The Rere Platform: Social Media

Expectations, Expectations...

Hi,

Been a minute, Lol!

Somehow you would have to forgive my disappearing acts, but then I have discovered than I am not one to just wake and churn out crappy stuff. I actually enjoy making sense. I missed you guys, who missed me? I am grateful for everyone that keeps messaging me to ask for my next post. You are my true inspiration.

I’ll be talking about expectations today. Over the past few weeks, I have been privileged to be in some amazing gatherings. Some I want to tell you about but then I know I might not fully pass the message the way I heard it. Which will be sad, but trust me I will try.

Why do we expect soooooo much from everything around us??

The world is guided by people that feel so arrogantly entitled to getting things when they want it. Life is a gift to mankind but humans are cocky to the point where we sleep at night and automatically expect we will wake up the next morning. Without even stopping to think about the mechanics behind it or who/what makes it happen.

Research has shown that the rate of depression and suicide has increased by 50% over the past 5 years alone. This stat puts a hamper on my mood because after thinking it through I realized the foundation problem is “Expectations”. Why are your expectations so high? Why do you intentionally mount pressure on people?

The society expects the world of you, so much so that you push yourself till you break into tiny pieces. Every parent expects their child to go to school, get good grades, then get a good job, get married and stay responsible. As a child, you expect your parents to always be there for you attending to your every whim, pay your bills till you can take care of yourself and just generally set a great example for you.

Now the problem is nothing ever goes as planned. Then we start to feel disappointed, which turns into resentment because expectations are premeditated resentments. Does it now make sense why the rate of depression is so high?

So many friendships, relationships and marriages fail because individuals fail to realize no two persons are the exact same. Stop expecting your friend to like the same music you like, stop arguing with your boyfriend/girlfriend because they don’t see things the way you do. If 6 is written on a sheet, one person will see it as 6 while another will see it as 9. No one is wrong, they just see it from different points.

When we realize we are not all the same, we have the power to conquer two things; - Competition & Comparison.

The choice is yours, do you want to continue living life hoping that people live up to your expectation of them? Or would you rather love life by expecting nothing and appreciating people when they do things? My take would be that you give people the chance of being themselves around you, because…

… Peace begins when expectation ends…

5Comments

, by The Rere

In Africa, Blogger

Stay Strong

I have a very strong feeling, to encourage someone, who is just on the verge of giving up. Lately I see many young people actually trying, making efforts to be better, to do better. To be different, but it seems as if all their efforts are just in vain. Sadly it seems like nothing is working, like things are only getting harder. I don’t know how all of a sudden, everywhere I turn I see sad, almost depressed young adults. Little wonder why the rate of depression has increased over time.

Someone reading this might have reached the point where all you are thinking is “I’m tired” “I can’t continue” “The pressure is too much” “Why are things not working for me” “Why is my own different?”

Never forget that, God never gives you more than you can handle. If you are faced without something that seems too big for you to carry, be rest assured that He considers you strong enough to overcome. Why are things not working out for you? It turns out that even brilliant, highly accomplished people have felt this exact way at some point or the other.

One thing to avoid though is complaining, stop comparing yourself to the young guy you see buying houses. In fact, decades of research on achievement suggests that successful people reach their goals not simply because of who they are, but more often because of what they do.

What should you be doing differently?

1. Get specific. When you set yourself a goal, try to be as specific as possible. “Lose 5kg” is a better goal than “lose some weight,” because it gives you a clear idea of what success looks like. Knowing exactly what you want to achieve keeps you motivated until you get there. Also, think about the specific actions that need to be taken to reach your goal. Just promising you’ll “eat less” or “sleep more” is too vague — be clear and precise. “I’ll start writing a book, this weekend” leaves no room for doubt about what you need to do.

2. Seize the moment to act on your goals. Given how most Nigerian parents are, most of us are scared to pursue what we truly love. Just because your mum has always dreamt of her son being a Lawyer doesn’t mean her son is destined to actually be a Lawyer. Accepted the music industry might be full or is it fashion? But never forget that the sky is wide enough for everyone to fly. I am not saying copy someone else because you think there’s money there. I am saying do something you are truly passionate about, you don’t have to wear a suit and tie to be successful. Rest assured your parents might not support you at first but if they see that truly you love what you want to do, any sane parent will support eventually.

