Swinging like a pendulum between gloom and light

I don't have an excuse for why this is late. it just happens to be and we're just gonna accept it like that. March was hot and annoying for whatever reason. Maybe it's because of the heat or maybe random tiny annoying thoughts but as much as I tried to be calm, I just couldn't. Also can we take a moment to appreciate image generation 😌.

The first day of March was the first day of Ramadan. So the whole month was focused on trying to get the most out of this blessed month and balancing it with all the other stuff I had going on. I had Qur’an goals, Tafsir goals all outlined in my Ramadan journal which only lasted 17 days before I got lazy and stopped; journaling I mean, I crushed my Qur’an goals 🌚. The heat though, the heat made everything harder than it should be, stepping out was like entering a furnace, being at home was like being in an oven, there was no refuge. It almost seemed like the weather has never been this hot before which I sorta doubt. We just tend to forget it once the rain starts.

I focused on my crochet because I realized it was one of the few hobbies that empties my mind. I tend to not wonder when I'm on it and it has been a pleasant find. Till now, I had thought only books could do that for me but crocheting has become a peaceful mindless hobby and I doubt I’ll get bored of it anytime soon (also because I made commitments). I completed 3 beanies and started on my adult sized blanket. It's going slow but it’s going well and that’s all that matters in the long run.

I haven’t spoken about my gardening right? It’s because I almost gave up but things are picking up now. My mint is getting better and spreading out and my aloe vera plant is also thriving. I’ll wait for a while before picking up more plants because I doubt I can take care of more plants at once at the moment. I’m getting tired of that routine, mostly because I have to go outside to water them.

I was quite irritable this month, especially towards the second and third week of the month. Everything just kept pissing me off. A slight shift from a current position will just set me off. I snapped at my family members more than once. I’m going to blame this on the heat because what else could it be. Was it only other people? No, I annoyed myself too. There was this day that I felt like the worst friend in the whole wide world. Like an ungrateful leech. I got angry at myself and stayed that way for a few days.

By the third week of March, I travelled to Minna and if I thought Suleja was hot, then Minna was the origin of that heat. Even the fan blew hot. When the sun is high in the sky, there’s no difference between the outside and the inside. I truly appreciated the wisdom of fasting being just between you and God. I was in Minna to take care of the desserts and regardless of the temperature, my babies will still perk me up. Muffin has gotten more talkative and Cookie is more reserved. We had cake for Muffin's birthday,I visited my family and tried to have as much fun as I could in Niger state’s sunny capital. Another achievement during this trip is the completion of the book I was reading “The incredible dreams of garba Dakaskus”. If you check Dee’s Reads you'll read about all my gushings about the book and how happy I am that Nigerian books are exploring this type of story telling which encourages whimsy.

Then I returned and caught a cold (well, technically just a cough). Maybe it was the sudden drop in temperature but I woke up the next day with a sore throat that refused the generic ginger and spice home remedy. I tried to avoid taking medication but gave up after Eid and got some syrup and antibiotics. It made Eid tiring and not really fun except for the times I was with my friend. I’m still recovering from it as I write this.

If you’re expecting a detailed analysis of Eid, you’ll be disappointed. I stayed home most of the time and was out for about 2 hours each day excluding the first day of Eid which had me home throughout but at least there are photos.

So as far as the march is concerned, I tried my best to be calm, happy and religious despite everything it gave us. Cheers to me and my emotional regulations 🙃 in this HOT MONTH OF STILLNESS.