Apparently one does. 

 

I thought burn out was all about being tired. 

I was wrong. 

 

I would wake up feeling like I hadn't slept,

And go to bed feeling like I'd ran a marathon.

Coffee was no longer working...

I took five days off at Christmas time, 

There was a week where every day someone kept telling me how tired I looked.

I went into panic mode, ready to go to the clinic to get all kinds of tests done.

So I complain to Bae,

So I try it. 

I add one to my daily diet.

It works!

 But I hate eating fruits and veggies

Why? Because of childhood.... 

Childhood and the privilege of being able 

to dislike food that is healthy. 

I take three weeks off as my boss advises.

Meanwhile pandemonium is enshewing outside

It's the week before Uganda announces it's first COVID -19 case.

Kenya has just announced it's first,

 a lady of Indian decent returned from America.

Entebbe airport is still open.

The pandemic is slowly creeping up on us. 

You can feel the paranoia growing in Kampala.

I saw a man in the pharmacy with matching pastel blue mask and gloves.

He was buying malaria medicine.

 I decide to stay home,

Only going out to buy essentials or to meet friends.  

I planned to be a blanket blob catching up on my series during my leave anyway..

COVID -19 has made it possible.

So days into the partial lockdown,

 I am chugging down the cucumbers and noticing a difference,

but I still don't like them

Do you recall the snozzcumbers from the BFG book?

 Then I remember my bestie gave me a  juicer.

So one day I juice a whole cucumber and add lemon.

Not to bad... drinking makes it go down quicker....

And each day I add something to make the juice bearable

And  Boom!!!

My energy and motivation return...

I wake up happy to wake up.

I have a joyous light skip in my step.

Two weeks later, I 'return' to work excited and ready. 

I am working from home with a healthy juicing buzz, 

while the country is now in full lockdown.

And it dawns on me burnout is very very REAL, 

and its not just about sleep & rest.

I need to eat healthy too.

Duuuuh...

Anyway my fave juicing recipe includes these....

Also since, no private cars are allowed on the road,

 I have been walking more on the weekend,

and working out from home during the week.

Here are some of my  favorite home workouts from You Tube. 

Low Impact Cardio

Standing Cardio Workout

Ballet Body Sculpt 

Full Body Barre Workout

The Last Samurai

Did you know about the unknown community of Chinese-Americans
 who have lived in the Mississipi Delta for over 100 years?

This was a random recommendation from You Tube,
There was something fresh and new about the series that made me revel in it. 

AJ+

After we can talk about why we don't like Helen in the movie Bridesmaids 

This next ones are five videos for the creatives, Enjoy..

Leena Norms 

*Please note this post was written near the end of March*

photo credit: Unsplash 
( I was challenged by Pru Nyamishana to write this. Thank you Pru.)

Hi!

My name is Maria, and I attract bullies.

Or rather I allow bullies in my space,
both physically, mentally
and yes and even digitally too.

 I am admitting on this blog
 that I play my part in
bringing toxic relationships into my life.

But no more.

I cannot bow my head and sit quietly.
In 2020, I realize I have put in the work.
I have slogged to get here,
and a reward for myself is being done.
So....no more.
This chick is done!
You know when you just know?
Well I more than just know.

My healthy boundaries are up.
Not everyone will have access to my space.
I will respect others' spaces as well.

One self-care activity I will do this year,
is affirm myself positively.
I am tired of the negative conversations in my head,
there is a bully living inside me too.

I have said some-not-so -nice things to myself.
But this is being left at the foot of 2019.

In 2020 all internal dialogue will be mature and positive.

I am already working on my  Louise L Hay affirmations as I write this:

"Life loves me."

"It's only a thought and a thought can be changed!"

"It is safe to look within."

"Deep at the center of  my being is an infinite well of love."

"I am love and I am at peace."

I used to think affirmations were such an odd thing.
How could being a friend to yourself be a priority?
And where is the time to do it?
But simple things can be such great blessings.
Especially when life is tough.

If you would like to also positively affirm yourself click here  for more affirmations.
Feel free to share some of your favorites in the comment section .


Photo credits : Unsplash