Skip to main content

I Ain't Got My Shit Together

It's okay that I'm not the ideal because I'm a work in progress!

I was listening to Brandy's discography and then I resonated with the lyrics to 'Camouflage'. I love the part when she sings, "And God knows I ain't perfect, Tell me who in the world is, All I know is that I'm searching, For somebody to love me with." Yes, then I recall my many arguments with Sagittarius. Always fighting dirty and hitting below the belt. As I have previously highlighted, I asked of him, to step up and meet me halfway. That's what normal people in a relationship do, right?

Attempting reverse psychology on me, he would state that I thought of myself as 'perfect'. Whilst I chastised him, not to be condescending, but to make the relationship 'work', but I was the villain. He would be petty and sulk that he's always wrong with me instead of taking responsibility. Sigh! I wish that he chose to understand that I'm far from perfect. I have never been the poster child of 'perfection'. Yes, in my career and certain areas I tend to be a perfectionist. But over the years, I have said to myself screw that.

As I shared in a previous post, I have in my subconscious, picked my 'poor choice' in partners based on going against 'perfection'. Who wants a 'perfect' person whose standards of perfection will come with high standards? That's not me! I want 'him' rough on the edges but can be polished into a diamond. And we do that together? Sigh, again.

I'm a thirty one year old, single , African woman, who's also a mother. In other parts of the world, I would have had my own place, a car, health insurance and maybe, be married. I'm passionate and talented yet I'm not where I'm supposed to be. I'm not even earning a salary my worth. I am expected by my employer to perform 110%. I'm expected by my family to be baptised and get married. I'm expected to be the perfect mother, despite growing up without my own mother. The guys I date expect me to be a Pixie dream girl with a fat booty and little to no life ambitions. My friends expect me to have it all together - never crying, and never sweating.

Sigh! The expectaction is to be perfect! The most frustrating expectaction in life unless you have a six figure bank balance.

What most forget, is that I am part of less than 30% of millenials in Africa. Africa the continent riddled with corruption, war and famine. I live in a country where the word 'disposable income' doesn't even make the urban dictionary. Our current economic climate doesn't permit a millenial to progress. Unless as millennials we engage in illegal or so called 'immoral' practises, our progress is slower. Things like owning houses or disposable income are a mirage.

My back story is that I'm an orphan, maybe not staying in a shelter type. Still, I didn't have the privilege of having parents to see me through to college. I didn't attend college, haven't afforded it. I didn't earn an inheritance from my baby boomer parents of having a property estate. All my life, I have had to prove myself and work towards 'perfection'. On paper by now I would be a media mogul in the making, with a five figure salary, a penthouse on the upper East side of New York. By sixteen or eighteen I would have my drivers licence and maybe car. I would have gone to an ivy league school and graduated by twenty two, or at most at 25. By then I would have met the love of my life who I would be married to by 30.

Remember Mr. X? I met Mr. X the day that I turned exactly 25. I thought that Mr. X was my soul mate and even the 'one'. In a perfect world, we would have been a media power couple in Africa, with our 'perfectly' blended family. We are both Cancers, creative and driven. But that sounded good in my head and on paper. According to a study by Stanford University, on average, people over 25 said they wanted ideally to marry by 27, buy a home by 28 and start a family by 29. However, these goals are met by those between 25 and 34, of which they are a few.

In Africa, my country to be particular, the expectaction is, by twenty five I should be married. By thirty I should have a house, health insurance, life insurance and a decent paycheck.


I have been writing this blog kinda being a person who's figured it all out. I share insights from personal experiences and wisdom from mentors. But honestly I don't! As I write this I have been on that pendulum with Sagittarius. And it's recent. I aspire for Michelle Obama's love story. I really want to be that quality woman and have that relationship that I deserve. I have always envied Sadé - her feminity, elegance and allure. I want to be Sadé!

But I'm not there yet. I know a few people who sit in the same position as myself. I relate to them but some don't even know it. I have taken responsibility to work towards being a better version of myself. It's not about being perfect, it's about being in that place where you feel positive about yourself. During your lowest points you can still see the rainbow.

I don't want to pretend to be what I'm not. Neither do I want to lower the need to be better to make the next person feel better about themselves.

