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Why are celebrities writing memoirs? What’s that about? What about books as a form of entertainment makes it appealing for these public figures to dabble in them?

By the end of 2023, at least 396 celebrity memoirs (or memoirs by public figures) would have been published this year alone.

That’s almost 100 more than the celebrity memoirs published in 2022. That’s a lot of books written by a lot of famous people.

#memoir #celebrities #celebrity memoir #britney spears #the woman in me #spare by prince harry #memoir writing #writing #ghostwriting #ghostwriter #books #book writing

Forget what you might have been told; you don’t have to be a celebrity to write a memoir. You do not need to be an actor/actress, athlete, TV personality, politician, or any other type of public figure to share your story and message in a book.

#celebrity memoir #writing #tobinifesi #ghostwriter

A call to #ENDSARS: This article is about injustice

Today—on the second anniversary of my father’s death—I’m reminded of the conversations I had with him and the lessons he taught me.

My father had a relentless passion for people. Regardless of the reputation that preceded people, he always believed in the best parts of them and stood up for them.

I saw my father open our house to strangers time and time again. I watched him preach the gospel of Jesus to armed robbers even as they were pointing a gun at him. I was there when he invested chunks of our household income into the education and future of young people around us. I have received several favours in my life because my father favoured people.

He taught me to believe in and stand up for people.

Today, my Nigerian people are in great distress. My brothers and sisters are being imprisoned, tortured, molested, and killed by our own government. This ordeal didn’t start today but today, and for the rest of our lives, we have decided that we have had enough—and we will no longer stay quiet about it.

In 1992, the Nigerian government created the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) as a police unit to deal with incidences of robbery, theft and kidnapping in the country. Initially, this police unit operated covertly to investigate and prosecute criminals but with time, the unit became riddled with unlawful acts such as bribery, extortion, blackmail, torture and extrajudicial executions.

Simply put: the police officers who were hired and trained to stop crime in Nigeria became the perpetrators of deadly crimes against innocent Nigerians; especially the youth. This has been the case for almost three decades.

In the past three years, Nigerian youths have made attempts to protest and campaign against this police unit. They have called on the Nigerian government to save lives by disbanding SARS. These calls have either fallen on deaf ears or led to false attempts by the government to reform the unit. Despite these calls, hundreds of innocent Nigerian citizens have been tortured or killed since 2017 and at least ten of them died in the past week.

So, once again, Nigerian youths are protesting. We are protesting because we realize that this may be our only chance at actually saving our lives, safeguarding our future, reenvisioning the Nigerian police force and forcing our incompetent leaders to take action.

This is not just a Nigerian protest by Nigerian youths against the Nigerian government. This is a global protest by the world against the Nigerian government.

Hundreds will read this article. Most of those who read this article may not be Nigerians or live in Nigeria. So, there is a chance that you may not care about what you just read. Yet, if you have ever been marginalized in any way—because of your age, race, size, complexion, social status, education or lack thereof—you have an idea of what injustice looks like. This letter is about injustice.

I implore you to continue standing up, in your own way, for people who are being oppressed and treated unfairly.

Read More about SARS

Write a letter to the Nigerian President and the Attorney General of the Nigerian Federation

Learn about other ways to support the #ENDSARS campaign

This article was originally published in my biweekly newsletter, the first and the 15th. To read more articles like this, subscribe here.

Each Moment is Fleeting Again

Recently, a friend made a point about how time seems to be warped up right now - and I couldn’t agree more.

The year began normally.

When the lockdown restrictions hit, it seemed like everything around us slowed down. We paused and took stock of it all. We were forced to deal with the issues - in our lives, families and communities - that we had ignored for so long. We soaked in each moment.

Then the restrictions were lifted in phases and all of sudden, it seemed like we started trying to make up for the lost time.

Now,

We are outside again.

We are getting busier again.

We are ignoring issues again.

Each moment is fleeting again.

In the space of eight months, time slowed down and sped back up - and like characters in the Umbrella Academy, we are stuck in this strange time continuum. The weirdest part is the pandemic and recession aren’t even over so we don’t know what the next few months will look like. Time might slow down again or it might get even faster - and we won’t be able to do much about it.

This realization has made me more mindful of the commitments I made when time slowed down. I obviously can’t control time. I know anything can happen anytime. So, I owe it to myself to maximize my time. I can’t go back to consuming information that doesn’t edify me. I can’t dwell on details that aren’t worth my time.

