Ruth Nwachukwu @bethel

I got invited to a business seminar and decided to attend because I wanted to meet new people and learn something useful. It seemed like a great opportunity to expand my network and gather some fresh ideas. I arrived early, settled in, and listened attentively as the speakers shared their insights.

During the break, the organizers encouraged us to connect with at least two people. I stood there, scanning the room for someone who seemed approachable. Just as I was about to make a move, someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around, and to my surprise, it was Emma, someone I used to know from my old neighborhood.

Emma had been my neighbor back then, and I remembered how he would pray every night while playing his guitar. It was such a calming thing to hear, and I mentioned it to him right away. He laughed, saying he still plays but not as often. Seeing him brought back memories, and we started catching up on life.

From his appearance and the way he spoke, it was clear he was doing much better than when I last saw him. He seemed more confident and at ease. We shared a few more stories, and I couldn’t help but feel happy for his progress. Before the break ended, I asked for his contact, which he gladly shared.

It was a bright Monday morning, and I was excited but nervous. Today was my presentation day. I had worked hard on it for weeks and couldn’t wait to share it. Even though I had wasted extra time maybe to prepare harder and build this core confidence.

When I got to school, I took my seat in the classroom. The first few students presented, and I felt my excitement grow, and I can't wait to share my thoughts

Some part of me was already telling me that I might not present considering the number of students and the the little delay the lectures had, though they tried to catch up with time

He rushed through the presentations, and I waited for my turn. Just when I thought it was almost my time, the lecture said he couldn’t continue. He was too tired and promised we would start with me next week.

I felt frustrated. I had spent the whole day waiting, and now I had to wait even longer. I walked home feeling disappointed.

When I got home, I dropped my bag and lay on my bed. I thought about how I had imagined sharing my work. But then I realized I still had a week to prepare. I decided to use that time to make my presentation even better. Next week, I would be ready.

woke up early, feeling excited and ready for my trip. I had everything planned, and it seemed like the perfect day to travel. But when I got to the bus park, my excitement quickly faded.

The place was packed, and there were hardly any buses in sight. I found out that the holiday season had just ended, and everyone wanted to travel at the same time. The few buses that were there were taken in no time, leaving many people, including me, without a ride.

Before I could even reach the ticket counter, the last bus was fully booked. I stood there in shock as the driver closed the doors and drove away. My plans were ruined, and I had to postpone my trip until tomorrow.

Feeling disappointed, I walked back home, thinking about what the situation could be the next day. As I make my way home the feeling of the unexpected delay was just all over my head. Tomorrow was going to be another day to try again

What happened yesterday still makes me laugh when I think about it. I was on my way home from work when I noticed a woman selling star fruit by the roadside. I decided to stop and buy some. After choosing what I wanted and agreeing on the price, I brought out a 1,000 Naira note to pay. But as soon as I pulled the money out of my bag, a small boy grabbed it from my hand and tried to run away.

Before he could get far, a very muscular man who had been standing nearby stopped him. He grabbed the boy with so much force and even lifted him off the ground. I couldn’t stop laughing at how the situation was playing out. The man seemed ready to teach the boy a serious lesson, but I felt sorry for him. Maybe the boy was just hungry, I thought.

The 1,000 Naira was returned to me, and I quickly paid for my star fruit. I asked the woman to add a few extra pieces so I could give them to the boy. It felt like the right thing to do, and I wanted to let him know I wasn’t angry. The muscular man stood there the entire time, making sure the boy didn’t try anything else. He even gave him a few light knocks on the head to warn him not to misbehave again.

In the end, we all laughed about it, and the situation ended peacefully. The boy got some star fruit, the muscular man seemed satisfied he had done his part, and I left with my money and my fruit.

I always wanted to spend time with John, but we lived far apart. When I heard he was coming for Christmas, I was so happy! I decided to plan a picnic for us.

I thought about a nice spot by the lake, with tall trees around. I made a list of things to bring: a warm blanket, hot cocoa, and snacks. I even packed a small speaker for our favorite songs.

The day finally came. I woke up early, feeling excited. It was cold outside, which was a perfect weather for a perfect picnic I dressed warmly and took everything to the lake.

