHOULD do if you ask me but that they don't. When I ask my two darlings why, the answer is always the same "I am tired", "work is crazy", "I am stressed" cue side eye here ladies. As if these things don't affect us either, but the nurturer that I am I allow them these luxuries of food and clean clothes (I draw the line at ironing, I HATE IRONING), so that when they come home (I work from home so the assumption is that I am a women of leisure, far from by the way) everything is taken care of. I know some may say I spoil them, sometimes I agree but I must admit that they spoil me in other ways. The point is being a woman, waking up to a world that expects so much of us but is fast to call us the weaker sex, we are super heroes, at least that's my thinking.

May Day May Day

image via garancedore.fr/en

For as long as I can remember, I have had a love hate relationship with the month of May. Mainly because it reminds me just how quickly the year has gone, and also because it marks the slow countdown to my birthday (May 20th eeeeeeeek). Unlike last year however, with just 15 days until my birthday I feel rather cool calm and collected, like the feeling you get when you know that everything will be ok! That's me right now, very zen (maybe its the wine but lets pretend its au natural). My change in mindset may have something to do with my steady relationship (we have to discuss this soon), the piles of projects I am currently working on that are making me happy and the fact that after deciding to not celebrate my birthday last year I've changed my mind because I've realized that in all actuality, getting older is a step in the right direction, to a place of acceptance, no more body woes and wisdom, and who doesn't want to be wiser?

For the most part what I am learning is to breathe a little easier. I know that as Generation Y we are often criticized for wanting too much too soon and for the most part that's true, but if you take a closer look at why we are the way we are, the internet has a big part to play in it all. From online sensations turned mega stars (I'm looking at you Justin Bieber) to the rise of reality TV, we are more connected than ever to whats happening around us and its easy to feel a little FOMO (I literally started liking my life more when Rihanna was off instagram, I felt like maybe we were living the same life - a girl can dream no?). Anyways, I for one have thought to myself on several occasions how nice it would be to be in Rihanna's shoes, I mean HELLO, who wouldn't? Or maybe be tech savvy enough to launch the new Facebook and become a billionaire in no time at all, but the reality is, that's not the reality for 99% of us so why bother stressing about it?

And yes it may seem when someone your age (like Taylor Swift who is 25 turning 26 like me) is globe trotting and dropping billboard 100 hits like its nothing, that you've failed, I sure felt like I have. But the thing is, that's her journey and I am sure even Ms. Swift wishes for something else sometimes, that's human nature after all. The point is to just get busy living, keep doing what you love and get on with it. Before you know it you'll be 65 and yes you may not have a star on the Hollywood walk of fame to show, or chart toppers but you should be happy with what you've created for yourself. So please excuse me whilst I plan a very chic (and budget friendly - I dont have Taylor bucks) party for my upcoming birthday and return to my zen state (that means another glass of wine).