FINDING REST: THREE

It’s been almost exactly a year since my last attempt at taking stock and now that the country is back exactly where we were then, I thought it would be interesting to track how much has changed and what will hold up the rest of the year.

Making: extensive notes and lists on my phone about things occupying a lot of brain space and interesting things I hear on Youtube or read on blogs.

Cooking: a lot more frequently in a week and feeling proud of my progress with the recipes I’ve been tweaking/ creating.

Drinking: more Ribena than I would like to admit or keep up with.

Reading: Kintu by Jennifer Makumbi, Liberty by Virginia Woolf and occasionally, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haeman Sunim. I’m also happy to say that I’ve finally gotten into a good book pairing system where I’m able to read essays and fictional writing at the same time which helps a whole lot because I’m a mood reader.

Wanting: more clarity than this time in my life seems able to give me.

Looking: forward to getting through my TBR list and reading a lot more this year.

Playing: more games that I’ve wanted to get into for a long time now. Also, more music than I did last year.

Wishing: we received more care during this time and always, as women, citizens and for all people at the margins.

Enjoying: washing dishes as a grounding and calming part of the day.

Waiting: for Grey’s Anatomy to return to our screens.

Liking: watching Sage the Dino eat on Tebby Maritim and Teremebe Chereno‘s Instagram stories.

Wondering: how much and quickly things will continue to change, what that will look like and imagining all possibilities of ‘after’.

Loving: having flower bouquets in the house, loose leaf tea, peanut butter, Laki Laki yogurt, Oatibix and Golden Crown Lactose free milk.

Hoping: for more frequent better days ahead.

Marvelling: at sunsets more often and clear night skies.

Needing: more naps these days, less screen time and more stretches.

Smelling: cardamom distinctly as a memory for this morning.

Wearing: my bonnet for a larger part of my day nowadays.

Following: lots of booktubers and creators of video essays nowadays. My sister, Sharon Malonza, has a shoutout segment on her community tab on Youtube, where you’ll find a bunch of the ones we both enjoy.

Noticing: how much I’ve gotten used to socialising with only a handful of people and how difficult the transition to more consistent/ mindful online catch- ups continues to be for me.

Knowing: that fashion as a medium of expression is important to me and so, allowing more effort to go into my dressing while I’m home is something I’d like to do more of.

Thinking: a lot about what I want for myself for the next quarter and this immediate lockdown we’ve gotten into and dearly about someone I love and deeply miss as I prepare this to go up on what would be a special day.

Feeling: calm and possible, in this moment while I type this.

Bookmarking: interesting articles I want to get to during the in- betweens of my days.

Opening: the cap to a new chilli sauce, Suree Brand Sriracha Extra Hot, I’m loving any chance I get.

Giggling: uncontrollably at memes about the ship that was stuck in the Suez Canal as well as terrible jokes made while I cook for/ with the people in my life.

I’d love to hear any of your answers to the prompts I’ve shared.