When I got there, I saw John walking toward me, all bundled up. His cheeks were red from the cold. We smiled at each other and hugged. It felt great to finally be together.

We sat on the blanket, drank hot cocoa, and shared stories. We laughed and talked about good times we had. As the sun set, the sky turned beautiful colors, and I felt really happy.

I played our favorite song on my phone, and we sang along. In that moment, I knew this was what I wanted a fun time with John, without any distance between us.

I had become very much uncomfortable with cooking for myself. This was unusual, as I typically only enjoyed food prepared by my immediate family. Before, I wouldn't even consider eating food made by anyone outside of my nuclear family.

However, my busy lecture schedule had disrupted my eating habits. I often found myself skipping breakfast and waiting until afternoon to eat. This had become a normal routine for me, and my body had adapted to it. Sometimes, I could even go a whole day without feeling hungry.

But when my friend visited, she expressed concern about my eating habits. She took the time to educate me on the potential health consequences of my actions. She warned me about the risks of stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal problems, which could arise from irregular eating and poor nutrition. Her words makea a whole lot of meaning, and I felt remorseful for my actions.

I decided then and there to make a change. I resolved to resume cooking my own meals, ensuring that I eat regular, balanced meals. If necessary, I would buy food that's easy to prepare, rather than relying on irregular meals or going hungry. I was determined to prioritize my health and avoid developing ulcers or other health problems.

When I got the invitation to the church conference, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it sounded like an interesting event. I didn’t fully remember the theme, but I figured it would be a normal gathering with praise, worship, and a few sermons. When I arrived, everything started off fine—uplifting music, warm smiles, and a lot of people who seemed genuinely happy to be there. Most of the attendees were students, so I blended in easily. For the first hour or so, I felt pretty comfortable.

Things took a turn when it was time for prophecies. A young girl approached me confidently, saying she would prophesy to me. I was open to hearing what she had to say at first, but her "revelation" didn’t sit well with me. She said I was a student, which was an easy guess given the crowd, but then she started talking about struggles in school—stuff that felt like pure negativity. It wasn’t anything profound, just a list of generic bad things. I felt uncomfortable and took my hands away, signaling her to stop. I didn’t come here for doom-and-gloom predictions.

As if that wasn’t enough, a man came up next. He moved to stand in front of rows of people, and to my shock, everyone in the row he faced fell to the ground as if struck by an invisible force. I was frozen in disbelief. It wasn’t something I’d ever seen before, and I couldn’t wrap my head around what was happening. Was it faith? A performance? I had no clue. All I knew was that I didn’t feel at ease. My instincts told me this wasn’t the place for me.

I decided to pray quietly to God on my own, seeking clarity and protection. I prayed for strength and wisdom to handle whatever spiritual atmosphere I was in. The environment was overwhelming, and the theatrics around me didn’t feel right. After finishing my personal prayers, I made up my mind to leave early. Staying for the full event didn’t seem wise.

I left the conference about two hours before it was supposed to end, feeling relieved to be out in the fresh air. As I walked home, I couldn’t help but reflect on how I ended up there in the first place. It was an eye-opening experience, not just about others but about myself. I realized the importance of discerning invitations and protecting my own spiritual peace.

I've always had the habit of buying my Christmas clothes very early enough because I know by December things will get very expensive and then considering the traffic and the stress of going to the market by then. So yesterday I left for a pre-market survey, checking for the latest designs and possibly what will be the reigning fashion for the ladies for the season.

Trust me, we've got so many designs in the market, and I felt like going for all. One of the biggest issues I had all through my tour was the problem of choice. They were all looking beautiful, that I couldn't just define what I wanted for myself, but at last I was able to lay my hand on a few of them, and was very much okay with my choice.

The moment of truth let's hear the prices, I knew things have become very expensive, but with the prices in the market, I doubt if I will be able to pay for any at the moment, and besides, I only came for a survey. On the other hand, I had wasted both my time and energy going to the market, so since I couldn't pay for any of the clothes, I decided to just buy a few foodstuffs. Anyhow, I needed to survive first before going for clothes.