Pausing Until Gratitude Finds Me Again

 

I didn’t mean to go quiet  but sometimes life hands you so many flavours at once, you have to pause and taste them before you can tell the story.

It’s been a while since I last dropped by here.

Not because I forgot.

But because… life decided to give me the full drama series package.

July in Emojis, Pepper Soup, and Lessons From the Soil.

If July was in emojis, it would look like this:

😃 😊 😰 😀 😄 😭 😁 😆 😃 😡 😊 🥲 😤

Basically, my mood had no fixed address.

And honestly? July was like that moment you’re ready to enjoy pepper soup. You take your first spoon, the pepper enters your throat and says, “Good afternoon, ma.” Your eyes start watering, you start coughing, you’re laughing in between… but do you drop the spoon? No. Because pepper soup is pepper soup. We move.

Morning wins

One of my happy mornings was with my girl Amina 🧡.

We’ve been exercising together these days, accountability partners, and rain-forecast analysts.

Thank God it didn’t rain that morning because Abuja rain? Hmm. It doesn’t knock, it just comes in like it owns the place. But wait was it supposed to knock? 🤣 

We hit Jabi Lake. I jogged 3km, yes, three. Not 2.9. Not “almost 3.” Full 3km. Then I joined the weight-lifting session with a group of amazing women. The energy was fire. Asa Odugwu Mrs ebere, was serving her usual dose of positive vibes.

Somewhere between squats and laughter, it hit me.

Who you are is not up for public voting.

Who you listen to can sharpen you or blunt you.

But the things you tell yourself? That’s the soundtrack you live by.

Green babies

My yams are still in the ground, growing like they have rent to pay. But I got new “babies” this month, cucumber, lettuce, and tomatoes.

Gardening therapy was peaceful, but also deep. You plant. You water. You protect. But the growth? That’s Allah’s department. It’s a gentle reminder to submit your heart where it belongs.

Special love to my Project 20 sisters at COHATA and our sweet Ustadha Coach H. May Allah increase you in wisdom and keep you healthy always.

Moori the royal

Let me not forget my royal roommate, Queen Moori.

My furry, four-legged cheerleader. She doesn’t talk much (thank God), but she’s always there. Sometimes you don’t need words, just soft purrs and the presence of someone who loves you even when you haven’t brushed your hair.

Work & growth

I’m grateful for my time at Mastermind Catering and Culinary Institution. It wasn’t just baking, it was another way of seeing life.

To our Rector, a pure soul with a big heart. May blessings continue to chase you down. ❤️

Short, sweet, and full of lessons

My time at InnocentMINDS was short, but the lessons were plenty.

Number one, don’t bite more than you can chew. And if you must chew plenty, make sure you have water nearby.

My people

Jamila A. (thatveilchic gal) I love you to the sun, not just the moon and back.

Adeola Nafeesat Bashir 💓, Dr Hauwa Bello, my angel in human form.

And my neighbours, Mr Victor, Alex, Miss Amara and Ella, Adamu amd Emmanuel, thank you for being the kind of people who make one smile when you meet them at the gate.

Family and mountains

To my siblings and nephews ❤️💖 we are in this together.

And to my hike family, my trail-setters, you make climbing mountains feel like a group picnic.

July was messy, spicy, sweet, and full. But here I am, grateful.

For work, even short seasons.

For plants, even slow growers.

For people, even the few who stay.

For cat, even the one who think she is royalty. But she is indeed one.

So, my people, what are you grateful for today?