DESIRES

THE WEEKEND - EPISODE 2



I couldn't hide the gush of smile which afterwards turned into loud burst of laughter. A loud hailing revived me back that I was actually standing before a man waiting for an answer.

"Well, just to have fun basically is what would have brought a rare beauty like us out". He asked few other questions simultaneously between my best friend and me.

Soon, we were in and we waited in eager for the main event. Couple of minutes into the whole function, there started to be a difficulty in the technicalities of the instruments used. In no time the whole anxiety in the air began to diminish and some of us had no option than to leave the event. Some stormed out angrily while others expressed their anger ferociously. In order to quench the anxiety because I knew for sure I couldn't return back home with all the practicalities displayed in my mind. To us, that was no definition of fun and we immediately came up with an idea of settling in a club. Thankfully it was on a Friday which means anything goes.

I could feel right from the entrance the energy of the people in there. Obviously the people in there were having fun like it was their last. The serene was so conducive and I concluded in my mind this was the best club I've ever attended so far. Cheekily my friend smiled as if she knew what I said to myself. I wondered why it had been men attending to us all the while. Here before us taking down our orders was a cute fair in complexion dude dressed in a very neatly ironed shirt with a well gatored trouser to match. His hair made him look like he was from the Arab states. Let me not mention about his smiles. It looked imported. My friend had ordered and it was my turn to. I ordered a Chapman as starter and in few minutes, I ordered for intensive alcoholic drink. The name I can't remember now. I remember I danced and grooved to every song played out of the exhibited loud speakers by the DJ. I sang along without missing any lyrics to the popular songs played. Almost like ninety percent of the songs played I knew them off heart. As I sang to a very danceable song, I was politely requested by another guy to accompany him to the dance floor. "Oh! Lord" I said out loudly to myself. I looked round in three sixty degrees and didn't see my friend anymore. The next I would turn to see, she was in full position taking charge of the dance floor with some guys. I laughed and didn't want to be deterred so I danced till I was out of energy. That was the last thing I remembered.

I was brought back to life by the rev engine of a neighbor. I hit my head slightly and I stared at the messy bottle again. "Whoa!" I said. "Could it be me who then ordered for this drink? Drank till I was unconscious and drove myself home?" I thought with a heavy heart as I stood up from the floor. Nose diving into the bottle slowly, I smelt the drink and immediately I knew it was mixed.

Another “Whoa” slipped out of my mouth. I went into the bathroom and poured the remaining contents into the bath tub. There and then I was satisfied and I started figuring out what to do. I went downstairs to the living room and I got the shock of my life.




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DESIRES

THE WEEKEND - EPISODE 1



I woke up obviously tired with pans and tonnes of headache. And it all looked like I was been nailed on as I still didn't get full control of myself as a human. Resonances about the previous day has failed completely. I sluggishly pulled the duvet over from me and sat upright looking into thin air like I was induced by some kind of persons. I was there for minutes before scratching my head and there I broke my fixed nails.

"Oh! Gosh" I shouted and stared at the broken nails lying helplessly on the bed. Then I pushed myself away from the bed and right before me was a half clean mirror which gladly portrayed the person whom I was at the moment. Peeking at my scattered hair and plunged face I realized I had just recovered from my state of thundered drunkenness. I sniffed my nose and pushed with my index finger but that was none of my business at the moment so I thought. It wasn't the first time I would be drunk but this was actually the first time I would be excessively drunk beyond corrections and measures.

In a Sheepish way, I sluggered away from the mirror not because I needed to do anything important but I hated the fact that it had to remind me of whom I was actually. Closed minded as I was and heeded to nothing I was been told. The freedom I have always wanted is here and I got it beyond more than I thought I would need it. It smiled at me and said "Yes Meriah, you have been accolade with your utmost dream of freedom. Here is your chance to prove to the world who you are and to what extent you can make things happen". As I walked away to nowhere in particular, I was just roaming about the room with no specific intention of actions to carry out. I noticed a bottle of half placed under the bed with few contents still in it. I moved closer to it so as to get a closer picture of the strange object. And there it was. A bottle of Henessy. "But I don't drink henessy" I said loudly to myself. So how the hell did it get itself into my room? It was there and then it dawned on me I was at a party the day before on sighting my shoe.

It happened so suddenly. I was dressed in a full fucial pink transparent dress. This dress I ordered which I got a wrong item at first and returned before actually getting what I really ordered. Few hours before the event, it was though as if it would be my last. Anyways that's how I lived my life. I lived it without conscience and posterity. I needed no one to tell me what is wrong and what's not wrong.

"I must dress to kill today. After all I am here to mingle and do a little show of the natural." Those were the exact words I said to myself after applying the last touch of make up on my face.

