Bad habits

12 Reminders for Year-End Reflection
It is that time of the year again when everyone posts how truly they have accomplished feats of success, competence, grit and determination. How magnificently their vision boards have manifested in the brilliance of their alluring existence! While it is a celebratory feat for all those who had a year that was filled with love and light, it is important to remember that the life projected on social media is the highlight of someone’s best days in the entirety of their existence. It is amazing for someone to put themselves out there and post their joy for life on their platform, but in the world where comparison is so normalised, I hope you remember life does not need to be aesthetically pleasing and swoon-worthy for it to be called a perfect life.
By Hridya Sharmaabout a year ago in Confessions
The Biggest Red Flag That I Have Noticed on the First Date
Electric Avenue is still a thriving street in Westlands, Nairobi. Lamps are lit indicating early evening, the brightness of the neon lights illuminating the crowds waiting for the night. The atmosphere is alive with the sound of people laughing, glasses clinking and music emanating from different bars and dancing clubs established alongside the road. It was here that I was on a proper first date with Zoe, the lady from the dating site whose description of herself as an ‘adventurer’ and a ‘lover of concerts’ caught my attention.
By Ian Sankanabout a year ago in Confessions
The Seasonal Chronicles
DECEMBER - 2024 It's December again—the tumultuous December, when life ends at the hands of an unflinchingly brazen cold. As hopes dip into unsheathing horrors of fate, and woes intertwine into an unyielding vault of perennial desperation, life has become piercingly unbearable. Evoking valor and summoning little pieces of my fragmented existence every time I let myself step out of my fated misery, I feel like shedding off the skin of my carefully woven dreams, leaving the cast of my unfulfilled hopes to wither and wan, carefully plodding, never looking back at what destiny considered too heavy for my soul to be clothed in. As cold ascends further, I must find myself a cloak of warmer misfortune, lest I die at the hands of a cooler misery.
By Ishaabout a year ago in Confessions
An ode to my journey
Remember the times when we would yearn for certain things and beings to foster their being into our lives, where what we wanted was so far-fetched, dreams that we found so unfathomable to forge their breaths in our lives? It is wondrous and almost astonishing how existence in the most unimaginable ways, how we fathom that something we can never live without, life always turns out for the better when we let go of what no longer serves us, of what we can no longer control or any experience, person, entity or situation that we outgrow in our existential being.
By Hridya Sharmaabout a year ago in Confessions
They Loved Me Like Lovers, and It Weighed Me Down
They Loved Me Like Lovers, and It Weighed Me Down On one of those quiet nights, I sat in an old café I visit whenever I feel the need for peace. While sipping my coffee, a person entered whom I hadn’t seen in years. It was my friend, whom we used to call in our youth “the icon of strength and ambition.” But he was no longer the same; his eyes were drowned in sorrow, and his features looked strangely exhausted. He paused for a moment before approaching and said with a faint smile: "It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?" I immediately stood to greet him: "Definitely! Where have you been? How are you?" He sat in front of me, silent for a moment. Then I carefully asked him: "What happened to you? You were once the epitome of youth and vitality, a confident, athletic man with a strong build. You lived a comfortable life amidst the wealth and prestige of your family. But now... you’ve changed so much. What happened?" He sighed deeply, raised his tired eyes, and said: "Let me tell you the story that destroyed my life. You’re the only one I can tell everything to." The Beginning: "I was seventeen, handsome, and full of ambition. I loved sports, and I considered walking to and from school every day as my favorite form of exercise. My life was simple, but my wealthy family spoiled me, and no one cared about what I did as long as I stayed out of trouble. One ordinary morning, while walking to school as usual, a luxury car stopped beside me. A woman of incredible beauty was sitting behind the wheel, her features exuding confidence and sophistication. She smiled at me and called out: ‘Where are you headed?’ I hesitated for a moment before replying: ‘To school.’ She laughed and said: ‘That’s a long walk, isn’t it?’ I nodded and replied: ‘I enjoy it. I consider it my exercise.’ Then she said something I didn’t expect: ‘If you love sports, I have a proposal for you. I can help you join a professional sports club. You’ll find everything you need to develop yourself there.’ I thought for a moment, and the offer was tempting. But I hesitated. I thanked her and said: ‘I prefer walking now. It suits my time.’ She smiled and insisted: ‘Just ride with me today. The school won’t wait for you long, and I’ll make up for your walk by signing you up for the club you dream of.’ I got into the car with her. I thought I was being offered a rare opportunity, not knowing that this moment would mark the beginning of the end." "They Loved Me Like Lovers, and It Weighed Me Down" After I got into the car with her that day, I began to feel something strange was happening. She drove with confidence and calmness, as if she already knew everything about me. She asked about my life, my family, and my love for sports. I answered shyly, but she was so skilled at talking, making me feel strangely comfortable with her. When we arrived at the school, she stopped the car and smiled: "Remember this day well. If you need anything, just call me." Then she gave me a card with her name and phone number. Her name was "Dunya." That day, I couldn’t concentrate on anything. I kept thinking about her words and her beauty, which seemed to hide a hidden strength. I kept her card in my pocket, as if it were a treasure I didn’t want anyone to see. ________________________________________ The Second Meeting: The First Step Toward the Fall Days passed, and I tried to forget about that encounter. But one day, while walking back from school, the same car stopped beside me. She rolled down the window and said: "Are you still into walking for exercise?" I laughed and replied: "I have a meeting now, and I need you with me. Just an hour, I won’t be long." I hesitated at first, but she insisted: "You’re a noble young man, aren’t you? Don’t leave me to go alone." I agreed and got in with her once more. She took me to a luxurious office where she introduced me to a group of important people, calling me "her younger brother." The meeting felt like a performance, and she was the star. I watched how she impressed everyone and skillfully sealed a huge deal. After the meeting, she looked at me with a smile and said: "Today was a great day. I want to celebrate this success with you." She took me to a fancy hotel where there was music and gourmet food. The atmosphere was filled with luxury that I wasn’t used to. I felt lost in this world, but I was enjoying myself at the same time. When the celebration ended, she dropped me off near my house and said: "You’re a wonderful young man. I’ll need you by my side forever." ________________________________________ Slipping Toward the Abyss The same thing happened again. I began to skip school to be with her. I started living a huge lie—telling my family that I was at school while I was attending her meetings and parties. One day, she asked me to visit her house. It was a massive mansion surrounded by tall walls, with a huge guard standing at the gate. I entered with her, and inside, she said: "This is your home now. Act like you own the place." I felt fear for the first time. I told her I couldn’t stay long, but she smiled and said: "Don’t worry, you’ll be fine here." She brought me a drink and said: "You’re special to me. No one enters my life easily, but you’re different." Over time, our relationship became more like slavery. She controlled everything—my time, my decisions, and even my studies. I completely neglected my studies and failed my academic year. "They Loved Me Like Lovers, and It Weighed Me Down" My relationship with "Dunya" became so complicated that it was hard to separate from my life. She controlled my time and decided the course of my days, to the point where I felt I was living her life instead of my own. But she had this strange ability to make me feel special, as if I was the only one who could share this lavish world full of lights with her. The Last Journey Night One evening, after a long day of meetings and a night at a fancy hotel, she decided to drive me home. It was late, and as usual, she insisted on dropping me off at the nearest point to my house to avoid any suspicion. But I noticed something strange—Dunya wasn’t the same as she used to be. She had drunk a lot during the evening, and it was obvious in her driving. I tried to warn her: "You’re driving too fast. Take it easy." She laughed and said: "Don’t worry, I know the road better than you know your feet." But I wasn’t reassured. I tried again: "Dunya, you’re not in the best shape. Stop, let me help you." She shook her head and looked at me with a mysterious smile, saying: "Don’t worry about me. I’ll get you home safely like I always do." Finally, we reached a point near my house. I got out of the car, and she waved at me with a tired smile. I stood in place, watching her car drive away quickly in the darkness. The Shock The next day, I waited for her usual call, but it didn’t come. I felt anxious, so I tried calling her repeatedly, but her phone was off. I decided to go to her mansion to check on her. When I arrived there, the guard stood with a blank expression. I asked him: "Where’s Dunya? Why isn’t she answering my calls?" He looked at me silently for a few moments before saying the words I never expected: "Ms. Dunya... she died. There was an accident on her way home last night." I felt the ground spin beneath my feet. My mind couldn’t grasp what I had just heard. I froze in place, my eyes filling with tears. I was recalling her image, smiling at me before she left, her last words echoing in my ears: "Don’t worry about me." The End Dunya left, but she left behind everything mysterious and ambiguous. I couldn’t blame her, nor could I blame myself. I felt I was a part of her life just as she was a part of mine. But after her departure, I realized I had lost so much—myself, my studies, and my dreams buried under the shadows of our relationship. I stood in front of her grave days later, silent. I tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. All that remained inside me was emptiness, a memory of a relationship that started innocently and ended in total destruction. The Lesson Life may offer temptations that seem shiny, but they may carry endings we never expect. It’s important to know when to stop ourselves and not let anyone steal the path we’ve charted for ourselves.
