Dearest gorgeous ones,

The long-awaited 2015 has arrived! I hope you are having a fantastic start to the year.

I’ve shared this story with a few people who asked me to turn it into a blog so they could share it on – so here it is!

I started 2015 in the most delightful way. I got engaged! If you like cheesy/romantic engagement stories then grab yourself a cup of something yummy + settle in for mine.

My partner was having an operation on his shoulder for a torn muscle. It had kind of felt like a bit of a rough year for him as he’d had an ankle operation the year before. It was a strange combination of looking forward to the operation so he could start to heal but also knowing that it would be logistically difficult as he can’t really use that arm for at least 4 weeks.

We’d been talking about getting married for some time – so I was pretty certain he would ask me soon anyway. I thought a proposal would really turn around a not so great day into an extremely memorable one. I decided to take the feminist plunge + ask him to marry me instead of hanging around! I don’t know whether it was working on my workbook to make life blissful, bountiful + beautiful that triggered it or whether it was just time, but I went for it. To further the role reversal, I texted his mother to ask for her blessing. She was (thankfully!) delighted.

It was delicious to enjoy having the secret – I realised some of the fear + excitement that men are usually expected to handle in situation.

On the day of his operation I prepared a fake medical questionnaire with quotes from our song, I’m Yours, by Jason Mraz. We first heard it on the day we started going out, over 6 years ago. The end of the medical questionnaire popped the question.

 

I hide it in his medical documentation + when he was settled into his hospital bed ready to wait the long 4 hours for his op on an empty stomach, I passed it all to him. He opened it + started reading. There was no going back now! It took him a moment to realise what was going on. I could feel my heart racing really fast + tears filled in my eyes. I watched him as it dawned on him what I was asking + tears formed in his eyes too.

Thankfully, he said yes + I made him sign the form to bind him to it 😉 He drew this lovely little ring on my finger in the absence of a real one which I am trying to get henna tattoo-ed on, if I can find some cruelty free henna kits (if you know of one hook me up – I’m struggling!)

 

What I learnt from all this is I much prefer to do things my way. I hate feeling the pressures of society to do things the expected way. It just felt so right to me to ask him. It felt right to take control + make my life happen. So ladies, if you want to ask + you’re pretty sure a) he won’t mind you taking ‘his’ moment to surprise you + b) you think he’s the one + will very likely say yes — just do it. Grab life with your fabulous feminist hands + make it happen. If you want to. If you want to wait for a proposal, that’s cool too. If you’re not into marriage – also awesome.

What I’m saying is, be who you are.

That’s all there is to it, beautiful ones.

 

In a typically non-traditional way, my first engagement gift was gluten-free chocolate cake mix. Gotta love the wonderful lady who gave it to me as it’s in her cultural tradition to give sweet things as gifts in this scenario + that’s all she had to hand. Gorgeous. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

 

So that’s my story! If you’re on the mailing list or reading this on Facebook + want to share your proposal story – hit reply now. I’d love to hear it!

Love + Light,

Raeeka xo

P.S. If you’d really to grab life by the wotsits like I did – join my growing community today. Each member is taking real action + making their lives amazing. You can be a part of it too for just $55 (~£35)!

P.P.S. if you’re local to Berkhamsted then I have so much lovely stuff for you. There’s my kundalini yoga cleanse workshop on 17th January + my walking meditation group starting on 25th January! Book on now to make this year your best year yet.

P.P.P.S. I’m raising money for Oxfam with Dry January this month – help me if you can spare even just a little for a good cause!

P.P.P.P.S (last one I promise!) if you are local + have been to any classes or workshops then take my 5 minute survey + you’ll be entered into my prize draw to win £20 credit to use at my classes or workshops. Each respondent also gets an MP3 audio of how to do long deep breathing, perfect to help you to relax. Take the survey now.