My friends and colleagues have always admired my face being the round one that fits for a good bespoke of specs. Not to mention about my smokey eyes, I have had a guy who just staring at my eyes as he spoke and for every second he spoke, he always complimented them. I closed my purse which had only my gadgets and earpiece with some light make up kits for emergencies. I looked around the room and smiled at myself satisfactorily. "Gbam" the door closed behind me and I could hear the sounds of my stilettos and I was well pleased. Six inches stilettos aren't my thing always but I needed a higher grade of confidence to boost my alter ego.

Stepping out of the compound I removed my shoe and wore my flip flipflop which is the tradition for us women, I heard a bang on my passenger's side window. I wouldn't have noticed any one was there due to my enormous concentration by replacing my new shoe to a lower form. I peeped from my side eye and saw my old time friend same as my bestie who we had planned to go out together. I thought she had changed her mind when I didn’t hear anything from her again as I called only to hear the regular voice in from the other end. I wasn’t in total astonishment to see her but what got me scared was the way she acted like a stranger. I wound down the window and unlocked the door. The simultaneous sound made from the door she shut also resonated with my final loose of strand of my shoe. She immediately said her battery was flat and was just hoping I wouldn't have gone before she arrived here as planned. We drove amidst my fuel gauge giving a yellow sign before the red sign. On countless times I ignored the alert and kept assuming the gas would serve us before we get to a fuelling station. I decelerated on sighting the first gas station but the queue in there would make us just lay our bed there and forget we were headed to an event. I kept on saying silent prayers alongside my best friend as we gisted. The last time I said a prayer, I can't recollect at all. Alas we got to a gas station with lesser queue but the hike was almost like double the previous price. We had no choice as my best friend had made enough justice to the atmosphere with her sweet talk of plans we will execute at the event. The event which was organized by our then head boy as a get together of our set back in high school. I immediately fueled with a well served number of litres and it just looked like it was an endless refueling.

Finally the sound of the pump ended and I brought out my debit card to pay. As I did my seatbelt, I spied at my friend who was watching an hilarious short clip. From the sound track, I knew I had watched it so I bothered not to interrupt her at all. In no time, we were at the venue and we were ordered by a very tall, dark guy. He was fully kitted in black apparently appeared to either be a bouncer or a well trained protocol officer. I wouldn't have seen his face due to the dark side beyond my view. I just followed his hand features and "thank you" was what I said as he nodded back in affirmative. Immediately I saw him through my mirror he had other duties to perform. He directed a huge SUV beside us. My bestie would have caused a scene because as she opened her door, it collided with the opening from the SUV too. Which made a loud sound. Thankfully, no dent whatsoever feasibly appeared and that was how we walked in to the red carpet with anxiety and gracefully cat walked till all eyes were on us. There were screams here and there as we kept seeing old faces. Some who were married and others like our single status.

Immediately, we were accosted by a very bright and charming chap who obviously was a presenter doing his job dutifully. Answering one of his questions, I remembered he said "what would require damsels like you choose to be hotter than the event itself?".



This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The Ditch "I" - Part 2

I am very sure you are still wondering what I meant by the ditch “I”.

The word “I” is so strong. In English language, it is referred to as personal pronoun. It is used to describe the person speaking. It is also the 1st person singular and also a subject. When God speaks he always says I. he says ‘I am the light, the truth and the way..” obviously that means there isn’t any way or light except him and we can only come to God through him.

And when we often talk to people and we say I, it shows some form of responsibility. A funny scenario of a guy who impregnates a girl and when he’s been asked, he says “I am the one responsible for it”. There is no need to bargain furthermore who did it.

Here is the breakdown of the ditch to be ever careful of according to Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 8

In verse 1 he said: when we get to the land which our LORD has promised on oath to our ancestors, we should remember him always. It simply means when we have eaten and we are full; when we are out of our struggles and challenges, out of poverty, we should not forget our LORD GOD.

In verse 2 he said: we should remember that the wilderness he led us for all these while was to test us in order to be humble. The wilderness as stated earlier is our poverty and years of suffering. We should never forget nobody was born rich no matter what rich family he/she was born into.

In verse 3-4 he said: God humbled us causing us to hunger and then feeding us with manna which we and our ancestors know nothing about. Our clothes didn’t wear out and our feet didn’t swell.

He has actually been sustaining us and providing for us all the while we were nothing. The most watched word of a “poor” man when asked how tomorrow will be is “tomorrow will surely take care of itself”. At this point we are so humble on getting what we want. We don’t even mind prostrating flat to someone who we are old enough to be their father. A saying goes “if you want to know how humble a man is, check him when he is poor”. That is actually when we are most humble. We are humble when we want to get our first contract and when we are well fed, we big in to show some pride. Somehow we don’t know how the spirit of pride imbibes in us.

In verse 5-6 he said: know then in your heart as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD disciplines us. We should also observe the commands of the Lord our God.

