nilichoandika

Daily writing prompt

What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world?

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Leonard Cohen’s song “Hallelujah” has always held a different, more sensual meaning to me and this is what writing is for me.

At the surface, I love reading books, the joy of going on a journey and trusting a stranger to lead me there through words that they selected is much more than what it seems at face value.

So, when I was hurting, happy, anxious, hopeful, scared- it’s these words that held me.

It was easier to be frustrated at a blank page, than what was beyond my control

So, when I come to this space that I created, forget the likes (well, I love those too), forget the hashtags, the reposts- when I come to this space, I come knowing that what’s led me here was meant to be unearthed here and I hope, dear Reader, fellow Wanderer and Lover of Life, that you come as a ray of sunshine, stay like an evening breeze and leave a little lighter.

Daily writing prompt

Describe your life in an alternate universe.

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I don’t know what form I’d take in an alternate universe, or what species I’d be.

No taxes. Would be amazing.

Wherever I may be in that universe, I hope I’d not be prey; not bred or nurtured for consumption.

Daily writing prompt

What are you curious about?

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There is an African proverb that goes, “A flea can trouble a lion more than a lion can trouble a flea.”

I find myself in awe of all the accomplishments that human beings have made, yet one thing reigns supreme: manufacturing water…what would that be like? We can manipulate the components of it’s raw form, straight from nature as it is and add or subtract or gauge levels of other elements in it, make it distilled, still, fizzy, spring, sparkling…but never make it from scratch.

Daily writing prompt

If you won two free plane tickets, where would you go?

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If…how one word, two letters, a vowel preceding a consonant, holds so much power.

Two free plane tickets; make it outbound and return,

So I visit the Gold Coast and return to Kenya.

Daily writing prompt

What strategies do you use to maintain your health and well-being?

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I will start with what I have consistently failed in: exercise/home workouts.

The 30 day challenge fitness app is the only app that I have downloaded and deleted two days after, because it is easier for me to opt out of sweating and minor body ache.

The world is loud and chaotic, and when it seems too much to bear, this stardust soul of mine enjoys the following:

• Activating ‘airplane mode’ on my phone
• Sleeping
• Listening to music- I have curated playlists on spotify titled ‘mood,’ ‘quiet,’ ‘fun’, and lastly ‘sad love songs.’
• Take a warm bath- sometimes, even a cold shower can help keep my body and mind in check.
• Watching a kdrama series on Netflix.
• Writing.

Perhaps the greatest of all, that I find amusing is drinking water and pretending to mind my business when clearly I am interested in the chaos around me.

Daily writing prompt

What would you change about modern society?

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These two things: first that it is a society, and second that it is modern.

This question took me back to different times in my life when I knew from the trembling of the rage, fear, life underneath my skin that I could do as I planned. It took me back to when I was nine years old and saying that I wish adults treated children better, that they listened to us when we were hurting and stopped the pain.

It took me back to the time in high school when I wished education was free so no one missed out on learning, on access to schooling (and now 17 years later I can say that I’ve been working on this for the past 4 years).

It took me back to the time when I lost the ones I loved so unexpectedly that I truly wanted better healthcare, that I could have done something or said something that stopped a friend from taking his life, and his mother from dying from the shock of it all…

It took me to the weeping, wailing, and rage of denied democracy…of violence against young men, of tribe going against tribe, of blood, of burning tyres, inflated prices that made me want honest government leadership.

It took me to those vacations that made me wish travel was cheaper, faster, efficient-that you could enjoy watching the sunset, take a dive beneath the waterfall, eat good food, have a laugh with friends…

Now, all I can say is that this little light of mine has learned that sometimes…if not all times, the greatest change you can make is within, and that is tumultuous as it is freeing.

Daily writing prompt

What foods would you like to make?

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There is only one dish that can get me out of a slump, that reminds me of joy, peace, and home…and forget the fact that I am Luo, which in context-if you are a Kenyan citizen, would try and associate me (as is with my tribe) with fish and ugali, but alas! I live for Chapati and yellow beans.

It’s the only dish I would like to make when:

• I’m feeling blue
• I’ve done house cleaning and want to listen to my spotify playlist
• I want to bingewatch kdramas on Netflix
• I miss my elder sister, because her chapatis are to die for!
• I miss family reunions- the laughter, stories and love from everyone.

Daily writing prompt

List 10 things you know to be absolutely certain.

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I saw this #dailyprompt and it’s very simple, “list 10 things you know to be absolutely certain.”

Of this I’m certain, that for life there’s death.

Everything that is can cease to be.

I do not know about the other nine.