3. Be a realistic optimist. When you are setting a goal, by all means engage in lots of positive thinking about how likely you are to achieve it. Believing in your ability to succeed is enormously helpful for creating and sustaining your motivation. But whatever you do, don’t underestimate how difficult it will be to reach your goal. Most goals worth achieving require time, planning, effort, and persistence. Studies show that thinking things will come to you easily and effortlessly leaves you ill-prepared for the journey ahead, and significantly increases the odds of failure.

4. Have grit. Grit is a willingness to commit to long-term goals, and to persist in the face of difficulty. Grit predicts which runner will make it to the finish line. In fact, grit even predicts which round of contestants will make it to at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The good news is, if you aren’t particularly gritty now, there is something you can do about it. People who lack grit more often than not believe that they just don’t have the innate abilities successful people have, (which is a big lie). If this statement describes your own thinking …. Well, there’s no way to put this nicely: you are wrong and silly to even think that. You have to realise that how your future turns out, lies solely in your hands. Each of us have to be accountable for the abilities God has put in us.

5. Focus on what you will do, not what you won’t do. Do you want to successfully lose weight, quit smoking, or put a lid on your bad temper? Then plan how you will replace bad habits with good ones, rather than focusing only on the bad habits themselves. Research on thought suppression (e.g., “Don’t think about white bears!”) has shown that trying to avoid a thought makes it even more active in your mind. The same holds true when it comes to behavior — by trying not to engage in a bad habit, our habits get strengthened rather than broken.

Don’t cry, don’t be weary and don’t be sad. Just hang on and stay strong. Ending your life isn’t the best option. Giving up isn’t also an option.

Find a way to stay happy, to be happy.

Live, Laugh & Love.

Your best is yet to come.

Feel free to send me an email if you want to talk to someone, it's okay to be needy, it's also okay if you want to stay anonymous. Reach out, i'm available anytime.

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, by The Rere

In Africa, Blogger

The Choice is Yours

Personally I don’t believe in saying it’s too late. Why? Because there’s nothing like that. As the year draws to a close, I am sure there are some people thinking “the year is gone, what more can I achieve?”

Last night I got home really late from work and I had to sleep past midnight. The story here is before going to bed I knew fully well that I had to be somewhere at 6am. We all have that one neighbor who leaves home really early, so I called mine that I would like to go with him. Unfortunately, he said he had 4 people who already go in his car. I felt deflated yet I still knew I shouldn’t procrastinate the meeting I had that morning. Waking up at 5am was hard, considering I had a long and stressful day. I struggled but long and short, even if I did not make it for 6am, I got there at 6:30am due to the distance.

Moral of this story is, at the end of the day every accomplishment, every move, every positive decision is based on that desire and determination to WANT. If you do not want something enough to fight for it or aim for it, then it might be hard to even get it in the first place.

I want this post to serve as a reflection, a wake up call for everyone who feels there’s just a few weeks left in the year. What can I achieve? You don’t have to wait till December 31^st to start writing 7 prayer points for the year or 10 New Year Resolutions that you know won’t come to fruition.

I have realized that Nigeria probably has the most spiritual people in the world. That’s great! Trust me, with God nothing is impossible. But don’t forget that even the bible says, Prayer without works is nothing. It is necessary to pray, but the prayer won’t work if you don’t act or make a move. Before this turns into a sermon, kindly take two minutes to think about that one thing you can still do before the New Year rolls in.

You can choose to wait or move. At the end the Choice is Yours!!

Your New Year can start NOW! The ball is always in your court…

Peace…

Image from pexels.com

2Comments

, by The Rere

In Africa, attitude

Confusion...

Minutes turned to hours, hours turned to days, days turned to weeks and now we’re here. There is no excuse for this sort of procrastination, I might say I have been swamped with work and I don’t even have time to breathe. Yet every time I say No, Rerelolu you won’t stop writing, you need to continue people are waiting. It feels like I am trying to convince myself more than I’m trying to convince you guys.

