EDITOR’S NOTE

ABUSE

BECOMING THE BEST YOU CAN

HEALTH IS WEALTH

TEENS DESERVE BETTER,

INTERVIEW WITH JULIANA OLAYODE

BRUNO’S TRIAL (PART 1)

BUSY BRANDING NOTHING

I WROTE A LETTER TO A MARRIED WOMAN

LET GOD MOULD YOU

LIVING ABOVE THE NORMS

SHYNESS

YOU ARE NOT ODD

ONYEMACHI SAMUELNJOKU PASEAL

NJOKU PRECIOUSIYOBHEBHE OBEHIAMEH VERONICA

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CONTRIBUTROS

EDITOR’SNOTE

Hi, my name is Emmanuel Okang Edim.

It's a privilege to have you read this edition of

MOTIV-8 Magazine. This is the third edition and

I hope you've been blessed so far. I want to congratulate

and appreciate everyone who took out time to read our last

two editions. MOTIV-8 Magazine is targeted towards the growth

of individuals.

It is a compilation of truth that does not only

liberate everyone who reads it but equips them with

the necessary tools for their manifestation as sons of God.

The magazine would in the long-run create opportunities for

everyone to showcase their gifts and abilities.

I hope you have a fulfilling time while you navigate through

the pages.

To be in sync with our activities, please like our page

motiv-8 magazine

motiv8_magazine

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If you need to reach us, kindly call 08092121125

Or

Email us at: motiv8magazine@gmail.com

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It's so glaring

And yet we've been ignoring

the cries and screams

from the child a floor above.

While claiming to mind our business,.

We ignored the sounds of things shattering

and painful groans and moans next door.

The signs are obvious.

While we pretend we're oblivious.

If only we'd stretch a hand,

we'd save the little girl upstairs

from being molested repeatedly

Or the boy next door from more trauma.

Oh, lives are being shattered

Hope's been destroyed

Yet daily we ignore,

following up busy schedules,

forgetting the world around us.

Who would play the saviour?

Who would lend a hand?

Who would raise a voice?

Who would show some love?

Who would protect them from so much fear?

Who would say: "All hope's not lost”

PASEAL JOE

ABUSE

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BECOMINGTHE BESTYOU CAN

DESPITEALL ODDS

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ou know too much already don't you? You know you would love to ace those Ygrades and arrange that room so well and build this future to be great. It's just that sometimes you have obstacles around you or you're just not ready to handle

the work towards the path of greatness.

Why can't my grades be high too? I asked myself in high school. With that question I put in my efforts, I made a conscious decision to put my best foot forward and study hard in my senior classes and trust me I'm happy I did.

You should make conscious decisions and take bold steps everyday to doing great and being excellent at the things you do. Few steps towards leaving mediocrity and putting your best foot forward are:1. Do a check up on your mind and check what you're feeding your mind with. If you're telling yourself negative things it's likely that you'll be surrounded by negativity. Remember, “garbage in - garbage out”. You need to feed your mind with positive

vibes and take on the “I CAN” spirit even when things are on the low.2. Do a check up on your circle. I once told a friend that I was a billionaire. He laughed and accepted it saying “well, a friend of a billionaire is a billionaire too”. Your circle of friends can either make or mar you. Walk around with brilliant minds and your mind soon becomes the same.3. Live your life. Be your authentic self. What's that? It just means not being afraid to do the things that matter most to you because you are scared of what people would say. People have been talking even the age of Noah, but did it stop Noah from building the ark? Duhh no! Becoming the best you can doesn't just stop at your activities, it also includes living out your best, living a positively influential personal life.4. Hold on strong to a faith because nobody said there will be no pot holes on the road. There would be odds. You could have the best intentions but once those obstacles come, if you don't have a higher being to look up to, if there's no higher source of strength for you to hold on to like a pillar then the journey can get really really quaky and rough.5. Just try! Never assume that you're not smart enough or you'll fail. Just give doing things the right and excellent way a shot. Just try. You'll be fine and you'll do just great.

My advise?DON'T SEEM. BE. SO BE YOUR BEST.

