Celebrating Your Essence

Claiming your path.

Because it’s calling, enticing, scintillating.

Delighting in its pull.

Because it’s glowing, burning, lighting you up inside.

Finding your voice.

Because your truth is welling, urging, bursting to be let loose.

Living your passion.

Because anything else is settling for second-best.

Stop waiting.

Stop settling.

Step up, step out, and step into your light.

Bask in it. Shine with it. Dance in the brilliance of your star.

Inspired by Sandi Amorims awesome post Starbursts, Sirens, and Siriously Shining :)

Why We #OccupyNigeria

As the New Year started, my home country of Nigeria received a crippling blow from its government: a fuel subsidy removal that instantly doubled the cost of living. The most common reactions were those of disbelief and horror, because how could the President possibly expect the people to cope without corresponding salary spikes? How were they supposed to feed and transport themselves if their income could only cover half of their needs and responsibilities?

The #OccupyNigeria movement is our response to the government. Its Wikipedia page gives some idea of the situation and its effect on the nation: Continue reading

Personal Portrait

I want to know that I lived. That I was brave enough to love hard and strong, unabashedly and unreservedly. I want to know that I went with my gut & was free to dream, to hope, to reach for the stars.

I want to know that I found my talent and drew it forth, that my well of potential did not go untapped. I want to live every minute, every second, safe only in the ability to wring every last drop of bliss available in each moment.

I want to know that I chased after greatness and waited for nothing to come to me. I want to know that I gave myself every opportunity, every chance to be me, to be myself. I want to live in the moment, here and now, unhampered by the past & not crippled by expectations of the future.

I want to know that every breath, every moment, was treasured and appreciated. I want to know that I can laugh at myself and forgive my mistakes; that I can work over a situation and be done with it for good and not continuously obsess over what went wrong or why it did.

I want to know that I listened to my heart and went where it took me, unafraid of what people think or what they would say. I want to know that I am ALIVE, that I am living for me and not putting myself in situations that would later make me ask ‘What if?’

What if I had taken that chance? What if I had dated that guy, bought that dress, gone to that party? I want to know that I live a life free of ‘what-ifs’.

It’s easy to spend so much time planning & wishing that one actually does very little “doing”; every moment accounted for, every time frame carrying its own set of expectations.

It’s not so easy, though, to have a general plan and leave the specifics up to fate. It’s not so easy to discover them along the way as opposed to map them out right from the start. It’s even harder to stop oneself from wanting to know all the answers NOW, to be content with getting a few at a time and not pushing for everything at once.

I want to know that I was patient with myself, that I accepted the importance of moving forward with feasible steps, that I didn’t try to achieve everything all at once and end up with nothing at all.

I want to know that I can be gentle with myself. I want to be free. I want to give myself permission to be. Me. True to my spirit and in tune with my soul.

Reverb11 – Swan Song

 Greetings. For those who’ve noticed, I’m a little behind on my posts for Reverb11. This is because I’m changing the way I respond to the prompts and keeping the results to myself. I find that the longer I participate, the deeper and more personal my posts become. Being a rather private and somewhat shy person (yes, it’s true), baring my soul to the world on a daily basis is a bit more than I can handle right now.

So! Even though I won’t write about it anymore, I’m still a participant. This project has definitely given me a clearer picture of 2011 and increased my awareness of 2012. Not in a “I have to make these resolutions work” kind of way, but more like “these are the things I will achieve.” Feel me?

I’d like to say a huge thanks to Carolyn Rubenstein and Tiffany Moore for hosting this reflection course, and also to my fellow bloggers who have shared their experiences one post at a time.

The Power of Words

A long time ago, I wrote down some quotes and put them away in a drawer. I just pulled them out while looking for something and realised that I meant to apply their principles but never got around to it.

How often does that happen to us? How often do we intend to improve ourselves but put off any action? More often than not, yeah?

So today, as a reminder that the only time to do anything is now, I want to write them here for easy reference and mindful application.

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”

                                                                    Eleanor Roosevelt                                                                 

“All things splendid have been achieved by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstance…”

                                                                     Bruce Barton

“Let us be glad for the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

                                                                      Marcel Proust

“Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars; to be satisfied with your possessions; to despise nothing in the world except falsehood and meanness, and to fear nothing except cowardice; to be governed by your admirations rather than by your disgusts; to covet nothing that is your neighbor’s except his kindness of heart and gentleness of manners; to think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends . . . and to spend as much time as you can, with body and with spirit. These are little guideposts on the footpath to peace.”

                                                                      Henry van Dyke

Reverb11 – Day 13 – Love

Today’s prompt asks,

13. Love
What are the things (or people or animals) in this world that you love the most.

and my answer?

My family. Laughing so hard I can’t breathe and I have tears in my eyes. Watching my mum’s eyes sparkle as she’s telling a story. Chatting with my eldest sister and marvelling at her comedic wit. Sharing anime experiences with my second sister. Watching movies together. Saying something that really impresses my dad and makes him beam in appreciation.

Reading a book that envelops me in its world and makes me sad to be back in mine.

Listening to music that stirs my soul and makes me move to the beat. Watching musicals and dance movies.

Writing. Connecting. Enlightening. Stimulating.

Guest Post – “Dark Hour”

Hey, people. I’m featuring something by my dear friend Kuceli today. I’ve been trying to get her to write for a couple weeks now and she finally caved with this. Heh heh heh. I’m wearing her down, LOL. 😀 So I hope she writes some more because I totally loved her material. Show her some love and either comment below or email me. Thanks in advance!

