NURTURE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS!

“I’ll write myself a simple song

Get the whole world to sing along.

I’ll call it a love song for you…”

Cuttt!!

I woke to this song playing loud in my head. I can’t even remember the last time I heard the song, but I believe it’s for a reason. It is not related to this blog post. Well, if this happens to you, kindly let me know what you think it signifies and how you react. I mean waking up to songs playing in your head. Thank you!

So, in the last couple of weeks, I’ve heard and read about relationships (friendships and loveship) on social media- podcasts, I.G posts, sermons, and I must say- Any form of relationship is hard work.

So, I’m using this space to air my views, based on what has worked for me and what I have learnt. I personally value friendship and really, it’s not easy. Friendship is not beans. It demands effort. When people decide to stay on their own, it’s sometimes because they are drained. They don’t have the mental or emotional energy to keep dealing with people. Very relatable but naah… No one can actually do life alone. I mean you need support, you need motivation/push to achieve goals and try new things, you need a sense of belonging, you need to laugh (Like really, what’s life without humour?), you need someone to give you tissue paper when rain wants to drop from your eyes, you need prayer & study partners, you need warm hugs and a shoulder to lean on, you need connections, you need someone to rejoice with you in brokeness and abundance. Hence, friendship! The list continues…

Moving with like-minded people makes our journeys more achievable and fulfilling. Thank God for the friends we can call family. If you have them, cherish them and be true to them.

Ermm “Can two work together except they agree?” Mba!

However, challenges cannot be avoided when two or five people agree to be friends. There are levels to these things tho. Are you having battles in friendships? Below are tips that may help you out. Adopting these tips might be strange, but it would be somewhat beneficial.

• Quit passive-aggression: I used to be passive-aggressive. It’s awful; I assure you. It makes communication difficult because aggression is concealed. If you are upset with your friend, open up. Transparency and good communication help resolve friendship problems. Yeah right! It’s sometimes hard and exhausting but it’s best to speak up if you value that friendship. Speak up to prevent mental and emotional stress rather than giving a negative attitude. Sometimes we assume that our offenders already know what they did wrong without telling them, but this is not always the case. Some people may not be aware. Be upfront and direct in your approach.

• Jump on YouVersion: So, I discovered this app last year, and it has been incredibly helpful. I had to extend this to my friends. It has a variety of plans with devotionals, bible scriptures, and of course, a comment section. I love love eet. Give it a shot. Drag your friend(s) to this app and have a great time. You can build a community there. It makes a bond stronger. Heyyy, it’s very nice for couples/ intending couples too. Naah, don’t thank me. It’s fine. Don’t mention.

• Share Information/Knowledge: This seems little but it ain’t little. Make it a habit to share any information that would help your friend. It could be a piece of information that has to do with your friend’s field, a job vacancy, a webinar, new music, a movie, a recorded sermon; It shows thoughtfulness. Anything that would benefit your friend, share! Be intentional about it. Yes, share funny reels too.

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:4 Amp

• If you can, be a pillar of strength to your friend’s weakness: You have watched “Gangs of Lagos” yeah? If Obalola followed Ify to the barber’s shop, perhaps Ify wouldn’t have died. Obalola went to stay with Obinrin and those dudes finished Ify. Anyways, na script. Na film. But you gerrit yeah? Encourage your friends who share similar interests or abilities. If you're more skilled in that area, assist them in growing. Shun competition. Also, don't be proud to learn from your friend. 

• Remind and push them to their goals: I remember waking up to messages like “Glory, how far your this, how far your that? Don’t forget to do this. Time is going...” Like really, you thought of me this early morning. So sweet! Just as you press toward your goal(s), it will be nice to extend that intentionality to your loved ones too. I think it's not a bad idea for friends to be accountable to each other. It's cute, I guess.

• Respect boundaries: One intriguing part of friendship is that you and your friends are not the same. In this regard, it's important to respect your differences. Know their values and don't cross boundaries. Don't engage in a habit that your friend dislikes. Know your place in people's lives so that you don't "over-do". Respect energy, emotions, and decisions.

• Communicate frequently: Even if it's not daily, check in on your loved ones.  So many things take our time. Let your loved ones be part of the list. Don’t remember them only when you need help. Nobody is too busy. It’s just a matter of priorities. Make an effort to reach out. A short message could have a big impact. Share life happenings(good and bad), give updates, send pictures, spend time together when you can. If you have the means, surprise your friend(s) with gifts; no matter how little. It could be bread, fufu, slippers, shoe, anything... 