I overheard a conversation one day and the question asked was “who is the most aggressive set of human on earth?” And someone replied saying it is the poor man. In fact, that can be true to some extent. We worry a lot on what’s forthcoming and what’s not forthcoming. We worry on what to eat and what to wear. We even cut down the size of food we eat and number of clothes we wear. That’s discipline. That’s the discipline Moses was actually referring to. We discipline ourselves a lot when we talk, who we talk to and how we talk. He says we should not forget all these disciplines when we are full and well fed. When we are satisfied shouldn’t be the time we need to begin to consider if all these disciplines and sacrifices we made back in the days are not necessary bat all. When we were actually wearing our one pair of shoes and one shirt with trouser to church and we are loyal to God, we should never forget all those.

When we read further to the end we will understand all the commandments. The moment we begin to refer to ourselves and begin to count on our might of how far we have come and how well we are, we have entered the DITCH. We need to be so careful a lot. When we begin to be hailed by people in our surroundings, and we acknowledge their praises forgetting it is GOD who brought us this far, we have entered the DITCH.

When we are full and have entered the Promised Land which God has given us, we should never forget to always give him praises for all he had taken us through. He molded us and tested us in those trying times and to some extent we have passed them. The moment we switch over in status, we should not switch over from GOD. It is more like one who is living in the slums and finally gets a miracle to live in banana islands, for sure his caliber of friend will change. That should not imply that we should start referring to the slums where we were once before as a lowly regarded place. WHEN WE FORGET WHERE WE WERE COMING FROM, GOD WILL ALWAYS REMIND US OF WHERE HE TOOK US FROM. AND WHEN GOD REMINDS US WHERE HE TOOK US FROM, THAT’S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE HARD. Taking a cue from 2Chronicles 26. King Uzziah became king at age sixteen and his fame took all over the land. He began to feel too big by trying to burn the incense by himself which was meant to be done by the priest. Despite the priests warning him, he was immediately struck with leprosy by God.

The moment you have fallen into the ditch you begin to question yourself how you rose to the top. As a matter of fact, when God promotes us, it is not permission for us to be lawless. Increase is no permission to be lawless just as you should know that you are guided by spiritual and physical laws. “GOD IS NOT AFRAID OF TAKING US TO THE TOP. HE IS CONCERNED OF WHO WE WILL BECOME WHEN WE GET TO THE TOP”.

5 quick principles we should never forget when at the top.

a).We should not forget our communion and fellowship with God.

b).No matter how high he takes us to, we should always depend on him continually.

c).We should never fail to understand why GOD took us to the top and why he wants us there. There are destinies attached to us all at the very point we were waiting on God for our breakthroughs.

d).We should always make God’s business our business. We are so consumed by our needs we forget to acknowledge God. Like the saying “more money more responsibility and problems”. Let us not be too consumed we forget to give God our own time because he took us to where we are.

e).This is the most important of all. The best is saved for the last. We should always have a heart of tenderness and correction. We should always be humble and willing to accept faults, errors and deeds. If we won’t accept the rebuke of men, then we have no choice than to accept the rebuke of God forcefully. Most of us, when we are not yet at the top, we are so arrogant we don’t even take to corrections. Like they say “money answereth all things”. How then shall we now be corrected when we are at the top?

Think about it.

PAEZOUT

The Ditch "I" - Part 1

I was on the internet yesterday and I saw a post of a very rich and classy handsome Nigerian guy. Igbo to be précised. He is the younger brother to an elder brother. By now you should know who I am I am talking about and whoever comes to your mind is who I am referring to. LOL!!! The picture showcased him, his elder brother and their mum by the pool side. And when I looked closely, I saw lots of advanced gadgets on the table. And stretching my eye, behind them was a black Mercedes bus parked amongst other exotic cars beside a very big mansion. I decided to continue reading and then I got to the comments section. I couldn’t but see how much rages were fired from people either out of enviousness or hate with lots of anger. I just wouldn’t know why. But one comment caught my eye which was “we aren’t taking any of all these to heaven. It is vanity upon vanity.” A reply to that comment said “even the phone you used to post this comment, you aren’t taking it to heaven. So enjoy your life”.

To me, that was E.O.D (end of discussion). I mean, we are all entitled to OURSELVES and whatever CHOICES we decide to make. It either for our benefits or not. And we alone will bear the consequences.

Nothing good comes so easy. And if you want to confirm, ask the gold. The gold surely has gone through lots of beatings and shaping and carvings before looking so bright and glaring at sight. When the end product is out, we stare so much we are always in awe. But we forget who carved it out. It sure didn’t carve itself and out itself into that fire and came out despite those harsh conditions it went through. Someone definitely did that.

We are definitely like the gold. We were born into this world with raw talents and skills and acquisition by our master and creator, God. Just like the parable Jesus gave in the bible, the multiple talents. Everything good must have gone through something before it’s so beautiful at sight. Everything God created is beautiful and marvelous in His sight.

While we are now on earth, we are now compelled to succeed and even without being told, with everyone and with the influence of society and community, we also desire good things by the sight of things we see. And then we pray so hard we neglect things and begin to bargain with God. Hannah needed a child and she became desperate for the child she bargained with God; if she has a child, he automatically becomes His.

