Top: Bangweulu Blue Bardot Top [Here] 

It’s been over five weeks since I last wrote. That is crazy right. The thing is, I’ve actually planned to write on several occasions, it’s simply just not worked out. I’ve even sat down with a pen and tried to get my thoughts down on paper –  but failed.  Sometimes we are our own biggest obstacle, and that can be one of the biggest challenges we face in the journey to our dreams.

More often than not, when we focus on a specific or particular goal, it hinders us from noticing the many other blessings in our life. I was so focused on achieving certain things before my birthday this year. I wanted a promotion in my job, a new apartment and a flat, toned stomach ( my belly just laughed at that last one LOL). And then it was July, August, one month until my birthday in September and guess what, I had not achieved those particular things I set out to do. It makes your mind go crazy when you place your value on something. You will stay up late at night trying everything to prove your value and worth through that thing. Your mind is unsettled, and mine was so consumed that I failed to calm myself enough to write from the heart. There was a disconnect.

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A few things happened in that time. I went inwards, started finding different outlets to get my mind off whatever was happening in my mind. I became a gym bunny and started sharing less of me in general. I thought more about what I could do and be for others and allowed my mind to focus on that instead. I think there is always a pressure for us to be a certain way by a named age. So at 25yo you are expected to be young and in your sweet prime, one year later people are asking what you are doing with your life, at 28 they cannot believe you are still single, by 30yo they are expecting children. WOW! Allow it, please.

But the key thing that came out of it this period of silence for me was that my value is not determined by anything on this earth. Not my career, my relationship status, my bank balance nor level of attraction/beauty attributed me by worldly standards. I am not what I have and it cannot determine my success as a human being. I also learnt that the journey is a wonderful thing, my fellow dreamers devout to making our dreams come true will have felt the pain that comes with gaining nothing from your efforts. Seemingly staying in one stagnant position. When it feels like that hasn’t worked, we naturally feel like we have wasted our time. But let me tell you, the lessons you learn through your failures are the ones that will fuel your success!

Everyone’s journey is different. Nobody said that it would be easy, but you can rest assured that with faith and God – there is nothing you cannot do. Just being here is a blessing. I really forgot to notice all these wonderful things I’ve been given. Freedom to walk and talk, the ability to travel down the road to church or across cities or even across countries. The friends that have stuck through the darkest parts of my life, and the incredible family God has kindly given me.

We all have something to be grateful for, life is made of moments tied together by emotions that shape and mould the destiny of our souls. We’ll never get those moments back, they are here once and then gone forever. So I want you to join me in making this vow to yourself, that we will not neglect the moments and blessing we are surrounded by daily. That we will not focus so far ahead that we forget to be in the present. That we will hold on to our dreams with hope while we enjoy all the things and people we currently have. And above all, that we daily practice LOVE, for ourselves and for others, because ultimately, only love will last forever.

Love and light x MC

This post is dedicated to Steve Andeke and Gracious Mutale. MYSRIP