Rachel Eyo

As You Leave 2021 Behind…

I hope that as you leave 2021 behind, you are proud of yourself; that you are proud of how far you have come, not necessarily in terms of what the world may count as achievements and accomplishments, but in terms of how far YOU have come. I hope that as you review your year, you practice self-compassion and remember that your worth is not tied to your accomplishments

I hope that you look back on the year, not with regret or pain, but with peace; a peace that surpasses all understanding, that envelopes you and makes you feel warm on the inside and that gives you hope for tomorrow.

YOU have made it and that is all that matters.

You may not feel like this year was anything to write home about. You may still be dealing with some unresolved disappointment, blow or pain that the past months or year have thrown at you. BUT YOU are here and YOU are present. YOU should be proud, if not for anything, but for this.

It is true that where there is life, there is hope, there is opportunity, there is chance; A chance to heal, a chance to right wrongs, a chance to start all over, a chance to keep going, a chance to grow… a chance to live.

So this is not a piece to help you take stock of how the year has been or to give “tips” on how to bounce back from a rough 2021. While these may be useful, this is a simple piece to once again celebrate YOU, for making it this far and for not giving up.

So here’s to YOU. 🥂

Remember, the world is always better with you in it.

THE YOUTUBE CONTENT PLANNER BY RACHEL EYO IS NOW AVAILABLE FO PRE-ORDER!💃🏽

I’m super excited to launch the YouTube Content Planner by Rachel Eyo! 💃🏽✨

The 12 months YouTube Content Planner is an all-in-one and stress-free solution to help plan YouTube content, schedule uploads and make the planning process and creation of content easier!

This AMAZING Planner provides for a flexible calendar and enables you plan and create content at your own pace for 12 MONTHS!

The YouTube Content Planner is now available for pre-order

This Planner contains:

✅12 inspirational and motivational quotes
✅Quick look Calendar of Goals for the year
✅Monthly Upload Calendar Tool
✅Video Ideas and Notes
✅Talking Points/Notes
✅Monthly Review and Self-Assessment Tool
✅Monthly Mental Health Check-in Tool

The YouTube content planner is currently available for pre-order at N10,000! ✨ Limited stock available!

Deliveries start on 1st November 2021!

Click the link below to pre-order:

https://paystack.com/buy/youtube-content-planner

The Joy of Being

“Even if you did nothing, you are still worthy; worthy of love, of friendship, of happiness, of peace and of laughter. Your “amazingness” does not come from “the things you do” but who you are at your core.”
– Rachel Eyo

When was the last time you enjoyed just being?

Just being you; kicking back and relaxing; being present and enjoying the beauty that is life; doing nothing.

More often than not, we tend to find “joy” in “doing”, in being motivated, in being busy and in being “productive”. We swell with pride at an accomplished feat and sometimes do not even pause to celebrate said feat. Rather, we’re immediately on to the next task, goal, mission or vision. And if we fall short after a victory, we are quick to get hard on ourselves, forgetting the recent victory we forgot to savour. We are constantly on the move and not stopping soon, not even to get proper rest. Sometimes we proudly say “sleep is for the dead” and worse, we believe it.

The fast-paced world we live in occasionally makes us feel being busy (not “productive”) all the time is a good thing and not being busy is a not-good thing. Social media has exacerbated this feeling due to the fact that we have constant access to a steady stream of daily updates of things “being done”.

As a result, we’re constantly “doing”, constantly attending meetings, working, creating, dashing here and there, meeting deadlines and working some more. In fact, we subconsciously derive some joy and validation from constantly doing to the point that believe that if we are not busy or doing something, then we have nothing significant to contribute to the world. This explains why taking some time out to rest or vacationing with family without looking at a laptop could prove very difficult for some people.

Thus, we tie our worth and self-validation to what we do, achieve or accomplish; When we “do” and are busy, we are worthy and amazing. When we are doing nothing, we are not worthy and so we fidget and fight ourselves and look for something to occupy our minds and we are restless through out.

I’m learning to enjoy the art of being, enjoying my existence, the present moment, breathing in the fresh air and taking one step at a time. While I hardly get bored(because I’m always with one book or the other, lol), I’m learning to be okay with doing nothing at certain points and just appreciate life for what it is. Sometimes, it feels weird because I’m used to “doing” and feel weird when I’m not doing, but I’m slowly unlearning glorifying “busy”-ness and “doing”.

So, be okay with being bored occasionally, be okay with the quiet, take walks, REST, meditate, unplug from social media and the noise occasionally and bask in the beauty that is life.

Find joy in being; in your being.

Rachel

5 AMAZING Books by African Writers (MUST READ!)

Today, I’m sharing 5 SIMPLY AMAZING books by African writers that you ~~should~~ – MUST read in your lifetime!

These books are so so good that I plan to re-read them this year even though I have read them before and I am so so jealous of you if you get to read them for the first time this year. They are funny, entertaining, plot twist-filled, lessons-filled, exciting reads!

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Click on the video below to watch and thank me later!

Book Review: Ogadinma

Title: Ogadinma

Author: Ukamaka Olisakwe

Published By: Masobe

Release Date: 2020

Genre: Coming-of-age, Fiction

Format: Paperback

Length: 260 pages

Synopsis

Ukamaka Olisakwe’s heart-wrenching novel tells the story of the naive and trusting Ogadinma as she battles against Nigeria’s deeply-ingrained patriarchal systems in the 1980s, a time of coups, food shortages and religious extremism.

After a rape and unwanted pregnancy leave her exiled from her family in Kano, thwarting her plans to go to university, she is sent to her aunt’s in Lagos and pressure into marriage with an older man.

As their whirlwind romance descends into abuse and indignity, Ogadinma is forced to channel all of her independence and resourcefulness into finding her voice and strength in the face of abuse and cultural expectations.

Review

I thought that this book was a beautiful read and would definitely recommend if you’re looking to read a nice Nigerian fiction.

Watch my full review on this book by clicking on the video below:

Book Review: The Fishermen

Title: The Fishermen

Author: Chigozie Obioma

Published By: Cassava Republic Press

Release Date: 2015

Genre: Fiction

Format: Paperback

Length: 301 pages

Synopsis

Nine-year-old Benjamin is the youngest of four brothers. They live in the rocky hills of Akure. When their civil servant father is transferred to another town, the boys begin misbehaving; smashing windows, severing chicken heads and praying truant to follow billionaire politician M.K.O. Abiola’s campaign trail.

For six weeks, they take to fishing in the forbidden Omi-Ala river. There they run into Abulu, a filthy yet visionary madman whose pronouncement that the eldest boy, Ikenna will be killed places a dark and fearful cloud over the brothers.If they prophecy is true, which of them will be the murderer? Abulu’s words have devastating yet redemptive consequences for the family, as guilt and sadness bind the brothers, while their parents sink into despair.

Review

WHOOSH!

Chigozie Obioma knows his stuff!!! He does! This man can write!

