WHY YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE THE ONIONS IN YOUR LIFE

Today is one of those days.

I'm not talking about countdown to New Year. (I secretly have a beef for those who make us do that countdown. Please it's my beef not yours)

Today, when I got back from getting fuel, something hit 🎯 me. 

Life is in layers. Some would say phases but I choose to use the word layers. 

When I say layers, I mean what you see when you have onions.🧅

From experience, I've come to see that sometimes when you manage a challenge you have, you may still come back to it again. 

And again. And again. And again.

It may be something you were shy about as a child. 

I just thought of a good example; someone lost his parents as a child. He's had to cope with the psychological effects as a child and then you get over it at that point.

Life can be so funny, you'll find yourself facing the same challenge you thought you faced as a child. (Hopefully) You deal with it again and get stronger.

Then you grow up to be an agile youth and you find yourself facing the same thing.

It's not a bad thing. Honestly, it isn't. 

You're just dealing with the same thing in different ways. 

It's like mathematical sums of addition. 

You learn that pretty young and early. Once you do, then you can handle other mathematical sums. 

They come in different ways and with different examples, (and they are more technical) yet it's all the same thing.

You know the good thing? The answer to the next level can be found in the previous one. 

So don't be shy and don't avoid your challenges. Don't beat yourself up for facing the same thing you thought you had gotten over years ago.

You get it? Good!

If you don't get it then forget about it.

Cheers to Love and all that's True.

Your faithful Omogeh 

Bolanle.

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GRA WHAT? GRATITUDE!!!

This year has been all shades of great.

What makes great to be great? It the highs and lows, the strengths and weakness, the failings and the winnings, the storms and the sun. 

One of the things I learned via experience is gratitude. 

Don't get me wrong, I've always been thankful and grateful; but this year, (especially towards the end of the year) I have had more reasons to be and remain grateful. 

I think this was caused by being penniless at a point. (✌️Yep, I was, too many things to settle at some point) 

This made me appreciate and value what I had. I knew what it was to not have so I value every little that came my way. 

I can't count the number of accidents I've survived this year. I'm talking about near miss accidents that had me screaming.

I'm also grateful for the gift of relationships, friends and family.

I'm so grateful to God for always coming through for me. 

I can't count them all. As Maverick city music says, it's the Million little miracles. They make up the big miracles and blessings we can point at.

You know the beauty of gratitude? It locks in what you're feeling...

For someone who can forebrood joy like me, it helps me not to get sucked in my feelings. 

I'm not going to stop be grateful...so help me God.

What about you?

Cheers to Love and all that's True.

Your faith Omogeh,

Bolanle.

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WOULD YOU JUST ASK?

Segun stepped out of his bedroom. It was almost 11 am. He wasn't one to wake up so late but his trip from Ibadan to Jos wore him out. He was still tired and sleepy but he didn't want his cousin's family to think he was a lazy sloth which was his grandmother's way of referring to lazy people.

As he apprched the living room, he could hear his cousin's son crying. His cousin, Jide sat on the chair facing the TV. Jide was obviously ignoring his son who wanted his father's attention.

"Ayo, what's the matter?" Segun asked the boy who turned away from him. He pulled the boy to himself "Come on, talk to me" he beckoned to Ayo "what's the matter?" He asked the boy who was still crying although he knew the reason.

"Is it me?" He asked. Ayo nodded to say no

"Is it Aunt Eunice?" He got the same response from Ayo.

"Is it Grandma?" He got the same response

"Is it Grandpa?" Same response

"Is it your mummy?" Same response

"Is it your Daddy?" Ayo nodded affirmatively

"What did he do?" Segun asked Ayo who pointed at his dad.

"Remove your hand from your mouth and talk." Ayo's grandmother said as she walked past him.

He pointed at his dad. 

"You have to talk." Segun said to him

Ayo turned to Segun's ears and whispered "My daddy didn't give me drink"

"Did you ask him?" Segun asked

"He wouldn't give me" 

"Did you ask him?" Ayo asked once again

Ayo nodded to say no. 

"If you didn't then you can't be sure that he wouldn't give you. You need to go and ask him. Okay?"

"Okay" Ayo replied and Segun nudged him gently towards his dad.

"Daddy"

"Yes"

"Can I have your drink"

"Bring your cup"

Within a flash of light, Ayo ran to the kitchen and ran back with his cup. His dad filled the cup and gave it to him.