Mirabelle MorahEditor-in-chiefBlankpaperz.com

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HEALTHIs Wealth

hy live if you are not healthy? It is popularly

Wsaid that health is wealth, right? In case you

have not given this some serious thought,

please do today. Why do you do all you do if you are not in

a position to enjoy the rewards of your labor? Once there

is something out of place in your body (and even in the

mind), sometimes in a very tiny part of your body like the

side in your tongue, you are so uncomfortable that

everything seems to drag.

There is so much to say about health but I will summarize

the bedrock of health. Our health can either be good or

bad and the determinants of which side you fall are:

One, what goes into your mouth? Heather Morgan said 'Every time you eat or drink, you are either feeding disease or fighting it and Ann Wigmore said 'The food you eat can either be the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison. My advice is take into your mouth what the One who created your body provided for sustenance. This means eating and drinking foods, fruits

and water in as much of their natural state as is possible and less (if possible, none) of processed foods and drinks. More importantly, eating and drinking them in right proportions, knowing that we eat to live and not live to eat.

Two, for how long do you close your eyes? Sleep is a very important part of our lives. Benjamin Franklin once said 'Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise'. Good health is made possible when there are good night sleeps.

Three, what option are you taking? The obvious truth is that there are many ways of doing anything at all and we are constantly faced with many good alternatives to choose from. The twist that technology has brought our way has made us lazy and very inactive. The more we use (or exercise) our body parts, the healthier we are.

Please know that taking care of your body is one of your greatest investments. Prevention is way better than cure so please be very intentional about your choice of what goes into your mouth, how well you sleep and how actively you exercise your muscles....

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By Adigun Titilope

TEENSDESERVE

BETTERBy Daud. B. Adetutu

Mother: I need you to do all the house chores for me Father: I need you to run an errand for me Child: Oh!!! Mum and Dad, why are you always like this?, I can not divide myself into two to satisfy the both of you.I will manage my time for you at my leisure time.Teenagers need love and support from parents at a time when lots of other things are changing. Parent can keep their relationship with their teenage child strong through ordinary, everyday activities.

"Family is the most important thing to me. They're my own support system. Everybody thinks friends are more important, but they're not. Though friends are great, but they will come and go. Family is always there."

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ccording to Mr Olasode, a Psychologist. He explained psychoanalists Abelieved that early mother-child relationships form the prototype of all

future relationships and outcome of adolescents development depends on

their emotional bond and ego strength. Object relation theory believed that

intrapsychic process mediates interpersonal interaction to develop a sense of

secure self and teenager must relinquish the internalized other in order to develop a

more mature sense of self. Social relation theory believed that mothers and fathers

provides socialization experience. Self esteem depends on the functioning of the

whole family in which teenage is intimately related to the dyadic relationship in a

family.

Parent child relationships have been recognized as significant to child development

for decades. Maintaining strong family bonds during the renegotiation of parent

child relationship in teenager is paramount for youth adjustment. When a mother

and father instruct their child to do one thing or the other but the child gives excuses

and letting the parent know he or she has he or her own time to decide on what to

do. This will become the dangerous moment in life for the child. A child must

comply with his or her parent because of their future.

Moreover, when a child behaves in a good way at home, the child will definitely not

behave in a contemptuous manner outside, a child that also gives respect to an adult

and aged people surely comes from a good home where parent teaches their child a

good moral. Taking a good look at any relationships generally, the family relationship

is very different and most important.

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Problems are likely to be faced between teen and parent. As the teen gets

older, she is likely to fight for control which may create conflict with her parents.

This can leave her parent feeling hurt and rejected, creating stress because

there is a constant battle of will.

There are different ways to strengthen parent teen relationship.

Talking more with teen, try to discuss many things instead of interrogating, find

interesting topics, such as sports, entertainment, friends, and school

experience to make it more relaxing.

Listen to your teen, when teen shares some words, listen. One must talk about

this wisely and emotionally. It is good for teen to be able to express his or her

feelings. Parent should always be an ear to listen.

Considering teen point of view, Encourage teen's interest and talent and do

things together.

