It’s my birthhhhhhhddddddaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!! Whoop!!!! Here are 28 reasons I am super thankful to God as I turn 28 today! (I told you I love me some lists!).

1.
My sense of humour. It’s the godchild of Superman and Wonder Woman, it’s saved me so many times.

2.
My ability to write. Because I love to do it. Because it’s cathartic. Because writing takes me into myself; down quiet streets and busy alleys and colours everything a hue that’s easier to understand. Writing is very important to me. Even as a child, I would write down things if I wanted to learn them or understand them better, needed to articulate my thoughts or reflect on how I felt about something. It’s like I examine each word like a scientist and each letter gets me closer to the concrete truth from a shaky hypothesis.

3.
Good health. If you’ve ever been ill, you know what it is to tell your body move and have it respond with a sassy, “Chile puh-lease”. Not fun. At. All. I had a health scare two weeks ago that could have resulted in a surgery, I prayed about it and told God the last thing I want is ‘invasiveness’ on my precious body…and He listened. When my test results got back to the doctors, everything looked perfect…just as the Creator had made. Good health is an absolute privilege.

4.
My job: People work till 65 at a job they go to Monday to Friday, just because they have bills to pay. I work in CSR. I can’t believe I found a job I totally love (before 30!). A job I would probably have volunteered to do at the weekend for free (Don’t tell H.R). Plus I get paid decently to do what I really enjoy. The work I do positively impacts and changes lives AND I have decent working hours, great benefits AND love the people I work with. Sometimes, I am scared to ask God for anything else for fear of seeming ungrateful.

5.
In line with the above, I love my colleagues. Very much. I know what it is to work with people that can be difficult and working with these people at my current job makes work feel like play. The banter between all of us is just hilarious and silly. Case in point, we have a monthly contribution and one of my colleagues, Lady Etanoma, sent a message round reminding us to pay to her this morning as it’s her month to collect the lump sum. She said, “No debtors oh,” and I responsed with the following: “Ewu Gambia, Debtor abi?! See your money in December! I will so use it to buy hot akara in Elekahia! 50, 000 worth of akara…oh how the street children will hail me on your account. Don’t worry boo, your reward is in heaven babygirl…many mansions at Etanoma Close, Heaven. ;)” #BanterOverEverything. And yes, I’m very local.

6.
My parents. The other day I found an old card my daddy randomly sent to me sometime around my first week in university because he knew that I was terrified; despite the many A’s I got that qualified me to get in, I suspected I wasn’t really smart enough to be at the London School of Economics and Political Science, with so many clever people, and that the Admissions team would soon realise they’d made a mistake. His card basically reminded me of all the reasons I am worthy;not only because I AM smart and I AM beautiful, but also because I AM loved and I mean something (a lot) to some people, among other things. That’s a testament to the sort of family I’m from. Everyone cheering for you to win, always. It’s an absolute blessing and I only pray God continues to keep them for me.

7.
My friends. The older I grow, the more I realize that it’s not easy to meet people with the same mindset as you. You shouldn’t take good people for granted and all of my friends are honestly, exceptional people. I am a very blessed woman.

8.
My hair: It’s finally growing healthily!!!! *Does cartwheels!*

9.
FAVOUR! Over used by Nigerian churches but my life is a testament to God’s exceptional favour. So many things have fallen into place for me in the best possible way, often far far better than I could have ever thought to think to even dream about. And I am beyond grateful.

10.
At work, we get assigned mentors and I love all three of mine; formal and informal. My formal mentor is a formidable female engineer/all around bawce lady, excellent match for me as a woman to aspire to. In addition to her, two other really great people at work somehow have taken a shine to me and taken me under their very broad wings. With the direction and advice of these three people, I have been encouraged, inspired and equipped to go far.

11.
A strong church: this helps me very very much and with the plethora of scam artists disguised as pastors, finding a good church to attend is crucial. I found one. The Carpenter’s Church. Once you get past the weird name, the message is unbeatable and delivered with extreme clarity and accuracy.

