preserving the child hood of the girl child

                                               preserving the child hood of the girl child

                                                     '...if you see a good fight 
                                                                    get in it...'
                                                                                Vernon Johns

I am pained and when in distress I naturally turn to that which is my weapon of war-writing! A friend of mine took to face book in the midst of this public protest concerning the amendment of section 29(4b) of the Nigerian (1999) constitution and opined 

  "... before 18 years,she needs a dictionary not a D***,

        give her a pen, not a P****,

        give her money for her text book not for ante-natal,

        she should be playing swell with friends not watching a sick pervert 'swell'.

        Ask her for books not her Boobs,

        give her good education not Ejaculation,

        she should be watching Ben 10 not going on round 10, 

It is completely wrong psychologically,socially and morally to give out an underage child for marriage!' ...

Kudos Idowu Omoloja for being the spark that invigorates the fire that has cooled to smoldering ashes over the last four years.

Section 29(4a) of the 1999 constitution reads:'full age means the age of 18 years and above', while (4b) states: Any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.'The legal implication of this is that the constitution recognizes 18 years and above as a marriageable age.There are citizens who even argue that the acceptable age should have been 21, as an 18 year old within the Nigerian context is still very much a child in the opinion of the general public.
Little wonder, Senator Ahmed Rufai Sani Yerima's utterances, claiming marriage (Islam) as a basis for the automatic transformation of under aged teenagers into full fledged adults has opened up public's displeasure at the practice of child marriage most prevalent in the North of Nigeria.This is no surprise coming from a man whose past antecedent included marrying a 13 year old Egyptian girl in 2010,having previously married a 15 year old girl in 2006. Calls for his continual incarceration were in order, however under article 61 of the second schedule of the Nigerian constitution, the government has no power to legislate on marriages contracted under Islamic/customary law thus the Senator had no legal case  to answer. 

Rumor had it, that his Egyptian bride cost him $100,000 (£66,000) in dowry.This from a legislator of a country where citizens can barely afford to keep up with three square meals a day and cater to their health needs!(the argument might be that Nigeria doesn't practice the welfare system of governance) but does the thought of an impoverished citizenry (60.9%) deter such a man from wasting such an amount of money on such a debatable action? -no!

Recent statistics,'show that Nigeria a country with two percent of the world's population possesses ten percent of VVF  patients, most of which occur in the North of Nigeria. Three quarters of these VVF/RVF cases are young girls who are not yet physically mature and have suffered trauma in their first pregnancy, caused by a tear in the flesh between the virgina and the unitary passage due to prolonged labor.This also results in uncontrolled urine or feces in the case of recto-virginal fistulae. Most of these young girls are subsequently abandoned by their spouses and lack the funds to pay for the requisite correctional operation.                            
Statistically 144 women loose their lives in child birth in Nigeria every day,with the North east alone recording 5 times the global rate of maternal mortality yet the Senate see no reason why they should be bothered with this.

It is pathetic enough that pressure groups such as  The Gender and Constitution Reform Network [(GECORN), a coalition of women's rights organisations across Nigeria] are ignored in the face of such  outrage, but I wish to ask, where are our female senators? where are our female commissioners and ministers? please I implore you-lend your voices! Diziani Alison Maduike, here is the time for your nasty retorts, the likes of which you  un-apologetically dealt Nigerians with, during  the fuel  subsidy strike.Patience Jonathan,  our honorable first lady-please this is time to shine, are you silently sitting down, ignoring a fight that should be first and fore most yours? These girls may not be your daughters but your name will be written in gold if you choose to honor this fight. 

There are a thousand and one reasons why this fight is a good fight,child marriage in my opinion is ultimately worse than slavery.It stands in the way of young adolescence who have  dreams of acquiring an education, it denies them access to information,knowledge and economic empowerment and productivity and most important to note, it is dangerous to the girl child's health and will no doubt run Nigeria to a halt if nothing is done about it as it deliberately creates an avenue  through which female children are stalled from  reaching their full potentials .I know,that in frustration some might say, why bother fighting ? for how long will we keep talking,writing and protesting? but the words of I.F Stone from Curtis White's 'The middle mind why Americans don't think for them selves '(pg. 201) ring true in this circumstances as a source of comfort-

'The only kinds of fights worth fighting are those you are going to lose, because somebody has to fight them and lose and lose and lose until someday, somebody who believes as you do wins.In order for somebody to win an important, major fight 100 years hence,a lot of other people have got to be willing - for the sheer fun and joy of it-to go right ahead and fight,knowing you're going to lose. You mustn't feel like a martyr. You've got to enjoy it.”

