Hey you,
Every now and then, I lose myself in the world of artsy affirmations on Instagram. Most of them remind me that surviving in a pandemic is a lot more important than anything else. On most days, I remember this and there’s this genuine feeling of ‘phew, that’s not bad’. On other days, it doesn’t go like this and I console myself with eating and lots of TikTok videos.
Recently, I have been unmotivated to do anything. I’m doing stuff now, not because I want to do it but because I know I have to do it. I woke up yesterday morning and resumed work because I know I have to do. I have pushed this newsletter for ages but I’m only just sending the first one almost two months later because I’m just not inspired. I also keep watching TV shows and movies I’ve watched before because I have no intention to watch anything new.
In all of this sha, I’m hoping and praying for the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m trying to take my meditation streak more seriously and just keep pushing. I think of myself as many things and not trying isn’t one of it. Is this something you’re feeling? I’ll like to hear - send me a reply maybe.
All The Good Stuff
With this portion of the newsletter, I hope to introduce you to some of the good things I’ve come across between the last editions of the newsletter. There’s a lot of content on the internet, and thank goodness, there’s no rush for me to consume them like before. I take my breaks and do everything at my own pace.
Recently, I got back into podcasts and I started listening to some of them. I highly recommend The Modern Love podcast by the New York Times, because I’m a sucker for love and it exposes love in various forms - romantic, playful, self and all. I also started listening to I Said What I Said, and in as much as long podcasts aren’t my cup of tea, this is a good one. I listen to them on my walks around the estate and the laughter is something. For work, I listen to Neil Patel and Eric Su break down the simplest digital marketing lessons into ten-minute episodes on the Marketing School podcast.
Outside these, I’m really excited about the new season of The Crown that’s coming to Netflix soon. It tells the story of Diana and the Nigerian in me is psyched about that. I also recommend that everyone watches Michaela Coel’s ‘I May Destroy You’. It is very essential, timely and thought-provoking.
I read a lot of articles every month (thank to Peter and Zubs, and all the amazing people who share stuff with me). Here are some of the finest:
This one about this grandmother who forgot her homophobia
And then this Collaborative Fund article about your skillset
This really nice article about the business of content
I’ve also been writing stuff and loving it. I wrote about switching to my career in marketing and communications and I also wrote a thing about Nigerian customers and their behaviour. Please read and share. I’ll appreciate it.
Serious Conversations
This month, I want us to actively think of something - how do we solve a problem like audacity? And I don’t mean audacity in the sense of wanting to take risks because that’s a whole different story. I mean audacity in the sense of impudence and disrespectful behaviour.
Twice this week, I have logged in to Twitter to see various men question women and what they’re wearing - one was a picture for an interview and another was a random image posted. And while it may be funny, they were not joking. Why do they feel entitled to an opinion and even very confident and rigid about this?
I remember a few weeks ago, my friends and I went to the beach and I could remember seeing this man turn red because my friend had an anklet on. We were leaving when I noticed it, and I’m sure that’s why he didn’t walk up.
So, the ultimate question is how do we teach people to actually mind the business that pays them and know that they have no business with other people’s matters?
I mean, I make side comments about people’s matters but definitely not the point of walking up to them and offering my opinion that nobody asked for.
Anyway, that’s about it for now. Listen to The Cavemen’s new album called Roots here. I’m listening to that as I type this.
Until next time,
Frank.