Glitter in the Gloom: The Self-Care That Keeps Me Going.

“Even when the world is loud and cruel, I choose to be gentle with myself.”

Romanticizing your life isn’t about pretending — it’s about choosing softness even when you’re breaking.

Hey Sunnies💛,

First, let me just say I’m sorry for not showing up here last week. I was drained — not just tired, not just low-energy — I mean emotionally, mentally, spiritually drained.

If you’re Kenyan, you already know why. You’ve seen the streets. You’ve seen the pain. We’re living through a storm right now — people being killed, violated, silenced… businesses crushed, voices dismissed. All for demanding our basic human rights.

What a time to be Kenyan. What a terrifying, soul-twisting time.

And still — we survive. Still, we breathe. Still, we find soft places to land, even if the world feels like concrete. That’s what inspired this post.

When Life Isn’t Pretty, but You Still Deserve Softness...

“My self-care isn’t always aesthetic — sometimes it’s just me, in bed, feeling everything. And that’s enough.”

There are mornings when I wake up and everything feels heavy. I can’t think. I can’t move. I don’t even want to exist in my own body. If you know that feeling — that weird quiet sadness that sits in your bones — you’re not alone.

I call it lowkey depression. Not loud enough to scream, but heavy enough to drown you in silence.

If you’ve been listening to my podcast (Navigating Life Diaries, shameless plug 😌), you know I always keep it real. We’re human — we feel joy, but we also feel sadness, anger, confusion, anxiety, hopelessness. All of it. And you know what? That’s okay. That’s life.

But when I find myself spiraling, I pause. I sit with all my emotions and ask myself gently: 🌀 “Is this something I can control?”

If yes, I start moving — even if it’s slowly. I write. I plan. I take uncomfortable steps to get back on track. If not? Then I do the one thing that keeps me sane:

 I Romanticize the Chaos...

“Even chaos has a rhythm, and I’m learning to dance to mine — with lotion, lip balm, and a playlist.”

I know — sounds dramatic. But hear me out. When everything around me feels ugly, I try to create a moment that feels beautiful.

That might look like:

• Taking a long, warm, body oil-filled soft girl shower

• Playing my favorite playlist while applying lotion like I’m the main character

• Putting on a sheet mask I probably can’t pronounce but love anyway

• Drinking flavored tea with a romance novel in hand

• Journaling with colored pens and stickers (don’t judge my obsession, we’ll talk about it later lol)

• Going for a slow, mindful walk — no phone, just thoughts

• Cooking myself a beautiful plate of food with love and zero pressure

• Rewatching comfort shows like The big bang theory

• Taking myself out on solo dates — bookstores, cafés, walks at sunset — just me, myself, and my softness.

• Gifting myself little things — a new body scrub, a lip balm, a chocolate bar — because I deserve sweetness, even on hard days.

Sometimes, I just sit and do absolutely nothing but breathe deeply. And that, too, is self-care.

Romanticizing Life in Chaos Looks Like...

“Sometimes healing looks like crying in your robe with perfume on. That’s softness. That’s survival.”

• Lighting a candle for no reason at 10 a.m.

• Drinking water out of a wine glass to feel fancy

• Spraying perfume just to stay in the house

• Making your bed slowly, like it’s a ritual

• Wearing your cutest outfit — even if you’re just sad in it

• Putting on lip gloss to cry prettier (lol, it happens)

• Crying under a weighted blanket with your favorite music playing

• Buying yourself a chocolate bar and calling it emotional support

• Talking to yourself like a soft, loving friend: “It’s okay, we’re figuring it out.”

Why It Matters...

“I cry, then I mask. That’s healing too.”

The reason I romanticize my life — even when it feels like it’s burning — is because it keeps me here. It keeps me present. It reminds me that beauty still exists — even in the smallest, silliest, messiest ways.

I’m not ignoring the chaos. I’m not pretending I’m okay. I’m just choosing to treat myself with tenderness while the world tries to harden me.

Dear Sunny...

“Even when the world is loud and cruel, choose to be gentle with yourself.”

If you’re going through it — mentally, emotionally, globally — please know that you’re not broken. You’re just overwhelmed. And your softness is still valid here.

You don’t need a picture-perfect life to create soft moments. You just need you.

So go ahead — light that candle, play that song, wear that fuzzy robe. Be dramatic. Be delicate. Be chaotic and glowing.

And if all you did today was breathe — I’m proud of you.

☁️ Let’s Stay Connected...

If this post held you the way I hope it did, come find me on Instagram: @_.selfcare_diary — where I share all the soft girl chaos, self-care rituals, and daily diary moments.

And of course, listen to my podcast Navigating Life Diaries — where the voice notes feel like safe hugs. Available on all platforms.