It is only natural that, when you present a gift to a child and he says “thank you sir, God bless you, sir,” , you smile and say in your heart “what a grateful child, mannered” and if the child goes on to inform his parents about the gift and in turn compels them to say ”thank you” to you once more, you immediately write down this child’s name in your good book and look forward to doing more for him.

This is the exact case when you are grateful to your maker or whoever your universe reveres. The gift of life is always taken for granted because we see it as our right rather than a privilege. You disregard the fact that millions struggle day and night fighting for a space on this earth. Some lose the fight at birth, some lose to terminal illnesses and some stay half-way waiting to cross over.

Most people who are survivors respect the gift of life for once you die, you will be regarded as a “body” no longer by your prestigious title, your pet name or your nick-name… ”the body arrives at 8 am at the compound of…”    That’s funny right?? Death doesn’t respect your dreams, your plans, your vacation goals, your squad goals, and your most revered bucket-list. So, why don’t you stay grateful for every “Amala” moments?

Be grateful, for whatever stage you are in life because some other people wish to occupy a second in that position. It could be education, it could be business, it could be leadership, motherhood, it could be the gift of matrimony. Trust me, there’s a long list.

Look at this, you dislike your parents because you went to a secondary school lesser than your standards but you forget so quickly that there are millions on the roadside, highway, and market who wish they could see the four walls of a school or at least peep through a window to receive a lecture, but are countlessly denied the privilege. Do you think you are more of a human than them?… if yes, then you need a rethink.

You want a promotion in your office and you regard yourself a failure because you couldn’t attain it -do I remind you the millions tagged “unemployed”?… Certainly not.

You feel incomplete with your female children and you go into an endless search for a male, disregarding the millions who pray for the joy of motherhood. How about those who abandon their talents in search of other people’s talent with the excuse that theirs is inferior.

Many people lose their diamonds in search of other people’s gold forgetting the saying that “all that glitters isn’t gold”… (trust me you do not want to find out what happens to an ungrateful child)

One special thing I know about the universe is (it has space for all of us, all you need do, is to tick “present” in the box that has your name and occupy your space). Now the trick is, some will get there early, some on-time, others at the middle and the rest at the end…but excuse me, we all got to the party and we will take pictures on the red carpet *winks*

I bet you didn’t know an 8year old bagged the prestigious Oscar award in 1979 – Justin Henry but that doesn’t make Cate Blanchett a late bird for winning at 29 – after all, they ticked “present” on the Oscar board.  You need to understand this basic recipe.

We all are stars and we will shine at intervals – that forms the glow!

Be Grateful!

Orisha bi iya ko si – No deity like mother…

Mothers are truly incredible women. There are no words that can adequately describe the role that they play in our lives. Some of us have the gift of friendship with our mother (something that I am personally incredibly grateful for and blessed by), others have lost their mothers, and some have never met their mothers.

We all have a different story to tell about our own, but the role played by a mother is an invaluable thing – whether it’s a birth mother or a grandmother or someone else that might have stepped in when we needed mothering, we each experience a very bond with our mother. A relationship that deserves to be celebrated more than once a week, more than once a month, more than once a year…

I was walking this morning and I noticed a person about 1/2 a mile ahead. I could tell he was walking a little slower than me and I thought, good, I shall try to catch him. I had about a kilometer before I needed to turn off. So I started walking faster and faster.

Every block, I was gaining on him just a little bit. After just a few minutes I was only about 100 meters behind him, so I really picked up the pace and pushed myself. I was determined to catch him. (more…)

What surfing has taught me about life…

It’s an amazing feeling when you’re surfing a wave, and you hear other people cheering you on or have people come up to you afterwards and congratulate you.

But we so rarely remember to congratulate people on their actions in other aspects of our lives. If you see someone doing something you think is impressive, you should tell them.

Celebrate the success of others and it will make everyone’s lives better. Life is not a competition, find your own happiness and stay there!

#life #discipline #patience

The title “Mogaji” is the bedrock and the fulcrum of the Ibadan traditional system, the very foundation on which the superstructure of the system is expected to rest – from the peace, progress and patriotic contribution of every Ibadan household to the sustenance of a system that becomes the envy of other areas of Yorubaland. In strict interpretation, it is a distinctive first recognized traditional title in Ibadanland which connotes the first grade in the hierarchy of Ibadan chiefs. (more…)

Have you ever had that unsettling feeling like there is something not quite right but you don’t know what it is….? We often use the phrase “I can’t put my finger on it”…..

I was fortunate enough to visit the Lulumahu Falls in Hawaii last year. I remember so vividly the adventure of getting there – a hike, a trek through a dense bamboo forest, up concrete steps in the middle of nowhere, through a stream, across giant rocks, and alas an amazing 50ft plus waterfall!  (more…)

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