This post starts with thriving because that’s all I hope for in this phase of my life. To be fair, this final year of med school is one of a kind.
Lately, I prefer to just write in my journal and my note app when the ideas come to mind. Still, I would be lying if I said it’s been easy. Nonetheless, this post is not to be sad, but to give you an update on the past month.
School and Life
I’m currently in my second posting. That means I’m in the 2nd rotation of the 4 rotations that make up my final year. Precisely surgery posting. The resident strike is finally over and the patients arrived like a river with no dam.
In other words, I’ve been an overworked student. Asides from the fact that sleep never feels enough lately, I’m generally exhausted. In the midst of this madness, doing my devotion and exercising have been hard. Especially the latter. I recently heard that you make time for what matters to you. That has been a reminder to encourage myself when I go days giving the excuse to not seek God’s face.
Next up, I finished Stop Calling Me Beautiful by Phylicia Masonheimer. It was part of what brought me joy. Currently, I’m reading Not Yet Married by Marshall Segal, and What’s Best Next by Matt Perman.
Memories
As much as the stress was “choking”, I got some good moments in October. Moments where I took a breather and just had fun.
On October, 16th, my classmates and I took a break from the “rollercoaster” and had our first final year class event at Kodo beach house, Lagos. It was an experience to remember and definitely one of the beach houses you should visit in Lagos.
Caught in the act!
A cutey.
Me and some of my girls!
Kodo beach house swimming pool.
Photo credit for the pictures above- Tomi Salau! Check him out here.
Photo credit- my bae!
On October 29th, I attended my final departmental dinner. It felt surreal! I took a mental note of all the past dinners and how far my colleagues and I had come.
The month ended with a stressful posting (Neurosurgery), but I got a highlight- scrubbing in for the first time! Trust me to have a picture. More pictures will be on my Instagram and Pinterest (follow to be updated).
First time assisting a surgery.
AMSUL dinner
October came with random messages of encouragement, opportunities, and love some of you share with me. It’s part of what keeps a baby girl moving.
That’s it for now. My current season is school, and I hope to thrive.
What season are you currently in, and how has it been? Let me know in the comments!
The first time I heard about henna was as a child. I grew up watching a lot of Bollywood, thanks to my aunty. It is an integral part of my first memories of entertainment, long before Silverbird cartoons.
It was always applied during their weddings and I found them intriguing. Fast forward to over 12 years, and in the spirit of trying new things as a young adult, I decided to get one done. The perfect opportunity came when I had an event with my classmates at a beach house.
Henna history time
Henna also called mehndi in Hindi and Urdu, has been used in Pakistan, India, Africa, and the Middle East for over 5000 years. According to this article, it was originally used for its natural cooling properties for people living in hot desert climates.
Cultures are beautiful. I found out that the Henna paste symbolizes good health and prosperity in marriage. It is also important to know that henna designs are not tattoos, as the paste is a temporary dye that sits on the skin’s surface.
The designs generally last from 1-4 weeks on the skin surface depending on the henna, care, and skin type.
Mine was on my upper back and lasted roughly 2 weeks.
Areas that stain the darkest are the palms, soles of the feet, and the knuckles. Those on the hands tend to fade faster because of continued washing. I read here the forearms and lower legs and ankles last the longest and go up to 4 weeks, but I would estimate how long when I get another! Funny enough, henna on the hair is permanent. It will fade, but it’s hard to remove.
My experience
I have read that people react to the henna paste. I was a bit anxious about it and Henna by Hafsah was gracious to calm my fears. I also loved how she showed me designs and made sure I was comfortable while she worked. I didn’t have any reactions and that was a relief.
It took about 35 minutes to design and almost an hour to dry. Apparently, you have to wash it off to get the excess paste out and then the beautiful design emerges clearer. I found that fascinating.
One thing I’m learning to do is to not shut my mind off to new experiences that do no harm. This one is one of them and I can’t wait to try another design.
