YOU I am grateful for you!! Yes, you ! You have made it through the sharp twists and turns  in the road called 2020. you have ridden the 2020 roller coaster successfully. Ok! Maybe you puked a little but the ride is almost grinding to a halt and you are doing good. I am grateful for the experiences that have shaped you in the course oft he year. Grateful for the lessons learned and those you are still taking notes on--life is an endless learning process. I am grateful for your boldness, opportunities that came your way, your sanity (I really hope this has managed to remain intact)and the beautiful connections you have fostered. I am grateful for your progress, improvements and victories--big and small. I am glad you are reading this piece right this moment, in one piece. The year has been unpredictable but here you are scaling mountains like an absolute badass. Super grateful for you! ‘Mina. What are you thankful for? 

  OPPORTUNITIES AND WINS The year took on a bleak look quite early. It would have been rather difficult to envision things actually picking up as the days bled into months. Despite the seeming slowness, happenings and events and being away from business as usual , we can’t deny that good things have actually happened. I am one for picking the good, little victories and blessings in the bleakest situations (although things could always be better). There is always something worth giving thanks for if we looked closely or borrowed a monocle. I am grateful for serendipitous opportunities. I am grateful for opportunities as a result of compound interests (it always adds up in the end, right?) I am grateful for wins in all its forms, shapes and sizes. Equally as important, I am glad seeing my people score wins in different ways this year. The year might not have taken the turns and twists we anticipated but it has swung opportunities my way (some I probably won’t have gotten had things been

GREAT READS It is certainly no news that I am a lover of books. Regardless how much I love books, I don’t get to read as many as I would love to in the course of a regular year. But then, the year has hardly been regular. I usually go jumping from book to book in 2 pockets of the year—during breaks. The events of the year resulted in more downtime than usual. More downtime = more reading time. I cannot say precisely how many books I have read this year, I did not keep count, but I know I have read a great deal. I am grateful for that. Thankful for the opportunity to dive into different worlds. Thankful for the wisdom hidden in books, and books that have gone to show that I have been on to something all this while. Some books have been pure gems, reinforcing truths, broadening my mind and invariably causing me to think in extra doses. Some books have inspired articles, conversations and everything between. It has been a swell reading ride this year. And even though I still have reading

MUSIC Music is a universal language. Even when there are (seemingly) human language barriers, music can still “ make sense ” to the listener. There is just this feel to music and I have come to feel that quite often this year (even if I am nothing close to a melomaniac or whatever ardent music lovers are called). I am grateful for good sounds. Good music has certainly made me feel better on some days. I listen to anything but not everything—did I lose you?—and I am glad I have come to discover new soothing sounds this year. I am glad I stumbled upon Jinmi Abduls —great music, great vibes. I am super grateful for COLORS —my ultimate sound discovery channel—they feature really great talents. Talents so good I end up doing deep dive not long after. I am thrilled to have come across  Samm Henshaw’s music. Man! He sounds like church—that is the best analogy that comes readily to mind—so warm!! I am grateful for the beauty called LUCID and the  Miseducation  of Lauryn Hill and everything b

WRITING The year presented me with the unexpected opportunity to improve my craft—writing. As the year tossed us into the confines of our homes, writing became my go-to. My adventure with writing did not start as a conscious deep dive this year, but time and chance, and necessity found me plunging into writing. In the earlier part of the year, I engaged in writing just because I needed to put out content. As time passed however, I found writing to be more therapeutic than any other thing. There were countless thoughts traversing my mind and writing was the best way to get those thoughts out—for you and I. From turning writing to therapy, I began to engage in a daily writing exercise, I guess I needed the challenge—something to constantly look forward to. The year has seen me improve in my craft. I am super grateful for all the beautiful things I have written this year (some of which you would see soon enough. Others, maybe never) I have seen my writing over the years and I would say th

SOLITUDE I have the recurring need to be by myself. It is one of the ways I get to recharge and reconnect to different parts of me—I had zero intentions of making this sound deep but oh well. It is a necessity. Despite how much I need these moments alone, I can barely squeeze out time during “ normal times” . There is always so much going on (deadlines, activities, assignments, you get the gist) coupled with the inevitable need to stay connected to humans. I can’t always up and leave even when there’s so much noise. This year presented me with the opportunity—on a golden platter—to get away from the noise. Being stuck indoors gave me the chance to enjoy solitude more often. Of course, I couldn’t get more than a few hours of solitude but compared to nothing, that is something to be thankful for. I have done a lot of writing this year essentially because I could get access to more moments of the much-needed solitude. I’m grateful for these brief but countless moments of solitude (and on

