You Might Not Be Able To Blog For The Rest Of Your Life

I had a dream, a dream to blog about almost all the precious experiences I would go through in my lifetime. The dream was so vivid I saw it going from the year 2014 all through to the day I am no longer a part of this world. I lied to myself, it’s not possible for me and I accept it with open arms. I’ve been blogging for nearly 6 years now and I’m closing this chapter of my life soon. Let me share a few secrets with you…

1. Time Won’t Be Enough

I’ve been waking up at 3am to create content. It started because of the load shedding situation in Zimbabwe. I wouldn’t have electricity for the greater part of the day. I decided if I slept early I would wake up in the wee hours of the morning instead to do some cleaning, cooking and you guessed it, blogging. That’s the only time I had access to WiFi so the plan was to make the most of it. I would create my content in advance, schedule it and get a chance to read through other posts bloggers I follow would have penned down. However, it turns out time is something I no longer have enough of. I’m big on telling people that “you make time for what matters to you” and it’s true. Although blogging matters to me, I now have other platforms I cater to that need my full attention. The time for blogging simply isn’t there anymore.

2. You Will Run Out Of Ideas 

You can write alright, but exactly how many ideas do you go through till you get to the point where you realise that there isn’t anything to write about anymore? I’ve done it all. I’ve written about travel, relationships, blogging tips, motherhood, sex, events in town, restaurant reviews, you name it and I have a blog hiding somewhere in my posts for it. I’ve even written articles I’ve been paid for. One of the coolest things about blogging which is clearly diverting us from the topic at hand! Yes, ideas will soon run out and you might end up with a blog with no content for months to come and start questioning why you even started blogging.

3. Which Brings Us To The Why 

The main reason I started blogging was to have an outlet for my broken heart. I was bitter and full of so much range that I couldn’t contain and the best way to let it out was through writing. It worked for a few years until all the negative feelings no longer lived inside me. I’m in a better space now and I believe my time for oversharing parts of my personal life is over.

When the why fades away, it doesn’t make sense to keep going. I’m not an angry black woman anymore, why keep focusing on the past that can’t be altered when I have a bright future to indulge in? My why doesn’t live here anymore.

4. A Friend Told Me

That it’s okay to let go. She has walked with me through this journey and when I told her that I was losing my zeal for blogging she reminded me that change happens. I can focus my energy on something else that inspires me to create. The end of something can birth new opportunities.

5. Mental Wellness

In the past I’ve easily shared intimate parts of my life freely.  However, as I’ve grown older I realise that maybe it’s not such a great idea to do so.  The past few months have been difficult for me on the mental wellness front.  I’ve had bouts of anxiety and depression.  These are things I would have put in a blog post but I feel that maybe it needs to be in a different setup altogether until such a time I know how to manage my dark days.  Social media might not be the space right now.

This is my last blog post on my Lifestyle Blog. The journey was enthralling…  Letting go of something that used to be the centre of my attention feels like I’ve lost a part of me but it’s for the best. I have a new project I’ll be working on that I’m excited about. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but knowing that I won’t be focusing all my efforts on running two blogs reassures me that I will finally have time to give it my full attention.

Curious question; have you at any point during your journey you’ve decided you’re done with blogging?

I’ll still be available on my Fitness Blog which you can subscribe to over here.  I’m also on social media platforms with the same handles throughout: @fitnessbaeint

Thank you for the amazing support, for reading through my posts, sharing with your friends and family, commenting and leaving “likes”. Without you my blog would have never grown into a brand. I’ll be forever grateful.

“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.”

©MaKupsy 2020

Free Blogging Tips And Tricks

I wish I knew someone had given me these blogging tips and tricks when I started out.  I have been blogging for the past 6 years and over time I have gathered a few blogging tips which I randomly share with people who are starting out.  This morning I decided to compile the entire list and share it with you because I know there is a beginner out there wondering where to begin; how to make their work visible in a world full of bloggers and how to keep readers coming back for more.  Take out your pen and paper and get ready to take note of these blogging tips and tricks which by the way fall in no particular order.

