2016 Edit: The Gratitude Roundup

Photo Credit: Lindi

"Seeds of faith are always within us; sometimes it takes a crisis to nourish and encourage their growth." - Susan Taylor

I caught myself with tears in my eyes a few times while preparing the draft for this post.
2016 has been one crazy year and as much as I wanted it to end, I can't believe that the last day of the year is finally here! A lot happened that I never knew I would get through, but a lot also happened that I never wanted to end. I had a mix of both and I'm thankful for every one of them.

For the most part, 2016 threw a lot of 'punches'. What with the increased killings in Northern Nigeria, bombing of pipelines in Southern Nigeria, increased cases of insurgents and insurgence, loss of businesses owing to Government-ordered demolition of buildings, the downward spiral of the Naira that led the country into a recession, and all other sad news I can't begin to list.

But 2016 threw punches like a baby because we had awesome news too. We saw the victory of the Super Falcons, the 'victory' of the Nigerian Army at Sambisa forest, the release of some of the Chibok girls, the success of a Nigerian movie directed by a Nigerian woman(Kemi Adetiba) at the box office, the surprise visit from Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, recorded increase in investments in the Nigerian economy, to mention a few.

Even on a personal basis, this is the year I 'grew into myself', I became more aware of myself and everything going on around me, I faced tough challenges that caused me to stand up for myself and helped make me a stronger person. 2016 taught me about friendship and relationship, about family and commitments, about character and reputation, about being my own boss and making decisions, and generally, about myself.

Did I mention that 2016 saw me post up on this blog for one whole year?! Yes, we clocked one in November but there was no time for a celebration.🙈 We will celebrate it in 2017 though. Will work towards that.

In the end though, I am thankful for every one of you. Those who were always here to read every post, those who subscribed, those who dropped comments, those who sent me mails for advice and support, and those who sent in feedback on areas I needed to improve on. I am beyond thankful for all of you. You made my blogging journey this year worth it!

And as we get ready to face the new year with all its challenges and rewards, I hope we will continue to grow together and get better at all the things that set our hearts on fire.
Happy New Year in advance!💋


- The Lady

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 4:16

Growing Up - A Different Path

Photo Credit: Mansur Gavriel

"It's not enough to be good if you have the ability to be better. It's not enough to be better if you have the ability to be great." - Unknown

It feels surreal writing this about myself. But it feels more so living it. It all feels like a dream, an awesome dream actually, but I'm yet to feel like this is a reality. So I've decided to acknowledge it as a dream and keep living and painting it like I would do a dream.

So, what is this thing keeping me in a dreamy state? I'm growing up! I'm gradually becoming the woman I have always dreamt of being. That's the best way I can explain this right now because, even through the times things went as planned or went wrong, I still felt like "Girl, wake up!"

So, it began some 2/3 years ago(can't remember exactly) when I had that strong urge to drop everything I was doing and start a company. Before this time, some 5 years ago, back in my third year into my Law program at the University, I had had this same feeling. But I tried pushing it aside. I even picked up other hobbies and interests to compensate whatever gave rise to that urge.

Did it work? I guess it did because I finished my program at the University. And, I enjoyed those new interests. So it was fine...until I graduated from the University. Then, like every of my colleague in University, I applied to go to Law School, but that 'urge' to do something else crept up again. This time, I used my stressful lecture schedules and reading plans to drown all of that.

By now, it was 2015, I had applied for the compulsory one-year service scheme(NYSC). I will forever be thankful for my service year. Though I was working with the Akwa Ibom State Government, I had a lot of spare time and I was able to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, research into what it would take for me to do that, and start saving for it.

And today, 2 months after my service(NYSC) year ended, I have done almost everything necessary to set up the company, opened my company, and we are having our first sales fair today. It sure does feel like a dream. A very beautiful one. Even through the stressful times, especially through those times, it never stopped being beautiful.

I know I'm gushing about it, but I'm so excited and nervous about it. And I want you to feel this too. So, if there's anything you want to do or be, just go ahead and do it. There will be times when you will want to just quit, DON'T!!! Just keep going! It will all be worth it. Now, I'm off to my fair. Say a prayer for me.
And have yourself a great day!💋


- The Lady

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

1 John 5:14-15

Afterall, We Are Us: As Human As We Are

Photo Credit: Bobo Matjila

"Regardless of what your job is or what people expect from you, you are allowed to be human." - Gigi Hadid

Having been the voice that has always told you to strive to do and be as superhuman as you dream of being, it may seem odd that I now want you to be yourself. But that's the beauty of this life we live, the ability to create a balance. The ability to switch, to become whoever we want, and to be ourselves, as human as we are.

