It's Never Too Late or Early!

Every time I score myself on my 2013 goals, it almost always involves the word "FAIR". I'm all for mapping out plans on how to achieve your goals (hey, if you've got plans ...go ahead and write them down!) but I've noticed that I've achieved more outside my well-written goals :-)  It's not because I'm not diligent but when it comes to New Year Resolutions, I'm not just a stickler! I find more satisfaction in being more intuitive rather than the planning of stuff. Okay... maybe that isn't too right but you see, that's me!

And just in-case you're feeling sad that some of your plans haven't quiet materialised, I put together these inspiring quotes just for you! It's never too late or early to start! Enjoy your weekend:-)

Are You Too Afraid To Feel Beautiful?

I may own a blog but on most days, I like being a blog reader even more. hehe :) It's nice to blog-hop to inspiring sites especially when you're having a not-so-good day. I have my favorite bloggers list: Worship Matters, The Boundless, Pattylaurel, Mike's blog and of course Kevin Martineau's blog.  Kevin always gives the coolest and somewhat hilarious reviews. I may not agree with everything on these blogs but they give me a nice view of what goes on in other people heads :). A few weeks back, I made another discovery: Lauren's blog - goodwomenproject.com ! I read a beautiful post and I truly felt beautiful! 

Okay, here's an excerpt:

We are too scared to talk about our bodies as though we actually love them.We forget to rejoice in having a body uniquely our own, and glorious in its uniqueness. It’s easy to find beauty in nature around us, or look at all our friends and find their beauty so evident. But it’s harder to look in the mirror and acknowledge the beauty right in front of us. 

 

It’s hard to accept a compliment on a day you feel particularly not beautiful. It’s hard to accept the fact that our point of view is not the only one that matters: there are people who love us and find us beautiful even when we cannot see our own beauty. We are too afraid to acknowledge that we are worthy of being loved, and beautiful because of that.We are too afraid to rejoice in our own beauty.

Isn't that just true? You can read more on that amazing post here through Lauren's blog.  

Walk through today with the solid belief that God has made you beautiful!

Have a blessed day.

Ibe

My Fellow Nigerians!

It's another Birthday for our great nation, Nigeria - she's going to be 53 tomorrow! And like every other year, our President is going to give the usual October 1st broadcast to his 'Fellow Nigerians'. But like most other fellow Nigerians, I'm tempted to scream 'Enough already!' The trick is old. These broadcasts have their place but they need to be put aside and let real work be done.

It can be hard to keep hearing of promises that you know (and they know) will not be fulfilled. Our leaders seem to make light of the situation of the nation but really, they are just hurting themselves too. They don't seem to realise that this is about us as a nation.

Right now, I'm at a place where I know our cries for better governance may never be heard. And no, I'm not frustrated - just introspective. I believe earnestness and seriousness often go hand in hand, and those are qualities our leaders don't seem to possess. The obvious way out is for each of us to do our little parts to better lives around us. Let's start with showing some commitment and diligence on our jobs. How about helping to fix that road, drainage or electricity problem if you could afford it? These seemingly inconsequential deeds when put together will most assuredly make a difference. May be not immediately or even in our generation but they are sacrifices worth making for our unborn children.

I would feel sad if this came off as one of those 'My Fellow Nigerians' speeches. Let's face it; it's time we put our hearts, hands and money where our mouths are or else we would be just like the leaders we complain about!

Yippie! It's Friday!

Howdy peeps! This is somewhat late but I decided to write about it anyway. Reflecting on God's immense love for me has  always made me want to scream out. Now that I'm a blogger, I love that I can scream all I want! I also understand that there's an added responsibility attached to every post I write. That's why I always feel the need to make sure that whatever comes out on this site is worthy of your time. So as simplistic as it sounds, that's how I'll be  approaching my blog posts. 

        

Now check out what I mean in  these photos:

Limbless Nick Vujicic and his Wife and Baby Son Kiyoshi

Nick Vujicic is a limbless evangelist and motivational speaker who got married in February, 2012 to his wife Kanae Miyahara. Recently, he announced the birth of his son, Kiyoshi Vujicic on his Facebook page, writing, “Dream come true. Holding my Baby Boy Kiyoshi. Amazing grace and gift from God. Love you all so much. Thank you for your showers of prayer.”

Indeed, God is awesome, and loves us than we know. 
I'm happy to share. Enjoy your day and please stick around for more posts :)

Maximizing the Rest Of The Year: Be Enthusiastic!

For some reason, at some point in our lives, we all have to deal with feeling down. The same reason why, personally, I've never stopped wondering why Mondays always signal the end of a carefree weekend and at the same time, the beginning of a work week! You're practically left to motivate and inspire yourself or the chances are that you'll end the week in a grumpy mood.