Image from Pinterest

1. Choose a user-friendly blogging platform. When I started out my first few posts were on Blogger.com it didn’t make me happy so I changed to WordPress after a friend recommended it. (best decision ever!)
2. Proof read your work over and over again.  You don’t want to be that blogger who publishes work that has typos or grammatical errors.  Even after publishing your post it’s important to read through it to make sure everything is in check.
3. Keep it short and sweet.  You don’t want to overwhelm your readers with too many words.  Yes, sometimes it’s okay to write up a lengthy read but remember we are living in a time where your readers attention will easily be distracted by something else.
4. Explore new adventures.  Whenever I hit a writers block I try something new.  It can be taking a walk using a different route, eat out at a new restaurant, visit a friend in a different part of town or write about a deep dark secret that I haven’t shared with anyone. (this depends on how brave you are)
5. Read, reblog, share(on your blog or on other social media platforms) and comment on other blogs.  That way you get conversations going and other readers will visit your blog to read what you’re about.
6. Don’t bombard people with your links on social media once your blog post is out.  I used to be guilty of this.  Tagging a million people on my blog post link.  From experience most people actually won’t read it so it’s best to tag a friend or two that you know will actually read your work.
7. Connect with your reader.  Each time you decide to write a post ask yourself if it will teach something, make someone laugh, inspire them, have them remember a similar incident, make them sad?  In short whatever you decide to write make sure it brings some form of emotion.
8. Plan.  Write down how often you want to write, what time, which topics and get on with it.  Have some form of a routine which your readers will get accustomed to.  It can be writing twice or five times a week whatever you decide do it religiously.
9. Write about what you are passionate about.  When I started I asked other bloggers what I could write about and most of them suggested I have a blog that was set in stone.  I am a versatile individual and I knew that sort of blog would soon have me running out of things to write.  I decided to have a lifestyle blog instead.  That way I am able to write about any and everything.  I look forward to writing on my blog and sometimes I have to stop myself because I end up oversharing…But you get where this is going right?  Make your blog something that you enjoy and write the sh*t out of it otherwise your interest in it will soon waver.
10. Follow other bloggers on the blogging platform you choose as well as on other social media platforms.  My personal favourite place to find new bloggers from across the globe is @AfroBloggers
11. Use images on your blog posts.  Never ending text gets boring.
12. Respond to your readers comments as soon as you can.  I try and not let a comment go for 3 days without being answered.  You want your readers to know that you appreciate them and this is a sure way of doing it.  If you ignore their contributions whether good or bad chances of them reading, sharing your work or even coming back to your blog are close to none.
13. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Unfortunately you can’t be good at everything and it is perfectly okay to ask other bloggers how to do certain things.  I didn’t know how to add Testimonials to my blog but thanks to a fellow blogger I can now do it with my eyes closed.
14. Use catchy titles for your blog posts.  You want your reader to get curious and click on your link to read your post.  These are my two personal favourite blog posts that got my readers going crazy! 30 Things Women Want Men To Know and 8 Wallet Friendly Date Ideas.
15. Read!  I can  not stress this enough. I think every good writer out there reads a lot. You will be exposed to a wide range of words, you will get to read other styles of writing and it will give you some ideas for your blog as well.
16. Choose an attractive theme. You want your blog to stand out and also have your readers come back for more.  I have probably changed my theme 4 times to date and I am currently loving the current one, it looks fresh!
17. DO NOT PLAGARISE.  People work hard on their blog posts whatever you do always give credit to the owner’s work if you choose to use it and that includes pictures.
18. Reschedule your posts. Sometimes you write up a blog post that doesn’t get enough traffic and it’s perfectly okay to reschedule it for another time.  You don’t always have to write up new content.
19. Self promote.  You are your own biggest cheerleader.  Whenever you get the chance to mention a blog post that relates to a certain subject on social media platforms be sure to have links ready to share.  Tell your friends, family, social media fans about your blog post until they know the link by heart.
20. Be 100% YOU.  I can not stress this enough.  If you try and imitate someone else you won’t last in the blogging world.  Keep your blog authentic and you will never run out of inspiration.