"Thank you daddy" Ayo said and sipped his drink. He paused to give his uncle a smile.

"See your chubby cheeks" Segun said and smiled back at him. 

"That's how many of us are with God. We wouldn't ask but we feel we wouldn't be heard so we carry puppy faces in sadness" Ayo's Grandmother said

"Very true" said Segun

"It is 'ask and you'll be given'. If you don't ask you can't receive what you want." she continued. "If you don't ask then you don't need or you're probably assistant-God-in-the-making because you instruct God on what to do."

Segun spent the rest of his day thinking about what his aunt, Ayo's Grandmother said. 

We still need to make our requests known without making assumptions.

It was deep.

And profound.

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WHO DO YOU HAVE, WHO HAS YOU?

I think somethings should crossover to the age to come.

One of such is a movie, yes, Lord of the rings is it's name (argue with your keypad). 😂😆

Right now, I'm watching The Return of the King.

I'll be drawing my point from two scenes:

Faramair and the other men were waiting at Osgiliath. They were prepared for the enemy...as long as they came from the north. 

This time the enemy came from the river. They fought all night and the city was overun. They lost men because of this. 

As they took their leave, Nazgul attacked them again. These soldiers were tired. They obviously fled for their lives but it wasn't the business of the enemy.

That's scene 1. Let's move to scene 2.

Still in Gondor....

Sauron sent the cover of darkness so the orcs could move quickly. These orcs came prepared.

They brought volleys and stones, They knew the gate couldn't be breeched so they brought Grond. 

They knew Gandalf would be there so the witch king of Agmar was ready for him.

The Oliphaunts were to deal with the horsemen. 

The trolls were on ground to instill fear in them and take them out quickly. 

These two scenes are the same in the world presently. There are challenges on every side. 

Today, I had to delete Facebook app from my phone. Facebook is where I get news from and it's too depressing lately. 

There's no peace anywhere in the 🌎. You're hardly out of this month's bills when you'll see another list waiting for you.

Who's on your side? Whose side are you on?

Scene 1: Faramair had Mithrandir. He chased the Nazgul away.

Scene 2: Gondor had Rohan; they had the army of dead.

What about you? Who do you have? Who's got you?

Elemi lo ma last o

Cheers to Love and all that's True

Your Faithful Omogeh

Bolanle.

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THIS THING CALLED UBUNTU

I see, I saw!

I'm an Ubuntu person. For example, it takes a community to groom a child not just dad and mum.

I'm beginning to grasp the power of community.

It can make you.

Or mar you.

When you're in community, you can be sure that someone will always be there for you. Someone makes up for what you can't make up for.

That's how it makes you.

To marring you

Let me give you a gist.

There's this TV game 🎯 show called the Chase. There are 4 contestants that make up a team. Each member of the team will be asked questions for 90 seconds and gets £1000 for every right answer.

After the 90 seconds, the chaser (who chases you for the money) would give you 3 offers.

1. The least offer  which is usually low or sometimes in minus e g -5,000

2. The mid offer which is what you won in the 90 seconds

3. The high offer which is mouthwatering

The contestant asks the advise of other team mates on which of the offers to accept before making a decision. The chaser chases him to get the money. If the chaser gets him, then he leaves the team.

The money from the 4 teammates is collated and they answer some questions. If the chaser catches them, the game is off. If not, the contestants share the money equally.

So to the one I watched...

This first guy did well and he went for the high offer which was £30,000 and the chaser didn't catch him so he won that round. 

The second guy went for £7,000 and he won that round.

The third lady who just finished drama school said she was going to use her share to host her graduation party with her friends. 

E no off me...I mean I just said well it's her money.

She made £2,000 in her 90 seconds.

She didn't go for her £2000.

She didn't go for the high offer.

She went for the low offer which was -£5000. 

Her reason? It would allow her to end her chase quickly so she can move on to the next phase.

I was pained.

She made it to the next stage and -£5000 was deducted from the money. 

There was nothing they could do.

That's how community marrs you. One person's decision can go south and everyone bears the brunt.

Community can make or mar you.

Watch it.

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DO YOUR PART NOW

"He's dead!!!"

That's all I heard.

I was shocked😲... actually mortified.

"Who?"

"Nepa" said my mum.

Silence

"Bolanle, are you there?"

