How are you? Don't be quick to answer.
Hold on a second, think about it.
I'm here. I'm not going anywhere.
I want to know. I genuinely care about you.
So how are you? Come, here is a hug and a pat on the shoulder. I'm glad you are here.
I know this question always comes with a cliché reply of “I'm fine.” It's the expected answer.
It's the first lie I was taught in kindergarten. I was taught that when asked, “How are you?” I do not need to stress my brain with the command to assess my feelings.
Rather, there is an already-made answer, tailored to fit into every situation, “I'm fine.”
And if I want to be generous or kind, I should add “How do you do too?” to my response.
Are we ever fine?
What makes life interesting? The money? Beautiful things? Bad things? The drama?
I will say everything. Everything makes life interesting including the challenges.
Imagine how boring life would be if we had everything we needed, enough money to sort out our needs. Imagine if we didn't have to work, go to school or do anything. Just roam the earth, eat, grow old and die.
I'm getting a headache thinking about it. The truth is there will always be something, a challenge to keep life interesting and going.
So I don't think we are ever 100 per cent okay. When you can afford your needs you start thinking of how to expand your business or build more skills to make more income.
Having a hard time?
Tough times sometimes last. Yes.
Sometimes they do last but they won't be there forever. You will have great times too. So let this be a consolation for you if you are going through some hard times right now.
Life is not fair. We have established that which is why I encourage people to genuinely go out of their way to find joy.
Life is hard. Do that which makes you happy even when life is showing you shege. If you dwell or overthink about the tough time, you may get swallowed.
Broke and have no money?
See, this one is a huge problem. We need money to survive, to fund our purpose, to support our families and to live the kind of life we desire.
Nobody wants to be poor or broke with no money. But, there must be poor people and there must be rich people. The world must have that balance.
So if you are broke, make efforts to get out of that phase. Work smart and hard. Be financially conscious.
It's not going to be easy. You may never become a Millionaire but it's okay as long as you can have enough to live a comfortable life.
Don't be shy to ask for your worth. Leave a job that doesn't pay you. It's your life and finances are a part of life.
Are you confused about life?
I am battling with this myself. Sometimes I have that Eureka moment where it seems like I have figured it out.
I start following that part and something happens to either shake me up a bit or move me to another path.
But I believe that it is in confusion that we find clarity. While the paths may come with twists, the goal remains very clear. What is that goal for you? This is what you should build around.
Beating yourself up for a mistake?
I'm looking forward to all the mistakes I will make in my 30s and the lessons I can learn from them.
What were you thinking? Mistakes are bad? Nah. You are human. It's part of our DNA.
There is still life after mistakes. So you sieve through the mistakes like a farmer in a maize farm. Take the corn—lessons and discard the chaff.
If you beat yourself up with a cane for this mistake, what will you use for the next one? Koboko?
I try to see my decisions as a part of the journey not as mistakes. Sometimes, decisions are made based on available information or knowledge. As you get older you know better.
So strive to be better and make fewer mistakes, but when they happen, give yourself the grace to be human.
Did you lose something or someone?
Grief can be tough. You just never recover from it. You learn to live with the pain. It may dull over time but it never goes away.
Yes. Some days the pain will be heavy, you will remember them and fall like a sack of potatoes, grieving.
On other days, you will stumble on a memory of them and laugh with tears dropping from your eyes.
There is life after grief and pain. No. Scratch that. There is life with grief and pain. Live it for the people you have lost.
Here is a hug if you have lost someone close to you. I lost my brother a few years back and a mentor/friend recently. Grief is tough.
Life may not be easy. To be honest, I was sent here without permission; all of us were. LOL. But we are here and we will make the best of it.
So, how are you doing?
How was the first quarter of the year?
Did you get those things done?
Did you show up consistently?
Don’t be shy. Please share.
I know I'm late to the party but…
Happy New Month!🌹
Cheers to having the time of your life in this second quarter.
With love and everything beautiful,
Chinonyelum.
First, question!
Would you consider teaching your kids differently? Since it was a lie that we were taught. What truth can someone teach their kids?
And then, I planned being a millionaire last Q, but see me nowww!!!!!🥹