Warm and positive communication without underestimating teen is key to a

Successful relationship.

Dauda Bashirat.

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INTERVIEW WITH

OlayodeJuliana

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Question : Can we meet you?Response : My name i s O layode Ju l i ana Oluwatobiloba, I am from Ogun state, I am the last girl of the family of six(6) . I love God , I am an actress, I sing but not professionally yet. I write; I just released my book few month ago titled: "REBIRTH" .

Question: When did the making of Juliana start?Response: The making of Juliana started the day i came into the world, because i believe God had already planned it, written out from the time i was conceived. I started acting in church of course, I really didn't see myself as a good actor at the time because i just featured then later on, a friend of mine told me about an audition after secondary school which i attended and then i was casted to play a sub-lead in a television series. Thereafter, I went for auditions a couple of more times and it didn't click ,then when God said it was time, I went for Jennifer's Diary Audition, I was picked and that was how it really started big.

Question: Cool, what was growing up like for you, as a young child(as the young naija pikin)?Response: Growing up was fun, I had my first share of ups and downs , there were times when I had self-esteem issues; I felt like I was not beautiful, I mean often times I had people ask me how I breathe. Somebody once walked up to me and said: "how do you breathe? you have such a small nose" and I'm like "really!" So I had to learn how to love myself for me .

Growing up , I didn't like my dentition; I didn't like my gap teeth. When I want to laugh , I cover my mouth. But now, everybody seems to be celebrating the gap teeth. So yea, it was fun. I had my struggles as a child : wanting another mother, wanting another father, hoping that I'll wake up one day and my mother will take me to my real family that are rich, probably abroad *chuckles* stuff like that but at the end of the day I thank God for the family that I have because in one way or the other; God has used it to shape my life, to teach me some things and to know that every family has something unique. If we look and think deep, we'll appreciate the family we're from, we wouldn't wish for another. So growing up was fun.

Question: How did you break out from the inferiority complex you were in(did you wake up one morning and start appreciat ing yoursel f)?Response: I didn't wake up one morning and start appreciating yourself. It hurt me that I didn't like who I was and the more I wished to be someone else, the more the reality dawned on me .Like look, this is who you are, you cannot do anything about it. I remember that i'll wish for a change in some certain things in my body I wasn't proud of, but it wouldn't change. I just told myself "you know what Juliana, just be yourself every other person is taken" and I think a part of the scripture dawned on me when God said that we are wonderfully and fearfully made. I told myself I'm stuck with this body, I'm stuck with my look. The earlier I love what I look like , the better for me and so I just started to love my myself and of course I started attending MINE bible study; and then I heard a lot of preaching about loving yourself. We were asked to write a letter to a friend; I got some letters; some people telling me I'm a fine girl and I'm like ah.... ah , really? So me too I'm a fine girl. I got compliments from people and so my mindset just began to change and then on and on l ike that God helped

Question: Is it that you just go to church , or you have this connection with God?Response: Nope! I'm not a church goer, I have a relationship with God, I love God so much. I mean God means everything to me. I've come to a point in my life where I'm like : take everything I have , just leave me with Jesus... Take the fame; in fact fame ...Gosh! Take everything...Just make sure that you leave me with Jesus. Really, because having the consciousness that God is with me, knowing that he's my friend, knowing that he's my father helps me to grow, helps me to love myself, helps me to face life fearlessly. Knowing that I have somebody that has got me, somebody that has my back, someone who will defend me. It is beautiful knowing God and having a relationship with God.

About what you're known for (About Toyo Baby)Question : When you discovered that you love to act, what did you do , how did you come to limelight?( because people think you came out from no where).