I choose this day to lend my voice to 'the protection of the dignity of the girl child' for as my Mother used to say, 'let no mountain scare you, in a bid to reach your dreams.To conquer that mountain, you either attempt to climb that mountain,walk around that mountain or bore a hole through that mountain,one drill at a time! 

silence speaks

                                            




                                  
                                                 Silence speaks
                                                    it speaks most eloquently
                                                                  Silence leads
                                                                           it leads adequately
                                                                                  Silence isn't silent
                                                                                           it is a gathering of words  
                                                                                  nurtured through meditation!
                                                                                                         a gathering of storms
                                                                                                                  Silence speaks

                                 I am Kandake [KAN duh see] 

                                                ’’ Kandake or Kentake ;

                          Also Candace The title for queens and queen mothers

                           Of the ancient African Kingdom of Kush, (also known)

                                              As Nubian and Ethiopia’’

As I got prepared to mount that pulpit, I felt my heart pulsate with rapid abandon. This isn’t unusual; in fact it had become some what of a strength, (an adrenalin rush as I secretly love to call it) one I depend on to prepare me each time I find my self in a position where I am to address a crowd. You see folks; public speaking happens to be one of my biggest phobias but yet I get thrust into circumstances that entail public speaking or singing as the case may be some times.

 Truth is, most people closest to me wouldn't readily accept this claim (my phobia for public speaking), why? Because I've learnt to be courageous about my fears, a long time ago I decided to turn my sea of doubts into a safe haven. So palpitations, sweaty palms instantaneous headaches or not! I face my phobia each time I speak or sing publicly.

Each time I find my self about to mount that stage or about to be thrust into the light, I summon courage from my inner Kandake and above all, I endeavor to look as confident as I ought to, you know as the Americans say-walk the talk.

Courage! One would wonder what this word has got to do with ordinary people, when the issue of courage comes up, we instinctively think it’s a virtue reserved exclusively for Activist, Soldiers and Athletes and the like. In truth, this virtue is so undermined in our daily lives today more so as emphasis now lies with self preservation. There seem to be a ban on being outspoken!

 ‘Go with the flow’... ‘Shhh...Don’t draw attention of the public eye’! Seem to be the latest mantra by which we live. Now am not preaching unnecessary loudness(the sought subscribed to by a ‘notice me or I die’ person but we've got to admit that the side effect of living life this way lies in accepting to play safe always thus subscribing to live re-actively  Instead of standing up to that individual that physically, verbally or emotionally bullies, you chuck your head and device ways to avoid him/her. Instead of walking out of that unhappy relationship, you dream up one or as many reasons to stay-Religion, Tradition, Status, Expectations! In fact you re dying under the weight of which ever reason you've chosen to hide under. Any one out there with a job you hate so much it feels like an imposition to make your way to work each morning? Don’t you think its time to set new goals/aspirations, stop playing by the rules and find a space for something more fulfilling?

What we don’t often want to accept is the desire to face our fears (imagined or real)-the fear of rejection, failure, humiliation, regret, success, water, heights, discomfort, poverty, being ostracized, being expressive, being different, Name it! The list is endless.

 Have you for one minute imagined what life would be, without your fears? Without your having to be conventional and going with the flow all the time-Harnessing the virtue of courage doesn’t necessarily mean you lack fear, it means gaining mastery over our fears, resistance over our worries, saddling up to the fact that there are issues more important than those intrusions. Facing up to the fact that the situation might well involve setting aside what we or others might say and dealing with the circumstances we are or might be in. In a nut shell gaining courage means alienating our cowardice, gaining mastery over our apprehensions and silencing that inner voice that reminds us that we are incapable of achieving that feat! For it all starts with us, our understanding of our capabilities, visions and beliefs-That! Before others begin to voice their opinions, however positive or negative, they might be!