A wise uncle of mine once said to me; you can alter the pace but don’t shift the goal post at every chance. And you also know what they say, a rolling stone gathers no moss. It is better to have long term goals and break them into short and medium term goals than to have short term goals that you only cook halfway.

One thing I’ve realized is that it’s so easy to want one thing but get distracted so much you forget that one thing you want. So many of us are confused about what we want, forgetting that there is a difference between a want and a need. The same mouth you use to call it labor market is the same mouth someone else calls it favor market. The difference is that they have a clear cut dream they are chasing without stopping to attend to distractions.

I have realized there is no such thing as a hopeless situation, there are only people who have hopeless attitudes. When I started this write up, I did not know where I was headed. Now I think I have a direction and that is addressing the confusion among many people (both old and young) in the world today.

I met someone recently who has big dreams, she’s relatively young with commendable achievements for her age. The issue is that she wants to do everything, entrepreneurship she’s interested, working for others she’s also interested. If you say real estate, she will be interested, talk about farming, marketing, just name it. Don’t get me wrong, I love the zeal and I think it’s amazing how her mind works and how hard she’s willing to work for her success. But then again doesn’t it seem like maybe she might be swamping herself with every and anything just to get rich quick? Or what if that really is the way to go?

When people would ask what my career plans are, I would give a long list of everything I want to do. From owning my chain of companies to producing my TV show, to empowering young people, to public speaking, modelling and acting and definitely fashion designing. Yes you might say ahnahn, sister calm down but as my mother will say, nothing is impossible. Also many of us have allowed our families and the society cage us into believing that some things are the norm and some other things are “impossicant.”

I read somewhere that if you want to achieve greatness, you need to stop asking for permission. So my question goes to everyone who is just as confused as I sometimes get about their goals and how to achieve them.

Would you rather do all the many things you want to do at the same time or would you just take one route and see where it leads.

Share your thoughts and comments below, I look forward to reading them.

0Comments

, by The Rere

In Determination, Entrepreneurship

25 Under 25 - Let Your Story Inspire

I have always had a keen interest in making money, I think this stems from having entrepreneurial parents. I still remember the first thing I made to sell. It was a silver basket of handmade roses; they were peach. I reckon they looked great even though I didn't sell them. In the past I have sold knitted bags and purses, make up, greeting cards & even run a laundry service, TWICE. I also tried starting a car wash with my siblings once.

My name is Ibukun Awosika and I am many things. I run my Fashion business named - Fiber Rose - and I also work as a Devops Engineer.

The thirst and zest I had for success led to my discovering Fashion. I can almost say it was not something I liked at the start but as time went on I began to love it even more. Besides my dad's mum was actually a fashion designer even though I never met her. So maybe it's also in my genes...

Weirdly, becoming a Devops Engineer was something I always wanted. Electronics were my passion as a kid. The moment I discovered MIT, it became a dream for me to go there. I was always the one who fixes things; TVs, DVDs, my grandparents would always call me if something went wrong and I wouldn't mind sitting with it till I found a solution. I went on to study Computer Science in Covenant University and it was then I discovered my love for programming. I doubt I'll go to MIT eventually but I can say I'm living my childhood dreams.

PS - I would have gone to art class and become a lawyer if my parents didn't intervene.

Hmm. What is special about what I do? I think it's just me! Lol.

I love being able to live the best of both worlds. Tech and Fashion are two spaces you hardly find a person dabbling in at the same time. Yet I love that there are no limitations for me. I love that I'm a designer of clothes but I can also design software.

You know there's this thing I've come to love where my client quietly whispers in my ears "I'm pregnant". Clearly trying to hide it from the world but it is important that I do because they need the right outfits for the time. It makes me feel like I'm more than just a tailor, I'm woven into the fabric of their lives in a way that not many people are. It is an intimate relationship.

And as for being a Devops Engineer, I love that girls are even more in the Tech space even though it wasn't always so. if you have watched Hidden Figures you'll see that it's a privilege to be doing what I do because some women fought for this space and now that I live and breathe that space; it's a thing to be grateful for.