By now, I should know better. I should know who and what matters. I should understand that it is just as important to pause as it is to be active. I should make the most of my day even if that means doing nothing on some days or making a submission way ahead of the deadline on other days. I should act on the lessons I learnt when time slowed down.

I should have my filters on.

Despite what you might have been told about the millennial generation or the internet age, you can choose to pay closer attention for long periods to the things, people and issues that matter. You did that when you had to be indoors so you have it in you. You can sort out your commitment issues. Being outside shouldn’t distract you from being committed to the person you chose to be - when you were indoors.

For me, this means: I have to keep working on the book idea I had during the quarantine period. For you, it may be something else. You know how this suggestion applies to your life. Whatever you have to stay committed to, I’m cheering you on.

Keep at it ‘cause each moment is fleeting again.

No Good Thing Ever Dies

Maybe, we need a good thing

Should we credit our upbringing, education and social interactions for all we think and know about life?

If we do, we will be admitting that our ideas and concept of life and society aren’t innate but learned. We will be supporting the argument that our minds and brains were once in a blank state - void of theories and social contracts - but today, they are filled with complex ideas and beliefs.

It will mean that, unfortunately, some of our complex ideas, irrefutable beliefs and learned beliefs may be destructive to our society and the evolution of human intelligence. As such, after several years of learning and living, we may have to unlearn. If we don’t unlearn, we may risk being selectively discarded like Othello.

Othello is a black male character in William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello. His efforts as an intrepid soldier allow him to earn his keep and place in society. He falls in love with and marries Desdemona, a charming, high-born Venetian woman whose loyalty to Othello is unmatched.

Iago, Othello’s flag-bearer and trusted advisor, feeds Othello porky pies and deceives him into believing Desdemona has been unfaithful. In a fit of rage, Othello kills his wife. When the truth is eventually revealed, Othello - distraught and devastated - kills himself.

Like Othello, many of us may be actively making decisions based on what we’ve been told by people, institutions and governments we’ve come to know, believe and trust. These people, institutions and governments are represented in our upbringing, education and social interaction.

Like Othello, our decisions may someday prove to be detrimental to those around us but mostly to ourselves. Our destructive ideas, beliefs and habits could be causing irreversible damage to our society and the evolution of human intelligence. In fact, it may be too late to save us.

Unlearning may be the only way to minimize the extent of the damage. Our ill-informed ideas and beliefs about racism, sexual abuse, consumerism, climate change, capitalism, nationalism, tribalism, economic freedom, institutionalized education, digital technology - and many more human concepts - could be contributing to the dissolution of our society as we know it.

John Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding details his belief that, at birth, the human mind is a blank slate - void of theories and social contracts. Sigmund Freud’s Oedipus complex suggests that the nature of our upbringing determines our personality traits. These two philosophers, amongst many others, support the argument that our minds and brains were once in a blank state - void of theories and social contracts - but today, they are filled with complex ideas and beliefs.

By supporting this argument, these philosophers are suggesting that there may be a need to unlearn at certain points in our lives and return to a blank state of mind. From there, we can learn better and be better. They are suggesting that there is hope for humanity.

Should we credit our upbringing, education and social interactions for all we think and know about life?

We could but if we do, we would be acting from a place of hope. We would be admitting we are hopeful that, if we begin to unlearn destructive patterns, our societies will get better. We would be agreeing with Andy Dufresne, from Shawshank Redemption, when he said, “hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

Should we credit our upbringing, education and social interactions for all we think and know about life? Maybe.

Maybe, we should. Maybe, by admitting that we may have learnt amiss, we would be willing to learn afresh. Maybe we will do better as individuals and for each other. Maybe, we will be hopeful again.

Hope is a good thing. Maybe, we need a good thing.

There Are Fewer Words More Dangerous Than “Later”

In April 2020, Sean Kerman wrote those words - or something like that - in an article, I stumbled across. At that point in the article, I was about 11 lines away from the end of the article - yet, the procrastinator in me suggested I pause my reading, scroll through my Instagram timeline for a few minutes and continue reading later.

Later.

Sean was right about this word, after all. In the context of the season that we are in, the truth in Sean’s words is even more glaring. We, finally, have space and time to do more but at the same time, we are more tempted not to. We are living in a vacuum - of time - and the emptiness confuses us so much that those things we set out to do within this time could either seem worthless or overindulgent.

