nilichoandika

February is here and I’m so ready for it

February 4th, 2021

Hello world, is it sunny and scorching hot where you are?

It is 27 degrees Celcius here or 80 degrees Fahrenheit if you will and I’m seated on the floor typing away whilst taking time to sip some coffee. I’ve been recovering and dealing more with a never ending fever and restlessness.

I’m excited that February is here because 28 days in a month means it will fly by, and also because Valentines is fast approaching and I am not a huge fan of the day, however my friends are going hiking and boat riding and it’s something I am looking forward to.

On reading: I just subscribed to and downloaded Scribd and this means I get to read some amazing titles from African Authors I have always wished to read.

On Writing: I believe my writing schedule needs to be revamped because I seem to write now between midnight and three in the morning and while I enjoy writing, it seems my sleep is affected more because instead of waking up by seven, I find myself in bed until nine- often too exhausted to workout for even three minutes.

I am currently working on another historical fantasy romance novel and this time around, the world of magic seems to elude me. It’s still a working progress I believe.

All in all, I hope to feel much better this weekend and energized for next week because I’ll be picking up my dress from the tailor and I can’t wait to see how it looks on me!

Have a great week and weekend.
My day in books

January 26th, 2021

I just picked my books from the courier office this afternoon and a part of me is anxious to get started on reading the books. Now, here’s the gist; when you have so many titles where do you begin?

I just finished reading, The Shipping News by Annie Proulx, and in so reading it followed the life of Quoyle, who is as gentle as lamb yet gets the short end of the stick in love, work, family and has to start a new. I loved how each chapter opened with a description of a knot from The Ashley book of Knots.

Now, given the pace of this book I wasn’t looking to read something that would drain me-rather I wanted to read something fast paced, either a short romance novel (with a predictable ending) or a mystery/thriller…anything upbeat and I’ll start on The Prague Sonata by Bradford Morrow. I’ll probably take some time off writing this coming week and read more books, but until then, I guess one word at a time does it.
Signal

January 19th, 2021

I wait.

It may not seem like it, the silence,

the instagram and facebook posts,

the tweets and retweets.

The hours I stare at your number on my contact list.

I am waiting.

I don’t know if ever there was pride attached to a girl waiting on a boy to make a move.

I don’t know who said it wrong for a girl to wait,

But a part of me sits, silent, restless, waiting…

Waiting for a sign, just a sign…a sign…

Oh, how I sigh…

I wait.

Image: http://www.unsplash.com
One Word at a Time

January 16th, 2021

I expected my first blog post of 2021 to be a grand one. No fireworks, drinks, laughter, just a good feeling in my gut as I typed away, and I planned it all until I woke up and saw it was the 16th of January and still nothing!

It’s 9:29 A.M. here in Mbita and the weather is chilly, cloudy and I’m still on my first cup of tea.

It feels wonderful writing this morning and maybe all the plans I made in my head just needed me to act, to take that first step and just write. So here I am.

I started out this year by getting twenty print copies of my novella, In the Quiet, and I’ll be sending out copies that have been bought this Monday. The joy of seeing something you dreamed up come to life is precious and I feel the same kind of rush for every book!

I have started writing another story and right now the ideas are all over the place. What I am truly grateful for thus far is that I am able to to keep going, to keep writing one word at a time, even when the picture is still fuzzy and anytime I am about to talk myself out of writing, I remind myself of what I have written so far.

Have a wonderful weekend.
Memorable books : 2020

December 25th, 2020
For all that this year has brought upon my life, the most memorable has been the joy, I found within the pages of books.

These are a few of the memorable books I’ve read this year:
Looking for excuses, finding them and missing out on life.

December 21st, 2020

I am in one of my moods, or as my sister says “in my feelings,” because I have been on the road non-stop for a week.

I love my sleep and can recharge for hours like a cat. So, this past week had me travel to Nairobi, then Kisumu and now I am back in Mbita because my best friend was getting married and I had the honor of witnessing her wedding as a bridesmaid. It was more of a firsts for me because it was the first time I had on: block heels (3.5 inches) for the whole day, had my eyebrows trimmed, and wore make up!

Days have gone by so fast, and I had been looking forward to being selected as a 2021 IREX Community Solutions Program Participant and for a program that’s very competitive, I felt ready this year, made it past the first round and got my regret letter after the second round of interviews. I was crushed. And what I learned about that moment, reading that email is that my mind completely played out various scenarios for me: I play a role in something I am passionate about and with a great team I get to see public primary schools improve their structures, I see it in the eyes of the children in rural communities when we are constructing classrooms how eager they are to step into new, permanent and well ventilated classes. So, not getting into the program this round, does not mean that I stop working.

On writing: I have been writing a new book and in my head it is complete and perfect, but on paper, let’s just say that I need to go stationery shopping and get everything going right. I have perfected giving excuses every time I want to write and this has resulted in downloading more DJ mixes, drinking more coffee and reading books🤦🏾‍♀️, help!

On reading: This year has been the best for I have bought more books and this has also seen me not read as many titles from Netgalley, and I hope to catch up on the reading soon. I have also read more titles from Pulitzer Prize winners in the fiction category.

I am currently reading Should You Leave by Peter. D. Kramer and he’s writing from the Psychotherapist point on view on advice, when it comes to the age-old question in a relationship, “should I stay or leave?” Coming from a Psychology background and training, reading this is like learning and rediscovering my love for therapy and what it means to help someone work through the dilemmas they have.

