Live. Learn. Impact
24-01-20 I have torn at my hair a little more than I should in the past hour, desperately attempting to pluck each thought from my head. My braids are in a bundled mess. I winced in pain when my hand successfully yanked out a loose braid, ripping out a chunk of my hair along with [...]
10-01-20 I have two knives on my bed. Crazy. One to carefully and precisely carve out the deep-seated, soul-shattering pain I feel in my heaving chest; and the other, well, for emotional support while I slowly carve. Mad. In the past hour, I have caressed my left palm with the tip of each of the [...]
Going through social media the past couple of weeks and seeing what a tough time 2019 has been for a lot of us was actually surprising. I had sat in my little hole thinking it was just me who had had a crazy year, only for thousands of people to open up about how rough [...]
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Easier said than done right? Tell me about it. October 2019. You may not be feeling those ground-breaking, self-achieving goals you set towards the end of 2018 or at the beginning of 2019. In [...]
Title: Swallow Author: Sefi Atta Published By: AAA Press Release Date: 2011 Genre: Fiction Format: Paperback Length: 196 pages Synopsis It is the mid 1980s in Lagos and the government's War Against Indiscipline and austerity measures are in full operation. Tolani Ajao is a secretary working at Federal Community Bank. A succession of unfortunate events [...]
On a scale of 1-10, how open are you? The first number that came to your mind before you started over thinking the answer is your honest answer. No, not this one you're now thinking of and trying to rationalize. When was the last time you genuinely opened up to someone about your feelings, emotions [...]
Title: Born on A Tuesday Author: Elnathan John Published By: Cassava Republic Press Release Date: 2015 Genre: Bildungsroman Format: Paperback Length: 261 pages Synopsis Dantala lives in Abatan Latin and studies in a Sufi Quranic school, far away from home. By chance he meets gang leader Banda, a nominal Muslim. Dantala is thrust into a [...]
Procrastinate/prə(ʊ)ˈkrastɪneɪt/(verb)delay or postpone action; put off doing something."the temptation will be to procrastinate until the power struggle plays itself out"synonyms:delay, put off doing something, postpone action, defer action, be dilatory, use delaying tactics, stall, temporize. It is no secret that procrastination is a huge enemy of the achievement of goals and dreams. I would know, I almost procrastinated writing and publishing this [...]
The importance of taking occasional mental breaks cannot be over emphasized. Mental breaks are great for your mental health in general because they give you a much-needed boost in creativity and productivity. They serve to rejuvenate and refresh your mind so you are not simply existing on auto-pilot mode on a day-to-day basis, barely makin' [...]
Writing has always been a great purge for me. As far back as I can remember, I have always loved expressing my thoughts in words, to the best of my ability, I must add...because sometimes, my crazy imagination cannot be put into simple words. LOL. So writing has always come easy to me and with [...]
Title: The Four Agreements Author: Don Miguel Ruiz Published By: Amber-Allen Publishing, Inc. Release Date: 1997 Genre: Self-help Format: Paperback Length:129 pages Synopsis In The Four Agreements, the author reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the Four Agreements order a powerful [...]
Title: The Old Man and The Sea Author: Ernest Hemingway Published By: Jonathan Cape/Arrow Books Release Date: 1952 and later 2004 Genre: Fiction Format: Paperback Length:99 pages Synopsis Set in the Gulf Stream off the coast of Havana, Hemingway's magnificent fable is the story of an old man, a young boy and a giant fish. [...]
“Without commitment, you’ll never start. Without consistency, you’ll never finish.” One of the major lessons I am currently learning is the important role consistency plays in the achievement of goals. Consistency in daily living cannot be overemphasised as it is almost always related to success. The latter cannot exist without the former. Want to become [...]
I was never really a fan of podcasts and did not at anytime feel compelled to join the "Podcasts Train". I was content with watching and listening to content I resonated with on Youtube and discovering new channels there (I do not watch a lot of Television on purpose...more on that in another blog post). [...]
Title: The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck Author: Mark Manson Published By: HarperCollins Release Date: September 2016 Genre: Self-help Format: Hardcover Length: 204 pages Synopsis In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger shows us that the key to being happier is to stop trying to be "positive" all the time and instead [...]
Title: Before Dawn Author: Naomi Isimemen Published By: Naira Books & Press Release Date: June 2019 Genre: Non-fiction Format: Paperback Length:56 pages Synopsis Before Dawn is the true story of a young woman whose idyllic marriage is hit by a rollercoaster of a series of heartbreaking events. When she finds herself headed towards a rendezvous [...]
As I write this first paragraph, I am physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted from everything life. I have yawned more than a million times (okay fine, I exaggerate sometimes) between writing the first sentence and this sentence which happens to be the second. I have picked up my phone a thousand and one times and [...]
Title: Man's Search For Meaning Author: Viktor E. Frankl Published By: Rider, an imprint of Ebury Publishing Release Date: First published in 1946. Latest copy published in 2004 Genre: Psychology Format: Paperback Length: 154 pages If you read but one book this year, Dr. Frankl’s book should be that one.”- Los Angeles Times One of [...]