People it is time to realize, that no matter how many talks, books and films we gather around us, concerning building our confidence and heightening our self esteem, it all starts with a little spark of courage! For courage is the spark that build’s self confidence and heightens self esteem in every individual and it can be asserted in varying ways, we may not all be Martin Luther-king, Vernon John, Malcolm X, Asante Shakur, kwame Nkrumah or Nelson Mandela. We may not be able to sing ours as fearlessly as Tupac Amaru- Shakur or fiery tempered like Fela Anipulakpo- Kuti but we may decide to adopt the subtle ways of Bob Marley, Lucky Dube and Miriam Makeba, we may also choose to write like Wole Soyinka’s, pass a life long message like Chinua Achebe or go the maternal ways of Maya Angelou! We could in such ways emulate the famous Bessie Emery Head whose life long achievement is summed up in her most famous words,  for the reason why she writes...‘"I am building a stairway to the stars. I have the authority to take the whole of mankind up there with me. That is why I write." and  if we are not inclined to show courage via speaking, singing or writing then our actions can tell it all, for the popular saying goes ‘actions speaks louder than words’ or is it not so?

So you ask me, how do I respond to this shrill stubborn voice that just won’t be silent when I stand face to face with a situation that just won’t cut the mark?  Or when I have to confront one of my many phobias? I choose not to act reactively; I chose not to sink into despair and act helpless. I say to that voice, Shhh... I am Kandake! (now I do not speak of the Kandake recorded of in the Acts of the Apostle, 8:27).

I speak of Kandake Amanirenas! Certainly, history has done Africans an injustice not mentioning the prowess of this line of women (as much isn’t known about the Black Queens and Kings of Ethiopia). Kandake Amanirenas was so courageous during her reign that despite loosing an eye in a battle against the Romans who invaded the city of Meroe she undauntedly defended Ethiopia against Alexander the great of Macedon (a state in the North of ancient Greece) who was at the time trampling through the ancient world conquering countries.

 He had at that time set his eyes on Ethiopia (a land that exceeded other nations in Gold and wealth) that he wanted it at all cost. Story has it that Kandake Amanirenas gathered her black troops, lined them up and stood atop two African Elephants on a throne and waited for Alexander to show up. Alexander the "great” didn't want to risk a loss so he give up on this battle. Loosing to a woman (known for her deadly military tactics in all her glory and her well armed armies with their latest iron weapons) wasn't a situation he was ready to envisage. So on seeing the black Queen on her Elephants and her black armies, Alexander the "great" halted his armies at the first cataract and turned back into Egypt.

Another version has it that Alexander had a semi private meeting with Kandake Amenirenas, where she informed him to leave Ethiopia immediately or face the defeat of his army, after which she would severe his head and roll it down a hill.  Alexander promptly chose life!

So people how do you deal with situations when you re in dire need of courage?

           

Femme –strong (2): “being emotionally independent”

                          Femme –strong (2): “being emotionally independent”

                                              ‘...And the daughter of a lioness is a lioness!

Hi to all!
I know it has been a while since I posted on my blog...  between classes, hustle and exams
well today I heard an interesting conversation while coming home from my evening stroll and my God! Did it take me back to the foot of the cross on mount Golgotha?

 Folks, I was harshly reminded of a time in my distant past where deference and people’s validation was what mattered the most and I felt a need to talk.

Any way, where else would I find the opportunity to gist about it except with my gist mates?

There was a time when I couldn't be described as an independent person; I always had to depend on others for validation and if those who knew me way back accused me of being a Hobbit, it was my way of making up for my painful shyness, lack of confidence and deep seated feeling of worthlessness I used to remember burying my heads in stacks of books because I felt no one understood me.

Casting my mind back, it was more out of a lack of esteem, a deep yearning to be ‘like’ every other person around me undermining the fact that these people came from backgrounds that were different from mine, experienced life differently from mine and as was expected had a right to their opinions as I had a right to mine.

By the time I became an undergraduate and realized that I had a right to be ‘different’, as every body else was, I started another circle, one of self-validation. This time I became counsel, judge and jury over each and every action I took or was to take, and God help me if it was something I counted terribly disgraceful or felt deeply ashamed of. It never really mattered whether or not others saw it as ‘simply being human’.

After all I should have thought before I ever thought, felt or acted that way! Even if it was simply being attracted to a young man (seriously! I can’t believe I put my self through untold emotional hardship for nothing.) My life was a never ending circle of self judgement rather than self value and as long as I choose to continue this way I was going to remain dependent on others for emotional self worth.

