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Yearly Archives

2017

25, letters,

Letters To My Children II

Dear Children,

I have a long list of things I want you to learn when you get here, like learn to speak Yoruba, French and Spanish, learn to play a musical instrument or two. Love literature, music and art the way I do.
I learnt how to play the piano for three years in primary school, I really liked my teacher but sharing practice time with my siblings was annoying.

My piano teacher in secondary school on the other hand was not that great, he told me during  my first lesson that my hands are too small to play the piano because they would not spread out enough, he proceeded to sleep about 10 minutes into the lesson.

I gave up learning to play the  piano after that. I regret taking the man’s words to heart. Recently I have been considering starting my lessons again.
I don’t want you to ever think there is nothing you can’t do, I want you to understand that you can break new grounds and do the impossible. I want you to be better than me! But I am managing my expectations, because I understand that what I dream for you may not be your dreams and I will have to support you regardless.

I will have to help you find you path and not guide you to the one I have selected for you and this isn’t an easy task because I will watch you be completely dependent on me for everything, watch you learn to walk and talk, be inquisitive about everything and watch you grow and not need me so much with every passing year.

Expect we will have conversations when I think you are making a mistake or throwing away your life by making impulsive decisions, neither of us will like this but we will both be better for it.
All these will be harder because every time you leave home I will want to curl up in one of your suitcases and come along to keep you safe, I know this is slightly irrational because God will always keep you safe, but this doesn’t stop me from thinking it’s my 24hr/ 7days a week job to protect you.  
I am teaching myself to manage my careful thought out plans for your live, I am learning that what I dream for you will probably not what you will dream for yourself.
I am telling myself every day that this is okay.

With All My Love; Mama.
September 8, 2017
letters,

Letter To My 23 Years Old Self By Onomesan Oyo





Dear 23 year old self,


I write with the sincerest apologies that I haven’t given you much to work with. I am exhausted as it is and I do not have the courage to go on. I hope that you will forgive me for giving up but you would soon come to realize as I have that this life is not easy. There are times where I think of leaving it all but I do not have that kind of bravery to take something that didn’t start of my own power in the first place. I hope you would have the courage to live out the dreams that I couldn’t, I want you to know that I tried, I put in work and also completely put my trust in Him that gave me the life. I am truly exhausted with no strength to carry on but I hope that you would be everything that I hoped you would be.


I am trying to make something of my life and I hope that you would continue in the race, a lot of us want to make a positive change in the world, something that would rock the very fabric of our humanity but most of us don’t how, we have the tools but we lack the technical expertise to carpe diem the day. Each day I wake up with the burning desire that today would be the day that I have been praying for. I need you to follow up with that because in a few hours I would no longer have a guest pass in the affairs that guide my life. I wouldn’t dare pride myself as being very wise but I would leave you with some essential tips to live by:
  • If at first attempt it doesn’t work out, try again, again and again.
  • Getting to the reality of the idea of the you hidden in your head would not be easy but embrace the process.
  • People are going to try to tell you what you can or cannot do, Do always what you want because at the end of the day you are the only one the mirror reflects.
  • The world is waiting for the greatness that you are regardless of where you are right now
  •  In the very wise words of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Dare to take…The world is yours to take so why not.
  • As always do you, it never gets better than that


Cheers to the life we aspire to smile
Yours Sincerely,
My 22 year old self

September 6, 2017
Playlist,

Ore’s Playlist August 2017

August was a month of important decisions and for the first time I felt the full effect of Adulthood. What I rest in is the fact that I am not going through the process alone, God is with me always. Psalms 46 vs. 10 “Be Still and Know That I am God” I have seen a good number of posters of this bible text but never committed it to heart until I read the whole chapter, it gave me new meaning on the presence of God in my life and God’s love that I believe we don’t talk about enough. The songs on this playlist for the month have helped me in my journey this month

So let’s get into the playlist;

Shekinahby Forerunner Music, Jaye Thomas and Cory Asbury;

The first time I heard this song was at the first Simple Worship in January, it is a song that invites the presence of God. This has become a Simple Worship stable, after the last Worship session I decided it was time to have the song on my phone and I have listened to it on replay since. It is one of those songs that comes up and you can’t help but desire more of God.

Sovereignover Us by Michael W. Smith

Bola my Co-host on About the Song introduced me to this song, it was on her playlist for 2016 and she will close her eyes when the song comes on and belt out the wordings with all her heart and lose herself in the song.
At the start of the month, the chorus of the songs wouldn’t stop playing in my head. So I decided to listen and meditate on the song, it became my anthem for the month. Many times, we forget the Sovereign power of God in our toil and start to wonder if God is even with us. There is a line that hits me all the time which is “even what the enemy means for evil you turn for our good and for your glory”. It teaches me to have peace all the time, in the raging storms and in the calm. The lyrics of the song sends a powerful message so please take a few minutes to read below.