GROWTH I’m getting to this gratitude series in no particular order. No scale. Nothing. I am thankful for different  things for different reasons. Today, I am grateful for growth . It might have seemed like all came to a halt in the earlier parts of the year. The thrill of the year faded away and I’m certain at some point we all felt stuck in an annoying loop or even worse, a standstill . Despite how the year turned out, I can’t help but notice and show gratitude for the notable growth I have experienced in 2020. Although it probably isn't “physically evident” (did I grow taller? maybe) I have seen improvements and much-needed growth in certain areas. I am definitely not the same as I was at the start of 2020. I overcame the reluctance to shamelessly share my works and pieces of art (art=writing=poetry) . My writing and creative process has gotten better with the days—heck! I wrote every day without fail for over a hundred days. I still write everyday—writing in one form or another.

  Gratitude; a state of being grateful. Each time 2020 comes to mind “a whole lot” is the phrase that readily accompanies it. That is just  how it is and probably how it would always be. The year has been intense. Thinking back to all that transpired in the course of the year, it feels like we lived all of 5 years in 366 days (it is a leap year, right?) From looking forward to Tokyo 2020 and all that the year was to be, to being cooped up in our homes for months, 2020 has certainly been “a whole lot”—and more. I have always believed that even in the worst possible situations, some things work out positively even though we often get too entangled in the worse parts to notice. There is always something worth being thankful for. There is something that still works even when we do not notice and every other thing looks like it is on hold. That is a constant truth, even when we don’t acknowledge it. I hosted a gratitude series a few years back (2018) and the turns of the year have me think

(Sometimes you need to rub your shoulders, hug yourself and assure yourself that you would be alright) This is for the over-thinker, and unrepentant go-getter—and just about any other person. On some days, we get so involved chasing goals that we forget to rest or commend ourselves for the distance we have come. The year has been a wild one. I’m certain most did not expect most of the events that went down in the course of the year. For some, 2020 was supposed to be  the year . The year to get things in order. The year to realign life. The year to effect certain changes and hit some milestones. Yes, these and many more were the expectations for this year. Most of us would have kicked off the year with goals well mapped and thought out, and hopes of where the days would take us. Unfortunately, the year doesn’t seem to have lived up to the initial expectations. Plans got derailed—inevitably—while come came to a stop altogether. That has been 2020. As the year slowly winds to a close, som

Despite how at some point in the year, we wished we could start all over one way or another, we are fast coming to the end of 2020. And while some might still be stuck in previous months, time is moving and our “meters” have read the past months in our favour. Essentially, everyone has become older in the course of 2020 (although in varying degrees and aspects, aging is aging nonetheless).  On some days—maybe one too many—the phenomenon of aging fascinates me. I am in awe at how one can stay seemingly different. Inasmuch as we would like to think that a majority experience aging in the same dimension, each passing moment finds me picking flaws in the notion. We age in different dimensions and on different levels, with the most obvious being physical. Nevertheless, we age mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well as a host of other areas. From our careers and ambitions to taste. At first thought, most of us tend to shy away from the idea of aging—’cos everyone wants to be young for

  (I wrote this on the 27th of October and even though I no longer feel exhausted, I still find the need to share. Nigeria seems to keep one in a steady state of exhaustion, hence this piece should still be  timely   even though it is a month old) Stock Photo by  Elijah O'Donnell  from  Pexels October was a hell of a month. Events fit for 5 years transpired in the space of 14 days. For the year 2020, that says a lot, considering that all sorts have gone down in the course of the year. There certainly have been days that found me the least bit uncomfortable and days that have left me disconcerted. October however left me exhausted. Exhausted might seem like an overkill but this is me putting it lightly. Exhausted from head to toe. Exhausted inside-out. Absolute exhaustion. On some days, I tend to hover around the edge of tiredness but, complete exhaustion has hardly ever been it for me. I am certain I was not the only one tangled in the web of exhaustion this past month. It was over