I thought that this book was beautifully written and the author’s use of words simply blew my mind. I enjoyed the character development, the time setting and the plot of the book. As soon as I opened the book, I was thrust into this world that kept me captivated.

Watch me share my thoughts on this lovely book by clicking on the video below:

Book Review: I Do Not Come To You By Chance

Title: I Do Not Come To You By Chance

Author: Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

Published By: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Release Date: 2009

Genre: Fiction

Format: Paperback

Length: 403 pages

Synopsis

As first son and graduate, Kingsley Ibe has a load of responsibilities resting on his skinny shoulders. But times are bad in Nigeria, and life is hard. Unable to find work, Kingsley cannot take on the duty of training his younger siblings, nor can he provide his parents with financial peace in their retirement. And then there is Ola his girlfriend, the sugar in Kingsley’s tea. It does not seem to matter that he loves her deeply; he cannot afford her bride price.

But when Kingsley’s father falls sick, he becomes desperate to live up to his responsibilities. So he travels to Aba, to his wealthy uncle, ‘Cash Daddy’.

Under the avuncular wing of ‘Cash Daddy’, Kingsley is catapulted into the fast-money world of email scamming where he discovers a profitable talent for persuasive storytelling. But, as the stakes grow higher and Cash Daddy grows more ambitious, Kingsley begins to realise he is in way over his head and that, even in Nigeria, nothing comes for free…

Review

So I enjoyed my experience reading this book and thought it was well written. I loved the little clumps of humour in the book that made me smile and the little figments of reality inherent in the book. Such an enjoyable read!

Watch my full review on this lovely book by clicking on the video below:

Reading Slump Recommendations – Nigerian Writers’ Edition

Ahhh *insert dramatic pause and sigh*

The dreaded reading slump. The number one enemy of book lovers no matter who you are and where you’re from. Reading slumps happen to book lovers every now and then, so if you’re currently in a reading slump, then I come bearing gifts!

Here are some great book recommendations written by Nigerian writers to help you come out of that slump! They are funny, engaging, easy to read and guaranteed to get you reading again!

Click on the video below to watch:

Explore

I want to be wrapped up in vast cultures, languages and the heritage of the human experience;

I want to explore lands, valleys, hills and mountains of different shapes and sizes located on the far ends of the earth;

I want to travel through time as I rewind or fast forward the hands of my watch due to time change of different countries;

I want to experience being terribly jet lagged in a failed attempt to adjust and re-adjust my sleep pattern;

I want to fall asleep in or remain awake in cities where the sun does not set and the night is day;

I want to be insignificant in the throng of humans who can neither see me nor understand my language;

I want to be thrown into utter confusion in the market places of different cultures where I can neither understand the languages of humans who will appear strange to me but are still bound by market principles;

I want to be humbled by my invisibility and the unimportance of my opinions; most of which I hold as true and dear to me;

I want to revel in and taste amazing platters of food; the names of which are difficult for me to pronounce and made from ingredients too complex to understand but so simple in taste; ingredients that I am not aware exist;

I want to walk the lonely, beautiful and old streets of cities whose buildings boast of a rich history known to only the world;

I want to swim in waters so crystal clear perfectly reflecting the sky’s blue-ness or green-ness with animals that I’m all too familiar with only on “animal planet” or “google”;

I want to feel the snow in the palm of my hands and watch it slowly change form; my mind’s eye aware of a nearby waterbody o( natural or artificial) frozen over;

I want to explore cities and farmlands, meadows and valleys whose realities are more beautiful than the pictures taken of them;

I want to see this beautiful earth, for what it is and the beauty that lies within and without.

How to Stay Consistent at Reading

Staying consistent at reading can be tough, even for book lovers. There’s always one distraction or the other in our world today or reasons why we do not stay consistent at reading even though this is what may make us happy and excited.

In the video below, I share some valuable tips and tricks that you can use to stay consistent at reading. I have tried most of these tips myself and they have worked very well for me over time.

Click the link below to watch the full video:

Nigerian History Book Recommendations

I am really passionate about History in general; history of people, place, thing or whatever it may be.

As far back as I can remember, I have been interested in the history of the people occupying what is now known as Nigeria, but most of the books I read at secondary school level and later on left out significant details of the history of the Nigerian people.

In recent times, I sought out and started reading lovely, genuine, in-depth and detailed accounts of past notable occurrences written by Nigerians and compiled a list of these books, so if you are looking for sources of African history, particularly Nigerian history, this is for you.

Click on the video below to watch:

Book Review: Take a Hint, Dani Brown

Title: Take a Hint, Dani Brown

Author: Talia Hibbert

Published By: Avon, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, New York

Release Date: 2020

Genre: Fiction, Romance

Format: Paperback

Length: 361 pages

Synopsis

Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits—someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom.

When brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it’s an obvious sign: PhD student Dani and ex-rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Now half the internet is shipping #DrRugbae—and Zaf is begging Dani to play along. Turns out, his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity. Lying to help children? Who on earth would refuse?

Dani’s plan is simple: fake a relationship in public, seduce Zaf behind the scenes. The trouble is, grumpy Zaf’s secretly a hopeless romantic—and he’s determined to corrupt Dani’s stone-cold realism. Before long, he’s tackling her fears into the dirt. But the former sports star has issues of his own, and the walls around his heart are as thick as his… um, thighs.

Suddenly, the easy lay Dani dreamed of is more complex than her thesis. Has her wish backfired? Is her focus being tested? Or is the universe just waiting for her to take a hint?
-goodreads

Review

This book had me SMILING ALL DAY when I was done reading!

Talia Hibbert is a fantastic writer and it is evident in the way her writing became so much better in just a year after writing the first book in the Brown Sisters series, Get a Life, Chloe Brown. I totally enjoyed this one and the character development in the book.I also love the way the author represents minorities and the beautiful covers of the books.

An enjoyable read.

Watch my full review on this lovely book by clicking on the video below:

Book Review: Get a life, Chloe Brown

Title: Get a Life, Chloe Brown

Author: Talia Hibbert

Published By: Avon, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, New York

Release Date: 2019

Genre: Fiction, Romance

Format: Paperback

Length: 369 pages

Synopsis

Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not quite—dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family’s mansion. The next items?

• Enjoy a drunken night out.
• Ride a motorcycle.
• Go camping.
• Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex.
• Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage.
• And… do something bad.

But it’s not easy being bad, even when you’ve written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job.

Redford ‘Red’ Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and more sex appeal than ten-thousand Hollywood heartthrobs. He’s also an artist who paints at night and hides his work in the light of day, which Chloe knows because she spies on him occasionally. Just the teeniest, tiniest bit.

But when she enlists Red in her mission to rebel, she learns things about him that no spy session could teach her. Like why he clearly resents Chloe’s wealthy background. And why he never shows his art to anyone. And what really lies beneath his rough exterior…

-goodreads

Review

Once in a while you need a “feel-good” romcom novel in your life and this BOOK IS IT!