*BONUS TIP* Use tags on your blog posts.  Don’t just leave that area blank.  When bloggers search for certain words you want your blog to also be a part of of the links that show up under the search.

These are my blogging tips.  I was hoping to keep them short but it seems I just couldn’t stop myself from sharing more blogging tips.  This is just how much I get carried away!!  I strongly feel that if you specialise in something then by all means share information so that you can help the next person grow.

I know there are other blogging tips that I left out and I would love to read any additional ones that you might have in the comments section.

©MaKupsy 2020

Don’t Post The Quote Sis, They Don’t Care

One of my marketing flyers once read “I Live On Social Media” which wasn’t a lie. I was always glued on my phone swiping through different platforms to keep up with everything except for the time I was asleep. Even then, I would dream of some of the people I follow especially those on Twitter. I’m still curious about how that works, you dream of someone you’ve never met in real life, someone you only interact with online. Strange indeed!

2019 changed my perspective on so many things around social media.

1. People Don’t Care

You got a new job, you just had a beautiful bouncy baby, you relocated and you’re finally living in the city of your dreams. The first thing you think of is sharing with your online friends. Yes, they will send you dozens of likes and messages of congratulations but do they genuinely care? That single post has probably given one of your online friends a reason to despise you, not that you’ve done anything wrong but you reminded them of how things aren’t going well in their lives.

Does that mean you shouldn’t post your achievements? I say post them BUT choose your platforms wisely. I’m assuming it depends on which country you’re from but from the part of the world I live in your well-intended post might end up being a meme or have people pass snide comments. Want to know what they care about? Your downfall. Now that’s the stuff they’ll enjoy any day. Human beings are strange creatures.

2. You Put Yourself In The Spotlight

Tweeting used to be my favourite past time. I always changed my handle to something spicy. Whatever the name was would go with the sort of tweets I’d share. I would initiate hot conversations around sex.  Did I get a lot of attention for all the wrong reasons? Certainly! People would take screenshots of my tweets and share them in groups or make them their WhatsApp status updates. Imagine the shock I’d get when someone would tell me my tweet was a hot topic in a WhatsApp group. I made a conscious decision to end the madness.

That’s round about the same time my brand was taking shape and I knew I wouldn’t want to be remembered for any of that. I did a whole online makeover, changed my handle and now use the same name on all platforms. It’s been 2 years of making sure I share content that adds value to my audience. Fast forward to a month ago, I was in one of the biggest interviews in my life and one of the panelists told me she follows me on Twitter. Had it been 2 years back I was going to hide under the table with shame.

They say the internet never forgets; whatever you put out there is something you won’t be embarrassed to repeat in an interview setup or better yet to your parents.

3. You Need A Hobby

Believe it or not you can do other things with your time that don’t involve social media. Read a book, listen to a podcast, write, read or cook something different. From experience, the more free time you have on your hands the more you’re tempted to share every single part of your life with the online community. We all have people who even tell us about the colour of their poo that morning. Don’t be that person who overshares. Get yourself an enriching hobby that will make social media an occasional activity not the centre of your life.

Phew! This has been the longest blog post I’ve penned down in a while. I had so much to say but I’ll keep this short because I always complain about bloggers who write never-ending posts.

What are your thoughts on sharing about your life on social media?

©MaKupsy 2020

How To Find Out Your Most Fulfilling Blogging Niche

When I started blogging I had a lot of online critics. I concluded that that’s what happens when you put your thoughts out there for the world to see. One person tweeted saying “what sort of blogging is that”?  It stung, in my world, I was expressing myself the best way I knew how and to have someone else think it wasn’t good enough nearly led me to give up on a new hobby I was enjoying. To my surprise, one woman reached out to me and she encouraged me to keep writing. She told me that my blog was my space, a place to have my voice heard and my stories shared. She inspired my blog tagline. I embraced her advice and continued to write, without a niche in mind but still, I shared my experiences one post at a time.