It has been well over a month since y’all saw me here. Trust me, I never forgot this space but, I found the need to take a step back. Over the past couple months, I have been caught in the to-be or not-to-be loop. Wondering; should I or should I not? Although I have spent a good part of the time away writing the best possible content, I have spent even more time thinking. Thinking, about what you might ask. . . Shutting down this space permanently. Yup, I have chewed on that thought for the time I was away these past months.  Stock Photo by  Olya Kobruseva  from  Pexels Why?  Late in the month of June, I began uploading content on Medium, based on recommendation. In case you don’t know, medium is essentially a community for writers—and readers of course. For the longest time, I have kept an eye out for possible ways to widen my reach. Getting my content before a larger (and more diverse) audience. Medium certainly fits the bill and it subtly eliminates the need to focus on a niche (n

 This was not the comeback I anticipated, but I have to speak regardless—and I would make this quick. I am not one to write when i am “too emotionally charged” but I guess I would be breaking that rule today. #EndSARS has been trending on varying platforms of the internet for at least a week now and this has finally transmuted to a long awaited physical protest. Despite all inhibitions and potential what-ifs, Nigerians have turned out en masse, taking to the streets to express our tiredness with the countless and unjustifiable cases of police brutality for over 3 years now. I’m glad that even if just this once, Nigerians have come out, speaking in unison—physically and otherwise—against the unethical and irrational actions of a squad that ought to protect us. We are in agreement against the inhumane treatment received by numerous citizens over the years. Although  these horrid acts seem to be oftentimes targeted at a certain demographic, they traverse tribe, class and field of work. I

Staying consistently inspired is definitely not one of the easiest things in the world, be you a creative or not. There are days where regardless the fine ideas stuck in our heads, they just can't be translated to something tangible. And on worse days, the ideas don't even form, at all. This was me in the early days of June. I literally watched the hours pass right before my eyes without being able to account for them. For one who finds it hard to just sit still without being occupied, this was a tough one for me. I had tons of pending and prospective projects eagerly awaiting my attention but my mind and body were out of touch. I was in a slump. This wasn't my first instance of being stuck in a slump (I get into writing slumps from time to time all year round) but this was definitely different. Imagine being uninspired to do anything aside the mundane routine of life. Yes, that was me. The good thing is, I'm finally out of that slump (for long). But you may wond

The world as we know it functions smoothly or otherwise as a result of processes. There is the process for water to leave the earth only to return as precipitation. There the process for fields to yield crops (even if this has recently seen modifications). There’s the process for a child to become an adult. There is the process for your heart to send blood round your body. Some of these processes differ in details depending on the end product of the process. And every process, intricate, complex or simple births a change. As time and seasons change, humans adapt. Daily activities that once consumed chunks of our time, now aided by technology are significantly faster and seamless to achieve. I align with the thoughts of this newly found ease and swiftness affecting our patience and endurance levels. Source At times,we grow impatient-- over little and big things alike-- forgetting that there is a process to things. Forgetting that humans just like crops, yield at differ

It is goes without saying (but, I’d still say) that the rains have begun and they are pouring in torrents. Over the past month, we have experienced lasting downpours that sometimes stretch on for days with little breaks between. These recent peaks in rainfall have once again resulted in floods in some parts of Lagos. I’m a fan of the rainy season. Aside the few inconveniences, I find it pleasurable for most parts (especially when it doesn’t end with me getting drenched). Now, the rains have been gracing the earth more regularly, inadvertently turning to floods. I find the flooding to be a recurrent event in the Lagos cityscape. Rains ought to bring calm and some clemency but, these come with a handful of inconveniences for most residents of Lagos. Read also:  Rains and me Photo credit The recent rains in Lagos have seen homes transform to baths as seen in ancient Rome. They have seen roads become extensions of the ocean that borders the mega-city. Vehicles are now amphibious

   For the longest time, the year 2020 evoked a magical feeling in most, when thought of as some year in the future. Here we are now, living in that future and I’m certain many don’t deem is as a magical year (in the good light, at least).Truly, the year has been a lot, even as we are barely past the first half, with each month come along with its own dose of problems; like a series of books with different themes. Even as the seeming worst of the worst have transpired in the course of the past few months: from Kobe’s death, the pandemic and its effects, the injustices and civil protests, to the looming global recession and canceled sports leagues mid-season and major events slated for the year without foreknowledge of how sharp a turn 2020 was going to take. Regardless, the year has certainly been good to some.    In the beginning of the year, before our lifestyles were rudely altered, I’m sure most made plans and projections for the year. From use of vision boards, journals to