I never realized I had started on this tiring unending journey of self validation, until a bosom friend of mine pointed out my eagerness to please, my need to impress others, my fear of criticism and incessant worry about what this will say or that will think! Even without necessarily carrying out the so called ‘condemnable’ act.

So much so that I often held back on issues of interest as a result and worse still, others were beginning to take advantage of this. ‘Live life! Was her retort each time she saw that look of self doubt on my face, I simply got tired of living a life of anxiety one day and decided it was time to change, after all none of those I  deferred to were not saints!

 My friend was right, the life was mine to live and it was time I choose to live for me.

So on the road to recovery or subtly put-independence, I started keeping tabs of my feelings, noting my inner insecurities and various addictions; I also had to keep notes of my acts of kindness and then start consciously valuing my self as a kind person. I realized emotional independence was a very personal thing and that it didn't necessarily mean keeping to one self (though I am very much a Hobbit, interpersonal skills has often depended on my mood swings) it also affected an individual’s independence as a person and includes good decision-making skills and learning all about the salient areas in one’s life where you should take charge.

Self-judgment is a form of control to get oneself to do things "the right way" so that people will validate you and approve of your actions but as much as any individual might succeed in getting those around to approve of their every action, as long as an individual keeps judging one self, that person will continue to feel badly about his /her self.

It might be an ego booster but in the long run it’s not worth it as it places you in a vulnerable position and gives power to another over you. A constant string of negative validation from the seeker tears down one’s self esteem and makes the individual who seek validation feel he/she is of no value.

So as I walked back home. Not even wanting to be reminded of those awful days of self suffering I couldn't help remembering what my Mom’s reply had been when I came home crying from school and told her no body liked me’, Why? She had asked, a puzzled look on her face ‘because they say, I am different! I replied stamping my right foot on the ground in anger, ‘you can’t be like every body else, was her reply, else the world wont be an interesting place to live in, ‘you re my daughter, console your self that in your difference you are like me. It was my turn to ask her ‘why? Because the daughter of a lioness is a lioness and cannot be a sheep!” she had replied impatiently, you need to believe more in your self, do you see me acting and dressing like most mommies? No, I replied timidly seeming to see my Mommy for the first time as she walked towards the direction of her bedroom, her six inch heels clicking away.

 Gosh! I thought, ‘Why hadn't I noticed that in a time when most mothers choose to dress in blouses and wrappers, Bubo’s and such, which was deemed socially acceptable my own Mother constantly broke the norm and veered to the opposite direction?

your gist mate,

Shy

 Femme-strong (1); Conquering our moments of weakness

     ‘If an eagless  doesn't realize its capabilities it will one day accept a cork as its king’  

When I was little my mom used to tell me stories to distract me from the pain I experienced each time she groomed my hair, there was this particular story I and my siblings begged her to tell one time too many, back then it was because we loved to chant the chorus that went with a song she often sang some place in the middle of the story. I never got to understand the true lessons behind the story until I recanted this story during my National youth service year at a burn–fire night and years later each time I encounter rough patches and need a boost of inspiration.

There once was an Eaglet who fell down from the skies while practicing how to fly, in the process it sustained a very terrible injury that left it unconscious. Luckily for the Eaglet, Mother Hen was strolling past on her way to visit a friend and after several attempts to search for its mother decided to take the Eaglet home. Weeks later she adopted Eaglet as one of her children.

In the years to come, Eaglet grew up to become a very beautiful Eagless, with very dark feathers and a beautiful while tail, she had a strong beak, strong claws and eyes that sighted every detail from afar,though she had a slight limp but she could still fly a bit higher than her siblings. This made her Siblings very jealous and because of this, they took to bullying and teasing her mercilessly because she was different from them all. ‘Just look at her extra large claws and her funny protruded beak-leave here you darkie! They would say whilst they played and Eagless would walk off in tears to sit by her mom -‘Mom, I  don’t know why they hate me so, as much as I  try to please them they still make fun of me so much it hurts-why?’, Eagless mother always had a simple reply ‘It’s because you are special, that is why.’

