Monday Musings: Of Rituals & Quiet Spots

 

When was the last time you found yourself in a deathly still, quiet locale—where the silence is only broken by the whispering of trees or the chirping of birds? Where you hear the distant bleating of goats or the occasional bark of a dog?

This is the true definition of my Mondays—silence, stillness, with only the echoes of my thoughts for company.

In contrast, this Monday morning finds my thoughts scattered—running wildly like forest fires. I am forced to use deliberate methods to still my mind from its runaway adventures, including tinkering around the small space I call my own. Recently, I decided to rehabilitate my weed-infested front lawn—a far cry from the picture-perfect garden I envision. In my mind, I see a lush haven with a cozy fireplace, a swing hanging from mature trees, and fruit trees creating a beautiful oasis of peace and tranquility. So, I took it upon myself to start the process—albeit slowly—planting grass, adding to my collection of fruit trees, organizing stones, and perhaps even crafting some pathways. It’s a DIY project with no completion date in sight.

The grass is catching up. It’s only been two weeks—I forget the variety—but I’m hopeful it will thrive here. My only concern is that the rains have subsided, and since I am, to say the least, a bit lazy, fetching water from my well requires stamina I simply do not have this morning. Instead, I hustle around for water from the tanks in the compound and whatever other sources I can find, watering the flowers and newly planted trees.

I must say, my strawberry plant is a bright spot—it greeted me with three ripe fruits this morning, as if sensing I needed a bit of cheering up with everything on my mind.

My week started on a low note, with me deliberately skipping a meeting this morning. I decided that the rat race has nothing on me and instead chose to honor my weekly ritual—a practice that always grounds me. It’s an amazing way to start the week: disappearing to the quiet places in Kipeto, giving myself time to plan, think, strategize, switch off, and reflect.

It’s unusually quiet today. Last week, the stillness was constantly broken by the sounds of heavy loaders shuffling sand and stones—some human was constructing, a reminder of the fast-approaching concrete jungle (sigh).

I have positioned my dining table at a strategic spot that offers a clear view of the meadow below. This windy, quiet afternoon, the only things in sight are grazing calves, the occasional man heading to the distant shops, and the odd bodaboda transporting goods to some homestead.

I do love these weekly sojourns. I wish I could stay forever, but adulting waits for no one. Companies must be run, homes must be provided for, ambitions pursued, and relationships nurtured (sigh). Sometimes, I daydream of having an endless stream of resources (read: a man 😂😂 lol), leaving my only concern to be my nonprofit work while spending my days whiling away the hours in jungles around the world.

Anyhoo, my mind drifts back to tomorrow— the new quarter is upon us, with new goals to be met, obligations to fulfill, calls to make, and targets to hit. As for the energy? We can only pray to God.

So, what rituals have you embedded in your week | life — those little practices that keep you sane, the ones that may mean nothing, to the next person but everything to you?

Do you observe them religiously, even when friends or responsibilities beckon otherwise?

Let’s chat.

Wishing you Godspeed in the week.

Cheers, people.

Njeri.

Ps.  Soon I hope to turn my spot into a rental; its one of those places you need to disappear to, once in awhile, throw away your phone and enjoy the off-grid. Kipeto helped me heal in so many ways; it still does its magic every time. I thank God for this space.