Title: Becoming Nigerian: A Guide Author: Elnathan John Published By: Cassava Republic Press Release Date: 2019 Genre: Non-Fiction; Satire Format: Paperback Length:149 pages In Becoming Nigerian: A Guide Elnathan John provides an affecting, unrestrained and satirical guide to the Nigerians you will meet at home and abroad, or on your way to hell and to [...]
See ehn, this adulting thing na wa. Please who else is tired? Remember when all we wanted to do was grow up? It simply is the funniest thing how at the time, we could not grow up fast enough. We were tired of people treating us like kids and were always quick to point out [...]
Title: Daughters Who Walk This Path Author: Yejide Kilanko Published By: Kachifo Limited under Farafina imprint (2014) Release Date: 2012 Genre: Coming-Of-Age Fiction, Domestic Fiction Format: Paperback Length: 315 pages Synposis Spirited and intelligent, Morayo grows up surrounded by school friends and family in Ibadan. There is Eniayo, her adoring little sister- for whose sake [...]
Nothing could have ever prepared me for the mental trauma that was going to be the Nigerian Law School. Absolutely Nothing. Almost half a decade later and I still remember it as clear as anything in my mind (see how I said "almost half a decade later" and not "four years later", with the former [...]
Title: To Kill A Mockingbird Author: Harper Lee Published By: J. B. Lippincott Company Release Date: July 1960 Genre: Novel, Bildungsroman, Southern Gothic, Domestic Fiction, Legal Story Format: Paperback Length: 309 pages Synposis A lawyer's advice is to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel-a black man charged with [...]
Have a vision. It is the ability to see the invisible. If you can see the invisible, you can achieve the impossible.– Shiv Khera I never really saw the need to create and/or use a vision board. In fact, all I was used to doing was simply putting down my goals on paper in a [...]
Life is balance. Everything you see as life, everything that you see as yourself is beautiful only when it is in balance.-Sadhguru Recently, I have been learning a whole lot about finding and maintaining balance in life. Balance between career and/or school, personal goals, faith, relationships, emotions, unexpected rollercoasters, highs and lows, failures and disappointments, [...]
This is a gentle reminder to pause whatever you may be thinking this minute, whatever you are currently over analyzing...and take a deep breath. This is a gentle reminder to give yourself some credit. You have worked so hard to come this far. It may seem as though things are not going as they should [...]
Yup. Nigerian-Seychellois. Because that is what this young lady is by virtue of association. 😂I am now therefore half Nigerian, half Seychellois (pronounced "Say-shell-wa" . Now, say it a little faster. Do not bite your tongue, plis.) Ugh! I cannot even believe its been a little over two weeks since I had one of the [...]
“What social media really becomes after years of use is a constant stream of information both verbal and visual that at first drenches the mind, quenching its thirst for knowledge, and subduing its curiosity slowly but surly transforms into a torrent that renders the brain heavy and the mind restless.” ~Aysha Taryam Social Media. The [...]
So I often get asked how I am able to balance reading and read books (not that I even read so many books compared to some bookmaniacs) while working my 9–5, which in reality could be more like 8:30 - 7pm (or even 8pm). Work can get so time consuming and energy draining that as [...]
I think a lot. Like, if there was an olympic sport for overthinking, the organisers would have to create a new type of medal for me, because Gold would not be appreciative enough of my abilities when I come first. Lol. In fact, When I win whatever medal they give me, I would be the [...]
It has been an amazing three years and some months of lawyering, Nigerian style and what can I say? Actually I can say a lot. For one, it's been an interesting and eye-opening three years full of lessons, wins, losses, achievements and disappointments. But hey, we move. Interestingly enough, it’s funny how I feel this [...]
THIS LITTLE BOOK IS FUEGO! I did not intend that this would be my first read for 2019 but to say it blew my mind away (so much so that this is an onion typing this blog post right now) would be an understatement. Like. Wow. If you cannot stomach the ideal concept of feminism [...]
Is it really possible though? To stay motivated all year long? Like, all year long? In my opinion, I doubt it is possible to be psyched about all your goals through out the year especially if it is a huge goal which requires smaller steps to be taken. Through out the journey, there will definitely [...]
Hello, my name is Rachel and I suffer from a little bit of Tsundoku (okay, maybe not a little bit). No, I do not need any saving or cure as I am perfectly content enjoying this...illness or whatever it is. Oh, if you're wondering what that strange Japanese word above is, kindly see below. "Even [...]
Ahhh. *exhales* A new beginning...a new chapter...a fresh start...another chance. That is what the new year offers us, isn't it? Second chances, opportunities to right those wrongs and a chance to rewrite the past and start all over, or to just continue and grow. The new year always bursts forth with its freshness, golden opportunities, [...]
Happy new year again guys! It's been an amazing holiday so far, just relaxing and taking a break from it all, physically, socially and mentally. I spent the last couple of weeks in Lagos (the city where madness prevails, the city that sleeps not and the city where 100k Naira can go just like that) [...]
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go” – T. S. Eliot Recently, I took a what I consider to be a "big risk". Now, at the time I was deciding whether or not to go through with it, I tried to convince myself that it [...]
The Wig Separation Soooo, this tale involves a wig, an air hostess and a puke bag. I have already told the humans in my life (and Artaxerxes...my pet apple (yes I have a pet apple! who is dying slowly by the way... and honestly if you do not know about him then I do not [...]
