C Pen

16/09/2024

16th Sept 2024,

As a child with an interesting imagination, sleeping was a hobby for me. I slept so much that it was a serious worry to my parents. For me, sleep was an avenue to create a world of mine. To them, the longer I spend in my head, the further I would get from reality.

As a young adult, though, I've come to realise that dreams are propellers of greatness. We most often grow in direct proportion to our dreams. As adults, dreams don't make us sleep, rather, it is our dreams that give us the strength to stay awake, doing all that we can to turn them into reality.

If you've stopped dreaming because the world makes it look like dreams are baseless, here is a reminder that the more you dream, the more you DO!

CiCi💕💕

16/09/2024

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13/09/2024

13th September,

Ever heard the saying that "Time makes all things right"? Well, this saying may hold some grain of truth because Sometimes, things that used to bother us, get us excited or things that used to evoke strong feelings/responses in us may not matter as much as time passes.

In actual sense though, time doesn't fix everything. Some mistakes or wounds keep festering as time passes. They are situations that one can't just sweep under the rug with the hope that time will fix it. They require actual actions to get fixed.

Is there a mistake you are shying from with the hope that time will fix it? If there is, then you should evaluate to see if time will fix it. If time won't, then you need to man up and fix your mistakes.

CiCi💕💕

12/09/2024

12th September,

In the world of averages, excellence is seen as an aberration that shouldn't be tolerated. What a mediocre will see and call being overboard or too straitjacket is sometimes a person being willing to pay the price for greatness. They will prefer to label a goal-getter who wants to break barriers and stand at the very top of their career path an excessive and greedy person.

That you thirst for excellence (even when there is no reward attached), that you choose to do the right thing (even when no one sees it), that you take the pains to be meticulous (even when there is no punishment for doing otherwise) is a trait that the world has come to trivialize and see as being excessive.

Don't let the world make you feel like you are not doing too much. You are doing just enough to be the person you want to be.

CiCi💕💕

11/09/2024

10th September,

The world would be a tad better if we could succinctly categorise people into friendship and adversary groups, but the truth is that a number of those who can't tolerate your guts most often hide under the canopy of friends. They have mastered the skill of telling and doing things to be aesthetically pleasing to you whilst they loathe you behind closed doors.

This is not to discourage one from having or trusting friends. Rather, this is a subtle reminder that even in the camp of foes, one can have an ally and in the camp of allies, enemies can hide.

There is more to everyone than what we see, and interestingly, what we don't see (which far outweighs what we see) is what actually determines if they are for us or against us.

CiCi💕💕

06/09/2024

6th September,

As a teenager, the older generation told us how the economy was better in their time. How cheaper and better items were. How safer the world was. Their story must have sounded farfetched like they wanted us all to go back and live in the 50s and 60s. Now we know better because comparing what the world looked like when we were younger seems to be better and safer than it is presently. Will a day come when the present situation of the world will be better than what it was in the past? Maybe or Maybe not.

Focusing our minds on how things used to be and how it is now will in no way make any difference. Instead of focusing our minds on the past like the older generation, it's about time we leave the past in the past, focus on our present realities and chart out ways that can at least help us stay ahead of present realities.

The past won't do you any good. Get your mind off it!

CiCi💕💕

05/09/2024

5th September,

Our realities in the nation keep changing. If there is something we thought we knew a day ago, it's become a norm to wake up to meet a different narrative. We take a step forward, and in a twinkle of an eye, it seems like we are taking 20 backwards. The reality of being a young adult in Nigeria can be depressing, which is why it's important to ask the question, HOW ARE YOU?

Hope you are hanging in there.
Hope you aren't losing hope.
Hope you aren't giving up just because the country isn't an enabling environment currently.
I really hope you are fine (mentally, physically, and all other aspects).

You are a dynamite, don't let the situation tell you otherwise 😘😘

CiCi💕💕

04/09/2024

4th September,

As kids, I'm sure we all had lofty dreams. Dreams to live big, control, and dominate the world. The older we get, though, we begin to realise that controlling the world may be ridiculous at its best.

Here is the truth, though: all your dreams as a kid are achievable, especially if you choose to walk your path. With every step in the path specially created for you, you will realise that while controlling the world in its entirety might be farfetched, you get to control of your world and even begin to have a semblance of control over what influences your world.

Don't discard those innocent dreams, if the thought of them could keep your childish heart excited, how much more will their fulfilment mean to your not-so-childish heart?

CiCi💕💕

03/09/2024

3rd September,

Getting over a grudge can be a herculean task, especially because we sometimes find the word 'sorry' inadequate for the degree of hurt/pain we feel. In fact, hearing sorry and continued apology could just trigger us more. We just want to hold onto the grudge even when it no longer feels reasonable to do so.

I've come to understand that most of the time it's not that the sorry offered by the guilty party was inadequate or that it wasn't genuine enough, rather we hold on to the grudge mostly because we are afraid of either of two things;
Afraid that once we accept the plea, we will forget the hurt and also forget the lessons that came with it.
Afraid that if we don't wield the grudge like a weapon, reconciliation could lead to us forgetting the pain and going back to how things used to be before the fallout, making us more susceptible to a higher level of hurt.

