The Elysian Girl

Hey you! I don't think I have quite asked how you're faring before now and so, here is me reaching out... How are you doing? I hope you're surviving, sometimes, it's all that's needed. I say this because I know there are helpless and hopeless individuals at places where there are no opportunities to thrive, and so I hope you're surviving long enough to reach a place that'd help you thrive. The other day, I had an argument with an acquaintance, we'd use 'Sly' to represent him. He'd sighted this young lady's outfit at the mall and showed no pleasure towards it.. She'd worn a shawl-like blouse over a bum short. So he goes "why would someone dress like this to an open place, it's indecent and immoral", this would be the nicest of all the things he said as regards that lady's dressing.  I went on to ask "what would Jesus do or say?". I asked this because he'd come with the righteous condemnation of an absolu...

There are a few artistes you'd have to excuse my sentiments when reviewing their songs. Passenger sits comfortably on that table. I'm helplessly awed with everything he drops, from his voice to his use of instruments and boy do I love string instruments! His songs are nothing short of inspiring and takes me to places I never thought existed. Only passenger has the power of taking me to the Elysian fields and he does so, effortlessly! So, am I grateful for coming across his sound? You'd bet! I had just come across "Traveling Alone" from his 'Whispers II" album, I'm probably late to the party, as it's been out since 2015, but that's the thing about Passenger: you're never late with his songs. They speak to every age and time. Passenger in 'Traveling Alone' tells of the different people he found around him (probably during a tour, as he was lodged in a hotel room), each expressing their heartbreaks and loneliness through their differe...

You're probably in my category: we hear or read new words, look them up for the meanings, then forget to use them in sentences, write-ups, or word games, until the next time our paths cross and then we go "oh, I've seen this word before now... I don't seem to remember whatever it means". Sometimes, we get their meanings from the context in which they were used at the time. Either way, our vocabulary has improved, but in a passive manner. So I came up with  Words With TEG: a section of TEG that would solely  keep us abreast and conversant with new words and in turn, I get to sound refreshing everytime I put out something or try having conversations.  Words With TEG would be about new words that I've come across. It would be shared weekly as well as used in most of the articles that'd appear on TEG for the week, that way our brains get sort of acquainted with them and in turn help us relay our messages effectively while communicating and in word games. Lol. ...

In the last couple of days, I've made sure to keep busy, trying to put out write-ups for TEG. I decided this year would get more of that part of me, I've tried to sweep it under the carpet for so long. Now, I just feel it should be let out to take a breath.  Has it been easy? No! (ofcourse I'm no professional but I'm willing to get there!) Oh I wish I could narrate all the many ways I've been frustrated just trying to put out a write-up on here. I also don't want to imagine how things would be on days that I would be choked with work. But we move still. Lol.  If you're like me who's not written in months, weeks or days because you lack the motivation, or can't make out the time to write anything, I'm here to share a few things I would like you to hop on. I'm no expert in these things and that's why I'm inviting you to try these steps with me, it's really a journey I feel would go a long way in guiding our writing patterns effectiv...

I really envy people who have the gumption to be entrepreneurs, especially the ones who bask in it like it comes with no stress at all. I see vendors on social media platforms and I marvel.  You'd see them advertising their goods in very fun ways, not the usual conventional modelling ways. For instance, a wig vendor, could decide participate in trending challenges(like the #bussit, #bopdaddy) on social media platforms to advertise her wigs. A shoe vendor could decide to tell jokes and make short funny skits or even give an influencer for free, to get tagged. Very many creative ways and I just sit and watch in awe, because it'd take someone who's passionate about what they do to keep coming up with ways to entertain as well as advertise their goods. It is worthy of emulation. I say this because I've been privileged to be around friends and acquaintances who own businesses while they had just incurred massive losses and I really do not think my heart would be able to cont...

"If you're depressed, talk to someone". This statement, no matter how condoling or how empathic it may sound to the person who utters it or the people who think it makes sense, it really would take a great deal of energy and positivity, for someone who's depressed to come running to another person, to talk about their depression. People are fickle, it's sad, but it is what it is. Come out with your problems and watch people throw them back at you for one slip you innocently took. Then there are people who do not have the faintest idea of how depression works. It comes at them sometimes and they pass it off as "sadness". I believe the featured picture for this post is a perfect illustration for representing this class of people.  Someone's dead from suicide, after being declared missing for days and there are up to five topics on the Nigerian twitter trend table about this. Several 'hot takes' are seen littering the streets of twitter. People ...

I am cold Not the kind that goes away when you tuck yourself in between sheets, Or wrap yourself with a thick shawl,  Not even the warmth of my man's bosom, Soothes it...  It comes with frail bones, Something in your gut  That burns like hell and  A sensation in your throat, That begs you to cry,  To Let it all out! I am tired!  Not the kind that is caused by the stress from work, Or the kind that goes away when I get to sleep enough. It comes as heaved sighs, Sometimes from a heavy chest, Or an escape from choking,  As breaths are seized  From intensely stifled cries...  Trying to let it all out!  My Eyes, red and swollen, for days,  My lids: wrinkled from wiping pools of tears, Like streams, that won't stop flowing...  Deep grief, masked for days...  Days that turn to months,  Months that turn to years... I am hungry!  Not the kind that food heals,  Or water quenches,  It gazettes in my belly like an ...