Image from Pinterest

6 years later and I’m still churning out content weekly. Where did time go and where do some of these topic ideas even come from? Maybe I can write about that in my next blog post? Today I want to help you figure out what your blog niche is and how you can welcome it with open arms.

1. What Are You Well Informed About?

This one was easy for me. My blog was inspired by heartbreak and that’s all I wrote about for the longest time. When I look at my  WordPress blog insights readers stop by to read mostly about relationships and personal (read that as sex) posts.  With that information at hand, I run with it and deliver juicy stories you can’t resist reading. Like this post; Sex On The First Date it’s the most popular post with over 100 likes! Write about what your readers love the most. They will keep coming back for more!

2. What Tickles Your Fancy?

It could be anything. Some people enjoy wearing makeup, others love to travel while a handful like to eat out. Whatever you’re passionate about works in your favour. For someone like me who likes the finer things in life; writing about my eat-out experiences is one of my favourite things to do. Not only do I get to share mouth-watering pictures but I give you ideas of what you can try out the next time you have a date. I save you a phonecall because I share all the useful information you need at the end of the post.

A meal from one of my favourite restaurants in town 🙂

3. Don’t Follow The Crowd

It’s easy to want to do exactly what your friends are doing or what your favourite blogger does. Where’s the uniqueness in that? You want to stand out and have people know that this is your work the moment they start reading it. Your signature might be your catchy blog titles, the playful words you use or the high-quality images that go with your work. Whatever happens, stay true to you.  Noone can be you and that’s your superpower!

So how do long does it take to figure out what your blogging niche is? It depends on the individual in question. It took me a couple of months to understand that I was a personal blogger because I mostly share my innermost thoughts and feelings. Couple that with other topics but the top theme in my work is personal experiences.

It might take you a longer or shorter time. Whichever way it works out give yourself time before putting yourself in a box. Allow your work to guide you. It’s the only way you will find the most fulfilling blogging niche.

Image from Pinterest

 

*Top Secret Tip*

If you really want to stand out in the blogging world, choose a niche that most people aren’t a part of. I’m the only Fitness Blogger in Zimbabwe and that dear reader is how I stand out from the crowd. Oh, you thought I only had this blog. I’m a woman of many talents…

Have you figured out what your blogging niche is or you’re still riding the wave trying to figure things out?

©MaKupsy 2020

3 Things You Can Do When You’re Spending Time Alone

“Sometimes you need to be alone. Not to be lonely but to free time being yourself.”

How many times have you gone for an outing with family and friends when you’d have preferred staying at home or doing something completely different? I know I have. I had a phase in my life not too many moons ago where if any event was happening I’d be there. Nothing wrong with being out and about right? However, truth be told I wasn’t having as much fun as I thought I was. Almost all the time I’d get home and I’d be completely drunk and had to deal with a killer hangover the next day. Was it worth my time and money after all? I decided I’d start spending my energy on things that matter. Part of the process meant me focusing on figuring out what made me truly happy on my own.  

Here are 3 things I tried out to start my journey of self discovery.

1. Stay In Your House

Considering I spend a lot of money on paying rent I figured why keep running away from my apartment every weekend? Let me stay here and get to use every single dime of my money; facilities included. Also, the electricity supply has improved so why would I need to step out of the house? More time for me to read, research, write and improve my digital skills.  

2. Travel Solo

My motto this year is 2020, My Year Of Travel. What I like about speaking things into existence is that they almost always come true. Yesterday I visited a place I had on my “travel to list” and I didn’t have to invite my entire contact list for this adventure. It was something I needed to do for myself. I wish I’d done so earlier because I left that space with my creative juices on steroids. It’s a good thing I carried my notebook with me to take down the ideas. Sometimes all you need is a new experience to open your mind to fresh possibilities. 

3. Clean

I’m a huge fan of this exercise. Personally, cleaning is a therapeutic experience that I can never get enough of. Last month I went through my things to see if there was anything I needed to get rid of. I was shell shocked when I had not one but two huge bags full of clothes, linen and cutlery that I hadn’t used over the past year. Here they were, taking up space and yet they had no purpose in my life. That night I slept so soundly. It felt like I could breathe better because I’d let go of things that were “holding me back.” I highly recommend you try this out yourself.  