• Cultivate Emotional Maturity: Emotions steer us in many directions and sometimes we lose guard. It’s fine. Thank God for access. We can always approach the throne of grace and mercy with humility and tell God to help us mature emotionally. Life should not always be about you. Be sensitive to your friend's feelings. Make room for excesses, build tolerance, apologize for peace's sake, and abstain from malice. 

• Be honest and open to corrections: I recall how some of us back then would see a guy or a lady majestically dressed in rioting colours or shaming themselves on Nigerian Idols and we would be like “Omo! This person doesn't have good friends to tell him or her the truth ‘cause warrizdiz?” Be honest with your friends. Give and accept constructive criticism, unlearn and relearn, be open-minded, and try to work on yourself from filtered pieces of advice. It is easy to maintain a friendship if your friends are not afraid to tell you the truth. Hold on to people that contribute positively to your life. They are difficult to come by.

Oil and perfume make the heart glad; So does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart. Proverbs 27:9

• Be a real confidant: Be a go-to friend and keep your friends' flaws and secrets from others. 

Photo credit: Pinterest

Maintaining friendship shouldn’t be a one-way thing. If the other party isn’t trying at all, then maybe the friendship isn’t worth keeping. Also, everyone deserves a second chance. Be wise! Be intentional! Nurture relationships. 

NB: The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.

The post below by Ebele blessed me. 

Phew! I'll stop here. Thanks for reading. If you know more tips for maintaining friendships, please share them in the comment section. It will benefit someone.

It's not too late to welcome to you my birth month. Awa'n sare ju Ferrari lo.  Much love!

Stretch!!! It's good for you.

 

                                    Clears cobweb. 👀 

 Hi there! It's been a while. I hope it's not too late to wish you a happy new year. I feel ashamed tho😂😂😂. My inconsistency in this space is smelling. I’ve been busy with work. Nah, that’s no excuse. If something or someone is valuable to you, you would make out time. Yeah right!

This year, we go harder. Errrrrrr, I’m not here to rant about this country. I won’t even talk about how frustrated and depressed people are. I won't even tell you to keep pushing. Like, do you even have a choice?

Let me just share my recent bittersweet story.

A few days ago, I left for work earlier than usual, because I wanted to finish an external task before my colleagues arrived.  I got to Lekki gate before 8 am. That's quite early 'cause I resume work by 9. I was happy, hopeful, and hungry. Fortunately, I, unfortunately, used my last cash to get food from a restaurant. I thought I still had cash in my bag. I was walking towards a shuttle when it dawned on me that no money was in my bag. Okay, let me look for POS. I trekked back to where I saw one before. "Ah aunty, person just collect the last cash o". It was already 8am at that time. My plan to finish my task on time was gradually getting defeated.

Ok now, let me keep moving forward, I'll probably see another.

8:10 am, I was still moving forward, looking for POS. I was already sweating profusely. Despite my optimism, I did not see any POS. I had the option of trekking or waiting for anyone to give me a ride since I looked "take-away".  No, I couldn't order a ride either... 

Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

I have never trekked such distance in my life. I haven’t even dreamt or aspired to do so. I just needed 150 naira cash. Just 150 naira. I trekked from Lekki gate to my office. Got to work and received hugs and plenty "Eyyahhhh", "So sorry, glo glo", "How did you trek such distance", "You are lying", "Wowwwwww!" My legs were shaking. I was profusely sweating and I wore a sweatshirt that day. I couldn't even work the work I had planned to work. I felt defeated. Oh! Forgot to mention that I got to work past 9. It took a while before I gained strength. Of course, I laughed at myself eventually.

The following morning, I woke in pain. My legs were really aching. I told my Dad and he wasn't sympathetic as I expected. He just said "Sometimes we don’t know what God does for us. We think we are suffering. I was like "Is this a joke?" He further asked "Since you came to earth, have you trekked such distance?". I said no. "When last did you exercise? You are always inside a vehicle..."

I mused on Dad's words and appreciated God for giving me the strength to trek such a distance. Many could have fainted😆 but God kept me going. I felt like a boss for trekking such a distance. Of course, I know I'm not the first person to do so but it was my first time and I pray it would be the last.

Never could I have imagined that these legs could go that far without breaking. I felt encouraged within me.       

