Rest in Pieces

 

Let me tell you her story. For a long time, she felt lost and burdened by the weight of expectations. She was always trying to live up to other people's standards and felt like it was suffocating.

She pretended everything was okay, even when it wasn't. It felt like she had to put on a show for everyone else, but inside she was struggling. She was tired of surviving and she knew it was time to start living.

Why dance when you can cry? Don’t judge her just yet cause when my mouth ceases is when my heart starts speaking. 

Don’t get it twisted. She didn’t mean to sound ungrateful to her Maker but again, what is left of us outside of our experiences? Hope’s light was getting bleak and the light of her faith was almost out.

Each wax of her confidence trickled down as the thread of her love was burning out.

It wasn't easy, but she started to be true to her heart and herself. She allowed herself to be vulnerable in order to uncover who she really was. It was scary, but realized that it was better to tap out than to pass out.

She stopped measuring her worth in stars and gram, and instead focused on living a life that brought her joy. 

It time to let go of the need to master the art of decoy rather redirect your focus on being authentic, even if it cost you your life for better living.

You can be free from the burden that once held you down. Find your way back to yourself and live your life in your own terms and that of your Maker. 

I know that hope may be frail, but it's indeed hard to kill. Be grateful for every day you get to live your life in a way that feels true to you.

If you have to rest, but don’t rest in pieces.

The Borderline

 “Considering Others” is what distinguishes those who are selfless from those who are selfish when making a decision or taking an action.”

Ejiro and Tejiri were two childhood friends who grew up together in a small village in Nigeria. They were inseparable and did everything together, from playing in the fields to attending school.

As they grew older, they began to develop different interests and aspirations. Ejiro had always been interested in agriculture and wanted to become a farmer, while Tejiri had a passion for fashion design and dreamed of starting her own clothing line.

Despite their different paths, Ejiro and Tejiri remained close friends and supported each other's dreams. Ejiro worked hard on her farm, growing crops and raising livestock. Tejiri, on the other hand, spent countless hours sketching and sewing, creating beautiful designs that she hoped would one day become her own fashion brand.

One day, a devastating drought hit the village, and Ejiro's farm was among the worst affected. She was devastated and unsure of what to do, but Tejiri came to her rescue. Tejiri suggested they team up and create a line of clothing made from Ejiro's crops and livestock, with the proceeds going towards helping other farmers in the village who were struggling.

Ejiro was initially hesitant, but Tejiri's selflessness and consideration of others won her over. They worked together tirelessly, using Ejiro's crops to dye fabrics and incorporating her livestock into their designs. The clothing line was a huge success, and they were able to help many farmers in their village during the difficult times.

As their business grew, Ejiro realized that she had not only learned about the benefits of considering others, but also about the importance of following her dreams while doing good for her community. Tejiri, too, learned that sometimes the most fulfilling path is not the one that is solely focused on oneself, but one that considers the well-being of others.

As time went by, Ejiro and Tejiri's friendship only grew stronger, as they both learned the value of being selfless and the rewards that come with considering others. They remained successful in their respective careers but always found ways to give back to their community, making a positive impact on the lives of those around them.

As Ejiro and Tejiri's clothing line continued to grow, their success brought new challenges. They hired more workers to keep up with the demand, and Ejiro began to take on a more prominent role in the business. She had always been ambitious, but as the profits increased, so did her desire for control.

One day, Tejiri fell ill and had to take some time off from work. Ejiro saw this as an opportunity to take over the business and make all the decisions herself. She began to make changes without consulting Tejiri, and some of the workers started to feel uneasy about her actions.

The workers had always known Ejiro as a hardworking and selfless person, but they started to see a different side of her as she became more and more focused on her own goals. They worried that Ejiro's selfishness would cause the business to suffer, and they knew that they had to do something to stop her.

As the workers discussed their concerns among themselves, they realized that they shared a common goal: to protect the business and make sure that it continued to serve the community. They decided to come together and confront Ejiro about her actions.

When Ejiro arrived at the clothing line the next day, she was met with a group of workers who stood united against her. They expressed their concerns and told her that they were not willing to let her take over the business and ruin what they had all worked so hard to build.

At first, Ejiro was defensive and refused to listen to their arguments. But as the workers continued to speak out, she began to realize the error of her ways. She saw that her greed had blinded her to the needs of others and that she had lost sight of the values that had made their business successful in the first place.

