2024 itself

Whew, happy new year! Whooo

I began my year with an adventure, haha. How about you? 

I know the start of a new year holds so much significance for a lot of us; a fresh start, new beginnings, second chances and all. So, as we begin the year 2024, it's my prayer that all that you desire, all that you hope for, may they happen to you swiftly.

Here's to 2024 and all that it brings.

Happy new year,

Cheers🥂

2021

Whoohoo!!!

Happy new year folks, it's been God for us, it's been God for us. 

The past year's been an interesting one; intersecting dramas, events and what nots. If nothing else, it's reiterated the fact that time waits for no one and nothing's written in stone. It's also drummed home the fact that while we scurry around making our plans, ultimately, it's God who does bring them into fruition. It also reminded me of how frail and vulnerable man really is and that, we're all doing life together. That we're all connected whether we like it or not as what affects one, affects all. 

Save, save, save, emergencies don't announce themselves and strive to have multiple streams of income. I'm still looking at how to go about this, God helping me.

These are a few lessons the past year's drummed into my ears.

That said, welcome to the new year. I pray it lives up to our expectations. 

Peace

An Ill Fated Party

Come, dear daughter, let me tell you a story.

One day a party was thrown, and the nations of the world were invited. The world came, ate, drank and generally had a good time. But when it was all over, she came back ill. It's said that she'd contracted a deadly virus, one that went by the nickname Covid -19.

To combat this, the world shut down. Schools, businesses, religious centres, corporate bodies, and borders; closed. All forms of social gatherings were prohibited. In their place, social distancing and maintaining good hygiene were initiated as preventive measures against the spread of this illness: a shut down like never before seen by anyone who lived at that time.

People worked from home, shopped from home, worshipped at home and generally conducted their businesses from home. The market places, roads and busy squares turned ghost towns. The streets, overrun by wild animals, death its sole pedestrian. Economies took a hit and world power changed hands.

The world as we knew it had changed. Everywhere one looked, something was different.

The virus brought with it its fair share of grief and took its toll on everyone and everything. Governments and healthcare systems were overwhelmed in the struggle to keep up with the ailing. Citizens were overwhelmed with fear and anxieties, struggling to make sense of their collective reality.

Fear, not because it was the first time the world had faced a pandemic but because of the many unknowns that accompanied the virus. Anxiety because no one knew what or who the next victim would be.

And so, we sat, behind closed doors, hoping for a miracle, not knowing when it would all be over. Hope for a solution was scarce.

It did not take us by surprise, now that I think about it. Many of us just didn't consider it serious enough to take preventive measures early, until we found ourselves in a siege, dealing with a scourge some say had long been foretold.

One day a party was thrown and the nations of the world were invited. The world ate, drank, partied and forgot to wash its hands. And we paid a dear price for it.

But soon afterwards, even in those trying times, Mother Earth took deep laboured breaths, as she struggled to renew herself.

Photo Credit: Vectorstock.com

Happy New Year

Hi guys, this is to wish us a very fulfilling and marvelous year 2019. The election's just around the corner *cues in action soundtrack*

May your year be bright and colourful. Happy new year. New year resolutions anyone? What new year tradition(s) do you observe? 
Here's mine:

Cheers... 

Little bursts of Clarity

Happy new year lovelies. Circumstances have brought me here much earlier than anticipated. I was gonna be here Val's day armed with the greatest love story ever told or heard. You know what that greatest love story is? It's a beautiful story, I never get tired of reading about it *hint hint*  Some do I'm sure. So, back to why I'm here.

While groping in the midst of my grief this fine morning and pondering on a message I'd sent someone, my eyes alighted on something. A message. Any other day, I prolly wouldn't read much into it but let's just say that message was perfect for the time and state I found myself in. It read: "let there be heart's peace when each day is done", like wow. That says a lot in so little words. The message packed a punch. I'm not going to break it down, I believe it's really self explanatory.

God really is present. He's everywhere. I saw Him in the smile of a child that came with her mum for a condolence visit. She was such a giggly baby. I also saw Him in the hugs shared and received. I saw Him in the prayers and messages of friends and associates. I saw Him in the selflessness and generosity of some persons. I saw Him in a moment of sunshine when my mind began to get clouded and it was a symbolic moment. I saw Him in the messages He brought me at the right time. The right word, the right music, the right devotional. 

And I saw Him again, today in that message.