One day, Eagless went out hunting with its siblings and sported a young handsome Cock that lived near its former home strutting past, having been in love with this Cock ever since its spurs had grown, she had hoped he would one day ask her hand in marriage but to her greatest dismay, he strutted past her, flapped his wings once or twice and in its best voice crowed in invitation at her younger sister! Eagless had just about had it, so she confronted the Cock immediately. To her utmost surprise the Cock laughed out loud and replied ‘there is no way I can be married to you, you are an Eagless not a Hen! Once said the Cock strutted ahead of her crowing at intervals. The Eagless burst into bitter tears, refused to go hunting and returned home crying bitterly. When she laid her complains before her mother she got the same reply-‘don’t cry my dear, it’s because you are special!’

Days after the incidence Eagless kept wondering, how can I be an Eagless? I know I fly higher than most birds around but not as high as an Eagle talk-more of an Eagless. Aren’t Hen-eagles supposed to be the highest flying birds amongst birds? ...hmmn even if I were one my deformity wouldn’t grant me that capability! One day Mother hen heard her asking these questions aloud and in a loud voice replied-‘It is time!’

The next day she took her to a large field and asked her’ do you remember what I always tell you each time you cry? ‘Yes mama’, replied Eagless somewhat curious as to what was to follow, ‘it is time you start practising the act of flying higher than you ever can- there are capabilities within you that must not lay fallow’ concluded Mother Hen walking back home. Every day Eagless returned home, she always had one complaint or another ‘but Mama... she would say, I feel too heavy ...but Mama...I don’t think I can go higher....and her favourite complaint was...but mama, I have a deformity! But Mother Hen Always had one single reply for her-‘my child there are capabilities within you that must not lay fallow even with your limp.’

One day a determined Eagless set to the field and discovered its potentials- that she was indeed an Eagless and that she could fly higher than her male counterpart despite her limp! And a day came when she had to choose her mate she put him to a test not unlike one of its kind and to the Eagle who flew almost as high as she could she choose to give her heart and bear him children.

In times when I feel uncertain and my insecurities seem to get the better of me, I always glean strength from this simple thought- that there will always be adversities, some place, somewhere, with another person but the worse adversity to accommodate within oneself is the one within and this we must never give room for as individuals.

It is at such points in life that we must draw on our inner strengths and bear in mind that such worries whatever they might be would soon become ‘yesterday’s worries’ and new ones would always arise, so what is the point of worrying continually? As life has always been this way and would continue to be.

We must give room for changes, sometimes I am up to my ears in plans-plan A didn’t work, plan B isn’t feasible but it doesn’t make me from attempting a plan C or D up to an F, if possible. Whatever changes I make to fit life’s condition I learn to adjust to and deem myself smart enough to work my way through those changes.

There was a time when I worried too much for my young heart and thought I was Atlas’s double. Everywhere I went I carried my conflicts within myself until ‘living’ itself became a burden but I was lucky to make met the Alabi sisters who set the record straight in my case and made me draw that inner strength I  never knew I  possessed. Lisa would tell me real stories, of real people just like my mother told me folklores and prepped me with proverbs; ‘Fire is the true test of Gold just as adversity is the true test of man’ used to be her favourite at a time. Hellene often left me with tiny tasks and asked me (one time too many) to adopt role models as many as I can.

I have over time adopted many (as unconventional as I am) and I have through them learnt that I can turn my imperfections into benefits. I have learnt that that there is no special act to this as it just involves a determined mind set and strong will power.

If you stick close by, I will gist you more about this when next we meet...

Your gist mate

Shy

Why does love make us act foolish?

‘Love is a euphoric complexity of emotions,

Solely used as an excuse by any individual

 Who has amania for acting foolish

Suffice it to say, this state of mind is solely by choice’

                       -Shy@ thirteen

As a teenager I fell in love with literature, the dictionary and the Arts...oh yeah! I thought I heard you ask ‘what about fashion?’ nah, there were more intriguing issues like this ‘LOVE’ thingy that most teenage boys often mentioned each time they hung around the prettiest girls in class and adults explained it away with these exact choice of words-‘who ever told you that ,wants to ruin your life young lady!’

