The Weekend Bite™ Online: April 2018

I love spring! It's that time of the year when flowers bloom and beautiful colours return to our streets and parks. The trees begin to receive life again after the harsh treatment of winter. It's the perfect description of 'all things bright and beautiful.'

Nevertheless we don't always experience the total beauty of spring from the onset. Depending on where you are in the world, their may still be snow storms in the month of April. It can be frustrating to find the harsh conditions of winter still at play in spring. This delays the manifestation of the joys of the season for the period the storms persist. Even in other climates, there may still be parts of the year that are generally expected to be colder than others. You may experience more rain in some months, and be faced with dryness, dust and extreme heat in other months. Whichever is your preference, it can be frustrating when the benefits of a season are deferred. 

Likewise our lives and experiences are governed by seasons. A season may be approaching that signifies joy for us. It may be a new relationship, job, baby or environment. Though the season may come, the joy we expect to derive from it may be deferred. Instead of happiness, we are faced with varying emotions and difficulties. We wonder why certain storms come our way despite the assurance we had of God's promise for the season. We may find ourselves fighting the frustration of the delayed manifestation of the beauty, promise and blessing of that season.

Photo: Pixnio

One thing that may help is to remember that spring will surely come. No matter how the winter threatens or disturbs your peace; at the appointed time, there shall be sunshine, flowers and showers of blessing. As time progresses, the effects of the storms begin to wane and the beauty and blessings of the season begin to rise. Soon spring takes over and the storms of the past are no more. Though they may rise again in future, we retain our confidence that they won't last forever. Joy will surely come again when the sun rises and shines!

So no matter what storm you may be facing today; it is temporary. Soon your flowers will bloom and your life will bear fruit. That promise that you are holding on to will surely come to pass. That blessing that has come your way will soon begin to yield its fruits. Arise and shine, your spring season is here!

Yours truly,

LAWAfolabi

© LAW Afolabi, April 2018

The Weekend Bite™ Online: March 2018

March is a beautiful month! During this time, we say goodbye to the harshness of winter and embrace the joy and beauty that spring brings. By March, we're looking to see if we are on track towards fulfilling our goals and we resolve to march with greater strength and tenacity to achieve them.

If you find that things are not working according to the baselines you've set; the way forward isn't to bury yourself in despair. Instead, rise up and decide to live intentionally. Push yourself, get busy and take your life goals by the horns. Take radical steps and keep going, no matter how many surprises you encounter on the way.

Worries have the tendency to take over our minds when life decides to deal us a different hand. No one ever gained anything by worrying. The more we allow worries to consume us, the more we lose focus on our present and lose grip on our goals. Fears of the future and the unknown can incapacitate the now and hold us back from what has already been prepared for us.

You may not be able to prevent worries from coming but you can control what you do about them. When these worries come, try to place them into a box. Chose to fight the battles you have today so that you can live to fight tomorrow. Your little daily victories will eradicate the bases of some of these worries and metamorphose into a total victory for you in future. By the time you check that box later on, you will find that most of your past worries have been overtaken by events. Somehow, someway, things have worked out because you chose to keep busy, stay positive and trust the ONE who knows the end from the beginning to ensure all things work out for your good.

If there was a secret to dealing with worries, it will be to:

LIVE each day at a time;

WORK on your goals step by step;

STAY positive no matter the challenges you face;

TRUST that tomorrow will be alright.

I wish you a year filled with hope and fulfillment. You may not be able to see the end of the road but know this, as long as you remain diligent, true to your values and to God; you will surely excel.

Best wishes from me to you!

©LAW Afolabi, March 2018

The Weekend Bite™ Online: February 2018

It's been an amazing month of love and companionship. It's also been a time to appreciate and nurture the relationships in our lives. This transcends our romantic relationships to include relationships with friends and family; people we interact and share experiences with every day.

Firstly it's important to recognise that each relationship in our lives has a purpose. There is a reason why we meet certain people at certain times. Therefore, it will be foolhardy to take anyone for granted or treat relationships with disdain. Everyone has something to offer and something that they need. There may be something you can give or receive that will make a positive impact.

Secondly, to get the best out of anything, it is important to nurture it. A seed does not grow into a plant or flowers without nurture and nourishment. Your relationships need your time, care and investment. The true meaning of friendship is someone who is there in times of need. This goes beyond distance or the number of physical meetings. Be there for the people in your life; otherwise, your relationships will soon die out. It is how rich the nourishment you give to your relationship is, that will determine the value you derive from it.

Thirdly, realise that like everything under the sun, there is a time and season for relationships. There will be certain times when we experience peaks in our relationships with certain individuals and we may be surprised that things change after a few years. There are relationships that are predestined to be for a short span. We will give ourselves unnecessary problems when we fight to drag these on especially when the enthusiasm is not mutual. People evolve, and not everyone or everything evolves with them. This does not mean that you should cut people off when your circumstances change. It just means that you should accept that a relationship may be intense for a period to meet a particular purpose according to the phases you both are in at that point in time. It still possible for this to go back up again but until such a time, choose to maintain contact as much as you can. An occasional call or text just to say hello and check on them is great as this will let them know that you are still there, even if you don't see as much as you used to.