Should we be resting?

Should we be productive?

Should we learn new skills?

Should we hone in on the skills we already have?

Should we buy stocks in today’s bear market?

Should we be more mindful of our cash flow needs?

Should we spend money on an online version of our business?

Should we audit our business and save money for when our cities reopen or just so the business can survive these times?

We are currently having to choose between doing and not doing. In other words, now or later - and these days, procrastination is way more attractive. Recently, I was asked if I think the dreams I have for my life will still come to fruition despite the crisis we are in. My answer was I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t - but God knows and I’m fine with whatever He decides to do.

The world is changing. Industries, economies and laws are changing. I have no idea how this will affect my life, career or dreams but it is difficult for me to think of later when I’m not quite finished with now. Even in a crisis, there is a now to focus on. We are all humans and nothing more. We know only what we know. Everything else is imagined. If 2020 has taught us anything, it should be that we don’t know tomorrow.

Regardless of what Bill Gates says, no one really predicted what we are going through. Regardless of what Theresa Tam tells us, no one really knows how or when things will get better. Later is too unknown and too far to live like we know it all. We don’t - but God does. So, in this season, I’m choosing to focus on now - and I’m encouraging you to do so too.

Rest now. Work now. Learn now. Study now. Invest now. Save your money now. Love now. Later is such a dangerous word. Try not to use it often.

This article was initially published in my biweekly collection of letters - the first and the 15th. Subscribe here to read more articles like this.

#Life #procrastination

Every Thing We Know May Be Lies

Why we need stories even if they are false

While ancient philosophers - specifically Aristotle and Kant - were struggling to wrap their minds around the concept of imagination, societies and settlements around the world lived under conditions that were heavily influenced by what some might call imagined stories. These stories were mere ideologies that people believed and identified themselves by. Ideologies - like the belief in the imperialism of the Roman Empire - governed the way of life of many Europeans, Northern Africans, Mesopotamians and other communities in that era.

However imagined or foolproof these stories and ideologies might be, we may not be where we are without them.

Aristotle never really defined imagination. Instead, he emphasized the difference between imagination and perception. For him, perception is a function of what we already know but imagination occurs in the absence of true perception. Anyone can perceive and imagine things but they can’t do both at the same time. More so, Aristotle believed that perception is always true but imagination can be false.

If imagination can be false, why are so many ideologies actually imagined stories?

Everything we know was either communicated to us or experienced by us. Parents are usually the first to share stories about their lived experiences - or those they’ve been told - to their children. The children go on to learn more stories from extended family members, individuals in their communities and schools, and from the information shared by media outlets. All these entities play a role in sharing stories with children. As children mature, they gather their own experiences and then, they compare and contrast these experiences with the stories they’ve been told. In the end, the children either double down on the stories they’ve been told or dismiss these stories altogether.

If our outlook on life is based on stories we’ve been told, who told the first story? Did this pioneer storyteller have all the facts when they shared their stories? How do we know that their stories were based on a true perception of their reality as opposed to their imagination?

Your answers to these questions will depend on what you believe

Depending on what you believe, you may be convinced that your answers are the absolute truth. However, the irony is even your beliefs may be based on stories that have no actual roots or validity. Yet, every day, you - and I - make decisions and judgements based on our unfounded beliefs. All over the world, people are united by beliefs, communities become stronger as members commit to a belief system, corporations brand their products and make a profit off the beliefs of their target consumers, and governments rule and pass laws based on beliefs.

Our beliefs are fundamental to our way of life. Yet, what we believe isn’t always what we know - and many at times, what we know is a function of the stories we’ve been told. Religion, politics, laws, philosophy, history (as we know it) and many more worldviews are heavily influenced by stories we’ve been told. If we agree that these stories could either be perceived or imagined, is our way of life the way of life? Should we live our lives according to the principles of religious, political, philosophical or historical worldviews? Should the origin story of the stories we live by matter to us or should we continue to have faith in our current socio-cultural systems? Should we be more mindful of the stories we share with our children or are we certain the stories we know are exactly what our children need for their future?

The conflict lies in the validity of our stories

It is difficult for anyone to have full proof that our stories are perceived or imagined or a combination of both. Every generation is unknowingly tasked with a mandate to pass down stories to the next generation. It has been that way since the beginning of life - as we know it. Many people have played their role in doing this but few have questioned the sincerity of their roles. The reason behind this is the fact that we need stories to survive.