Sometimes I walk into a room and people don’t realize I am not a business analyst or a quality assurance analyst, I'm a developer. I always look for the shock in most people's faces because I show up in heels and a banging dress so they don't expect me to be a developer. But we live in a world where, once you dream it nothing is impossible to achieve.

We live in a place where something’s are considered a man’s job. The toughest thing for me about being a Developer is that things become routine. And I constantly need to find something to explore. This wasn't too much of a challenge when I worked as a Software Developer but I changed teams a while back and that has been my biggest challenge. Also as a Devops Engineer I constantly need to communicate with other Devs which doesn't always cut it for me. I love my personal space you see and I'd rather work without having to talk to anyone but hey, they put money in my bank account at the end for the month so we move!

As a designer I would say my biggest challenge is finding reliable staff. Because I'm not available all the time there's a limit to what I can control but I make do with what I have and find the best way to make it work.

What challenges do you face combining both jobs…?

Honestly I wouldn't say most of my challenges stem from being a girl. I think it's more about being an entrepreneur working a 9 - 5. It's usually a very difficult thing to combine which is why I always tell people get a solid support system. Be in staff friends or family. You need people who can cover up for you when you're not available.

What do you hope to achieve with what you do?

I have discovered that my passion is not really in what I do per say. It is in how I do it. I love Fashion and I love tech but what I love the most is inspiring people to be the best they can. This passion of wanting to touch lives has actually spurred me to run an annual event called Budding Wings. At this event young people are inspired by different speakers and also I recently started my YouTube channel to reach even more people. Ultimately I hope to change people's lives by living mine and inspiring them to live theirs too.

What are your 3 motivations in life?

My three motivations are People, Passion and Purpose. I love to see people excel and whenever I can I do my bit to contribute. And if you know me, I chase Passion. If my hand finds something I love I do it with everything I can. I don't really think much about things, I follow my heart and I often find beautiful things at the end of the road. Purpose, being the reason why God put me here on earth. I do not take the place of God lightly, I believe in living in purpose because it is only then you can be truly fulfilled.

My final word to anyone reading this is that you are not made to be molded and kept shape, you're a shape shifter. So it is okay to be different things or be many things as long as you discover yourself with each thing you do. It is also okay to fall deeply in love with a thing and pursue it.

You'll find life in doing the things you truly love. You'll find you in chasing passion. In the Bible, David was a Shepherd, Musician, Warrior & King. I believe it was these different versions of him that made him able to see life and experience God in the most beautiful lights and inspired him to write such beautiful psalms.

So remember you can be anything you dream;

Simply Channel Your Inner Midas And Create Gold.

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If you have a story to share with the world, a story that will inspire others to pursue greatness. Please send it to adetimehinr@yahoo.com.

0Comments

, by The Rere

In Africa, Entrepreneurship

Think Big, Start Small

A friend of mine said; “Rere, you’ve started blogging again. Nawa oh! You bloggers just write essay when no lecturer has asked you to”. I laughed because of the truth in what she said but then I gently reminded myself of the future ahead of me.

Many people have said there’s nothing to achieve here. How will you even make money? Why are you wasting your time on trivialities? One thing we always forget is hurrying doesn’t help anybody, we are always in such a hurry to “blow” that we miss the beauty beneath the cracks. But with each passing day, while pursuing my dreams on one hand and praying about it on the other I am rest assured that the best part is yet to come.

A few days ago I was feeling unmotivated, and someone sent me this story. It helped me to realize that while I was busy moping about how slow things are going in my life, someone out there was patient and determined enough to realise her dreams and surpass it even when it seemed impossible. I hope this story does something good for you.

…

As the 5th child of 5, I always had to wait for my turn. I was the last, a girl child raised by a mother who is farmer and a father who has little, I hawked pepper on the streets of Ibadan as early as age 10 to help my mum. I went to public primary and secondary school in Ibadan. Attended OOU and studied Physics. Because I had a 2.1, it opened the door for me to proceed to Finland for a Masters Degree in Biomedical Engineering (an opportunity I struggled to get).