We never forget to fast and pray all for our breakthrough not also leaving out our supposed “enemies” as we push more energy on them believing we are not where we ought to be because of them. Well, if you ask me it mostly because we are not living by God’s principles. We also run from pillar to post and our ears are so straight to hear God speak. We always want that and that’s the very time we become humble. Mountains upon mountains to the extent we are even recognized by those mountains. Mind you, I am not against all these. If you will follow me, you will understand what I am about to point out soon to our own understanding and knowledge.

When the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they always cried lout to God and in His infinite mercies he heard them and always spoke to them through His servant, Moses. When the Children of Israel were in the land of Egypt, the Lord remembered his covenant he had with their forefathers. To those who followed and worshipped Baal of Peshor, they were destroyed. That’s the same with us. When we are waiting and seeking God’s face, we feel it is too long and not necessary. We begin to feel that we are much wiser and better than God who instructed us to wait. Then we go for other options by worshipping smaller gods. We all want riches and wealth but in our impatience, we do all sort of uncalled things out of wrong desperation.

In Deuteronomy, from the beginning of the chapter 4, we see how Moses was instructing the children of Israel on whites ahead of them. The Promised Land which they are about to cross into and possess. He also made mention that those commandments must be taught and passed on to their children and off springs to come. I see teenagers become so rebellious that they think the wrong is the good. They’ve taken the abnormal as the norm. We are being corrected and molded by our parents. Although they might look harsh and stern to us but we have no choice than to do them because it’s of more benefits to us. This is the commandment if God to us and permit me to say that’s what some Americans are actually missing out. They’ve kicked out Christianity among themselves and so why would they know the commandment which God has asked us to keep?

If we read on to Deuteronomy 8 Moses gave some stern warnings to the children of Israel. The stern warnings is the DITCH “I”. You are wondering what that is. I will break it down to you.

The Parallel Line Between This Two

Sometimes we want to panel beat these two words for each other. We want to malign them and make them seem that they are different in every way, including their meanings.
We often refer them as brothers. Well, they might be and also may not be. But one has more prowess than the other.

Let's look at the first one.

What's LUCK?
Luck is success or failure apparently brought by chance rather
than through one's own actions. Luck is also a purposeless, unpredictable and uncontrollable force that shapes events favorably or unfavorably for an individual, group or cause.

Where as, Luck can be good or bad.
Luck can be accident or chance.
Luck applies to a sentient being.

Luck could mean many things to you depending on your area of sight. You might choose to see it as life itself. Or life being fair to you. You might want to describe luck as a no man's world. A sojourner that moves at its own will. It could be with you in less than a minute and will cause an event to look fruitful. But then when you try your hands on it again, it suddenly disappears. And the utterance "oh! How lucky I was spits out from your mouth". That's just the obvious signs.
You would have one way or the other come across a lottery shop or game. Their watchword is "luck". If you think you can be lucky enough to win this grand prize, come and play. And then they go further to say "you can try your luck. It just might come out well".

The ancient Greeks and Romans used to worship luck in the form of the goddess Fortuna. Her name even became another word for luck, ‘fortune’. In the locals here in Nigeria, I know of people who often go the extra miles to look for luck. Still citing the lottery as an example. They would do all that it costs to get it. They don't care the number of times they would roam about looking for what's not lost.
Luck can be used in different expressions. A couple who have been married and eventually get separated would reminisce about the good days. How they both worked to get each other's love and all. And eventually when they will cap their words, they say "I was only lucky to HAVE had her/him". Which means it was just for a period of time till they realized they couldn't go on or cope. Luck doesn't last forever. And if it does, it doesn't come always at a good will. Seeking luck is closely connected to superstitions.

The other half and better side of this is what I will be pointing out soon. What some of many of us call the brother.

What's BLESSING?
A blessing, according to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, is the act or words of one that blesses, or a thing conducive to happiness or welfare. In the Bible, there are several words that are usually translated as blessing or bless. The Hebrew word most often translated bless is barak, which can mean to praise, congratulate, or salute, and is even used to mean a curse. God isn't alone who does the blessing. He's the most superior who blesses, but then blessings could come from anyone. When Rebecca left her family to become Isaac's wife, her family blessed her saying "may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.” [Gen 24:60]

Also we wants to all grow and in the cause of our growth, we desire our parents' blessings so much that we do everything right just for them to pronounce unto us that good will that's in the bosom of their heart. We don't do this and expects our parents blessings as luck. As a matter of fact, it doesn't sound right in your ears. When Isaac was about to die, he pronounced blessings to his son, Jacob.