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Response : People usually say "this person came from no where", they don't know everywhere you've been. Nobody comes from no where. You weren't there when others were going everywhere just to make sure they end up somewhere. If God wasn't a God of process , I would have been so delighted, it didn't happen that way really. Like I said earlier, I went for several auditions. At some point, I gave up going for auditions. In actual fact, Jennifer's diary audition; I didn't want to go. It was Temitope Dada(Dabest) that convinced me along side Pastor Timi to go because he was the one that sent the audition BC(Broadcast) to me and you know at the time, I didn't even know what to wear , I didn't have clothes to wear. It was my friend Funmi; then she worked with Genevieve. I think Genevieve just had some new collections from china and so she was giving out the old clothes in store. Funmi got one for me, she gave me a shoe and then I had a black trouser at the time. That was what I wore for the audition. I packed my hair up, and just went for the audition saying to myself: let me just go and see , let me just do because this people wouldn't let me rest if I don't go. But eventually, God said it was time because I was the least qualified for the role... I couldn't drive, swim, so many things the character needed to know, They had to shape the character somehow to soothe the things that I could do. It was God; God just said Juliana it is time and so He made it happen.

Question: What should young ones reading this need to do to become l i ke Toyo Baby ?Response: First thing, don't ever want to be anybody. Just think of how to become a better you, the best you, the best you can ever be.I've told myself that I don't want to be like anybody. I just want to be like myself. Like I said, every other person is taken so be yourself. Have a relationship with God, it is very important. The reason we have so many people walking without a purpose is because of a lack of relationship with God. God created you, if you want to know what to do with your life, you need a relationship with God, you need God to direct you. Believe in God, God will certainly take you through a process but it will always end well.

Question: What's your advice to some people who know what to do but are scared to launch out?

Response: Don't be afraid. The truth is everybody in life has one or two things that make them afraid, but face your fears. Really, if you do not rise above your fears, you might never amount to anything, you will never know how much ability and greatness lies inside of you. Every single thing you've always wanted is on the other side of fear...Don't be afraid. S h u n F e a r a n d g o f o r i t F e a r l e s s l y !

Question: Having found what to do in life, what is your advice to those who are limited by their background to becoming their best in life?Response: You are not your background, you're not where you're coming from, you're not how much your father has, you're not that trader or that person that hawks on the streets, you're not that person that doesn't have good clothes to wear you're not that person people look down on. You're great, see yourself in the eyes of God. What has God told you? Who does God say you are? Even if you say, Juliana God has never spoken to me before, check the word of God. God didn't call you poor, ugly, dumb. Whatever you are going through, God doesn't care. As long as you can hang on to God and hang on to his promise, he will take you far. I came from the slums, I came from pooping in the nylon , I came from bathing outside; waiting for midnight so that I can have my bath. There were times I didn't care because I couldn't wake up early enough and I'll just bathe broad day light and people will see me having my bath. It was painful that I couldn't hide anywhere because I didn't have a bathroom but I knew that wasn't who I was. I came from rat being my best friends, like when I sleep; rats are just climbing over me, cockroaches , bed bugs and all. Now when I remember those things , I can't even feel the pain anymore. I just remember that oh I had once lived in this kind of place, oh I was once like this. So don't limit yourself. God is limitless. The greatest mistake you can ever make is limit yourself because God is set to take you far above what you can ever think or imagine. So hang on to God, don't be limited by your background or where you're coming from.

Thanks!

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BRUNO'S TRIALS“I'm sorry, but it's official. You can't play this year's tournament."Total silence in the gym. He stepped forward and looked coach Blake in the eye. “What's that?""I didn't have water in my mouth the first time.""Why's that?" He chocked out. "Do I have to spell it out to you or have you forgotten how low your English grades are?"Tears burned behind his eyelids and he turned around, picked up his bag pack that contained his jersey and hurried out of the gym. He slammed the door behind him, the anger radiating off him and causing his hands to shake. He ignored the rude stares of the other students as he stalked through the hallways and headed for his locker. He couldn't believe this! How much more of a failure could he be!?He pulled the locker door open and took out his books and put them in his bag. He slammed the door back causing a dent to appear.He knew what this meant for him. It meant no more football career and no more college. His parents would never spend a dime of their money for his college tuition. Not that they didn't have it, they just wouldn't. Yeah. He snorted. They'd definitely have something to say about his removal from the football team. He'd look for some place to go since he didn't have to wait for football practice but he had lots of chores and if he lost track of time and arrived home a minute later, he'd pay for it. They'd find out one way or another so he slung his bag over his shoulder and turned to the exit.

