He fell down the spiral stairwell…. Yes. It all came back to me some days back; I looked at my eight year old and couldn’t help but be grateful to God that he’s still here and that he’s in great shape – no negative aftermath from that fall.
I’m sure you’re familiar with the spiral stairwells a number of apartment complexes have. At a house we lived in sometime back, we had one that led from the kitchen balcony to the parking lot. It was our secondary exit and we were aware of the danger associated with this type of stairwell, so we kept the kitchen door and the safety gate just before it closed all the time to ensure our little one didn’t go out and get hurt.
You know how you identify the hazards in your home and put certain things in place as mitigation? Yeah. We had done that, and the barriers were well understood by all occupants of our home. Our home was safe, or so I thought, until that afternoon. I can’t quite remember what I was doing but I was upstairs when I heard the most heart wrenching wail ever coming from downstairs. My son was crying loudly and calling out ‘Mummy… Mummy….’ I raced down to the front of the house but he wasn’t there, then I quickly went to the back and found him at the base of the stairwell. He had fallen and bumped himself here and there but thankfully he seemed okay.
We took him to the hospital for a check. The doctor said he was fine but advised us to do an MRI scan to confirm. We sought a second medical opinion and decided against the scan after being properly advised. Thank God for good counsel.
I needed to get to the bottom of this incident to make sure it never repeats itself. A number of things contributed to the incident but this was the most prominent – Someone had come to stay with us for a few days. On this occasion, this person left both door and gate open and my toddler on discovering this decided to go on a let’s see where this road leadsadventure. After considering everything, I arrived at the root cause – we did not share this critical safety information/expectation with our guest.
What barriers do you have in place for safety, security and your overall wellbeing at home, school, work, and so on? Are you actively communicating them to all stakeholders? You see, if people come along and defeat or bypass those barriers intentionally or ignorantly, those barriers are as good as not there in the first place. You can’t go to sleep after putting barriers in place, no matter how strong they are. Barriers must be frequently checked to ensure they’re still functional and in place.
This story really inspired me so I want to share it with you. Determination, personal development, the power of a dream….
Just watch the video.
Thank you very much @AdeolaFayehun for this. How A Lagos Bus Conductor Became A PhD Holder In Australia
I just watched a video of a young and extremely talented doctor/singer who passed away after an accident.
I’m thinking – he was all that yet his life came to an end after it took a turn for even greater heights.
What happens to dreams, desires, and ambitions when a life comes to an end? Death often means the end – case closed, nothing more to be done; but in some cases dreams outlive the dreamers in diverse ways such that their lives keep speaking and having an impact even when they are no more – people’s memories of the person, people buying into their vision and running with it, the lives they touched, books they wrote, and so on.
While there is life, there is hope. While I’m here, I’ll give each day my best and be sure to leave a legacy. ‘There goes another dream’, you may say; but we must not stop dreaming, thinking and imagining. Albert Einstein said ‘Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions’. So I’ll keep dreaming.
How about you? How are you living today? Are you truly living or just wasting time? Are you making a difference in anybody’s life? Are you making each day count?
Here’s a toast to your success and to fulfillment in life. May all your good dreams come true, and if you feel overwhelmed already, there’s help. Call on God. Access Code: JESUS. He asked us to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us. If you haven’t done so already, this is a good time. And if you’ve pursued and accomplished so many things and yet you find yourself searching for meaning, it’s a good time to call. Make that call.
Have you ever heard about your counterpart in another company earning so much more than you do? Have you ever had your salary slashed because your employer happened upon hard times and decided that this was the best way to keep his Company afloat, while still demanding as much work output from you? Have you found yourself discussing with friends about how well some other person is doing? – someone who moved to another Country, another establishment, or someone who started their own Company.
Speaking of starting your own Company. This seems to be the way to go for a lot of people; some because they have the drive and passion for it; others – pure necessity. When so many people graduate from the University and there are so few job opportunities available, how long will it take before hunger and other critical needs come knocking on the door of the lives of these graduates?