Blessing is an automatic action that follows us wherever and happens to us whenever. It's not like luck that decides to stay where it wishes and who it pleases. Our creator, our Lord God has blessed us right from the creation of the earth. He pronounced to us to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. So why then would you say anyone is barren in the land? Would you bear a child and say "I was lucky to have this child?". I guess not. No matter the circumstance(s) that would have paraded the child at birth, looking at the pains you went through, having the child as luck would be the last word to spit out. Blessing is happiness. Is there anyone who is blessed and won't be happy? Or would be blessed on temporary basis? Only if you did anything to warrant such. But then, we are the apple of God's eyes.

A blessing is very different from the idea of luck. God is
Lord of the world. A blessing asks for His Divine Protection and help. Whereas luck can be good or bad, a blessing is always good. God’s care for us and the world is called Divine Providence. This concern for us is grounded in love, and is personal and real. Those who do not know God are trapped in a world that is full of fears and evil forces that they try to manipulate with magic and superstition. Christians can look on life and not be afraid, for Christ has destroyed the power of evil. If we trust in Him and follow His ways, nothing can really harm us.

Why do we say GOD BLESS YOU?
If someone sneezes or does something very good, we often hear someone say, “God bless you!” This is a phrase that asks the Lord to protect you, keep you in good health, make you holy, and fill your life with good and happiness. It is the very best thing we can want for someone. We often see everywhere on social media platforms how couples celebrate themselves in every good word of expression they can. And at the end they say "I was blessed to have him/her".

Did I bore you with this whole magnitude of grammar? Well, we just have to be sure and not just sure enough but to know what we are saying.

PEAZOUT!!!**

Give me not what I WANT, LORD

Many times, we desire so much what we want. That's obvious right? We desire because we think we actually need it or because we feel others who aren't as privileged as we got it, so we have to. But we mostly fail to desire what God actually wants for us. When we desire or rather when our desire goes way beyond, it becomes desperation and it might surprise you to see God will actually grant our heart desire.

I know you are reading that first paragraph and wondering what I'm saying. Probably you're thinking I am contradicting myself. Well, be it unto you so you receive understanding and not just understanding alone; but to act according to his word. Let's go through some process(es).

We all know Samuel very well. I'm not talking about your neighbor or friend. Samuel the anointed in the Bible. His birth and his calling. But something happened. In 1Samuel8 we could read how Samuel was old and he made his sons judges over Israel. How his sons also didn't walk in his ways and then the elders of Israel came up to him to sought for them a king. They needed a King so they can be governed and ruled. Samuel did make inquiry on behalf of them to God and the instruction he received was to heed to their cry.
If you read in the subsequent chapters, you will read of how God already had a King for them. But he was preparing him because he was a man after God's heart.

God did warn them of their own choice of king through Samuel. From 1Samuel 8:11, Samuel gave the criteria of the king they were about to have. But would they listen? I guess not. And why wouldn't they? It was because out of their desperation, anything goes. And many times we've been in their position before. Out of desperation we seek God to give us what we think is the best and yes he would give us. And when we are stucked in the middle of the road, we cry out in all of our strength to God to take control. Little did we know that we didn't seek God's opinions first when we needed or went with our own instinct and decision.
Eventually Saul was presented to them and the worst of all happened to them ever since. Before David the one after God's heart was indeed delivered to them as restoration.

In 1Samuel 13 it was about the reign of King Saul. King Saul's dynasty. And when we read further, we see how Samuel instructed him and he failed to hearken.

There are some thoughts about King Saul and Israel

1. God knew Israel will demand for a king. He knew the type they needed. Saul was actually looking for his father's donkey when one of his servant mentioned to him about a prophet who would tell them where the donkey was. God indeed knew there wasn't any way he would bring Saul over to them unless what is dear to his Father, Kish gets lost.

2. The people of Israel were influenced by the bad behavior of Samuel's sons behaviors. So they asked him to get them a king not minding who he was. If he was God's chosen or not.

When we think we want something and God actually gives us, we obviously think it's the right thing. Remember, we know we want those things but did we ask God if it pleases him? If we read the 1st chapters of Samuel, we see all that the children of Israel did. He didn't hesitate to give them what they want because they weren't patient enough. Most times we feel there's a delay on what God has promised us or it's looking bleep at the front and we think maybe you misheard his promised wrongly. But no! He knows why those obstacles are there. In all we do, we can't put God out. Permit me to link this story with America right now. I pray the citizens of America will choose for themselves one after God's heart. One who will restore Christianity back to the foundation and root. One who will be patient to listen to God and all his will.

And I also pray out of desperation, we won't ask God for what's not ours. I pray also, He won't give us what we want. But He gives us what He wants for us!

PEAZOUT

I Am Not Odejimi - Episode 12

My father strolling down the stairs. I've totally forgotten he was around. He came earlier during the noon hours and I remember my Mum telling me of such. But I was so preoccupied with many things.
I was startled at his deep voice and greeted him in a sorry manner. Before I said my verbal sorry words, he had approached me and patted me with his apple on the other hand.
He kept on admiring and couldn't hold his joy of how much pride he had in his son.