It's interesting to note that the word enthusiasm comes from the Greek word "God within". It's just something you've got to pull out from somewhere within yourself. I remember walking past a man years ago - he was almost jumping, speaking words to himself. I knew he was turning himself on because I heard some of the words but for all the world, he looked like a charging lion! I thought, "My goodness, he has flipped!" I have never seen anyone act so strangely. Though, I know better now but I don't think I'll act differently if I saw someone acting that way. Mehn... that was some scary stuff!

I have learnt to let my enthusiasm come out. If I'm excited about something, it shows (let's not even consider the opposite!). Enthusiasm is contagious - even for yourself. I truly believe that if you act enthusiastic, you'll become enthusiastic! Not just for a day - but for the rest of the year!

I love shoes and I'm not pretentious about it!

 

I saw this photo of this awesome but insanely expensive wallpaper shoe online (20,000 whooping dollar!) and I've been mulling over it ever since. This shoe is impossibly stylish, I don't even know where to begin. It's so cool. Oh, the power of shoes :)

Although it will take me years before I actually save enough money to get a shoe like this :) But thank God there are still a lot of good quality shoes out there that I could subscribe to! In fact, I remember making it a duty to check out a few other shoes online not minding whether I could afford them or not.  I can proudly say I've stuck to my "no shoe shopping" rule for three months so I could allot my budget to food and other secure way of spending my hard earned money! hehehe.  I just wish it were possible to get an authentic designer shoe without paying a big sum for it!

Hmmn.... I've been looking to sprinkling  a bit of sophistication to my collection of shoes but I guess for now, all I have to do is just make more money and then my dream shoe will arrive!!!!!  Chai, I just love shoes. We all have weak points, right? What's yours?

Progress Report, Anyone?

Happy new month friends! Yep, I know it's been a while. And no, I didn't forget I owned a blog. I had to give some attention to the job that pays my overdue bills ...hehehe. And I've gone back to school! Not exactly sha - I've been studying for a professional exam. So you see, I've had my hands full considering that the year is fast running to a close. Wasn't it just yesterday we were saying "Happy new year?" . If you're like me, you'd be a bit concerned about some plans that haven't quite turned out as expected. Talking of plans and timing, I have never really been a deep sleeper, so I haven't religiously set an alarm for years. No need to. When you've had a mum like mine who will always barge into your room at 5:45 a.m to wake you up for prayers, you have substantially less need for beep, beep, beep. But occasionally, when I have something that just can't be missed, I'll set the alarm. And check it. And check it again. And then check it again, because maybe I unset it the last time I was checking. And then again. Okay, I know it's a few months to go but we still got some time! Maybe not much but we can get at it again and maybe this time it might just work.

While we're at this whole end-of-year talk, have you seriously thought of learning a new craft? Hmmn... a while ago I was writing a scholarship essay on the practicability of some of the things we learned in school. You remember quadratic equation, right? What did you do with all that knowledge? And what exactly have I done with all the algebra I was taught? I'm kidding o...hahaha. Ofcourse I know we're to apply the knowledge gotten in our daily life dealings. I've also wondered why people can't get trained (professionally) in fields ranging from housekeeping, painting, vulcanizing, weaving to brick layering to raise their profile or seek better employment in a crowded marketplace like ours. I also think blue collar jobs should pay better! Yes, the amount of physical and mental efforts put into these jobs just wows me.

I've decided on an idea that instead of just having random blog posts, I want to talk about selected topics that would be an interest to you - like me scheduling short posts once during the week on how to maximize the rest of the year. We're here to encourage each other, right? Let's get at it then!

Love you guys
Ibe

Happy Two Months Birthday to Nathaniel's Daughter!

 

I feel blessed and thankful for this blog. I've had people call, send text messages and even drop comments on my posts telling me how inspired they've been reading my posts. I feel like a celebrity already ...lol. I've thought back to my many adventures and this has been my best so far.  Yes! I’m on an adventure! My main intention is growth– my own growth. Yes, sure – of course there’s a desire to inspire, contribute, connect, share, network, blah blah blah… But deep down, it’s all about my own deepening, my own expansion, my own exploration. 

There were times when I felt like a part of me couldn’t quite connect to this adventure. There was the “fear” of the unknown –  new context, new ideas, new environment and the need to be different. Will people care to visit my blog? What should my posts be like? Will they enjoy it? Will I have time for myself?  and oh...the big one - wouldn't I be making myself  vulnerable by being honest and authentic in my posts? You see, I don't like anyone misinterpreting, or getting me wrong – like “oh, she’s some stuck-up lady who thinks she's got something new to tell us…”. But seriously, I’m someone who loves a lot of predictability and quietness – yes, I do enjoy a quiet room with no care in the world... Haha!

However, a realization hit me exactly two months ago "Don’t wait; enjoy some adventure!”and boom, I started this blog! And I mean immediately. Don't get me wrong, I had nursed this desire for a while but it took that one decision.I just wanted to enjoy being myself – nothing more… In a way, I’m glad that that has happened, because I felt it with such conviction and inner clarity. Who knows? Maybe this is a version of my calling. And hey, you can be part of this calling by sending in your contributions and observations to ibenath@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you. Have an awesome week!

