Sometime ago, on a WhatsApp group I belong to, someone asked a question. She said, “What if you wake up to find that for the past ten years, everything that happened in your life was a dream?” A number of people who responded, rejected the thought. Ironically, I not only welcomed the idea, but I also wished it were more than ten years. I wanted it dated back to the year I completed junior secondary school. I felt that if I could start life afresh from that year, I would make a more informed career decision. I have been angry at our guidance counselors back in school for not helping us discover our academic strengths early enough and guiding us through getting the suitable subject combinations.
I was in the sciences but I wrote poems every night, took part in every debating competition in senior secondary school and was very active in the Press Club. I attended JETS (Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists) Club meeting just once or twice and that was because our Chemistry teacher made it compulsory for us to attend. I couldn’t concentrate during Further Math classes and the only time I was fully attentive in a Chemistry class was during “practicals” – just because “practicals” were more interactive. I won’t bother you with more details of how I struggled through school, trying to excel in a field I had no inclinations to.
But I had a conversation with a friend and he said,
“If you find yourself on a road that you feel doesn’t lead to your destination, don’t kill yourself over the distance already covered. Look carefully, you will find a route that will still take you to your destination”
Life happens to us all in different ways. Some have guides who hold their hands early as they start off on the road to fulfillment. Some people have to listen to the birds and detect direction from their chirps. Some of us have to get lost in the forest, stumble, cry for help and draw the attention of a kindhearted hunter to help us find our way.
You can’t sit and mourn for the rest of your life. It doesn’t matter how far away from your passion you’ve wandered. It doesn’t matter if you couldn’t set out on the conventional path to fulfillment. Look around you. There are other routes that lead home.
PS: Get ready to laugh…
So, In the spirit of birthday celebrations, here’s a throwback spanning 2006 – 2016
[2006: This picture cracks me up every time I see it. Starting from the gloves worn with the skirt and blouse to the pose. Put the blame on my cousin, please. It was his wedding.]
[2007: Forget the eye pencil I used in lining my lips, this picture was the real deal then. It got me numerous admirers. I just don’t remember what I did with them.]
[2008: I can’t explain this. I just know that for every inexplicable facial expression, there’s a shutter-happy photographer waiting to capture.]
[2009: I can’t find anything wrong with this one, abeg. I just want to show off my innocent looking face.]
[2010: My last birthday as an undergraduate. I was feeling on top of the world that day. Even my hairstyle bears witness.]
[2011: The slightly oversize NYSC polo shirt and my feel-fly pose is everything!]
[2012: My friend, Mary, used my face to do ridiculous experiments while learning make-over and I never complained. Kindly hand me the medal for Loyal Friend of the Year.]
[2013: Call this a poor attempt at pouting and you won’t be wrong. I have learnt to stick to my talent and strengths.]
[2014: In the absence of a boyfriend, take a picture where you look like an MTN advert love-struck girl.]
[2015: You don’t expect to find only funny and awkward photos in my throwback, do you? Calm down. I can be “tush“, sometimes.]
[2016: Something must have convinced me that taking a picture like this will increase my chances of becoming a Nigerian Senator.]
42 Comments
Leah
January 9, 2017 at 2:17 pmAmazing “down-to-earth” write ups…keep doing your thing. The sky is your springboard. Cheers…
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 7:41 amThank you for your kind words, Leah. I will keep doing this and we will both celebrate together at the top.
Uchechi
January 9, 2017 at 2:26 pmI really laughed….??????
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 7:40 amDear Uche, I’m glad you did. Without memories, some of our victories won’t look significant. Thank you for reading.
Oge Okekearu
January 9, 2017 at 2:30 pmNice write up Sim!
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 7:38 amThank you, Oge. I’m glad you read this and enjoyed it.
Cornel
January 9, 2017 at 3:28 pmGreat stuff!
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 7:36 amThank you, Cornel. I’m glad you found it so.
Berry
January 9, 2017 at 4:06 pmThat first picture!!! HILARIOUS!
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 7:35 amSincerely, it is. I have just refused to take responsibility for the “mgbeke” look.
