La raison d’être

2014 started not so long ago and as always, so many people started the year with New Year resolutions and high expectations but these do not last very long, do they? It is MAY already!

Loved ones may have passed on but we are still here. It cannot just be a fluke; there is a reason for your being alive still.

Do good

We come across different people in our life time. A group of these people could have particular missions in our lives and once that is done, they leave. Others come to remain in our lives forever and of course there are those who may not have our best interest at heart. But be good to all despite the kind of people you may come across.

It is also worth knowing when to let go. I remember this one time when I found myself in a situation where I refused to let go but held onto this friend. I was asked a question by another friend who is much older than I am. “If you have a dog that you love so much but despite your love for it, it bites you all the time, will you keep it?”

NYANYA BOMB BLAST, ABUJA-NIGERIA, 14042014

On Monday, 14th April 2014, my sister and I set out to work in the city centre of Abuja. We live about 15km away from the city centre so we have to pass daily by Nyanya which is about 12km away from the city centre. We were heading out as usual and at that time of the morning being the rush hour, many were heading out too. It could take up to 40 minutes to get to the city centre with the traffic (this is normally a 20 minute drive from where I live without traffic) and this day was no different.

We left home earlier, at 6:50am, as we had a stop to make before going to work at 8:30am. Thankfully, we both start at the same time. At about 7:05am, right ahead of us, we saw this biggest flame of fire we had both ever seen, my sister was calling my name and gripping my arm so tightly, the fire exploded which caused the entire area to shake and there was such a loud bang!

Constantly reminded...

I am constantly reminded of the little things that we take for granted,

I am constantly reminded of the gift of friendship and how I have a part in making these relationships work,

I am constantly reminded of how my thoughts set a pattern for the things that eventually turn out to be my actions,

I am constantly reminded of how perfection is a word that no one will ever attain,

I am constantly reminded of how many may do the same thing but that each person is talented in their own unique way,

I am constantly reminded of so much strife and hatred in the world and reminded to live peaceably with all. Despite culture, ethnicity, race or religion, we all bleed red,

I am constantly reminded of how fleeting life is, as a few loved ones are no more,

And I hope that someday when I am gone, my life would have counted for something meaningful to many...

Mount Cameroon

For those of you who have asked in recent times about my next adventure, I did the most daring thing I have done in a very long time.

Away from stress, sorrow and everything I did a climb of 4,090m (about ten times the height of Aso rock). It was brutal!

"The mountain is part of the area of volcanic activity known as the Cameroon Volcanic Line, it is said to be the highest mountain in West and Central Africa". Every year, the race of hope takes place with people running up and down this mountain as a challenge. It is amazing how people are motivated to do different things.

A group of 13 of us decided to brave the odds and climb Mount Cameroon. This group was a variation from different walks of life and ages. There were two in their sixties who happened to be more fit than I am by the way.

Last trip to Abuja...

“D.G Women Commission” he bellowed in that way only he could pull off to make everyone laugh. Good morning Uncle Sam she said shyly. He had watched her grow up and she remembers him for as long as she has known herself. Why he chose that of everything there is to call Odachi, only he knows. He was late again and got teased that he would have been left behind.

About time to set off and they got into the cars and left Zaria for a conference in Abuja. Uncle Martins made them stop at that ‘cos and doz’ spot in Kaduna, he always makes that stop on his way to Abuja, by now everyone knew to indulge.

Uncle Jenks’ jokes were always enough to send anyone into fits of laughter. Everyone remembers one of the characters he was in a play, he was called ‘chokali’. Although Prof. Oga Steve Abah was a character of his own, he is somewhat the quiet one, advanced in years and experience.

My Country, your country

Patriotism to one’s country is not only in giving up lives for the country but it starts from everyday interactions and the pronouncements made about the countries.

Being a Nigerian, I may have lived in other countries but home for me is still home.

Some people move abroad and then the very place where their families are and where they once knew as home before suddenly becomes a dreadful place. Don’t get me wrong…I admit there are certain things that are which shouldn’t be or which aren’t that should be but let’s save that for another day…

OFFICE POLITICS

In various work places, different people come together so opinions of all sorts are expressed. There can sometimes be a conflict of interests so office politics happens quite often in different work places. From the malicious colleague, to the one with a sense of humour, or the one who calls the shots, the one who is easily swayed and there are different other categories of people.

If it were just polite and rude attitudes, that would have been very easy to deal with but I also find that the world might have been boring and too predictable, don’t you think? The part where people are manipulative or negative, that makes life unbearable for others but that’s also quite interesting. Sometimes, the negative energy can be a spring board for some or could easily be passed around and that makes a person dread walking into that space everyday. The sad part is, if you have a job, you probably spend the most part of your day at work. You might not necessarily like what happens in the work space but that is probably your main source of income so count yourself lucky! There are many others who wish to have your job. Well, good news is that there are ways to deal with negative energy in work places.