ON BEING SINGLE

This post is one difficult one for me - not because I don't know what to write but because I feel it's an extremely personal matter and I don't consider myself an expert when it comes to relationships or marriage talks :). Ironically though, I've been constantly nudged to write about this but I'm going to tread carefully as this is a sensitive subject. I'm going to address it with the eyes of someone who's been through this. As someone who has had to go through being single, I know waiting can be so so difficult. Often times, you think "Is something wrong with me?", "Why didn't this courtship work out?", "I'm I not pretty/handsome or good enough?", "Why do only the wrong guys/ladies come my way?". I also understand the feelings of wondering if God even have plans of giving us a husband/wife?". How about the general perception  that true fulfillment can only be found in marriage? I have to state here that sometimes, the reasons for being still single might simply just be that the guy/lady in question doesn't yet feel secure, mature or even ready! I also know of some other reasons that are even too absurd to type!

I have always been one to evaluate things and learn from them. And some of the lessons I've learnt from this special period of my life are contentment, patience, faith and trust in God's word. These are not virtues I gained automatically - it took some phases and processes and I may probably keep re-learning them but trust me it can be achieved. When you get to this point, you can be sure you would be happier. I know some of you might be thinking "Well... Ibe, that's you, not everyone is like you. Some of us don't even have age on our sides and we're actually bothered". I'm not going to act like I have all the answers but honestly the only answer I have to this is that you choose to submit and trust in God's timing and plan for your life.  Tell God about your desire to be married, express your impatience and ask for His strength to believe and trust in His judgement for your life. Remember, marriage was His idea in the first place!

I learnt My Lesson!

My lesson teacher.....lols

I love books ehn... I have burnt food because of them sef  but that's even small compared to the other wahala(s) I got myself into. While my mates were reading mushy stuff in Mills and Boon, I was busy reading about crimes, detectives and spies in James Hadley Chase novels ... lols. I can't even begin to tell you the stunts I pulled to get these novels on a regular basis. One time, during my early teenage years, I had gone on an errand to Mama Amina's shop to buy something (I can't even remember what), I met this guy who was obviously a supplier, offloading some things into her shop. I don't know how it happened but my eyes caught this new book sitting pretty on the dashboard of his pickup van. I used to be terribly shy but not when it came to books. So, I summoned courage and asked if I could read the book. He went on to remind me of how that he didn't know me and that he had not even read the book....blah blah blah. I reassured him that I lived just adjacent Mama Amina's shop, that I would take good care of the book and that he could get it on his next round which was two days away. Imagine my joy when I found out it was What's Better Than Money? - a JHC novel!

I'm a fast reader and I can read all night if a book is particularly interesting. By the next day, I was through with the novel. That same day, Mama Amina called me while I was going out on an errand somewhere else. She asked if I remembered a particular guy who had come to her shop to supply things the previous day, I nodded yes. She then said "he don die o". "Die?" I asked. "Yes o, dem say him die yesterday for accident after him leave my shop" she answered (by the way, why would you tell a child such a thing?). I rushed home and quickly removed the novel from where I had hidden it in my school bag. I placed it on a small desk at a corner of the bedroom I shared with my sisters. For days I wouldn't go near the desk or even look at the novel - I was scared!  Prior to that time, I had heard and read so many ghost stories.What if the guy's ghost came for his book? The book had to leave that house! 

We've got to talk!

I had  to deal with some unpalatable situation over the weekend that left me with puffy eyes. And honestly I don't know how I pulled through (I'm still pulling through sef). If someone had talked with me or even saw me then, they wouldn't have known I was going through anything - yeah, I masked it well :) but I was stressed up inside. I didn't even think I could pray, so I decided to have a heart-to-heart talk with God about it as against some fire brand praying (you know what I mean). Just this morning, Jeremiah 29:11 came to mind "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."  I love this verse of the bible and even as I type this, it calms me. I don't see the enormity of what I'm going through - all I see is the awesomeness of my creator. Knowing that He has my best interest at heart is so sweet and it makes me feel so loved. Trust thrives in perfect love. I want to just trust in His love for me.

I know, so many folks are going through varying unmentionable negative situations and they honestly feel they can't go on. Things may have got so bad that that your physical and mental health is telling tales. I can understand how everything just seems to get to you - from noisy people and places to happy people and your pulse is rising! Would you trust me if I tell you that God has a plan? And yes, mine might be child's play compared to yours (or vice versa) but does that make it any easier? How about talking to God about it? Remember Isaiah 43:26? "Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified."

It gets harder if you keep sulking, so stop! Don't feel down. Trust that God will make a way for you. I know it doesn't look like it now but it will if you stop sulking and do something about it. Like me, you can start by having a we've got to talk moment with God. Trust me, you'll get a hint on what to do. So guys, as you begin this new week, I wish you all shades of awesomeness and super strength for every trying time. This is coming from someone who is working her way through one.