If you’ve watched some of my videos on my YouTube channel, you know at some point, I felt as though I had outgrown this romance genre of a thing, but trust me, I’m realizing that romance books once in a while never did anyone bad abeg. The genre is there for a reason. 🥺

I absolutely loved this easy-to-read book.I think I finished it in about 2 sittings and loved reading it. If you’re looking for something light, feathery and guaranteed to make you smile at the end, then this is the pick for you. Enjoyable character development, likeable characters and love story and interesting plot.

A very commendable effort in my books from the author.

Watch my full review on this lovely book by clicking on the video below:

Book Review: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Title: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Published By:

Release Date: 2017

Genre: Fiction

Format: Paperback

Length: 385 pages

Synopsis

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life.

When she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn unfurls her story: from making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the late 80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn’s life unfolds—revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love—Monique begins to feel a very a real connection to the actress.

But as Evelyn’s story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

Review

Thankful for the The Readers Hub book club because this book had been sitting on my shelf for close to three years and I hadn’t picked it up! (for whatever reason best known to me). We read it as our book of the month of March and I totally enjoyed it!

March was a very slow reading month for me with work stress and falling physically ill, so this was the only book I finished, but boy it was like reading 50 books in one! I loved Evelyn’s character, the love between Harry and Evelyn, the development of all the major and minor characters, the subtle but profound lessons dished out by Evelyn, the few shocking plot twists (we don’t do spoilers here, not to worry) and the chronological arrangement of the book. I also loved and appreciated the writing style of the book; straightforward and easy to understand! Such a page turner!

While I loved the book in huge parts, I had a few reservations though but I captured those in my review on my YouTube channel. Watch my full review on this lovely book by clicking on the video below:

Book Review: Behind Her Eyes

Title: Behind Her Eyes

Author: Sarah Pinborough

Published By: HarperCollins Publishers and Flatiron Books

Release Date: 2017

Genre: Psychological thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary romance

Format: Hardback

Length: 320 pages

Synopsis

Louise is a single mom, a secretary, stuck in a modern-day rut. On a rare night out, she meets a man in a bar and sparks fly. Though he leaves after they kiss, she’s thrilled she finally connected with someone.

When Louise arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David. The man from the bar. The very married man from the bar…who says the kiss was a terrible mistake but who still can’t keep his eyes off Louise.

And then Louise bumps into Adele, who’s new to town and in need of a friend, but she also just happens to be married to David. David and Adele look like the picture-perfect husband and wife, but then why is David so controlling, and why is Adele so scared of him?

As Louise is drawn into David and Adele’s orbit, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong, but Louise can’t guess how wrong―and how far a person might go to protect their marriage’s secrets.

-goodreads

Review

THIS BOOK… SPEECHLESS!!

Just here, you know, WONDERING WHAT ON EARTH I HAVE READ!!!!🤯😱

Do you know how twisted your mind has to be to come up with a plot like the one in this book??

I listened to this book on scribs and it was beautifully narrated and performed. I sat with my mouth open for like 2 mins after listening to the last chapter because WHATTTT?!🤯😱😰🥴 (I had to keep on rewinding some things in the last few chapters make e be like say I no mad, because this book is a proper mind f*ck)

I watched the Netlix adaptation immediately I was done reading and loved it! I thought that the producers did a fantastic job of bringing the books to life. I had a few reservations with the casting and some parts of the series, but I loved it, generally.

Watch my full review on this lovely book by clicking on the video below:

Book Review: The Mountains Sing

Title: The Mountains Sing

Author: Nguyen Phan Que Mai

Published By: Oneworld Publications

Release Date: 2020

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: Hardback

Length: 339 pages

Synopsis

With the epic sweep of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko or Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing and the lyrical beauty of Vaddey Ratner’s In the Shadow of the Banyan, The Mountains Sing tells an enveloping, multigenerational tale of the Trần family, set against the backdrop of the Việt Nam War. Trần Diệu Lan, who was born in 1920, was forced to flee her family farm with her six children during the Land Reform as the Communist government rose in the North. Years later in Hà Nội, her young granddaughter, Hương, comes of age as her parents and uncles head off down the Hồ Chí Minh Trail to fight in a conflict that tore not just her beloved country, but her family apart.

Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Việt Nam, The Mountains Sing brings to life the human costs of this conflict from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves, while showing us the true power of kindness and hope.

Review

Wow. Wow. Wow.

Beautiful.

This was a lovely, heartbreaking historical fiction book. Totally enjoyed! It was an emotional rollercoaster indeed. Such a beautiful read and beautiful story.

Watch my full review on this lovely book by clicking on the video below 👇🏽

Book Review : The Death of Vivek Oji

Title: The Death of Vivek Oji

Author: Akwaeke Emezi

Published By: Kachifo Limited under its Farafina Imprint

Release Date: 2020

Genre: Fiction, Coming-of-age

Format: Paperback

Length: 263 pages

Synopsis

They burned down the market on the day Vivek Oji died.

One afternoon, a mother opens her front door to find the length of her son’s body stretched out on the veranda, swaddled in akwete material, his head on her welcome mat. The Death of Vivek Oji transports us to the day of Vivek’s birth, the day his grandmother Ahunna died. It is the story of an overprotective mother and a distant father, and the heart-wrenching tale of one family’s struggle to understand their child, just as Vivek learns to recognize himself.

Teeming with unforgettable characters whose lives have been shaped by Vivek’s gentle and enigmatic spirit, it shares with us a Nigerian childhood that challenges expectations. This novel, and its celebration of the innocence and optimism of youth will touch all those who embrace it.

Review

This book is HEAVY!

I don’t know why it has taken me this long to put up a review of this book but hey, life happens.

I read this some months ago and I had some thoughts on it. I shared in my review on my YouTube channel (which I recorded 4 score years ago btw but did not put up for whatever reason known to me🙄 )I have now put up the review.

I enjoyed it and finished in a couple of sittings. I loved that the book is set in eastern Nigeria with Nigerians deep-set in traditional beliefs and cultures as the major characters. The dominant themes explored in the book were also issues that need to be discussed in the Nigerian society, but in my opinion, we’re not ready for that yet. But hey, this literary piece is out there and that counts for something

Watch my full review on this lovely book by clicking on the video below:

Book Review: The Gifts of Imperfection

Title: The Gifts of Imperfection

Author: Brené Brown

Published By: Penguin Random House, UK

Release Date: 2010, 2020

Genre: Non-fiction, self-help

Format: Paperback

Length: 167 pages

Synopsis

New York Times best-selling author and professor Brené Brown offers a powerful and inspiring book that explores how to cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to embrace your imperfections and to recognize that you are enough.

Each day we face a barrage of images and messages from society and the media telling us who, what, and how we should be. We are led to believe that if we could only look perfect and lead perfect lives, we’d no longer feel inadequate. So most of us perform, please, and perfect, all the while thinking, What if I can’t keep all of these balls in the air? Why isn’t everyone else working harder and living up to my expectations? What will people think if I fail or give up? When can I stop proving myself?

