favourtells

  Oftentimes, we talk about The pain behind the smile. And yes, The pain behind the smile exists   However, permit me to bring to your notice The smile behind the pain. Yes,  Let’s flip the coin. What makes a person peaceful In turbulent situations if not The smile behind the pain? What makes genius persevere Despite uncertain moments? What makes you turn a stumbling stone Into a stepping stone if not An assured knowing?- The promise of a desired future   This is not a religious charge. It is simple. The smile behind the pain is called VISION And it dwells in all- GET and NURTURE IT. You are loved.

  We’ve got lots of adjectives for different days. For example: work day, love day, church day, workout day, school day, celebration day and so on. All these are wonderful days.  However, when the esteemed days are over, the normal day sets in. The normal day is when we feel free and comfortable to fart without constraint. It is the period we lick oranges with every fiber we’ve got in us. The normal day is when we finish a whole chicken without leaving traces(pun intended). But more seriously, The normal day is when we are faced with our fears-to keep them or discard them. The normal day is when we choose between courage and idleness. The normal day is when we decide-gratitude or regret. The normal day is when make a choice to keep our bodies and surroundings clean in the absence of visitors. The normal day is when we either procrastinate or fulfill.   The normal day is when the little things count. The normal days are always present. It is like space; aft...

  Each time we write, The ink in the pen drips. When exhausted, We pick up another to write.   Each time we breathe, It is a moment of inscription. Each day, drips of breath spent.   Let's therefore, live life as fresh waters. Not afraid to let negative emotions flow And pass. Not guilty to let positive emotions flow And refresh.   For a life of love Is not the absence of unpleasantness But the presence of thankfulness In all; knowing that As fresh waters, Obstacles cause a splash And force them to new ways They never knew existed.

  In the cosmos, our eyes pop. We’ve emerged from the kisses, caresses, And the ‘jangle-over’ moves of two lovers To replicate same in adulthood. ‘At what time?’ We ask       Love is our foundation; romance a strong flavour. Love is unashamed to lend a hand to another; Embrace ‘foreigners’; love Never slander to outshine but combine To cheer and support. Love is first, lavishing oneself with it And extending graciously to others.   Let us be grounded in our foundation As we celebrate its different flavours Because we are first, Love,          That makes us human, Who manifests in different Forms and shades, And decide what qualities Of earth to identify with.       As we all know, It’s Valentine. Valentine, not a sign of lust, But a sign of love to Undermine lust and Define love in fine.   Cheers, dear friends,   As we po...

The Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Whether you are getting excited about celebrating romantic love, platonic love or lives in general, trust me, love is a beautiful thing. It is a factor in healing yourself and the world.   While love is a healing balm, minding your business is a good way to maintaining a healthy mental state.  First off, when you hear the words “mind your business”, what comes to your mind?  Is it a scenario where someone is delving into another’s personal matter and then you scold “mind your business!” and even add a popular Nigerian slang " amebo " (gossip), if you are Nigerian?  Well, if that is what you have in mind, you are not wrong. However, minding your business could be from two angles: resisting the urge to delve into another's personal matter without their permission and commitment to being focused on your path irrespective of the naysayers. For you reading this, I am counting on your dignity to respect people’s preferences a...

  A woman was asked last week on CNN why she thought it important to come out and be vaccinated. Here is what she said “I have kids. I want to be able to hug them, kiss them, and be with them”. Some children were playing outside their apartment with their friends. Sighting them from afar, their mother screamed “Come on, go inside; you are not the ones washing your clothes!” Every morning, I walk towards my aloe plants to see how they are doing. I gave them actual names, acknowledging them as lives. I was laughed at and jokingly called crazy. In some months, my aloes began to flourish-fat, green and pleasant to behold. I reflected on why I showed this intense care to my plants and I realized that I wanted to see what it felt like to care and be cared for. I loved it . ‘Why we do the things we do’ is a question we all must answer to get in touch with the power of our motives. What matters and doesn’t, depend on our answers.   The woman taking the vaccine was inspired by lo...

  While Kamala Harris made history by being the first black woman to become the US Vice President, Amanda Gorman also made history by being the first youth inaugural poet ever. Awe, amazement and wonder filled the minds of many- home and abroad. It was not just about the poem read but the wisdom and craft contained in it. In fact, a political commentator, Van Jones, described her performance as powerful and eloquent. He made further statements saying that the society is filled with so much data but  “data ain’t wisdom”. It is the reality of our society that data outweigh wisdom. This is the reason why I thought to highlight five themes from Amanda's poem that we could absorb into our lives in the midst of the data-filled world. I call them 5 VITAMINS because vitamins are essential for healthy living. Many a time, unforgiveness cloud our sense of judgment. It becomes difficult to see things as they really are. It could lead to biased thoughts, misinterpretation of actions,...