"Ye...yes" I stuttered

"Wo da gbo uhun mo fo bei"  she asked if I heard what she said in Ondo dialect.

"Mr. Aiyegbokiki abi"

"Yes" she said.

Mr Aiyegbokiki lived on our street in Idimu. We grew up in Sholuyi, Gbagada until my dad died. My parents were building a house in Idimu so my mum completed the house and we moved there in October. We came from boarding house in December and went straight to Idimu.

That's where we learnt what Wizkid meant by aye o pe meji. Life was hard. 

Thankfully, baba ku baba ku. We had people who decided to step in for us. 

Mr Aiyegbokiki was one of them. By the way he worked in the defunct Nepa which is why I said Nepa earlier.

Another was Mr Oshowo. Mehn!!! I respected this man too. He shared his kids provision into two whenever our mum didn't come during visiting day. 

Funny how we or I lost two of them this year.

I wish I could appreciate their effort one more time. 

Don't wait till you're wishing. Take out time to do so.

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MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL

I shot myself.

It's day 3 of September and I've shot myself twice.

This life ehn!!!

No wonder Yoruba people say afi suru meaning let's be patient.

So to what happened...

Someone offended me twice in two days. 

For each time I was going to point out this fact to the person, another person was calling me out for doing the same thing.

Inside life abi.

The first time it was like an Indian film 🎥 trick. The second time it was a wake up call for me.

Then I remembered the proverb that said when you point a finger 👉 at someone, you point☝️ three fingers at yourself.

Point 👉☝️ at something or someone to try it out.

Then it dawned on me...

The world is full of mirrors. 

What we react to in others exists inside of us as well. 

If you react to someone who always feels entitled, check yourself. There are times you act entitled too. 

Yours may just need a different kind of scenario to manifest itself.

So before you react or burst out, check yourself. 

Okay?

Let me drop my pen 🖊️ here.

Cheers to Love and all that's True

Your faithful Omogeh

Bolanle.

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DO YOUR DO

My ears hurt...

Or should I say ache.

The reason? There's a church beside my house.

It's not their Ahuja speaker that's my problem this time.

It's the people on the mic 🎤.

You see, they have few members but I'll be magnanimous enough to place them around 30 people. 

I give it up to the keyboardist, the guy is doing well. 

If I was the guy, I'm sure I would have given some people upper cut.

So the Pastor and/or the person leading music sing on one key. 

The two backups sing on two different keys. 

Even though the keyboardist always cues them in.

However as speed Darlington says, they have coconut head dem no dey hear word. 

In simple terms, they are as stubborn as the coconut 🥥 shell so they can't take instructions.

The guy is doing a good work. It's people like this that are often underrated.

Sometimes the people we give the least attention to are those who do the 'heavy duty' work. 

See cleaners in a hospital or a bank when it rains. They are on standby as customers or patients walk in and out. 

Little or no attention is paid to them.

Everyone has a place and a job. 

Each person's work is different. 

Do your part and don't try to be like someone else.

Don't berate the work done by others no matter how small you think it is 

It's the same thing in relationships. You can't afford to berate your spouse or partner for something you don't think is important. 

I've seen couples have serious challenge in this aspect. 

A spouse, say the husband believes he should be the financial purse even when the wife is making more money. The wife berates him not making enough when his role is different.

Everyone just needs to know their roles.

Without this we will all have Lori Iro (na lie) goals.

Everyone and everything is important. If you don't believe so, try not to work without your pinkie finger for one hour.

When you do this let me know.

Have your nice day ☕😘💋

Cheers to Love and all that's True

Your faithful Omogeh

Bolanle.

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YOU GO WOUND

I've learned something.

Scratch that...

I've relearned something.

Or rather somethings.

1. We are all small. We occupy a small part in this world.

Actually, it isn't small; it's minute.

Let me repeat: you occupy a minute part among all things that exist.

So drop your shoulders or remove all your shoulder pads. Eat the humble pie 😋 and enjoy it. 

2. It takes different minute parts to make a big whole. 

Think about it like a pizza 🍕.

You have your dough, sausages, salt, tomatoes, cheese, pepper, and all the other ingredients...not forgetting the pan 🥘 and oven. 

You mix everything together in the right proportion to become something 😋🤤, delicious and enjoyable (I think I'm craving Pizza).

3. Know your place and act it properly.

Back to my Pizza...

Imagine adding salt 🧂 in the same proportion you add flour. 