Whatever your reason for holding on to that grudge, let it go!
The baggage that comes with it is not worth it!

CiCi💕💕

02/09/2024

2nd September,

Years back, I had a terrible fallout with a close friend about a choice I made in a particular dilemma. At the point of making the choice, I was convinced that I had made the best choice based on the options available to me, and I was livid that this friend couldn't see that.

I've had to think about that fallout a lot in the past year, and when I want to be petty and bullheaded, I tell myself that I chose the good route but when I objectively assess the situation, I realize that the right and wrong side of that dilemma was blurry. Did I make the ultimate good choice? I don't know, and I may never know.

What I've, however, learnt since then is that the good and bad sides of life are most often never clearly defined, and we, therefore, have to tread carefully when making choices lest some years down the line, what seemed like a good turn doesn't end up being the worst of all.

CiCi💕💕

30/08/2024

30th August,

Today marks the end of this work week, and while it may/may not have been eventful, here is a reminder that while you rest, try not to rest on your laurels. As you savour the weekend, have it at the back of your mind, that come the new work week, there is a need to achieve newer feats because all previous ones no longer apply

There are newer records to beat, bigger networks to build, stronger connections to make, trendy and contemporary topics to study up on, and novel skills to pick up, and relying on those acquired in the past will make you less suitable when opportunities knock!

CiCi💕💕

29/08/2024

29th August,

When I was going to start my senior secondary school, my school had this system of fitting students into departments based on the Junior Secondary final result. Those who aced business-related subjects were advised to go the commercial route. Those who aced English, Literature and related courses were pointed in the direction of the Arts while those who did better in Health science subjects were advised to consider the Science department. However, there were quite many guys who seemed to fit in one department but opted for another because all their friends were going the other route and they didn't want to be alone.

Over the years, I've discovered that the fear of being alone doesn't end with the emergence of adulthood, we just get better at camouflaging it. The bitter truth though, is that the more you fear being alone, the more susceptible you are to ignoring your race while es**rting others in theirs.

If we really want to pursue purpose, there will be instances where we have to stand alone, instances where no one will be willing to come with us on the journey and this is totally fine.
Don't leave your goals to es**rt others to theirs!!!

CiCi💕💕

28/08/2024

28th August,

There are different angles to our persona, and people tend to tell our stories based on the angle available to them. In circles where one is laid back, the stories that are told of our personality will largely differ from the stories in settings where we are perceived as uptight or not so laid back.

Knowing that our stories are told based on individuals' perspectives, there is a need for us to consciously ensure that we project ourselves in the light of who we truly are and not in light of our troubles, circumstances or woes.

Let not the world begin to tell your story as that of a dejected, aggressive, and miserable person just because you are going through a down moment in your life.
Let your story be told from the right perspective !!!

CiCi💕💕

27/08/2024

27th August,

The feeling of not being good enough because of past failings can be overwhelming and limiting. The more we see ourselves as being inferior, the more we will be scared to put ourselves out there.

The note for you today is that when you are retiring for the night today, do well to make an inventory of all the opportunities that you have shied away from because you doubt yourself, then make yourself the promise that henceforth, regardless of what your past failings are, you will always face the opportunities that come your way with your heads high, and your shoulders squared because you know that you are more than enough.

CiCi💕💕

20/08/2024

20th August,

While it is important to love all shades of your person, self-love is much more than that. Self-love is knowing when to appreciate yourself but also being bold enough to call yourself out when you flop.

Self-love is about caring and loving yourself so much but caring enough to face your weaknesses and be courageous enough to work on them.

Self-love isn't loving yourself blindly. Self-love isn't thinking of yourself as perfect than the rest. Instead, Self-love is being truthful to yourself regardless of how painful it is. Being able to objectively evaluate your person and own up to your shortcomings if any ever be.
*Self-love is tough love!!!*

CiCi💕💕

20/08/2024

09/08/2024

9th August,

It's a general idea that success should be celebrated but as much as our society appreciates the celebration of results, we rarely celebrate the process/ struggles.

While our results deserve to be celebrated, our celebration should also be about our struggles. Don't wait until the final results are out before telling yourself well done. Appreciate YOU whenever you consistently do something positive that can enhance your results.

Don't just wait until you get promoted to celebrate, or wait till you have that impressive academic record you desire or until you start earning a 7 figure salary. Rather, celebrate how you dealt with small struggles, like the fact that you were able to show up to work very early throughout this week even though you were not feeling up to it. Or that you maintained your daily reading target despite distractions.

Celebrating the little/insignificant things keeps you excited and focused on the bigger result. Celebrate whatever struggles you dealt with successfully this week!

CiCi💕💕

08/08/2024

8th August,

One of those things that determines how much respect people accord our person is our boundaries. It is, however, these same boundaries that lead people to a conclusion about how approachable or unapproachable we are.

If our boundaries are set ridiculously higher, the more unapproachable we become because everyone begins to walk on eggshells around us just so that they dont push our boundaries. If our boundaries are also really low, we run the risk of becoming a person that everyone walks all over.

Are you aware you have boundaries? If YES, then check to see if they are at the right level. If NO, then there is a high likelihood that people are already walking all over you!

CiCi💕💕