Oh! One would have thought it’s graduates alone, but we can’t forget the rise in unemployment rate that is evinced by the ever increasing number of able bodied intellectuals who wake up each day and do not quite know what to do because they were told by someone that their expertise is no longer required. Hmn! They too are faced with critical needs, and necessity knocks hard on their doors.
But they say necessity is the mother of invention. So we hope that out of this unpleasant reality, something new and extremely beneficial will come out. An idea, a concept… a solution, a cure, a breakthrough, a new recipe… something good that the world will be pleased to pay for… something that will enrich the life of the inventor. Something!
So if you are in this group, my prayer for you is that your mind will function as it was designed to; that your creativity will be revived; that what seemed like death and darkness will give way to the brightness of your rising and that Kings will be drawn to that light… with the associated benefits that come with royal visitations.
And for you whose employer has made a call that has turned what you once considered as gainful employment to a nightmare or a mild version of slavery, know that you have options. First, you could hang in there and hope that things get better – but know that it could get worse, so while you hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Secondly, you could jump ship – get another job somewhere else with a better deal for you. On that I wonder… when last did you update your CV? Also, you could venture out on your own or with a few trusted friends to implement or execute a well thought through and prayed through business plan. But know that the business terrain comes with its own challenges and can be tough, especially at start up.
Whatever your case may be, remember that where there is a will, there is a way. Don’t be stuck on methods. Be willing to change your strategy or your approach if that’s what is required to help you achieve your desired reality. Never give up!
It’s July already. Seriously? This year seems to be on fast-forward. Wait, is there any year that isn’t like this? They say time goes by quickly when you’re having fun, so I guess in the midst of all the things that aren’t going so well, there are still some things to enjoy and to be grateful for.
How has your year been so far?
What has your focus been?
Have you achieved some of the key milestones you planned for this year? If yes, super! If not, we have six months to go. A lot can happen in that time. Keep hope alive. Don’t give up. Even if the first half of the year didn’t go well, you can make a comeback this second half and win this match.
Still think.
Still plan.
Still strategize.
Still take action; make those moves that will draw you closer to achieving your dream.
And yes; pray. Pray as if all these don’t work. Pray because in the midst of taking responsibility for your life and how things turn out, there are some factors you cannot control, and some critical ones that you aren’t even aware of. So you will need help.
And lastly, PRAISE! I read two books many years back – Prison to Praise and Power in Praise – both by Merlin R. Carothers. They contain several accounts of people who experienced the help of God because they engaged in praising God. We have several accounts in the Bible too. The most popular one from Sunday School is that of Paul and Silas who prayed and sang praises to God while they were in prison and suddenly there was a great earthquake which shook the foundations of the prison, and immediately all the doors were opened and all the prisoners’ chains were loosed. Awesome. So if you’re in what seems like a hopeless situation, get your praise on!
You may say you’ve tried everything. Have you tried praise?
Jesus Is Lord Service. We call it JILS for short. It’s quite an interesting service that holds about three times a year at the City of David, Eket.
We all take time to prepare… fasting and prayer for sure… and other instructions as God directs. The testimonies are simply amazing.
One lady who attended the JILS of March 2017 shared her testimony today, June 25, 2017. Her son had been afflicted by asthma for a while. During the service, the Pastor mentioned her son’s case amongst other cases. They were all to meet him during the prayer session but being her first time at COD, she didn’t know where the Children’s Church was. She thought – Jesus is everywhere – so she asked Him to locate her son where he was and heal him. From that day till now, they have not had any episode.
Her testimony reminds me of the centurion who met Jesus about his paralyzed servant and when Jesus asked ‘Shall I come and heal him?’, he said ‘Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed’. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go, let it be done just as you believed it would’, and it’s recorded that his servant was healed at that moment. Awesome! Great faith. Great God!
There were more testimonies – healings, supernatural provision, scholarships, and so on.
Miracles still happen.
Have faith. Dare to believe God for a miracle when you need one and if you happen to be in or around Eket during the next JILS, join us.
Right now, you can take your troubles to the Lord in prayer, ask specifically in the name of Jesus, and believe that He will meet your need. He actually gave a personal invitation in Matthew 7:7 & 8 – ‘Ask and it will be given to you… For everyone who asks receives….’