Lots of love

Ibe

Get It Off The Ground!

Source

The hard part about owning a blog is that you constantly have to come up with mind-blowing or at least interesting posts. People want you to tell them what they've never heard before or better still, in ways they've never heard it before. The ones that would least likely care about what you post are people who truly love you and sincerely want to support you. So they would regularly visit your relatively new blog to read posts they've probably read five times previously. But you know, these people are in the minority compared to your target - the whole world! That's where tenacity and creativity come in. You have to daily seek to improve on the quality of your posts - they must inspire people, make them laugh, and even solve their problems! And yes, they may agree with some of your points but it wouldn’t necessarily mean they would apply to them:)

A lot of people I know are either doing some ridiculously low-paying jobs in cities or talking about landing that big job in an oil company, but never make it because it's a lot easier to just talk about it than actually do something about it. And they don’t want to waste their time on furthering their education, short courses, career building projects because they’ve got some old family friend over there who they hope would help them. If they told their well doing educated friends about their inability to get a good job and they are advised to improve on themselves, it will be embarrassing for them because they think people will think “oh, it's been seven years since you did that ND program and that's still all you've done”. I've had to go through this too. It’s why I don’t make stupid projections anymore. But it’s also why I desperately want to improve myself, to break away from unrealistic expectations.

Maybe You're Retarded!

Hey ... hold on, I'm not insulting anybody o. I just remembered an incident in a book I read some time ago. This guy was trying to explain to his bewildered younger brother how cars work and the technology behind them, from an auto engineering point of view. The brother listened politely and would always nod. Then his elder brother asked, "Do you understand?" and he shook his head no. Frustrated, the elder brother retorted, "Maybe you're retarded". How could he not have understood something that simple?  :) I'm sure there were times when you got that  "Are you dumb?" look too. Let me throw in some consolation here ( I need it too, hahaha) - okay, er-mm ... you're pretty smart, afterall none of us are Einstein, except Einstein, right?

Seriously  though, we use laptops, fly in planes, use appliances in our homes, wear designer clothes, shoes and bags, right?  So, how come we don’t bother with understanding the technology behind them? It gets even worse, people can count off their fingers the numerous problems with the environment, our politicians, our economy, our country ... the list is endless. If we would simply bother about the science or reasons behind this, the more likely we would be to press the agencies that are involved in handling them. The less you know about a particular subject matter, the more you are likely to be manipulated or influenced by people who may not have your best interests at heart. Let's at least get a simple understanding of things. We don't even need to have technical expertise. Just have an idea!

The Child Bride Saga

I wasn't going to talk about it because so much had been said already but I realised  I owe my myself, my sisters and every girl child this. I want to lend my voice to this cause.You see, I have four sisters - two of which are in their teens and I consider them still children! Imagine my alarm when I read that every year, an estimated 14 million girls across the world become child brides and in Africa, 42% of girls were married before turning 18. Scary stuff!!

Last week, the Nigerian Senate voted on a constitutional amendment that would have helped protect girls from underage marriage but the clause setting the age of consent at 18 failed.There's been so much outrage among Nigerians - celebrities, groups and NGOs have been campaigning by showing their disdain on twitter, Facebook, blogs and other social media asking the senate to revisit the issue. I'm impressed and proud of the intensity and passion with which they spoke. So I found it funny that one of the lawmakers who voted for this clause, came out to say  he never meant to vote for child marriages. He said he voted in favor of whether a married woman is deemed to be of full age to renounce her Nigerian citizenship and not whether a woman can marry before attaining the age of 18 years. Really? I wonder if he has daughters!

There's More!

The last three months have been the best months of my life when it comes to achieving  some outward lifelong goals.  I’ve been more creative than ever and it doesn’t feel like I’ve worked at all. Spiritually, it’s been ... well, almost  the opposite:) I've come to accept that it's just a season. If someone was watching closely my walk with God, they might not be utterly encouraged but I'm a project with a goal! I've always believed I and God are best friends because I’ve experienced an incredible relationship with Him . Denying this, is like denying that He’s real. But there would always be phases, obstacles. It's not really about the outer conflict, it's the inner conflicts because that's what really shapes us. They mold us.  In fact the only reason I’ll respect anyone is their honesty about their doubts and struggles, if someone doesn’t have those, then I cannot relate to that. There is grace for rising after falling. This is the gospel that we are supposed to be living.

What I’m saying is that, it’s not just about your good morals, singing and listening to gospel songs, regularly being at that bible study meeting , dressing conservatively or being on that  missions trip. It’s about God being your goal because all the seasons of struggle, doubt, despair, victory, defeat and faith are just parts in the whole story. I hope these all makes sense but you are welcome to disagree.

While growing up, I had "role models" - people I wanted to be like and impress so much. I would have done anything to be like them. But if I had just stopped worrying about that and believed in how unique and special I was. And just enjoyed the inspiration I got from their lives and not worry about trying too hard to be like them, I would have maybe become even more successful. I'm sure, more than anything, the Lord wants us to just spend time with Him and enjoy what we share and stop trying desperately to impress Him with works or activities.

