It feels like an eternity has passed since the last time I posted something here. Time goes so fast yet so slow at the same time. And before I launch into reflexions on the elasticity of time let me talk about a few things that happened during the past month.
On International Women’s Day on March 8th, I asked to help at the Plan UK stand at the South Bank centre during the Women of the World festival. No big deal. I wanted to be involved, be helpful. I looked forward to it all week, got confirmation and a time slot.
On the day, it all started so well then I dozed off at some point. I had to catch the train to London but I leapt through time and found myself on the other side of my train’s departure time. I was horrified. Quick thinking and I could catch the next train. After running like a crazy woman in the house trying to get ready it became clear that I couldn’t catch that train after all. Right then the worst happened; standing by the door of my room, half-dressed, I cried bitterly.
This episode made me realise how difficult it is to keep up with any project.
Nothing and no one forces me to do anything of my days. I take the decisions and I try to see them to completion. As long as the process is successful there’s no problem but the minute something goes wrong like that unfortunate episode, it feels like the apocalypse has arrived.
There’s a sort of vacuity between my actions. Absolutely nothing exists until I make something happen. Nobody pats me on the back when I do something I am proud of. Equally nobody reprimands me when I mess up my plans. Whichever way I choose it is all entirely my doing.
From years of looking for the truth to understand life you’d think that’s the most obvious finding. It took me a meltdown to understand that one thing.
Like you know there are a few challenges I decided to take to make the Kilimanjaro journey a bit more fun. I got on with the list and so far it’s been half fun and half pain.
Here’s my progress so far.
Sew a skirt and wear it: I have decided on the skirt’s design and fabric. I got this far with it.
Learn how to swim: I found the swimming complex where I am going to take my lessons, the prices and the times that will suit me best. I’m yet to buy a swimsuit.
Join a choir: I found out there are a whole bunch of choirs in my area which surprised me a lot.
Get a tattoo: on a trip back from the supermarket less than a week ago I spotted a tattoo shop! It is literally 5 minutes away from my house and I had never seen it before. It looks very clean and serious. No excuse for me then.
Change my hair style: I have been toying with the idea of changing my hair style for a while. This one is difficult. I’ll have to give myself time here.
Volunteering at the Police and Fire station: it turned out to be a very straight forward thing. They’re always looking for volunteers. I’m still to apply but right now I am glad to know all is possible.
Grow veggies: I planted three varieties of tomatoes, some corn, a few flower seeds and potatoes. This is excruciatingly hard for me because I am the most impatient person I know. The tomatoes have come out (yay!!!) but nothing else has yet so I just wait. Well, there’s no other option.
Spend a day at a farm: I’m keeping this one for hotter days. Although I already found a farm in my area that is open to the public and I feel like it’ll be great fun spending the day there.
Take dance classes: a friend introduced me to Kizomba. It’s a Portuguese dance. It’s very sensual and when danced properly it’s very beautiful. I know a version of it called Zouk that compared to Kizomba is like its sleazy cousin you’d rather not speak to. Anyways, I have been to a Kizomba party before and there are more to come and this is the dance I am taking.
Take up boxing: I joined a boxing club. It’s full of young men and I am one of the only two female members as far as I know. I train every Monday evening. Boxing is an interesting sport. I like it so far but I’ll have to reconcile with the fact that at some point in the future I am going to be hit in the face.
The bake sale is arranged for August with a good friend who’s keen to help with my fundraising. I am looking forward to it.
Speak Spanish fluently: my morning and evening commutes are spent listening to Spanish podcasts. That’s the first step. I’m glad I even started because I didn’t realise how much Spanish I forgot over the last FIVE years!
The only things not started or planned yet are serious Yoga and knitting. But like I learned, there’s no rush. I decide.
I am fundraising for Plan’s campaign Because I am a Girl, the world’s biggest girls’ rights campaign. They have already reached 58 million girls globally and are determined to put girls’ rights where they can’t be ignored.
Plan’s campaigning activity runs alongside their programmatic work in 50 of the world’s poorest countries, empowering girls to stay in school and out of child marriage.
Because I am a girl I can decide for myself, so can all those girls Plan is campaigning for.
They don’t get the opportunity to tell their stories in their own words, let’s give them a voice.
Help me on my journey to the Kilimanjaro. Click on the Sponsor me! link on the right to do so, and check Plan UK website to know more about them and the campaign.
Project Kilimanjaro 