Survival is the most basic human instinct. It is at the core of everything we do. We believe in the principle of survival more than anything else but what we know about survival is based on stories that are both perceived and imagined. We perceive hunger so we know we need food. We can imagine dying from hunger so that reinforces our need for food. Stories are our survival mechanism. We may not be where we are without stories.

Stories connect the dots between what we know and what we don’t know

Stories give us a sense of order by acting as traffic signals that tell us when to go, pause or stop. They help us make somewhat informed decisions. A father may tell his child not to touch fire because it burns and causes pain. The child, who already has a perception of pain, may choose to believe that story and avoid touching fire for the rest of their life. A husband or wife may tell their partner how they can’t live without their partner and how much joy their partner brings to their life. The partner may choose to believe that story and conclude that they are the most important person in their partner’s life. A nation’s government may brand itself as an entity that fights for the freedom of oppressed peoples around the world. Communities of oppressed peoples might believe that story and allow the said government to use any measures possible to free them from their oppressors even if it comes at the expense of the development of that community.

These are stories that are being told every day. Every one of us has stories that we were told and we chose to believe. We believed them because we needed them. At the time, and maybe even now, the stories were exactly what we needed to hear. They seemed - and may very well be - our only way out. The stories were our path to redemption. For many of us, if our path to redemption involves choosing to believe stories that may be imagined - and as such, false - then so be it. The majority of us would choose false and imagined stories over punishment, pain or death.

Choose your stories, wisely

Like in the times of ancient philosophers, the concept of imagination is still elusive to us. We don’t have space and time to distinguish perceived stories from imagined stories but we, also, can’t afford to not believe any story. In fact, it can be argued that the absence of belief in any story is equal to death. Every living human - no matter who you are - has to believe and live by a story. We can’t do without them but what we can do, however, is to carefully choose what we believe.

Just as a child matures, gathers their own experiences and then, compares and contrasts these experiences with the stories they’ve been told, we can be mindful of the stories we choose to double down on and share with others. This way, we can continue to have the means to survive but do so on our own terms.

#writing #awareness #beliefs #expressionism #education #experiences

The Word I Needed To Know Right Now

How Tom Hanks called my attention to the word that emphasizes the essence of these crazy times

Words are capable of demystifying and filling blank spaces.

If you walk into an empty hollow hallway in a forgotten and mysterious building in the middle of nowhere, your eyes will capture the nothingness that surrounds you and your brain will calculate the probability of something - someone or some creature - springing out from one of the hollow ends of the hallway. However, the moment you make a sound or utter a word, an echo fills the hallway, detaches you from your anxiety and reminds you that you are, in fact, safe; thus weakening the mystery of the empty space.

Sometimes, our minds are filled with such empty spaces. When this happens, there are gaps in our thought, comprehension and interpretation of our reality. Things don’t add up. The details don’t make sense. It becomes increasingly difficult to control the narrative. We are thrust into a world of uncertainty and unknowns. So much might be said but none of it resonates with you. This goes on until you stumble on a word - somewhere and somehow - that bridges the gap and fills the blank spaces.

Amidst the realities of the world today, I recently stumbled on a word. The word doesn’t necessarily solve the issue at hand but it gives me some much-needed perspective on the state of things as they are and have always been. Most importantly, it sets me on a path towards having a deeper understanding of the nature of our societies during pandemics like the COVID-19.

Before January 2020, I had never heard the word ‘coronavirus’ despite my academic background in the sciences. I may be wrong but I do not believe that it has ever been a popular term amongst laymen and biology undergraduates. Keep in mind that the word ‘coronavirus’ isn’t the word I’m referring to in my last paragraph (or in this article’s title and subtitle) but I found it interesting when I heard it. It was a novel word to me and so, as I lay in my bed on the evening of January 23, I googled the word ‘coronavirus’.

The first two Wikipedia pages I read agreed that the coronavirus wasn’t exactly a virus. It was actually “a group of related viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds” and the novel coronavirus (now known as COVID-19) just happens to fall into that group. Suddenly, the news article I had been reading earlier that day about the Chinese government imposing a lockdown on Wuhan, the capital city of the Hubei province, began to make sense. The news made sense but the idea of locking down an entire city didn’t make much sense. I marvelled at the thought of a lockdown. At the time, I could barely imagine what that would look or feel like.

