The World Is Your Oyster

 Determination is often perceived as indispensable to success. Winners never quit and quitters never win. Being at a particular phase in one's life where you feel like something grand should be happening to you and it isn't, is dampening. Progress and prosperity are part of life and when you feel like you aren't getting enough of those, you might begin to wonder if dem dey follow you for your village lol
But it's okay not to win all the time. You might just be saved from some danger you know... You might wonder 'Why is that guy not responding to me?' 'Why am I not making as much money as my friend is?' 'Why does it feel like my life is stalled?' 'Why does my life not look like my friend Timi's own?' Seems like many questions, with little or no answers. What if Timi's life isn't as perfect as it looks and he admires the simplicity and realness of your life rather than his superfluous life that makes it hard for him to catch his breath.
I know it is hard to keep mum when it seems like your life is discouraging and unproductive. Do not renege in your efforts to achieving success and bliss nor wait for manna to fall from heaven as heaven helps those who help themselves. Take charge of your life but don't lose yourself while at it. I know of a friend who wanted something for herself so badly. She wanted to be a successful television presenter and she almost got it. She went for an interview in one of the top media firms in the country and everyone seemed to like her. The only flaw was that the person she was supposed to directly work with had a thing for her and the person was also a female! She didn't even try to be discreet about it but was rather outrightly aggressive in her approach." i cannot believe what happened to me today" "what happened?" " you remember the interview i told you about" "yeah, the media one, what about it?" "do you know that when i got there everyone was so nice and sweet" " haba, where is the problem in that now?" "I thought everything was so good to be true until one of the panelists in the interview called me later in the evening" "what's wrong in that" " she asked me to come to the office on Friday evening and when i got there, she told me that she needed to get something from her house and i could come with her; that was the biggest mistake ever!" " wait, hold on, i hope it isn't what i am thinking!!!" "she told me bluntly that she liked me and wanted us to be together after which she tried to touch me" "what!!!" "i pushed her away and gave her a piece of my mind and dashed out. i felt disrespected but was proud of myself" 'i am proud of you too girl, on top job, nawa" And that was the end of her media career in that company but not the end of her media career forever. She continued applying and got an offer in a bigger company.

In this part of the world, marriage is a big deal especially for the females. In the first year in the university, you do not feel the pressure from home, it's more or less like a walk in the park. At the beginning of the third year in school, pressure starts setting in especially from the mother and by final year all the aunties join in. And then you breathe, eat, walk, talk, and think marriage. What happens when you do not have anyone to take home; when you haven't found the right person that tickles your fancy. How about if all your mates from high school are married or your clique of friends are all taking turns to tie the knot, all but you!

You check your social media handle and the trending post is that of a classmate that was the 'quiet, unnoticed, queer, unfashionable, not so intelligent' one. Just that this time she is the life of the party, the fly, posh girl who has the dream job and has travelled to only places that you see in your dreams while asleep. You begin to reminisce on how you were the posh one back in school and how the tables have turned and life has unfairly treated you. Maybe at that point, you are struggling with a meagre salary that can barely afford you the good things of life you feel you deserve. It all seems disheartening right?

Life is replete with various circumstances. Sometimes it's rosy, other times it is bleak; but one thing is certain, it doesn't stay on one side forever. Life is full of dynamics and change is constant.
What would see you through periods of difficulty, obstacles, discouragement and delay is Perseverance! Perseverance alongside patience, would make you resolutely persistent and steadfast and give you the right strength to be tenacious till the dynamics of life change. It will keep you from giving in to the pangs that come with delay - denial, disregard, neglect, low self-esteem, worry, fear, uncertainty, you name it! Tell yourself a thousand and one reasons why it will work, why you are special and why you will not fail and I bet you will succeed.

Look at the bigger picture and raise your thoughts above your present circumstances, because believe it or not they are transient. But you have to believe so for it to come true. Holding to thoughts whether negative or positive would definitely materialise exactly that way for you so feed your thoughts with only positive vibes.

Remember to create a life you're passionate about as you only live once.
This world is your oyster, find the pearls!

The Best Things In Life Are Free - Like Love!

 It's Februarius (i think it sounds better in Latin *wink*), the Love month!!! I love Love, who doesn't? The redness in the air and the 3 C's - cupid, chocolate and champagne lol. Love is a beautiful thing and in this month,Valentine's day falls within. So many things happen within this period and it is pretty much a crazy time for some!

I remember a while back in university, i had a friend who was in a relationship with one of the 'big boys' in school then. He was head over heels with her or so she thought. He got gifts randomly, took her out on shopping sprees and gave her money all the time. She was in love and he was the best thing that happened to her, we all felt. However on the 1st  of February he started acting funny and by the end of the first week he was totally ignoring and avoiding her. " I don't know what i have done to Dapo, he has been avoiding me. He doesn't take my calls neither does he return them. I even saw him near my hostel talking to one girl in Mass Comm department, Chinenye or so, that one has been carrying face for me since then. I will go and give her a piece of my mind oh" " What do want to tell her" "That she should stay away from my boyfriend!" "Maybe you should tell your boyfriend that instead" . He never picked her call nor saw her till Val's day passed. Sometime around the last week of February, he sent her a text apologising for his abrupt silence and further gave her a cock and bull story for an excuse!
For some it's one of the most memorable time ever. Stanley had been dating his girlfriend Shalewa for just 6 months. He was pretty much a successful Lagos boy who was always balling in the nicest things of life. Val's day fell on a working day that particular year and Shalewa was at work when a call came through on her phone from an anonymous number "Hello Good Afternoon, Please am i on to Miss Shalewa?" " Yes please, Shalewa speaking, who is this?" " My name is Darius and i am a dispatch man, please you have a parcel with me" "Parcel? Okay, where are you now?" "I'm currently outside your office" She went outside to meet a young man dressed neatly in a dispatch uniform. She walked up to him. "Darius right, how are you" " Fine thank you madam. Here's your parcel" He left thereafter. She opened the parcel and it was a key. There was a note inside as well "This is to you my love Shalewa,It is the key to the white car in front of you, Stanley" She looked up and saw a white Mercedes Benz E- class 2016 model parked like an aesthetic design in the premises. News spread all over her office and her reputation in her office doubled up immediately!
Valentine's day was always a painful reminder to Victoria on how long she has been engaged. Her supposed boyfriend engaged her in a lavish way 6 years ago, yes!!! She had officially being turned to the 'lord of the rings' as there was no sign of willingness from her supposed boyfriend to marry her. She was so miserable and for that despised Val's day.
Kunle and Gbemi have been married for 14 years and only until recently, they were both suckers for Valentine's day. Kunle seemed to have lost all his spark and Gbemi, all her charm. Valentine's day was like breathing to them both. It wasn't like they both fancied their new attitude to Valentine's day but none was willing to break a sweat nor move a muscle.
What would Valentine's day be for you? A day full of surprises, shock, indifference, regrets or full of all shades of love *wink*