That will be one hell of an who dey breet situation.

A pinch of salt may be the proportion needed for a cup of flour. 

Now that's your place.

Imagine if the salt is upset that it isn't sugar. Then salt begins to give a talk-to-the-hand attitude.

Something will be off or incomplete about the taste. This means everyone's effort will be wasted.

But if the salt decides to understand that yea, I'm salt and I will do my salty duties as happily as others who have a huge proportion in the dough, the taste will be yummy 😋. Everyone will enjoy it.

Now that's doing your part.

4. You will only be effective in the right place

"I like my space, I like my privacy" brother or sister please!!!!!  Talk to my 👏

Why don't you go to Mars?

Why did it take two people to produce you?

Why do you see people around you?

Why did you go to school?

Why are there houses around you?

Why do you need groceries or why buy things if you really want to be alone?

IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE!!!

You belong with a group of people and you can only be effective there. 

The earlier you accept it, the better for you.

It's only when you're there that everything will make sense. That's when you'll get the answers you need. ( I'll elaborate on this in another post)

You'll also need to learn how to trust them.

Ladies and gentlemen, girls and gentle boys, allow me to enjoy myself as I drop my pen 🖊️🖋️ here.

See you later!!! 😊 😁

Cheers to Love and all that's True 💖😚

Your faithful Omogeh

Bolanle

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MY INTENTIONAL MILLION LITTLE MIRACLES

As usual, I begin my posts without a title. 

After considering it like the sway of a pendulum clock, it's drops into my mind.

For some reason I couldn't pull this off. I'm determined to go ahead with this write up anyway. 

I've been privileged to experience the highs and lows in the lives of some of my friends. 

Everyone understands how challenging life is currently. All you need to do is go through headlines; you'll see that there's no peace any 'effing' where.

However, there's something.

It can be positive or otherwise. That thing is choice. 

I know you may be thinking "Oh we all make choices that determines who we are".

If that's what you're thinking, you get the conclusion of my point. 

Even if there's no peace in the world, we have a choice as to how we look at things. 

We decide how we look at what's going on around us. If you look at the downside, everything will seem down and look bleak. You'll find reasons to get grumpy and sad.

If on the other hand you live intentionally and you decide to pay attention to the small and minute things that make sense such as waking up, sleeping, breathing in on your own, your problems (which are peculiar to you because you're alive) I think you'll be making the right choices.

Recently, I've been reminded of counting my blessings. I woke up some days back and I had to put the song "Million little miracles" on repeat. 

I choose to be look up

I choose to choose right

I choose to be grateful

I choose to count my blessings

What do you choose?

P.S. I finally gave this post a title

Cheers to love and all that's True

Your faithful omogeh

Bolanle 💋😘

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CHANGE YOUR PARADE FROM THE BLUES

One day I woke up feeling blue.

I mean really blue, as deep and as strong as royal blue 🔵 is (I'm sure royal blue will forgive me use of her because, I love this rich color).

Anyway, I had different thoughts visit me from different ages. 

I'm not talking of nice thoughts, I'm talking of depressing thoughts.

I had all manner of sad dreams in a few days and I just sat in it.

I wallowed in it till later in the day. I sat down and I knew those thoughts were the wrong narrative. 

I simply sat still and I felt a breath of fresh air around me.

Then I was able to pray and smile.

For everyone who's used to the blues, it can be easy to step in and forget yourself in it.

But you need to find the silver lining in the cloud.

There will always be a way around it.

It might be sitting to pray like I did, hanging out with others or seeing the whole picture.

Life is difficult, In many cases however, it isn't as difficult as we see it. 

Believe me!

You simply need to change your parade.

(By change your parade I mean step out of your bubble and see everything in a different light)

Cheers to Love and all that's True!

Your faithful Omogeh,

Bolanle.

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LIFE IS A BEESH

You know what they say about life?

It's a b*tch. Life na beesh I swear, see my finger on my tongue, and on the floor and now I'm pointing it towards the sky. (That was how to swear in the 90's)

There's this funny lady I watch, her name is kie_kie.

She's a wonderful corporate thug. 

She easily switches from someone in Buckingham palace to omo Oshodi.