Have you ever had a henna design? Would you like to get one or not? Let me know below.
It was a morning like every other except that I was free from school activities for the day, and already mapped all the extracurricular activities for the day and books to read. That was when I noticed the missed calls from my sister. Chizzy says I’m the worst person to call because I almost always never pick up. Just as I was about to return the calls and apologize for the thousandth time about my habit, I saw her message.
Grandaddy is dead.
For context, I had gone home for the weekend. My grandparents had come to visit for grandpa’s eye check-up. I was glad to spend the time with them and listen to my grandma’s stories. This time was different though. My grandpa was a shadow of his bubbly self.
He was still active but had suddenly lost his vision due to hypertension. He also wasn’t as strong as the last time I saw him which was Christmas. That makes sense because he was old. It didn’t make it easier to swallow nonetheless. My mum had told me his condition was deteriorating, but I didn’t know it was that bad till I saw him. I’m glad I got to call him intermittently prior to that time before he came visiting.
Death is such a rude visitor. It takes as it comes, and gives the weird parting gift of grief.
Death is the rude interruption that jolts us back to reality, no matter how often or familiar it gets.
I miss my granddaddy. I wanted to hug him as his young doctor, but I guess that will happen in heaven. when he’s whole because Jesus will fulfill the promise of restoration and I’ll run into his strong embrace.
I’m not sharing this for pity or sorry.
I’m sharing this because stories immortalize our memories. They give us a chance to relive the moments and go back in time. That’s what I want to do for Eze Ndi Igbo Nwosu– the best grandpa there ever was.
The beginning
I got to know my grandpa better in bits and pieces as I grew older. Anytime he would come to Lagos with his lol (Igbo title for queen). I loved how he would speak Igbo and English so fluently and he shattered the stereotypes of old people I had in my silly teenage head. One day during his visits, my mum told me to go talk with him. She always encouraged me to write and thought I needed to hear his adventures.
She was right! My grandpa had a lot to share. I wish she told me this earlier. Nonetheless, I’m grateful I finally did and had a documentary video done by my friend as a memoir now.
One thing that always stands out for me with my grandpa was his genuine care for everyone. He wouldn’t want to bother anybody, I never saw him raise his voice too. His diction was so superb and I always popped my head to the corner in awe. The way he mixed his Igbo and English was my highlight.
He also told me how he got his twisted left forearm. It was during the Nigerian civil war. My brave grandpa. Was it the strong nepotism he faced in the navy and how he managed to get a scholarship as the only successful candidate for International Water Development (IWD) in 1964? He was a shining star. I’m grateful for those occasions that made him visit.
The Memories
My grandpa laughed so heartily even at his old age. I can imagine how he laguther when he was younger. He had a bike he would ride in his 20s and everyone in the neighborhood in Lagos knew him with Suzuki. He rode on it, the chance he got to tell my grandpa he was alive when the civil war broke out.
My grandpa shot his gun every new year. I loved the sound because he always made it ceremonial. With his wrapper firmely tied and his custom mkpisi osisi (walking stick in Igbo) he would wear his black leather slippers and walk majestically to the compound and fire the shots with us shouting, “Happy new year!”
Now I look back at those routines with renewed perspective.
Last year, we celebrated his birthday. Some of his grandkids and kids surrounded him. I still look at that video and smile. His bald upper head was full of wisdom and he always took his time to speak. He had lost his hearing partially due to the war and it progressed as time went by. Yet, he would listen intently and speak back beautifully. I hope to be that astute at his age God willing.
His Life
My grandpa loved Jesus. I never got the chance to discuss his convictionbs but it was beautiful to hear that from my grandma.
He loved in how he cared. I remember one day I was preparinb to go back to chool and he reached for his wallet and gave me a crisp bundle of 200 naira notes. I always loved when he did that. His way of showing he cared was personal. He was no selfish man. He would pray for me and hug me tight. I had a chance to hug him tight 4 days before he died. I wish I knew that was the last time I was gonna hug him on earth. I probably would have held on a minute extra.