*Side note*. In our Shona culture. When you die your relatives get to inherit your earthly possessions. It’s the other reason I’m always cleaning up. I’ll be thinking when I die I don’t want people to adopt broken things. They’d be pissed off with me for keeping dated things…I know I have a strange way of thinking. 

Spending time on your own is a great way to get to know who you are and what you are or aren’t about. When you’re always around people it’s easy to assume that you like the same things. You don’t have to suddenly disappear from your friends and family’s lives. You simply have to take small deliberate steps each day to reserve some alone time.

The list of things to do when you’re on your own is endless. What are some of the things you get up to when you’re alone? I’d love to hear from you.

  ©MaKupsy 2020

How Dropping These 4 Habits Can Change Your Life

1. I don’t eat bread. It’s been nearly three months now. The main reason is that I’m not willing to spend 20ZWL on food that I know is bad for me. I’ve observed that most people aren’t buying bread and it’s stuck on the shelf for days on end. The chances of buying a nearly stale loaf are highly likely, I’m not taking that chance with my money. Just out of curiosity, have you noticed how you feel so hungry after a few hours of eating bread? The reason behind it is because bread has low energy density and your body uses it up quickly.

2. I love my coffee; I have it black, no milk no sugar. It was hard to stop taking sugar but I had to wean myself off it one day at a time. Studies have shown that having black coffee without sugar keeps your mind and body young. (I wish it had the same effect on my boobs😂)

3. I no longer run long distances. My current body type isn’t meant for that form of exercise. I only found this out when I was taking my fitness certification classes. It explained all the aches and pains I’d been experiencing the past few months! However, after running for weight loss for the past 5 years it came as a shock to discover that I didn’t have to kill myself with running insane distances. When I reach my goal weight I’ll get back to it but for now, I keep my runs short and sweet. The maximum distance I’ll ever do is 5km.

4. I’ve stopped buying exercise gear. I have more than enough of it. Lack of space in my wardrobe is also playing a huge role in that decision. Nevertheless, I’m still considering getting more custom made apparel instead and then give away the exercise gear collection I currently own. Sounds good to me.

What habits have you dropped along the way? They don’t have to be fitness related, it can be anything you know has made a positive difference in your life.

Let’s talk.

©MaKupsy 2020

New Year Resolutions Are A Waste Of Time

New year resolutions loading…Does this sound like something you have said or read on social media lately? My guess is yes; a million times over. There’s something about new beginnings that gets people all excited about what lies ahead. I used to be a part of this bandwagon. Each year I’d take out my journal and write a never-ending list of things I wanted to achieve or change in the coming year. Guess what? I hardly ever went through half that list and sometimes I’d misplace the journal and just go on with my merry life with the same attitude I had the previous year. So much for that! 

Cons Of New Year Resolutions

1. You bite more than you can chew. At some point, you’re bound to lose track of your resolutions. Last year I intended to read at least 12 books by the end of the year. I stopped at book 7 and never got back to it. 
2. It’s close to impossible to achieve all the resolutions you set out to accomplish. This is the part where you feel you let yourself down. That one thing can discourage you to stop working on everything else you had planned out. 
3. In the fitness world, I’ve encountered a lot of people who tell me they want to start exercising on a Monday. Why not today? I think it’s the same effect as telling yourself your new year resolution is to start exercising in January. Dear reader, if you couldn’t get yourself to do anything about your health for a whole year what guarantee do you have you’ll be motivated to do something about it in January 2020?  

Pros Of New Year Resolutions

1. You’ll likely land yourself a cool gym discount. This time of the year most fitness centers are aware that most people’s top resolution is to lose weight. They’ll lure you in with an irresistible offer.
2. Working with a list of things of what needs to be done will help you stay focused. Just make sure the list is somewhere you see it all the time.

Do I make new year resolutions? I don’t. From personal experience, this has never worked out well for me. What I have instead are monthly goals that I break down to weekly then daily goals. I find it easier to keep track of goals.  

