A Woman is Behind Every Successful Man.

An Advice from Michelle Obama to her Younger Self.

“Understand that no one (especially folks who are truly successful) simply coasts from achievement to achievement. The most accomplished people in the world fail and fail big. That’s how they learn so much and grow so quickly and become so interesting and wise. In short, stop trying to be someone who will impress everyone else, and just focus on being and becoming fully, sincerely and passionately yourself.”

– Michelle Obama (Excerpt from People Magazine).

Marilyn Monroe in Her Own Words.

“I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.” -  Marilyn Monroe.

Thinking of You.

This is no cliché…and neither is it a platitude. After 27 years of marriage, you've become my sun, my moon, my guiding star, my kind of wonderful.



I know there is only one like you because there is no way God could have made any other woman like you. You're like the first morning dew on my brand new day. In you I've found so many things…among which is a love so new that only you could bring.

(Adapted from "You're The First, The Last, My Everything" by Barry White).



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waiting for the Husband to Grow Up.

A couple of weeks after their wedding, Tunde Bhadmus had unwittingly resumed the reckless lifestyle of his erstwhile bachelor days.

Every day, he would return home at the “eleventh hour” and with a different excuse per day. It was either an impromptu party he had to attend somewhere or simply that he had to go out with the “boys”.

In spite of these provocative attitude and lifestyle, a very patient Bola (his heavily pregnant wife) would, on each night, welcome the man home without any fuss.

This simple attitude, Tunde noted, was completely different from those of his friend’s wives. Almost every morning in the office, he would listen as his friends exchanged stories on the bitter quarrels and war of words that their wives waged against them for coming home late the previous night. He wondered why his wife never did any of such things to him.



He decided to satisfy his curiosity one night.

On the fateful night, the man had returned home very late as usual.

As Bola, holding on to a pillow that had been her companion all night, was on her way to the bedroom after chanting the “good night” line, he called her.

“Bola, can I have a word with you?”

The young lady stopped in her tracks. Then she turned back to face him with a curious expression.

“I hope there is no problem.”

“No…no problem. I just wanted to ask a question.”

“A question?”

“Yes. I’m just curious. Why is it that you don’t complain?”

“Complain…about what?”

“Come on, Bola…you’ve never complained about my night crawling…why?”

The young lady stared at her husband briefly without uttering a word in response. Then she smiled.

It was a very cold, cynical smile.

“Are you sure you want me to express my opinion on that issue?”

“Why not…go ahead.”

“Okay…I think the problem with young men like you is that you have refused to grow up.”

“What…what’s that supposed to mean, Bola?”

Even as Tunde’s expression turned ugly in reaction to this remark, Bola only shrugged her shoulders with her cold smile.

“Well…I did ask if you wanted me to express my opinion. And I’m just starting.”

“Ah…what else do you have to say after that ridiculous statement?”

“I’ll continue anyway. Unlike what obtains in many Nigerian homes, some of you young men have been privileged to acquire great academic education from some of the best universities in the world. But in spite of your fantastic qualifications, you are dense in attitudes. Absolutely empty…”

A stunned Tunde looked on speechlessly while the young lady continued with her vituperations.

“Look at you, for instance. Your parents sent you to the prestigious Harvard University in America to obtain a great academic education. But unfortunately and manifestly, you still lack the appropriate psychological stamina to cope with the real challenges of life…”

“Hey…now wait a minute!” Tunde interrupted, his eyes blazing red. “This is preposterous.”

“Please let me finish before you make your response. I’m forced to make this speech in the first place because you asked for it…”

“And so damn what?…” he cut in again.

“And so, you’ll have to wait till I’m done, alright?”

For a very few moment, both husband and wife glared at each other until the woman resumed her speech.

“Now, as I was saying…one of the challenges in life is marriage. You claim to be a married man but every evening, you keep talking about going out with the boys…boys? And I keep asking, when is my husband going to become a man…when is he going to grow up?”

She paused briefly on realizing that the man was speechless as he stared at her in utter disbelief.

“I can’t belief this…”  Tunde finally managed to note quietly.

Unimpressed however, the young lady continued with her speech.

“And you thought I would complain…the same way your friends’ wives complain on daily basis…making fools of themselves? No sir! I married you for better, for worse. So, I just have to wait patiently and dutifully for you to grow up.”

She was about to leave but then turned around again.

“And by the way, have a good night, dear.”

With this conclusion, the obviously tired young lady finally turned to walk slowly towards the bedroom.

Stunned and stupefied beyond words, Tunde continued to glare at her contritely as she walked steadily into the bedroom.

“Wow…I guess I’ve got myself a philosopher for wife.”

Although there was to be no more reference to that strange incident, much to Bola’s surprise, Tunde stopped his wayward, boys-about-town activities, right from the following day. And whenever the man felt he had to attend a social function, he would insist that his wife accompanied him.

This is an excerpt from The Price of Ignorance, a literary fiction by Femi Olawole. To buy the book, click on the following link: http://www.amazon.com/Price-Ignorance-Femi-Olawole/dp/0615842968/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407592853&sr=1-1&keywords=the+price+of+ignorance+by+femi+olawole



 

 

Michelle Obama’s Tribute to Maya Angelou.

The first time I read "Phenomenal Woman" I was struck by how she celebrated black women's beauty like no one had ever dared to before. Our curves, our stride, our strength, our grace.

Her words were clever and sassy. They were powerful and sexual and boastful. And in that one singular poem, Maya Angelou spoke to the essence of black women, but she also graced us with an anthem for all women, a call for all of us to embrace our God-given beauty.

And oh, how desperately black girls needed that message. I needed that message. As a child, my first doll was Malibu Barbie -- that was the standard for perfection. That was what the world told me to aspire to.

But then I discovered Maya Angelou, and her words lifted me right out of my own little head. Her message was very simple. She told us that our worth has nothing to do with what the world might say. Instead, she said each of us comes from the creator trailing wisps of glory. She reminded us that we must each find our own voice, decide our own value, and then announce it to the world with all the pride and joy that is our birthright as members of the human race.

Dr. Angelou's words sustained me on every step of my journey. Through lonely moments in ivy-covered classrooms and colorless skyscrapers, through blissful moments mothering two splendid baby girls, through long years on the campaign trail where at times my very womanhood was dissected and questioned. For me, that was the power of Maya Angelou's words. Words so powerful that they carried a little black girl from the south side of Chicago all the way to the White House.