I don’t use snapchat often. In fact, I actually abhor the app for anything other than taking pictures, so I don’t use it unless I want to take a picture, or suddenly remember that I am supposed to be texting someone back. 

Around the time I realise that I should be texting someone back though, it has already been weeks, and no apology would suffice—unless it is someone who knows that I hate snapchat and probably wouldn’t be too offended because they are used to it.

I promise this bit has something useful to it. 

I opened snapchat recently because I needed to get a picture I took to send it to someone, and everyone who uses snapchat would know about their “recap” feature. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what greeted me at the beginning of this week.

There were three recaps. One for six years ago, one for three, and one for last year. I don’t try to understand how they measure time, I am not too interested in the app to go into that; but the picture from six years ago was so jarring that my first instinct was to say (inside my head), “That cannot be me.”

Now, it wasn’t that I thought I was ugly. Far from it.

I simply looked too happy that I couldn’t believe I was once as happy as that picture implied. It wasn’t that I didn’t have “problems” back then, because I did, and I could fake a smile just as great as an Oscar award winning actress. I knew the smile wasn’t fake, and I knew the happiness captured in that picture was real, because it was quite literally radiating off the screen.

Of course, my first instinct was to point out the many flaws I could see, features in my face that I hated back then, and still somewhat hate now (growth is a hard uphill battle), but my next instinct immediately made me feel guilty, because why exactly was I hating on myself for capturing such a bright moment and immortalising it in time?

I knew back then that looking at it made me feel insecure, because you could see my buckteeth, but I took  the picture anyway, and now? I almost feel sad. The Reva in the picture back then would look at the Reva of now with stars in her eyes and my first instinct was to hate on her.

I think I teared up because when I looked at the picture of last year, I could see that I was a total and complete mess (that doesn’t mean I am not a total and complete mess now). Last year was not a good year for me, and I think I had somewhat forgotten how bad it was. But despite that, I was still smiling.

So what I learned recently is to look back on memories of my past self with fondness. They stayed long enough, preserved hard enough, and fought all our demons to get us here. They didn’t choose to stop going, or choose to end it all, or choose to stop fighting. They were brave enough to get us here, and I owe it to them (and myself) to keep that torch burning.

That revelation has made 2026 a little more easier, so even if I am burning myself at both ends to keep my goals and dreams running, I at least have a little more flame to keep myself warm inside so I don’t grow cold (still, I am exhausted). 

Last year was a really good book year for me. I actually read over 213 books! I had so much fun that 2026 is off to a great start. I plan to read more than 250 this year, including more audiobooks, non fiction and classics (not self-help though, sorry not sorry). I am currently at 27 books, so I will talk about that alone. 

My current favourite books have to be my 5 star reads of the year so far, and they are Wintersteel, Ghostwater, Skysworn, and Blackflame by Will Wight (all from the cradle series), Good Spirits by B.K. Borison, The Mindf*ck Series by S.T. Abby and Bat Eater by Kylie Lee Baker! 

They are all so good, and reading them was genuinely a journey that I never got bored of. I think it is only fair to try and describe them in one sentence each to try and convince you to give them a chance.

Those are all my current favourite reads, but a book I haven’t finished yet but I am loving so far definitely has to be My Friends by Fredrick Backman. I always know I would love anything he puts out, and this book is so breathtaking in its prose, and in the way it actually guts me out.

Here are a few favourite quotes of mine (mind you, I haven’t even passed the 50% mark) to get you to please PLEASE read this book.

LIKE HELLO? PLEASE READ IT.

This one is hard because I am always listening to music, but my current top 10 most played of this week is highly because my friends causally mentioned a song and I listened to it and started seeing them in it so much that just listening to it feels like they are here, and I am not that alone as I think. So in no particular order, here are my weekly top 10;

A song I think everyone should listen to right now is Love You by The Free Design. We should all connect with our inner child and be healed from within. Just look at these lyrics; 

“Give a little time for the child within you, 

Don't be afraid to be young and free. 

Undo the locks and throw away the keys

And take off your shoes and socks, and run you.

— Walk a windy weather day, feel your face blow away

Stop and listen, love you.”

BE FREEEE!

The movie I am currently watching? Bugonia. I do think it is an odd kind of film with beautiful cinematography. I haven’t finished it yet, so I cannot exactly say anything about it, but I think it is definitely one of my top Stone’s performances already. I love it when she acts odd and eccentric characters, just as I like her unhinged girl next door performances coughs Easy A coughs

Three movies I watched recently and I think everyone should watch are;

Also! A series I am currently obsessed with is The Mentalist. You know, I missed REAL TV, and it is giving me everything I love about it. Watch it today, please.

I am doing my best, guys, that is all I am doing. I am trying not to give up (or unsubscribe permanently from the annual life subscription), and I am doing my best.

Progress isn’t as fast as I wanted, but there is no rush, and even if a nuclear bomb were to drop on me right now, I can at least say that I am trying, and I think that is better than saying “I am not doing anything.”

Grace said “Do you want to give up? Maybe you want to know what people who are into the same thing are doing about it, you can also share it here.” But, guys, just hustle. 

You aren’t a billionaire's child or nepo baby (or maybe you are, lucky you, but still work though) and even though this country is against your progress, what more can you do but do what you do best and keep at it?

Ganbare! Fighting! Never give up!

Let 2026 be the year you choose yourself and your hobbies. I know the country is hard, and life is even harder, but in order not to lose your mind, you have to find peace in the littlest things. I don’t know if things will ever get better, but make today a day you smile. The next day will come easier.

💕 Instagram. 

💕 Letterboxd (to track films and read reviews). 

💕 Read my latest blog post (January Wrap-Up: 1 Book, 15 Films). 

💕 Read last week's newsletter. 

💕 Pinterest. 

💕 Snapchat. 

💕 Storygraph (to track books and read reviews). 

💕 TikTok. 

And everyone says, “Thank you, Reva”. 

That's the first guest post of the year and interesting enough, I have interviewed Reva for my blog. She's a huge bookworm. You should read it , if you havent. 

If you're here because of Reva, Hi! You should subscribe. I talk about whatever comes to mind through weekly updates, what I'm currently reading, watching, or listening to. 

If you're an existing subscriber, hi! I hope you're having a wonderful week. You deserve it. I can't wait to write to you next week. 

Currently, I'm waiting for a response. I'm fast learning that I don't like waiting. More accurately, I don't like wanting things because there's the chance of being disappointed. I don't like it very much. 

Whichever way it goes, I will most likely mention it next week. Don't forget, guys, motion will save you. Move. Step outside the doom. This is an article I think about a lot. It's saving me. 

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Bye x.