12.
Knowing God:

It has helped me be a much better person than I would have otherwise been because meeeeehhhhhn, I would have been so damn wayward…but for God! Lol

13.
My sisters: I shudder to think on the amount of times I have told Ossy off so meanly for almost nothing, and then turned around and acted friendly…and she just carries on as if I never told her off. Or just been deliberately unkind to Anita or said something harsh to Hommy unthinkingly, and they just love me and love me AND LOVE ME despite my many flaws.

14.
Being alive: In Nigeria, dying is actually shockingly easy. There are a myriad of ways to die…armed robbery, road accidents, kidnap gone wrong, gas explosion, plane crash, stampede at the market, electric shock…need I go on? All compounded by poor medical facilities. You don’t want to be sick here. No. There were probably tons of people born on this same day, same month, same year. Not everyone’s still here. It’s a sobering thought.

15.
A boss I like and respect. You know how a bad boss can make life hell. You don’t? Ah, may you never know! LoL!

16.
For having more money than I did at this time last year.

I’M RICH, TRICK!!!

Lol!

17.
My mum: My mummy deserves special mention because we have come a long way; from being parent and child to being tentative friends, to being good friends, to becoming sisters. If it were not for her kindness and consistency, I did not stand a chance in hell of being half the woman I am today. The older I get, the more I am able to see and appreciate the sacrifices she made on my behalf and I can never ever thank God enough for her.

18.
My extended family: When I hear of the dysfunction in some Nigerian families ranging from voodoo to poisoning to rumour mongering, I thank God my family is more mildly mad than anything. Lol. My extended family is actually sufficiently close…not in the choking way some big Yoruba society families tend to be, but in a way that is comfortable and understands boundaries. Boundaries. I like boundaries.

19.
For my body. It does great things, takes my insults, my continuous prodding and judgment with grace. And after doing several pilates classes in the last two weeks, I am so grateful that I seem to be naturally slim and don’t actually NEED to exercise because those pilates classes can kill! Oooo Lawd! I work out still though, because I think it’s good for exercise to become a lifestyle.

20.
I have to say a really big thank you again especially for three sets of friends: 1. Namdi who consistently makes me to reevaluate my thoughts on the weaker sex (I kid, I kid) everytime I reach the brink of disillusionment about men. 2. Anthonia and Anne who arrived at just the exact moment I needed positivity, encouragement and minds that align with mine. I didn’t realize you could truly make new friends after a certain point in life, they proved me wrong. 3. Goz, for her always amazing, ever present consistency.

21.
That I’m pretty. Yes, really. #FeelingMyselfLikeILostMyKeys

22.
My brain. When I think of people that have real struggles at school, I’m really grateful that I am able to read, assimilate and apply well. Namdi says I often underestimate my intelligence, I’m not sure that’s the case. I think a lot of my intellect is balanced by hard work and ambition. Nevertheless, I am pleased to have a mind that is insatiable, my curiosity is the reason I know so much randomness. Which feeds and improves my intellect. I think so anyways.

23.
Minimum baggage. Not many women get to 28 without a litter of skeletons in several closets. It’s far easier said than done. I know that even now my past experiences try to cloud the present but even then, I’m just grateful for what I’m dealing with and how God helps me to renew my mind daily in Him. God has helped me to keep myself, make choices that have been beneficial in the long run and just take the higher and far harder road when the easier road would have been better taken and yes, sounds a bit pious but I am grateful nevertheless. If I had done some of the things I felt compelled, pressured or tempted to do at several points in my life, if God had not intervened and saved me from myself, I would have been in dire straits by now…of that I’m sure.

24.
That I can sing. Just because.

25.
I’m grateful to God for always looking out for me; for loving me when I didn’t even love myself. Hell, thank God for loving me when I didn’t even know myself enough to love myself.

26.
For Ibiso. She’s gone now but I would rather have had the thirteen years with her than none at all. I honestly never regret her coming to us. Like all of my younger sisters, I think her presence added to the person I am today; her unique personality, character traits, her needs…all of these built a big sister character that was tailored specifically for her. Even her passing revealed a depth, strength and character I would never have thought I possessed and brought our family even closer. What you say now satan??! #EpicFail

27.
For my personality: I am weird and random and all sorts of wonderful… I stan for myself all day err damn day boo!

28.
For my blog. Sometimes I just come on, look at the blog and smile like a proud mama. I can’t believe this is all mine. 