"When your mother brought me here, I thought I was in another paradise." That sofa he sat on made that noise which proved he just came from the village.
Thinking it was a cane chair.
He took another crunchy bit audible enough and continued what he was saying.

After giving me updates of the new developments the village had worn, the king's affairs and even leveled it down to Ajoke, I knew he was starting a fire that wouldn't be easy to quench. So I thought.
Stylishly, I bade him goodnight. It was past 12 and God knew what time I would be up to meet up with my new slotted time given to me by my boss.
I slugged into my big bed that could make comfortable for 3 people and zoomed into another world.

A spoon fell and made a loud noise. A sleeping baby would have heard that. I woke up to check my time. It was just 5am. I got out of the bed like one who had been sleeping on bees. Headed to the bathroom and in less than 15 minutes I was done. 5 minutes or less was enough to wear a native. That's why I love native wears. No need to be worried about rumples of shirts or even getting the tie knotted well. Tilting the head upwards like one who wants to be pierced a hot knife. I was downstairs only to see my Mum preparing breakfast for me. In fact, she was done. I was astounded with mixed reactions either to smile or to hug her or even cry. I was 2 steps away from the dining and was staring at her endless movements from the kitchen to the dining to and fro.

Should I go sit and have the breakfast or I tell her I wasn't hungry? The thoughts I couldn't settle with.
Finally I moved my heavy feet to the table and kept on showering praises on her. I wished I didn't have to disturb her for my breakfast. She just wouldn't allow me have anything outside the four walls of my house. The special moments with her during the breakfast was spectacular as it kept on banging in my head. I would have hit a truck coming towards the opposite direction if not for the full headlamp shown on my face. Didn't know I was on the wrong lane. "I need someone indeed".

Finally, I was at work and I met my hardworking boss. She actually apologized to myself and the remaining 6 members she had to put on tough and awkward resumption time. Reasons are we needed attendees and sole representatives for a huge contract for the company. Being the first time in a long while and existence. To make this transformed into the reality, we needed each Head Of Departments and magnification of files. While still addressing us, the office hone rang and I could hear "yes ma... We are on our way". That was the call from the Head Quarters questioning our preparations. That's the life we live in. Today rossy and not all time enjoyments.

All things went faded before my very eyes as I was lost into another world. I could only see blank walkers here and there and jubilations. Each and everyone jumping and taking turn for handshakes, others doing the hug. The ring from the phone had me jump from my chair. It was all a dream. I had slept off while finalizing the reports for the last quarter. "Woah!" Was what I could utter to the person on the other hand while cleaning my face.

I quickly put a call to mama I would be home late or rather won't be home at all. "Where to my son?"
"We are heading to Abuja. This is really a huge contract and we need to defend this amidst other competitors and rivals."
"My prayers are with you don't worry"

"That's my Iya for sure. I trust you for that" I could hear the shattering sounds of cutlery.

It was past 8 and the next available flight is less than a hour from that. I was tremendously nervous. It was my first time of working outside my usual box. Going through another procedure and even talking convincingly for proposal to be accepted. The last time I stood talking convincingly was when I was representing my department for a debate. Now this phase has a different look. All eyes will be on me and even as a team leader.
While the plane was taxiing, I was constantly reminded of how hard I needed to go on the rivals and how important it was to the company. I started getting sick of their commentaries.

We zoomed into the main building and was humbly welcome before directed to the conference room where we had booked our seats. We were distinctively different amongst the people seated in there. The companies and their representatives present all had a unique style of dressing. Same color of suits and even men's shoes. I kept on viewing and feeding my eyes while I saw the entrance door flung open again for another set of representatives. Now, the conference room was full and I could see the arranged seat were enough for each and everyone without any left.
Then the director as I supposed, walked in stylishly and elegant with pride all over him. I could detect that just as he was wearing a shoulder padded coat and not a suit. After less introduction, he sets the ball rolling.

I just couldn't stop at my glances and amazements the way presentations were rolling from left to right. Debate days flashed back and I can barely tell the difference. "This must worth billions of naira as a deal" so I thought to myself.

It was our turn and been the final presenter and defendant, I knew it must be a good one. It just have to be. One way or the other. That resounding clap, I want to hear it.
I mounted the pulpit with a hundred percent confidence and pride. With my heavy like file containing different design pictures and even accurate price quotation. Half way into the ball played by me, I could see heads just going like a pendulum. This shows in the affirmative and I was impressed with myself. "Was I the one handling this presentation?" Well, my mother's prayers are really working for me.

My disastrous fall dawned on me and I abruptly made a eye contact with a Queen. A beautiful princess. She was more than a damsel. After my mother, she's the next goddess. What made me lose control physically was the face seemed familiar somewhere. And that was how I ended my fantastic presentation with a salt at every one's mouth. I was too eager to un-mount myself and just question her identity and existence.