Just before he could step out, he heard his name and turned to see Taylor, his best buddy. She was hurrying toward him, he put up his hand before she could come any closer. "You don't have to say it, okay? I know I'm a failure.""Bruno--”"Bruno nothing! And it's the end of our friendship, okay?" He laughed humorlessly as the thought occurred. "Who knows my failure might be contractable. I'm sure you don't want that."With that he turned and left, his head bowed and his heart crashing at his feet.

13

(Part 1)

Thankfully, he found a bus as soon as he got to the bus station. Twenty minutes and he'd be home to continue the worst day of his life. Twenty minutes later, he breathed a temporary sigh of relief when he realized his parents were not in. He took out his spare key and opened the door. The house was a mess. Urgh.

He woke up to the pounding on his door. For God's sake! "Bruno, open this door right now or I'm going to break it down! You have lots of explaining to do as to why you home early enough to do all of the chores and still sleep like a log!" His father was yelling enough for the houses down to hear clearly. “I'm coming."He climbed out of bed and opened the door. The first thing he got was a punch on his jaw. “That's for keeping standing out here for hours."Bruno held onto his jaw, head bowed. "Now tell me, why were you home early?""I got kicked out of the football team."Another punch. “That's stale news. You had it coming. Don't come down to dinner."With that he walked away.

He went out through the back door and hurried out of the house before he broke down into sobs. He found himself walking towards the lake blocks away. Taylor had showed him the place years ago when they had become friends. When he arrived, still sobbing and saw a shadow throwing sticks into the water, he moved to leave.“Don't. It just me."Shocked, he stared. "Taylor? What are you doing here?"She turned and moved into the light so he could see her. "We haven't been friends for six years for nothing. I knew I'd find you here.""Taylor, I--”“I'm here to set you straight.""As if there's anything you could change. Look I told you that you aren't pressured to remain friends with me. I've dealt with that before."The perks of being black and living in the States came with people looking down on you and some refusing to associate with you. "Listen carefully, Bruno. You are not a failure. You failed once doesn't mean it would happen again. Don't let your parent's words sink into you. It's the last year of high school, you sailed through to the last year, don't give up now. Besides, you are best defender."Bruno couldn't help but smile a little. "How do I take my place back?""Good question. You and I are going to Principal's office.""No way. For what?""To get you your place back.”

PRECIOUS JOE

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One of the problems of this generation is that WE ANNOUNCE OURSELVES TOO EARLY, young minds are in a haste to launch out, MANY PEOPLE ARE BUSY BRANDING "NOTHING". Too much advertisement with little adventure.

Please young minds, I urge us to PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR CONTENT, I know you have an assignment, I know you can't wait to air your voice, but first GET COOKED UP (in the secret place) BEFORE GETTING HOOKED UP (with a public manifestation and demands).

I've heard countless people advice me to write a book, tag myself as a life coach, motivational speaker or the likes, actually I appreciate those comments and honoured with the fact that some people feel I'm worth that much, but on the other hand, God has helped me to understand that IF YOU APPEAR BEFORE YOUR TIME, WHEN ITS THE RIGHT TIME FOR YOUR MANIFESTATION, YOU'LL BE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

The fact that you've advised few people concerning their relationship shouldn't make you tag yourself as a relationship coach, it's just TOO EARLY.

I realize that if we're not careful, the world is set to make us stop short and START TEACHING WHEN WE SHOULD BE BUSY TAKING NOTES AS A STUDENT.

Don't be deceived to launch out half baked in your field. Please, don't get me wrong, I'm not promoting procrastination neither am I saying you shouldn't accept the responsibility attached to your ability, the message I'm trying to pass is that you shouldn't stop growing now, it's just too early.

There's a way the world raises you so high that you tend to end up losing your steps midstride, BE VERY CAREFUL!

I believe the wise ones already got the message.* Keep working on yourself.Don't announce yourself too soon.* Don't just teach theories, lock yourself up first, GO GET SOME RESULTS.