PS: I  have some people to thank for these recent changes.You know yourselves :) Thanks for giving your services as gifts to help support my cause for this blog and my other goals.

Much Love

Ibe

Gratitude Doesn't Even Describe It - PART 2

Life on the sick bed wasn't all medicines, IVs and injections. On my bedside table were several get well cards. There was the ever squeaking shoes of the nurses. They also giggled and laughed all the time at their station even when people were dying! Anyone who has been in the hospital, even if it's just overnight, knows that you never sleep very well because almost every hour a nurse comes in and has to do something! :) Then there was me in that odd gown and sweet-smelling talcum powder all over my body because I could get bedsores from prolonged immobility. 

This hospital, like most, was spotlessly clean yet, I could smell sickness and disinfectant in the air - I was assaulted by it from the first day I was brought in in that wheelchair. But it paled in comparism to the real problem - there were injured people everywhere. Some of them would never get better. I knew because I saw it in their eyes! 

I'd been sleeping one night when I first became aware of the commotion. Distant and muffled cries coming from down the hall. I could barely make out the words. "She's dead o" Voice one said. Then, "Where's her mum?" Voice two asked. I glanced over but I couldn't really see anything as I was tied to the bed. At that point, I just wished I could go for a walk to clear my head.

There were happier times too. One time, I had my close friends visit and we relieved funny stories. Funny images were planted in my head and the follow-through was tears streaming down my face from laughing so hard!

To be continued ...

Gratitude Doesn't Even Describe It - PART 1

I have always thought about writing about a cherished and life-affirming period of my life. It's a true-life story and it's going to be in series. I hope I get to encourage and inspire you with it. Here's my story:

 Gratitude Doesn't Even Describe It - PART 1

One day, some months after my twentieth birthday while I was lying on the hospital bed with my right leg hanging, writing in my diary about my many dreams, I realised something. I may never walk again. Surprisingly, I wasn't scared - I was numb of all feelings except that burning sensation in my fractured leg. It was as if I could feel the blood vessels vibrating. But I ignored it. I couldn't also pray the whole time. I thought it was odd that I felt this way but I couldn't help it.

Me & my hot legs! hahaha

I saw someone coming in. I knew it was my Dad. No one else was allowed to see me at six in the morning. I looked up and for a beat he looked at me with an expression that seemed like sadness. Everyone seemed to wear sombre looks. I was used to it. He sat beside my bed and I continued writing. I wrote about how I imagined being that CEO, only right now, I didn't believe it!

A moment later, I thought back to one night, a year ago. My room mate and I were discussing. She kept saying that it couldn't be stopped. "What?" I had asked. "Accidents, sicknesses and especially death." She spoke slowly, her teeth seemed clenched, eyes focused straight up at the ceiling. When I pressed her for more, she said, "I'm afraid I'll end up just killing myself." At that time it had given me shivers, a clammy feeling ran throughout my body. But  I talked myself out of it saying she was only being dramatic.

Well, here I was a victim of accident - one of the things she talked about! More than anything I wanted to break free. I worried that I might remain tied to that bed. I was stuck. So I figured if I couldn't change the situation, maybe I could pretend it wasn't happening. And I decided that what I needed were books and a small radio. And I made my dad get them.  I would exchange novels with one of my favourite nurses. The books were my ticket out of whatever I thought I was in.

To be continued ...

Life Can Still be Fun!

Life Can Still be Fun!

Hi folks. So… I’m very excited that I have an another opportunity to start afresh! How was your weekend? Mine was uneventful - not boring but really quiet - I took time to rest and prepare for the new week. Thinking of which, how come Mondays come too quickly and Fridays take too long to come? Funny right? Could that mean that we are lazy people, who would rather play (or rest) than work? :)

I was talking with my friend Z some time ago and  I said "... but God rested!" His response was thought-provoking - "It would be unfair for you to imply that He rested in between work. He rested after He was done with His work ." You are welcome to disagree like I did.  You see, it can be a choice between two good options. Should I keep working till everything is alright before I even consider resting? Or can I take rests intermittently?

I know, work in itself is unavoidable or else we would starve, be stagnant and be redundant. Of course the first justification is this is what God commanded. In the book of Genesis, it is recorded that after Adam sinned, God gave mankind the world and everything in it and commanded the use of this gift- we were condemned commanded to work :) It is therefore assumed that if we work more, we would eventually attain a sort of happiness and fulfillment. I agree, idleness and inefficiency is foolish but it would be too simple to conclude that because someone desires flexibility and rest in working schedules, they ae trading some ambition and prestige in exchange - they're just willing to trade it for the moment!

