It's my first Easter celebration away from home and the people who've been a part of my little world for over a decade, and I don't know how I feel. I've found myself reminiscing on past celebrations and I can't put into words how much I miss home.

Still, I'm grateful for where I am now, even though it's without my people. I'm learning to be my own company. I’m learning to listen to my thoughts like when I made a mental addition of condiments to my monthly grocery list because I couldn't get them last month.

I'm listening more to my voice. My home is still very empty and so I'm blessed with a sound check every time I cackle loudly to the goofy shenanigans from my current watch. and the sonority of my voice when I sing along to my favourite gospel songs.

I'm learning what peeves. Like the constant beeping sound from the prepaid meter meant for pumping water in the compound just outside my window. Apparently my neighbours who've lived here years before my moving in know not how to turn it off, or they don't care. And as you already know, I don't quite fancy stepping out of my house, so I'm forced to endure it until I have something else to do outside.

I'm learning to create my own routines. Not the ones I had to live by while staying with different people these past years. Mine. Like sleeping in until it's 10 a.m.—time for the daily stand-up at one of my remote jobs.

I'm learning to taste my own meals, too. I've consistently cooked based on other people's verdicts—or none at all—for 4-5 years now, and though I still make tasty meals, I'm having to learn to taste my meals as I cook. I made my first flop today. The red oil rice I made tonight is currently standing with wobbly feet on the border between “tasty” and “salty”. And it seems the latter has an edge. Satisfactorily, though, there are giant slices of onions serving as faux proteinous obstacles, so eating my meal isn't exactly so difficult.

I'm learning to make better financial decisions. Like stocking up the house first before deciding what to do with what's left, cutting down my soda intake, letting my money be without feeling the insane urge to spend it, and saying no, first to others and then myself. It's not entirely an easy task seeing as I've been the complete opposite of these things almost all my life. I fail at it most times—snag a bottle of soda here, crave shawarma there, but I'm learning.

I'm learning ways to lock my monies away. Piggyvest for savings for big dreams, Ladda for investments, Cowrywise for emergencies.

I'm learning. Like a child born months ago learning to walk. I'm learning. Most of the time, my steps are wobbly and I topple over. Other times, I don't bother standing up. But sometimes, I do try.

In all of these, I make sure that I know when to iron-hand myself and when to be kind to myself. Because I've never been an adult before and no amount of hand-me-down materials would teach me how to be my own kind of adult. Because it's only been less than two months since I attained this level of independence. Because greatness, as with every good thing, takes time.

So, I'm learning.

I'm also learning to be my own person, hence the attachment of throwback pictures from 2022 on a Monday.

Happy Easter, guys. Because of Jesus, we've been put on to a lifetime subscription to the premium packages that come with His sacrifice. You should sign up to it if you haven't.