When we talk about hazards in the home, our minds go to wet floors, sharp objects, tall and unsecured furniture, harmful chemicals, hot liquids, gas cookers, electricity outlets, and so on. Our concerns here are mostly physical but there’s more to worry about.
I heard about a young boy who got an indepth exposure to information about sex right in the safety of his home. He loves to read and randomly picked a book from the shelf one day when he was bored. He had exhausted all his books. Page by page, he was drawn into this mysterious world and being totally unprepared for this, his inquisitiveness got the better of him. He now knows a lot, actually too much.
His parents had tried to create a safe haven for him – parental control on DSTV, restricted and monitored internet access, a good school and a close watch on his association so they could influence him to dissociate from bad company. So far, they had done a good job but they were unaware of a hazard that existed right in their home.
You see, a number of couples have books they bought in their early years of marriage to educate them and enable them achieve sexual satisfaction and bliss in their union. Marriage counselors have these books too. At first there’s no problem, but as time goes by, kids are born and kids grow and learn to read two letter words, then three, then everything. Soon enough, they have their own books and you allocate some space to them on the bookshelf, with your books on the highest levels. But they grow, and these days they grow tall pretty quickly (or they climb on something) and one day they venture toward daddy’s books… and the rest is history.
I had a close call today. My 7 year old came to my room to chill while I was wondering what to write about today. Next thing, she picked up a book titled ‘A celebration of sex for newlyweds’ by Dr. Douglas Rosenau. I saw her just as she was opening the book and I said, ‘hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! Drop that book NOW!’ There… something to write about and an assignment for me – Relocate all such books to a secure location and while reading them, temporarily store in a secure location.
Parents… beware of this hazard in the home.
So here’s my question to you – Where’s that book?
Picture credit: websitehome.co.uk
When we talk about hazards in the home, our minds go to wet floors, sharp objects, tall and unsecured furniture, harmful chemicals, hot liquids, gas cookers, electricity outlets, and so on. Our concerns here are mostly physical but there’s more to worry about.
I heard about a young boy who got an indepth exposure to information about sex right in the safety of his home. He loves to read and randomly picked a book from the shelf one day when he was bored. He had exhausted all his books. Page by page, he was drawn into this mysterious world and being totally unprepared for this, his inquisitiveness got the better of him. He now knows a lot, actually too much.
His parents had tried to create a safe haven for him – parental control on DSTV, restricted and monitored internet access, a good school and a close watch on his association so they could influence him to dissociate from bad company. So far, they had done a good job but they were unaware of a hazard that existed right in their home.
You see, a number of couples have books they bought in their early years of marriage to educate them and enable them achieve sexual satisfaction and bliss in their union. Marriage counselors have these books too. At first there’s no problem, but as time goes by, kids are born and kids grow and learn to read two letter words, then three, then everything. Soon enough, they have their own books and you allocate some space to them on the bookshelf, with your books on the highest levels. But they grow, and these days they grow tall pretty quickly (or they climb on something) and one day they venture toward daddy’s books… and the rest is history.
I had a close call today. My 7 year old came to my room to chill while I was wondering what to write about today. Next thing, she picked up a book titled ‘A celebration of sex for newlyweds’ by Dr. Douglas Rosenau. I saw her just as she was opening the book and I said, ‘hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! Drop that book NOW!’ There… something to write about and an assignment for me – Relocate all such books to a secure location and while reading them, temporarily store in a secure location.
Parents… beware of this hazard in the home.
So here’s my question to you – Where’s that book?
Picture credit: websitehome.co.uk
Good enough, a kind gesture towards helping a friend make her birthday more memorable had led me to buy the basic cake decorating kit while I still had money. So I thought – if I could make her birthday cake for free and it came out so well, why can’t I do the same for others and get paid?
I designed and printed flyers, and after some weeks of having them in my locker, a friend of mine named Oge, said ‘We have to put them up this night. What are you waiting for?’ So together, we posted all the flyers at strategic locations around campus. It was about a week to February 14, St. Valentine’s Day.
The next night, some guy came to my window. Guys weren’t allowed into female hostels; that restriction came with the territory. He said he wanted a Valentine cake for his sweetheart. He went on and on about how he wanted to make her feel special. I told him the price; he agreed and said he would be back on Feb 13 to pick the cake.
