Hi everyone!
It’s been a while. I’ve not been in the right mindset to express my thoughts - there have been too many in the last 4 months to condense into a 5-minute read. Some are also too personal to bring out into the open in this way. But the one I can openly speak about is the fact that I quit my job! 👀
I did it for several reasons that I’ll likely write about in the future, but the conclusion of that is that I thought it was time to start a new chapter. Hopefully, the entrepreneurship chapter that I’ve been practically preparing for during my 8+ years in the workforce.
As for what next? I’m about to take several strides into some of the biggest (and hopefully most calculated) risks. There’s a plan, but it’s a little murky. Wish me luck!
Observations and thoughts 🤔
I don’t realize when I’m stressed out
Stress is oddly difficult for me to identify. It creeps in a little too subtly and shows itself in ways that are difficult for me to proactively catch. One sure way for me to detect it is when my period cycle changes i.e. it shows up earlier or later than expected; each day equates to the level of stress I’m feeling. So, every month, I would use this as a way to recalibrate and assess my emotional state.
And for the last 4 months, my period has been consistently inconsistent!
Ignoring problems won’t make them go away
I knew this. I do this. But I discovered that someone I know takes it to another level. The consequences are sometimes irreparable and they naturally seep into your personal life. It’s a lesson I’m learning from their mistakes.
I hope not many people make this mistake.
Our systems are broken and we need to fix them
You must have heard about the flooding that’s happening in Kenya. It’s been pouring every day for a couple of weeks now, with the expectation of it continuing for a few months. The biggest fault for the flooding is the fact that the government didn’t account for drainage across most urban areas. Because of this, the water stays on the roads and as I’ve recently learnt, tarmac doesn’t do well with water. This creates all the potholes we are now seeing and leaves cars to suffer through the traffic this causes.
Despite the precipitation levels going up in the last decade, this kind of rain is not totally out of the blue. It’s been gradually going up and the officials have simply been negligent in thinking proactively. Reinforcing the river banks and warning the public of the effects would have been the bare minimum.
But why are we surprised?
🥨🍞🧀🥯🥖 (Random)
Where I’m writing this from: Nairobi
What I’ve watched: Civil War - What an eye-opening movie. The premise is that the US breaks into a civil war because the president declares to stay for a third term. The movie brings to light that IF the US were to ever go through this, there would be 0 internal winners, simply because the public has access to too much gun power and it would be a reenactment of The Purge. Otherwise, the acting, writing, cinematography and sound were commendable. It’s worth a rewatch!
What I’ve been up to:
I played golf on a range for the first time and also took a lesson. Each stroke takes patience and proper form, and doing that consistently is quite difficult. I finally have respect for the sport.
I was about to start hitting the nearby forest trail regularly but the idea of doing that while it’s muddy has detered me.
Been trying out new restaurants (Nairobi needs to chill out!):
Ezo: Has a Michelin star chef (apparently). Each dish came ridiculously close to being great. But as with most Kenyan restaurants, they shy away from bold flavours so it always misses the mark.
La Villa: Good burrata and great ambiance. The wait staff had some drama which was also entertaining to learn about.
Queen Deli: Really good burrata and focaccia bread. Didn’t like their ravioli. Good ambiance if you like watching Padel.
Bamba: Some of the best pizza and eggplant dishes I’ve had. Really good ambiance. Slow wait staff. Difficult to find the place at night.
Cuban code: Decent ambiance - club-like. Haven’t tried their food. Worth going to for sunset views.
Fifteen Rooftop: Decent food and drinks. Good views overlooking the city and national park.
Eatopia: Very rustic aesthetic. Good tea, didn’t try their food.
Pride Inn Westlands: This was an incredible find. Their breakfast is one of the best ones, and their portion sizes are crazy. Albeit a little more pricey than the other breakfast places, this is worth going to. The ambiance is quite pleasant too. AND it’s open 24/7!
Upepo: Really good cocktails and worth just going to check out the aesthetic. I also had breakfast at their other restaurant and they have a make-your-own juice bar that was such a privilege. The food was decent, nothing to rave about. The staff was very good.
Barista: Not a new restaurant for me but I must mention that I tried their BABKA FRENCH TOAST! Reach that again. It sent me to chocolate heaven, but also gave me a serious sugar rush and crash. So beware!
And here are some ads I’ve come across in Nairobi that were worth taking a picture of
Love reading your life updates, outlook, and self reflection. It's a reminder for all of us 👍