Heheheh! I am giddy with excitement at the thought of the caption of this piece, so let me laugh myself before you all start laughing at me. I am sure many would say "Jisi  ibia kwa ozo". Jisi there you go again." Don't worry, I am not prescribing a new recipe for the kitchen. Even though I went for a wedding last week and the Caterer put both Agidi and Abacha among the proteins to be served. 

Now back to the matter on ground. Some years ago , I wrote something on "The Dance Approach to Relationship and Marriage", detailing how marriage should be view from the prism of dancing. After all, it takes two to tango; hence, I always pray for people at weddings and wedding anniversaries "may your dance together be eternal". now I want to share another approach hence my choice heading. Please be patient and read through first. 

It is no news that the configuration of man and woman is different but when blended well in every relationship, the result is beautiful. We have established that using the dance analogy. I have always held that a relationship is like a dinner table set with rich food made of different spices where people come with varying degrees of appetite and looks to get satisfied. Hence my prayer for new couples, "May your taste in each other be ever spicy." 

Now let's look at it individually 

Growing up, one of the major features of the famous local Abakaliki rice oroduced in Ebonyi State  South East Nigeria, is the Stones inherent in it. Yes, the man is likened to such. No matter how well you pick, sieve and blow, you must still find some stones.This is the uniqueness of that Brand. 

Ask those from the south western part of Nigeria who enjoy Ofada rice. Ofada rice produced mainly in Ofada Town, Ogun State and is cooked in leaves and eaten with stew fried in Palm Oil and enjoyed mostly in parties. As much as I love that meal, nothing prepares you for the Stones you encounter while eating it. Ọ zi ka nwoke dị. (that is how a man is). 

Beyond our love for Ofada rice is the understanding that we must encounter some stones and storms along the way. The woman who understands her man loves and respects him already. 

If you love "Agidi Jollof", (pap cake made from corn, but with added spices to make it tasty), then you would understand the nature of the woman for no Agidi Jollof is complete with the usual brisket (biscuit) bone. 

Agidi Jollof is made up of varying spices but the most concealed is the bone in it. Hence the truism in the South African proverb "strike a woman, strike a rock".  Without the bone, the "Jollofness"  in the Agidi is lost and it is merely just Agidi. 

When the woman is loved, then the man can get to the succulent part of the brisket because indeed love is thicker than brisket bone. 

From the above illustration No matter how well you think you have groomed your man, you would still find some unsavoury acts. Again no matter how beautiful and tender, sweet and luscious your woman appears, there is the rock within, deal with it. No partner is complete!  No Mr. Right neither is there a Miss Perfect! 

It is cooperation that makes the pot of rice rise plentifully during cooking. Understanding, trust, sacrifice,  cooperation, effective communication is key to lasting relationship. Find and understand the need for the Stones in your Ofada rice, discover and love the bone in your Agidi Jollof but most Importantly, appreciate the distinct flavour that your blend produces. 

Stay Jiggy

Jisi 

Fear is one of the greatest inhibition to a true discovery of who we are. It holds us trapped in a vicious circle of stagnant quagmire. Unfortunately, many of us get stuck in the motionless movement simply because we are afraid of what the future holds. Hence, the charge: Give winds to thy fears!

Fear fears faith! 

As we end the year, there are many "fears" - dreams yet achieved, projects yet concluded, target unmet. These culminate into some sort of palpable tensions and in some cases, you being termed a failure. 

You see, anchoring our faith in God and in the abilities he has blessed us with as Co Creators is in itself a brave act. God didn't come for us because we are perfect, he came knowing that we have been fearful, beat down and trampled upon. Hence he sends His Spirit which is not a gift of fear or timidity but of faith, courage and hope! 

Yemi Faseun says *what leaves a scar in us makes us stronger* I agree with him and even though remembering those scars sends shivers down our spine and leaves us depressed hence unwilling to step forward. But, we must always find the strength, even if it is a flicker, then we catch it and fan it into flame until it becomes a beautiful fire.

Eleanor Roosevelt captures it succinctly when she wrote "I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experiences behind him." These words are quite potent as a remedy for conquering fear, and for what you constantly behold you eventually become. 

Armed with my faith, I will rise up. Inspite of my fears, for I have given winds to my fears and have chosen peace. 

I welcome you to do same. 

