COMMON IDENTITY: “United we Stand, Divided we Fall!!”

As I sit here trying to put pen to paper, to describe my thoughts and explain how I feel, I realize none of it matters. There are bigger and greater problems, that unless we have solutions for, we need to keep exercising our minds until we have something tangible to give rather than complain and curse; pointing fingers, while it gets worse. What good will my complaint be when the ones to whom I bring my worries to are unnerved by my plight—greedy and consumed with self-gain and power. Why can’t I along with my brother and sister rise and March, do what we can; Millions against 100’s we can stand and be the change. We are educated and claim to know better, we see what is wrong, know what to do but our courage is cut short, no sense of urgency, no real reason—to stand, to fight; common identity lost in regions we hold so tight, forgetting that we are first Nigerian!

“I pledge to Nigeria my country, to be faithful Loyal and Honest, to serve Nigeria with all my strength to defend her unity and uphold her honor and glory, so help me God.”

Are these just words that we utter without giving thought to what they mean? We need to act on what we pledge, use our talents and gifts for what is right. For now, this is what I believe I can do, write and show how we can…come to think of it, I am doing exactly what I just accused us all of doing because if I don’t act or see that I am Baga, Chibok, Maiduguri, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Abuja, Kogi, Anambra, Enugu, Lagos, Ondo… Nigeria and play my part, then I am useless. 

Play my part, give when I can, open my doors to refugees; if I can’t go myself, donate money and resources to those who can. But while I am where I reside, build my community, work with integrity, create jobs when I can, build ideas, invest in those that are innovative enough think of a greater Nigeria. It starts with me, it starts now, and it starts here. What can I do? Lets see, I am a student, working part-time, not too much of an income well maybe I can teach in schools, create a support group for girls, teach them charisma, confidence, self-worth and the will to not settle. Share my experiences, travels, why they were so great and what I learned. Show that together we can draw from lessons and dreams and create a nation we want; one that we dream about, that will serve our children and us. Teach that the seeds we sow are not just for our pockets or to feed our immediate needs or desires, but to create something sustainable for our brothers and sisters, all of them. Call out, “WA, ZO, BIA,” together, we can join hands and make Nigeria better. Together we can put aside, tribalism, religion, factions, political groups, differences in opinion and work TOGETHER for our common identity. I mean think about it, what else do we have, without Nigeria, who are we? What happens to our history, the legacy, and tales that have added to who we are, the experiences we so cherish? Let's preserve our identity, let’s protect us, let’s protect we. We should work together to foster a sense of citizenship, patriotism, and common identity.

“I pledge to Nigeria my country to be Faithful, Loyal and Honest. To serve Nigeria with all my strength, to defend her unity and uphold her honor and glory, so help me God. “

Be a Nigerian first! Work to preserve it.

I pledge to write as much as I can, essays, poetry ... to inspire hope. I pledge to give more of myself, I pledge to not only write songs of hope, peace and love (as I have written many, lol) but to release them and share my gift, fostering hope and serving as a reminder to us all. I pledge to pay homage to those who came before me, those who used their gifts for the common good: Onyeka Onwenu, Fela, King Sunny Ade... to name a few. I pledge to use all platforms available to me, to speak well of Nigeria, to raise awareness inspiring common identity, to showcase possible change and inspire all those in my circle to also do their part, and inspire those in theirs to do the same. I pledge to do all I can, where I am, as often as the opportunity presents itself. I pledge to play my part in making Nigeria one, reducing some of the problems and being a part of the change. What contribution will you make? What will you do for the NIGERIA you dream? #IPledgeChallenge!!! 

The Paradox of My Faith

My life has become a battlefield

A place where pride is born from humility

Where in order to rise, I have to first know what it is like

To have my face to the ground,

 Kiss the dirt on the floor that I know I am beyond

But need its taste to remember where I am going

A place where my self esteem relies on how I treat others

Because lets face it, for me to be able to treat others right

I have to be secure in myself, know that I am above mere feelings

Like anger and rage, jealousy and hate

For me to be complete and have meaning I have to give myself away

Yet still the most complicated indescribable part of it all

I am weak, from the day of my birth till the day that I die

I have to rely on your power

You are powerful; yet, it is in my weakness you are made strong

You manifest your power and love in things, places and people that I (may) despise