There is strength within the sorrow
There is beauty in our tears
And you meet us in our mourning
With a love that casts out fear
You are working in our waiting
You’re sanctifying us
When beyond our understanding
You’re teaching us to trust
(Chorus)
Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You’re with us in the fire and the flood
You’re faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us
You are wisdom unimagined
Who could understand your ways
Reigning high above the Heavens
Reaching down in endless grace
You’re the lifter of the lowly
Compassionate and kind
You surround and you uphold me
And your promises are my delight
Even what the enemy means for evil
You turn it for our good
You turn it for our good and for your glory
Even in the valley, You are faithful
You’re working for our good
You’re working for our good and for Your glory
The one That Really Mattersby Michael W. Smith and Kari Jobe

I visited No. 16 Olukole and Mr Johnson said I needed to listen to this song and I did. This isn’t a song you get after one listen, it’s one you go back to every time you forget what matters, every listen brings new light on how God is truly the one that really matters. For this month, the song made me ask myself what really matters in my decision-making process and it was a call for prayer for me to let God really matter in my life.
You WaitedBy Travis Greene

Sometimes I am an  illegal distributor of songs and books, my friends Tofu asked if I could help her get this song that she almost ran out of data listening to the song on repeat on YouTube.  So, I listened to the song, it shows God is a lover that doesn’t give up, a lover that calls out, one that is patient, one that doesn’t let go after the chase. We hardly see God in this light. I remember a text in the book of Acts that talks about seeking God because he isn’t very far [Acts 17:27], so God is always lurking in the shadows and waiting to show you love and give light. 


September 2, 2017
Uncategorized,

Catch RepJ360 live at their first concert “Tanna”

The band RepJ360 are having their first concert tagged “Tanna” – a Yoruba phrase that translates to “turn on the light”. The concert is a first from the band and an exclusive event targeted towards lovers of clean music, Rock music or Nigerian alternative music in general. The concert will feature the band performing their original songs as well as several covers. As is the band’s ideal, the concert is not a “church concert” but will feature Christian elements, which the band emphasizes is not a religion but simply a way of life. They hope to cause people to shine their metaphoric lights, which the band interprets as showing kindness to a neighbor or being the best you can be, regardless of circumstance.


The concert is happening at No. 2 Mercy Eneli Street, by RCCG Jesus Sanctuary, Masha, Surulere, Lagos. Tickets cost One Thousand Naira only, you can get them online at tinyurl.com/repjtanna or buy them physically direct from the band, simply contact them on their social media or email or catch them at an event near you (stalk their social media for more details). Tickets are going fast so you best get yours before the show sells out. There is the option of coming at 2PM for an early concert or coming later at 5PM for an evening concert [All times do not have the “Nigerian time consideration”].  
 
Limited Space remain and the band has stated that there is a high probably that those spaces will not remain for long. So buying tickets in advance is encouraged, as there might not be any ticket sales at the gate. You can buy tickets from the band directly, if you catch them at any event near you or you can buy your ticket online at www.tinyurl.com/repjtanna, be sure to leave your details so the band can keep you apprised.
August 30, 2017
Playlist,

Raining Season Reading List By Oluwadamilola Adisa

The rainy season, for me, is reminiscent of newness, a clean but messy space where almost anything is allowed and people are nicer and more sympathetic than usual, well some people. I am reminded of long forgotten rainy afternoons when my sisters and I would run around in the rain before my parents got back, and long, dull rainy days lit up by the exciting narratives of good books.
Rainy days are great days for introspection, the kind that heat and sun just won’t let you do. Something about rain falling slows us down, enough to think, to actually live. When it rains, we end up stuck in traffic, stuck in places that we can’t leave, stuck at home, waiting… And these moments of waiting, of pause, are viable moments for reflection, for living, for getting out of the vicious cycle of our thoughts and smelling the fresh, clean air that falling rain brings with it, and maybe thinking new thoughts or letting our minds wander down new paths and terrains.

Here’s a list of good books that will light up your days this rainy season.

A Room with a View by E. M. Forster

I saw “Isoken” recently and the only thing that I could relate the movie to was this classic by E. M. Forster. 
Oh! The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
We all need a little sunshine especially in the dark and gloomy days characteristic of rainy seasons. We also need reminders sometimes that good and bad things happen to everyone, not just us. So, while we are waiting for the rain to stop falling, Dr. Seuss reminds us to stop the figurative waiting that we unconsciously do and start exploring. Plus, it has pictures, so there’s something here for everyone.

This is Water by David Foster Wallace

This is a short but contemplative read. It’s actually a commencement speech. David Wallace reminds us in this of the things that we so easily forget, so easily ignore. It is a call to focus on the truly important things.

You are a Badass by Jen Sincero

I loved this book. Jen Sincero’s voice in this book is honest and authentic. The quotes before each chapter will make you stop to think, sometimes. So, remember, even if a car splashes water on you some random day this season, you are still a badass.

Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit

This is a collection of essays and it left me more informed about feminism. It also left me a bit pissed off. I wanted to talk about this book for days and days after I read it. I still want to sometimes. 

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Because we all have some sort of resistance to work and this book gives us the extra motivation to push through it and get to work creating whatever it is we’ve been putting off: a perfect morning routine, a traffic playlist or more serious things like that project you should be working on.

The Art of Stillness by Pico Iyer

Everyone needs to be still sometimes.

Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl

I enjoyed this book when I read it. It’s about a smart girl, Blue, who finds herself in a literal mess and finds that her father is not all he seems to be. I especially like the fact that the table of contents is literally a list of recommended classic texts if you like that kind of stuff.

Inferno by Dan Brown

Dan Brown is one of my favourite authors; I always enjoy travelling with Robert Langdon, his main protagonist, as he follows trails and deciphers codes in some very interesting and historical places. Inferno is his most recent work. I’m still paranoid about this. I still sort of think Inferno already happened and we’ve just not been told about it.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is one of my favourite authors. This is a mystery thriller about ten people on an island and is full of twists you can’t even think up.

The Defining Decade by Dr. Meg Jay

I loved this book because it made so much sense. It is about how to live the twenty-something life intentionally. If you’re as confused about adulting as I was, you might not find that the murky waters of adulting are suddenly clear, but you’ll be more comfortable with uncertainty. I mean, what does ‘supposed to’ even mean?
What are you reading currently?



August 17, 2017
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