2024 did a number on me. It did me so bad and dirty that one morning I woke up and realized I had gone numb. It happened so slowly actually, crept up on me that by the time I knew what was going on, it was too late.
I was not heartbroken or angry. Not even sad. It is Just that I became indifferent to everything around me. And trust me when I tell you that, that is a very dangerous place to be in.
I watched my own life like a third party observer, in slow motion, with zero emotion attached. Bills came and days passed. I became unaware of dates and time. Conversations happened….until they didn’t anymore. And somehow, none of it touched me. That numbness quietly followed me into 2025, settling in like it planned to stay.
Then early this year, after getting back from upcountry, paying school fees and buying stationery and new uniforms for my daughter, I decided I just wanted to get away from it all, disappear – if only briefly. Just one night alone, binge watching and drinking my wine in solitude. So I booked myself into an Airbnb, got into my silk pajamas and poured myself a generous glass of wine – my own little heaven in liquid form.
I decided to watch a movie, and that is when I found myself crying. The funny part is that it was not even a sad movie or anything. No one was dying…..or anything. It was a romantic movie, and I cannot even remember the last time I watched one of those.
Actual tears came, Unexpectedly heavy, yet as real as they come.
And instead of being embarrassed, I welcomed them wholeheartedly. Because crying meant I could still feel. It confirmed I was still human. Not a robot running on autopilot. The thing is, you see, I was beginning to get scared of the person I was slowly turning into, that person that felt nothing and cared for no one.
There’s a line from a movie I once watched where a man with brain cancer refuses medication because it numbs everything. He tells his doctor he wants to feel the pain – because pain reminds him he’s alive.
That line stayed with me.
Because somewhere between January bills, deadlines and the constant hustle of just surviving, many of us have gone numb. We’re functioning, yes, but not feeling. Hardly, if at all.
And that’s why we all need to get away. Not for Instagram. Or any social media for that matter. But to feel again.
Valentine’s doesn’t have to be about roses or reservations. Sometimes it’s just a good excuse to pause. To step away from life long enough to remember yourself.
Maybe you come alone.
Bring that book you’ve been meaning to read but haven’t come around to and pour yourself a glass of wine. Order food in or cook a meal slowly, with no rush. Watch romantic movies back to back or sit in silence and let your thoughts catch up with you.
Read here on how you can make the most of a staycation.
Or maybe you come with someone you love.
No crowds or pressure. Just a quiet night of cuddling, talking, laughing softly and being present together. And try out really cool romantic cocktails at a budget.
Life is short. And, it’s moving fast. Too fast than any of us would like to admit. Which is why we all need to stop once in a while and smell the flowers. And what better excuse than Valentine’s?
At Zani Suites, the space is designed for exactly that kind of pause.
Located at Taurus Residences, behind Gateway Mall, the apartment is just 10 minutes from JKIA and the SGR station, yet far enough to feel like an escape. The property offers a fully equipped gym, swimming pool, ample parking, fast lifts and 24-hour security, so you can relax without thinking twice.
A mall with a supermarket, restaurants and a bank is just a five minute walk away, and airport or local transfers are available on request – because ease matters.
This Valentine’s, don’t perform love.
Don’t rush it.
But above all, don’t force it.
Just come away for a night, alone or with someone you care about.
And give yourself permission to feel again.
Because feeling is proof that you’re alive.
Read on — Escaping The Rat Race Mindset