Oge
January 9, 2017 at 4:31 pmNice.. …. I totally understand where you’re coming from on this one. Though that your final year birthday pic na real “flygirl” . 2016…..We will sit together in the red chambers???
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 7:33 amThank you, Oge. I see that birthday picture and I’m glad I have a record of excitement. And cheers to the future in the chambers!
Lovely Nduka
January 9, 2017 at 7:16 pmWeldone. I love every bit
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 7:30 amThank you, Lovely. I’m glad you did.
kenneth ibeh
January 9, 2017 at 7:27 pmSim sim….
Thanks for this… if only we were guided properly early in life…. our life would have been more glorious
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 7:30 amThank you, Ken. I hope we guide our own children better. That’s the best we can do now.
Uz-amaka
January 9, 2017 at 9:17 pmAwesome Sim! I had a good laugh.
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 7:28 amI’m glad you did. Thank you for reading.
AmyJewel
January 9, 2017 at 10:00 pmGurl, u’re good at what u do. We forgive our guidance and counselling teachers of those days
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 7:28 amThank you, AmyJewel. Yes, we forgive them and we have decided to find ways to right past wrongs.
uchetralagba
January 9, 2017 at 10:46 pmThat Nysc shirt is not slightly oversized pls, see Bongo na! Hahahahahaha
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 7:26 amDear Uche Tralagba, couldn’t you be nice to a birthday girl and agree with me that it was slightly oversize? Hahahaha. . .
baby kaay
January 10, 2017 at 8:18 amAwwww..sim sim just read this and couldn’t help but laugh and learn… My best pic and caption was wen you were forming lovestruck mtn gal…u are one unique lady in know… Parts GI adiro na balogun or main market Onitsha
Nonso
January 10, 2017 at 9:00 am“Poor attempt at pouting” is a gross underestimation of whatever that pose was supposed to be.. plus there are more embarassing throwback pictures than this.. stop holding out on us.
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 10:45 pmThere was a ballot for the pictures. These ones emerged victorious.
Chinalurum
January 10, 2017 at 10:35 amYes oh. At least I remember one of those pictures. Hehehe. Well done Sim.
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 10:42 pmThank you, China. You are a great part of my story.
K.C
January 10, 2017 at 1:00 pm? Cracking me up as usual with her comical narration of events. Jisi ike
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 10:41 pmThank you, Sir.
Mbakogu Vincent Uchenna
January 10, 2017 at 9:44 pmIts Soo nice that u keep this record, just like a good story of some part of your life. Its a good work u did, keep it up, I pray that god will give us long life so we can see more of this from u.
Chisimchere
January 10, 2017 at 10:41 pmThank you, Uche. Amen.
Ugo Ij Ukj
January 11, 2017 at 3:20 amThe first picture though. Lol. That senator pix is da bomb. Thank God for life and growth dear
Chisimchere
January 15, 2017 at 9:56 pmYes, we thank God. Thank you, Ugo.
Olisaemeka Okolue
January 11, 2017 at 6:39 pmWords can’t describe. Awesome blog my great friend. Feels like home! Don’t stop the amazing work…
Chisimchere
January 15, 2017 at 9:58 pmThank you, Olisa. I won’t stop. Having you home is a privilege I enjoy.
V
January 14, 2017 at 5:56 amL ? L
AMARA BRIGHT
January 20, 2017 at 12:32 amThat’s my captain. keep it up!
Chisimchere
February 21, 2017 at 5:29 pmThank you, Amara. I will.
diora
February 21, 2017 at 3:37 pmNice one dear and for all the pictures I love them all ,pictures help us keep memories of events past
Chisimchere
February 21, 2017 at 5:30 pmThank you, Diora. Yes, pictures are powerful.
Chisom
March 9, 2017 at 10:32 pmBeautiful!!!
I relate very well to the story. it was me in different words. But yes… several roads lead home.
And those throwbacks?? simply outta this world.
Chisimchere
March 11, 2017 at 7:35 amI’m delighted that you could relate to the story. For the throwbacks, thank you.