I pray God opens your eyes to the contents of this glorious message and minister to you BEYOND THE LETTERS.* Don't pay attention to the container , address your content too.* Branding is good but do not let it overshadow the real product.* When the packaging is removed, WILL YOUR PRODUCTS BE WORTH THE ADVERTS???* Think! GO BACK AND PICK UP YOUR LEARNING GOWN.

From a concerned brother

OJO MICHAEL (2017)

Busy�branding

NOTHING

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16

It happened two years ago...

I went for shiloh (I didn't go to cannan land, I went to a viewing center around YABA)

The ministration of Bishop David Oyedepo was very deep that day, I was greatly blessed.

During the course of the meeting, a woman sitting close to me just got my attention, I really couldn't figure out why I kept staring at her.

Anytime I look at her, there's this strong godly passion that grips my spirit and I just felt like praying for her. I really couldn't explain the feeling..

After looking at her with compassion, you know that kind of compassion that made Jesus perform mighty miracles....

I didn't know what to do with this feeling..Suddenly, I saw myself tearing a sheet of paper and I penned down something like...this:

"Good evening ma, I don't know you and it's obvious you've not seen me before. I really don't know why you are here, but there is a strong feeling in my heart that GOD HAS ANSWERED YOUR PRAYERS...Kindly go home with a grateful heart, please don't repeat that prayeragain, just maintain a grateful heart. Expect your testimony. God bless you ma "

Whew, I still held on to the letter until we shared the grace. I wasn't really confident but I still approached her, I stretched the letter to her, and with a confused countenance, she looked at me and I just said" Please ma, take it from me and read "... She collected the paper and opened it in front of a man, I believe was her husband.

I left her presence before she was done reading...Wow, I felt very fulfilled that day, the joy in me wasn't from this realm. I had a very peaceful night rest.

I didn't even tell my friend (the guy that invited me for the program) what happened..

* I strongly believe that woman already got her testimony.May God bless her wherever she is.

Moral of the story : I really can't figure it out.

What did you learn from this story???* I know someone read this article, thinking of something else (like I wrote a love letter). Hmm, your mind is corrupt, YOU NEED JESUS.. Winks

OJO MICHAEL (2017)

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God knows your person.He knows your tendencies. He'll keep you safe from harm a lot of times.But truth is sometimes we ask God for harm.We'll be like God why didn't you give me this-harm and that-harm.All the other people have the-harm. Well,we don't call it by its name 'Harm'.We weary ourselves and God a lot of times when we don't see what he's protecting us from and ask for it anyways.Always remember God loves you too much to let harm come to you.Remember there has no temptation befallen a man as is uncommon to man.But for any temptation He will make a way of escape.

We ask God by now(let's not even talk about how "your now" isn't the "Father's now" *wink*) I should be in a relationship.Everyone else is in one.Or I'm old enough for one.Or look what those guys have.Imagine what influence they'll weild.God I don't have a voice cause I don't have this or that! Friend,dont rush it! Don't forget God loves you tooooooo much to not bless you.

Glorie Edim

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here was an organist I knew few years back, he used to be the only organist in my Tneighbourhood, every young guy wished to be like him someday, some even had to plead with him to start taking tutorials on how to play a keyboard. At this time, this organist could play a C

major on the keyboard excellently, and he played in his local church, years went on, he didn't learn how to play other keys on the keyboard simply because the choristers at his local church were not good at singing, so this affected him so badly that he couldn't play any where other than in his church. Whenever there was a special programme in his church, and other organists from another church comes around, the new organist is always the one who plays the keyboard and the choristers would sing so well on that day.This particular organist could not afford to live above the norm, at first he found himself in a church where he was limited to only C major because the choristers were not good enough, he stopped practising and this finally killed his creativity.We are in a world where we are shaped by the norms and value of the society we find ourselves, and these values go a long way by either making us better individual or the opposite by influencing our decisions. There is a certain limit to some stages in life, except you strive hard to break these limits you can't live above the norm.I have come to realize that failure has become a normal virtue several people possess, simply because they only do what the society tells them to do, they don't want to live above the norm, they want to be loved for living a normal life, because they are scared, lazy and frightened and want to avoid being insulted for making mistakes.Like the lazy organist, he wanted to be appreciated for his limitations, of course he was actually appreciated when he seemed like he was the best in his church, but not any longer, he practically pleads with a friend who lives around to play when the church is having a big event. He could have really been a good organist, he could have lived above the norm and broken the limitation given by his environment, but he choosed to be lazy.

