37 days have rounded the moon, and my head still heaves up in disgust. I can't narrate in metaphors.
I never knew I was going to be writing to you this month. I never always knew. I just wait and let my head calm to the extent that I'm able to write. And I guess this month falls today. You really want to know the truth whether I miss you? Yes I did. A lot. Can you believe that it's been a month!
I mean, look at you, glowing with Mamador oil.
And here I am, wondering if I'm really 21. I'm not body shaming myself but I've been seeing others celebrating 21 and I'm asking if I'm really 21 perhaps I am like 13 or 15 at most.
That's not the issue by the way. A lot has happened over the past one month. I found a crush, published my first UX case studies, designed web and app interfaces. I even worked on my Notion account finally. I watched movies (#softlife), I even slept like a Koala — kidding. I'd wake if a pin drops.
As you can think these are feats in different phases, let me tell you — they are not, which is why I am going to be truthful to you. No lies. I intend to be blunt in this letter, okay?
Oftentimes, or let me say most of the time, the most popular line that you could ever give to the person you cherish is — no, not I love you, cancel it, it is — TAKE A BREAK.
This past month, I had about 10 people wrap the line in sweet messages — Olúwábùkúnmi, take a break. But most people are missing the important part. I bet they do. And I think the important part is, is it even possible?
I have experienced ups and lows. Lows the most in the last 37 days. I teared up, although it's because I forgot to plug my phone into the socket overnight. I have taken long walks, I have rant, in fact, I have felt so disjointed from the realities. And then, there is Manchester United.
The truth is, I don't think I need a break. Unlike most people, I don't know how to take a break amid work. My break is always after work. It doesn't matter when I will finish. But the thing that causes a lot of breakdown is not only stress, it is the pile of work you've been postponing till the grim face of deadline is staring at you.
I am not berating Take a break line — no! I'm trying to say that sometimes you don't need a break, you don't need to go MIA, you don't need to prove mature in absence of social media but all you need is to take those works and do them. You know that you want to write a 5000 word count essay and you begin the day you want to submit (I do that a lot) and you're complaining of mental breakdown. Who else should break down if not you that is ready to break dance.
Have I taken a break before? Yes! Well, it's not break like that, I wanted to write exams and I told my boss that I wanted to read. I managed 3 weeks to elevate my ego and appeared mysterious with a deep philosophical status that painted me like Dürer.
& The second part.
To be honest with you, some of us don't have a bearing yet. We even have a high demand skill but we are asking ourselves if this is what we will be the 90% of our life. Imagine me still saying, "can you see my screen" at my 50. And this is not to present any webinar in any country, I mean to present case studies to companies.
Nigeria is fucking with most of us. We know this. We don't talk much about it, perhaps you do. I have lost opportunities, I have lost money, I have lost platforms. But you know what? We have found a sentence to calm ourselves — if it's not for you, it's not for you. We act like it's not hurtful. It is. My heart goes to every student delayed at home at the moment — oh, including myself.
I don't want to give you tips about how to better yourself today, I want to be honest with you. I want to let you know that sometimes, a break doesn't solve the problem — acting when it's needed will save you from a lot of pressure. And if need be, go for a break but recite the rhyme.
Some have food...
by the way, I've been thinking of starting my newsletter week again. do you think i should? let me know.