I didn’t think that by Q4 of 2020 — we would still be here.

“Crisis reveals many things about a person” — a friend and I had a short but meaningful chat over things that happen here in the country. I spare you of those details as I am sure everyone is overloaded with information but couldn’t help but think —- it never used to have typhoons on my birthday. I don’t know about you — but there’s for sure climate change happening right here, right now.

Anyway, I am here to make my usual birthday ramblings — all the thoughts I haven’t taken out because I haven’t gone out, haven’t had drunk conversations with friends, or strangers or random interesting people and those things —- I missed it the most. Who are we even without all these things that make our whole being up?

So here are things, thoughts, lessons learned, and all that in this unique strange time.

By a certain age, and in my case, 35, you will feel like you are a different person, you would’ve already outgrown so many beliefs, traditions (if you may), misconceptions. In my case, I’ve been vocal about this quite a lot, like I don’t think I will want to produce and raise a child of my own anytime soon. When I was young, I didn’t really imagine myself as a mother and that didn’t bother me because — maybe time makes you realize you want to be a mother. What I realized was that — I realized I am not ready to be a mother and indefinitely - not so, maybe ever.
There are certain messages that aren’t directed to us — and if we don’t filter them out properly, we spend life moping about those unnecessarily.
Attachment —- is not the best thing, is what I can say. Not attachment to a small fob, a knob, a role in life, a person — there’s nothing permanent in life, the faster we adapt to change, the less destructive it can be.

CULTURE

The best thing for me this seemingly endless lockdown is being able to do and check my list for things I’ve always wanted to do at home, watch the shows I’ve always wanted to watch and listen to the albums I wanted to devour.

Shoot me, I’m basic but Taylor Swift’s Folklore is my most favorite album this year. Whereas I can only come out with a candle brand this quarantine, girl came out with TWO ALBUMS!

GENTLE HOUR

Speaking of my own candle brand, 2020 was finally the year I found something I loved doing to destress — I was so in love with making candles I would wake up early to make them and stay late into the night to finish. I loved all the parts of creating it, every bit of it was mine and I was proud to call it so.

Daydrinking in Bali

Daydrinking in Bali is an art form perfected after hours upon hours of lazing under the sun, witnessing your skin get toasty. Soon enough, the sun takes its  graceful exit in swirls of purple, orange and the most glorious pinks that tells one it’s time to change for what’s up ahead into the night.

This candle is an ode to all the creative cocktails that were downed in Bali’s mix of oceanside and pools, in its exquisite tropical playground.

A Woman Who Wins

A celebration of femininity, sensuality and just about every good thing about being a woman. This is about your relationship with yourself, your pleasures, your power, your frustrations, the fight you have in you.

This candle is unabashedly feminine and floral and a  tribute to all the strong women who are fighting for our place in the world everyday.

The Night We Met

The first time I met you I felt the soft earth under my feet and the leaves crushed into them as I took a step towards you. It was like the earth decided to  exhale you to me as it enveloped me in its cool embrace.

This candle is reminiscent of moss, fern leaves and ylang soaked in rain after a surprise pour.

Chapter 35 is off to a fabulous start — can’t wait to see what the rest of it will be