All the glory must return to the maker

So while I’m choking on my pride

Waiting for the time to rise

You patiently wait until the lesson is learned

Years go by in my world

But in yours everything changes in a split second

Through faith I have the power and authority

But nothing is complete till I use that power to serve

Uplift others in an attempt to lead

Put others ahead of myself to be the head

What confusion what grace

Love as powerful and eternal a force

Accept the unacceptable

Love the unforeseeable

Betrayal may occur but keep no record of wrong

For love to rise like a phoenix,

It must first shed its feathers like the eagle

To gain new wings to soar

Give what you need YOU say

Even when nothings given in return

Turn a blind a eye

When in all reality I should

Fight for my right and stand for what I believe

I press on towards to the goal

I know I can but it’s not by my power or my strength

Surrender to a being unseen yet my heart knows YOU to no bounds

Untouched yet familiar warmth exists

Tell me where is the meaning in giving up all I am

Yet I know that you died that I may live

So live I will

Till the dawning of a new day

Where mourning is turned to dancing

Sorrow is lifted

And joy is new every morning

Strengthening every part of me

And flaws become perfection

For you I will live

Till the drum stops beating

And the music ceases

In preparation of eternity

Love eternal

Love endless

I give myself away

That I may be whole

Become one with YOU that I may be complete

I give myself away that your love may abound.

DARK NIGHTS AND BLUE SKYS

It’s in the irony of the world

It’s in the blatant difference between good and bad

It’s in the grey areas that aren’t so grey

Only two choices to make you are either light or darkness

It’s in the flashes of light as darkness

And darkness illuminates daily shinning brighter as darkeness pretends to be light

Its in deceit masked as enlightenment

But why be fooled even the Good Book predicts days like these

It’s in the brainwashing of our society

The dumbing down of our future generation

So in the heat of making things better

We turn out as the debris from the destruction created by our own efforts

It’s in the blindness presented as 20/20 vision

The idiocy honored as pedigree

It’s the search for healing, sickening the soul

The body decaying after realizing the death of the spirit 

No longer does it occur at night

Its right in front of our eyes while the sun is bright

It’s no longer during the late hours or in the shadows of deserted alleys or in the isolation of the slums but now present in the boldness of the villas on the big screens and the likeness of light glorified before our very eyes

It’s in the essence depreciated

It’s in the ‘nonsensity’ dubbed fortune n fame

It’s in the selling of our hearts for the pleasure of satisfying temporary lust

It’s the distinction and union of dark skies and blue nights

Cause lets face it,

Who needs dark nights and blues skies?

When dark skies and blue nights serve us well

Crippling our humanity, selling truth for insanity.

Black and White

Everything always looks better in black and white…perspective???

Right and wrong

Good and bad

Light and darkness

Good and evil

It’s either one or the other

But what happens to the in-between

The unlikeliness that makes life a bit more colorful

The reasons the make bad decisions a bit more bearable

Or the little explanations that allows us wallow a little longer cause well in that moments its ok

Everything looks better in black and white?

I tend to agree

It seems harder but in the true sense of things, it is easier.

If I didn’t have to remain in the myriad of colors that though beautiful at the time,

Makes everything else clouded

I think courage would be a lot easier to follow

Because if it isn’t one it’s the other

I think truth is clearer in black and white

Because no matter how many reasons I have

The in-between never is good enough

Because lets face it, who wouldn’t want greatness

When the only choices are fail or win

Win I say! rid of opinions and false judgments

Focus on black and white

And in all of that I pray we win

No matter what we may feel or how we choose to perceive

In the end, its really only black or white

No more excuses, no grey areas…just go!!!!!!!!!

Lesson Learned...

Why do bad things happen to good people we often ask?

Why do we have to go through and experience times when the going gets tougher?

Why can’t we simply reap the harvest of our toil and many sacrifices?

Instead, it seems life keeps handing us situations we never bargained for and when considered don’t even deserve

My theory for this is; if we never experience pain, we won’t appreciate joy.

Unfortunately we can’t choose the kind of pain we encounter or determine the level of pain we deserve to feel and amount of tears we should shed

However, through time and much heartbreak, I’ve come to realize that every disappointment as they say, has become a blessing in my life. How?

