Originally Written November 24, 2023

Howdy and good day, Spacers!

Spacers.

That is what I have decided to call you, my regular readers. Even though you have never given me any indication that you want a name, especially that one, or that you are still here.

It has been a minute, huh?

I disappeared down the rabbit hole that was 2023 and I am just coming up for air.

Welcome to Weekly Reflections though!

This a weekly peek into my life and how much of a mess I am making of it. Haha kidding. Okay, half-kidding.

If you are new to The Chie Space, glad to have ya. You can learn a little sumn sumn about me here.

Small disclaimer though, I wrote that About Me post in 2020 and a lot has changed since then.

Okay, maybe not a lot. A healthy amount.

My name is Cynthia Njoki, or Chie. I am leaning more toward my African names these days though so you can call me Njoki.

I am mononymous like Cher.

Unlike Cher, I am a bookworm. I am trying to read a little more non-fiction (which I have never loved). I am currently reading Mathew Perry’s memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, and yes, the title of this post is a nod to Friends. So, you guessed it, I am a sitcom buff! My all-time favorites are The Big Bang Theory, New Girl, Modern Family, Hot in Cleveland, and The Neighborhood.

I write.

For work, I recently ventured into academic research papers, which I am loving.

I am an introvert with strong opinions and slight social anxiety.

I am African, Kenyan, and 24.

Some new things about me since we last “spoke”:

I Recently Discovered Pan-Africanism

Like many Africans in post-colonial Africa, I haven’t always had the best perception of African culture. I knew very little about it and while my knowledge is growing, there is so much to explore.

I am finding a lot of joy, though, in exploring pre-colonial African culture and discovering who my people were and how they lived and loved.

I am mostly doing this through podcasts, books, and my new website Daughter of the Sahara (coming soon), where I document and curate African cultures, stories, and histories through a Pan-African, feminist lens.

If you are interested in African history and politics, by the way, I recommend It’s a Continent, the podcast. And if you are a Mugikuyu* like me, you will love Matiri Ngemi, another podcast that packages pre-colonial Agikuyu culture in a fun and easy-to-understand format.

My Feminism Has Grown More…Intersectional

Yei, growth! I discovered intersectional feminism a little over a year ago and I am still growing in it. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, check out my post on Intersectional feminism.

I am Starting a Business!

Somebody say business mogul!

I recently left my writing job and am venturing into freelance work.

I am currently working on an online job site, where I will, in addition to providing writing services, post regular blogs about the joys and pains of freelance writing.

More on this later, but check out my new website Sahara Ink and Quill (coming soon).

I Do Yoga Now

No, I cannot do that as of yet.

I have the arm strength of a broiler chicken.

I Have Dreadlocks That I am Currently Obsessed With

I mean.

I am Learning German

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

And that’s about it.

Catch up with me every week here on Weekly Reflections.

Also, tell me how your life has changed in the last year, or since the pandemic. Let’s catch up!

*Agikuyu – A Bantu ethnic group native to Central Kenya. We are known for our love of money and other exciting stereotypes.

*Mugikuyu – Someone from the Agikuyu tribe.

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/flight-sky-earth-space-2166/

Photo by Henri Mathieu-Saint-Laurent: https://www.pexels.com/photo/flat-lay-of-letter-shaped-cookies-5898313/

Photo by Follow Alice: https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-woman-looking-on-persons-bracelet-667203/

Photo by Anna Shvets: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-black-blazer-sitting-on-black-office-chair-3727464/