In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown, PhD, a leading expert on shame, authenticity and belonging, shares what she’s learned from a decade of research on the power of Wholehearted Living–a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness.

In her ten guideposts, Brown engages our minds, hearts, and spirits as she explores how we can cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough, and to go to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am sometimes afraid, but I am also brave. And, yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.

-goodreads

Review

Oldie but goodie.

I’m thankful for books that speak to you in moments where you really really need the words. The words may not be novel, but when they come in the form you need at that moment in your life, then it’s pretty special. THIS is one of those books.

I literally finished this book in two sittings and learned so much from it. Even though it was first published in 2010, the wisdom and lessons in it are timeless.

I first heard about this book in a room on clubhouse which was full of book lovers from around the world. This was one of the recommendations someone gave when everyone was sharing their struggles with dealing with perfectionism, analysis paralysis imposter syndrome and the likes.

I’ve learned valuable lessons in different aspects of life including on courage and compassion, living an authentic life, embracing imperfections, avoiding comparison, cultivating a heart of gratitude and tuning into my creativity.

A lovely read in my books.

Check out other amazing non-fiction book recommendations on my youtube channel!👇🏽

If You’re Reading This…

If you’re reading this, you have made it to the last day of 2020.

Congratulations!

What a tough year it has been. From the outbreak of the corona virus pandemic, to a nationwide and global lockdown, from social distancing and practices that have become “the new normal” to record-breaking deaths in a year, from dealing with loss, grief and pain and the shocking turn of events from the #endsars movement in Nigeria…it. has. been. ALOT.

No matter what pain or heartbreak one bears from whatever events, it is true that where there is life, there is hope, there is opportunity, there is chance; A chance to heal, a chance to right wrongs, a chance to start all over, a chance to keep going, a chance to grow… a chance to live.

2020 may not have been the best of years for a lot of us – indeed, our spirits have been tested, pushed beyond limit and probably broken at some point- but you should be proud of how far you have come… not necessarily in terms of what the world counts as achievements and accomplishments, but in terms of how far YOU have come.

YOU have made it and that is all that matters. You may not feel like this year was anything to write home about. You may still be dealing with some unresolved disappointment, blow or pain that the months have thrown at you. BUT YOU are here and YOU are present. YOU should be proud, if not for anything, but for this.

So this is not a piece to help you take stock of how the year has been or one to give “tips” on how to bounce back from a rough 2020 or how to cope with a mentally challenging 2020 or how to set goals compassionately in 2021. While these may be useful, this is a blog post to celebrate YOU, for making it this far and for not giving up.

So here’s to YOU. 🥂

Never forget, the world is better with you in it.

I Fought With God

It’s been a week and a day, but on the 20th of October, 2020, I fought with God.

It was not our first fight. Over the course of my life and as with every other kind of relationship I have, we had had fights. I would tell him how mad I was with him and he would humour me in the weirdest way in the course of my day, in a way that I knew that it could only be him. Sometimes, he would try to tell me something and I would fail to listen, do it my way, get burned and sulk to him. Then he would calm me down and assure me that he got my back without saying “I told you so”. It was our thing.

However, this was the motherload of all fights because I felt my soul tear into pieces when I fought with him.

In the days leading up to the 20th, our relationship was already somewhat turbulent, especially as I continued to take in everything that was happening and is still happening in Nigeria. I wondered where he was.

I cried out…and now that I think about it as I type, I want to cry some more…I cried out to him, searching for him, wondering where he was, wondering where he has always been, wondering why he hadn’t done something…anything! Surely, a father would rush to the aid of his children who cried out to him? Surely, he would. Surely he would eventually give some respite to some of his children who had suffered for decades at the hands of a few wicked, wicked, heartless, wicked men?

But my father was nowhere to be found. Mine was silent. Mine was absent when I and millions of others who looked to him needed him the most. How could he see everything that was going on and let it go on? How could he let injustice continue to be the order of the day? How could he watch as wicked men continued to go scott-free, not bearing any repercussions for their wicked actions? How could he not make sure that the curses that had been placed on these wicked few manifested in their lives? How could he watch as these wicked people rub their wickedness in our faces? How could he watch in silence as innocent people who just want to live a better life and want a change, were shot dead? How could he be silent when people continue to live in poverty and watch their hopes and dreams crushed? How could he watch as innocent little children are being sold as slaves or forced to work in mines all day long in the most deplorable of states? How could he let the evil in the world happen? Most of all, how could he be silent when he knew that he was and still is all we have?

How??

Was this what he meant by praise him in the good and bad times? Because which kain bad times be this one?

At some point, I felt stupid, I did. Because what was I expecting? The heavens to open up and he would swoop down and fight for us or part elegushi beach into two so that we could walk through to freedom? No, maybe I was expecting that he would wave his hand and all the wicked, evil, heartless politicians would drop dead at the same time. Really, what was I expecting?

And so I grappled with what I believed was -and some little part of me still does-his betrayal of my trust in him. I watched helplessly as my world around me burned to the ground. I told my mother that he did not love us and I strongly believed it.

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

I definitely was not “kept” in “perfect peace” even though I trusted that he would come through for us even though I did not know in what way. My mind, soul and heart were not in “perfect peace” on 20th October, 2020.

As I try to piece back together what is left of my broken heart, sometimes I feel him trying to give me a hug to reassure me that he’s in control, but sometimes I don’t want it. I don’t want him to give me a hug, I want him to fix everything. Fix it, and fix it now…or in the nearest future. He can literally snap his fingers or think it and it would be fixed. None of that “my time is not your time” stuff. We’ve been waiting for decades. None of that Israelites stuff of 400 years or 600 years. We don’t even get to live that long these days anyway so, when do we get the respite? And don’t tell me that “stuffs” about getting the respite not in this life, but in the afterlife and in heaven, because, so I was brought here so I could suffer? We should have kuku gone straight to the afterlife if na so so suffering someone will be suffering here.

This fight truly exhausted me and broke me inside because making up is not as easy as in the other fights.

Annoyingly, I can’t help but talk to him and tell him about my day, even though a part of me is still upset with him. And I can’t help but talk to him in the morning before I start my day and tell him how I’m hoping it would go. I can’t help but thank him when I get back home safely at night after a hard day and when I wake up to a brand new day. I can’t help but feel like he loves me. I can’t help but wonder if he’s sad or feels everything that’s going on, and I can’t help but think of him and wonder what it’s like to be him for one day.

I feel us making up and coming back together one day at a time. I’ve spoken to him in bits and pieces and I’ve spoken to him wholly. I have poured out my heart to him and I am sure millions of his children have done so too at this time.

I am hoping we get to experience some respite in this lifetime.

I am hoping we get to heal in this lifetime.