By Ali Sadeek Ahmedabout a year ago in Confessions
The Day I Learned It’s All Small Stuff
We sat on the knob of Mica peak, which was rocky and covered in quartz, and the iron gray clouds crushed down on us. We could see the mountain ranges of northeastern Washington and Idaho from our vantage point above the valley.
By Iron-Pen☑️ about a year ago in Confessions
What I Think About Christmas
I used to love Christmas when I was a child. At the age of seven, I discovered that the presents were given by my father, not by the so-called jolly old man who came at night and slid down the chimney to leave gifts under the tree. After all, that doesn’t make sense, as I live in a tropical country and in a region where it’s never cold. We don’t even have chimneys! It would make more sense to have a giant freezer to combat the year-round heat. Santa Claus couldn’t possibly come out of a freezer. Or could he?
By Persephoneabout a year ago in Confessions
"Do Not Be Dismayed by the Pits Dug in Your Path"
"Do Not Be Dismayed by the Pits Dug in Your Path" Life is a journey filled with challenges and obstacles. There are moments when we face humiliation, our hard work is underestimated, or we encounter metaphorical "pits" in our path that threaten to pull us down. Such instances can be disheartening, making us question, "Why is this happening to me?" or "Should I endure more?" However, remember this: when someone digs a pit in your way, do not be upset. These very pits teach you how to leap higher and rise stronger.
By Dipak Pawarabout a year ago in Confessions
The Concrete Jungle Chronicles: 20s vs. 30s
Living in the city in your 20s is like starring in an indie film with a loose script. Your apartment is barely livable—a studio where your bed is six inches from the fridge, and the bathroom is technically in the hallway—but you romanticize every corner of it. The chipped paint is “character.” The neighbors arguing at 2 a.m.? Ambience. The thrill of independence overrides any practical concerns, like how you’ll make rent this month after splurging on concert tickets and $8 lattes.
By The Kind Quillabout a year ago in Confessions
Things I learnt from my recent setbacks
Things I learnt from my recent setbacks How I wish life were filled with glory and love, tales of how we succeed in every aspect of our life, emerging victorious in battles filled with animosity and sadness. Every mortal being experiences seasons of rise and fall, of light and dark, of pain and purpose, and defeat and victory.
By Hridya Sharmaabout a year ago in Confessions
One Day at a Time: Reclaiming Your Life from Gambling Addiction. AI-Generated.
Gambling can often start as a harmless pastime—a night out at the casino, a friendly poker game or some online sport bets. But for many, what begins as innocent entertainment can quickly spiral into a destructive addiction. Gambling addiction, often referred to as "the hidden addiction," can consume every aspect of life, leaving a trail of financial ruin, broken relationships, and emotional despair. If you find yourself struggling with this, know that you’re not alone, and recovery is not only possible but also transformative. By taking it one day at a time, you can reclaim your life and rediscover hope and purpose.
By Obot A.about a year ago in Confessions
The Surprising Reasons We Become What We Hate
For so many years, I kept telling myself, that I didn’t want to become like my biological mother. I had a list of things I didn’t want to do, behaviours I didn’t want to emulate, and values I wouldn’t accept. Despite my determination, I found myself falling into patterns that contradicted my own values. It felt strange, even disheartening, but I eventually realised that this phenomenon is not unique to me. It is a psychological reality of how the mind functions, and understanding it can lead to profound self-awareness.
By A Little Butterflyabout a year ago in Confessions