I was watching one of her videos. She spoke about all the things that went wrong at her wedding:

1.Hair stylist came late

2. The car of her Church's Bishop tore off the train of her wedding gown and the Bishop didn't realize it. He walked in without saying a word to her

3. Wrong materials for her wedding banners.

4. The decorator did everything wrong

5. Her makeup artist got it all wrong

6. The zip hook for her hand-stitched reception dress broke off. She couldn't wear her beautiful and expensive dress.

All these happened after she planned a perfect wedding and spent a lot of money. There were more than enough flops.

Let's muvee from kie_kie.

I have a sister who is pretty detailed. 

I like seeing my things the way I want it but I'm learning to relax.

Plus, I'm a learner where this sister is. 

If she puts something at 92.73 degrees, she must meet it there or there's wahala. 

She has this mood that envelops you right away and it's difficult to stay around her. You'll just walk away like Craig David.

Life doesn't work that way. Believe it!

Things will never go the way you planned it but there will always be a way around it. The solution is lurking around somewhere.

You need to learn to create your story. Your mind will adjust as you move on.

Life is a beesh but we muvee!

Cheers to love and all that's true

Your faithful omogeh

Bolanle.

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God no go shame us 2

I've had a long day. 

You see, my fam and I spent a better part of the month getting a place. 

It's not beans o, I mean getting the right place (which includes the right atmosphere and every other right thing) can be taxing.

However, as difficult as it is or as challenging as life can be, if God is on your side ehn, gbagbe!!! 

It means forget who isn't for you or on your side. You'll see everything fall in place for you and you wouldn't sweat or prespire about it. 

That's why I get shocked when I hear work hard.

You can't be as hardworking as an ant 🐜 or in some cases a farmer.

These guys toil abeg. They simply have nothing to show for it.

God no go shame us means God is on your side opening doors and interlocking everything in your favor.

Find this and you're good!

Cheers to love and all that's true.

Your faithful omogeh,

Bolanle

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WHATCHU SAY?

There are movies I love. I can watch them again and again and again.

I love Lord of the Rings. I'm a die-hard fan.

Don't be surprised if I'm watching it on my dying bed.

So the battle of Helm's Deep is over. Gandalf, Aragorn, Theoden, Legolas, Gimli, Merry, Pippin and Eomer visit Saruman in Isengard.

Treebeard is wary of Saruman and after the scene it makes mad-sense.

Saruman is deadly, because he's got the power; the power of the tongue. 

He razed Theoden down. Since I've been hearing everyone say 'Theoden King', 'Hail Theoden King'. 

Omoh! Baba say na Theoden horse master o! #whatSarumancannotsaydoesn'texist

Saruman also washed down Aragorn and Gandalf. With words!

I saw the same thing in Game of Thrones. 

Remember the chitchat before the battle of bastards? 

Sansa was wise enough to leave before Ramsay Snow started eating into Jon with his words. I wasn't on the battle ground but I felt the power of the words where I was.

All I'm trying to say is words have power. If you are under the wrong words, you'll be unable to breathe in fresh air. 

Another thing about words is that it has the ability to keep hunting you for years even after it's been ages since you heard the words. 

Iya nurse, my mother gave a child injections. When she was out of my mother's reach, she said she would grow up and be a nurse so she could give people injections too.

Imagine it wasn't injections and someone just said something and she grew up reacting to that.

That's how words work.

Some people react because of the words they hear as a child. Someone told you that you weren't good enough and it hunts you for the rest of your life without you knowing it. 

Words have power, as much as you can, screen what your mind accepts and probe to know the reason why you do some of the things you do.

Cheers to Love and all that's True.

Your faithful Omogeh,

Bolanle

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IS IGNORANCE BLISS?

Today, I went for a traditional wedding and it was fun. (I specially enjoyed watching the groom who was dancing in slo-mo. I wished I could record it)

I was chatting with a few friends afterwards and they told me of the spiritual atmosphere at a wedding they attended and how they had to pray and fast for three days.

That's for those who know their God and they knew how to manoeuver. 

What of the people who have no idea of all that's happening?

To them, ignorance is bliss. They feel the effect of all that's happening around them but they don't have the slightest inkling of all that's going on. 

To them life is good all because ignorance is bliss and it's okay, as you can live a carefree life, you can be spontaneous and do what you want. 

In the words of Cypher to Trinity and Neo in the movie Matrix, ignorance is bliss.

However...

In much wisdom is much sorrow. You know nothing is what it seems, nothing is ordinary and you are cautious. You mind your business and cut your coat according to your cloth (except you have some powers or a personal 'Sunday Igboho). 