On 20th October, 2020, members of the Nigerian Armed Forces opened fire and live bullets on Nigerian peaceful protesters (protesting police brutality in Nigeria) in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria as they sat on the ground, waving flags in the air and singing the National Anthem, leading to the death of some and injury of many peaceful protesters. This is now known as the #LekkiMassacre.

Till date, no one has been held accountable for the actions of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

We will continue to speak up and lend our voices to #EndPoliceBrutality in Nigeria.

May all the souls of the departed, the ones known and those unknown, near and far, present and past, rest in perfect peace.

We will never forget.

#EndSars

My Hilarious NYSC Camp Experience 😂 |Memoirs of a Lazy Korfa Book Review

Title: Memoirs of a Lazy Korfa

Author: Tunmise Usikalu

Published By: Sophos Books Ltd.

Release Date: 2020

Genre: Non-fiction, Genre

Format: Paperback

Length: 106 pages

Synopsis

“Though this is only the first day of camp, as at 2:30pm or there about, I am already number 1,246! As if that’s not bad enough, we get matched over to the registration hall to get registered and have it over with and…wait for it…they are registering corper number TWO HUNDRED AND SOMETHING! (I didn’t care to know what the “something” was. It was not important). So here I am sitting on my traveling bag under a tree for shade and wondering what in heavens name I am doing here…”

This journal is a hilarious account of one corp member’s experience of three weeks at a Nigerian National Youth Service (NYSC) orientation camp.

Review

I enjoyed this one! Short, simple and sweet!

I literally finished it in one sitting. I loved how the memoir was real and relatable and straight to the point. No too much shalaye.😂 it brought back nostalgic feelings. It served the purpose it was for and is a good recommendation to come out of a reading slump!

I totally enjoyed my NYSC experience but would definitely NOT go back if I had the chance!

Verdict

A nice 8/10.

Watch my review and my HILARIOUS NYSC Experience by clicking the link below! I share my experience and loads of photos! I enjoyed making this video and had a good laugh!

Original Tag – Nigerian Writers’ Tag💃🏽

I’m super excited about creating this tag because I am passionate about Nigerian literature and love what Nigerian writers bring to the world! Nigerian writers are a real treasure to Nigeria and all over and should be appreciated every moment!

I searched on the internet for any Nigerian Writers’ Tag I could find but could not find any so I decided to create one! Feel free to participate in this tag and leave any great Nigerian reads and recommendations.

The questions are below:

Mention 10 Nigerian writers you know –
Who is/are your favourite Nigerian Writers?
What is your favourite genre of books to read by a Nigerian Writer?
What is your favourite fictional book by a Nigerian Writer?
What is your favourite non-fictional book by a Nigerian Writer
What is your least favourite book written by a Nigerian Writer?
Name a fictional book/books written by a Nigerian Writer with brilliant plot twists?
Name a book written by a Nigerian Writer that made you sad/cry
Name a book/books written by a Nigerian writer that made you laugh
Name 3 classics written by Nigerian Writers that you think everyone should read in their lifetime
What books written by Nigerian writers will you like to see film adaptations of-
What genre would you like to see more of written by Nigerian writers?
Share a few books on your TBR by Nigerian Writers

You can watch my answers and Nigerian reads recommendations here below:

Book Review: The Girl With The Louding Voice

Title: The Girl With The Louding Voice

Author: Abi Dare

Published By: Sceptre, an Imprint of Holder & Stroughton

Release Date: 2020

Genre: Coming-of-age, Fiction, Bildungsroman

Format: Paperback

Length: 312 pages

Synopsis

Adunni is a fourteen-year-old Nigerian Girl who knows what she wants: an education.

As the only daughter of a broke father, she is a valuable commodity. Removed from school and sold as a third wife to an old man, Adunni’s life amounts to this: four goats, two bags of rice, some chickens and a new TV. When unspeakable tragedy swiftly strikes in her new home, she is secretly sold as a domestic servant to a household in the wealthy enclaves of Lagos, where no one will talk about the strange disappearance of her predecessor, Rebecca. No one but Adunni…

As a yielding daughter, a subservient wife and a powerless servant, Adunni is repeatedly told that she is nothing. But Adunni won’t be silenced. She is determined to find her voice- in a whisper, in song, in broken English- until she can speak for herself, for the girls like Rebecca, who came before, and for all the girls who will follow.

Review

This book was a lovely read for me. As a Nigerian, I could totally relate to the deep themes inherent in the book which were explored beautifully.

It was very warm and heart-felt and with a powerful message!

I loved the plot and the sequence of events as told in the book and felt it was a great effort. I also loved the writing style and the fact that the first part was written in broken english and the first person POV (even if that required some level of patience on my part as I speak broken english slowly). It was my first experience reading such a book.

All in all, a lovely read. A lovely ending but would have not been surprised if it ended another way because that is the reality in Nigeria when it comes to child abuse and child labour.

Watch my full review on this lovely book by clicking on the video below:

Book Review: Tomorrow Died Yesterday

Title: Tomorrow Died Yesterday

Author: Chimeka Garricks

Published By: Paperworth Books Limited

Release Date: 2010

Genre: Fiction

Format: Paperback

Length: 292 pages

Synopsis

It’s 2004 Port Harcourt at the height of the kidnap of oil workers in the Niger Delta, a kidnapping goes awry and four lives are reconnected. Done (aka Doughboy) the career militant responsible for the crime. Amaibi the gentle university professor / eco – warrior accused. Kaniye the lawyer themed restauranteur who tries to get him off and Tubo an amoral oil company executive.

Against a backdrop of corrupt practices, failed systems and injustice, these four friends tell the story of oil in a region and its effects on local communities and the Nigerian larger society.

Review

DEBUT NOVEL WHATTTT??

This book was purely exceptional and I totally enjoyed it! I thought it was a great effort from the author especially as a debut novel.

I loved the deep exploration of the characters through the writing style of first person narrative as told from the four major characters. The author found a way to endear the characters into the hearts of readers no matter w villainous their characters may appear to be.

I also loved the fact that deep themes which are prevalent in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria were explored in depth. Such themes like corruption, violence, oil bunkering, gas flaring and the effect of such on native communities within that region.

As a lawyer and legal practitioner, I absolutely loved Kaniye’a character and the legal thriller aspect of this book. Whoa!

Watch the full review on this lovely book by clicking the link below:

Book Review: I’m Telling The Truth But I’m Lying

Title: I’m Telling The Truth But I’m Lying

Author: Bassey Ikpi

Published By: Harper Perennial

Release Date: 2019

Genre: Memoir, Non-fiction

Format: Paperback

Length: 248 pages

Synopsis

In this remarkable memoir-in-essays, Basset Ikpi explores her life-as a Nigerian American immigrant, a black woman, a slam poet, a daughter, an artist – through the lens of her mental health and diagnoses of bipolar II and anxiety.

In I’m Telling the Truth but I’m Lying, Bassey Ikpi breaks open our understanding of mental health by giving us intimate access to her own. Exploring shame. Confusion, medication and family in the process, Bassey looks at how mental health impacts every aspect of our lives- how we appear to others. and most important to ourselves – and challenges our preconceptions about what it means to be “normal”. Viscerally raw and honest. The result is an exploration of the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of who we are – and the ways, as honest as we try to be, each of these stories is also a lie.

