Mindviewers Stories

I used to be very skinny and muscles-less in my secondary school days, and because of it, my classmates would look for my trouble, because physically I didn't look fit to compete in any strength contest. It was so humiliating at a point for me, I started feeling less of myself. Countless instances where they will look for my trouble, and there are times I tried to retaliate, but couldn't.

I was the smallest in the class, the big guys were respected and no one dared to mess with them. Looking at my age back then, I was 14 years old, I decided to pack on some muscles, at least to be well built to an extent. I couldn't do even one push-up at the start, but with consistency and persistency, I surpassed 15 push-ups, I started looking fit and my stamina increased. I made sure not to look like a weakling anymore.

Believe it or not, your physical appearance accords you a lot of respect, there are people you can't stand in front and talk or act carelessly, because of how they appear; fit and strong. One of my classmates challenged me to friendly strength contest, and I defeated him, I was surprised myself. Something I was never close to before, I earned myself some level of respect before I finished secondary school.

You can't eat so much and become so fat as a guy, it's not healthy, your body has to be in shape, the same goes for ladies. Do your findings, you will see that fitness of the body also accords you respect, and determines the way people approach you. I do see a lot of rich men jogging in the morning, so you see it's not about flat tommy, it's about being physically fit and in shape, otherwise they would have consumed slip tea.

Just this evening, my neighbor came around and said I look physically fit, he desires to be like that, but ready to pay the price of setting time for daily exercise. Googling the benefits of exercise, it builds us physically, mentally, and many more. My father some days back was doing exercise, something he has not done in years. Better to know the benefits and engage in it now, rather than when you're old, it's more effective now. I treat my physical look very important, when you're fit, you'll look more handsome. And you hardly fall sick, but for me, it's the respect your appearance accords you that I like the most. That's the truth.

It's the season of the celebration of the birth of Jesus, celebrations of different forms is at play currently. This is the best Christmas celebration I have ever had, in the sense that I am not under any kind of tension, I'm celebrating according to my capacity, and above all, I am not pleasing anybody and displeasing myself. Christmas is about the celebration of the birth of our Saviour, and not going into depression to please people, but sadly this was my case.

My friends have always looked up to me, in seasons like this, to take them out, fund their Christmas celebration and buy gifts for them. I can not remember ever looking up to any of my friends during this season for any kind of benefit, I was always the one in the spotlight. And it was not as if I had more money than them, it was just that I loved putting smiles on people's faces. But I was doing all this at a high cost; displeasing myself and sending myself into depression.

Most times, nothing will be left for me after this season, as I would have spent everything to make my friends happy. What am awful life. I have promised not to pass my limits in spending, and this Christmas is evidence that I've kept my words. What I find funny is that as usual, my friends have contacted me and asked me if I'm take them out, good for me I learnt how to say 'NO' to people. More funny how about three of my friends have sent their bank account details to my WhatsApp.

I didn't tell any of them to send their bank account details, I've told them that they are the ones to host me this season, but unfortunately, no one has invited me to anywhere, not even to share a plate of rice. It's now as if I was always the one moving the motion, and nothing would be done without me. Well, it's not bad to be the only one giving out and making others happy, but that will only happy when I'm capable enough, not spending more than you have.

I have a lot of plans for next year, so I'm not going to spend more than I'm supposed to. I have still been able to split some amount and celebrate this season with my family members, and I'm not feeling depressed like other years, no kind of tension, I'm perfectly alright. My account has not been wounded. Moving forward, I'm never displeasing myself to please others again, it's Christmas, and we're even supposed to share with others, and show love and peace and care, not extorting from others

Enjoy the season!
Happy new year in advance!

So many things have changed when it comes to Christmas, I remember how it used to be years back when I was a kid, it is not to be compared to the way it is now. The momentum has gone down, not the way it used to be. I have walked around, checked everywhere, I'm yet to see any incident that is similar to the ones that occurred every Christmas as a kid. I don't know if it's the hardship in the economy, a lot has changed and it's not that much fun anymore.

I remember how my mother will use broom stick or sewing thread to measure my legs for my Christmas shoe. Christmas cloth will be bought some days to Christmas, I can remember sleeping with my Christmas cloth, shoe, fancy eye glasses and hat on my bed, every night before Christmas. Making sure to check up on the items on a daily basis, giving it maximum care and respect and all efforts made to prevent it from staining with dirt.

My parents kept a criteria to be qualified for all this items, it could be that you must obedient, and not stubborn. It could be that you must pass your exams well, and I'm telling you that every kid back then will put on his/her best behavior in order for their parents to buy them Christmas clothes and shoes. That is why we had more good kids back then, children didn't give their parents problems. And if you fail to meet up with the criteria, you fit the prize.

I remember one certain Christmas where I fumbled, and couldn't meet up with the criteria, I was denied the prize, I cried my eyes out, but I made sure it never happened again afterwards, I did better. All this starting losing momentum when kids don't have to compete or put on their best to get the Christmas prize. Something I used to spend sleepless nights, imagining how I will flex with my outfit on Christmas, we looked up to the day as the most special of all days.

Not to talk about harmattan and fireworks. Back then harmattan will literally turned people into white, but now there is no more harmattan, not in my state, everywhere looks like other regular months. Fireworks would have been rocking everywhere, but now it's too expensive to spend cash on, when you haven't finished buying garri and rice and Christmas chicken. So expensive that you will be pained to buy it, and that's why I haven't heard any this season. I don't know if it is like this in other states, but this is the situation currently in my state.