 So...ooo ... why were hampers attached to white teddies holding foamy red hearts declaring undying love exchanged openly during valentine and hey! What was pimple face Paul, the head boy up to, when he passed a sealed scented envelope with hearts all over, to my friend Good-luck, she later told me in that airy voice of hers that she’d cherish his poems and love letters forever, I thought she looked pathetic continuously drooling over her premature plans of a fairy tale wedding and I found her search for the right  names for her children too far-fetched for her age but Tina explained it away...’awww she kinda has stars in her eyes,... indeed! When we graduated from high school it later became a usual joke to ask Good-luck, if she was drunk through school to have dated pimple faced Paul?

 Whatever it was, I found a worth-while explanation for ‘love’ back then in the pages of the popular Mill and Boons or a silhouette romance novelette and thanks to pacesetter! Can anyone remember those collections of non-fiction novels written by notable African authors? ( I remember Tina ,described them as love, kill –joys) at least they were closer to reality for reminding readers that not all romance stories ended happily ever after...lol... my favourites then were titled ‘Ebvu my love’ by Helen Aiyeohusa Ovbiagele ,’Sisi’, ‘Rich girl-Poor boy’ and lastly ‘undesirable element’ by Sule Mohammed . So finally Yours truly came up with a lasting definition of hers for this elusive thingy called ‘love’ and it was cold enough to pull the scales of my eyes, drive the boys up the wall  and earn me the name ’ice-queen’ and Iron lady when I later bagged a prefect badge.

Well back then, I thought it better to be sane than find myself acting the fool. I was tired of watching my intelligent friends go over these same motions over and over again...AKA

·         drooling over a young man, clenching on ‘he love me’ -‘he love me not’ cards

·         finding unreasonable reasons to call again, if he/she doesn’t call right back

·          Scheme to run into him or her outside offices and class rooms by designed ‘accidents’.

·         Feigning headaches so they’d get kissed or worse still a bad cold or malaria fever so they’d get him or her alone in a room with them!

·         And if you’re loads like me (as I later found out)Trying by sheer force of will and cold reasoning to  (unsuccessfully)purge yourself of your idiocy after all such a stunt like  allowing your boyfriend kiss you on the highway in the full glare of passing motorist isn’t something you’d congratulate another person for -fine! I know I can be a prude but people I am a shy person.

And while you are at it, there is  always this nagging fear behind you reminding you that you had better play it cool this time  or you’d have made a fool of yourself again – worse still for individuals (like me) who often than not apply the ‘reasonable man’s test’ to my actions all the time!

 Fact is, it’s not often possible to stop yourself doing dumb, dumber and crazy things when you’ve fallen hard for another...(lol)... the most recent symptom is chatting with the person all day to the exclusion of all others-thank God for the internet we need not day dream much. Last night a friend of mine gave me a gist about  a medical doctor’s choice of marriage  and people it was funny cause this lady’s choice of a crazy layabout as a husband is because he makes her laugh!- I could understand it for some personal reasons but he couldn’t ...lol

So people! ... People!  Against this gist as a back drop, can you give me a reasonable conclusion for why the most intelligent and smartest people act foolish when they are in love?

Hoping to hear from you,

As always

Your gist mate,

Shy

                    A NEW HEART FOR THE NEW YEAR

                                    ‘I AM THE DAUGHTER OF THE ALPHA AND OMEGA

                      WHICH MEANS I AM ABOVE STRESS, WORRIES WANTS AND NEEDS,

                                   WHERE EVER I GO ALL I NEED, ALL I WANT I GET.

                                           IT IS MY DESTINY TO TAKE OVER,

                                          I AM A CONQUEROR GENETICALLY’

                                                                                                                     -IVIE

The lights have just gone off about half an hour ago and Aunty gladys had knocked four times as was usual, when she felt they were being a nuisance but the two friends were too preoccupied in their conversation to even take notice .’ jez! Will you stop arguing you’ve always known am not a fast talker, reprimanded Jean, ‘then shut up and for once consider what I have to say, exclaimed Adobi in what she thought was a whisper. You never listen, that is the reason why I have to always go on a marathon each time we argue. Knock...knock...knock.... banged the land lady for the fifth time and then footsteps.

‘See I pleaded with you to reduce your voice earlier, Aunty Gladys is on her up stairs and I hope she is in a good mood today concluded Jean with a tiny frown, ‘were you not the one arguing unreasonably? Murmured Adana under her breath,’ Now! Young girls what on earth is the reason for that noise, you two were making? Asked Gladys immediately Adaobi opened the door, ’sorry ma, we just had some difference of opinion answered Jean from behind Adana.