Lastly, accept that true friendship transcends time and distance; so don't turn the lights off on some relationships simply because you have not heard from people in a while. It's easy to take offence at people because you have not gotten a call in years. The truth of the matter is that everyone has issues that they face and until you speak to them, you may never know what they are going through. Such persons may have more responsibility now than they did when you were closer. They may be going through a phase or just trying to get their lives in order. If you cut them off because it appears that they have distanced themselves, then you may lose the opportunity for the relationships to blossom again tomorrow. Nevertheless, if you try to reach out consistently and are blown off by them, don't let it discourage you. Be satisfied that you tried consistently to reach out. If the relationships are meant to blossom again in future, the circumstances of your lives will align so that they will. Till then, remember your friends when they were at their best, and for the impact that you were able to make in each other's lives and together.

It's easy to get so caught up in our own circumstances that we forget people who have been dear to us over the years. Try to reach out to some old friends and just catch up. Don't be discouraged even if you get an awkward response. Update each other on how you have been and offer encouragement. Don't ignore that voice in your spirit prompting you to say hello to someone. You never know if this will be your last opportunity to do so. 

I'm dialing some numbers on my phone right now. I'm typing some messages too. For any old friends reading this, know that I still care for you.

Yours truly,

LAWAfolabi

© LAW Afolabi, February 2018

The Weekend Bite™ Online: January 2018

It's almost like a dream; 2018 is here! Some time ago this seemed so far away but here it is, moving gradually along. That's the beauty of time and planning for the future. 

It's great to plan ahead but we must also realise that soon enough time catches up with us. What then happens to our plans?

As you go into 2018, dare to do things differently! Instead of religiously penning down your goals, work on the strategies you will use to fulfill them. Consider these:

• Firstly, are your goals life goals? Are they things stirred up from within you that you are certain are closely knitted with your dreams and visions? If you are not sure then it's best to first review them.
• Secondly, how can you achieve them? Where have you failed in the past? What did you learn from your past mistakes and how will you apply those lessons to your present? 
• Thirdly, what strategic steps can you take to move you closer to achieving your goals? Where do you need to go, who do you need to meet and what do you need to learn? 
• Fourthly, ACT! Procrastination is indeed the 'thief of time'. You can only succeed if you try, you can only win a race if you compete and run! 

2018 is not a year for sitting and staring but for deliberate persistent pursuit and achievement. To get your expected end, you must start well by ascertaining what indeed you are pursuing and how to pursue it.

No matter the disappointments you may have had in previous years, believe and be assured that this year CAN and WILL be different! Nevertheless, beyond wishful thinking, be prepared to play your part for this dream to become a reality!

Believe in yourself and make the best of 2018.

Best wishes!

© LAW Afolabi, January 2018

The Weekend Bite™ Online: Part 2, May 2017

Hello friends, trust the weekend has been great. As May winds down, we anticipate a bright and beautiful June, filled with the excitement and energy summer brings. Our focus this weekend on The Weekend Bite™ Online is #decision.

A decision is the process or action of coming to a conclusion or position based on a consideration. We make decisions everyday on little factors such as what to wear, what route to take or what to do. However, there are also big decisions which have the capacity to affect our lives in more ways than we can imagine.

Sometimes people find it easy to make decisions, while others struggle because of the existence of several variables that limit their ability to think clearly and arrive at a reasonable conclusion.

Confusion, fear and wrong counsel can impede our ability to make good decisions. Sometimes we allow ourselves to be haunted by our past failures, perceived inability or discouraging statements made by others. We can see several roads before us but lack the confidence to decide on which to take. The fear of the unknown of what could lie at the end of these roads could freeze us in our steps such that we stand at the junction until valuable time is lost.

So what do we do when faced with indecision?

 

First thing is to outline your goals. Forget the fear of the unknown; forget what other people think. What do you want to achieve? Your indecision will affect no one else but you. It will be you dealing with the insecurities and feelings of personal failure when you think of lost time void of any achievements.

The next thing is identifying and eliminating any reason for past failure in those areas. Did you fail because of lack of dedication, diligence or confidence? It's time to stand to your feet and make the necessary corrections.

Then you've got to identify what you need to do to attain these goals and decide to take the necessary steps. It's time to run the race down the road you choose.

It is great to pray for direction when making decisions. However, we must not allow ourselves to be knocked down by how rough our chosen road is. Instead, decide to keep going until you get to where you want to be and fulfil your goals and dreams.

Decide to make quality decisions and remain accountable and responsible for whatever you choose. Focus on your goals and decide to never give up until you attain them.

The quality of our lives is a product of our decisions. Take some time, think deeply, meditate, research, resolve and do! Get your decisions in order today and everything else will be settled. Remember the value of time is in how you use it, don't waste it being burdened with indecision. Take a leap of faith and fight it out even till the end!

May we have the wisdom and insight we need to make the best decisions for our lives!

Cheers!

© LAW Afolabi, May 2017

The Weekend Bite™ Online: Part 1, May 2017

Hello friends,

Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Bite™ Online. This one is called #diversions.

