LEGALLY PHENOMENAL

 RESPONSIBILITY

"Ijeoma, where is your phone?” he asked  sternly as he walked across the living room with all intent to slap my face. “Didn't, you see all my missed calls? Where is your phone my dear friend?” Dad asked again as he stared at me with his bloodshot eyes. Why were his eyes so red and where was his shirt for God sake? I thought to myself as I tried to distract myself from the impending slap.

I took a few steps backwards out of the need to preserve my face. I was really screwed this time. The truth is this was not the first time dad and I were having this talk *if this qualifies as a talk or an impending slap*. Everyone in the Unachukwu clan knows that Ijeoma Unachukwu is just horrible with a cell phone. In my defense, walking about with a cell phone is burdensome *unless I am on instagram sha😁😁.  Let's not even talk about the pain of returning a missed call or my facial expression when the same person calls me 4 days after I never called back. 😞😞😞

 “Daddy, it’s in my bag” I said with a very shrill voice as I reluctantly pointed to my hand bag sitting on the sofa. I really hoped he would see how remorseful I was from my shrill voice and cute poppy eyes. But it didn’t work. My dad yelled at me for infinity hours and to be sincere I would have preferred a slap. Yes, I really would. But my parents had a no-beating policy, which sometimes was very annoying. You see, the worst thing about being yelled at in the Unachukwu family was not the peach or tone of my parents’ voice, or the little insults that would follow as “jara” or the usual feeling of thinking you were adopted or even the silly thoughts of going to your room and packing your bags like you had somewhere to run to 😂😂😂( I know you did the last one)

No these weren't the worst things.  It was my siblings- the terrorists. I present them to you (Exhibit 1)

I know you must be thinking "oh! how cute!" Don't let this picture fool you ooo, these people are not of this earth ooo (except me sha, I am sure you could already tell from my fine self in the picture)  For those who don't know me, I am the cute lady standing directly behind oga 😉😉😉 ok,ok, back to my story...

These guys would mock you. They would laugh at you. They would do everything to make sure it was a memorable experience for you. They would even go as far as singing songs for you and sticking their tongues out until you cried (Big men and women acting like this ) And sadly I did it to; even worse than they did. 😝😝😝😝

They laughed at me that day, and I must tell you it could have made any 16-year-old girl cry *not like I cried sha*. However, there was something my dad said to me and it’s probably the only thing I got from all the yelling.  “I.J you asked for a phone, and I gave it to you.  Did you think it came without responsibility? You expect everyone to answer when you call. But you lack the sense of responsibility to know people may need you to answer their own calls. You lack sense of responsibility, Ijeoma”. Ouch!

And I wish I could tell you that these sage words of my dad changed my life forever. I really wished I could. Well it didn’t. I might have even gotten worse. But I am sincerely working on it! Contrary to what you people may think.

So what’s my point exactly? Wait, I had a point.. eh heh… its been 6 years since this incident, and I feel like this no responsibility policy has permeated into every area of my life. I want to be free. Do as I please, chill as I please *which I can do for Africa* No burdens or responsibilities.  It’s not that I am lazy ooo. I just like doing things when I want to regardless of whether it is the right time or not. And that is why you would never see me contest for any leadership position in school. I mean, why should I go and carry other peoples problem when I have enough problems of my own. Am I Jesus Christ? 😂😂  But as dad said, with every gift comes responsibility. And what is responsibility without timing?

So what’s this blog about? It’s definitely not about me. I definitely didn’t want to start the INSPIRE blog or bear the responsibility of keeping it alive.  It always felt like there was never a good time.  What am I saying? It still feels like it. What time do I have to write mbok? But as time sped by, I realized I was losing a very important part of myself to indecision. The fact is I love writing, writing to you actually. The thought of reaching out to you, cramped up in my small corner, makes me feel like I’ve known you forever. It's an amazing feeling.💋💋💋

So I’ll tell you what the blog really is about. It’s about taking responsibility.  It’s about refusing to make a million excuses. It’s about taking the first step, making the first move and perhaps inspiring you to do the same. It’s about refusing to watch from the side lines. 

But What if I fail? What if I lack the right words to spur you, how do I keep you on your feet, when there are days I want to sleep on Monday and wake up on Wednesday? What if I am not smart enough, I mean, what if I fail you and God?

But what if I don’t? What if I am able to help you find you, help you find the best expression of yourself, what if that’s how I find me?  It’s a risk I am willing to take.  Either way I promise you one thing- it’s something I’ve fled all my life- responsibility and commitment. But not anymore. I won’t run. This time, I am taking responsibility.  So as we go on this adventure together with its accompanying storms, thrills, tears, laughter, as we walk side by side to finding destiny and the ultimate expressions of ourselves I’ll pray with you, grow with you, share with you, read with you, cry with you, laugh with you, annoy you and like couples I’ll fight with you.  But above all, my ink will not cease until you are…INSPIRED

SO JUST CLOSE YOUR EYES, TAKE A DEEP BREADTH AND IMAGINE WHAT YOUR LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN IF YOU WERE NOT SO AFRAID, IF YOU DIDN’T FEEL SO INADEQUATE, IF YOU DIDN’T LET WHAT PEOPLE SAID SIP INTO YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS, IF YOU DIDN’T SECOND GUESS YOURSELF ALL THE TIME… I KNOW IT’S A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE, SO SMILE. THAT’S YOU FULFILLING YOUR GOD GIVEN DREAM. OPEN YOUR EYES… THAT’S YOU AT YOUR PEAK (and that’s where we are going)  Have a Phenomenal week! 😗😗😗😗