Hello June
Hiiiiii, happy new month to you! Welcome to June, and yes, I'm excited. The month of May was a rollercoaster for me - I was in and out of the hospital, I had several tests done, dealt with anxiety about the results, had to visit the emergency room and spent the night there, and then there's work which has been quite busy and stressful. So yes, I'm excited to breathe fresh air in June. I'm also looking forward to getting back to my routines. I didn't go to the gym in May or consciously worked out, and neither have I been one hundred with my sleep schedule, so as you can see, May was a tough month for me.
But how are you? I hope you had an easier May than mine, and I pray that you experience ease in June. So with that out of the way, let's dive in!
💭 What I'm learning
One of the things I have struggled with in the past is saying no to the demands placed on me - saying no to giving my time, money or effort when it's at my own expense. And studies have shown that women generally have a hard time saying no than men. Mainly due to the need to be liked, avoid confrontation, and equate giving as a show of love. I'm learning that true generosity must benefit both the receiver and the giver. An act of generosity must never adversely affect the giver. For example, when you give money that you honestly can't afford to give, that gift adversely affects you OR contributing money to every co-worker's wedding even though it puts you behind on paying your bills or other financial obligations is not true generosity. A quote I saw in the book I'm currently reading captures it perfectly.
It takes more power to say no out of love than to say yes out of weakness.
Saying no to people or someone you love is hard. It's easier to compromise at your own expense or tell your friend you'll lend her money you don't have. We fear what saying no will do to our relationships, but you cannot make decisions based on fear as it almost always backfires. Giving should enhance you, not diminish you. So next time you want to say yes to any request or demand, ask yourself, Am I doing this because it's the right thing to do or because it's easy?
👩🏽💻 What I'm working on
I still have plans to host a women-only event this summer. Due to how busy my 9-5 has been lately, this plan had taken the back burner, but I'm back it. This event will likely take place in July, and I am actively looking for a suitable venue in London, so if you know of any lovely spaces, don't hesitate to get in touch with me. Unfortunately, the ones I have seen and liked so far have been expensive. If you'll want to attend this event, join the waitlist so you'll get discounted tickets once they're live.
📹 New Videos
How we split house chores as a married couple. 50:50?
6 ways marriage has changed me
♥️ My favourite things
I absolutely love this book, Women and Money, by Suze Orman; it provides practical guidance on how to be smart and secure with your finances as a woman.
I gave in to peer pressure and bought Naturium Glow getter multi-oil body wash and the bio-lipid body cream. I loved using the body wash as it moisturises due to the oil in it and leaves my skin feeling supple. Also, it comes in a decent size - 500ml; I guess that's to compensate for the price😭. However, I didn't like the body cream so much. It's pretty mid to me🤷🏽♀️
That will be all for today. Please stay hydrated because the sun means business. Drink lots of water and wear sunscreen, I beg you.
XOXO - Chidera