A diversion is something that turns you away from your course because of a particular reason. Diversion signs appear on the road sometimes because there is a road work or accident ahead. This may cause you to take another course which was not part of the original route to your destination. In effect, the journey may take a longer time and be more stressful, even though you still get to your destination.

Similarly, on the road to fulfilling our dreams, we may encounter many diversions on our path. There may be problems, disappointments or rejections that take us momentarily off our route. A journey that should have taken hours or days suddenly stretches into years because of the number of diversions we encounter. We get weary, tired, distressed and frustrated and soon we consider giving up altogether. Suddenly, the destination seems farther than ever before and we doubt our ability to make it there any time soon.

So what do we do when faced with life's diversions? Is giving up an option? Grumbling along the way will certainly make the journey worse than it has to be. If you find yourself on an unexpected long journey, you might as well find something to keep you focused and lift your spirits. 

Play some encouraging music that will gladden your heart. Speak positive words about your situation  and keep reminding yourself that if you keep going, you will get there. Pray for the grace to stay on track and never give up. And yes, keep going, with the determination that no matter how long the journey takes, you will get to your expected end. Keep your eyes on the road ahead until you arrive finally at your destination.

Most importantly, don't take the fact that you had to take a different path lightly. There will be lessons to learn, people to influence and be influenced by and opportunities to take advantage of; that will all add up in relevance to that expected final destination.

So next time you experience a diversion, don't let it annoy you as it usually does.  Rather, embrace it joyfully, knowing fully well that if you keep going, you will arrive at your destination better and stronger than you ever imagined.

All the best on your journey; you will surely get there!

Cheers!

 

© LAW Afolabi, May 2017

The Weekend Bite™ Online: Part 2, April 2017

Hello friends, sure we are enjoying the beautiful weather. Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Bite™ Online. This one is called #Excellence.

Excellence refers to being exceedingly good and outstanding at something. This can be a test, task, job or role.  It signifies not just getting the job done but meeting a high standard in our execution. 

The beauty of excellence is that we can make it our lifestyle, ensuring to put in an extra effort to make our work top-notch. There is a popular saying that 'Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. When we adopt an excellent approach, we take ourselves to a new level of operation which ultimately has great rewards.

I've heard of several people who employed this strategy in simple or menial jobs and it opened doors for them. A good illustration is a cleaner who always dressed corporately but diligently ensured to deliver an excellent cleaning service. Soon a man who had noticed the cleaner for several days came up to discuss with him and discovered that he was actually a graduate who found it difficult to find any other work. As fate would have it, the cleaner's major was directly related to a vacancy in the man's company and he was invited for an interview.

Sometimes our excellent work is what opens doors for us. Even if no one commends you, do it for your own satisfaction. Don't worry about any other person. If you think they are not watching, they are, and when the time is right, your work will speak for you.

It doesn't matter what it is that you have been assigned to do. It may be below your capabilities or level but doing it with disdain has no benefit to yourself. If you make excellence your default principle it will rub off on everything you do and eventually those around you.

Therefore I beseech you to choose excellence always and let it elevate you.

Cheers!

© LAW Afolabi, April 2017

The Weekend Bite™ Part 1, April 2017

Hello there! Sure you're beginning to enjoy the sunshine and beautiful weather. A new season has that effect of invigorating the senses! Our focus this weekend on The Weekend Bite™ is #courageous.

To be #courageous is to be brave, daring, and not discouraged by danger, pain or uncertainty.  Life will always have challenging and scary situations. This may relate to a new phase, environment or task. It is normal to feel incapable or scared about what the future holds. However, if we allow ourselves to be paralysed by fear, we will never fulfil our dreams or attain or goals. Instead, we will remain in a bubble, potentially terrified by any and everything that rests without. 

Being courageous does not mean that you will never encounter fear or terrifying situations. Being courageous means that even in the face of fear, you press forward to achieve your goals against all odds. It may seem difficult or daunting but once you get yourself to take the first few steps, you will begin to get stronger and eventually your fears will no longer be in view. Rather, your eyes will remain fixed on your end goal and your joy will begin to be full.

So if you are faced with a seemingly impossible situation, please do not allow yourself to cower in fear or timidity. You do not have the spirit of fear but one of Power, Love and a Sound Mind. You are able to accomplish anything you set your mind to do.

Don't listen to negative or discouraging comments. People may tell you that no one from your background has accomplished anything good but that should not be your concern. What did not work for others may very well work for you- if you believe it, it shall be so! We allow ourselves get sucked into the hole of failure when we let our minds become subject to such limiting beliefs and repeat them in our speech. Instead of reiterating the common saying that no one has gotten there; say to yourself: "I will get there".

You can have all that you see, if you believe and remain courageous to overcome every challenge on the path to fulfilling your dreams.

No matter the weather, environment or situation; chose to be courageous and you shall be victorious!

Listen to 'Courageous' by Casting Crowns and be inspired:

Best Wishes and of course, cheers!

© LAW Afolabi, April 2017.

Excerpts From The Weekend Bite™ is available bi-weekly on Twitter via @lolawilliams02