Ojisi: Reflections

Of Prayers, Plans, Preparations, Perspirations, Perseverance, Persona and Progress

00:10

Seasons Greetings!

Let me begin this final post for 2025 with the words of Indian-American Physician and Author Deepak Chopra who once said "Even when you think you have your life all mapped out, things happen that shape your destiny in ways you might never have imagined."

As Nigerians, we planned for 2025 but Nigeria had its own plans for us. If you are reading this, then indeed your prayers came through - you are alive and thus, you should be thankful.

In 2025, the reoccurring themes on this platform are;

1. Fear fears Faith.

2. Prepare for what you pray for.

3. Life will only give you what you have the courage to ask for and not what you want.

4. Before you call on God, first saddle your horse.

5. Survival is the new Productivity

6. Believe. Begin. Become.

Why were these quotes frequently used in 2025? It is because God also needs your commitment so he can act! Faith without good works is dead. Let me quote copiously from the 2025 reflections of my friend, role model and mentor Charles Umeh

"The last days of the year mean many things to some of us. If the year was bad, you have to find gratitude in the little things. Even if they are small, you have to find ways to hold on to them, because they take up space. You must also remember it's a marathon. So I played this game long ago with a friend. "Imagine you stop to breathe today. Who would this hurt the most? List their names... Imagine them weeping around your body because they know they can't see you again, and you are gone...Snap out of your imagination. Go out there and make them proud. If you have no one, go do it for yourself. You matter."

You see, I planned for a different 2025, prayed for it and then I got taken to places I never planned for; but my horse was saddled. Even when my horse wasn't saddled, God was there for me. He still is.

As we plan for 2026, we must be endeavor to be sure to prepare for what we pray for. As Charles Umeh said in his reflections;

"Dear parents, and everyone who would midwife the next generation. These topics are important for them: grit, confidence, awareness, and "failure". The odds don't favour us if we don't make them grounded in these because we will see more of them choose the easy part of suicide, not because it's the best part, but because it will sound like a feel-good option. We all know you die once. Rather than blaming them for having weak minds, we all have the responsibility to stretch their threshold, hold them accountable, and provide them with things to look forward to.check on your people too"

As we shut down 2025, I am thankful for new connects, new professional friends, new clients - the lessons learned have been tremendous. I am thankful to God for blessing my friends with wives, husbands, children, promotions and open doors. I am truly thankful for their blessings.

One thing I learned from my friend Charles' reflections especially as it concerns approaching 2026 is this;

"When seeking advice, there is a reason they say to speak with people who have experienced the path, and if possible, avoid those who haven't. If you have access to someone who has failed in business and someone who has succeeded, choose the one who has failed.

"When you meet them, ask the questions and, most importantly, listen. There is a reason investors put money into a product, it's not the success, it's the realisation of the things the founders don't know how to do. When you ask for advice from one with little practical experience, very few know how to answer it."

"Either they put their effort above social intelligence sometimes which is valid, but someone who is experienced would ask probing questions like what have you done, what is the state of your mind... They know it's not down to one thing. People come back years later to say things like now I know better than I did then. If you must, choose those who have lived are living it because they dish out advice from a place of empathy and not facts."

Once again, in 2026, Prepare for what you pray for; before you call God, saddle your horse for fear fears faith and, even if you fail, learn to fail forward. Just keep showing up!

I thank you for your patience and inspiration even in my inconsistencies. Sharing with you has also made me a better person.

Dear friends, in the midst of all the struggle, strife, conundrums and conflicts we experienced, we are here. Take a moment and be thankful to God for the gift of life. Being alive and hearty is enough reason to show gratitude.