Do you feel so sad and miserable you feel so much weight in your hear like the world crumbling in on you?
Do you feel so lonely and deserted even in the midst of a multitude?
Do you feel so heartbroken you can never trust again?

You cry yourself to sleep every night. Nothing is going the way you planned. You look at yourself in the mirror and say "why me" "I'm such a failure"
You say life is so hard and unfair. You say "I don't belong here", "I don't fit in".  




Nobody gets you, nobody understands you. Oh, the emptiness and pain is so deep, it's from your soul. So overwhelming. 




You take a walk or look out the window and everyone else seems so happy. Seems so peaceful and contented without a care in the world. 'Their lives are so perfect, you say. Why can't I feel that way?'.

 

My dear friend, no one has a perfect life. None of those smiling faces were created better than you. They are not better than you but the attitude they have is what is better. You too can have that. You see every human being you see today or will meet in the future has - either gone through, is presently going through, or will go through some really low moments in their lifetime. 




I know how overwhelming these moments can get because I've been there...a lot. But never let it consume your whole being, don't dwell so much on sorrow, disappointment, heartbreak, failure or whatever is eating you up. The only difference between those who committed suicide and the successful people in our world today is that the successful ones tried one more time. They said to themselves, this is what I want and I will keep trying till I get there. We all face the same challenges, failures and rejection everyday. How you take it is what makes you different. The minute you start to entertain regrets, self-pity, depression e.t.c. it slowly eats you up and you give up. 




Those happy faces you see have gone through the same road, had the same challenges and hardships (most even more than you). They wept hard, took a final look at it and said "this is not me, this is not my life, I know what I want and I won't stop till I get it". Some are currently in situations that are painful and sad, some are even dying. But they chose to be happy. That you're alive today is enough to be grateful for. Don't limit yourself, you can do it with the right attitude. Let it go, breathe, relax, think and be innovative. 




Our biggest obstacles in life is that we attached our happiness or depend on people, money, jobs, food etc for happiness. Only you can make yourself happy. That's why you see someone with the life you think you want, companionship, wealth, a good job, a nice house and yet they're miserable. Because if you don't learn to be happy on your own, NOTHING in this life can. 




The void will always be there. It all starts with you, NEVER STAY DOWN, DON'T BE SCARED TO TRY AGAIN, HAVE A POSITIVE SPIRIT (what's in your mind its what you will most likely attract), BREAK THE BAD HABITS, SMILE, LAUGH, LOVE. 




Remember, you don't have to get it right, you just have to get it going. 

Reverb11 – Day 12

I seriously considered not reacting to the following prompt. Who ever wants to discuss their mistakes in public, right? That said, here goes.

12. Mistakes
It’s easy to focus on our mistakes—to reflect with 20/20 hindsight and berate ourselves for what went wrong. Bring your awareness to a mistake you’ve made over the past year. Unveil one positive lesson from that mistake. How can you actively use this lesson moving forward?

I noticed I kept giving so-called “friends” the benefit of the doubt loooong after they deserved it. It’s all well and good to be fair-minded towards others but there’s a limit to accepting bad behaviour, yes? Sooner or later you gotta call them out on it or remain a doormat for the duration of the friendship/relationship/whatever it is you have going on at that point. Oh, and you also have to stand your ground when you confront them because they will try to pass it off as nothing much. Don’t be fooled! Stay strong!

There’s no need to bend over backwards for anyone who takes me for granted and expects me to do all the work. It’s OK for me to cut my losses and get the hell out. It’s OK to identify the BS and refuse to take it. You know, keep it real or keep it moving. So even though I won’t stop giving others the benefit of the doubt, I do intend to withdraw my generosity if it’s abused. Fair enough, innit? :)

I Am

I am a person. Not the colour of my skin, the texture of my hair, or the shape of my face, but a person.

I am a child of the universe.

I am an individual. I am unique.

I am more than the sum of my parts or the physical ranking of beauty based on widely held standards.

I am an artist and a lover and a fighter. I am everything I could be and everything I should be.

I am greater than the troubles ahead of me and stronger than the darkness that threatens me.

I come from a family of givers and proudly embrace my heritage of love and openness.

I am at peace with my person and at no one’s mercy for my pleasure.

I am bound only by my expectations and not beholden to live by the rules of anyone else.

I am obligated only to speak my truth and free to raise my voice against manipulation and/or oppression.

I am worthy of love, respect, consideration, and joy.

I am worthy of sharing my thoughts and experiences.

I am worthy of kindness and support.

I am worthy.

I am.

Reverb11 – Day 11

Something tells me today’s post is going to be short. Really, really short. Maybe it’s because I don’t know how to respond to this prompt? Hmm.

11. Anticipation
What is the one thing that you are most looking forward to in 2012?

Hadn’t thought about it, really. I guess it’d be learning how to drive, though. I don’t know if I’ll get the chance to travel or not, otherwise that would have been my most anticipated activity. I love travel, just love it. I dream of touring European cities and soaking up diverse cultures. I want to walk the streets of Rome and look down on Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Dance all night in Madrid and wake up in Barcelona. Oh wait, this post should be about driving. Ahem.

I’ve been behind the wheel in the past and it was thrilling. OK, so maybe I kept my speed really low and barely crawled along the asphalt, but I was movinga car! Somehow I managed to get through college and my teenage years without acquiring a driver’s license. It’s ridiculous I’m still without one, so I’m definitely stoked about changing that in 2012.

Above illustration by the talented Yulia Brodskaya