I’ll share one of the goals I currently have:

In January I shall

– Exercise twice a day
– Add swimming to my routines
– Take up a self defense class
– Get some beautiful fitness apparel custom made ❤️

— Fitness Bae® 🇿🇼 (@FitnessBaeInt) December 29, 2019

In order to accomplish these goals I’m going to make sure:

• I’ve paid up my gym membership,
• I’ve concluded on the start dates for self-defense classes,
• I’ve invested in a second bathing suit for my swimming sessions and
• I’ve given my custom made apparel contact a call to finalise on designs.  

I dare you to try this out for yourself and see how much it will greatly improve your life. You don’t have to wait for a new season to make goals, you can do so today because frankly speaking, change doesn’t need a timeline.

©MaKupsy 2019

What’s The Coolest Thing That Could Happen To You?

I’m an avid reader, sometimes. My excuse is that occasionally life gets too busy and I don’t get a chance to sit down and indulge myself in a good read. However, the times when I do read I find the most priceless information. This one book had a chapter where the author asks you to write down a list of the coolest things that could happen to you. You have to put down all your wildest dreams and get to work. I did exactly that and now that I’m going through my journal I’m in awe.

I Got Certified!

This was technically a goal I had set up for December 2018 but I couldn’t find a place locally that offered a Fitness Certification program. The best I could find was a First Aid Certification but I didn’t want that. My enthusiasm for fitness wanted more than that. I decided I’d start saving up and whenever the time came I’d be ready to make a payment. As the universe would have it a Facebook friend appeared on my Newsfeed sharing pictures of her graduation day after completing a fitness program. After sending her a congratulatory message I asked her for all the details and she shared them with me. A few months down the line I had paid up and spent all my weekends of November attending classes. The hard work paid off and I graduated and I’m officially an ACE Certified Fitness Trainer.  

I’m Obsessed With Social Media

I love social media. I live on the platform most of my day. I’m always looking out for new ways to spice things up. I don’t like staying the same, normal gets boring. A friend recommended I try out a free online course and I figured why not? Given the amount of money I pay for WiFi may as well be put to good use. After weeks of learning and unlearning digital marketing skills, I took my final test and aced it! You’re officially reading a blog post penned by a Google Certified Digital Marketer.  I believe in the age we’re living in, you have no excuse whatsoever to not be continuously learning new things. I published a post on things that successful things people do a few months ago. You can read about it here as a reminder that if you want to do great things you need to cultivate good habits.

All My Dreams Came True

There are other hopes and dreams I had for the year. If I put them down here you would think I was showing off. I wouldn’t want you to see me in that light. Instead, I’ll have you know that sometimes all it takes is time. Before I’d get frustrated that things weren’t going according to plan. I soon realised that had I not gone through the things I went through in the past I wouldn’t be prepared for what I have now. 2019 was good to me in so many ways, It’s the one year that I will forever cherish.

Depression

I was going through a challenging time emotionally. I felt like I kept giving out to the world and my cup was running on empty. I had to take a step back and start taking stock of what mattered to me the most. Unfortunately, I thought depression can be cured, it turns out it can only be managed. I didn’t know how to explain how I was feeling to anyone I was in a difficult dark space. I managed to get past it through unplugging from Twitter for a month and focused on finding ways to bring back the light inside of me. It was a difficult time.

I’ve learned different lessons throughout the year. The ones that stick out for me are:

• Life is short and unpredictable. One day you are going to die. That day can be today, tomorrow or years from now. Knowing that we aren’t here for eternity is the very reason why you should go out and do everything that will make you happy and leave a positive imprint on this earth.
• Appreciate what you have. There’s more joy in being grateful for what you have than constantly worrying and complaining about what you don’t have.  
• Everything can’t always go right. You will face setbacks that will make you stronger or teach you a lesson. Don’t be too hard on yourself, life’s like that.
• If it doesn’t make you happy or make you better don’t make time for it.

That’s my 2019 in a nutshell. I hope you had a beautiful and fulfilling year and you’re ready to step into 2020 with nothing but positive vibes only.