These my dear are the two dimensions to life.

So let me ask you a personal question: Is ignorance really bliss?

Cheers to Love and all that's True.

Your faithful Omogeh,

Bolanle

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THE GREATEST SCAM IN LIFE

I went to the clinic today now I'm a bona fide oju igo as we yab or make fun of people in Yoruba. (It's just a playful way people call those who use glasses).

So this man who was attending to me asked me about what I do. I told him I'm a writer and he asked if it pays bills. I told him yes and I enjoy it. Unku expected that a man must be taking care of me. 

Imagine o! A whole me o. No yawa sha.

I asked him the same question and he said he didn't plan to work in an eye clinic. He didn't have any hope to work as an accountant/sales manager of an eye clinic but he had bills to pay. I told him I also pay bills too.

Unku asked me what bills women pay and I was shocked in Gryffindor and Slytherin put together. I pay my rent o, I eat o, and I buy essential commodities.

We are all in this together; both men and women pay bills as long as we are all adults.

And we arrive at the scam...

There are many posts saying adulthood is a scam. Someone said for every single credit alert you receive you receive 998 debit alerts for it.

I don't think adulthood is the main scam here. The scam to me is your source/who you are. If you are all about work and hustle... E sa, esma you go choke.

What's your source? Are you focused on getting blessed or becoming a blessing? They are two different things as the former can pay bills easily while the latter can pay people's bills.

When you shoot your shot, what are you focused on? Being blessed and having a 'blesser' or becoming a blesser'?

Cheers to Love and everything True.

Your faithful Omogeh

Bolanle

Drops 🎤 mic

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GOD NO GO SHAME US

There's this funny guy I watch on social media. I don't know what I like the most about him: his silliness, his wittiness or the f*ck s*it he says at the end. I honestly don't know.

However, I was watching him a few minutes ago and I realized that the whole world should be saying the same thing: f*ck sh*t.

There's unrest everywhere. People want to japa (the Naija word for run away). But the challenge is run from where to where? 

You think the other side is sweet and nice because of what you see on media? Hollop and hold it! The grass that you see on the other side that's green is only a screen saver. If you run there na ordinary ntorr you go get (except it's where God wants you to be).

You think the pandemic is COVID, you never sabi anything. It's more about the distress awaiting those under the sun.

The real prayer is God no go shame us. If you japa from Naija to Canada or India to New Zealand or Wales to Sao Tome (it can happen), there are tons of issues waiting for you there o (and please I'm not saying you shouldn't go) who am I to stop you by the way? 

By the way, if you want to go, by all means do. Koshi, don't come and be forming stop it I like it. 

Just pray say make God no shame you.

Cheers to Love and everything True.

Your faithful Omogeh

Bolanle

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ENJOY YOUR POISON

Everyone loves a good life. Biko, if you find someone that doesn't, let me know.

However, this life no balance as there are many sides to life. Some get to enjoy the good sides, some enjoy a few fair sides and there are some people who are stuck with the down sides.

Those with the down sides look or rather behold those with the fair or seemingly good sides. I say seemingly good because every screen saver looks good.

Those who have average or poor incomes gaze with beauty upon those who can go to France for vacays and gelato...

One Christmas holiday, we had two groups of family friends who came to spend the holiday with us. One of them was from uptown, and the other was from a suburb outside Lagos.

We had a nice time and when they left, I had time to indulge my thoughts. It dawned on me that each side had what the other needed.

The 'uptown' family were better financially and socially.

The 'suburb' family had their parents' love; they always had people around them.

Interestingly, each side would trade what they have for what the other has.

The uptown family grew up on their own as their parents were quite busy. They know what it means to need dad and mum so bad and not have them with you on special occasions and that hurts.

The family from the suburbs know what it means to be in want, to be sent out of school, to drink garri, to share 5 naira for offering, to beg for salt and receive both salt and insult from neighbors.

You think the other side has it better? It's all a screen saver. As beautiful as Dubai is, those who make it beautiful are immigrant workers who go through hell. (Try watching the video of the megacity built by slaves on YouTube).

Don't wait to lose what you have for you to appreciate it. Don't envy anyone and forget about your life...it isn't worth it.

Enjoy your life, and live it because no other person can do this for you...like some people would say, Enjoy your poison...one thing must kill a man but choose yours not another person's.

