No one prepares you to be alive.

We are, however, exceptionally prepared to die.

At some point in your life you’ll grow to learn about funeral cover, policies, next of kin nton nton. We know when to pay monthly premiums. You even have a stop order for it. And the gentle reminders, gentle nudges from relatives “Ulayo kodwa iFuneral policy?”

And honestly? It makes sense. Ndini munhu one who appreciates this. Death is expensive. Inconvenient, even. The least you can do is leave things tidy on your way out. Or make things easy for you when one decides to join the underground gang. 

But here’s the part no one really talks about and it’s that while we are busy preparing for the day we are no longer here… no one is really preparing us for the days we are.

No one sits you down and says,

“Okay Fi, so you’re going to wake up some mornings and feel completely unmotivated, here’s how to still show up.”

Or,

“You will outgrow people you love or vice versa. It will be confusing. You aren’t a bad person.”

Or even,

“You might build a life that looks right on paper but feels slightly off in your chest. Here’s how to deal with it.”

There’s no policy for burnout.

No monthly premium for peace of mind.

No payout for the days you tried your best but it still didn’t feel like enough.

Living is strangely… under-instructed.

We’re told to get the job, build the home, have the children, secure the future. But the how of actually existing inside those things? That part feels like a group project and no one went through the brief.

And maybe that’s why so many of us are tired in a very specific way.

Not just physically tired but decision tired. Emotionally tired. “What am I even doing?” tired.

Being alive isn’t just about surviving.

It’s about choosing, over and over again, how you want to show up in a life that doesn’t come with a manual.

And the irony?

We insure the end of our lives better than we invest in the middle of them.

We’ll budget for a funeral, but not for rest.

We’ll plan for departure, but not for joy.

We’ll make sure our families are okay without us, but sometimes forget to ask if we are okay with ourselves.

I’m not saying preparation for death is wrong. Please Felicia sort out your things, asifuni stress.

But I am saying this. What if we gave the same intentionality to being alive?

What if we checked in with ourselves as often as we review our policies?

What if we made small deposits into our joy, our health, our relationships?

What if we prepared, not just to leave, but to live?

Nothing dramatic. Nothing overwhelming.

Just small, deliberate choices.

Resting when you need to.

Laughing a little louder.

Taking the long way home sometimes.

Letting things matter. Letting things go.

Soft life, and I’m not even talking money wise. 

Because at the end of the day, the real responsibility isn’t just to leave life in order…it’s to actually live it while you still can.

Oro kanjani? 

Love & light 🧡