A new era

There’s a unique kind of vulnerability, isn't there? The one that hits when friends—the right friends—look at you with that knowing gaze, past the witty banter and the carefully curated smile, and see the truth: you’re pretending. You’re trying to cover up what’s really inside. It’s a powerful moment, sometimes uncomfortable, but always, always a gift. Because in that recognition, there’s an invitation to authenticity, a gentle nudge to shed the masks we’ve so meticulously constructed. This brings us to a fundamental question many of us struggle with: the delicate dance between doing what you love and being genuinely happy. Often, we assume these are one and the same. If I’m passionate about my work, my hobbies, my pursuits, surely happiness will follow, right? Not always. We can be incredibly driven by our passions, achieving great things, feeling a sense of purpose. Yet, underneath it all, a quiet hollowness can persist if we’re not genuinely happy. Perhaps the pursuit of what we...

 Some of the best days in life are the quietest. Today wasn’t planned. I simply found out Baba was home alone and something in me just knew — I wanted to be there. No reason. No agenda. Just a feeling. I showed up at his house and walked into the sitting room that feels more like a time capsule than just a space — familiar cushions, the same tv chanel on , the slight scent of yesterday’s luban still lingering. Without a word, Baba got up and made me a cup of coffee, the kind he knows I like. No questions, no fuss. Just love served in a cup. We ended up talking — really talking. First, about people and their theatrics. He lit up in that mischievous, brutally honest way that only he can pull off. We spoke about the kinds of people who chase appearances, spending money they don’t have, trying to live a high-standard life to impress others. He shook his head, took a sip of coffee, then hit me with a line that had me howling: "Unanataka kuishi kama mfalme na we ni mbuzi." It was s...

I’m into astrology—not the kind where I shove it into every conversation or blame Mercury retrograde for all my life choices. But I enjoy it. Quietly. I don’t brag about it, and I’m definitely not ashamed of it either. As an Aries, I know my fire. It's not just a personality trait—it's an armor. A fierce, stubborn, impulsive blaze that shields the part of me I rarely let anyone see. The soft, tender core. The one that only shows up for the ultra max pro special people—the chosen few. But hold that thought. I’ll circle back to it. You see, something happened recently. Something powerful. Ever since that moment when I found comfort in Mum’s shoulders—when I finally exhaled after carrying the weight for so long—I felt a shift. Like something in me burst wide open. A buildup of emotion, tension, silence, and overthinking had been waiting for a moment to release. And when it did, it cleared my mind like the sky after a sandstorm. That moment of release wasn’t just emotional—it was c...

Some moments in life don’t come with a countdown. You don’t get a warning, a manual, or a guide on how to survive them. You just wake up and step into them — heart clenched, breath trapped, memories roaring. Today was that moment. We met. A decade since. She stood near him. Nervous, stiff, giving cold, clipped replies. I could feel it in her posture, her breath, her refusal to meet his eyes for too long. She leaned into her aunty. She clung to her stepfather. She found safety in their presence, and I understood that more than anyone else ever could. Slowly, she softened just enough to make it through. But me? I couldn’t even breathe. Thirty-two minutes. Thirty-two minutes of memories crashing into me like waves I had spent years trying to escape. The smirks during the hearings. The echo of my screams. The humiliation in the courtrooms.  That twisted attempt to seduce me amidst the trauma. The judgments that stole sleep from my nights. The victories I couldn't celebrate — because tr...

 There are moments in life that begin to shake you before they even arrive. Moments that make your chest heavy, your breath shallow, and your mind spiral into old rooms you fought so hard to escape. I’m standing at the edge of one of those moments. After ten years, this isn’t a reunion. It’s not about closure or reconnection. It’s necessity. It'about her. She’s nine now. A lifetime has passed since the last meet . She doesn’t remember much, not really. But she knows enough. She knows through my guarded silences, the papers she’s seen, the questions I still struggle to answer. She senses the tension. She feels the shift in my energy. And just like me, she’s anxious. What breaks me is how we’re both trying to protect each other. She wants to be brave for me, and I want to be unshakeable for her. That silent pact between mother and daughter—unspoken, but deeply felt—wraps itself around my heart like armor and ache all at once. No one understands the full weight of this. No one saw the...

When we imagine the lifelong journey of marriage, we often picture the finish line: the happy ending, the comfortable partnership. But like any formidable challenge – be it a grueling Hyrox race, the intense demands of CrossFit, or the sheer willpower of an Ironman triathlon – the true test, and indeed the true magic, begins long before you cross that starting line. It's in the quiet, often uncomfortable, preparation. This isn't just about choosing rings or planning a big day; it's about forging the very soul of who you are, individually and together, for a commitment that will demand everything. The Unseen Battle: Fortifying Your Inner World Every elite athlete knows that the body can only go as far as the mind allows. The same profound truth resonates deeply within the preparation for marriage. Are you truly ready for the relentless push and pull, the raw vulnerability, and the immense joy that comes with intertwining your life with another? It starts with a deep dive int...