Review

Whoosh!

Where do I start from?

Hands Down one of the most beautiful books I have ever read in a long while! Such honesty and openness that the author exhibited in penning this work of art.

As a mental health advocate, I loved the book because it highlighted certain conversations that should be had in Nigeria on mental health. Through Bassey Ikpi’s eyes, readers are able to understand what someone who goes through anxiety and bipolar disorder feels.

I recommend for every Nigerian, mental health advocate, Nigerians with mental health issues and everyone dealing with Biplolar II and/or anxiety (whether or not you know what it’s called).

I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing Bassey Ikpi and loved every second of it!From her book to mental health issues to Bassey’s journey with Bipolar II and Anxiety to Motherhood and mental health awareness in Nigeria, we had an amazing time discussing the book!

Watch the full book review and my interview with Bassey Ikpi by clicking the links below:

Book Review: The Mechanics of Yenagoa

Title: The Mechanics of Yenagoa

Author: Michael Afenfia

Published By: Masobe Books

Release Date: June 2020

Genre: Fiction

Format: Paperback

Length: 303 pages

Synopsis

Ebinimi, are mechanic of Kalakala street, is a man with a hapless knack for getting in and out of trouble. Some of his troubles are self-inflicted : like his recurring entanglements in love triangles; and his unauthorised joyriding of a customer’s car which sets off a chain of fire evened a involving drugs, crooked politicians and assassins. Other troubles are caused by the panorama of characters in his life, like: his sister and her dysfunctional domestic situation; the three other mechanics he employs; and the money- loving preacher who has all but taken over his home.

The story is fast-paced with surprising twists and a captivating plot- a Dickenesque page -turner. This is Ebinimi’s story but it is about a lot more than him. It is an exploration of the dynamics between working-class people as they undertake a colorful tour of Yenagoa, one of Nigeria’s lesser known cities, while using humor, sex and music as coping mechanisms for the everyday struggle. It is a modern classic tale of small lives navigating a big city.

Review

I absolutely loved this hilarious book! While reading, I had a great laugh and a great many gasps too at the plot twists! I loved the way the plot just flowed and how easy it was to read.

I also loved the fact that this book is set in Yenagoa which is not a common setting in books set in Nigeria and I absolutely love the Niger Delta pidgin in the book!

The end of this book shock me well, I no go lie! But I loved the ending! Arghhh!

Check out my full review on this book and my rating of it by clicking the link below:

Book Review: Homegoing

Title: Homegoing

Author: Yaa Gyasi

Published By: Penguin Random House UK

Release Date: 2016

Genre: Historical fiction, saga, novel

Format: Paperback

Length: 300 pages

Synopsis

Effia and Esi: two sisters with two very different destinies. One sold into slavery; one a slave trader’a wife. The consequences of their fate reverberate through the generations that follow: from the Gold Coast of Africa to the plantations of Mississippi; from the Missionary schools of Ghana to the dive Bars of Harlem. Spanning continents and generations, Yaa Gyasi has written a miraculous novel – an intense heartbreaking story of one family and, through their lives, the story of Africa itself.

Review

A miraculous novel indeed!

I absolutely enjoyed this book and it stoked the fire in me to read more historical fiction and non-fiction which I’ve always loved!

The plot of this book easily flowed and told heart breaking stories of the characters. I like to think of the entire book as a collection of short stories which although are independent are intertwined by family.

I also loved the fact that each of the chapters were written in third person narrative but centering on each character. It was easy to understand and written according to the time it was set it.

The author did a phenomenal job with research on the Ghanaian history and explored deep themes in this work cutting across racism, discrimination, the trans Atlantic slave trade and domestic slave trade.

The prints in the paperback I bought are tiny and admittedly, some patience is required to read and finish this book. It’s not one of those books you can just start and drop intending to pick up in a couple of weeks. I advice that you read it all at once.

To see my verdict on this book, watch my full book review on the book my clicking on the link below:

How to BALANCE READING with a FULL TIME JOB(9-5) ; 9 TIPS & HACKS

I share my experience on how I balance reading with a full time job and booktubing. I also share valuable tips that could help you cultivate a reading habit even with a rigorous 9-5 and how to read more while working a 9-5.

HOW TO PASS THE NIGERIAN LAW SCHOOL (NLS) BAR FINALS | 7 READING TIPS for NLS STUDENTS

Last year, I shared my experience preparing and writing the NLS bar finals on my blog.

On my Youtube channel, I once again share a little bit of that experience as well as some valuable reading tips for law school students, law undergraduates and individuals interested in pursuing a law career in Nigeria and/or getting called to the Nigerian bar.

I also discuss how to handle pressure before, during and after the examinations period.

Enjoy!

Book Review: Unfolding Grace

I did a book review on the lovely read, Unfolding Grace by Kikelomo Kuponiyi.

I typically do not read a lot of christian fiction because religion generally tends to be very sensitive and each individual has their own unique way of expressing his/her/their religion in the way they understand it best and for writers, this may shine through in their writing. I also try to be protective of what I read or what I take into my mind, as much as I try to keep an open mind generally.

This book was a nice read and I loved the fact that although the book was close to 400 pages, the prints were big and I finished it in about 2 days! As much as I did not agree with some of the religious views and interpretations of certain religious view points, the book was all in all, an easy and nice read with a didactic feel.

If you’re looking for a nice Nigerian Christian Fiction recommendation, you can check this out!

Enjoy my book review on the book, Unfolding Grace!

Celebrating 500 Subscribers!💃🏽 (with a semi-dramatic acceptance speech)

This happened and I’m really excited! 💃🏽💃🏽

It’s easy to ignore milestones because we’re focusing on the “next best thing”, but I’m super thankful for this one because when I started, I knew it was not the most popular niche on YouTube discussing books or even mainly African and Nigerian literature (there’s only a handful of Nigerian booktubers).

I’m proud of myself that I stuck to a niche (also on advice of a trusted one) that I’m super passionate about and I’ve seen how my passion has positively rubbed off on people. I’ve connected with book lovers all over the world and most importantly, Nigerian literature is getting the exposure it deserves!

So if you’re thinking of starting something and you don’t know if people will vibe with it because it’s relatively new to people around you? Why don’t you start first and let that passion drive you. You’d be surprised at how many people will vibe with it because of your passion!

Thank you to my first 500! I’ll forever be thankful!

You made this girl believe she can do anything! ✨ here’s to hundreds and thousands and millions of subscribers! 🥂

THANK YOU!!

P.S I posted semi-dramatic acceptance speech on my YouTube channel.!😭😂

Enjoy!

MY FIRST AUTHOR INTERVIEW! WHOOP!💃🏽I INTERVIEWED BASSEY IKPI💃🏽

Okay I’m super excited about this. Can you tell?

