Hello my dearest readers (in Bridgerton Lady Whistledown's voice), it HAS been a minute hasn't it? (inserts deep sigh) I have no excuses other than that Nigeria and adulthood has been happening to me. In my head, I have written everyday since I was last here.
My sincere apologies for leaving it for this long. I aim to do better. 💖💖💖
The thing about depression is how it creeps up on you and takes over your sense, leaving you near helpless but desolate. Your mind reads an article and several minutes or hours afterwards, your brain goes into nibbling overdrive. Take for example my seeing the news about the explosion in Kano earlier on Monday and how I was physically sick after reading the news and seeing snippets of the video which had frightened little children in uniforms and a burning torso in it. It saddened me a great deal that this is what we have to deal with almost on the daily in Nigeria now. Death, blood, gore, kidnapping, domestic violence, religious violence, horrors of all sorts. Hours later, my brain suddenly whispers to me that “some mothers who dressed their kids up for school this morning, are in tears now because they no longer have those kids”. That thought brought tears to my eyes, had goosebumps all over my body and sent shivers down my spine. It is a cruel and sickening occurrence especially after the lynching of the undergraduate Deborah in Sokoto State a few days earlier. For a few seconds, it made me wonder what this whole existence is really about and if it is worth the pains.
It took some serious mind control over the matters at hand and lots of prayers for me not to fall down the slippery slope of darkness the awful news around me was pushing me through. I also had prompt support from close friends and family so that helped but it made me realize how very easily one's mind can snap without the right support when faced with dire news or situations. It made me realize that there are lots of people out there who are not equipped with the right support system to help them go through dark times/phases and I wonder how they cope and rise above. My heart prays for everyone going through rough times and I'm sending out love and light to you all. 💓🙏
One thing for sure about adulthood is that everyone is going through one thing (or 50) or the other but we all just keep smiling and pushing through. No be only you waka come o, so do not feel alone when you are down or going through tough times. Rather, reach out and take whatever support you get. Do fun and happy things to lift yourself up. Also reach out constantly to your friends and loved ones because oftentimes, the most cheerful of people are the ones needing care and support the most.
Assuredly, dark clouds will ALWAYS lift and there is ALWAYS a rainbow at the end of each storm so don’t let the gloomy and dark thoughts drown you. RISE ABOVE.