Well every time I feel I’ve grown or feel I’ve adopted certain principles I get tested

May seem unfair as of the time it happens but after I’ve sailed through and by the grace of God overcome, I find that it was necessary for me to go through that so that I can grow and come out on the other side a lot stronger.

So, this is my two cents worth: when you find your self in a bind, in a situation that seems too hard to bear or even handle, when u find yourself heartbroken beyond repair or when a loved one unexpectedly or expectedly hurts you, that is the time when joy and encouragement should be your best friend. Seems crazy but that is the time to get your heart, mind and soul aligned with the spirit of God get a pen and paper and learn all you can cause with every trial comes the opportunity to choose either to win and prosper (conquer) or lose and be conquered. So here’s my question to you? Are you going to wallow in self pity and let your troubles weigh you down or are you going to rise above learn the lesson and experience a higher level of joy and love, for me the latter sounds great.

As you journey through life, remember to take the good and the bad, filter your thoughts and words as they do have the power to shape and change your life, remain positive always, cleanse your soul, cry if you need to but never ever wallow or worry as that never moves you forward, it breaks you instead, leaving pieces of your soul for the wind to sweep away. Focus on the journey and learn the lesson, as that is the only way to truly overcome.

Remember, the only way to truly overcome and prosper is to subtract the lesson from the problem, learn the lesson and the problem inevitably disappears as the purpose for which it existed has been accomplished. Learn to have a positive outlook on life no matter what. Easier said than done but definitely worth a try.

Peace, Favor, Faith, Hope and Love.

I choose to be inspired...

With all the junk in the world, it’s easy to pack up your bags and put an end to all your efforts

Curl up in the dark and hold on to your fears. For even though they cripple you till you are but a puppet, they become the security you have and the life you choose to live because lets face it, ignorance is bliss and fear only is a culprit in making sure that you remain in your life of mediocrity and utter meaninglessness. so in an effort to get out of my rut: 

I’m tired, I’m tired of people complaining and choosing not to do anything

I am tired of the lies fed by the media, music, fashion, even churches and even more the lies that these sects have made my mind believe,

I’m tired of being afraid that because it happened to you, it will happen to me too

I’m tired of the evil belief that life and meaning is only for the rich and those that have money

I’m tired of this disease that’s eating through our skins and has lodged its self deep in our bones and has engraved its indelible mark in our DNA running constantly through our blood

Blood that has been shed to bring life, blood that signifies newness, love, compassion, new slates, salvation, truth and hope

In the midst of all the chaos and crap that the world keeps mass-producing, I choose to be inspired

I choose to rise above and beyond, seriously haven’t you heard that I am a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, the determiner of my own future: as it is written: "life and death I have given you I hope you choose life"

I hope you choose to move and shake, break and lose these barriers and walls that has so caged us

I hope you choose to triumph I hope you choose to be all that you were created to be; as for me, I choose to be inspired, I choose to be great.

The Essence of Time

Tick tock tick tock

Time keeps ticking waiting for no one

Like a train on a schedule

Answerable to no one unapologetic for leaving without me

Tick tock tick tock

Makes me question

Keeps me on my toes

Not letting a single moment slip without being accountable

Tick tock tick tock

What have I achieved in the past minute

Even when nothings done, it counts

Never to be relived, never going down that road again

Tick tock tick tock

Scary thought, especially when priorities are undetermined

Tick tock tick tock

Wait, what just happened?

Ten years gone

Left daydreaming for too long

Over indulged in unrealities

Letting substance pass away

Ten years ahead

Ten years left to live

To regret or embrace

Choose to take charge

Make the difference

Use the time afforded me

Beat time at its tricks

Make the best of every minute

Tick tock tick tock

I have done it again

Every hit made a home run

What’s next on the list?

Achieving every dream

Conquering all life throws at me

Tick tock tick tock

Guess what?

I caught the train this time.

Just penned down some thoughts to encourage myself and everyone who reads this that no matter how fast life goes by, the mistakes made, even battles won, there’s always time ahead to change the story when hope seems lost, press on when you feel discouraged, and be inspired from what is left behind; even more, by what’s ahead. When the time comes to run, run like hell, if you have to slow down wait and build patience but in the heat of all never forget what’s most important:

Life. Purpose. Passion. Hope. Love. Inspiration. People. God

P.S: always remember the essence of time is to inspire hope.

Picture from: ToniVC's photostream