With tears in her eyes, Ejiro apologized to the workers and to Tejiri, who had since recovered from her illness. She realized that she had been so focused on her own goals that she had forgotten about the importance of considering others. She promised to work with Tejiri and the workers to create a more inclusive and collaborative environment, one that put the needs of the community first.

Over time, Ejiro proved to the workers that she was sincere in her desire to change. She worked alongside Tejiri and the workers to make decisions that were fair and just, and the clothing line continued to thrive.

In the end, Ejiro learned an important lesson about the benefits of being considerate of others. She realized that success is not just about achieving one's goals but also about making a positive impact on the lives of others. And with the support of her friends and colleagues, she was able to grow and become a better person, both in her personal and professional life.

Half a Dozen Part 2

 

(See Half a dozen Part 1 in link below) http://asorhoyoma.blogspot.com/2018/03/half-dozen.html

As Bolaji was driving them back to Houston, he suddenly pulled over on the side of the road and turned to his wife. "I have something to tell you," he said, his voice unsteady. "I know this may be difficult for you to hear, but I have to be honest with you." His wife's heart sank as she prepared for the worst.

"I cheated on you," Bolaji admitted, his eyes downcast. "It happened a few months ago, when I was on a business trip to Atlanta. I was feeling lonely and vulnerable, and I made a terrible mistake. I'm so sorry."

His wife was stunned. She had never suspected Bolaji of being unfaithful. She felt angry, hurt, and betrayed, but she also realized that she could not be too judgmental, considering her own past transgressions.

As they sat in silence on the side of the road, Bolaji's phone rang. It was Lakunle. "I need to talk to you," he said urgently. "Can we meet up?"

Bolaji hesitated for a moment, then made a decision. "I’m not sure about that," he said. 

As Bolaji hung up the phone, his wife stared at him in disbelief. "What's going on?" she asked. She could recognize Lakunle’s voice from the phone.

Bolaji took a deep breath. "There's something else I need to tell you," he said. "Lakunle is not who I said he was."

His wife looked confused. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Bolaji explained that Lakunle was not actually his brother, but a con artist he had hired to investigate his wife's past. 

He had been suspicious ever since he found out about her affair with Lakunle during NYSC, and he wanted to make sure that there was nothing else she was hiding.

As Bolaji finished his story, his wife was speechless. She felt violated and betrayed, and wondered how she could ever trust her husband again. But then, she remembered something her father used to say: "The truth will set you free." 

Bolaji told the whole story about Lakunle, and how it had haunted him ever since. He also told her how he had felt guilty and ashamed, and how he had promised himself that he would never lie to her again.

I listened quietly as he spoke, my face expressionless. When he finished, I looked at him with a mix of sadness and understanding.

"I'm not going to pretend that this isn't painful," I said. "But I also know that we can get through this. We both made mistakes, but we can learn from them and move forward. We can choose to forgive each other, and choose to love each other."

And with that, we embraced, both of us feeling the weight of our past lifted off our shoulders. We knew that their relationship would never be the same, but they also knew that it could still be strong and meaningful, as long as they were honest with each other and committed to their marriage.

The next day, Lakunle showed up at our home to apologize for causing any trouble. He explained that he had no idea I was married, and that he would never have come to the wedding if he had known. He also told me that he had found religion and that he was no longer the same person he was during our NYSC days. He had found redemption and was trying to make amends for his past mistakes.

Although I appreciated Lakunle's apology, I knew that I had to focus on my marriage and my commitment to Bolaji. Bolaji and I returned to the United States, and we started working on our relationship. It was not easy, and we had to have some tough conversations about trust and forgiveness. But, over time, we were able to rebuild our relationship and grow stronger as a couple.

Looking back, I realized that my affair with Lakunle was a wake-up call. It made me realize the importance of honesty and integrity in a relationship. It also made me appreciate the kind of man that Bolaji was, and how lucky I was to have him in my life. Bolaji had shown me that love is not just about finding the perfect person, but about finding someone who is willing to forgive and work through the tough times.

Today, Bolaji and I have been married for 10 years, and we have two beautiful children together. We still face challenges, but we face them together, with honesty and integrity. I often think about Lakunle and wonder what kind of person he has become. I hope he has found the same kind of redemption and forgiveness that I have found in my life.