If he had broken the limitations by learning how to play the keyboard so well, that would have helped the choristers to sing excellently also. Living above the norm is difficult of course, you have to break limitations, do odd things, pass the hurdles, which you would not have passed through ordinarily. When you live above the norm, you tend to bring several others to also live above the norm too, because you would inspire a lot of people, your actions and story would motivate them to do more.

You may choose to be ordinary by being lazy, not wanting to be subjected to the hard work that comes with it or perhaps you are scared of what the world would say if you start living above the values you have always known or you can choose to be extraordinary by doing great things and breaking the rules of impossiblities.

Written by ADEOLA OLAYEMI

LIVING ABOVE THE NORM

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Oh, shynessyou've tormented me enough

you've been limiting my greatnessyou been stopping me from shining

but not this time anymoreShyness, I give up on you

The other day, my lecturer asked a question, I knew the answer, but

I couldn't stand up to talkYou stopped me from shining

I went to a party, my mates were rocking the dance floor,funny enough, I watched everyone dancing,

no one danced like I do when I'm alone in my room,I felt like also standing up to the dance floor, but once again, you stopped me from shining

I've got great stuffs to share with the world,there is abundance on the inside of me,

I've got a message.

I've been sent to nations, but you you are trying to stop me

Shyness, oh shynessI give up on you

Not again will you stop me from shiningI will ARISE and SHINE

You have stopped me all this while, but not anymore.

Now I am FREEI feel like flying

Bring back the music, I'm ready to danceDear lecturer, kindly ask your question and watch me answer

Ojo Michael (2017)

Shyness

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YOUARE NOTODD

YOUARE NOTODD

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I remember days when I felt like I was the only young mind still serving God...Days when my circle of friends almost convinced me that I'm just boring and missing out BIG TIME..Days when I was tempted to just forget about this JESUS THING and enjoy life (according to my friends back then)Days when something in me wanted to do His will but people around me almost made me lose my confidence...Days when it was not really convenient to choose to follow God..Days when my friends were ready to sponsor me if only I was willing to drink or go to some places with them (note that you can't convince this set of people to give you money to buy Coca-Cola, you either drink what they drink or you forget about it)...

Oh, I remember those days and I just thank God for giving me grace to hold on..I can remember that I prayed deeply and ask God to just send me people of like minds, at least let me be sure I'm not alone in this..

Now, I look around me and I thank God for answered prayers.God has blessed me with great minds. New set of friends, those who are on fire for God.Young people who challenge me and make me feel like I don't evenknow Psalm 23.Friends who have beauty, brains and also serve a BIG GOD.Friends who have a sense of purpose and are very busy making God proud.

This God is great.He has changed my circle of friends.Now I can drink Coca-Cola without feeling odd.Now I have people to share the Scriptures with..I can be a blessing to the world around me. Now, I have friends who are busy fulfilling purpose and also inspire me to pursue mine.

Now, I know I'm not odd, I was never odd, just that my former environment was TOO SMALL TO ACCOMMODATE MY GREATNESS.

Moral of the story :(1) God answers prayers.(2) You're not alone. There are hundreds of people who also love God and share same convictions as you.(3) Some people try to make you look small because they want you to lose your greatness and come down to their level.(4) When you chill with the right people, the sky is barely the limit to what you can achieve.(5) GREATNESS is within your reach. You can FINISH STRONG.(6) What you desire actually exists, the fact that you're yet to see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Keep keeping on.

What you're doing is very significant, you're blessing lives.You're an AGENT OF CHANGE.God is happy with you.Don't stop. CONTINUE!!!

From a brother of like passion

OJO MICHAEL (2017)

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