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supernaturalundergroundblogger.com

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THE FORETELLING

 

Joanna walked briskly as she tried to get a cab to take her home before she left for Tina’s house for the night. Tina was her classmate who was helping her with statistics, a course she was taking this semester. 

The course was as tough as a badger’s skin but Tina was the magician here. It was as if she had a wand to control the course. Joanna called her Statistical Hermoine, just like the Hermoine in Harry Potter. 

The statistics examination was in two days, and she made up her mind that she wasn’t going to fail. She was going to do all she could to make sure she passed. So, since Tina knew the course, Tina's house was the best place to be.

After having lunch, she looked at her watch and it was 2:49pm. A brief nap was all she needed for her mind and body to be alert for what Tina was to going to teach her and her other classmates.

Jo reached out for her phone and set the alarm for 3:30pm before she packed her blonde hair and cuddled her 5ft5 body under the duvet as she curled on her side before sleep took over. She had such a slender frame that made her hips stand out in a good way which made her attractive.

"I'm going to pass this course. I'm going to..." she paused to yawn "pass this co...urse" she fell asleep. 

The alarm woke her up, and she reached out to stop it as quickly as possible.

"No, not yet" she said and set the alarm to snooze to give her a few minutes to ‘boot. After a while in dream land, she roused and then went to pee.

‘Now I’m ready’, she said to herself as she put her things together to go to Tina’s house. 

Her eyes caught the clock hung on the wall and she stared at it in disbelief. It was almost 6 o’clock.

“Oh no, oh no, oh no! How did this happen?” she yelled in frustration and hurriedly packed her things. She ran out of the house, and she had stopped a cab when she realized she didn’t lock the door. 

"Sir, could you give me a few minutes, I forgot to lock my door but I'll be right back" she dashed off without closing the door or listening to what he had to say. When she arrived, she slid into the car.

“Thank you” she said to the driver. “191 Crambell Street”

That’s $5 ma’am” he replied and moved the gear from park to drive.

“Wait!” she yelled at the driver and went through her bag pack. “I think I forgot my wallet”

“Should I wait?” the driver asked

“Please do. I’ll be down in a minute” she rushed out of the cab and dashed into the house. As she was about to step into the car, Tracy her flat mate held her hands and whispered in her ears “You need to powder your nose. You’re stained.”

Joanna stood fixed on the spot as Tracy smiled at her and left. She bent by the passenger’s window and spoke to the driver “Sir, please could you give another minute, I’ll be real quick.”

“Ma’am I haven’t got all day”

“I’m sorry. I’ll be back before you realize it.” she said and used her bag to cover up before she ran into the house. She was back in a few minutes.

“Thank you, thank you” she said to the driver “can we go now?”

The driver looked at her from the rear mirror without saying a word.

“Can you go on now? I’m in a hurry please” she said impatiently

“Forgive my manners” he said politely “But are you sure you should be going out?”

“How do you mean?” she said irritated by the question

“I’m sorry to meddle into your affairs. You’re all over the place it and I think it will be better for you…” he was cut short abruptly

“Should I alight or would you do your work?”

“I’m sorry ma’am. 141 Crambell street right?” he asked as he started the ignition.

“Yes” she said and he drove off. Joanna wondered what the driver’s problem was. The fact that she told him to wait a few times and he did didn’t mean he shouldn’t mind his business. 

She stared at his black and grey hair before looking away. Her parents always meddled in that same way. There's something about aging that makes people nosy.

A thought nudged her in her abdomen “What if he was right?” But wouldn’t that mean she would fail her exams? That was a scarier thought but she couldn’t get the feeling out of her mind and it upset her.

The driver arrived at her destination. She alighted and almost ran into the house when he called back after her.

“Hey ma’am where’s my money?” he said as he stood on one foot while the other part of his body was in the car.

Joanna had completely forgotten and ran back to give it to him “Sorry about that” she looked into his eyes and the eerie feeling arose once more. She shrugged it off, walked away and hit Tina’s buzzer.

“Who is it?”

“Its Jo”

“Finally”. The door opened and she went into the building and Tina’s apartment.

“Hey girl, its almost 7! Thought we agreed for 6?” Tina said

“Long story. But I’m here now. How much have I missed?”

Tina went over a few details and promised to fill her in when others were done with the calculation. While they were at it, someone tapped at the door.

“Who’s there” Tina asked

There was no answer.