I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing Bassey Ikpi, the author of the beautiful book, I’m Telling The Truth But I’m Lying and loved every second of it! I had previously done a book review of the book (which you can watch here) and the author commented on my youtube channel saying we could do a Q n A. Needless to say, I almost fainted from pure excitement!

From her book to mental health issues to Bassey’s journey with Bipolar II and Anxiety to Motherhood and mental health awareness in Nigeria, we had an amazing time discussing the book! Bassey was so open, real and honest in answering my questions!

I’m Telling The Truth But I’m Lying is such an amazing book that I recommend for every Nigerian, mental health advocate, Nigerians with mental health issues and everyone dealing with Biplolar II and/or anxiety.

You can watch the full interview by clicking on the video below.

Book Review: A Broken People’s Playlist

Ahhh….this book was absolutely beautiful! It broke my heart in so many ways.

I loved my reading experience while reading this book (as it was deeply infused with music) and loved how each story was beautiful in its on way.

Although the collection of short stories is fictional, some of the stories felt very real and relatable to me. I like how the stories were independent yet some were linked to each other in an interesting way! This is an interesting one if you’re looking for an African collection of short stories.

Watch my review of this book by Chimeka Garricks up in my YouTube channel!

JUN-LY BOOK HAUL (OR THE BOOKS I BOUGHT AND RECEIVED IN JUNE AND JULY)

Hi guys!

SO I’ve been on a social media/youtube break for a couple of weeks; taking time to just refresh and rest. I am excited to be back bringing you book-ish content!

Today, I share the books I bought and received in the months of June and July or as I call it, my JUNLY Book Haul!

Enjoy!

I DID THE MID-YEAR FREAK OUT TAG!💃🏽

Thank you guys so much for subscribing to my youtube channel so far! I really appreciate it!

I participated in the mid-year freak out tag! I discussed my reading experience so far; the books I loved and the ones I did not and my expectations for the next half of the year!

Watch my mid-year freak out tag video below.

Book Review: The Farm and Other Stories

Title: The Farm and Other Stories

Author: Adesuwa Iluobe

Published By: First published by the author under a pseudonym, Satayaa

Release Date: 2017

Genre: Fiction

Format: Paperback

Length: 174 pages

Synopsis

In a rustic part of Nigeria, an unusual farm records uncommon success and productivity in its operations. Separated from her loved ones, Moremi is flung into an unfamiliar world that is highly expectant of her. Amidst fatal changes, bizarre alliances, the quest for wealth and love, she finds an unlikely friend in Ugonna. Together they must do their part to ensure the continued success of the Farm. With each choice they make, their lives unfold before them until they stumble upon a shattering revelation that unsettles what little balance there is at the Farm.

Review

We selected this book as our read at The Readers’ Hub Book Club for the month of June 2020. The author of the book is a member of our book club so we were honoured to have read her book and reviewed same in her presence.

The book is divided into four stories with “The Farm” being the major story. Without giving too much away, the Farm gives an in-depth expose into baby making factory which poses as a typical farm to outsiders. The story delves into the lives of women who have found themselves, by different means, in a baby making factory in eastern Nigeria. Some of these women are held against their will, raped continuously by members of a gang and are obligated to bear children which are in turn sold to affluent members of the society.

The other stories in the book tell gripping and heart-wrenching stories of love birds torn apart in the most disastrous of circumstances common in Northern Nigeria and young women who are given away as child brides and made to bear children even though they are as young as 12.

This book is truly one of a kind. I do not think I have read anything quite like it.

I honestly did not know what to expect when I picked up this book because I had not read anything else by the author. I am happy to say that I was not disappointed. I loved the way the author used fictional stories to explore and shine a light on really deep societal themes and issues that plague Nigeria as a whole from baby factories to child brides and the effect of having children at really young ages to insecurity, death and the negative impacts of terrorism in Northern Nigeria.

In my opinion, the book is a great attempt at personalising the accounts of victims of some of these heinous and life-changing activities happening around us in every day life. As human beings, it is easy to hear some of these issues on the local news or look at certain individuals as mere statistics, but often times than not, we fail to understand deeply, and cannot even begin to relate to the negative impact these activities have on human beings living in these areas in Nigeria. This book is one of such exposes into the ordinary lives of those we often classify as statistics.

The writing style of the author was simple. and easy to understand. While most of the book was told in. the third person narrative, one of the. stories was told in the first person narrative, giving it a much more personal feel. And the plot twists??? Whoosh! I loved the plot twists in The Farm (which had me screaming “ewwwooo” at some point, because I”m randomly. extra like that). I commend the author for a job well done on that.

Although I felt the end of The Farm was a little rushed and I would have preferred the other stories to have been longer (for purely selfish reasons), I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It. was a huge eye-opener for me and I enjoyed discussing it at our book club meet for the month of May 2020. I recommend!

Verdict

A strong 8/10 from me.

P.S. I spoke about The Farm and Other Stories in my “Maypril” wrap up. Watch below:

Meditation, Mindfulness and Multitasking

“To understand the immeasurable, the mind must be extraordinarily quiet, still.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti

In a fast-paced world full of activities and distractions, it is pretty easy to get overwhelmed and suddenly find yourself on autopilot, coasting back and fourth day in day out, as the weeks go by.

Sometimes, there are just too many things; goal setting and planning, implementation and execution, responsibilities at work, home, school… it can get crazy and you can swamped and cluttered.

Life can get so overwhelming especially when you feel as though you are being pulled in several directions but cannot get a proper handle on each aspect of your life…and those moments where it seems like you cannot seem to catch a break? You just want to sit in a corner, cry your eyes out and then move on.

The point is, life tends to get alot… and the thoughts that propel these activities that we engage in often get too much, and feel as though they are consuming us from the inside out. It feels like you are constantly chasing down these thoughts to put them in order but they keep getting away from you.

Then there’s social media. You have information about everyone and everything coming at you from every angle, unrestricted unfiltered, uncensored; the good, the bad and the very ugly. This can be unsettling some times and you KNOW you should take a BREAK, but there is that seemingly addictive pull to it that you cannot explain that gives you some sort of relief in spite of everything crazy going on in the world.

Meditation

No, meditation is not just about sitting cross-legged with your eyes closed and constantly making humming sounds.

Meditation is a whole lot more than that as it involves a using particular techniques like mindfulness to focus your mind on a particular object, thought or activity. By doing this, you are able to eliminate unwanted thoughts and clear the mind of any overwhelming feeling. You are also able to train your mind to be more attentive, aware, stable and calm no matter what may be happening externally.

