All answers to every fear, doubt, insecurity and grief is already in the depth of your heart. How you swim to the deep end of conviction and knowledge and ladle hope, comfort, joy and peace is in your ability and determination to power through life’s odds. Here are my pick me up pointers. Feel free to relate, copy and hustle.

1. Necessities – Food, clothing, shelter and education. I used to live in an apartment that was near a slum in my early years. From my 4^th floor balcony, the view was a ghastly dump of garbage, dilapidated government-run housing blocks, shattered tents, unattended babies eating mud from the street, drunk men beating their wives and mothers. Ever so often we used to hear from our helper lady, security guard or plumber about a murder or a house break or suicides of teen boys due to substance abuse. Many days I have stood toe lifted for lack of height, watching the road infected with poverty and scum and wondered how my life would have been had I been born one street away, on the other side of this balcony. To be born and raised in a place of fullness and to now be living in a place of bountifulness, is purely the grace of God. You may call it good fortune, luck or privilege in your case. But if you’re not eating mud, count your blessings.
2. Luxuries – AC, Internet and comfortable things (vehicle, mattress). My mother is the spine of our family, the rock on which our lives are built. She single-handedly managed us and made our lives prosperous through prayer, hard work and an undying will to elevate the status of our lives. My father worked cross borders due to bank transfers, and my mother moonlighted as my father in the years he was away. She bought me my cycle and scooter, encouraged me to be independent and study in a different city, bought us a better house so my brother and I could have rooms of our own. Through it all, my brother and I never felt we made it to the cream of the society or that we are now economically strong or financially sound. We only learnt humility, appreciation for small and big things, giving without reason, determination without morose, taking of risks, endurance, and waiting on the Lord with faith. I will never think for a moment that I am entitled to anything because my parents gave it to me or that I can now afford it myself independently. It’s not about having nice things, but being nice despite having not so nice things.
3. Health – I got no physical pain in any member of my body, not a broken bone or a faulty nerve. I was a pre-mature baby though. My mother had a stillborn after my brother and she was anxious and paranoid not to lose me. When her BP shot up when I was around 8 months inside her, she made the decision to bring me out by getting under the knife. I was premature, which is a wonder, of course, seeing the fatling that I am now. I have a hyper-sensitive trachea. All the dust of the world rubs its hand in merry when I walk past it. I have been in multiple road accidents, nothing major. The troubles that come with being a reckless driver – jumping signals, over speeding, overtaking without judgement, patience or common sense. I’m sure you get it. Thankfully those years are way past behind me. Now I look thrice before crossing a 4 feet lane, I am not joking.
4. People – This is huge, huge, huge. I got people loving me exactly for who I am. I am talking not putting up the toilet seat, eating a sundae without sharing, licking melted chocolate off its wrappers, mixing curd with fish curry and they still choose me. People I can call right now for anything and they will show up, no questions asked. I am the superlative of blessed.
5. Jesus – Okay now. Make room. Grab a seat, get a cushion may be, because this is going to be long. You know that, right? You’ve read what I write, don’t you? DON’T YOU? Man O man. Jesus is the real deal. He is all sufficient for me, really. Remove the rest of the 9 points, and I will still survive but not without my God and Saviour. I sometimes let the weariness of the world attack me and feel powerless due to my own idiocy, but really I just need to get up and put on the armour of God – Ephesians 6:11. That’s reading the Bible, it is the living word of God and there is enough power in it to even raise the dead back to life. My problems could easily be meted out. In His presence there is fullness of joy, at His right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
6. Words – I got words. I think by saying I love words or I love writing is trivialising the euphoria I receive every time I get typing (or pen). In more ways, words have saved me and I got only words to say how much I appreciate words. Its wordy, I know. I can’t get enough of ’em.
7. Books – How do I begin to explain how lucky I am to know and find comfort and joy from the stories, poems, and information that stir my heart and mind, transporting myself while flipping pages or scrolling the screen. If you don’t read, despite knowing how to read. You, my friend, is missing out.
8. Music – For every song in my heart, there is music. To empower, worship, celebrate, unite, behoove, inspire and relax. I can find the tune to the beat of my heart, every pulse of the way. I just need to turn it on and set myself free.
9. Movies – Cinematic expression is one of mankind’s irrefutable achievements relating to the nuances of the heart. I don’t watch Short films / Cinemas / Tutorials just for information or entertainment. I watch them to evaluate and check off the things I need to aspire for and the things I need to run away from. It’s sometimes about finding a jewel on a swine’s snout, and most times being submerged in the magical representation of a tale.
10. Work – How many in the world can say they get to do what they want to do, that they love to do..(wait for it) in the way they want to do it and in the time and scale they want to do it? Batao. Batao. I have no authority or teeth to complain about my work-life.

I live to write and I am writing for a living. I am winning left-write-and-centre!

If any of the things I mentioned spoke to you, I’d appreciate if you leave a comment below. I am working on expanding my genre and style of writing, and your feedback would truly help. Nonetheless, thank you for reading. Have a wonderful day!