All the writers; all their topics: 31 days of precious 2013 moments!

You know how this idea for the #31days31writers project started? To start with I know YNaija’s done something like that in 2012, I think I wrote for that sef. I did! It was an article on babes beefing each other for no reason, and you won’t believe the gender that bashed me the most on that piece? Lol!

For this one though, I saw someone tweet in November (I swear I don’t remember their handle and I’m on a Twitter fast so I can’t go look) but he was talking about it and I thought, this might be cool for the end of the year. I didn’t act on it though till the 26th of November, and then I gave all my writers till the 28th to hand in their pieces. With benefit of hindsight, it must have a freaked a number of them out!

Anyway, so I must have asked 40 people, and out of those I got 30. And I am more than grateful that they took the time to squeeze their 2013 into 600 words, and send in the lovely pictures they did. From castration for sex offenders, to faith in the Lord, rebuilt confidence, loyalty from friends, second chances, to resolutions for the new year, homosexuality and homophobia, 2013 was different for every one of my writers, and I am so proud of them!!

Did you miss any of the articles? Well, you’re welcome, I’ve listed all of them below!

1. DAY 1: The first in the ‘a post a day’ series – Chude Jideonwo
2. “I learned that I matter” – Francine! #31days31writers
3. “I have learnt pain is a part of the process” – Emeka #31days31writers
4. “I use writing as a tool to make a difference” – Chijioke #31days31writers
5. “No more Mr Nice Guy” – Mr Mobility! #31days 31 writers
6. “I’m thankful for stability” – Saratu #31days 31writers
7. “I would shut up and let her do her mothering” – Vickie Remoe #31days31writers
8. “The internet lives” – Pa Ikhide starts the second week of my #31days31writers project!
9. “I am gradually learning to love the silence” – Dosh Mabonga! #31days31writers
10. “I have learnt that dreams can actually come true” – Bisi Alimi #31days31writers
11. “I learnt to let go and forgive” – Onaedo!! #31days31writers
12. “I have learnt that light always comes at dawn” – Alkayy!! #31days31writers
13. “Who says black men shouldn’t cry?” – My girl Francesca Uriri! #31days31writers
14. “Our human species have truly trashed the planet” – Jeremy!! #31Days31Writers
15. “2013: Of numbers, expectations and unspoken promises” – Dami #31Days31Writers
16. “I won the lottery!!” – Tolu #31days31writers
17. “I’ve learnt to let go and let God” – the delectable Nike Coker! #31Days31Writers
18. “People change and so do you” – Ewoma gives us home truths! #31days31writers
19. “Castration as an act of mercy” – My girl Zima goes hard! #31days31writers
20. “I learnt a lot about public engagement as a public servant” – Ohimai!! #31Days31Writers
21. “I live and breathe food” – Nky Iweka #31days31writers
22. “I have so much to be grateful for!” – Mac-Jordan #31Days31Writers
23. “I’m glad that I followed my intuition and took risks” – Chris!! #31Days31Writers
24. “This year taught me to represent” – Eziaha (The Fab Sister) is up today! #31days31writers
25. “Loyalty makes a friend family” – Nonso’s up for our Christmas special! #31days31writers
26. “I have come to love and accept myself” – my bestie is up! #31days31writers
27. “I don’t even remember my resolutions for 2013″ – Andy Madaki on #31days31writers
28. “I have learnt that homosexuality exists in 450 species” – Okechukwu is a shining star on #31days31writers today!
29. “I understood faith as a lifestyle this year” – Lizzie
30. “Your friend is your need answered” – a surprise appearance on the #31days31writers project!
31. “Thank you for being part of my 2013″ – Guess who? Me!!!

Thank you guys for honoring me and my blog. Best wishes for the new year!

Love, light, and God’s many blessings!

Mwah!

“I use writing as a tool to make a difference” – Chijioke #31days31writers

We’re on our way to the 31st of December! So far we’ve had Chude, Francine, Emeka, and today we have a lovely lady who went to the same secondary school with me, Miss Chijioke Ogbogu!

M.A.D

My name is Chijioke Ogbogu and I’m Nigerian; I’m a Materials Engineer working with an Engineering firm. I use writing as a tool to Make A Difference.

I’ve had my fair share of practically everything this year; the laughter, joys, tears and all but in all of this I realised it’s really not about the destination rather the journey. I started the year with lots of plans, some were achieved and I’m grateful to God. I’ll share a few of the lessons I learnt through the journey of 2013.

I had planned on starting off a blog this year; this was borne out of a desire to share a few thoughts with anyone who came across it. Never did it cross my mind that I had a tool that goes beyond sharing thoughts. I did a post on a little baby, Kehinde who was born with Multiple Congenital Anomalies (MCA) who needed N2, 000,000.00 for a surgery in Nigeria but at the end of the day we were able to raise a whole lot that was able to foot his bills to India with his twin, mother and the lady helping them. I learnt the only limitations we truly experience are the ones we place on ourselves. I lost little Kenny a month after the surgery because of a minor stomach upset but it made me more resolute in using the tool of writing to impact my generation however little it is.

I was blessed with a baby brother this year and you’ll be wondering why it’s news, just hang in a little longer. I grew up with two younger sisters, although we would have wanted the presence of a brother but it never happened. Now here’s the interesting part in 2011 my mom gave birth to a boy who in the natural law of things shouldn’t be so, my last sister was seventeen then and my mom obviously isn’t a teenager either. While we were rejoicing over that, God and His huge sense of humour gave us another adorable brother. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it that I’ve two younger brothers in less than two years. I learnt we can’t put God in a straitjacket; He’s still in the habit of performing mind-blowing miracles, question is do you really believe?

A friend I trusted a whole lot broke that trust in 2012, although I said I had forgiven him but deep down I resented him. I was in a class with some youths and the topic was on forgiveness and I knew it was about time to release the hurt I felt. I had to make peace even though it meant me apologising. I apologised not because it was the easiest thing to do but it was the bravest. I have learnt using the word I AM SORRY doesn’t show weakness rather strength; we forgive those who wrong us because carrying unforgiveness is a huge load, the world already has lots of stress why add to it by carrying on with past wounds. Truth is we are not all perfect, we get to upset people too and funny thing is some of them may not even know you’re upset with them but beyond all these lessons we shoot ourselves in the foot when we say the Lord’s prayer “Lord forgive us as we forgive those who sin against us”

I’m looking forward to 2014, knowing it’s going to be a great year. See you on the other side!

Beautiful smile, beautiful heart! Thanks for writing in babe!

Related articles

• DAY 1: The first in the ‘a post a day’ series – Chude Jideonwo (fairygodsister.wordpress.com)