During this masters degree, I worked part-time as a cleaner and did this after my Masters as well. Out of determination, I applied to over 100 schools for my PhD and finally got a full 3 year scholarship (later extended to 4 years scholarship) at University of Saskatchewan, Canada to pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. While in that PhD program, I worked part-time as a makeup artist, teaching assistant, braided hair and fix weaves to make extra money.

Today I walked the stage as the first black person to bag a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from University of Saskatchewan, Canada! I walked this stage for you Mama Africa and for my Motherland Nigeria! I walked the stage for all of you black women disrespected and looked down on! I walked for all of you from my ghetto hood “Mokola”, Ibadan. I walked for all OSU students and ex-students that got that look from people who think we are not brilliant! I walked for all of you Africans in Finland wondering what is next for you!!

Today I walked for my future husband and my unborn children who patiently waited for me to fulfil my dreams so that he can have a wife he will be proud of and they can have a role model to look up to. I walked for all youths who strive every day to make their dreams come true. I walked in celebration of the unfailing love of my first and one truly true love Jesus Christ (in you I walk in you I live and in you I have had and will continue to have my being).

My advice to everyone reading this is - Be bold, be innovative, be different, be you, be everything you want to be but remember to put God first. Let no man, upbringing, money, circumstance, color, past mistakes, institution, company, partner, background, let nothing tell you “you can’t do it”.

Go smart! Go hard! Go for Gold! Go with God! Just Get Going!

Slow down, Calm down

Don’t worry, Don’t hurry

Trust the process, Trust God.

4Comments

, by The Rere

In Africa, attitude

YES, I CAN!

So far so good, it has been an amazing ride with you guys and today I am very happy because my week has been splendid. How are you? Hopefully you are feeling just as amazing as I am. Eid Mubarak to all my Muslim friends and I am sure we all enjoyed the short holiday.

A wise man once said NO pain, NO gain. We all want the amazing things and pleasures life has to offer yet we are not ready or willing to work for it. Many people would rather chill and wait for things to be handed to them on a platter. How many can boldly say I am ready for whatever challenges that may come my way. I will compare it to wanting the beauty of the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. You sit around moping, wondering why your situation is different, day-dreaming about the beautiful life you should be living. Yes, you deserve the best but only if you stop self-pity, self-comparison, low self-esteem and unhealthy criticism of yourself. Instead sit up, brace yourself and face the world.

You don't die if you fall in water, you die only if you don't swim; success is a sweet word that rolls off our tongue several times a day but we always forget that the best things don’t come easy. To enjoy the benefits of success and wealth you need to be brave and take risks, because the problem is irrelevant - it is how you respond to the problem that matters. Someone I met this week told me that it is so common to see unsuccessful men with talent. He added that even education is not enough to succeed because the world is full of educated people roaming the streets jobless and homeless. Only Persistence and determination together are omnipotent!

This made me realize that there is nothing special about having a brilliant idea if I cannot find a way to make this brilliant idea a tangible reality that will affect those around me. We cannot all be facing the same struggles, yet there is nothing new or different about what you are facing. Somebody somewhere has been through it too (you're not the first, you won't be the last). Success at anything will always come down to: Focus & Productivity; and you control both. It isn’t always about greatness, it is majorly about consistency.

The world you desire can be won; it exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours! Right now, the picture might not be so clear; things might be looking tight or even impossible. Just make up your mind and be ready to win. The can-do spirit is all you need, because trust me there is no joy when your success is handed to you on a platter. Sure, Freebies are nice, but you need to also know that whatever is acquired free will not last very long.

So, start saying YES and stop with the condemning NO. Your best stories will come from your struggles; the seeds of your success are in your failures; your praises will be birthed from your pains; keep going!

Life is a climb, but the view is great!

Put on your cape and fly!!

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In the spirit of pursuing our dreams, I will be starting a YouTube Channel soon… I’m pretty nervous and excited at the same time (I wonder how a bold person can be shy, Lol). I would so love your opinions, ideas, thoughts and views on this. And please get ready to subscribe. Thank you!