“With a calm mind, you are more likely to be able to act by rational choice and appropriately to the situation. When you are in a grip of an emotion, that’s going to bias your perceptions of what is occurring to what fits that emotion. Themes that don’t fit in, you are not going to recognize. So, a calm mind is an essential precondition for being able to respond to the reality, not the unrealities that you are preoccupied with. The Dalai Lama says that if you are only aware of how you felt afterward, that’s pre-kindergarten. If you are aware immediately afterward, that’s kindergarten. High school is being aware during, and college is if you become aware as the emotion arises. That’s what we would all like to do, so we can choose whether to engage or not, in order not to have episodes that we’ll later regret. And I think it’s possible for everybody to learn this.”
-Unknown

With Meditation, one feels more relaxed and refreshed afterwards and is able to eliminate any unwanted thoughts by clearing the mind of so much debris. Admittedly tough at first to do, with time, you learn to sit still and focus on one thing, perhaps your breathing, as you take steps to arrive at a peaceful place in your mind.

Mindfulness

In the midst of it all, it can get difficult to remain centred; to remain present or to actually be aware of how we are feeling in any given situation. In charting the auto-pilot course, we tend to take our feelings about situations for granted. We take for granted our thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, mental health and how what is going on in our surrounding environment is negatively affecting us. And we just keep it moving.

“Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.”
– Greater Good Magazine

Scientific research has shown that mindfulness helps reduce anxiety and depression. By effectively understanding and becoming aware of our moment-by- moment thoughts, feelings and sensations, we can find better reactions to difficult situations.

While Mindfulness could be said to be the awareness of something (emotions, thoughts, feelings and sensations), meditation is the awareness of nothing (by elimination of unwanted thoughts). However, both leave you feeling relaxed, more in tune with your body and true self and all together relieved. They aid in improving sleep, reducing high blood pressure and are a great stress reliever.

Multitasking

Another side to it all is this belief that we can do as many things as possible at a time. In trying to meet deadlines, achieve certain things and just handle responsibilities generally, we find ourselves attempting to multitask… trying to do two or more things at a time thereby giving half the effort to both tasks instead of solely concentrating on one task until that has been achieved.

Multitasking is a Myth.

Multitasking is really just an attempt at trying to do two or more things at the same time. It has been scientifically proven over and over again that the brain does a bad job at trying to handle more than one thing at the same time. Examples are checking your social media while driving or maybe checking your social media while working or reading and replying messages while having a conversation with someone else.

The more we try to multitask, the more the tasks before us suffer because we do not give our full attention to the.

The world is already a crazy place. Allow peace flow into your mind for your mind is your greatest asset.

Rachel.

My WEIRD Reading Habits

I think I have the some of the weirdest reading habits known to humanity. *laughing at myself and crying happily in satisfaction*

I jumped on The Reading Habits Tag on Booktube and tagged myself in it since I was not tagged by anyone. I however made sure I tagged quite a number of my booktube friends so they could answer the questions.

I had a great time filming and answering questions on my reading habits. It’s a lovely way for other booktubers and book lovers to get to know you better. The questions I answered from the tag are:

Do you have a certain place at home for reading?
Bookmark or random piece of paper?
Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter/ a certain amount of pages?
Do you eat or drink while reading?
Multitasking: Music or TV while reading?
One book at a time or several at once?
Reading at home or everywhere?
Reading out lout or silently in your head?
Do you read ahead or even skip pages?
Breaking the spine or keeping it new?
Do you write in your book?
When do you find yourself reading? Morning, afternoon, evening, whenever you get the chance or all the time?
What is your best setting to read in?
What form do you prefer? Audiobook, E-book or physical book?
Do you have a unique habit when you read?

So if you have ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of all these books I read, then by all means, enjoy the video below:

Welcome to my Maypril Wrap Up! (the Books I read in the Months of April and May!)💃🏽

April and May were good reading months for me (well, if we take the two months together).

I read 3 books in April (because I was ill for half of the month and it was tough mentally and physically) and 7 books in May! So I shared the books I read in the months of April and May (don’t ask why I made it “Maypril” it just sounded really cool in my head 😂). I run down the titles I read and what I thought about them! check out the video below:

Love,

Rachel.

Rape Culture in Nigeria; An Honest Discussion

There has been so much going on in the world in. the past couple of weeks; BLM protests all over the world and rising cases of sexual violence and rape against Nigerian women. In a span of 5 days, our social media alerted us to about 4 disheartening cases of rape across Nigeria.

Rape is one of the most. under reported crimes in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

On my YouTube channel, I discuss how some cultural and religions traditions we hold on to so dearly have consciously and unconsciously exacerbated rape culture in Nigeria.‬ What are we thinking, saying and doing that we think is normal but is putting more blame on women and removing focus from the rapists and rape as a crime? What are we doing that discourages rape victims from speaking out about their experiences?

How can we move forward as a society so that women do not have to keep going through such horrific ordeals or enduring such pain in silence? It starts with me, you and everyone who needs to have a mentality shift. I also share little tips on what we can do as individuals who have had these traditions and thoughts on rape and sexual abuse imprinted on us.

Rape is not a funny issue.

Rape jokes are not funny.

These discussions need to be had. It could be me. It could be you. It could be your sister, friend, daughter, wife, niece. It doesn’t have to be you or anyone you know before you speak up and lend your voice in the fight against rape and rape culture in Nigeria.

Watch the video below and let me know your thoughts in the comment section:

Sending you Love and Light in this trying period.

Rachel.

5 SHORT, AMAZING SELF-HELP BOOKS YOU MUST READ IN 2020!

One of my favourite reading genres is Self-help.

Over the years, reading self-help books has helped me in my personal development and self-improvement.

The particular self-help books I read are practicable and realistic to my needs and they have not disappointed so far. i have gained so much wisdom learning how to deal with circumstances, people and life in general. When needed, I have been able to tap into these resources to also gain the much needed motivational and inspirational boost needed to pursue my goals.

So, if you are looking for SHORT LIFE-CHANGING, SELF-HELP books which you can finish in A DAY or TWO (especially if you consider yourself a slow reader), then I have good news for you.

In my latest video on my Youtube channel, I share 5 BITE-SIZED, AMAZING self-help books filled with valuable lessons and wisdom that will leave a long-lasting impact on your life!

These books are short, straight to the point and so so valuable to your self-improvement and self-Development as an individual!

Enjoy!

And please subscribe to my Youtube Channel!

My Reading Routine

I get asked alot how i am able to read alot with my 9-5 and what my reading routine is like.

On my Youtube Channel, I share my reading routine (TBRs, recommendations, balancing with my 9-5, what works for me and what does not). I also share how to get out of reading slumps and other little things about my reading routine.

Enjoy!

Don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel!

MY FIRST BOOKTUBE TAG!!💃🏽

SO I’m super excited because I got tagged in my first booktube tag!

Whoop Whoop!

I joined booktube about 3 months ago and its been so amazing belonging to a nice community of people that love books as much as I do! I’ve learned so much about books and new titles that I would most likely never have come across! I’ve also made quite a number of “booktube friends” and we have bonded over our love or hate for some books.

I recently got tagged in a booktube tag where I answer 10 questions and share, among others, what I love about books and why I decided to get into booktube in the first place!

Enjoy the video below and don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube Channel!