He said, “ọ iruoma? ( is that Iruoma? in Igbo) Okay bye-bye”. I treasure that moment so much Eze Ndi Igbo 1 of Birni Kebbi. Your doctor would make you so proud I promise!
When it comes to picking my inspiration for lifestyle blogging, I don’t look too far. If you are a fellow lifestyle content creator or content lover, you probably have heard some of these names. Nothing makes me more inspired than knowing some people have done what I’m currently doing and impacted others.
Plus we should give people their flowers while they’re alive. that’s the motivation behind this post and I hope as you read through, you’re inspired to be you!
Here’s a list of my top lifestyle bloggers in no particular order.
(Ps- I do not own the rights to the pictures (except mine)
Cassie Daves is a medical doctor turned content strategist. It’s funny how I never knew her all through her stay in medical school which coincidentally is the same medical school I’m in. Her blog was one of the first resources I went to when this baby was still a thought. I love the outline of her blog, which she has been running for over 8 years.
One thing about Cassie is her adventurous life. I like the fact that she shares about her travels and how she’s learning to move past her comfort zone. She also gives reviews of places in Lagos and has a blogging journal for young and veteran bloggers. Cassie piqued my love for skincare. Like her, I suck at makeup so sticking to a good skincare routine is our best bet.
The way she wears her faith as a Christian and is unashamed of sharing that aspect of her life on the internet streets make me gush. I stan an ever-growing, risk-taking content creator and blogger.
Another Doctor! Trust me, this is coincidental. Dr. ETP, otherwise known as chop life minister is another favorite blogger of mine.
What I love about her is her consistency. She was one of the bloggers that made me realize I didn’t need to write a 10,000-word blog post before it was worthy of being shared. To blog is to share and that’s what she does within the boundaries of sharing.
She also shares faith-based content, modest fashion tips, and chronicles her chop life stories. I have the privilege of knowing her and she is a true sweetheart. Her writing show just a glimpse, lol.
When you google “how to make a scented candle” or “how to make body butter”, Torera is one of the names you’ll see on Youtube. She is a “beast” when it comes to healthy and safe DIYs.
Torera is the reason I make jars of body butter for my family. That’s one skill I’m so proud of. I even learned how to make lip balm from her and my sisters can tell you the pleasant result.
Torera shares stories of growth and challenges people to think outside the norm, both on her blog and insta. She shares her Christian worldview and shows that hard work is all you need. One thing that struck it for me with T was her Ig stories last year. She challenged her IG followers to not be afraid to dream big. She is simply herself and it shows.
A dear friend told me I give her IK’s vibes and that was a huge compliment, lol. Ijeoma Kola is another lifestyle blogger I resonate so much with. The fact that she’s in my niche and somehow grapples into every other niche with so much class is goals. She used to be a natural hair blogger and then delved into pretty much everything.
She shares her life as a momma, her Ph.D. struggles, fashion and hair tips, decor ideas and she is super consistent. Imagine moving between countries, starting your job as a professor, being a wife and mummy, and still consistently putting up content for brands and yourself. Currently, she has a social media manager and I watched her work ethic with her brand before then. Truly inspiring
I also love how she combines her 10 years of blogging and content creation and shares tips for younger bloggers.
Brighton Keller has to be my top fashion and lifestyle blogger and influencer. I can relate to her struggle of showing up and being anxious, but showing up nonetheless.
She is super real and I can tell she’ll be fun to hang out with from her hilarious reel videos where she dances like a kid. Her eye for details is just superb. Even down to her designs on Pinterest and how she pairs outfits. her blog is also another crisp clean corner of the internet and you can’t but love her work. BTD, as she’s known, also shares her faith and inspiration in such relatable ways.