We see it everywhere; in cartoons(yes, I still watch them) where the prince or princess disguises as an 'ordinary human' to experience 'real life', to our everyday lives where a levelheaded person decides to live one day of his/her life vicariously. It's all about balance and there is nothing wrong with that, if done right.

I admit that it has been a long stressful year which is the more reason why you should take a break from all the 'seriousness' for a bit, kick back, and enjoy life a little. Yes, the holiday season is coming and you will have a lot of time to rest. But the season is for you and your loved ones. This is for you alone.

So, take some 'me-time', go see a movie or whatever it is that relaxes you. Be as spontaneous as you want to. You have done so much work this year in trying to grow and be the best version of yourself. Now is the time to create a balance by rewarding yourself for all that work by being as human as you are.

The best part is, you are not quitting your personal growth journey. You are being yourself and making happy memories to see you through the time when it becomes too hard to continue growing through the journey. So have fun with it. And prepare yourself for the holiday ahead.
Have a great weekend!
Kisses...


- The Lady

“Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

1 Corinthians 13:6-7

Bad Mood Or Day? No Problem

Photo Credit: Chic Ama

"You are not alone, and I am not alone. We are in a sisterhood, together, and together we can make it." - Sarah Mae

This was one of those weeks where I used the 'F' word more times than was ladylike(and morally permissible. Don't judge me). I just had a lot of 'downs' to deal with than I was ready to, but "that's what happens when you grow up in life" as my mum said. *insert rolled eyes*

But I got through it though. And I'm going to share how I did that because we all have bad days sometimes, but what you are going through is not as important as how you get through it. Whenever I'm in a bad mood or just having a bad day, I try not to dwell on whatever is the source of the bad mood by doing any of these things.

• Go for a walk. As easy as that sounds, it's very easy to forget about. But going for a walk calms me, lifts my spirits, and takes my mind away from my bad mood. And bonus points, I get to laugh at some funny things I might stumble upon.

• Watch a comedy show. Easy right? Just try it on a bad day and the bad mood will disappear. Those short Instagram videos helps me here!

• Write about it. This is for those who, like me, put a lot of their feelings in writing. It's like a private outpouring of emotions. Can't write about it? The next one is for you.

• Talk to a mature mind. Not everyone is gifted to objectively help others who are going through a bad day/mood sort through their emotions. But if you have someone like that, you're lucky and should talk with that person.

• Listen to uplifting music. Especially the kind that you can dance to. Dancing takes your mind away from how you feel. And music? I'm sure we all know about the power of music.

• Just pray. Those who are religious, no matter how slightly, will understand this. When having a bad day or just a bad mood, praying about it helps to make me feel better. I actually pray about it before I do any of the other things listed above.

So, there you have it! I don't want to hear you say that you 'are having' a bad day. Get up and burst that bad mood honey! And, if you have any other tip that works for you, please drop it in the comments section below, there can never be too many tips for fighting off a bad mood.
Have a great day Sweetie!


- The Lady

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

James 1:2-3

Live Through The Fear

Photo Credit: Denise

"Theres no one giant step that does it. It's a lot of little steps." - Peter Cohen

As 2016 draws to an end,(I know! It's December already!) I took sometime to review my progress or otherwise this year. One of the things I reviewed was my writing. And I found out that, although I was writing to inspire and motivate others, I was actually writing things that I wanted to hear. Things I wished someone had sat me down and told me.

At first, I did not consciously make the decision to write to inspire and motivate people to embark on their individual personal growth journeys. On the contrary, I only wanted to write poems and stories that showed the evils in society to help us all live better lives. But some how, it all changed. I saw myself talking about personal growth so much that I started writing about it.

Was I excited with the transition from writing poems and stories to writing inspirational, personal growth topics? No. I was scared. I doubted myself most times. But I knew deep down inside that I wanted and had to do that. There are not that much people interested enough in the growth of others to write about it.

So yes, I started writing about personal growth and development because I was going through my own journey, there were not enough materials written by Nigerians to help me, and I knew that personal growth journey is too beautiful for me to go through it alone. I had to share everything I was learning and living.

Am I still scared to write about it? Yes. But, it's not the fear I had in the beginning. It's the fear of the strong woman I'm growing into. I hope that you let the fear you feel whenever you want to do something new push you to do that thing. Don't let the fear or doubt rob you off the chance to do all you want to do.

If there is something you want and there's no one to help you get it, go for it on your own. You'll meet people along the way who will help you. It will be scary. But live your life through the fear. Do what you want even if you have to do it afraid.


- The Lady

“Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Colossians 2:7