A Bit Personal
Dearly Beloved,
We are gathered here...
I’ve only just realized I never ask how you’re doing. Tell me precious one, how are you really doing? Have you cracked under the weight of capitalism or other societal evil plaguing the world these days, like me? (I hope not). Or are you bursting forth with energy and all is well with the world (If this is the case, I rejoice with you).
I was just telling a friend that I have no idea what to write in this tinyletter. I spent too much time trying to write something short for Popula’s Me Today column. See excerpt below:
I’ve been slothful with reading, getting work done, journaling and everything else. I want to blame the heat wave, but I’m terrible with not taking responsibility for my actions; in this case, inactions. :insert_eyeroll_emoji:
A little bit about myself maybe?
Today, Google photos showed me photos from this day, two years ago. I was chubbier, and looked like a baby. The picture was taken in front of my hostel room in the Nigerian Law School. It seems like ages ago, but it was only two years ago. Seeing that version of myself reminded me again of how nothing lasts forever “no situation is permanent”—at the time in law school, I couldn’t wait to leave. As much as I like(d) studying (four to six hours on a good day), listening to lectures and solving problem questions, Lagos campus was a dreary, underwhelming place. Literally. I was also fatter. I’d just started my diet after years of feeling inferior for being fat. It’s a thing, guys. Since then, I’ve lost over 30kg—from healthy eating, walking and occasionally gyming.
I started practicing self love in ’15. You can almost never go wrong when you love yourself, including your imperfections. This can help you learn the value of self love. Do I regret my weightloss decision? No. The world is kinder to people who don’t take up that much space, and this is just me being honest. Feel free to disagree, and I’ll be happy to share some experiences with you.
Whew that was intense. Let’s talk about something light. Like food. Wheat bread sucks, but hot wheat bread and ewa agoyin does not. Please do not unsubscribe, I promise, it’s not that bad, I’m not that bad.
I’ve been interviewing my friend Nnamdi Ehirim whose book Prince of Monkeys just came out. I’m excited by the conversation we are having and cannot wait for it to go public. I might even start a series—conversations with young creatives, or other cliché title. Please recommend someone fabulous.
Reading List.
I deeply felt this longreads essay on how mourning gets complicated when home and homeland are not the same place. At the core of it is belonging. This one made me realize I shouldn’t be sharing pictures of my kids, cousins, nieces or nephews online for security reasons, even if they’re absolutely adorable. Yikes. Forgive me, Zainab. I read Fareeda’s day in the village for Popula and why you shouldn’t drink alcohol—shots fired, pew pew, pew (Yes, I’m shaking that table, but seriously read this). I’m also currently reading Memories of Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
I promise to do better with the essays next Thursday. I assure you I’m not “promise and fail” because I kept this tinyletter short as promised.
PS. I finally met the journalist, Nana Salaudeen, and she’s such a wholesome person. We had an amazing conversation, and I live for things like that!
I hope you all have a good weekend thinking of how relationships can refine our immune system!
Yours fabulously,
Spicy Ops.