ITOHAN'S LITTLE CORNER ✍️

 I fell down the stairs, right in front of two boys. Oh, the embarrassment. But you know what I did? I got up, with the help of one of them who stretched out his hand, amid sorrys and “are you okay?”s. I was fine. The only thing that probably took a hit was my ego. I brushed it off and kept going. The next day, I saw the same guys again. I climbed the same stairs, and I’ve climbed them every day since. And no, I haven’t fallen again. Now this isn’t to brag about how sturdy my feet became or how kind those guys were. It’s to remind you of how many times you fell and then refused to go back. See, my feet didn’t become sturdier. I still walk and run on those stairs. What changed was this: I discovered exactly what made me trip. It was my slippers. Did I change them? Yes. Did I stop taking the stairs? No. Because you don’t need to stop trying something just because you failed once. You only need to identify what caused the fall, the failure, the dent. And even though people witnessed t...

You are mentally exhausted.  Mental laziness and exhaustion can occur due to trauma, survival mode, and/or 'lack', and can hinder you from learning and growing sustainable skills.  Why?  Because sustainable skills take time to learn, grow and perfect.  And you know what someone in survival mode doesn't have? Time.  You are flying by the seat of your pants.  Probably homeless, and trying to get enough to feed for the week.  Probably do not even own a smartphone to have access to learning these skills.  Probably even depressed from the weight of carrying the burden of their existence on their shoulders.  And do you know what that makes you?  Mentally exhausted.  Because you are used to quick fixes and odd jobs to 'get by', at some point, learning that skill seems like a chore, reading that long article seems unnecessary.  Your nervous system is addicted to fast releases and gratification.  You rely on the little you know, to...

BRING BACK INCONVENIENCE!  There was a time when people would go the mile for family and friends.  When people were open to serving and being present for their family and friends.  But these days, we are plagued with so much selfishness wrapped up in self care and self love, that important friendships and relationships are suffering.  👉🏾You wouldn't attend your friend's birthday hang out or visit them because 'I don't really feel like being around people. People stress me out...i just want some ME TIME'  👉🏾You wouldn't relate with people because, 'their energy..they give me b@d vibes.' Or the worst... 'Our zodiac signs don't usually get along' My goodness!!!  👉🏾You get a message from someone on your phone, you open it to read, you left it unanswered, and you keep on posting on your status. When the person speaks up on how disrespectful it is to ignore them, you go on about 'you are not the one that bought me a phone, I can do whatev...

 Detours Are Not Dead-Ends In life, it’s easy to feel discouraged when the road to your dreams doesn’t look straight. Maybe you’ve had to take a job you never planned for. Maybe you’ve paused something you love because responsibilities demanded your attention. It can feel like you’re losing time or drifting away from your true path. But here’s the truth: a detour is not a dead-end. Dreams don’t die just because you paused to care for yourself or to meet your needs. Sometimes, the pause is God’s way of funding your dream, building your resilience, or preparing you for bigger opportunities. Think of detours as necessary bus stops on the way to fulfillment. They aren’t meant to cage you; they are moments to rest, reflect, and gather strength for the next stretch of the journey. It’s okay to take that job while you build. It’s okay to slow down and live in the present. It’s okay to adjust your pace while keeping your eyes fixed on the prize. Who knows? Maybe you are exactly where you n...

  On Monday, I sat in a tricycle with a secondary school student.  It was the first day of resumption, new class, new experiences. I noticed how prim and perfect she looked, but what caught my eye was the tag on her school bag. The tag that indicated that the bag was new. I smiled. The tag could have been cut out, and you would still know that the bag was new. How? Because it was obvious, and because of the smell that new bags have.  People would believe it's a new bag even without the tag on it. So who exactly is the reassurance and/or bragging rights for  O urselves For a minute I allowed my mind to wonder, back to over a decade ago, when I too would resume a new session wirh new socks, sometimes new shoes, a new bag, new pack of notebooks, and how excited I felt, ready to show off and get started.  The Joy would fill my heart, so much that I would wake up really early on that first day... When I returned to the present, I thought about how we---like that girl...

 I'll hold your hand to say this. "YOUR TRAUMA IS NOT YOUR IDENTITY". It is so easy to cling to the past that hurt you and wear your scars like a badge of honor. It is a badge of survival. It is even easier because several decisions that you make in your present life are directly or indirectly influenced by whatever your past was made of. But don't get lost in it. Amidst all these, speaking from experience, especially as someone who is renewing her identity in Christ, You need to build your identity as a victor and not a victim anymore.  As a survivor. Many may not have been able to bear what you bore. But you came out victorious because you are meant for a bigger purpose.  It was meant to shape you.  Now the hurt or the trauma should not be the focus of your life, identity and even your brand.  👉🏾What do you make out of it?  👉🏾What did you learn from it?  👉🏾How did it change you or help you identify your purpose?  👉🏾How is it bringing yo...

 "If you are not growing fast, you are not growing " This is one of the lies that many of us have been told by society, friends, and even family members.  That if your growth is not significantly huge, especially in comparison to another, then is it even growth?  Let me tell you something.  The only person who understands and appreciates your growth is you, because the only person who knows where and how you started, is you.  Let's paint a picture. Shall we?  " You were earning #40,000 at your former job, and then you got a new job that pays #100,000. You are excited because that is more than double your previous pay and it is an incredible growth for you. But someone who earns #500,000 tells you that the money is too small and should be pocket money, that you should not accept it." Now, that person is speaking from their own reality and experience, which is valid. Perhaps #100,000 truly is pocket money for them, because of the level that they are, but shou...