Excited about my first order, I went shopping for consumables and made an extra cake in case someone swung by for a last minute ‘make my babe happy’ solution. Feb 13 came and the guy didn’t show up. What was I going to do? Bongzie, another friend, put a quick end to my misery when she suggested that we sell the cakes at a supermarket in town. We were able to sell one and on Feb 15, she said, ‘We can’t lose the money for this second cake. Let’s cut it up and sell it off piece by piece’. I agreed, and she went from room to room shouting ‘delicious chocolate cake… have a piece. Fifty naira only’ until every piece was sold. With her help, I earned more money than I would have if it was sold as a whole. Now I think about it again. Without these two friends, I may not have overcome those challenges I faced at start up.
I documented the lessons learned from this experience and restrategized accordingly. I offered smaller cake sizes that students could easily afford, took down contact details for each client and didn’t proceed with any order until a down payment was made by the client as a show of commitment.
Orders began to trickle in and I applied my engineering skills in designing colorful cake boxes and in replicating a gas fired oven such that my cakes, though baked in a pot, tasted and had the aroma of oven baked cake. That gave me an advantage and drew more clients to me.
Eventually, I had to maintain a log to enable me track all my orders. I planned my days and weeks in advance to enable me manage my time well and keep from negatively impacting my academic performance. I bought materials in bulk and made additional earnings from retailing eggs and renting out my large pot. My visits to the bank were now more for deposits than withdrawals. I gradually became financially independent and it felt good. I also enjoyed helping people out from time to time when they had a financial need and when it was time to deal with research project related expenses, there was no anxiety.
I maintained this art as a main or side income stream for a while after graduating from the university. I’m ever so thankful to my mum for teaching me to bake and to God for wisdom, strategy, good friends and prosperity.
What skills are you passing on to your kids and younger relatives?
Who are your friends? Do they make you better and vice versa?
Yesterday, I went to visit a friend. We chatted for a while and she offered me cake. I said ’em… who baked it?’ and after she replied I proceeded to tell her about how picky I am about cakes and why.
There’s a whole story here. My mother taught all her daughters to bake. In retrospect, she did a good thing by making us acquire this skill because it has come in handy not just for birthdays, Christmas celebrations and other occasions; it has been a tool for survival.
You see, when I gained admission into the university my mum had recently moved to Abuja. We still had our home to maintain in Calabar and being a civil servant, that wasn’t an easy task for her. I had two other siblings in university so you can imagine, finances were spread thin.
I didn’t have the usual pre-university shopping for clothes, shoes, and other supplies. She paid all my fees, gave me pocket money, and that was it. I wore hand-me-downs from my sisters who were bigger than me so I used to say no one should try hugging me because if they did, they risked getting pricked by one of the pins I used to hold those clothes in place.
Thankfully, my self esteem was at an all time high. It didn’t even cross my mind to compare my clothes with what others wore. Schooling in Northern Nigeria also helped, I guess. We had a handful of people who wore kaftans, bubus, and outfits made from Ankara and other African fabrics, so not much pressure.
By the time lecturers started demanding that we buy handouts, I knew I had a problem. My mum sent money from time to time but it was not enough. I first attempted to sell Bic biros but sales were slow and the profit marginal. Some friends and I applied for a scholarship and got it. That helped a lot and things also got better at home over time so I enjoyed myself for a while but in my final year there were some admin issues and we didn’t get paid. At first I didn’t feel it but about the same time, my mum retired.
Retirement? I didn’t know what to expect so I kept on as if nothing had changed until one day, a friend of mine who had gone to Abuja returned with a question from my mum that was a reality check. ‘What did she do with the money I sent to her a few weeks ago?’ At this point, I gave myself a lecture. ‘Your mother has retired. Cash flow has reduced. You must not give her reason to worry or put her under pressure by continuing to ask for money’.
I began to think – what can I do to earn money? What do I know how to do very well? Biros didn’t work. I knew very soon I would be faced with project expenses. I had to find a stream of income… Aha! Cakes! I knew how to make cakes.
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