Thankful!

Days have gone by and I can’t seem to come up with anything. It made me wonder if I was holding back or I just have a lot on my mind.

In order not to go nuts, I decided to write anyway and make this a thanksgiving post! As I heard from one of my favorite people, it heals the mind. So here goes…

I am thankful for the following in no particular order: life, love, family, jobs, the Church, all the people that have come my way, the joys and stress life brings, the tears, heart breaks, laughs, the losses and gains. For dreams, hope, TV shows / movies, computers, cell phones, technology, Scandal (the series), creativity, airplanes, teddy bears, water, colors, shoes, clothes, calories, chocolates, food.  

For the skies, clouds, rain, sun, moon, stars, AIR, sand, rocks, NEPA, pillows, beds, sleep, kisses, hugs, the color PINK, friends, paintings, mirrors, Christmas, Holidays, books, music, languages, children, comedy, bras, boxers, cotton buds, lip gloss, fake eyelashes, tooth brush and paste, bath time, tea, snacks, soaps, magi, salt, sugar, (bread, beans, baked beans, eggs, plantain), air-conditioners, smiles, frowns, DVDs, I-pads, Super Mario, umbrellas, tables, chairs, tooth picks, cinemas, bubble gum! Okay! *breathless* I have to stop before some of you think I am jobless or crazy because honestly I can go on and on!

You have to indulge me for one more important mention though... special thanks goes out to the Don, the King, the A-Z of my world, He is known as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who died and rose again all for my sake, my maker, God almighty. 

He gave me a new song, re-wrote my story, broke protocols to bless me, takes pleasure in giving me joy, loves me unconditionally and gives me hope for a blessed future.

I don't know about you but being a Christian is everything I can ever dream of and for this, I am most thankful!

There is more

Four years. FOUR years?! My reaction when I realized I had been working here for Four years was quite alarming. Suddenly it felt like I was drowning, like I had two big fat hands around my neck, as if this was the end! Somehow the realization of my forth year anniversary in this company made me feel locked up, like I was not moving. But this was good right? Being stable is good. I mean this basically means I am loyal, patient… there are many different ways to see this positively but somehow I had a sickening feeling. What if I woke up 25 years from now and I still worked here?!!! NOOOO! Don’t get me wrong working here has been one of the greatest blessings (curse too) lol. 

Being fresh in the corporate world, I needed an avenue to learn, to grow, to do something worthwhile, to add value... Well, I got that opportunity here. Managing major brands, handling events, being exposed to the production of TV commercials just blew me! 

My first two years was what I will classify as dynamic! I enjoyed every second of it. The power that came with being a manager is inexpressible. So what changed? Did I outgrow it? Was the business changing? Or do I just believe there is more?

As I pondered on this, my mind drifted to my very first job interview. Fresh from Uni, awaiting NYSC, very gingered to serve (make money), still in a world of fantasies! I remember walking into the building on Johnson’s Crescent, suspecting all that was in view. The windows were way too tinted for comfort, the compound was hidden by trees, hardly was anyone in sight, this place was just plain creepy! The only thing that gave me a little bit of confidence was the sight of my Uni boyfriend a few meters behind, cheering me on and supportive as always.

Reality hit hard, I was walking in the shoes of an adult! Funny how I fought many years to be treated like one but I wasn’t so sure I wanted it anymore. Adulthood came too fast!! I remember reminiscing  about the good old days (while waiting to be called) when I could get out of bed and decide whether to go for a class or not, request for pocket money from my family, have sleep-overs, throw tantrums when I wanted something new, barbecue parties, the December homecoming parties for friends abroad(I secretly hated these), you name it! Somehow I wished I had been a bit more serious in school, gotten a holiday job in between or something, surely that would have made me a tad bit more confident! 

FYI, the interview was a flop! The guy almost threw me out of his office believing I had come to mess with his mind or maybe I was just plain stupid – who knows??