It seemed crazy to me.

I needed some clarity on the current situation meant for us in the long run. I wanted to know what the world might look like after almost half of its population are either advised or forced to stay within closed doors and away from each other.

As of March 23, I had been on a province-wide lockdown in British Columbia for 12 consecutive days. By this time, the World Health Organization had labelled the novel coronavirus a pandemic. Even after 12 days of staying at home, I was still a little bit confused about what all of this meant - and how it could affect our societies. There was no news of a possible end date for the stay-at-home mandate. Later that week, an article written by The Atlantic’s Joe Pinsker suggested four possible timelines for the pandemic. His best-case scenario was one to two months and his worst-case scenario was 18 months. Neither of the two timelines made sense to me. I needed some clarity on the current situation meant for us in the long run. I wanted to know what the world might look like after almost half of its population are either advised or forced to stay within closed doors and away from each other.

The 13th chapter of the biblical book of Leviticus describes the mosaic law regarding skin diseases - specifically, leprosy. The law is quite straightforward: once an individual has been diagnosed with a skin disease, “the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days.” (Leviticus 13:4 NIV). With the proclamation of the mosaic law, isolation became the ideal response for dealing with skin (and many other forms of) diseases in those times. By the time Jesus Christ arrived on earth, isolation was still the norm. In Luke’s version of the gospel, as Jesus “was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” (Luke 17:12-13 NIV). Notice the verse suggests the lepers stood at a distance. They did so because they knew they ought not to come in close contact with others. Hence, isolation.

By the 14th century, isolation was still a thing. At the time, the bubonic plague was ravaging cities and communities across Europe and Asia. Measures had to be taken to curb the continued spread of the infection. One notable measure was taken by the port authorities at Ragusa (now known as Dubrovnik in Croatia.) The officials established a trentino that ordered the isolation of ships arriving at the port for a 30 day period. Within the next century, other European communities - like Venice, Genoa and Marseilles - began to introduce similar laws. During this time, the 30 day period was increased to 40 days. In other words, the trentino became a quarantino.

Quarantino (or Quarantine) is derived from the Italian word for 40, quaranta. Many historians have suggested that the introduction of the 40 day isolation period was inspired by the biblical or Christian references to and significance of a 40-day period. The observance of Lent, the great flood in the days of Noah, Moses’ stay on Mount Sinai, Jesus Christ’s fasting period in the Judean deserts and the period between his resurrection and ascension have one thing in common - they all happened in 40 days. Just as many historians believe there is a correlation here, many others dispute it.

Nevertheless, the term ‘quarantine’ was born from the terms ‘quarantino’ and ‘quaranta’ in the 14th century. Since then, many quarantine laws have been passed in several countries around the world and the outbreak of any major diseases always calls for such laws to be invoked. Quarantine laws were invoked in the 18th century when the yellow fever epidemic hit Philadelphia, in the 19th century when cholera epidemic arrived in Canada’s Quebec City, in 2003 during the SARS pandemic as 30,000 Torontonians were quarantined (although in Canada, the law was actually introduced in 2005, its stipulations were observed in 2003), in 2014 when the Liberian government ordered the isolation of a local neighbourhood called West Point during the Ebola outbreak, on January 23, 2020, in Wuhan, and on March 25, 2020, when Canada’s Minister of Health, Patty Hadju, ordered all travellers entering the country to be isolated for 14 days.

Despite being such a significant term over the last seven centuries, the word ‘quarantine’ and its fascinating history don’t shed much light on the essence of the times we are in. One thing is for sure: history is being written as we speak. Generations will speak of the plague that caused at least half of the world to stay indoors. The stories that are being lived out right now will inspire the creation of books, artworks, movies, documentaries and music that will ensure these moments aren’t easily forgotten. Yet, you can’t help but wonder what the world will look like then.

Like most people, when I heard about the coronavirus in January, I didn’t think much of it. I knew it was a tragedy in Wuhan but I didn’t think it would become a global tragedy - one that would have large-scale disastrous impacts on global healthcare systems, economies, infrastructures and laws. On March 1, I was on a phone call with my friend - Solace - and we agreed that a pandemic was coming. 10 days later, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, charactered the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. Later that day, an NBA player - Rudy Gobert - tested positive for the disease and as a response, the NBA 2019-2020 season was suspended. The next day, Tom Hanks, his wife and Sophie Trudeau (the wife of Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau) all tested positive for the disease.