Needless to say, I have had more time on my hands of recent (no thanks to schools being shut till further notice cos of COVID). This has inadvertently led to me reading more than I normally would. At this point in my undying love for books, I’m consciously exploring a wider range of genres. And I find it worth mentioning that I have been making a conscious effort looking out for other Nigerian authors aside the well-known names. Normally, I wait days—if not weeks—to decide if I intend to review a book. As you might suspect, not every book makes it to the blog for a variety of reasons including the aforementioned. For this book though, I found myself making mental notes for a review as I read. I eventually penned this review barely two days after completion (talk about making an impression). OVERVIEW Source I do not come to you by chance by Adaobi ‘Tricia Nwaubani is set some time in the early 2000s. My lack of sufficient political history makes it difficult to pinpoint the

A toast, to all the fathers: present, of many, expectant, first time, adopted. . . Cheers 🥂

Hey you!! Been what now, 3 weeks since the last post? Today's post is essentially a follow up to the last but one post (find it here ). The imposed 'lockdown' is still gradually being eased and yes, I'm still talking about maintaining sanity during these times (and any time, really). This is me hoping this post meets you well. Take up a new hobby: Back in the days before the internet became a thing, hobbies (and game consoles) were useful for spending time. There certainly are days when you want to stay off most part for the internet but you are at a loss for what to do while your devices are hiding. Oh well, a hobby would be a good go-to. Crosswords, origami, paper crafts, mindful colouring, model making, I could go on and on. Trust me, there is a myriad of hobbies available for you to ease off the tension. Watch that new TV show your friends have always been screaming at you to watch: seeing that many tend to be under some form of stress during this times, thi

Sometime about 2 years ago, I stumbled upon (or maybe it was fate) AKWAEKE EMEZI with FRESHWATER which was quite a read BTW (find my review here ). Photo Credit Naturally, when you find one’s work fascinating to a degree, you look forward to something new from them, ei? So, when I started seeing feeds of Emezi’s new work, PET, on my socials, I began wondering if I’d come around to reading it. In the course of this pandemic, I’ve been acquiring e-books (cos what else is there to be done🤷🏾‍♀️) and luckily enough, I find PET. At this point, I had read one too many books and was essentially looking for a quick read not a “long term commitment”. Pet, being a few pages shy of a hundred pages definitely fit the bill. Overview The story is set in a utopian town called LUCILLE. Once filled with ‘ corrupt people ’, referred to as monsters, Lucille underwent a revolution (with the intervention of angels), ridding the city of these monsters. The main character is Jam, a 15 year ol

Sure you might be wondering why I'm still writing about the lockdown even as our streets are beginning to be filled with people.  Well, the lockdown is not completely eased just yet (as you know). Students are still stuck indoors, some civil servants are yet to resume, hangout spots are barely operational. And, I hate to break it to you, there might just be another lockdown lurking around. As I pointed out in earlier posts , many are not used to having this manner of downtime at this time of the year, especially without planning towards it. I'm by no means a psychologist (except taking a course in environmental psychology counts) but I'm a fellow human going through the lockdown just as you. I know how unusual things are right now and how the times might be doing a number on us in different ways. I'm certain over time, most have developed coping mechanisms for different life scenarios, anchoring us when needed the most. In light of this, I have highlight

I’m certain by now you are well acquainted with my love-hate relationship with Lagos. In previous times, my posts in this series have been based entirely on experiences and perspectives on Lagos; from traffic that has come to be synonymous with Lagos to the daily ordeals of commuting and other times, outright rants . Photo credit Of course, you are in the loop of plans to begin easing the 5 weeks long lockdown in Lagos and while many are giddying up to be out in the streets again, hustling, there are still nagging concerns in most minds including mine. Unlike other installments in this series, I just have questions today. No rants, no personal narratives, just questions. It still feels like a false reality to most, how things were normal this minute and in the next breath, we were mandated to stay indoors more often than we are used to and basically grind to a halt. Lagos is ever so busy and I’m certain in the course of the lockdown, the roads have felt much relief. You migh