LIFE IN MY SHOES!!!!

Hey guys, 

Happy new month! The christmas season is almost here. Anyone excited? Well, I am.

So I decided to put up this post which I found worth sharing and I've had sitting in my draft for a while now. I hope you enjoy.

Life in my shoes is:

Deep, complex, bright, dark, funny and meaningful

Steadily ever changing

Always evolving

To an unknown place

Into someone unknown

Meaning to be found

Meaning to be filled

I walk along with my fears and my flaws

But also walk with courage and strength

I walk with memories of experiences that I hold so close

True to the heart that beats

In this body torn between child and the woman

That life shall bring me to become

I walk with a prayer that time shall grant me itself

To fulfil the dreams I hold

To smile, to laugh, to cry

Have ideas, make visions

Find meaning of what life means

And when I find it I shall share it

We can share meanings, experiences, ideas, visions, feelings, smiles

And now, that’s what life means..

And life in my shoes right now,

Is trying to live it with the pain, joy, smiles, laughter.

If you had to describe life in your shoes, how would you describe it? 

ON LIFE AND A PAINTING!!!!!

Hey guys,

Happy beautiful Sunday.


I'm super glad I got the opportunity to put up this post cause in all honesty, I thought I had lost this space when I realised I needed to renew my domain name (which has now expired), and I had lost my registration details. Thank God for web gurus. I wouldn't have been here if not for their help. I'm presently working on renewing it and I hope I can get back on my website before the end of the month. Anyways, how was your weekend? I hope you had a blessed Sunday too.

So I bumped into one of my primary school teachers last week Sunday at church, and she paid me a compliment regarding my make up, then further made a comment about my outfit. She said to me "hmm Soph! Soph!, you haven't changed, your still colourful as ever.

It reminded me of the days when I used to love drawing and colouring. It was so serious that, not only did I love drawing and colouring on books, tables and chairs, I also loved drawing and colouring on my skin. One would wonder why I don't have a tattoo by now..lol. 

Click on image for a clearer view.

Anyways, one of those days when we had a test, we were all asked to come up with something really nice and the best works would be placed up on the school board for teachers and parents to see. (Nigerian pupils can relate). Trust me with the crayons and colour pencils plus my competitive self then. I figured everyone was trying to paint a flower pot so my aim was to paint the best pot and even throw in some pretty looking flowers, making sure that what ever I came up with, made a whole lot sense.

Being that parents and teachers were going to see it, I wanted it to be perfect. However, I mistakenly sighted makinde's work and saw that all he had done was cause a huge riot between all the colours on his cardboard. I was sad for him. It was as tho, he just wanted to make a mess of his sheet. But after all was done, 3 works were selected as the best and makinde's was one.

Each of them held their works up before the class, and when asked to explain them, they all had something to say. Makinde's explanation was differnt and one that came with a major life lesson. :- I thought of how I wanted my life to be and I put it on my cardboard sheet. Huh!!! What does that even mean? My 7 year old self would have giggled. But thinking about it after many years, it so made a lot of sense.

Each one of us is given a blank canvass when we are born. But not everyone knows what to paint or wants to paint their own canvass. Everyone wants a life that's trending like every other person's, waiting for others to splash them with their color, forgetting that we all have pretty vibrant colours ourselves. Some of us use other people's canvases as our platform and even go as far as competing with them rather than come up with our own masterpiece.

Never forget that the greatest artists are those who always follow their hearts and create a colourful masterpiece:-Something different and unique, to be remembered and treasured through out the journey of life.

People will never remember that you drew outside the lines or you painted your horse black instead of brown. They will only remember the complete picture and only you can stain your canvass with the colours you choose.

Be vivid in your life.

HOW TO GET A GOODNIGHT'S SLEEP ON A COUCH!!!

Hey guys,

Happy new month and happy beautiful Sunday.