This period has been a learning curve for me. I'm always learning sha so it wasn't so difficult. I'm learning that I've got patience after all. I'm also glad that what I'm learning, I'd already learnt theoretically and I'm only now learning its practicals. God is so good. I can't adequately describe how real He was to me this period. He was so real, I could practically feel him walking with me and giving me his hand like a gentleman would to a lady when He felt my strength flagging. He was right there whispering words of comfort and cautioning me when the ballistic moments came knocking, lol. Wow. I'm still not done grieving and may never will, (this was expressed so elegantly in a poem a friend shared with me, I hope to share it with you guys someday) but I do not grieve as those without hope. The light of God's word shines its brightest when it's darkest. This is my testimony. Allez up (lol, dunno what that is or if it means anything sef, it just sounds like a good sign off). 

Peace... 

Hey June

Hey guys, I hope June meets you well. Here's to a new month, I wish us all the best.











Trivia: June's always sounded strange to my ears, I see it how I see odd numbers. The name just sounds like there's something off. 

Hello 2017

Bless God for 2017 and all the goodies it has for us. Fresh into the year, we're saying welcome, welcome, welcome and we've got quite an eye opening piece from our guest author. We pray 2017 bring you all that your hearts desire and more. Enjoy.

***

I bring you greetings from 2017. Before I continue, let's take a brief review of 2016.

2016 ended amidst the Wizkid-Caesar slight. But first, the beginning. It arrived with the usual prophecies and breaking stories, expectations and of course, resolutions that if you ask me, went ignored even before the first week expired. It was filled with tons of drama and jaunty escapades in all the spheres of society; the football world, the political world, entertainment world and what have you, with their fair share of outrageous statements and outlandish behaviours. 

I dunno about you, but I sure learnt some lessons from these events. Also in the beginning was the carry over beef between Olamide and Don Jazzy's back-to-back comment over the 'Next Rated' award at the headies and that was all the social media could talk about with the 'coman get it' inspired memes flying upandan. 

Everybody keeps claiming someone else is '*egbon' to avoid taking responsibility and then pass the mantle of leadership and control to another. Whereas to be the next rated in the new year, we have to say to ourselves that I am the '*egbon' (boss). 

If we must succeed in 2017, we must make ourselves the bosses of our lives. It's not about arrogance but being matured enough to be responsible for yourself and your actions (or inactions as the case may be). A wise man once told me, "God's in control but he put man in charge." Not to lord it over everyone but to be his eyes, ears and hands here on Earth, watching over others, listening to their needs so I can be a helping hand. 

Back to 2016, the 'coman get it' drama was shortly followed by Davido's baby mama travails with uncle Momodu showing forth. 

Also  from 2016, was the rumble 'n' tumble of the U.S elections; filled with punches, scandals and alleged interference by the Russians. Surprisingly, the most embattled candidate won and would be inaugurated come 20th which goes to show that being the next rated, you don't have to play by the rules. You create your own  rules after all, you're on a battle field all by yourself. 

It is said that birds never clash in the sky. Not because they don't have same flight plans or travel same routes, but because there's room enough for them all. As for you, remember that you're in a battle field all by yourself.

Try pushing yourself beyond your limits. Push yourself against all odds. Push yourself beyond the contentions and opposition of your contenders because if you must succeed, you must be in a class all by yourself.

Strangely, from a 2016 where not many new fashion trends were put out, ladies still decided to go crazy with their combinations and I'm not talking about the colour blocking of 2015 but a combination of them all. All the way back to the '70's.

Instagram went bonkers not because of the pretty dresses but with the flooding of skits. These 3 minutes videos kept us (LOL) laughing out loud all through the year. Not that they've not always been there, but 2016 spot lit them.

Truth is, we've all got talents, skills and abilities but I guess we're waiting for someone to start but think on it, what if no one had started? What if there was never any stand-up comedian? What if there were no skits by Crazy Clown or Akanm D Boy saying "issokay, issokay"? Would the new fellas out there ever have recorded their skits if they'd waited? 

Quit waiting for others to start. God has blessed you with skills, as Obahiagbon puts it, "inherently ladened" to make you shine in your world which you won't unless you start.

Start something. Do something. Be something. Be remembered for something. Leave behind something. 

2017, learn from 2016. Be your own year. Create your own style. Do your own thing because, you're your own '*egbon'.

*As used in this context, it means boss.
Guest author

Photo Credit: Fotolia