Today was
probably the most boring day of 2013. I just sat there, answered calls, killed
my battery twice, played 3D military games and Car racing games. I just smiled
at my screen and loved the people that were putting me up on their Dps and
stuff… and I later had dinner with Owanatei Max-Harry. Not your exciting birthday is it?
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It’s one year
since my last speech of the sort.
I remember the
backlash of comments on the title (Bros over…erm, cutlasses). And I remember
the high feeling that followed me for the next 4 days or so. I remember trying
to keep faithfully to my birthday resolutions, and I remember trying to feel
more grown up seeing that I’d achieved double-digit age (22). I remember talking about my hopes of getting fatter and taller- I am pleased to announce that I did get taller (added 3 inches), weigh more (70kg up from 67) and wake up earlier than i dreamed possible. Thank you for your moral support!
In the course of
the year, I read books about cultivating the presence of God, about being led
by the Holy spirit, about being a leader. I had the opportunity to serve on the
leadership of my Church choir…I did see that when people are dedicated to a
cause that God has blessed, wonders will follow. I learned the value of
integrity- making a promise and keeping to my word. I learned the value of
obedience even when no one was looking.
It was a year of
learning to accept people for who they are. Up till now, my friends were all
church-going, devoted people who had leadership roles wherever they went. I
think God taught me a big lesson by bringing irreligious, agnostic, atheistic
people my way. The arguments opened my eyes to the truth that I’m not the only
one seeking God; and that everybody has problems. I met people addicted to
drugs, addicted to sex and all manner of things. I was revolted at first-
squeaky me even talking with such people. But I learned that that was the life
Jesus lived- dining with hookers, visiting corrupt politicians and lawyers. I
learned that the only way the light I carry can have much effect…is right in
the middle of thick darkness.
In the last
year, my human side was awakened. I’ve been so blessed that I began to forget
what it’s like to go hungry not because I can’t choose what to eat, but because
I don’t have what to eat. I lost
friends last year, Rejoice Kurtong (of the everlasting smile), Blessing Luka
(who I was talking with a day before the accident), Mary Nwachukwu, Dorcas,
ThankGod John, Lawrence Oyeyemi and lately, Ugochi Peace Mbakwe (a.k.a Mama
Ebuka). Before this time, I was numb to the news of death; but I have learned
that the rain falls both on the good and the bad.
In the last
year, I have widened the scope of my music- many of you know me as Peter
Rock/PeterPentecost. I love rock, metal, metalcore and screamo, all very
extreme forms of music; but have learned that I will never grow if I stay stuck
just that- so I expanded my vocabulary to neo-soul (TD Jakes), Black Gospel
(Hezekiah Walker, Marvin Sapp, Youthful praise, James Fortune and the host of
them). This year I started my foray into Jazz Music, listening to Earl Klugh, Chick
Corea, George Benson and Kenny G (and Bez) too. I tell the truth and lie not-
it has improved my bass playing.
In this year, I
learned that some of the things that may have been cute when I was younger,
will look simply stupid and irresponsible. Like the time when I was 16, I wore
pyjamas to school at 10pm because someone said I couldn’t do it. Or when I wore
shorts on a bus all the way from gwagwalada to Bingham university (in my
defence they were combat 3/4s). I also learned that my writing would be judged
by people who knew nothing about me, therefore I must strive to divorce my work
of sentiments (and focus more on the logical). To this effect I got closer to people whose writing I totally admire- Ugo "Quixotic" , Chimaobi Mmeje and Ofem Efa-Banks, Henry Anyaeji to mention a few.I learned that I was fast
becoming a man of my own- no longer covered by the faith or reputation of my
parents, but quickly building my own. I would no longer be seen as “Mr
Ademu-Eteh’s Son” but as “that young man over there”. Therefore the things I want to be known for must take root in the choices I make now.
And that brings
me to the next thing. I’ve always considered myself a gentle person. Laugh all
you want. But I wonder if any of you can point to when you saw me angry, or
fight or scream at people. I thought that was because I was nice…it occurred to
me I was simply being a coward. Over the years I’d accepted crappy service, rude
staff, I’ve actually allowed myself to get cheated. Because I hate
confrontations…or more truthfully, I’m scared of confrontations. I’ve lost job
opportunities simply because I was too timid to ask; I’ve passed up on going
out with awesome girls because I was too afraid of the reaction when I pitched
my bid. I’ve stayed stuck within the same oppressive cycles because I was too
afraid of what life would be like if something new started.
But one day it
occurred to me that life would not just hand things to me- I had to PUSH, to
FIGHT for them. I’m not in any way denying the place of God in making things
happen; but the seed won’t plant, water, and harvest itself no matter how much
fertiliser God put in the soil. I said to myself,
"you're young. this is the best time to make all the foolish mistakes, because you can recover. So what if you lose in business now? is it not better to learn that lesson now than in 10 years?"
So slowly, I began to ASK for what I wanted and
to refuse what I didn’t. I stepped out of my car in traffic one day, and talked
to the traffic cop who was holding up traffic, and surprisingly traffic
cleared. Once my bank debited me (20k!) and instead of waving it off like I
normally do, I complained immediately, continuously and even threatened to
close my account before it was restored. Once I paid for a data plan (and my
data curiously stopped working for a whole month)- I wrote MTN and after they
hemmed and hawed for a week I sent a strongly-worded letter, threatening to sue
them; within 1 minute they replied, looked into the matter and compensated me
with unlimited internet for a while.
I took the risk
to let go of a girl I’d dreamed of for 3 years- it hurt, It bit, it made me
withdraw from society. I had to literally install an app to hide all her
messages and calls until I was okay. I locked people out, and for the first 3
weeks of law school I didn’t make any friends (weird isn’t it?). But that step
freed my mind from mental stress I didn’t even know I was carrying. I began
adding weight, looking far more attractive (you can dispute that if you like).
I took the risk
of schooling in Enugu, a city where I knew no one, where I’d never stayed more than
30 minutes in my life. It was cut off from Abuja and its fineries, from Lagos
and its exoticism, Port Harcourt and its….ummmm, whatever they have there. It
has paid off so far- a quiet environment to study, beautiful scenery and
lecturers that make you feel like the exam has already been written JI took the risk to get close to people- Dumebi, Owanatei, Faith, Emily,
Fola, Kenechi, Lanre, Kingson, Peace and others; and that risk paid off. For in
the midst of this dry land called Agbani, I found people with a passion for God
and a zest for life; I found people that talking about spiritual things did not
seem awkward!
And in the middle
of this risk, I met a certain pretty, awesome girl :D I took the risk to fall in love. I
took the risk to tell her about it (okay I wasn’t direct!). I wrote her a story
that ran into 36 pages (single-spaced); it had photos and background music ;).
Taking that risk is probably the best risk I’ve taken all year; because in her
I found a lot more than I bargained for.
I’m taking my
time to detail this process for two reasons; first to let you know how awesome I
really am (lol) and SERIOUSLY to
touch one or two timid souls out there. The truth is as long as you sit
paralysed by the fear of the unknown, constantly analysing but NEVER doing
anything…you will lose millions of opportunities, opportunities I’m sure you’ll
NEVER get back. If you take the risk to get something done, you MAY fail, you
MAY succeed…but if you fold your arms waiting for manna to fall, you WILL fail!
Wake up!!!! Take
the risk!!
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Thank you for your time, and thank you all who made this day a wonderful day for me. Sorry if i don't reply ALL the texts, but you're far too kind!
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