Show Up

I’m sure you have had one of those days;

One of those days when your head reignited the passion with your pillow.

I’m sure you have had one of those days;

One of those days when you doubted everything that you thought mattered.

I’m sure you have had one of those days;

One of those days when you could not find a reason to care.

So what do you do on one of those days?

You show up.

Show up because discouragement may be the side of the bed you woke up on,

Show up because a stormy morning does not mean a stormy day,

Show up because a rainy afternoon may still birth a rainbow,

Show up because a dark night makes the shooting stars more magnificent.

Show up because your life is your show, and it will not start until you show up.

Just Before You Call Him an Ass

Yes I’m talking to you, Mr/Mrs Judge of the universe. Your honour, oh ye Mr/Mrs Self-appointed supreme court judge of the whole world. Yes, I’m talking to you, and unfortunately, I am talking to me too, as I am one of the justices of the court. 

I saw a quote online today and it goes like this “Jumping into conclusions isn’t exactly a form of exercise”. I had such a good laugh, because, truly, if jumping into conclusions, or jumping to pass judgment is a form of exercise, I bet a lot us won’t need to spend any extra time at the gym to be fit, because we keep jumping into conclusions about people every minute of everyday. That's constant exercise mehn!

So just before you jump into calling him (or her) an ass, (putting only him in the title was sly, I know *evil grin*) why don’t you take a step back for a quick minute and read this piece.

Why my obsession with the word “ass”? Clean your dirty mind buddy, I don’t mean that ass. I mean ass as in donkey (Oh, and you really don’t want to know what came up when I searched for images of an ass, but you already know right? *another evil grin*). Where was I? Oh yes, why my obsession with the ass?

Disambiguation- This is an ass, also known as a donkey.

Please I Need Your Hep

Dear blog visitor, online intellectual stimulant and encourager,

Please I need your hep. You see, when I started this blog a few years ago, (adonbilivit) I thought I had a million years to be in my twenties. I expected that by the time I hit the big thirty, I would finally understand what life is about and be able to give advice to those coming of age based on my experiences.

Surprise surprise! I’m in my mid-twenties and  instead of figuring it all out, I have figured that “figuring out life” is a continuous exercise, and each stage of life brings its own challenges and questions. Along the line, I also figured out that once anyone of us gets to that place where we can predict everything around us, it does not mean that we have finally arrived, rather, it means that it is time to get uncomfortable and we are ready for a new adventure!

Don't Stop Telling Me Stories

I prefer to read books about dragons, super powers and mythical worlds, instead of reading books that profess to teach me ten tips that guarantee a successful career. I am happy to get lost with C.S Lewis, following him like a mouse entranced by the Pied Piper of Hamelin, as he introduces me to a world that did not exist until he created it. I give no excuses for believing wholeheartedly in his created world. The created world is usually a world that defies human logic, and in this illogical world, I would follow his instructions in order to understand the new logic that makes his created world work logically. 

I would get lost in the Iliad and the Odyssey (sorry to disappoint, I only read the children's version) and in my mind, recreate how Odysseus' dog died of joy after waiting so many years for his master's return. I would imagine how if the world in Harry Potter was real, I would not flinch if the portrait of my grandmother hanging in the living room, instructs me to wash my hands after eating eba. I would also get lost in Igbo land as Achebe explains the pride and resourcefulness of his people. I would imagine his proverb about the lizard that dropped from an Iroko tree, and began to nod as a gesture to praise himself for his heroic descent, since no one else chose to celebrate him. Can I forget my Chimamanda Adichie, who enticed me with the scent of her Purple Hibiscus and invigorated my mind with the beauty of an authentic story.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Suitcase and Tie

Ladies and gentlemen, today we take a cue from Hollywood

You know this song by Justin Timberlake - "Suit and Tie"? It has been ringing in my head for a while now. However, the catch is that whenever the tune plays in my head, I automatically remix it and sing "As long as I've got my suitcase and tie". Yes suitcase. The same old carry to the airport- please don't be more than 23 kilograms suitcase.

One thing I have observed over the past few years is that for most people, our twenties and thirties are the years we are likely to live out of a suitcase. Take this from someone who only recently packed away her suitcases.

If you are Nigerian, I can chart your suitcase journey easily. It usually starts from when you enter university. In this circumstance though, I don't quite count university as much of a suitcase phase because even though you might have to move between hostel A and hostel B or apartment A and apartment B, there is a central theme to your moving- you have to be around school.