Hi!
It’s been a while since I blogged. In fact
it’s been precisely a year, one month and three days. In that time I have
experienced exhilarating highs and devastating lows. Lived, “died”, seen myself
morph into incarnations I didn’t recognise, and then watched as those
incarnations vanished as quickly as they appeared.
I’ve done things I didn’t believe were
within my capacity. I ran the Berlin Half Marathon. Drank less wine. Read more
books, gave less of a damn. I found new friends, lost friends, lost newly found
friends, felt a smorgasbord of emotions and within that time discovered the
person I needed to be a friend to first was the awkward woman staring at me in
the mirror.
I started running barefoot. Temporarily
concluded my credo was “life should be lived naked with heels on”’ Fortunately
I never publically enacted this belief.
I gazed at shoe porn. Acquired a few of the
shoes I coveted. I discovered obscure words like “demimonde” “rectitudinous”
“bloviate” “traduced” “sybarite” all of which I understand, none of which I have
had the chance to use until today.
I rekindled my love for dating. Cancelled
many dates to read a great book, because I prefer the warmth that emanates from
a brilliant book to the presence of a stranger. I learnt the hard way that if
you refuse to learn a lesson the universe will keep on sending it back to you.
I
shopped less.
I learned that I don’t need much to be
happy, just need the best of what I do have. I was forced to distill what
mattered and leave the rest. What mattered were my faith, family, and friends.
The assurance that all was well with them was enough to get me through the day.
I concluded that life is best when living on the intersection between opulence
and simplicity, and as incongruent as those two concepts may seem the
appreciation and pursuit of both bring joy.
I joined Team iPhone. The impetus was the need
to track my runs using the Nike running app and my vain desire to join the instagram
club. I discovered that instagram filters are great for days when you’re not
wearing much makeup and want to deceive yourself.
I learnt life is meaningless unless we’re
serving others. That if all we do is done in a spirit of love, good things
follow and strife diminishes.
I thought I was in love. It turned out I was
in love with the concept of love.
I went up a bra size. The prior statement
is a lie.
I
finally met Beyoncé. This is also a lie.
My meeting with Beyoncé has happened so
many times in my head it feels real.
I found faith, lost religion. Serendipity
brought me a great weave supplier. I’m not entirely convinced this has nothing
to do with my increased faith.
I learned the value of sisterhood by being
welcomed into a group so incredible it’s changed the fabric of my life forever.
I grew a lot. Not the ugly duckling
into an elegant swan type growth. It was the messy, this-is-all-confusing type of growth.
Within that period of growth, it made sense to be silent and not to use this
space to channel my confusion.
It’s near impossible to summarise the most
pivotal stage in your personal development thus far in words. Even having to explain my “hiatus” is
mortifying. Seems all a bit self-indulgent and self-important, but whatever it
had to be done. Enough with the quasi abstract statements. I’m back! Probably with more video blogs than written
blogs, but I’ve got a few surprises up my sleeve.
To everyone that emailed, queried, tweeted,
called, asked me “why?” Thanks. Thanks for caring and thanks for your continued
support. Meant more than you know.
Above is a video. I’m talking about
“Keeping It Real” a phrase so ubiquitous it now has no meaning. It’s so
embedded in our vernacular we cease to grasp its gravitas. As is my custom I’ll
refrain from expounding on the video, watch it and make your mind up. Hopefully
you’ll like it, if not you can mute me and look at the Audrey Hepburn canvas
gazing over me in the background.
There are lots of exciting things
happening. I can’t wait to share them.
Thanks again!
Love Christiana xxx
