Jane Chima

 He came into my life early.    I saw a “focused” looking young man enter the reception. He was one of those I was asked to entertain. @marrymeseries I introduced myself and let them know the HR will be joining them shortly.  “Can I offer you anything?” I asked. No they all responded. Good. Let me go and sit down and enjoy this new book I borrowed from the library, I thought. We became friends 1 month after he joined the organization. Next thing I knew, we were dating and he gave me N1,000 allowance each day. He took me to his friends wedding. I wore a beautiful Ankara gown made by my talented designer so it was understandable that I was more enamored by my dress than my date. Back to why he came early. @marrymeseries I had just read a book by the first black American female surgeon general and how she broke the shackles of poverty. Marriage was not on my mind. I was also fresh out of teenage trauma that would make African(read Nollywood) script writers tremble with ...

  I can’t remember I can’t remember praying for him or my journey. I can’t remember praying for an excellent service but I remember making a request. My spirit must have said a quick prayer to the Holy Ghost reminding him of my lack of desire to suffer this year. There were cries and pledges and requests made to my Heavenly Father in January 2022. I wiped my tears fast. The days in January became short as soon as I stopped wallowing in my situation like Hannah. Then My Father in Heaven hastened my days in February. As usual, He’d seen me enter a pit, I dug for myself the previous month and held me close as I struggled with letting Him work while I rested. I was nearly disgraced but He didn’t allow it. Instead, He let my light shine. He surprised me and my listeners with the words of my mouth and the work of my hands. He gave me glorious days in March. I recounted many levels I’d skipped And just when I got drunk on the levels and His ability to hold me when I fall, I got a caution....

  He was a Mama’s boy. Unfortunately, they don’t write them on the forehead. The first time I saw him, we were burying my younger sister; Oluwafunke. My family had invited him to preach; share the Word at her funeral. The first thing I noticed about him was the way he dressed. He didn’t look like a village person at all. I got curious and asked someone about him and was told that he is a Pastor from Winners’ Chapel and I was shocked to find out that he was from the village. I liked him. I liked the fact that he was different. He made me change my perspective of the people from the village. I should have known he was different because his mother cuddles him. A grown man in his thirties. After burying my little sister, I traveled back to Lagos and got a surprising phone call from Sayo; another little sister. “Tunde wants your number,” She said. “Who is Tunde and why does he want my number?” “The one that preached at the burial”. She replied. Maybe he wants to tell me about his relati...

Like clockwork, they think they are helping my destiny when they take advantage of me. They think they've won. The God in me often glues my mouth shut in these circumstances.   He can feel my hurt and how disappointed I am.  This time, He quietly reminded me in His own way, that this has happened before. He told me of their end. One of them recently paid me back handsomely.  Others wish they have the opportunity to repay their unkindness. It may continue to happen as long as I allow it. I am often helpless but I won't allow this to continue. I prefer my other option; my disappearing act. I chose to be naive and unsophisticated in many life situations. I still think I have seen the worst life has to offer and may continue my disappearing act to avoid more trauma and conflict. It is despicable to take advantage of people.  It is not being woke, you are just evil whether you are the yahoo boy who defrauds an un-educated market seller or the colleague who thinks gos...

  The not so huge secret is out! I have been sharing some business tips on this blog but I am more passionate about Customer Service and I am very vocal about this not because of my years of experience working as a Customer Service Executive but because Nigerian vendors like to test our patience and I have experienced too much of it to ignore. I have also been hosting talks on a Whatsapp group for a while now where I share some tips and my Customer Service experience, answer questions business owners have and how to resolve customer complaints satisfactorily. I am excited to share publicly that I will be hosting another Customer Service Talk on March 6, 2022 by 8pm. Attendance is free and virtual(Google Meet) but you have to register. See link below: https://forms.gle/Jp9cTX6fTLNUzpnf6 See you there!

  I know say I’m fine but I also know say I’m not THAT fine. Tell me why the mother, father and a fine brother come stand in front of my father’s house, looking at me shade my mama market? They watched me squirm. Pardon my pidgin o. I was not comfortable at all. I felt like a fish in a pond. I took my mother to our backyard. “Nma o, why are these people here?” Who are they? More importantly, “why are they looking at me?” “I told you about them”, she said. “They saw your picture and want you to marry their son.” “The guy that didn’t go to school?”  “Yes”.  “Is he the one standing with them outside?” Why didn’t he come to me instead of gawking with his parents? Not sure I want to marry that kind person. “He’s not the one”. I breathed out. “They said he’ll be around during this (October)season.” Ah! The famous October. Well, I’m here and ready to mingle but; I quickly remembered, “Mumsy, don’t try to marry me off. I will decide when I see the guy” I’m not into arrange marria...