12: The Lie of July
...it's a thing, believe me
Hey kids,
(by the way, “Hey kids’ is something new I’m trying out because I’m trying to encourage “childlikeness”, what do you think?😅)
I’m bringing back this piece from 2 years ago, and I’ll try to make it quick.
Picture this, I’m walking up a staircase with 12 steps and after the 6th one, I stumble. I am told that it is normal, that many before me and many after will yet stumble.
Here’s what it turned out I stumbled on; an idea. It occurred to me a while back and I thought to share. It’s an illusion of some sort, widely unidentified but deeply & subconsciously accepted. It’s something that tends to keep people in chains and dwindle their light, I’ve termed it: “The Lie of July”.
You know how each new year is often filled with resolutions and captions of “new year, new me”? Well, even if you claim to not know now, I can bet that at some point in your life, you were neck-deep in resolution-making and wishful “goal setting”. We all know how that usually plays out though, first few weeks, there’s so much energy to achieve, but as the year progresses, so do the failures and stresses.
Now the Lie of July goes something like this: since it’s past 6 months and it’s already the second half of the year, then the year is literally over.
Sidebar: I always find it interesting when people misuse “literally”. Like, how can you tell me that a joke literally killed me? Come on! It’s only literal if it actually happened, otherwise, you’re literally wrong!
Ahan, where was I? Yeah, the misconception that once we enter July, the year is already “winding down”. Now, I get why someone might think that, but going by simple arithmetic (which you probably people struggle with), if 6 months out of 12 is gone, then how can you say the year is practically over when there are still SIX whole months left? As in, it’s just as if it’s another January to June, try looking at it that way for a sec.
The pressure that falls on people around this time of year, sometimes starts from a good place, one of reflection and self-evaluation, before you know it, it climbs to the realms of crippling criticism that comes cutting at curious characters & churning consuming choices. (I’m so sorry, please ignore everything after ‘criticism’, it was hard finding ‘c’ words that were relevant to the conversation).
My point is this: it’s all in your head! Don’t let some timeline (that’s not even technically correct) give you a false sense of underachieving. You are on the right track to achieving your goals and you’re doing your best to get it done (If you’re not, I don’t need to tell you to wake up!)
That weight, that you put on yourself that the year is “almost” over, channel it right, don’t let it consume you, use it to your advantage, don’t allow the so-called being “aware” become counter-productive. Most of the time, it’s all propaganda (don’t ask me whose), it’s just not real and definitely not helpful.
So, if at the end of all my rambling, what you get is that:
It doesn’t matter how much work you put into pursuing your goals, or that
You shouldn’t pressure yourself, that you still have time to do whatever you want whenever you get around to doing it. or maybe that
Timelines are meaningless and resolutions and targets are for losers!
Then sit back and enjoy whatever you see (terms & conditions of penury may apply)
The Lie of July is real and what you choose to do with it now is completely up to you.
I don’t know how to sign out from this one, so I’ll just keep talking until it comes to a point where it feels like to an extent I’ve provided closure and said the necessary closing remarks, given the charge and made the call (to action). But what I like most about all this, is that you’re still here with me, waiting for it to end… And practically this post is over, but literally it now is!
Let’s get to work!
Keep Breathing.
Jisike 💪🏾
