Quiet Joys

We all have that one thing that calms us or puts a smile on our faces when life tries to be mean to us. It might not seem like much to others, but to us, it is everything. For some, it is the quiet joy of watching their favorite series after a long day. At that moment, every other thing becomes secondary as they get engrossed in what they are doing. At that moment, they forget about life and its pains. For others, it might be eating a good meal or reading a new and interesting book. And there are some who find peace of mind in deeper things, like having a loving partner who welcomes you with open arms or a happy home that survives every storm. The truth is that what brings peace of mind is personal. What seems significant to one person might not “be enough” to someone else. For example, if I say keeping my house spotless and well arranged is what gives me peace of mind, some people might scoff and say, “That’s it?”

Well, as long as you have what works for you—what gives you peace of mind, you don’t have to bother about what people think. In the end, it is peace of mind that matters, right? The topic for this week’s Hive Naija prompt is: Peace of Mind. What is one thing that seems insignificant to others but gives you peace of mind right now? It can be anything, even weird.

For me, what gives me peace of mind is having someone to talk to. The importance of having someone who you can talk to about literally almost everything is often overlooked. Growing up, I was the kind of kid who would always bottle up everything. My siblings and parents were close, but somehow, I couldn't talk to them about the things that bothered me. My brother is the stark opposite. He could talk to my mom about anything. Literally anything. He would tell her about his friends, school, and other funny gists. He would even tell her about his relationship and when he had issues with his partner. I'm pretty sure he still does these things. Every time I hear them talk, I always wonder how my brother manages to do these things.

My sisters also talk to each other about things that bother them. In this aspect, I was all alone. It wasn't as if I didn't trust them enough, I was just that way. It was like this throughout high school and even after I graduated. I also didn't have friends who I could talk to about things. A year ago, I made friends with people online, and gradually, I started learning how to open up and tell people the things that bother me. It wasn't easy, but step by step, things got better. Today, I have that one person who I can talk to about anything. Whenever I feel like there's a heavy weight on my chest that needs to be lifted, all I have to do is talk to that one person, and it works for me every time. It is what gives me peace of mind.

Thanks for reading.