Adulting Anonymous
(started on Monday, May 4, 2020)
Day 1
Hi.
My name is Tino and I’m insecure.
I’m insecure about a lot of things —
Am I sexy enough?
Will I ever make enough money…for anything?
When will I fall in love and stay in it?
Are my friends gonna be always there for me?
Am I a good friend myself?
Does God really love me?
Day 3
I woke up feeling hollow today
It was a new feeling, empty as a clear sky
I exchanged some words with the Most High
I learnt there’s simplicity in the complexity —
Just fill in the blanks and add colour to them
For I’m a kaleidoscope of dreams and I deserve more than a trail of shadows
Fill in the blanks…
You’re a masterpiece in the making
Keep filling in the blanks
Day 8
Relax, you’re too hard on yourself.
Take it all a step at a time — not a leap.
We usually want to change too fast.
That won’t work.
Take time to grow roots. All miracles have steps.
All miracles have set-ups, so build them up.
Day 15
Isn’t it an interesting time when needs start becoming wants?
When certain routines first felt like chores and you felt forced to do them
Then they start becoming things that you want to do
You start to have an innate desire to indefinitely incorporate them into your lives.
Day 19
You need to start living for yourself and not for the validation of others.
Yes, you’re imperfect.
Yes, your streak of being a goodie-two-shoes is broken here and there.
Yes, you don’t have to justify yourself by others.
What’s your benchmark?
What’s your idea of success?
What’s your idea of growth?
Day 25
It’s OK to not be OK.
What’s not OK is denying that you’re not OK.
Day 26
Solve problems as they come. Once they grow they become a mountain difficult to climb.
Day 36
I’ve been trying to find my voice lately but I realise I’ve silenced it so much over the years that I don’t even know its sound anymore.
Day 43
I don’t know why I’m running.
I don’t know what I’m running from. but I’m running from something.
Day 45
Tether me, my soul.
Tether me, my spirit.
Keep in me a semblance of hope.
Don’t lose sight of the way.
Your truth is valid. Don’t forget it. Don’t forget your voice.
Day 77
I hope you see yourself the way God sees you.
Day 254
You do know where you’re going.
You know what your purpose is.
It’s deep inside you.
You need to unearth it and let it flourish where the sun can see it and nurture it.
Self-doubt and lack of accountability are the winds that have been stirring up turbulence in your ocean of opportunity.
Still the waters.
Day 421
It’s been made clear to me lately that I’m a faker — I’ve been lying to myself about who I am and this journey of finding myself keeps becoming more arduous by the day. I’m not sure anymore if I’m the man that I say I am, or if I’m better than I was.
I’m drowning, and I’m flourishing at the same time. The many parts of me seem to be in a fight and I’m not so sure if it’ll ever end. Soul-searching isn’t easy and admitting this to myself right sure as heck ain’t easier.
Breathe, Tino, breathe.
Day 449
Hey Tino, how you doing mate?
I know at times it seems life’s a total mess, and it is, but fam…you’re here. You’re here right now and that’s more than enough. Stop listening to all the noise around you and for once, just this one time, listen to yourself. You are enough.
I love you bruv.
Day 668
It gets difficult to breathe under the mountain of responsibilities you have at times.
At times it feels like you just can’t do it.
Sometimes.
Sometimes you just have to look up!
Day 821
Energy comes in waves. Sometimes the tide is high. Sometimes it’s low.
At times, there isn’t any.
The tide always comes back though.
Hold on. It’s gonna come back.
And when it does….ride it. Ride that wave so high till you fall off. Then get back again and keep surfing. 🌊
Day 1,160
I hardly allow myself to be happy
Even when I reply, “I’m fine” I’m not really
I have no idea why I keep being the thief of my own joy
Backing out of happiness when it comes staring me in the face
Thinking too much about how short-lived a bubble it is
Forgetting that’s what makes life living, the short moments
Breathe.
Be in the moment.
Cherish it.
Give it your all.
Don’t stop allowing yourself to feel the sun on your face.
Let it shine.