So, yes, at my age I ain't got my shit together, but it's okay!

Your life is only perfect on social media where you can filter and have many takes....

In real life, you are working towards being the better version of yourself.

P.S. : Always write your own love story!

Lady E

Ciao!

Comments

Popular Posts

Script My Life: Jane the Virgin Season Finale

Every telenovela has to come to an end... ...but with a happy ending! *Warning spoiler alert!* Mios dios! I dramatically cried as Jane and Rafael were enjoying the sunset on their wedding day. Jane  explains the ending of her novel, which is turned into a telenovela. And the typewriter writes, 'THE END'. I now understand my friend's sadness over the finale of this cheesy, yet addictive television series. I have always been a fan of soap operas. I religiously watched South African soapies during my nursing school days. And then when I became a stay-at-home mum, I added the American and Phillipino soapies to the list. When DSTv then introduced a channel for Spanish soapies known as novelas, I was gone. The thing with novelas or telenovelas, is that they amplify the usual soapie drama. The male characters are sexy even as villains and the female characters are over the top. Unlike a soapie like Days of Our Lives or Generations, telenovelas have a time frame. Like w

Single ladies: Wife material

MPV.....my point of view! Single Ladies: Wifen Material *Royal wave*Hey single ladies,your guide is back.The pursuit for Mr Put-A-Ring-On-It is on.Today I would like to make you a get-a-ring-on-it lady. Now following my articles,'Single Ladies Part 3',where I talked about the prince searching for a 'real princess',or 'Queen';and 'Brown Sugar',where the word 'brown sugar' was defined as wifen material,I would like to talk about 'wifey material'.(Whether we are that). How do we single ladies get that ring-on-it,you ask?By being wifey material.My uncle keeps on telling me,'If you want to become Mrs X,you should be a wife.You are a wife before he puts a ring on it'.What he means is that,a man will treat you the way you portray yourself.How,you ask? Ever noticed the difference between a wife and a girlfriend.Now let me break it down for you.A girlfriend usually,takes life in a more leisurely way;unlike a wife,whose focus is mo

Book Review: The Kings that Didn’t Need This Queen

Until you resolve your brokeness, you will continue to be broken. I am pretty stoked about sharing this month's read. As a writer, reading various forms of literature enriches the craft. Reading builds culture and reinforces application of lessons learnt. I also read books and blogs by fellow writers to support their work through commenting, and sharing. This is how we grow communities you see. Prior to offering a review of this month's book, I would like to share a brief history of the writer. I met this young woman, Nobuhle Nyoni at a birthday, and album listening party for producer and artist, Verseless. She was friendly and bubbly, we even shared a ride into town as we went home. That wouldn't be the last time that I would be in communication with her. Through the magazine that I am editor for, we made effort to push her event. Though I didn't manage to attend the event, I saw the potential of this young woman. In 2017, under the collective called Veryus ,

Welcome To My World

My point of view is my critical analysis and perception of the world.I take readers into my mind and using my own personal experiences so as to prove my hypothesis.I write with depth and insight into social issues using wit and humour to create a colourful and fun read. I go by the name Lady E.I am a writer par excellence with so much to share with the world.I like to describe myself as a cross of First Lady Michelle Obama meets Beyonce meets Lauryn Hill and Maya Angelou.Yes,intelligence,va va voom,soul and wisdom. This is my point of view.Welcome to my world. Ciao! Lady E

The Case of the Ghost

If you decide to ghost, then stay dead! I'm riled up and thinking WTF? Who the hell does he think he is? Trying to walk out of the tomb like the Messiah! Degage! But I also realised that I wasn't over it. IT! The hurt and humiliation of being ghosted. The humiliation of being relegated to  side  chick.  And the pain of going through loss alone. Who the hell does he think he is ... in my life? After many years, I bumped into him at a recent event. Actually, he called out my name and followed me. I don't know why he thought that he and I were Gucci. For two years, that guy was a poltergeist.He didn't reach out to me to explain his behaviour. He didn't send me a birthday message. No communication. Obviously, out of sight, out of mind.And then he has the nerve to call out my full government name. Honestly, I was inebriated and had no time for his nonsense. But he started saying that he and I needed to talk. He thought that I was his girl. He missed me. I'm literally