Like my friend Z, continuous work may give you some satisfaction but it may be temporal and full of anxiety. Yes, I'm for diligence, resilience, discipline and hardwork . At least then, you would have a valid reason to rest. What is more, any concession you make, make sure you get something in return to justify it. Have a beautiful week!

Much love

Ibe

I've Got Some Sew-cial Skills!

I've Got Some Sew-cial Skills!

 

I've been agonizing for hours, thinking of a grand opening statement that will hit you like a bomb! Something so brilliant, so interesting, it'll make you want to eat my blog. But sadly, I’ve been typing words only for work related things since yesterday. Now, I feel I am ready to write again, just for the sake of writing. And if you indulge me, I would love to once more share my random ramblings with you.

You see,  my interests tend to run in different directions. I always try to understand everything and I've actually  learnt a little about a lot of things.  Once, I enrolled to learn about fashion designing while waiting to get into the university. I didn't get to finish though but I can't wait to learn more and show off my sew-cial skills! hahaha. For now, I'll make do with exploring fashion designing sites. I also love sketching things, anything. Yet, I'm still not an expert. Some of my sketches are  funny, some thought provoking, and others are just down-right stupid! Subsequently I'll be showing you some of my sketches. That's not even all... I'm beginning to believe that I'm a philomath. Don't worry,  it's not some sort of dreadful disease! I find myself in this position all the time and sometimes it's hard "finding my place". I hope I have sha!

I'm working on learning a new skill to the point of mastery. Until then, I promise to be a responsible blogger hehehe! I'm excited to hear from each one of you, so please feel free to drop me a line on the comments box. 

Much love

 Ibe

Imagine My Shock!

Imagine My Shock!

 

Wow, you talk/ look/ laugh/ walk just like your Dad!

Familiar, right?  I'm getting a little nostalgic and misty-eyed here. You see, my mum used to speak to herself especially in the shower. I disliked  it. Well, I just found out I'm doing same! Ok, I'm a little worried about this one (I got other things from her too) and I know what you're thinking: big deal. I mean, it's not that bad! :(

My mum could also obsess for the whole world! And I have come to acknowledge that it's usually hard for me to achieve anything great without being just a little bit obsessed with it. Infact,  I've always believed obsession can lead to greatness! :) But when exactly can we say obsession is too much? Ok, I know what you're going to say, don't bother - I'm learning to take things slowly.

Fair enough. I get it. It's isn't really a bad thing to take after one's parent(s) - some of these traits have been  beneficial to us but I also know  some  may emerge problematic to us and our relationships with others. Either way, we should be thankful for having had the opportunity to learn from their imperfections. Come to think of it, we weren't even given the priviledge to choose what gene to  accept or reject - there was no way to know which traits would eventually pop up in us. I hope, this brings you some comfort. I know it does for me. 

PS: Please keep in mind that this post is not intended to keep fueling the need to place the blame on our parents for every wrong thing going on in our lives, but rather, to gain a better understanding of our own behaviour.

So, let's get a little chatty here - what trait(s) from your parents have helped you become a better person and which would you rather do without?

Much love
Ibe

MERCY!

MERCY!

 

"Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:
 but obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief" 1 Tim 1:13

When you think MERCY, do you think of someone's name? Does it  mean we really could "get away with" sin, or does Mercy imply that we had no hope on the score of justice?  For me, when thinking about the true definition of MERCY or at least in the context of God's mercy towards us, it feels a lot like the same judge letting you go, after finding you guilty! :)

I am a grateful product of God's mercy!  Every time I hear stories about other people who are struggling with sin and guilt, people who've been dubbed as messed up and hopeless - I always close my eyes and remember how it was for me to be in that place too. I still find myself there from time to time, it's never really smooth sailing all the way, but then I'm pulled out of it - again, only by God's mercy. It is something I can never ever work for or earn, it is simply a gift given lovingly by God to those who receive it wholeheartedly.

Just Hanging Around!

Just Hanging Around!

 

I have been writing all morning, but at this rate, it will be hours before I publish my next article. My eyes sting - how I long for my bed! I make stories in my mind all the time, but why is it sometimes difficult to put words to thoughts? :) Ahhh! I can hear someone laughing in the next room; I can't deny it's familiar. It sounds very much like one from someone I know. Yes! Judith, that's how she laughs!

I remember I used to get this question a lot - “Are you related to Judith?”. Judith had been a next-door neighbour when I was serving this great nation :). She was pretty and fair skinned, just like me ... hahaha. I just had to be her sister; she was same height and same eyes ( I believe the eyes bit though) as me. But we weren't sisters. They didn´t believe that. I would get frustrated looks, “Are you serious?”. I would smile as if knowing something that they don´t, but so obvious that I should. Then I would go - "Don't worry I would ask my mum"  but this time they giggled.

Okay, to the present. I'm currently reading “Beyond The Fall Of The Night” by Arthur C. Clarke and Gregory Benford. If you've ever given a thought to the thereafter, then this is the book for you.  I stumbled into some amazing and mysterious adventure involving the few people left on earth after everyone else disappeared! Hahaha.... scary! But seriously, what are the chances of the entire human species disappearing entirely (ofcourse with the exception of the rapture o)?