Today has been indeed beautiful. I've been loving the weather over here; the cool lovely atmosphere, and all I can do is wish that the weekend comes again tomorrow. But sadly, wishes aren't horses :(

Anyways how was your weekend?

So I decided to switch things up a little bit. I figured I had less blog posts on tips or guidelines on how to achieve certain things, so I thought it'll be nice to share a post on 'how to get a good night's sleep on a couch'. Quite funny yeah?

Well, if you've ever found yourself in a situation where you had to be confined to a couch for a night, probably two, sometimes weeks and even months, then you'd realise that sh*** ain't funny. 

I've come across people who find it very difficult sleeping on couches, I have a friend who was confined to a sofa for a year and constantly developed back pain. Reasons why I appreciate my boarding life experience:- You must adapt by force lol. What ever the situation may be, be it having family or friends over, squating with a friend or just having a sleep over, there is a certain skill to spending the night on the couch. Next time you find yourself missing out on the comfort of your own bed, here are a checklist of things you can refer to.

1. Take as much beddings as possible. 

While it might not be advisable to try negotiating the best pillow from a disgruntled friend or guest, you'll want to make sure you grab as much bedding as you can. The sofa can be a harsh sleeping environment.

2. Put down a bed sheet. 

This one's especially important if you're unlucky enough sleeping on a leather sofa. Covering it with a base layer will stop you from waking up drenched in sweat, or having to peel yourself free in the morning.

3. Remove the back cushions.

Give yourself some room to play with. You don't want to be dangling off the edge of the couch, falling face-first on the floor in the middle of the night. 

4. Take a nice position.

If you don't have a nice three-seater to bed down on, then you'll just have to make the best of it. Try curling up in the foetal position, or hanging your leg over the arm rest.

5. Pillow.

The pillow is crucial to a successful sofa sleeping. If you don't manage to grab one, then find a substitute, such as a balled-up jumper, and wedge it between the arm of the sofa and your head.

6. Blanket.

It's no use trying to tough it out in just a nighty, T-shirt or boxers. Remember, real men get cold too. You might have to get inventive again if you don't have a blanket handy; try draping a thick coat over yourself. If that fails, hit the scotch.

Ever been confined to your couch? What were your adaptive skills?

10 INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES TO KICKSTART THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER!!

Hey guys,

I know its been a while and I probably have to do an explanation post which I plan on doing as soon as I sort out a few blog issues. In the mean time, I thought to drop off some quotes, which I hope would inspire and help you kick start the new month.

As we all know, a new day, a new week and a new month is upon us, and it's starting to feel like summer is already gone and all there is to do is welcome the new season. There is no doubt that time flies!.

I guess that’s the journey and changes we face through the seasons. The sunny and rainy days, warm and cold days, colorful and gloomy days. We are faced with different challenges – big or small. But we cannot get discouraged by it all for life goes on and we have to somehow find the strength, will or whatever to go along with it and LIVE. Hence, I thought to share a list of inspirational quotes to inspire you to the month of September, to live and conquer whatever aspirations, dreams, obstacle or goals!

Whatever you set your mind to – go get it. Like I said we are faced with different challenges in life but to every challenge there is a solution. The first step is to not be afraid to dream. Believe you are capabable  and that what ‘seems impossible’ is actually possible. 

Dream – Believe – Achieve

IN MY SHAGGY LUXURIANT HAIR!!!

So I was being hairducated last week, and someone referred to my hair as 'shaggy' yet luxuriant. I thought it was a slang at first, but it turned out it was a real word. Anyways, the main statement that caught my attention reasoning was this: "you are your hair'. Do you agree or nah? I think I'd say yes! I am my hair cos we are both natural, beautiful and strong, we've both suffered from the hands of people who didn't have a clue as to how to treat us well so we could thrive, we are both growing, we are now both a lot more healthy since we eliminated bad treatment...and yeah, we both love to be showered with love, care and appreciation. In light of this, I have put together a little poem expressing my love and appreciation.