After on spot screening, we were reduced to 3 companies with good presentation and our company was spare headed. My mother's prayers still at work.
As I saw the branch manager walking towards me, I quickly acknowledged "yes ma'am! I know it wasn't to your expectation but I..." She cuts me off

I dislike when she gives that stern look. But this time that stern look meant something different entirely. Tilting my head to the right waiting for the next bombshell, all she could say was "congratulations.. That we made it through"
Seriously? Was that it? Why was she hard in the first instance? Guess she needed some happiness lessons. During the 15 minutes recess, I came across the stunning lady that caught me off guard as she left for the elevator.

"Errm... Excuse me please" I said running towards her as she was walking faster this time. Like she was about to be kidnapped.
My boss was dismayed as she waved her hand like "what's wrong with him?"

Paracetamol For All HeadAches?

A step mum once abused a child beyond measures. She went as far as putting her hand into his eyes and amputated his legs. Just a 21 months old baby. What was the cause? Because he was crying profusely and his mother went across the street to buy his diaper. She disliked noise and she didn't know of any best way to calm the crying child other than going with what deadly thought came to her. She was too quick to have done that before she knew she was doomed!

They say the most quiet people are the deadliest. I don't doubt that. And do you also know empty barrels make the loudest noise? Right from Elementary you knew that.

What could they have meant by the empty barrels makes the loudest noise? You put an empty barrel close you and yet your volume 5 on your home theater is louder than that empty barrel. You just did the literal action.
But put your ears close to the barrel, and hit it from the outside. You don't need any body to tell you how the vibrations are so eminent. The empty barrel just doesn't stop making that "ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho" noise.

But breaking it down from the parable angle, it means those talkative; those who are everywhere, talk at anytime, anyhow and anywhere always have baseless and pointless things to say. You wake up today and then you set a goal. You keep telling yourself and boasting of how tremendous your goals are. You didn't make efforts anyway anyhow to achieve it into reality. But 5 years down the line, you keep pressing the reset button to that same goal which means you haven't been able to accomplish number 1 of that written goal. That's an empty barrel.

My brother came up to me one day and requested for a particular thing. He said he needed it so urgently. I asked him to find out how much it cost and give me feedback. He actually did and I was about giving him the exact amount for it. But then I felt a grip. I told him to come back for it. Days later, I saw him with a particularly devotional. He had bought 4 of that devotional which cost was above the amount of that need he asked me of. I was surprised and angry at the same time and I wanted to react immediately. I kept my cool and was contemplating if he had done the right thing. God's word yeah right? He wanted to share it with friends. But then again, this particular thing he needed didn't cost up to that.
At first I was convinced he had done the right thing. By buying it and wanting to share it. But you know, that was just a WANT. His NEED which he didn't attend to was laying there and he was expecting me to give him that amount.
I suddenly walked up to him and asked him why he did that. I told him those books, he could have gotten it later and gone for what he needed.

If I had reacted to the way I felt immediately I found out, I would have caused more damage with my words and even with my action most especially. I would have over reacted because his disturbances were too much concerning what he asked of me.

I'm saying always take precaution before any action. You might just realize that planned action wouldn't have been much needed. It could have burnt down and torn things apart. A little thought would go far other than your FIRST REACTION. True, humans are made to make mistakes that can even hurt you to your marrows. And you just suddenly want to kill the person. If you check out wife stabbers and those who beats child(ren) to stupor when arrested and statements withdrawn, it would just be over a very minute matter that wouldn't take 5 minutes to be resolved. You hear of how domestic staffs or workers gets punished. There was a case of a little girl who earned severe burns from her boss. She allegedly poured hot water on her because she wasn't quick to turn off the gas and the kettle was whistling away. When asked where she was, the domestic worker said she was attending to her boss's baby. Just that!!

A lawyer also taking her husband's life and making him go beyond with several stabbings. One who knew the gravity and weight of the law. It could have happened to anyone.

Result into thinking before carrying out your actions. Many times you want to make that quick action to the way the situation was. If you check it out, if that action was made you might just realize that it wasn't even necessary at all. I am a living witness to that. I don't jump into actions just like that. Those close to me can actually testify.

Reason For Emotional Shutdown In Teenagers.

It's no longer news when you see young boys wandering on the streets for no reason. Involving themselves in what's actually against their wish. It's not in their best opinion or decision to have resulted into disastrous acts but like I will always say; something led to another thing.

Let me see your hands up if this thought(s) hasn't raced through your mind before. Absconding, suicide, stealing, punishing your parents, wishing you were never born, or to have been into another family, fighting for no reason and so on. Either of these must have pierced you before.
The reason isn't far fetched. Just roll with me.

Nigeria experienced somewhat that looks like a "free and fair" election in 2015. It was called free and fair because a president decided to concede and accept defeat without asking for any court's process or trial. That day, history was made. Fast forward to a year since the new regime and administration took over, it almost seem like for the whole number of years I've spent in Nigeria; I have never heard of my home country spoken ill of. You walk through one corner, you hear different types of negative comments here and there. Everyone suddenly became a president and governor who have solutions to the country's problems. They made it look so bad like the government just came to sell guguru through out this 4 years. Obviously, there have been good efforts put into place(s). It's just take a strong CRITIC not to realize it.