Err, let' me rest a bit while you think about that. Thanks, as always, for reading and stopping by and commenting.  Have a fun-filled weekend!

Much love,
Ibe

What Is It About Fashion Anyway?

What Is It About Fashion Anyway?

 

Like most ladies, I love to dress pretty and look good. Dresses, especially short ones are my specialty...lols! I also love to wear pencil skirts, they are just so flattering, especially with heels. They give you that sleek and elegant look! There's always something classy about sticking to what suits you. For me, clothes make a strong visual statement about how you see yourself, you can't go about dressed up like a carpenter designed your dress! Haba! 

However, my fondness for nice fashion statements does not take the place of  common sense. I have chosen to live within my means and spend the money I actually have on things I actually can afford. It's not that I have a great disdain for high end fashion items. I love the fact that I can still pull off a decent look without going broke. Who knows, someday, I might be able to splurge on a Louis Vuitton bag and Christian Louboutin shoes!   

I don't claim to be an expert on fashion o but these tips have worked for me:

Why Do You Like Football?

Why Do You Like Football?

 

I saw a snippet of yesterday's match that had the Nigeria’s Flying Eagles losing out to the Uruguay U-20 national team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup holding in Turkey. I also learnt the  loss to Uruguay was the second in less than two weeks after the Super Eagles also lost to the South American nation at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

The loss was painful but my empathetic nature makes me appreciate their efforts. I mean, these guys (footballers) push the boundaries of human performance - they are regularly involved in things that are simply physically unavailable to the rest of us. I have my concerns though; I think only non-sports types ( especially those of us who are not football freaks)  would understand. I still don't get why people would huddle close together (most probably in a bar or viewing centre) with people they don't know in front of a massive plasma TV screen  while watching people they equally don't know, passing around a ball! The action is always too fast and I don't get to hear a word the football commentators say! How about the thunderous shouts from adoring fans throughout the neighbourhood as each goal is scored? The hype alone gives me an adrenaline rush. It worries  me to tears when the Nigerian team is losing out! :)

MIND YOUR BUSINESS!

MIND YOUR BUSINESS! 

 

I don't like busy-bodies (does anyone even like them?) but minding one's business isn't exactly possible these days. Try minding your business and you're most likely to be  perceived as being aloof and boring! I know, no right thinking person would  appreciate anyone meddling in their affairs but I believe minding one's business doesn't have to mean indifference or turning a blind eye to issues or people - it should mean dealing with issues with firm convictions while being careful on where to draw the line. It doesn't also mean living an uneventful life, in fact, God challenges us to go out there to make a statement by living a life of purpose and excellence. I personally believe life should be free of envy for others, anger, greed, and all the other negativity we have to put up with daily. I'm a dreamer, right? :) 

HAPPY NEW MONTH!

HAPPY NEW MONTH!

 

Happy New Month friends! I'm so grateful  we made to the first day of the second half of the year! I'm curious though. How far have you gone with your New Year resolutions? Were you able to get anything done? Are things not going quite as you had planned? Are you becoming a little impatient?

I know, it could feel quite normal to just sulk and feel bad but if we can't keep living that way, right? If we do, then we're likely to have more bad than good days and consequently a bad year. Just remember, striving to make things better doesn't always mean to feel good.We have to learn to adapt to the unexpected and uncomfortable aspects of life while working towards changing them.

I noticed how much impatience, anger and worry (specifically mine) halts or even slows down the pace of achieving set goals. So, friends, let's choose to be strong in the face of challenges because they are inevitable. Remember, there's work to be done, goals to achieve, people to encourage and lessons to learn.

Here's my sincere prayer for you today and the rest of the year - "And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us;the work of our hands establish thou it" Psalm 90:17

So with that in mind, have a truly awesome day, week and month!

Much love,

Ibe

Let Me Ramble Away!

Let Me Ramble Away!

 

You see, my search for a picture for my next post is giving  me issues. So permit me to ramble a bit. I love writing (ok, you know that already) and reading anything that ranges from the Bible, novels, magazines to blogs (hehehe...yes, blogs o. I don't want the law of karma!). Another thing is, er, wait, I wish I could speak Hausa fluently (can't explain my love for the language sef!). Infact, it was one of my subjects in school, yet, I don't know beyond Mai Nene?, Nagode and Yaya Aiki?

My people, just in case you don't know, the hustle in Nigeria is real o! I've been wondering why  the Nigerian meaning for the word "hustle" can't be re-framed to mean anything that  highlights positive attributes such as hard work and diligence? So basically, I'll be upping my game in terms of quality, educative and interesting contents because I don’t want to be termed a hustler o. I appreciate and celebrate the hard work most young Nigerians put into legitimate creative collaborations, their studies, and business strategies - all of the nitty gritty factors that are far from glamorous, but actually very productive.  That is our cue my friends, as long as it is not against God's word, doesn’t kill us, demean us, or illegitimate, by all means, let's do it!.