Yeah! There's a lot you can do and you don't even know. You haven't even imagined it; trust me. God stretches us. Sometimes, he doesn’t send anyone to help us because he wants us to notice our capabilities. I even prayed to God to send someone with a car to me, but HE gave me a car in the form of my legs.

No pain, no gain. Yes, my legs ached but the next time I trek such a distance( God abeg), it won’t ache as much as the first time. God has given us the strength to do things that we don’t even know we can do. So going through shege (sometimes, maybe most times or every time) builds us. There’s no how I won’t tell my children about this story.

I’m glad God made this happen to me 😭😭😭😭😭, got me inspired and I’m writing about it.

Leave your comfort zone. I'm not a motivational speaker but I'm just saying you should" Stretch".You can do it.

The year is still fresh. 1 month down, 11 to go. There is a lot to do. The journey is still very far. 

Election in a bit. Travel down to where you registered to go and vote. Stretch those legs and vote. 

Thanks for reading.

Should I join the next edition of the Lagos City marathon? What's your feel?

Share in the comment below.

Ding dong merrily on high…

Hi Guys! You’re welcome to my musings channel. How’s it going? Finally, I’m off work till January 9th, 2023. So good! Awesome stuff!

God’s been faithful really. I convoked this day, last year. 

                                                                        

                                  Cute yh?

Looking back, the journey to this point has been shegedelicious. This year is remarkable for me. So many experiences… Okay okay!

Yo! So, it’s 3 days to Christmas.

Excited? Not exactly!

Indifferent? Yeah!

I’ve gotten messages from friends like “How’s Christmas going to be?”, “How are we celebrating Christmas?”

Life isn’t so hard yh? 😅

Let me sketch how Christmas could go for you and I. Not you o, I mean you.

Christmas is on Sunday. Okay! It’s the last Sunday of the month and the year. So, brush your teeth and have a proper bath in the morning, put on your Christmas cloth if you have. If you don’t have like me, slay with what you’ve got. Don’t hesitate to look great! Put on your dancing shoes, locomote to church and thank the Lord for all he has done. Danceee more than David danced.

Don’t mess up. Go to church. Snap pictures after service. ☺️

After Church, come back home and sleep. That’s a cute decision you will never regret in this life. Don’t sleep for long ‘cause you need to cook and stay alive for wanted and unwanted visitors. Stay with your family/friends. Make sure you ain’t alone. It’s fine if you don’t have rice. We thank God for Beans, Spaghetti, Eba, Corn flakes and other awesome stuffs… Just eat and gist with fam/friends at home. Spend time together and feel the moment…

Orrrrrrr

If your legs cannot stay at a place like my own at times, Oya o! Fiam!... Go out with your family/friends and chilll. You could watch a movie at the cinemas, have a picnic at a park, chill at the beach…

I’m definitely gonna chill with my extended family, after church service, most likely in the house.

Don’t forget to show love. Give someone something that day, no matter how small.

Like that, Christmas day would come & go and life would move on.

It’s been an amazing year so far. I’m grateful for Life. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Fantastic new year ahead. Thanks for reading.

One more blog post to go before the year ends. Merry Christmas!

Would you like to ride in a one-horse open sleigh or not? How would your Christmas go?

Feel free to comment. Flex those fingers…

Much love!

All things bright and beautiful

One of the most amazing things to me is nature. The concept of nature is deep & intriguing. Humans, animals, water bodies, lands, plants, fruits, air, sun, trees, soils, etc; are all amazing. The beauty, complexity, operation, and sustenance of nature are beyond comprehension.

Sometimes, I think deeply to understand the manner & reasons for natural phenomena and I get freaked. Talking 'bout how thunder strikes, how the sun rises and sets, where the wind begins from and ends, the process of growth in plants, humans & animals, the waves of the ocean, how the weather changes, the movement of the clouds in the sky, the reason and manner you and I respond to stimulus, how things exist and change in their own accord in seasons, everything… Amazing! Reminds me of the first verse of Nicolle's song -Redeemer. "Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning..."

Irrespective of the natural hazards including the recklessness of humans, I’m super grateful for nature. If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere. Talking about the recklessness of humans, we all contribute to destroying the natural environment, in one way or the other. Yes, you! 😏 How? You fart without mercy. Okay, that's not it. I mean the burning of fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil...), deforestation, improper disposal/burning of waste disposal including plastics, e.t.c These activities and more send heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, which contributes to climate change- A very big health threat facing humanity. That's a topic for another day.