MaKupsy 2019

Why You Can’t Miss Hillzy’s Perfomance

If music be the food of love, play on. – Shakespeare 

Are you looking to listen to some feel-good music? Music so pleasant to your ears after a listen or two you can easily sing along? Music with deep, well thought out lyrics that you can hear? Then look no further. You’re going to love Hillzy! Zimbabwe’s very own AFRIMMA (African Muzik Magazine Awards) winner.

The first time I listened to Hillyz his song “What You Deserve”, I was in a pool of tears. I was in a relationship where I felt unworthy and unloved. I’d question if love was something meant for the special few and the rest of us had to be content with half baked affection. I suffered unnecessary stress and headaches in the name of trying to get someone to love me and see me for who I am. Hearing Hillzy sing, “I’m only here to give you, the love that you deserve”, struck a chord within me. It got me thinking if a stranger can sing such reassuring words why couldn’t I believe that for myself?

I had to let go to make space in my life for something better and more meaningful. I did that for myself and things have been looking up ever since. Some days I wish I’d done so earlier but I comfort myself with the knowledge that everything happens at the right place at the right time.

Hillzy mostly sings about treating right, loving and protecting women. That’s the number one reason I’ll always be his number 1 fan. We all need that one person who will remind us that there’s someone out there who will love us as we are.

I’d like you to experience his music at the DJ Stavo and Friends event that’s going to be on the 21st of December 2019.  This will be at Long Cheng Plaza starting at 1pm.   This concert is meant to celebrate friendship and unity among artists. There’s going to be electricity the entire time, good vibes and a powerful lineup!

Will you be there?

©MaKupsy 2019

After 7 Years It Was Time To Let Go

I sat in the park crying my heart out. I’d been job hunting for nearly 6 months with no luck. A new mum who relied on money from the father of her child wasn’t the exact life I’d envisioned for myself. We were struggling and sitting around waiting for a miracle wasn’t going to cut it. So when I got the phone call to tell me that I got the job I couldn’t contain myself. I read and reread that contract that told me I could start work on Monday a million times over. After signing it, I got up, wiped my tears of joy and headed off to the organisation I was going to work for the next 7 years of my life.

I explicitly remember one of my new coworkers telling me, “Welcome, enjoy your current clothes because you are never going to be able to afford anything again.”  I thought it was a joke. After my probation period, I realised she meant every word. Instead of my life improving I was living from hand to mouth and not making any visible progress. When I think back I notice that minus being underpaid I found myself in a very toxic environment. Everyone always complained about something. If it wasn’t about the salary, it was the working conditions or constantly comparing the organisation with the ones that we shared the building with. I unknowingly became part of the negative Nancy crew and each day I had something to be mad about.

Things took a different turn in 2018. I took time for self-introspection and accepted that I was unhappy. I felt that if I continued working there I would never get a chance to make use of my creativity. This was an environment where people did the same job for 30 years and then retired. I knew deep down I didn’t want that for myself, I wanted change. I declared that it was going to be my final year there and I started applying at every single job post I saw. Every morning and every day I affirmed that I would get a job in the field that I like. A job that would give me the opportunity to grow, pay me money that would make a positive difference in my life and most of all a job that felt like each day was an adventure. Routine was killing me!

In March 2019 I left the organisation for a brand new job that ticked all the boxes. After 7 years you’d think I would get a card to say goodbye, a party was a stretch and I knew it. I got nothing. My last day was like any other day and at 4:30 pm I walked out and away from a space that had held my thoughts hostage for too many years. I’m happy to say that my very close friend who I worked with at the same organisation left the following month for greener pastures too. What could be more perfect?  

My best friend and I 🙂

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?” 

You might be stuck in a job you absolutely hate. Or it could be a relationship that’s taking a toll on your emotional well being. Whatever the case might be sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is walk away. Focus on building the life you want and the universe will respond in ways that will amaze you. I did this for myself and it worked, it can work for you too. We all deserve to live a life filled with positive experiences because we only get to do this life thing once. 

Take a risk, life is too short to be constantly choosing the safe path.

©MaKupsy 2019