Don't Feel Bad. Feel Glad!

 Don't Feel Bad. Feel Glad!

 

I don’t know about you, but lately, all I hear is about MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE! Ofcourse, I enjoy hearing other people's success stories and I don't mean just in financial terms. I love it when people are able to impact lives positively or even correct a wrong in the society. 

We hear it all the time – if you can see it, then you'd have it! So it becomes increasingly frustrating when your dreams don't come true. Take me for instance, I have always known that in the long run, sitting in an office working on someone else’s dream wasn’t going to suit me .But until I'm able to add small actions to that desire, I might as well be day-dreaming :)

So, I would like to share with you some things I have learnt from some successful people I have come across and read about:

WHAT IS TRUE FRIENDSHIP?

WHAT IS TRUE FRIENDSHIP?

A true friend is  someone who will stand by you, no matter what. Someone who you’d eventually consider almost family. And by friendship, I don't mean random people you bump into on Facebook, Twitter or BB and tag on your photos. Those aren't your friends, those are just people you happen to know. If you have people around you who you can share honest conversations with, people who will love you with no judgments, people who encourage you to do better in life and make you feel safe---then you have true FRIENDS.

 

I believe in the power of friends who stick together. I have  a group of friends I had since school days, some, I grew up with and I know they have my back and I have theirs. It's not about the number of friends you have, it's about the quality of friendships you're able to keep...these are the kind of friends you choose to grow old with! Time and distance do nothing to diminish the bond we have with these kinds of friends.

Little Things That Make Me Happy!

Little Things That Make Me Happy!
I'm grateful to God for a new day, my family, a roof over my head, food and an opportunity to better myself.Yes, I know we can't  be happy all the time but it's nice to think about the little things that lift our spirits on somewhat regular basis, isn't it?

Here are some little things that make me happy  :)

- A really good song on a nice day

- Fresh sheets on my bed

- Hot Cakes!

- Reading a good book in bed

- When my dad calls or texts just to see how things are

- Cute babies!

- Simple compliments

- I love that smell after rain (don't know what it's called though!)

- A cup of chilled water on a hot day

- Seeing other people happy.

So, what are those commonplace things that make you a little happy inside?

Photo Credit: shutterstock.com

MY DAD, MY HERO

MY DAD, MY HERO!

Myself, my dad & my sister

I'm often too shy to open up about my family. And it's such a shame that I started my blog after Father's Day. You see, my father is not the expressive-mushy kind of dad, in fact he texts me like a telegram: IBE, HOW ARE YOU?

He consistently prays for his daughters and he believes in our natural talents and intellect and knows that success would find its way to us. I'd like to believe that our relatives should be sensible and considerate and completely understand us.My dad epitomizes this. He always shows us unconditional love, it was something I’d taken for granted until I realized from talking with some of my friends that they had no similar view of their dads.

My sisters and I are so blessed to have him.So bear with me folks as I gush about my dad, hopefully you'll be able to find my ramblings useful as you plan to appreciate those special people in your life.

Routinely Break Routines!

Routinely Break Routines!

 

For those of  us who work, have you ever had that feeling of being stuck in a rut? Maybe, your daily routine, year in, year out is: shower, breakfast (optional), work, lunch, work, dinner, TV, sleep.I remember when I was working somewhere, I had to work on Saturdays too, and then by Sunday, I was already thinking about work again. There didn't seem to be any  break in that routine. 

 While it's easier to coast through a familiar routine, straying off a well-worn path can bring more colour and spirit to your life.

What does it take to shake up your life? Try these:

Good Morning Lovely Readers

Good Morning Lovely Readers

Do you like Mondays? Monday mornings always symbolize a fresh start for me. It’s an opportunity to hit the refresh button and start all over again.To take one small step toward something important. To believe that my dreams are possible. To visualize myself moving forward. To be positive and have faith in God.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a happiness freak. I'm not going to throw a party inside a collapsing building and say "Hey, let's forget about our sorrows!". That would be foolish. You also have to deal with your challenges head on and be accountable for your actions.

This is exactly what I am working on personally, living my life each day, with a sense of accountability   because at the end of the day we're not only accountable to ourselves or to society but to God.

Have yourself a wonderful week. Take a moment and think of this as being the first day of the rest of your life

P.S. Special thanks to my faithful friends who prayed for and encouraged me last week.

Can you share with me how your typical day goes? 

Much love,

Ibe

Weekend Teaser!

Weekend Teaser!

 

How Old Would You Be If You Didn't Know?

I know everyone wants to ask off-the-wall questions but when you get in the habit of teasing your brain, you’ll be amazed at what you end up seeing that you didn’t see before.

Someone asked me this question some time ago. Let me start with myself, hehehe... I would say 20? Forever young! 

So, let's have some fun, how old would you be if you didn't know?