When Life Hands You Lemons…

“If life hands you lemons, make a lemonade.” – Dale Carnegie

With each passing day comes a higher demand for responsibility and attention. Before now I used to wonder why sometimes my mum would come home feeling all worn out. Unfortunately- or fortunately- life has dealt me my own deal! I must confess, growing up is not so easy!

You make money- but after trading with your time, energy and sleep. In my first two weeks at work, I felt a bit sick and I thought that I probably would, one day, slump! I always took the lift even to the 2nd floor! x_x …I mean, I didn’t mind reserving some of my energy and it didn’t hurt either 🙂 . My body didn’t deserve any more torture- at least that was how it felt!

But as time went on, I have learned to manage some things- myself most importantly- even better than I had a head knowledge about prior to this period. I realized that I couldn’t go on feeling like I had the entire world on my shoulders. I decided to make a decision. To hope for the best. At that time I had no idea what the best even felt like, let alone knowing what it was. I just knew somehow that I had to look beyond ‘the now’. I must say, it wasn’t the easiest task for me!

I’d just run down a list of the things I decided to start doing, things I needed to improve on, maintain or change.

1- I had to be grateful and thankful

Many people would do anything to be in my position. Many would give anything to even have as many loving people around as I have in my department…everyone is unbelievably nice!!!

2- To always smile…a LOT.

Many assume that smiling makes people look down on you in some way. Fortunately, I have received a lot of compliments for this. I must say it seemed strange to some people but I always had a way of putting a smile back on their faces, without even so much as saying a word. Even my Manager smiles back…what could be more encouraging?!!!

3- I dress for success.

This gives me a boost of confidence, however trivial it might seem to some people. Plus I receive compliments too 😉

4- Eat healthy

Besides ‘The Breakfast’ policy we have in my family, eating healthy, even in the midst of a daily all-expense-paid buffet at a hotel restaurant (one of the best in Lagos State, Nigeria…Eko Hotel) for lunch daily, is a personal responsibility. What on earth was I thinking?!!!…I love my life!

5- Express myself to God and listen to what He always has to say.

You may call this praying, Bible study or anything. I believe it’s all about my relationship with my Father. It hasn’t been easy, but I must say He is The best Person who has ever given me a shoulder to cry on…and He hands me tissues too!!!

6- I journal.

It might not be so easy sometimes, but it has helped me pull my thoughts together. I am able to- even if it might not be convenient- talk to myself and ask quality questions and at the same time provide proper answers. This is one of the most rewarding parts of my day, each day.

These are just a few things I did and have kept on doing to make my mind much more receptive as well as productive and my activities rewarding. You could tell me how you manage the lemons given to you and how you also make some money (rewards) from the lemonades you make.

Yours Sincerely,

OluwaTos!n.

Uniqueness in Randomness

“So much of life, it seems to me, is determined by pure randomness”
– Sidney Poitier

Randomness is not so much about doing something without any particular purpose, meaning or pattern because eventually, your randomness is different from mine and that is what makes us all unique. I used to think that life was formed out of pure randomness with no particular thing I was meant to do. When I was much younger I wanted to become an actress because I could do a good act in front of my mirror every day. I wanted to become an artist because I could draw. I wanted to become a doctor- but that changed as quickly as I grew up! I wanted to become a news caster because I could speak well. I wanted to become an architect because they imagined beautiful structures. I wanted to be a talk show host because I love Oprah and what she does! I thought I could be most of all that in my short life.
I came to realize, however, that since I have just one life, I could learn from those who were already all I wanted to be. It became so stressful at a point just trying to keep up. But I loved it and that was what kept me going. There was, however, something I was missing out. I forgot all about the randomness of things happening around me. The family and friends I have, the people that live around me, my roommate, my classmates, my lecturers, the lady who I always greet down my street even the guy that walks past me when I walk down the road. Many random things you might think, but they are all in my life for a reason.
So much goes on around us and it’s amazing how we could learn from experiences, events and people if only we paid attention to our so called ‘randomness’. I decided to then start with my family. There’s a lot to say about them for they have all taught me so much without them even knowing. For these reasons I realized that there was actually a real depth to every “I LOVE YOU” that I’ve ever said. Something about them made me love them. Something about them made me care about them. Something about them made me crave spending moments with them that I’d cherish forever.
I love my dad because he has taught me to be responsible, to love God and have an absolute and loyal trust in God- it is in a bogus term called FAITH. He has made me realize that God’s blessings are not so much about what we can do but who God is and what He can do. I love my mum because she teaches me to love people and be kind to them no matter what. She has taught me to always be patient, to care for others and pay attention to them and not just myself. She has taught me to always believe and hope for the best. She has taught me to always talk to God AND hear what he has to say to me from His word because that is the complete cycle of prayer.
I love my first sister because she has taught me to be determined and to not give in to pain or criticism. She has taught me that once you are completely convinced about something you should go after it and give yourself to it with all your heart. She has also taught me that love is the most beautiful thing in the world. She has taught me to create targets for myself and go after it to completion. She has taught me that you should expect the best always and never let anyone or anything make you look away from your target. She has taught me to think because ideas, once ignited, would work wonders in our lives and other’s.
I love my second sister because she has taught me that silence is golden; speak only when you need to. She has taught me to save and to always be content with what I have. She has taught me that having a great company of friends is priceless because it’s like you have your own little family away from home. She has also made me realize that God works best for us and does unimaginable things when we are at peace and hope in Him for the best.
My brother…hmm…the sweetest! He has taught me to play and to not take myself way too seriously even if I’m serious about important things. He has taught me to love (his wife will enjoy!). He has taught me that if you are interested in something, you can know all there was to know about it- talk about knowing football and footballers inside-out! (Not like they are sharing their pay with him oh!). He has taught me to be imaginative and to create in my mind things that’d make me smile. Most of all he has taught me to enjoy the company of children no matter how old I am. He has made me realize that spending time with them makes you let go of worries that drain the rest of world. He has taught me that excitement about something brings the best out of it.
There are a whole lot of things to say about what I learnt from the girl that sat next to me in class today, the girl who rolled her eyes at me on Tuesday, the guy that sold me a snack yesterday (he says his name is ‘Spontaneous’! ). The bottom line is: We all need to embrace the randomness and uniqueness about the randomness around us. It’s the randomness that nature has given to us that makes each and every one of us unique in our own special way. Embrace your own randomness and have a beautiful year ahead and remember that everyone in your life is there for one reason or another.
With Love,
OluwaTos!n