CRITICISMhave so much been a ball played by everyone's foot and even a tough cow meat that seems to be chewed for long in their mouth. They say if you apply this particular country's method, it will work here. This particular country have started using this method and their economy is booming. But they fail to realize that same country has produced how many "good" presidents so far?

This brings me to our Parents. You see many teenagers just shut down and look so unhappy. They just don't want to have friends and mingle not because their parents have warned them to stay clear off bad friends but because of the way their parents have passed the message. You see some other teenagers go the extra mile by stealing so they can wear what their friends are also wearing. The reason for all these is CRITICISM.

CRITICISM is the act of criticizing; a critical judgement passed or expressed. A criticical observation or detailed examination and review.
It could also mean; the act of passing severe judgment; censure; faultfinding.

What causes emotional shutdown in teenagers? It's nothing other than CRITICISM. You hear parents telling their child(ren) "do you see how that girl came first? Why can't you also?" And if you check out, you see that particular child may have come second in class. But because of the unanimous attention and numerous light flashes designated on the child who came first position they begin to make their own child look like that position was worse. They neglect them till they see a change. No parent doesn't want his or her child(ren) not to be successful but there are certain careful measures and channels you can pass your message to them.

I attended a boarding school in my first 3 years of secondary life. And in a class of over 90 students close to 100, you can imagine what the struggle for good grade looks like. First 10 was always my position but on this fateful academic term, I came 56th. Woah! That was a bang on me. "What could possibly have gone wrong?" That question kept on raging wars in me. I check and cross checked again for the name written on the result held firmly in my hands if it wasn't a mistake. But it was all mine. The joy to even head back to the hostel and carry my bags to the park was just like a burden on me. I dragged my feet with style and head faced won all in deep thoughts. What to say to my parents was even not coming forth. I played safely that day by hiding myself away from my friends. I got home eventually and after the greetings, my dad's hands were stretched out waiting for my brown envelope. I gave him and after going through, he looked at me and was silent. Through out that week, I was obviously calm. Trying not to make errors at all. But the following week, they started reminding me of how I failed woefully. In everything I did, it just wasn't right. Then they began COMPARISON. They began to compare me to the child living opposite. Telling me of how she would always read with candles at night in her mother's shop. And still helping her out.

COMPARISON is another killer. When you CRITICIZE, you're expected to come up with solutions. And then you begin to COMPARE. CRITICISM has a back pack which never leaves it and it's COMPARISON. When you begin to compare your child(ren) to another, you're killing their vibes. You make them feel less in every way. The fact that she reads with candles doesn't mean she would probably have came first. It still doesn't mean if she was admitted into a class of 100 competitive students, she would have bagged first 5 position. This emotional shutdown by teenagers always come from academics. Suddenly, all encouragements is gone. And then you begin to think if your parents were your arch enemies. Some way on the bridge, you know they want the best of you. But then again, they aren't just getting connected with you at all. They even go as far as mentioning your mistakes to friends who come visiting. It's that bad.
Because you've failed JAMB or even didn't get admitted on 5 different occasions, they make a heap out of it.
Then they remind you of your age and how fast your developing to a youth.

Enough of the long talks. A solution to this disastrous stigma eluded in them is nothing other than ENCOURAGEMENTS. Your son or child washes the plate and it's still oily, doesn't mean you need to spank them. A little back rub accompanied with a well done or good job spoken, doesn't make you less a human being. I'm sure you won't be able to contain that priceless smile written all over their face(s). Your ward slipped from 3rd position in class to 7th position. You don't need to remind him/her of how the first position in class didn't have a 2 head. It just looks like all their efforts when he/she came 3rd position was just a waste. Instead of wailing and rebuking so hard, find out why that slip was so enormous. Why it happened.

You notice an unusual habit in your child(ren). You don't need to start writing them off and giving them humongous examples of lives derailed by that habit. Instead you encourage and know why it happened. There's nothing greater than helping your child(ren) grow in LOVE. We can't do without that. Even the world now, if it could give LOVE a chance to rule for a day, you can sure imagine the PEACE that would reign everywhere.

These days it's now hard to correct another parents child(ren). They see you as an enemy. They see you as teaching them their job. Marriage isn't by force if you know you aren't ready for parenting. Cos that's another thing entirely.

Just as it isn't always on intentions for parents to do the otherwise and use the searing words on us, we also as TEENAGERS should put in place good measures of characters that wouldn't warrant them giving us break down in our emotions.


BE CAREFUL HOW YOU MAKE YOUR CHOICES!
BE CAREFUL HOW YOU USE YOUR TONGUE!!
BE CAREFUL HOW YOU INTERPRET WORDS TO CHILDREN!!!

PEAZOUT!!!!!!