21 LESSONS

Guys, today is the 24th of February and that can only mean one thing. I have less than 48 hours to finish reading the 20th chapter of my story. Last year on my birthday, I shared my honest thoughts on turning 20, and this year, I just feel mhnjhfhbhcsjnjjx.

“But you don’t look 21.” “You’re just turning 21???” “Calm down Aima, you’re still young.”

inserts bombastic side-eye.

I KNOW! And I’M CALM! So please, rest in Jesus' Name.

Welcome to Aima’s Writing.

Seriously, before you say what you're thinking, hear me out.

I'm getting old. For real. You know that age you hit and you're like "Damn, I don dey old oh." Yep, that's how I feel. I was really used to being on the first floor. All my current achievements, I got on the first floor. Graduated from secondary school, and all things being equal I should have also graduated from uni still on the first floor. The second floor always seemed so far away.

The point I’m trying to make in this extremely chaotic introduction is that you people don’t understand me. My youth is not in comparison to the age groups that currently surround me.  My youth is in comparison to my childhood.

When did I turn 16? Like when was I this many?

Like, look at me.

I blinked and now I've become a full-blown adult.

Not even the 18yrs kind of legal. 21! The kind of adult that every law in every jurisdiction recognizes. As official as it could ever go, I’m no longer a child.

SCREAMINGGGGGGGGGGGGG!

Breathe Aima. Breathe. 

This year, I thought about what to do for my birthday, and I figured this article would make a beautiful addition to the value pack. As such, I’ll be sharing 21 lessons I have picked up so far in the Best Seller, "The Life of Testimony Aimalohi Oyekpen".

LESSON ONE: DOCUMENT YOUR IDEAS AS THEY COME.

It’s why this was possible even though it was a post for a year ahead. Make use of pocket journals, notepads, voice recordings, or whatever tickles your fancy. Just ensure you don't lose that genius idea. Oh yes, document your life too - with stories, pictures, texts, or even by tying your memories to music and places. 

LESSON TWO: PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE.

I've learnt and I'm still learning that it's not enough to do amazing stuff and keep them hidden. I'll give you the simple test I now take. If within a week of making a new contact, that person knows absolutely nothing about my brand, then I haven't put myself out there enough. I pass if the person knows about the company after a week, not if I posted about the company in a week. 

LESSON THREE: YOU LEARN EVERY DAY. 

In case you didn't get the memo, as a human being, you literally take in new information every day, passively or actively. So if you don’t make intentional efforts to actively learn from the sources and materials you trust, you are indirectly being taught and fed passively by sources you don’t.

LESSON FOUR: HAVING A ROLE MODEL IS NOT ENOUGH.

There are role models for everything. You will always find examples to support your perception of a subject matter. A person who doesn’t like dogs will show you videos where animals are vicious and vice-versa. Ultimately, THE perfect role model you should follow is God and His word.

LESSON FIVE: OCCUPY THAT MOUNTAIN.

Don't let anybody tell you that mountains of influence are facades. Let's even talk about the family alone. The devil keeps attacking the home. The number of dysfunctional homes in existence is enough evidence. So, go and occupy that mountain, and remember that we are in the business of souls. Even on that mountain souls must be saved directly as a result of contact with your ministry.

LESSON SIX: CHILDREN ARE RESTLESS BY NATURE.

As a parent, I must understand that children are restless by nature. If I don't keep them busy, they'll keep themselves busy. It's not a function of financial provisions, it's in their nature. That's why they are kids. So, if they begin to play rough, I should get them to read, do art, or play a more civil game instead of screaming at the top of my lungs. 

LESSON SEVEN: CONTROL YOUR ANGER.

No matter how angry you get, never say some things. Forgiveness is real, but there are some things you can never take back. 

LESSON EIGHT: THE DILEMMA OF GIVING A DEFENSE.

Do not always be defensive but never let some things go undefended. I've learnt that I need the grace to hold my tongue from being defensive, the confidence to defend my name, and the wisdom to know the appropriate one for the situation.  

LESSON NINE: IT'S YOUR LIFE BUT IT'S NOT YOURS. 

Yep, your life is really not yours. You have the liberty to live your life for yourself but your life is not yours. The earlier you understand this irrefutable truth, the sooner you actually start living. 

LESSON TEN: BE RESPONSIBLE.

Responsibility gives you accountability. It always does. The easiest way to belong to a group, company, faction, or organization is to take up a role there. 

LESSON ELEVEN: TAKE YOUR Ls.

I've learnt the very hard way that you win some, you lose some.

LESSON TWELVE: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

You are never alone and you will never be alone. Literally.

LESSON THIRTEEN: IT'S YOUR JOURNEY.

You're the main character in your story but full disclosure, eliminating comparison is harder than it looks. Ooof. 

LESSON FOURTEEN: PRESSURE IS TWO-FACED.

Pressure is never recommended but it's not always a bad thing. Sometimes, it helps put you in shape.

LESSON FIFTEEN: YOUR WORDS ARE POWERFUL.

Say out those dark thoughts, it nullifies its power. Don't just cry, don't just think about them, use your words. Fight with your words.

LESSON SIXTEEN: HOLD ON TO RELATIONSHIPS.

Nobody is indispensable but some losses are great. Don’t get comfortable with breaking relationships because people are replaceable. Keep people.

LESSON SEVENTEEN: I AM GOD'S FAVOURITE.

God in fact has favourites and His favourites are His creations. That’s on period! Jokes aside, if He created you, He's particular about you. 

LESSON EIGHTEEN: JOURNALS

Whoever said diamonds are a girl's best friend definitely never journaled. Journaling is as important as it is blissful. Learn to journal your experiences. It's never a bad investment. 

LESSON NINETEEN: Q OVER Q. 

Quality over quantity, but quality with quantity is the trick.

LESSON TWENTY: KINDNESS IS SELF-REWARDING

Your kindness is not in response to other acts of kindness neither is it in expectation of kindness. It is not because people deserve it, it is simply because you want to show it. Kindness is self-rewarding. Yes. People have and will most probably still take advantage of my kind acts. But, will that stop me from being a kind person? Not now, not ever. 

LESSON TWENTY-ONE: I HAVE JOY.

 With every experience I've had in twenty-one years of living, I have come to the rock-hard, unshakeable conclusion that nothing can ever take away my joy. This smile is here to stay. Yawl better get used to it. 

This article has been something alright. I do hope you had takeaways because this is Aima putting on the pen cap. See you next time. You know what to do. Byeeeee.