2Comments

, by The Rere

In Africa, Determination

I WILL HAVE A STORY!

Bill Gates is now celebrated as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, but he didn’t earn his fortune in a straight line to success. Bill entered the entrepreneurial scene with a company called Traf-O-Data, which aimed to process and analyse the data from traffic tapes (think of it like an early version of big data).

He tried to sell the idea alongside his business partner, Paul Allen, but the product barely even worked. It was a complete disaster. However, the failure did not hold Gates back from exploring new opportunities, and a few years later, he created his first Microsoft product, and forged a new path to success.

Oprah Winfrey bounced between family members before moving in with her dad in Nashville, Tennessee, at age 14. The move sparked a drastic change in her life.

Winfrey studied her way to honour-roll status at East Nashville High School and became the most popular girl in her class. More importantly, she established a love for media and joined the school's speech team.

She got her first job when she was 16 as a broadcaster for WVOL, a Nashville radio station. As a 19-year-old sophomore at Tennessee State University, Winfrey got a call from a local television station and left school to start her media career. The gamble paid off.

You might be wondering the point of this mini throwback, but after reading this post I want each and every one to have a new mind-set. A mind-set that says; I want to have a story. What that story will be will depend on the kind of legacy you want to leave behind.

Your time is more valuable than money, so invest it wisely. You can get more money but you cannot get more time. The question many of us don’t ask is; Am I doing enough? Is this my full potential? Instead, the excuses we give include; I am too young. I still have plenty time. My dream is too big. Let me gather plenty money first. What resources will I use to start? Who do I know?

Walt Disney was told he lacked creativity.

The thing is time flies and instead of sitting and waiting for extraordinary opportunities to come our way, we can turn simple occasions and make them great. Any idea, dream, thought or vision is worth pursuing. Quitters never win and winners never quit. You cannot know that a decision will be wrong if you have not even tried it. Someone once said “Right now is the oldest you’ve ever been and the youngest you’ll ever be again.”

Linda Ikeji started her magazine in 2006 that didn’t get past two editions. In the same year, Linda started her Blog, lindaikeji.blogspot.com. 7 years later, Linda Ikeji’s blog has become the most popular entertainment online platform in Nigeria; 13^th most visited websites in Nigeria and 2218^thin the world. In August 2012, she was listed on Forbes Africa as one of the highest paid bloggers in Nigeria.

She did not let failure stop her, she did not let society interrupt the dream she had for herself. Stop letting your past, people and money control your life. Stop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings, emotions and even progress. Make up your mind not to settle for a life of mediocrity.

In a few years, I want to be a reminder to people that humble beginnings create great things. I want my own success story, that story that will inspire someone to want to achieve the world plus a little more. You might want a story and it could be a criminal kind, but that’s up to you. At the end of life, whether we like it or not, when your name comes up a story will surely follow.

OPRAH WINFREY SAID – “YOUR LEGACY IS EVERY LIFE YOU HAVE TOUCHED”.

Never forget that with Every Passing Moment, Every day, As Time Passes, You Are Building Your Legacy.

SO,

WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR LEGACY TO BE?

5Comments

, by The Rere

In Blogger, Determination

Why So Scared?

Hello,

How are you? Before I start, let me take a moment to thank you all for being so supportive and amazing. All that love I got from my first post was truly encouraging, and now that I know you are on board with me I feel relieved. I was scared and worried. Scared that what if these people don’t read, what if they don’t share, what if they don’t like it? The list was endless, but thankfully all my “what ifs” have been put to rest.

Let’s get down to why you’re here. Did my last post stir something inside? If it did, then I’m glad but if not… hmmm… I might know why.

Why so scared?

Fear is being afraid of something or someone. It is that feeling you get when you are scared something bad is going to happen and it is a very common feeling. Fear comes in levels and grades, some worse than the others but I’ll start with my fear. Personally I’m scared of failure, scared to try something and not do great at it (take note I said great not good). So scared that I have missed opportunities simply because I didn't try. One day, a friend tagged me on a post on instagram, a radio station was hiring but one of the criteria was that each person would post a video of themself pretending to host a radio show. Ah! I just told my friend, sorry I can’t do it. He said, “Rere, this is exactly your type of thing, just try.” I told him I just wasn’t interested, but I’ll tell you the truth, I was scared. I was scared that I’ll post video on instagram and all my friends and family will see and if I don’t get picked they’ll probably gossip and laugh at me.