‘About what,Asked Aunty Gladys taking a sit on the nearest chair available by the reading table. Not much, just trying to advice that knuckle head aunty, retorted Adaobi nodding her head in Jean’s direction but she wouldn’t listen ‘but Aunty interjected Jean her opinion is based on some dumb  superstition! ‘Which is? Asked Gladys smiling her wrinkles seemed to relax and one could catch a glimpse of the great beauty she must have been. ‘That an individual’s state of mind pre- determines the complete order of the universe and of occurrences that take place in our personal lives, some stuff about law of attraction and like attracts like, she even has a story to back this up, it utter rubbish !

‘Tell it, demanded Aunty Gladys still smiling, ‘grrrr...let the story teller tell it herself exclaimed Jean, I can’t bear to repeat the truck load of bullocks... excuse my French she murmured after one severe look from Aunty Gladys, ’K, Aunty, I will tell my story ag...ain, emphasised Adana smiling after all I am not saying this happened to someone else, this was my personal experience.

 Remember the last time I visited the U.K? The friend I visited told me a story; it was in reaction to my answer when he asked me what my opinion was about the Irish, he started thus;

There once were 2 men who decided to relocate to a new city. When they got to the city of their choice, they met a blind beggar at its gate. The first man asked the blind man; please how the people in this city behave. The blind man turned to the direction his voice was coming from and asked (sorry), how do people behave in the city you just relocated from? ’Oh they re gentle, nice and friendly people he replied. The blind man nodded and replied, you'd meet people who behave like that here then ‘thank you said the first man and dragged his suitcase to the park where he was get a bus

The second man walked up to the same blind man and asked hesitantly please what is your opinion of the people who live in this city, the blind man turned in the direction of his voice and asked how do the people behave in the city you just left ‘oh he replied am so glad I moved out of that city!, they re nasty crude, terrible people. I never thought I’d meet such horrible people in all my life.’ ohoo...exclaimed the blind beggar; you had better watch out, you're sure to meet such people that behave like that here too.

Aunty I learnt that day that I had to do away with all my negative perceptions from my heart or else I’d keep attracting the wrong people. If I remember clearly he told me life will be uncomfortable for me because my negative energy will keep attracting the wrong people. ‘And you believed that? Interrupted Jean laughing wildly, ‘yes I did Adana quickly replied.

‘Has it been working for you? Asked Aunty Gladys serenely, ‘yes Aunty in fact it worked the first night I got back to Dublin! ‘Tell me murmured Aunty Gladys expectantly   

‘On returning to Dublin, I returned to a flooded city transporting home was terrible, the buses were grounded and only the trams were working. They had put up a sign notifying passengers that if they had to get to the last stop of the journey, they'd have to stop at a station called Belgard, from which alternative arrangement will be made to get us to city west by bus. Well I boarded the tram hoping that since I was in Europe they were bound by their words, I was in for a big mistake turns out when we got to the station called Belgard, I and two men (a Asian and an Irish) waited there for more than 3 hours . Now I and the Asian had the good sense to stick together, a sign that were not expecting any help from the Irish man (I think) unlike me in the past, we even saved the Irish man the long walk to the park where he thought a bus will be waiting after hours of waiting and going back and forth the Irish man exclaimed,’fuck it! I’d just walk home and left us .About 10 minutes later to our surprise he came running back and said 'could'na jest up and leave knowing I got two friends back here thought ha-way I must such a forking arse , so whaa do you say we board the bus to tallaght-square and board a taxi I’ll pay for ya'! And that was how I got home. An Irish man I never knew and am sure would not even recognize paid 20 Euros for us to get home!

‘My point is , that is just a coincidence, cut in Jean adamantly, no my point is the law of attraction played a role there, my change of heart towards Irish people influenced his change of heart replied Adobi ,assertively.

‘I agree with you Adana, cut in Aunty Gladys quietly, you Jean should adopt a new heart for the New Year, let go of your narrow mindedness and give space to the lessons that nature and the universe teaches. Adana simply speaks of the power of positive thinking. Goodnight she concluded as she turned the lights off, closed the door, both girls could hear her receding footsteps as she headed to her room. Aunty Gladys wasn’t a woman of many words she had delivered judgement.

Your gist mate

Shy