I have been making excuses on working out and writing and now I am reaping what I’d sowed and it’s started with a guilty conscience and every time I see the schedule I stuck on my wall, I cringe. Part of me is acting like it’s not bothered and the other one is losing it’s marbles, and the wisest of them is slowly coming to an understanding that I am focusing on the output but not the input and could try and see the growth or set tasks that could lead to the goals I want to achieve, now if only I knew how!

Have a great week, I’m still working until Wednesday when all schools are supposed to be closed here in Kenya.
Shadows

December 10th, 2020

Our people say that the past is best left alone.

They sit in silence when it visits or passes by; for they’ve long known how heavy it is to carry an unwanted visitor to bed after the evening meal.

Our people know the past so well they express it in songs, proverbs, tales…but never in the present.

So, when my heart was weary, I turned to them for help and like they know best, they made me sit outside of their space, watching silently until I had to scream…

Then they said, “The past is your shadow, everything you do or say passes by with time and when something comes back ask yourself who let that door open and why…our shadows do not stop us from walking in the sun, they do not stop us from walking in the moonlight, but ask yourself who leads? Is it the shadow or the one whom the light shines upon? This is why we sit in silence, why we sit still and let the past pass by or if it sits beside us…our eyes are forever on the present on knowing unlike it, we can stand up and leave…”
A Treat

December 9th, 2020

Once in a while, I happen to actively seek out a book that gets my heart racing because the romantic in me doesn’t mind swooning.

And dear Reader, I present:

If you’d like to know how crazy or kinky I love my stories, read it here and thank or admonish me after!
Can Women Really Have It All? and other questions in Get Over ‘I Got It’ by Elayne Fluker

December 6th, 2020

The first thing that stopped me in my tracks as I was reading this book was a simple statement: “Define what having it all means to you!” Suddenly, the thought of being happy, having peace of mind, being debt free, of good health and so many other things found their way into my list in an attempt to answer this question.

One thing is certain, the author, Elyane Fluker does not want women to suffer under the weight of being SuperWoman and is simply saying, ‘ask for support Sis! It won’t kill you.’

Too many ambitious women strive to accomplish all their goals alone, leading to dangerous levels of stress and anxiety. Learn how a strong support network and meaningful connections are crucial not only to your long-term success, but to your peace of mind.

The book explores various aspects of a woman’s life; finances, career, business, health, relationships, personal development, and one more which I absolutely loved “Impact.” It is this final aspect that in the very first half of the book she asks what impact are you hoping to make? What legacy are you aspiring to?

The book is well paced and each topic builds onto the other and what’s great about this book is that she writes from the view point that any woman reading this is already winning in life. Yes, she writes in such an optimistic tone that you cannot help but truly want to dig in and put in the work, get the support, be vulnerable, form networks that enhance your worth.

I loved reading about relationships and growth and my take-away from that section is knowing who an Anchor and who an Engine is in my life. Anchors just as they serve to keep ships still, these are the people who hold us down, keep us rooted and not all of them are bad, however their vision of us is limited to our experiences together. Engines keep us going, they see the future we ought to live and propel us forward- and it is crucial to identify who is an anchor and who is an engine.

Just like more personal development books, this book is intensive, exploring various aspects, of our lives of the stories we are told as women about work and independence. She asks a question that I am asking myself ever since I read it:

How are you showing up for yourself?

About the Author: Author and podcaster Elayne Fluker believes this mindset is partially responsible for the increase in suicide rates for girls and women and the reason so many women end up depressed, overwhelmed, isolated and unfulfilled. To combat this alarming trend, Fluker helps women learn how to build their own networks, make meaningful connections, and understand how even some of the most successful women in the world, like Oprah Winfrey and Spanx founder Sara Blakely, had tremendous support networks that helped them achieve their dreams.

Get the book: Pre-Order a copy from Amazon
Laana and The Prince: A Conversation

December 5th, 2020

“Well, my Father intends to travel to another kingdom, and has asked me to get my head in order and prepare for a trade visit to the kingdom at the far east, we are running low on provisions of salt, cassava and we need better spears for our warriors. He says that he knows the people despise us and would not trade with us, but he is hoping that their hate would not spill over to me and we can at least get salt and cassava. I leave in two days.”

“I wish you well on your journey Prince, may your meeting be a fruitful one.”

“Thank you Laana, and can I ask you something?”

“You are already asking Prince, what is it?”

“How is it that you haven’t asked whether I will succeed or not or wanted to know about the reason why they despise us? You just wished me well.”

“You will go, their hate will not stop you from asking for what your people need, so it serves no purpose dwelling on it.”

“I see. What do you do when the sun goes up and when she sleeps?”

“I wake up, thank the gods for life and good health and then go to the farm, and when the sun sleeps I sleep too. What do you do?”

“I wake up as well, the maidens draw my bath, I wash and join the family for breakfast. My father is keen on reminding me that now that I am of age, I would be much better eating from my wife’s pot and when he says such things I also remind him that if he could approve of the one I choose then all shall be well.”

“You argue when there is food before you and at dawn?”

“When you find the fowl grew horns you do not ask where it has been because whatever it fought in the night may still be chasing it.”