In my shaggy luxuriant hair 
exists an exotic energy 
that has been there for centuries,
strengthening me continuously and
allowing me to muster the ability 
to see, act and think clearly. 

In my shaggy luxriant hair,
The soul of Africa lives, giving my spirit culture and foundation, 
Enlightening me on the essence of creation,
Bringing me education and elevation 
of the truth of my beloved Nigerian nation 

In my shaggy luxriant hair are African songs 
that make me STRONG,
that tell me who I am and where I belong. 

In my shaggy luxriant hair,
There are probabilities and positivity in large capacities,
traveling at high velocities,
possessing infinite possibilities 
of peace, progression and prosperity. 

In my shaggy luxriant hair are powerfully 
refined proteins,
packaged with profound principles
which make me such an invincible queen

In my shaggy luxriant hair,
Knowledge, wisdom and insight 
have been unwined to 
form the admirable forces of passion and fire that drive me.

My shaggy luxriant hair 
is natural 
is magical
is original 
is BEAUTIFUL

C.A.P.T.U.R.E.D!!!!!!

There was something so different about that particular shot. Whether it was the angle with which it was taken, the background, the pose that was struck, the lighting or just the picture quality,.. I just couldn't explain it!. It was different. Different from the normal smiley, picture perfect portrait. I saw an image..an image that had been refined in the most beautiful way, an image that had been patched and mended from years of brokenness, pain, bitterness,...an image that had stumbled and risen countless times, an image that had known strength through years of struggles, laughter through years of tears and joy through years of pain. An image that pulled up the past and present in one shot, an image that radiated so much glory and transformation at the same time. I saw that image with so much love in my eyes and joy in my heart. I was proud of the lady I had become, thankful for the things God had let me go through, and in that moment, I knew I had been captured. I was captured by grace.

LESSONS FROM A TRIP #2!!!

Hey guys,

Its another beautiful Sunday and I hope you had a lovely and well rested weekend like I did.

Two weeks ago, I shared the first lesson gathered from a trip made by a friend to a distant village some weeks back, and I promised I was going to share subsequent ones as time goes on. If you haven't read the first one, it'll be nice to check it out here . There are three main lessons from the trip and I'd be sharing the short second one with you today. I hope you enjoy.

LESSON 2: YOU ARE POOR WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING TO GIVE.

Rich and poor is what I am faced with everyday in Nigeria. It hits me as I look outside in the morning and see people rummaging through the bin.

I feel so sad when I see children with dirty clothes and no shoes come up to ask me for money.

Or when I meet a lady with TB lying in agony on the road to work.

Or when children I know sleep on the floor as there is no space on the single mattress

Or when I get ushered into a private waiting room in the hospital because I can pay, yet on the other side, is a waiting room crowded with people who cannot.

So many situations which actually remind me that I am rich. That life is unfair.

Have you ever learnt a lesson from kids?

I've learnt so much from kids in d past years, and day by day, I keep learning.

I remember a question being asked to a 6 year old boy at my church the other day. The question was simple " What does it mean to be poor"? The boy replied saying "Being poor is when you dont have anything to give".

Everyone can give a smile, a hug, a word of encouragement.

Those were profound insights from a 6 year old. I was indeed touched.

Being rich is not simply about having more things and money. Being rich is seen in the richness of relationships and togetherness in families and societies.

Being rich is in the richness of the faith I see in people who materially have nothing, yet, daily wake up and pray to God whom they trust to provide their needs.

Being rich is the gratitude, love and encouragement we give to our friends who are down and depressed.

Being rich is in the little act of kindness we share and pass on to even those who do not deserve it.

Richness is in the smile this little boy gives even when it seems as tho, there is no reason to smile.

This week, I want to remember that being rich is not simply about material things or having a lot of money. Being rich is about having something to give.

How will I share my wealth this week? How will you share your wealth this week? Give your time, give your love, give hope, give kindness, share a prayer, give a smile.

Have a blessed and Rich week ahead:)