The Classroom Outside Blog

April 2024I am not my hairAnd other stories But pleaseFind attached Photos of my afro, cornrows,And other stories.Along the lines of appeal,If I’m bright, kind, helpful,Or brave, present , engaging,What does it matter what my hair is ?Sometimes it’s soft and lush,Other times short and terse,Sometimes it’s held loosely,Other times cropped tightly.Sometimes it’s combed neatly,Other times, slightly ruffled.But my focus is other things,The exterior and what I look like ,Is a small part of who I am.This is not an oxymoron,I don’t know why you’re smiling,It really is, the smallest,Smallest in importance not in size.However, please find attached,Photos of my afro and my cornrows.I am not my hair and other storiesBut on […]

An Ode on the occasion of #internationalwomensday2024 .Here’s to the ones.The ones who raised us, the ones who continue to raise the bar, the ones who inspire and motivate, who encourage in times of drought,who have taught us to laugh and dance,to sway our hips and gloss our lips.The ones who give up their own likes for those they love,the ones who eat least, sleep last and wake up first,the ones who pick themselves up after they fall, who are not afraid to ask for help, the ones who, time and again, lend money, clothes, space, a shoulder.The ones who day in, […]

Happy New Year !It’s taken some time to figure out what I really want for this year, but then a revelation came to me and it was very clear and very strong. There are a few things but here we will talk about just one.Here it is : Respect.This year will be the year to stop taking on the burden of how people behave and trying to figure out how to change them or what I need to change so that they can behave differently. This may sound callous or careless but it’s incredible how much that burden can weigh on you. Many of […]

Written on 18th July, 2023"You can find me where the sand meets the water."Me and the ocean; love at first sight. And second, and third, and fourth, and fifth.Once in a while, have dinner at the beach. I know some will be like, “But that looks like you are just here.” Here, where ? This is the Indian Ocean, my friend. Mombasa.I stood on the shore and breathed in. Do you have those moments where you realize you were holding your breath and you didn't even know why ? And your shoulders were up and tense too. Till you exhale and drop the shoulders and literally […]

Written on and for International Women’s Day 2023; but also for any other day, really.Here’s to being afraid and doing it anyway.Here’s to rising above our fears. Here’s to separating what is real from what is imagined. Here’s to being true to our word, even when everyone else breaks theirs.Here's to rising like a phoenix, burning but not getting destroyed. Here's to those days we feel unsupported, unsure, unable, and yet we continue.Here’s to giving ourselves second chances and choosing to be gracious to ourselves.Here's to the people who stand with us, when the world crumbles around us.Here's to seizing the day, letting our […]

Wednesday, 7th September, 2022"She was powerful,Not because she wasn't scared,But because she went on,So strongly,Despite the fear." ~AtticusI know it is just Wednesday, but between Sunday and today, I have done some things despite fear, especially the fear of what will 'they' say ? 'They' is this amorphous , powerful entity that exists in our minds – but sometimes in reality too.Nonetheless I … have attended a meeting I knew was going to be tough, I attended it with a smile and extra grace.I have messaged someone to communicate a tough message. Now they know.I called out a friend on something they were doing that I […]