The sun you carry in your pocket, is some of it yours?

Sometimes you will have to force yourself to slow down in anticipation of upcoming stress. July started really fast, no time to rest, just stuff to do. I was busier than I had been throughout the year, no time to rest jumping from one issue to another both personal, academic and career. The tell tale sign is that I only have one journal entry in July, just one but then all months are not equal so we'll work with my memory and some substack posts.

The first week of July worked towards trying to get my certificate from school and all the clearance procedures that came with it. Unfortunately I got caught in the clutches of new stress, I have cleared it up and thankfully didn't have to spend anything but I'll tell you that academics and the people that are into all that will never cease to amaze me with the dedication to printing as many journals as you can. I don't want to be judgy soo, to each his own I guess unless it stresses me out too.

After the whole ish with academics, I realized just how stressful August was going to be, August and September are my community bonding months and I came to the conclusion that if July continued like it was going, I'll be burnt out by mid-august, so I decided to go on leave and visit the one place, I can't be too serious even if I wanted to. I went to see my desserts.

This brings us to the second week of July, which I spent self grooming and wrapping up stuff before my leave starts. The rest of July would be free from most of my work and I would be in a place that gives me an unlimited amount of joy and escape. It's beautiful how it all worked out because I also got to spend my sister's birthday with her which hasn't happened in ages. We didn't do much tbh but it just felt "bonding" in a weird way. I a made whole video too, somebody say "Best Sister Ever"😌.

I travelled to Minna on a Monday and it was like the world wanted me to feel a last bit of emotion before leaving because on my way to the car park, I was people watching and witnessed a cruel contrast

It's a Monday Morning
Two kids walk past each other on the street

One is wearing a greasy shirt;
With sack of scraps on his back

One is in a blue and beige school uniform;
With a backpack of books on his back

These two kids didn't choose any of these, they were just dealt different life cards. It's easy to look forward to what you want but sometimes you need to slow down and look behind because the life you so desperately want to leave, is one someone else envies from afar. Perspectives 🤷🏾‍♀️. Side note? This is why I both love and hate people watching, I always seem to drift towards the sad. Well, that's how my leave started, with an acknowledgement of privilege.

I actually visited Minna twice this month, the first time, at the start of my leave, this was a personal visit to see my dessert, laugh and just be an aunt. The second time was for a wedding. Though wedding season doesn't start properly till late October when the rains are letting up. Minna was fun but not Minna as a city but the people I went to visit; but there is always a soft spot for your childhood city. My fav part of July is completing the third item on my 2026 goals list, one more and by my standards, I would have won adulting for the year and quite early too 🥳.

Is this review all over the place? If Yes, Sorry; If No, Yay! I just have no guideline like other months and so I'm speaking exactly how my brain is spewing thoughts and memories.

This month I was on substack a lot and pulled something from my draft titled Vanity is a type of self love, if it sounds intriguing, you're welcome to click the link.

I have not given any updates on my reading because I have not read anything for months. The only hobby I've been consistent with is "doom scrolling" and my vertical dramas but the raining season is here and books and rain are a match made in heaven so let's see how it goes in August.

I've said a lot and also nothing serious but the one thing I accepted this month is the importance of showing yourself love and admiration. Share a bit of the kindness you give to others with yourself too. Do not, in a bid to be nice and humble be your own abuser. Being selfish once in a while is also okay.