                                                                    

For me, the most amazing stuff about nature is the process of growth in humans. From Foetus to a grown adult. I remember asking a friend if we grow from our legs or from our heads. What’s behind the height and development of humans? 😹 Also, why do we fart? How does the anus know that it is supposed to produce a powerful odour after eating beans or egg? It’s quite cute but mysterious. It's not even cute. 😂 Till now, I don't understand how rainbow is formed. Ehn! I heard it's formed due to sunlight striking rain droplets in the air. Ok o! Why are the colours ROYGBIV? Why is Burgundy colour not part of the collection? Let me rest small before I start overthinking. 😩

NB:  

What amazes you about nature? Let us know in the comment section.

I hope it's not too late to wish you a Happy new month! Have a great month ahead.

Let's Port for Lio

It’s been 4 months in the advertising space. Writing radio dramas, jingles, and television commercials, as well as devising ideas for launching products and campaigns for various clients, has been an adventure. My horizons are widening. I'm grateful for growth.

I celebrate every creative out there- Writers, designers, photographers, architects, artists, singers, editors, actors, web developers, content creators, all thinkers, and executors; YOU are doing well. It's not easy.

A wise man once wrote "Archive your journey, you won't always be small... Archive as you achieve..."

I read my scripts at times and smile at my progress. I can spot differences and growth in knowledge as I run the race. This brings us to one of the reasons to have a PORTFOLIO.

Yhyh!

A living and changing collection of records that reflect your accomplishment, abilities and experiences. A cute way of confidence building and being grateful. Portfolios give this "Yeah, I'm doing good, can be better" feeling. Can you relate?

I mean, you just view your archive of achievement and you're smiling, thanking God for how far and well HE has helped you. ❤️

Portfolios are also a great way to show, rather than tell, the skills listed on your Cv/resume or discussed in an interview. It basically serves as proof of what you can offer in your chosen field i.e work samples. You've created a few/loads of designs, you've written compelling copies/content, you've filmed events, whatever you've done and are still doing, build a portfolio.

This isn't limited to designers or writers. Depending on your profession, certain items can be included to provide a detailed representation of your skills. E.g: videos of you teaching, singing, constructing, or whatever craft you're engaged in. Yh, take pictures and videos😊. The world is evolving... 🥴

For interview purposes, it's smart to select and present the interviewer with only your best items/work samples. It's not bad to have hard copies of your work samples depending on your profession. However, there are online portfolio builders. Don't hesitate to use them if you need to. LinkedIn, Behance, WordPress, Canva, Portfolio box, Journo Portfolio, Copyfolio, Clippings.me, Adobe portfolio, Fabrik, Pixpa Portfolio, e.t.c

You're welcome. 🤝

Uti told me to put the link to my portfolio as a template but I'm shy at the moment 🌚😂.

Feel free to share and drop comments.

December is tiptoeing. It's not too late to archive your achievements. A happy new month in advance. Much love, fam.

SHALLOW DEPTH

I've always had a thing for perfumes. I mean good perfumes, not those that smell complicated and make you remember your last heartbreak or the time you got beaten by your Maths teacher in Secondary School. I enjoy smelling nice fragrances on people, especially while in motion. It’s quite weird but I don’t mind. While growing up, the spread of perfume helped me understand the concept of diffusion and I find it interesting still.

I appreciate nature even more ‘cause perfumes are made from natural ingredients like flowers, fruit, gum, wood, resins, grasses, alcohol, coal, and some from animal anal secretions like whale poop, and whale sperm, to mention a few. Oops!🙊

Who knew poop could be so glamorous?

And yeah, no hype, just basic truth, I’m a super smeller. My olfactory sense never disappoints. I smell from afar, including blessings and danger. 😂 I could smell you and know how much grace you carry and even how much you have in your account. You think I'm kidding? 😂 Time would tell... Yeah, sometimes, just sometimes, I'd compliment you for smelling good. It gives me the impression that you love yourself and you're probably neat.

Recently, I was in a car with a lady that smelt so nice. Very nice! I couldn't help but compliment her. She responded with a smile and then we got talking. Today, we are good friends. The power of perfume. I can conclusively say perfumes make people sociable.