That day - March 12, 2020 - was the first day I heard the term ‘flatten the curve’. I heard it while listening to a live broadcast of British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry’s daily coronavirus update. She had urged British Columbians to avoid large gatherings so we could ‘flatten the curve.’ Another novel term that didn’t make much sense to me and although I now understand the message behind the term, it does little to help me understand the depth or importance of the situation we are in. It wasn’t until four days later that I found the word I had been looking for.

Four days after announcing he had tested positive for COVID-19, Tom Hanks shared an Instagram post. In the post, the Cast Away actor attempted to encourage his 8.7 million followers by sharing a picture of some toasted bread slices covered with spreads of vegemite, accompanied by a caption that read:

“Thanks to the Helpers. Let’s take care of ourselves and each other. Hanx”

There it was. The word I needed to know.

In Hank’s caption was one word that put the puzzle together for me. The caption references a famous quote from one of the longest-running children’s television shows, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. On the show, the host - Fred Rogers - is quoted as saying,

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Decades later, this quote - specifically the line, “Look for the helpers.” - continues to be repeated and referenced during times of discomfort or shared crises.

Tom Hanks must have been acknowledging the helpers when he gave a nod to Rogers’ quote in his caption. By including the word ‘helpers’ in that caption, he was calling attention to the individuals around the world who have been and continue to risk their lives or provide essential services or assist the elderly or make key and life-saving decisions or share messages of hope and comfort or obey the law and stay at home to help curb the rapid spread of the diseases he had just tested positive for.

The word ‘helpers’ is the word I was looking for.

I am a Christian. I believe my help from God and the ultimate helper - the Holy Spirit - lives within me and gives me more peace than I can actually fathom. According to my belief, the Spirit of God in me counsels and comforts me - and for that, I am grateful. However, just as I believe there is a helper within me, I believe that there are even more helpers around me. Some are within my reach and others are far from it but, as Rogers said, I must look for them and acknowledge them.

As you read this, there are healthcare professionals around the world who are risking their lives to care for and treat patients who have been infected with COVID-19. The majority of these professionals are working without adequate resources, information, time or physical and mental energy. They are being stressed and stretched by the influx of patients storming into their workplaces. Many retired professionals have come out of retirement and the elderly amongst them - who are highly susceptible to being infected - are knowingly putting themselves in danger. These are the helpers.

There are community and world leaders who have been forced to make key decisions despite the fact that they can’t guarantee the outcomes. Presidents, prime ministers, premiers, governors, government officials, religious leaders, activists and heads of organizations and families who, despite being personally affected by the pandemic, must still lead and speak to and for their communities. They must listen carefully to experts, make the right calls, invoke the necessary laws, enforce orders, inspire hope in a seemingly hopeless situation, mourn the loss and sufferings of their community members and continue to do this regardless of how long the pandemic lasts. These are the helpers.

There are employers and employees who should be at home. If they had their way, they would be with their families indoors all day and far away from scenarios that could get them infected with these diseases. However, our communities need their services. As such, they risk their lives by continuing to work at the grocery stores, deliver food and essential items to our homes, protect our communities by maintaining law and order, work in call centres for healthcare and emergency services, be first responders to emergency situations, work as caregivers for children, the elderly and individuals with disabilities, serve in organizations that support vulnerable populations, immigrants and refugees, manufacture goods and provide services necessary to keep our infrastructure and industries in good condition, and document and share information through media outlets. These (and many other essential occupations not referenced here) are the helpers.

Yet, there you are.

You are baffled by this crisis. It has affected your daily routine, income, wellbeing, peace of mind, plans for the future, family and fellow community members. You are not sure what the future holds for your family, career or immediate plans or what to do while you’re home or how you will fend for yourself after being laid off or what will happen if you get infected. Despite this, you listen to healthcare experts, obey the laws invoked by your government, stay at home as much as possible, practice physical distancing if you must go out, encourage people in your communities by sharing messages of hope and refocusing their attention on information that edifies them, work or live in uncomfortable conditions for long periods of time, donate to or volunteer with organizations supporting vulnerable populations, check in on family members, friends, and those in isolation, pray and virtually support those who are anxious, ill, mourning the loss of loved ones or in need, and maintain your sanity in these crazy times. You are the helper.