The founder of Every Woman A Theologian, Phylicia is one of the people God has used to shape my perspective as a young Christian woman. When we talk about productivity junkies, Phy makes the list. She’s not productive in some proud manner, but in a you-can-enjoy-rest-by-being-productive kinda way.
Phy answers tough questions from feminism, to the biblical canon, to fighting temptations, to tithing. Her podcast Verity is on the list of my faves. She teaches under the leadership and her Ig page and blog are a breath of fresh air in a world where understanding theology is isolated from it translating to a holistic life.
I found Charaia (Shuh-Ray-Uh) on Ig a couple of months ago. Her Twitter posts and nicely curated IG feed caught my attention. But what held it was her content. She recently launched her blog and her main goal is to encourage “Conversations of race, healing, the Church and, most importantly, the fight to remain soft.”
I love how she curates the funniest TikToks and calls them, Made Ya laugh Monday. She inspires me to remember to share my story with those who care and not just everyone.
Amanda is my young friend and junior colleague in med school. That doesn’t stop her from being an inspiration to blogging! She started her blog some months before mine and frankly it was one of the pushes I needed.
From her detailed honest product reviews (as she is a skincare enthusiast as well), to her style of photography, she’s a delight to watch!
She also shares lifestyle and productivity hacks and her blog is a beautifully designed one. I cannot wait to see more of her growth.
I met Moya, virtually, via Amanda. Let us take a moment to thank God for the beauty that social media can be. Moya is a boss when it comes to blogging. Some of the tips I know about Pinterest are from Moya. She is also so skilled with photography that it blows my mind.
One thing I love about Moya is how she shares her stories as if they were a face-to-face conversation. She does that too on her IG stories. Moya inspires me with her work ethic. She just launched her website company where she designed templates for website owners, bloggers, and creators called Collipy.
My South African beauty! I met Nqobile during a Table and Tidezoom call – a virtual weekly non-denominational bible study group for youths all over the world.
On the day of the meeting, it was her turn to share. I was so moved by her words and how she recalled God’s faithfulness in her life. Soon after, we connected on IG.
I later found out about her blog and of course have been enjoying her Ig content on fashion. Nqobile is very honest about her journey as a fashion content creator and shares her wins, losses, and faith. Her videos are so hilarious sometimes I wonder what goes on in her head, lol.
This lady’s consistency streak needs to be studied! I know that this practice takes a while, but I love when women keep pushing boundaries. Mattie James easily comes to mind when I think of taking my blog and brand seriously. She started the #consistency2020 challenge and that was a wake-up call for me.
I love her sense of fashion, baby pictures, and blog outline.
For me, medical school has been like an irregular heartbeat lately. The doctors are on strike and we really aren’t seeing many patients. This means my clinical learning is stunted for now. On one hand, it’s time to catch up with my never-ending lectures, on the other, it’s an opportunity to rest.
Adulting doesn’t even make it easier. All I want to do is sleep like a baby with no worries, but alas, I dream too much! This brings me to today’s post.
Instead of focusing on the things that don’t seem to be moving, here’s my way of focusing on the little miracles.
I have been wanting to write a post like this for the longest time. It’s a simple collection of “random”, and “not-so-random” things that are sparking joy. To be honest, growing up can get in the way of being child-like and enjoying simple things, gifts or gestures. Take this as a reminder to enjoy the mundane things.
Virtual window shopping
I can’t be the only one who enjoys virtual window shopping and saving endless items to buy even when my account is laughing at me. Lol! The Pinterest and Instagram save features make this easier because I can daydream.
Did you say, “add to cart?”
Busola’s banana bread
@Beesweetng’s banana bread was the snack I didn’t know I needed. I had tried her minis but never this flavor. The moment my fork ran through it, it was love at first bite!
Slices of my red velvet banana bread and a cup of tea.
CosRx Acne Patch
This pimple patch has been mindblowing. The review will be up soon and I can’t wait to share it with you.