Many people (young and old) are so scared of failing that the thought of even taking a step towards their dreams is not even an option. But one thing is certain no one knows how they will end up when they begin. No idea will come out fully formed but as you work on them they begin to take shape and become clearer. You just have to start. There is no one that will say “I have never been scared to fail”. In fact failure can be a drive to success but that only happens if you brace yourself and take the risk. Yes, that failure thing can be demoralizing and demeaning but I have found out that there is no success story without a failure story. Even Uncle Mark said;

“It is good to be idealistic. But be prepared to be misunderstood. Anyone working on a big vision will get called crazy, even if you end up right. Anyone working on a complex problem will get blamed for not fully understanding the challenge, even though it’s impossible to know everything upfront. Anyone taking initiative will get criticized for moving too fast, because there is always someone who wants to slow you down.”

The only difference between you and that person you see as a role model is that, every time the person failed, they tried again and now you are celebrating them for accepting their shortcomings. If you are busy worrying about “people” and what they will say, life will pass by in a flash, and sadly by then your pile of regrets will be so high. You used to worry about what they will say but in the end, you will regret not even trying in the first place.

We live in a society that criticizes and as a result, we do run away from big things because we are afraid of making mistakes. If we complain from now till tomorrow, it doesn’t look like Nigeria will provide the cushion to fall on if we fail. My advice is, cushion the floor and pursue your dreams, if you fall, cry small, wipe the tears and try again.

The reality is anything we do will have issues in the future but that should not keep us from starting. It is time to push our fears aside and try new things. Start that business, marry that guy/girl, go for that master’s program, let the mighty you shine bright.
False Evidence Appearing Real

So what are you waiting for?

9Comments

, by The Rere

In Africa, Blogger

Welcome Back

I’m feeling all sorts of emotions as I sit on my bed typing this, it’s a chilly morning here and it just occurred to me that I’ve been away from blogging for what… 3years… I’m sorry to everyone that used to read my blog, I’m sorry for running away, in truth I was scared. Many of you might wonder, what is so scary about blogging and people reading… but there is plenty to be scared of. Naturally I am this jovial, playful, i-don’t-care-about-anybody kind of girl, yet when I write I manage to put my heart in words and express how I truly deeply feel about things and that scares me. It’s a scary feeling knowing that the world might judge or condemn you for sharing your deepest feelings about things.

In the past 3 years, I figured I’m not done learning about the ways of the world but I have seen some, enough to want to reach out, to want to help young people like me all over Nigeria and Africa at large. Many young people are going through so much, and sometimes we feel alone, like no one truly understands, but I want to create a connection, with this platform I want to bridge that gap between your dream and the reality of that dream.

This used to be Jasmine’s Blog (the name I dashed myself as my father refused to give me an English name) but now this is “The Rere Platform” (Rere is short for Rereloluwa meaning God is good, so let’s say this is The Good Platform).

I was never about gossip blogging, neither am I a makeup or fashion or travel or food blogger, I just simply want to do something that motivates and inspires young people to reach out to the genius in them. I want to create a space for young brilliant minds to grow and develop themselves. The idea is to encourage youths to do something for themselves, I have come to realize that the major root of most of our problems is joblessness and idleness. Everyone wants to be rich, but how?

Yes, the government is this and that, and it’s not that we don’t have the zest to work, it’s just that we are in a country where the government that is supposed to provide work for us is even looking for ways to extort us in our unemployment.

This right here is the platform to 'ginger' whatever brilliant idea you have, the place to motivate you to take that one tiny step, that step that will change everything. If they don’t provide jobs for us, oh well... then we provide jobs for them.

Feel free to comment below and share your views and ideas with me, I would love to hear from you. In fact I'm looking forward to it. Thank you for reading!

Welcome to The Rere Platform!

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