No words can describe how much the world is hurting right now but I realize that I don’t need such adjectives. I need a noun that defines who we are, have always been and will be after the pandemic subsides. We are helpers and this is a call to the helpers. Humanity can’t survive without human beings and human beings can’t survive without help. The good news is that, in many ways, we are the help we need. Each and every human being is the helper we need right now. Humanity needs us to do our part. More than ever before, it needs us to unite and stay united. This is the essence of the times we are in - to remind us that we need each other.

By acknowledging the word that defines us, we can weaken and demystify the mystery of this pandemic. The echoes of our daily, and sometimes seemingly small, decisions and actions can fill the void and remind us that we are not alone. We are safe because we are helpers and are surrounded by helpers.

I believe that my help comes from God and a helper lives in me. Yet, it is equally important for me to acknowledge and call on the helper that I am and the helpers that are around me.

Helpers, help!

#COVID-19 #help #Pandemic #Canada #History

My Top Three Challenges As A Writer (A Response)

Couple weeks ago, I found a question in my inbox. It was from a writer who was seeking information on how to get back on track and continue working on her abandoned book-project. Based on my short experience as an author so far, I did my best to answer her question and I hope it was helpful. I also realize that this question might be on the minds on several other writers so I decided to share my response with whoever’s interested in reading it.

Question:

Lydia: I'm writing a book as well, but abandoned at the moment, because I don't know how to get through with it. I would like to know the challenges you faced and how u got through and finished your book.

My Response

Hi Lydia,

Thanks for reaching out. I'm always happy to connect with writers.

I'm sorry to hear that your book is abandoned at the moment but I appreciate the fact that you're willing to seek information about the process. I have published three books and for each of those books, there were unique challenges. So, regardless of what stage you are in as an author, there will always be some sort of challenge. The important thing is to remain resilient by finding ways to overcome them and keeping your end goal in mind all through the process.

Since this is going to be your first book (I'm just assuming it’s your first so I apologize if I'm wrong about that), I will share my experience with my first book with you.

It took me five years to complete my first book. During that time, I was a student so most of my time was spent focusing on my studies. However, I tried to create a schedule that ensured I spent at least a couple hours a week researching and writing. I completed the book at least three times but each of those times, I didn't think it was good enough, so I scrapped it and started again. More so, I wasn't sure about how to market or publish it so I spent some time doing so research about that.

Essentially, my challenges were time, self-doubt and lack of information about the publishing industry. Here's how I dealt with them.

Time: I gave myself a strict goal/deadline and word count to complete the book's first draft. I also reduced the time I spent on things that weren't as important to me like the book was. Basically, I made the project my second 'job' outside of school. I dedicated an hour a day or 8 hours a week towards working on the book and during that time, I stayed away from distraction as much as possible so I could focus on the project for those few hours.

Self-doubt: I simply decided not to care. I didn't care if the book was perfect even by my personal standards. I just wanted to get it out and done with. I knew deep down that if I could actually just get it done and published, I would be encouraged to keep writing and to become a better writer. I also told myself that I have a lot of years to spend writing and I will become a better writer over time, so my first project doesn't have to be my best project. My mindset is that my best project is always my next project.

Lack of Information: This is a big deal. A lot of authors struggle with this. I spent some time doing some research online and studying what other first-time authors were doing in terms of their marketing and awareness strategies. However, the thing that helped me the most was the fact that I actually spent some time in the industry. I was fortunate to get a job working with a publishing firm and in that role, I spent some time working with authors. My time at the firm helped me to understand how the industry works and the best marketing practices to employ when publishing a book. I was also able to make some strategic connections that helped prepare my book for publishing.

There you go. These were my challenges during the writing and publishing process of my first book but trust me, I am still navigating challenges today. The good news is there is always a way around them. So please, don't abandon your book. Abandoning it is the easy option. Whatever challenges you're facing can be mitigated. I mean it.

I look forward to hearing more about your book.

Thank you.