I’m also a dreamer. My imaginations are sometimes wild. It’s safe to say that in a world of chaotic thoughts, perfumes can stay still, listen to the heart, and delve into minds until Euphoria. Perfumes trigger memories or events that are important to us. It can make you travel to your first day at primary school and then swing you to the time your best friend gave you a gift and then bring you back to reality and remind you that you haven’t prayed and read the bible today. Hey, wait! Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. Don’t let perfumes always do the mathematics for you. Value the moment you share with friends and family.

Ok, I’m not trying to advertise any perfume. I’m just grateful for nature, its products, and the power of smell. Smell good! It’s necessary. It lifts your aura, boosts your confidence, relieves you of stress, and enhances your mood. Yeah, if you feel like hugging a stranger for smelling good, don’t hesitate and if you get slapped by the stranger, hold your peace and just cry to Jesus. Don’t forget to turn the other cheek too.

It’s been a while here. Let me officially welcome you back to my blog. I abandoned it for 3 months for reasons I can’t explain. I hope to be more active in sharing content. Much love!

Don’t resist the urge to comment. What amazes you about perfumes?

Gain a benefit!

Hey Fam!

I haven't recovered from the joy...

I'm particularly talking about Mercy Chinwo's wedding. Yeah right! I'm happy for her.  I'm a huge fan of that beautiful minstrel. It's always her energy, beauty, poise, and ministration for me. Who would have thought that the winner of Nigeria Idols in 2012 would be the most blessed minstrel of this time? 

I'm like "juslukatyew". 😩❤️

 

Y'all need to watch Mercy's throw back. After watching it, watch her traditional wedding too.😩❤️

Compare and contrast, you'd have a good smile. Maybe a good laugh too 😂

In a nut shell, God is strategic and intentional. Don't pressure yourself. 

So, I got some questions after my first blog post. "What's a cold mail?" "How did you write it? "Can this approach work for me to get a job too"?  So, i decided to share...

I'm not a recruiter but I'm a bit experienced in this job huntmosphere. I hope these tips will help.

Grab a cold drink and learn about cold mailing for a job. Take a snack too.

I don't  know why it's called "cold"  mail tho. 😂

To the best of my understanding, a cold mail is simply a mail to someone that you do not know in person in order to gain a benefit. Many people/business use this approach to get leads, sales, connection, job opportunities. . . 

Have you found your perfect dream company but you don't know if they are currently hiring? Are you tired of applying for jobs that are advertised online and even offline?

Even if you are not tired, this approach may just get you your dream job.

Cold mailing helps you discover unadvertised jobs. There is far less competition when you apply for unadvertised jobs; trust me. No abeg, trust God.😩. 

Research is key with this cold mail thingy.

What type of job do you want?

Have you researched about companies that offer your dream job?

For me, I had always wanted to work in a media/advertising firm. I searched on google for advertising agencies nearby and I went through their websites to get more informed. Afterwards, i sent a mail to the companies i researched about, with my CV attached to the mail.

Here it is...

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my interest in acquiring a position at Culture Communications.

I am an early-career social media marketer and I am looking for an opportunity to expand my skills and learn more on Digital Marketing. 

My research has shown me that your organization is in the business of Advertising, Marketing, Brand Management and many more. Culture Communications is an ideal place for me to advance my career. 

I am a graduate of  Mountain Top University with a first class bachelor's degree in Mass Communication.

I possess great communication skills and I enjoy team work.  

I recently worked as a **************** at ************* where I exercised responsibility in content creation, email marketing and social media marketing.

Attached to this mail is my CV, for your review.

I would appreciate an opportunity to meet with you to see where my skill set would be of the greatest benefit to your company.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to connecting with you soon.

Best Regards,

Glory Onyeberechi.

N.B: Your C.V should be well written and attached to your mail. 

After I sent this mail, I got a call that very day from the HR and an interview appointment was fixed. 

Apparently, i did not know if there was a job opening before sending the mail. 

I'm not saying you will get definitely get your dream job if you send a cold mail to an employer. This is just an approach that may work for you. 

You can use this as a template if you want to send a cold mail for a job. Yours may even be better. 

Cold mailing also reveals to the employer that you are proactive and enthusiastic. Even If there are no open positions at that moment, the employer may keep your application on record and contact you if new opportunities arise. If they don't reach out, do well to follow up.

You can do this! 😊

Mum's birthday in a bit. My baby is gonna be 50. Pray with me for her. 

Thanks for reading. Feel free to drop comments. I'd be glad. 💙