Stay Jiggy 

Jisi

*"Kìrà kìtà ò dọlà, ká ṣiṣẹ́ bí ẹrú ò da nǹkan "-- Hurried quest does not translate to wealth and working like a slave often achieves nothing.*

It has been a while. The will to write is something that I need to find again. We'll as usual, November has come and it is ending with its sickly bout. So enjoy this piece as I reflect from my sick bed. 

Life is not a a race of who gets somewhere first. We all have our Start and Finish Lines different from each other. Our race tracks differ hence we must adopt the fitting skills for each race. 

Sprints and long distance races require different preparation. Usain Bolt cannot thrive in 5km races just as the Kilpatrick brothers would not be world Champions if the tried the 100m Dash. Find your niche, work hard at it and stay true to it. 

Creating an Identity for yourself is crucial to your personal survival in life. In every race, each athlete has a unique number even if they all wear Jerseys made by the same designer. There is profit in being unique. 

Margaret Thatcher once said "Success is having a flair for the thing that you are doing, knowing that is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a sense of purpose." 

Growing up, one of the songs or is it nursery rhymes I picked was *this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, am gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!*

 Upon conception, we all were given talents, gifts and purposes unique to our personalities and abilities. These packages are raw and spontaneous, sometimes without beauty, finesse and class. It is up to us to fan it into flames; to build up the momentum, to refine the talents to make it apassion that ignites like wide fire. This where attitude comes in. 

I have always said that you cannot love and not express, know and not share and, be ingenious and be hidden. Light is beautiful; the fascination of beauty attracts. When we keep the light of God burning in us, it inflames our hearts keeping it warm; it radiates and transforms those who come in contact and most importantly, it dispels darkness and accentuate our beauty through its luminous allure.

The beauty of light implies that we keep our light burning no matter the circumstances. People only see and appreciate light. Darkness frightens, light beautifies. Remain true to your beauty! 

The day you take your mind off the work and start comparing yourself with others, you lose the essence of why you are born. Work is important because it keeps the heart alive. Your work may be in social enterprise, business, family, climate change, politics, volunteering, mentoring, whatever it is, keep your eye on the work and your head will remain in the game.

If you stay true to your course, apply the right skills and techniques which of course includes patience, tolerance and passion and consistency then success will be yours. This is not an automatic guarantee that things will be smooth, nah. But in the end, you will be glad. 

Working hard and Working Smart are two different things, know when to apply which, as you do may wisdom Characterize your decisions!"

Remember," to finish First, you must first finish". 

Stay Jiggy 

Jisi 

Welcome to December. Please permit me to begin this "letter" with the first verse and chorus of a favorite Advent Hymn of mine. 

We long to see Thee so

To see the newly born.

We long for Christmas morn

The sands of time run slow...

O come O come O come O come

Our Savior dear to be

O come O come O come

We have no King but Thee.

It was the Canadian-American singer and songwriter Neil Young who once wrote "when people start asking you to do the same thing over and over again, that's when you know you're way too close to something that you don't want to be near." 

It's the start of a new week, the beginning of the end of the twelfth month, the highly infectious and exhilarating December! It's a new year too for all Catholics as we begin another liturgical year. So while it is proper to say happy new month to you and yours, it is also very proper to say "Happy New Liturgical Year" to all Catholics reading this. 

The advent season comes with a "longing" as it prepares us for the coming of Christ; first at Christmas when we commemorate his birth into this sinful world, and at the Perussia when he comes in glory to make of us Saints in his Kingdom where we all "belong".

The core of the teachings and lessons from Advent is what is known in theology as eschatology: the end times - death, judgement, heaven and hell.

If there is one core message that is pushed to us, it is that we must be prepared for Jesus' coming and there are different ways to do so - prayer, fasting and alms giving. In doing these, we learn how to love God above all things and love our neighbors as ourselves just as God loves us.

Everyday of our lives should be dedicated to learning new ways to loving our neighbors whom we can see and thereby loving God who we see and serve in our neighbors. Never tire in doing good. In the end, it pays. 

Our God blesses us in many ways and therefore there are many ways we can praise, worship and adore him. If you have tried prayer, add praise; garnish it with charity and of course don't forget to obey constituted authorities.

As we long for him, may we eventually belong to him in his kingdom. May God make of us Saints worthy of his Kingdom. Amen.

May your December be delightful!

Stay Jiggy

Jisi