23.05.19 #theburgesstheory #book3 #booktrailer #psychologicalthriller #libertine #rapeculture #novel #thrillers #tobinifesi #enatribe (at Winnipeg, Manitoba) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuJ0ZiLgVwP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=gsn6n6m1s1w0

#theburgesstheory #book3 #booktrailer #psychologicalthriller #libertine #rapeculture #novel #thrillers #tobinifesi #enatribe

“a second here. a second gone” . . . Thank you to everyone who has bought a copy of #reactnovel + shared the word about it. 🙏 . . . #reactnovel is now available (#paperback and #ebook) on @amazon, @ibooks, @kobobooks and @googleplaymusic ! . . . . #reactnovel #tobinifesi #ordernow #bibliophile #lights #bookish #suicide #book #bookstagram #death #bookaddict #amreading #booklovers #bookaddict #booknerd #goodreads #bookstagram #mystery #suicideawareness #overdose #drugs #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #psychologicalthriller #love #lifebeginsinthesummer #author #novel #nigerianauthors (at Winnipeg, Manitoba) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnw0_oUFTsu/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1k6x3s7dt3boj

“Sorry, I can’t talk right now.” . . . #reactnovel #230818 #tobinifesi #psychologicalthriller #sorryicanttalkrightnow #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #suicide #suicideawareness #novel #writing (at Winnipeg, Manitoba)

#novel #tobinifesi #writing #psychologicalthriller #suicideawareness #230818 #mentalhealthawareness #suicide #mentalhealth #reactnovel #sorryicanttalkrightnow

I want to look at the world like a kid again and #wonder what God will do through me - and you. . . . we may make of a mess of this (our) world but God makes our mess #beautiful and that’s #wonderful. . . . no fear, just power, love and sound mind : second Timothy one/seven (at Yakubu Gowon Stadium)

#wonderful #beautiful #wonder

blast from the past

Over the weekend, I spoke to a family friend from back home. I hadn’t spoken to this person in maybe 8 years. It was a good conversation. We did some catching up.

I was really nice to hear from them but after the phone call, I realized something. My little conversation with someone who knew me back when I was shaping my dreams reminded me of my dreams.

Just by talking to someone from my past - who has always been supportive of me - helped me to remember some of the dreams, aspirations, and goals I had set for myself years ago. Some of them have been accomplished, others I am still working on but if for nothing else, after that phone call, I feel more energized and motivated to work on the rest of my dreams and goals.

Sometimes, all we need to get fired up is a blast from the past.

#past #blast #dreams #aspirations #goals #remember your dreams #Life

lists and spontaneity

I have this habit of writing to-do lists most mornings on what I want to get done that day. Infact, creating this story is something I ticked off a list today.

The lists are helping. They help me to track my progress and I think I have gotten to a point where it is difficult to work on a new task in the middle of the day that wasn’t on my list at the beginning of the day.

What I mean is, in some ways, lists are making me less spontaneous.

I think the reason people like me enjoy making lists is that it removes chaos and adds order to our lives but as a creative person, I am supposed to be a free thinker, to an extent.

How can a free thinker work with lists? How can a creative person live an orderly life? How can I find the balance between using lists and being spontaneous?

If you have any ideas, let me know in the comments.

#lists #spontaneity #Life #creativity #writing #habits

sooner or later part 7

In my third year of secondary school, I was seated in my computer class and my computer teacher said expression that I had heard a few times before. This time, I felt like I needed a better understanding of what it really meant.

The expression is a familiar one. It goes: garbage in, garbage out or GIGO.

It’s a computing expression that basically means the computer will produce an output that is totally based on the manner of input you give it.

Here’s out my computer teacher explained it that day. He said: “If you eat beans, it may take a while but you will eventually excrete beans.”

I mean, I’m pretty sure I didn’t need him to go that far but I got the message.

12 years later, the message is still clear, memorable and applicable to several facets of life. Whatever you reap, you will sow. Whatever actions you take today will have an effect on tomorrow.

It may take a while, but sooner or later, you will get what you put in. Just make sure it’s not garbage.

#garbage in #garbage out #Gigo #reap #sow #life

sooner or later part 6

I’ve had some failures in my lifetime. In fact, I have more failures than I am willing to admit - and trust me, I am still failing at certain things.

The good thing is I realized, a long time ago, I am not a perfect person, I will never be a perfect person and so I can’t put an expectation of perfection on myself. I will fail but I will also succeed.

This thing called life is too short and long to try and give up. The end is really closer than we think, so we must make use of all the time we have to create something that will last forever.

To do that, we must be willing to fail. Let your guards down and fail. Fail. Fail and fail again. Sooner or later, the success will come and all the failures will be worth it.

#failure #fail #denzel washington

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