Stop Calling Me Beautiful
SCMB is my current read and it’s written by Phylicia Masonheimer. The themes explored in this book, from shame to legalism to honoring our relationships, have been phenomenal. I would give my thoughts and experience once I am done. If you can’t wait to read so yourself, my mail list has access to my bookshelf so join up.
My Resources Page
I learned this hack from Pro blogger. The tool kit page is a source for all the resources I recommend at a glance. It sparks joy for me because it makes it easy for my readers to have access to information with less stress.
Pinterest
Pinterest is a mine! Lifestyle blogging opened my eyes to the beauty that it is. I love the pretty and creative boards, inspiration, and hacks. Check my boards and give a follow to be updated when I add new pins.
Working out with my friend
I have rekindled my love for workouts because my FUPA isn’t budging. Beyond that, it’s also a good habit. Having a workout buddy has been so helpful and makes me look forward to the routines. My other friend (and roomie) joins us to take post work out videos even though all she does is cheer us instead of joining. It cracks me up every time!
King Of Boys- The Return Of The King
This made the list because all these happened in August, and I have been looking forward to the remake. I’m just 4 episodes in and mindblown! Go see it if you haven’t because I can’t and won’t give spoilers!
That is it for now friends! Take a moment to recount the things you’re currently loving. It doesn’t have to be “deep”. The point is to relive the memories and actually enjoy those things we take for granted.
Tell me something that has been sparking joy for you in the comments. See you next time!
As I type this, it’s 2 hours to my 24th birthday and the “birthday feeling” was absent. Before this, I would have been shy to admit my age, especially when accomplishments are associated with age. Imagine the unnecessary pressure! Who actually made a big deal of numbers/ age? Okay before I digress, don’t lose me yet.
I’m writing this post for 2 reasons.
The first is I am now more intentional about documenting my journey. I also want to process all the memories and keep them safe with words. The second reason is, writing helps me think about stuff in retrospect. I can think about the emotions I felt at a point and relive them while writing. That’s classic if you ask me. Thank God for it!
Now let’s start with the little miracles and things I’ve learned in the past year because I can be cheesy. Frankly, I thought this year was gonna be different when it comes to school. For context, I’m at home, the second time in a row thanks to COVID. Plus it’s the second time my birthday is falling on the “break”. I would be lying if I said it didn’t suck. Nonetheless, we wouldn’t focus on the annoying things in this post, okay? Good!
This past year, I’ve learned the value of being vulnerable. Asking my friends to take my pictures and videos for content creation without feeling awkward. Crying and laughing openly. Also, explaining what I mean without depending on my regular “I don’t know”. That’s a big win.
I also learned to say “No”. A friend of mine said I say no now with no guilt. It was a big struggle until I learned that “No” can be good, and I didn’t have to explain my reason.
I learned to unashamedly market my skills. By the way, why have you not subscribed to my newsletter? You’re missing out on gems. Sign up here.
Another thing I learned, is to experiment and learn new things. Examples are: my current ear piercings, coloring my hair (with a temporary dye though, lol), taking pictures of everything I think is beautiful, taking up skills, and asking questions no matter how silly I think they are. My self-sufficient-stay-in-your-comfort-zone personality would have cringed, but look at God!
This past year, I learned to hold tensions and see the beauty in them. The tension between hope and grief. Between love and loss. Between joy and heartache. I also learned to be empathetic. To keep dying to self as hard as that is.
I’ve also learned to not share my story with everyone. Just to a few people, we were not meant to bare our souls to every single soul we meet. For our sake and theirs in the long run. I learned to continuously be unashamed about my faith. A Jesus girl I’ll always be.
Okay, this post is getting longer than I planned so I’ll stop here.
I’m super grateful that I get to celebrate another year regardless. Like David in Psalm 42:5, I’ll remind my soul to yet hope in God. Who better to write our story than the One who oversees the world? Sending virtual cakes and hugs your way!
PS- you’re reading this 5 days post-birthday, but who cares? wink