“Who’s there?” she asked again

 “...um, its Billy”

“Why does he sound that way” asked Kristina one of the girls in the room

“I thought so…” Jo said but was abruptly cut off

There was a big bang on the door. “Everyone on the ground now” Someone was about to scream when they heard the click of the gun. 

“If I hear any other sound, I’ll blow your heads off. Be quiet and obey all instructions. 

When we get to you, give us what we want and we would leave you alone in peace. Disobey and you gonna meet your fucking dead folks on the other side”

Jo was shaking; she was sure her blood pressure was hitting the roof. If only she had stayed home. She felt something flow towards her head, and as it touched her hands, she could smell urea. 

Kristina who was lying down in front of her had peed on herself.

The thieves got to her and she handed over her wristwatch and phone. The one who gave the instructions walked to her

“Is that all you have?” he asked

“Ye-Yess. Please don’t kill me.” she said with her head bowed.

“I would have left you alone but you’re a terrible liar.” he said angrily

“I swear down. I’ve- I’ve dropped all I have. My laptop is in my bag”

He slapped her immediately. “Why didn’t you say that earlier?”

“I’m sorry.” she said amidst tears

“I’ll show you what happens to girls that lie.” he said “On your feet now” he snatched her up. She was about to scream when the guy put the gun behind her head. “One more sound and it’s over little liar”. 

She knew she was crying but it was soundless. He dragged her out and took her to another room where they tied another guy. He pushed the tied guy into the bathroom and locked it.

He put her on the bed. “What’s your name?”

“J-J-Joanna” she stuttered

“Now be a good girl and do as I say.” He said to her and began to unbuckle his belt. 

Jo started a fresh round of tears. “Don’t worry, you’ll enjoy it” he said as he took off his denim.

“Please don’t do this.” she sobbed

“Keep your fucking mouth shut and take off your pants now!” he said as she took off her denim and she intensified her tears. He dipped his fingers into her underwear. “What’s this?” he said as he showed her his blood stained fingers.

Jo’s mind went from east to west almost immediately to give him a quick answer. “Please wash your hands immediately. It’s my period all right but I have drug-resistant staphylococcus and I just ordered herbs from Africa to treat it. You can die from it”

The thief jumped off the bed and ran into the bathroom “Get out of my way” he said and kicked the guy he locked in there in a desperate attempt to wash his hands. There was a loud bang on the door to the room “Yo Bear! We’re off; cops on their way”

The thief walked out of the bathroom without as much as a glance from her as she was putting her clothes back on. 

In a few seconds, Tina rushed to her side and they began to cry together. Jo was really grateful nothing happened to her and she sure wasn’t going to get out of her house whenever she had that eerie feeling next time.

 

Photo credits

dreamstime.com

absfreepic.dom

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Lessons I learned in 2020: Emotionalism, a faster killer than heart attack

Social media can sometimes be mad o (as we say here in Naija). Someone posts a story and bam everyone is captured so the story trends because people react emotionally to the post.

Here are good examples of what I mean

1. There was skit I watched from Mr. freaky freaky. A lady told him one of his boys molested her and she brought police men to arrest him. Mr. freaky freaky was angry and he spoke harshly to the boy. The lady later confessed she only set him up after she saw Mr. freaky freaky breathe fire and brimstone. However, the poor boy had committed suicide already.

2. A few weeks ago, a lady in Abuja put up a post of how a guy drugged, raped and put up her nude pictures when she was either asleep or high. Social media was livid and people wanted to have the guy's head. The guy eventually came out with chat and call record of what transpired between them. Apparently it was only a matter of an unpaid 100k between them.

Hope you understand what I mean.

To react emotionally is to join the bandwagon. Emotionalism is to regard issues from your emotions; basically, logic or your mind isn't in control here. You simply hear what someone is saying and you react (usually) from an extreme emotion which can either be over-excitement, anger, anxiety or any other rush of emotion.

When people react emotionally, they react when they hear one side of the story without listening to the other side of the story. 

The way to step out from emotionalism or sensational stories is to listen more than you speak. That's why you have two ears and one mouth (listen twice before you speak). 

Emotionalism rides on the senses or emotions instead of the mind. Make sure you have all the facts before you respond.

Don't react. Calm down, take a break and look into the issue again before you respond. If it isn't necessary, don't respond. The fact that everyone has something to say doesn't mean you should also have something to say.

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econsultancy.com

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