29.

Photo by Thom Holmes on Unsplash

This could easily have gone the ‘29 lessons’ way but everyone who knows me knows I am not a fan of lessons and teaching moments (my theory is that most times, life just happens). So I’ll show you the things I am grateful for. Maybe there might be lessons from them.

1. My women — I have been blessed with the unique gift of the most beautiful female friendships. Women I can be myself with, women who cheer me louder than a stadium full of people, women who believe in me oftentimes more than I believe in me. I have thrived on the wings of these friendships and I am forever grateful for Ogor, Onome, Samiat, Anita, Toni, Bisola, Sarah, Bernice, Ochuko, and my long list of women. I love you forever.
2. My sister — When my mum was pregnant with this one, I foolishly thought the family was complete and wondered how the heck she would fit in (I knew it was a girl because I had sneaked into my mum’s hospital bag and seen the results). My sister makes my life complete. I don’t have to be elder sister with her, I can be that if I want to but I can also be my most vulnerable self. I love her brand of funny and I can laugh at all of her jokes even if she tells them a million times.
3. Therapy — A few weeks ago, I fully embraced my troubled self after spiraling badly and then decided to seek help. I am grateful for workplaces with HMOs that cover therapy and counseling. I am grateful to my therapist for understanding and showing me where all of this started and how to stop it. I am grateful he shares my faith and we can look at all of these mind troubles through the eyes of the Word.
4. Pastor Tope Godson A — On a random January in 2022, I heard a man preach once and knew I needed to hear him again. I went on Instagram, got the church address, and found a home for my heart and soul. I am grateful for sound doctrine that comes in simple words. I am grateful for the gift of God in Pastor Tope’s life because that is the only explanation for how God downloads everything that goes wrong in my life to him and gives him exact words for me every Sunday.
5. My pink room — No matter where I am, I will always pick going home over going hard. Home in my room with its pink walls and unpainted ceiling with the sound of the trees in the forest behind as background music. It’s my little corner of the world and I am grateful I have it.
6. My mum’s knock on my door — Every morning, my mum knocks on my door to tell me she is going out. From Monday to Friday, she knocks to say she is going to work, on Saturdays, she knocks to say she is going to clean the church and on Sunday she knocks to say she is going to service. It is the sureness of this simple act that gives my life stability. Even if life went upside down the previous day, I know for sure that my mum will knock on my door the next morning and that’s my cue that it is a new day to try again.
7. Writing — People say I speak well, I am eloquent and all (not sure I believe them) but I never find the right words to convey emotions or how I feel when I am speaking. I am grateful for the gift of writing that helps me convey the deepest of things that I feel into concrete words I can read, even if it is only me who reads them. I am grateful that this gift has fed, clothed, and housed me for the past 4 years. Never in my wildest childhood dream would I have thought that I would make a career out of storytelling. I was content with telling stories for 2 pieces of plantain or Speedy biscuit.
8. My Glasses — My mind tells me the world is bleak and my eyes do not contest it. I see in hazy hues and everything is a blur but my thick lenses make the world sharper and brighter and I am grateful for that. My glasses have become my whole identity over the past 10 years, I will most times be ‘that short girl who wears glasses’. At least, if I am kidnapped, y’all will have a way to describe me accurately.
9. My Skin- Since I started a skincare routine, my skin has actually cared and cooperated with me. I am more surprised that I enjoy it as someone who has been known to be uninterested in any beauty routine. I mean, I can’t even identify makeup products. But with skincare, it has been a satisfying and rewarding love affair.

There you have- nine things I am grateful for as I turn 29 on the 9th day of August.

Peace and Pieces…of me✌🏾