Life in it shades of beauty.

 "Life, in its many shades of beauty, becomes even more remarkable when gratitude fills the gaps. It’s the small moments, the unexpected blessings, and the lessons hidden in our daily struggles that make all the difference."

Today, I woke up in a bit of a struggle. The usual 4:30 a.m. alarm clock was doing its thing, but my body wasn’t quite ready to cooperate. There I was, lying in bed with my eyes closed, yet my mind and head fully awake. It was like a debate going on in my brain: “Get up and say your prayers” versus “You didn’t get enough sleep sleep for just 10 more minutes.” It felt like the universe was trying to keep me in bed a little longer, but the alarm had a different plan, refusing to let me off the hook. And just as the debate heated up in my head, I heard my stomach chime in. At this point, my body decided to take matters into its own hands, and off I jumped to the restroom, just to avoid blaming it on my “village people.” You know how it goes, right?

Despite the rocky start to the morning, the day turned out to be pretty great. I went out for my exercise at Jabi Park, though not as early as I had planned. You see, my runny stomach had other plans for me, forcing me to delay my early 6 a.m. outing. By the time I made it out, it was already late morning, but I decided to make the most of it anyway.

And I’m so glad I did. The serenity of the environment at the park was absolutely beautiful. The cool breeze from the lake, the chirping of birds, and the peaceful faces of fellow park-goers created a kind of calming vibe that made me appreciate being alive. What caught me by surprise was how full the park was. I wasn’t expecting so many people, but then again, it’s Jabi Park a lovely place, so why wouldn’t it be packed?

As I was walking around the park, I met an elderly man riding his bike. It felt like the right moment to crack a joke, so I approached him and asked, “Why didn’t you travel for the holiday?” He stopped and smiled, replying, “I have responsibilities at my workplace.” I nodded, acknowledging his words. He was absolutely right certain positions do come with more responsibility, and that’s a part of life. I thanked him for entertaining my silly question, and he was glad I had lightened his mood with it.

I continued my walk around the park, racking up 8,936 steps and covering 8 kilometers. As the sun began to heat up, I had to pause for a break. And to my surprise, I ran into the elderly man again. This time, we struck up a conversation about how some people appear religious on the outside, but inside, there’s a lack of sincerity. His perspective was that people need to cleanse what’s inside their hearts rather than putting on a show of religion. We also talked about how, as young people, we are all working hard and not completely depending on public service jobs. (My inner thoughts whispered, “Can public service jobs even fund people’s lifestyles these days? Some can, I guess!”)

As the conversation continued, he brought up how people carelessly dispose of trash in places where there’s a trash can nearby. He mentioned in some country you be fine for this act. I couldn’t help but laugh and say, “Maybe I should start policing them, eh?” I imagined myself giving out fines sigh but then I realized, with Nigeria’s love for doing things their own way, I’d probably get a good beating. 😂 Still, I couldn’t be more grateful for the reminder to take responsibility for properly disposing of waste. It’s a habit I hold dear, and I can’t thank my friend enough for influencing me. This friend, now living in the Netherlands, used to get upset every time we drove and saw people tossing trash or plastic bottles on the road. From him, I learned the importance of keeping our environment clean, and today, I’m grateful for his impact on me.

By the time I was heading back home, something unexpected happened. A friend offered me some traditional rice, cooked with cardamom, cinnamon, almonds, and other spices, with goat meat sauce to top it off. You have no idea how much I appreciate good food, especially when it’s something this rich in flavour! No MSG, no sodium just pure goodness. I was in heaven, enjoying every bite, and mentally making a note: “I need to make money so I can keep eating food like this!” It was so good, and honestly, I couldn’t help but think, “Is this what village girls are missing out on?” 😂

But for real, if you haven’t had rice cooked with natural spices like that, you’re missing out. Sometimes, we need to treat ourselves to rich, natural food, and today was one of those days where I bonded with my love for nature’s flavours. The cinnamon, especially, is one spice I can’t live without. Whether it’s in tea, coffee, or when I’m cooking meat, cinnamon just adds that perfect touch. I couldn’t help but reflect on how life is so much better when we choose natural foods and drinks over the heavily processed ones.

Now, let’s talk about gratitude. I am so grateful for this morning’s exercise, even if it didn’t go as planned. I’m grateful for the beautiful environment at the park, where I could clear my mind and get some fresh air. I’m grateful for the elderly man I met his words about responsibility, religion, and cleanliness stuck with me. And of course, I’m deeply grateful for my habit of striking up conversations with people, no matter how random it might seem. Some days, you just need a good chat to put everything into perspective.

I’m also thankful for the natural spices in my life, especially cinnamon. I’ve always loved having it in my kitchen, and today’s meal only deepened that love. And lastly, I’m incredibly thankful for the natural food I was offered today. It’s not often that you come across a meal so wholesome, and I feel truly blessed to have had that experience.

Today, I can honestly say that I’m grateful for the little things the morning struggle, the exercise, the conversations, and the food. It all adds up to a life full of moments that remind me just how much there is to be thankful for.

So, as I wrap up this gratitude post, I want to encourage you to find gratitude in the simple, everyday things. Whether it’s in the people you meet, the conversations you have, or the food that nourishes your body, there’s always something to appreciate. And remember life is too short to take too seriously, so throw in some humour and laughter along the way.

Let’s keep enjoying those rich, natural foods, and let’s keep being responsible for our actions, from the environment to our personal growth. Oh, and if you ever see me policing people who throw trash around, you’ll know exactly why! 😎