I was ‘scarred’ for life. Thank God I did not need to be interviewed for NYSC, surely they would have exempted me and sentenced me to a life of a destitute! It was bad!! **Okay enough of the sad part**

I got through camp and needed a place to work (I had to redeploy from Abia state by the way, which meant I had to look for a company in Lagos to take me in, which meant I was going to get INTERVIEWED!). I must have lost a lot of weight that period not only from the fear that nagged me all day and also kept me awake at night but also from fasting till 12noon everyday (I hated fasting). I needed a miracle!

Finally, I cajoled one of my uncles to help out and I got the contact of the Managing Director of this company and secured an appointment. 

I bet it took all the nerves in my system to keep me alive and sane that morning. With sweaty palms and shaky legs I walked into the reception 30 minutes early, reading Psalms and trying to speak in tongues (I made sure I learnt how to twist my tongue that period, made me feel closer to God).

I was ushered into a corner office with a great view of the mainland express way, somehow this office made me feel warm. The next hour went by like it was five minutes. I mean this man was an Angel! He listened to every word I said like I made sense and explored various ‘hidden talents’ I never knew I had!!

Bottom line is he gave me an opportunity! This was both awesome and scary, kinda like those episodes of ‘Touched by an Angel’ where a human has a divine encounter! Okay I might be getting a bit too dramatic on this one.

The point is I got a second chance and I believe everyone deserves one; you may have flopped a couple of times but that’s not enough reason to stay beaten. There is MORE! I would never have thought I could achieve all that I have in the past four years but for the man that gave me another chance. Trust me; I was a real novice with zero knowledge of the world outside of the walls of my Uni. I thought I was useless until someone gave me a chance to explore my worth… Who can relate? 

The Bible says about Jesus ‘the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’ Bible Ref: Ps118:22 NLT; therefore, give yourself a break, believe in yourself and take another shot at what you want to achieve.

With regards to my present emotional situation, I have not taken my gift for granted neither am I ungrateful. I just know that it is time to do / achieve more. I will keep you posted on what happens next!

Please share your thoughts

All that matters...

So the weekend was far more eventful than I planned. Waking up on Saturday morning, the bliss that comes with waking up beside my husband, the joy that fills the air knowing I have two whole days out of the office, the sound of children playing on the streets and of course the hawkers – bread, ogi, (you name it). Yay!! Saturday!!!

Having my mother-in-law visit for the first time made me a bit nervous, I felt everything had to be perfect; squeaky clean floors, windows, bathrooms and toilets. The idea of her coming to our house and having a meal scared the hell out of me; I mean who can compete with the world’s best cook (well 2^nd best! My mom is number one) but thank God for all those years of having to help out in the kitchen. Judgment day had come! I figured I’d make the most unexpected meal, the exquisite, delicious (my favorite for life) beans porridge and plantain.

Having shuttled between the kitchen and house-cleaning for about three hours, I was ready to drop onto the sofa for a short nap. That wasn’t going to happen as I heard the familiar horn just outside the gate! Jumping up while getting rid of all forms of clothing on me, I jumped into the bathroom to make myself look a little bit presentable rather than scare off the poor woman with my awfully sweaty and smelly body.

That’s how I came out o to see my husband and his mother carrying a boot-load of food stuff as gifts for me! (well us).

 I’m not sure which made me weak, her kindness or the reality that there was more work to be done! She barely sat for five minutes before rushing into the kitchen to prepare fruit salad for us which I gladly downed within minutes while catching up on the week’s activities. We cooked, we laughed, we talked, we played and for a few hours; my world was one without pain, hurt, or any of those negative feelings.

I can go on writing about our escapades from that day but the point is, family is one of the best gifts God has blessed mankind with. I have been through so much in my past to know that without a support system, there was no way I would have made it out sane.

I recall sometime; not so long ago when I was really sick and had to stay in the hospital for a while, I figure I was the most popular patient as the nurses got tired of sending out my mom, sister, aunties, cousins and friends because I needed rest – well so they said.

My first post is dedicated to those who have made life worth living... I hope you are not tired of me yet!