The Writeventures of Emaleecious

Hey! How’s it going with you? What have you been up to this past week? Yesterday, it hit me  - I’m getting older. No jokes. It wasn’t one of those “fall-out-of-the-sky” realizations. No, this message has been dropping little hints here and there for a while. But yesterday, the memo came in bold, underlined, and stamped URGENT . On my 40th birthday, people kept telling me things like, “Welcome to 40, things will be different.” And I’d laugh and say, “My case is different.” Well… my case is different, alright! I now lean on the mercies of God daily, because why am I suddenly more tired than usual? A creak here, a groan there, and a quick massage later, I’m realizing I can’t do as much in one day as I used to without needing a recovery plan. Anyway, back to the gist! We were expecting a guest, and the menu was spaghetti and meatballs ( o fe je spaghetti? ) with puff-puff for dessert. Easy, right? That’s what I thought. I’ve made meatballs from scratch plenty of times  - no big...

My people! How are you doing? It feels like I haven’t been here in a while - and it’s only been three weeks! But a million things can happen in three weeks, I tell you. My life lately? Picture a roller coaster… with a wrecking ball swinging at random. But through it all, God’s got me! That savage wrecking ball has swung more than once, but with God’s help, I’ve dodged every single blow. Hallelujah! Image created using ChatGPT So tell me -  how’s it going with you? Did you finally do that thing you’ve been planning? Did the big job or promotion come through? Have you had any wins worth celebrating lately? Or has it been more about artful dodging on your part? If so, here’s a thought: you didn’t take any hits — and that’s still a win! Over the last three months, I’ve been doing my #60Seconds videos. I had no idea the same advice I was giving to others would come back to challenge me directly. Thankfully, I wasn’t saying anything unrealistic. The past few weeks have forced me to r...

Making a choice under pressure is a whole deal. It’s not just about choosing between Option A and Option B - it’s about weighing your past, your future, your fears, and your hopes all at once. And let’s be real, it is exhausting! Recently, I’ve been stuck in that space  -  caught between two seemingly good choices, trying to figure out which one makes the most sense. I’ve gone over both options again and again. I’ve done the math: short-term costs, long-term gains, time investments, and emotional weight. I’ve journaled, prayed, asked for advice… and somehow ended right back at square one. Even now, I’m still undecided. Designed by Tehila Both options have their appeal. Both come with trade-offs. And the more I try to analyze, the more overwhelmed I feel. It’s like solving a puzzle where both answers look right, but you can only choose one. How do I just pick one? What makes you choose one path over another? Is it logic? Gut instinct? Faith? Pressure? Timing? I’ve been thinking...

One of the hardest things I’ve had to do recently is keep smiling. Life hasn’t been easy, and some days have felt heavy. But even in the middle of it all, I’ve found reasons to smile. I’m not ignoring the reality around me, I call it ‘ostriching,’ but I promise that’s not what I’m doing. I just know that my problems don’t get to steal my joy. And truthfully, holding on to that smile has taken work. Serious work. From the start, I had to surrender my worries to God. I had to name my stressors and create distance from them. I leaned on my accountability partners- a wise, steady friend (Mrs. I), and an incredible community (The SABI CORE). I built routines that helped me stay grounded. I rediscovered myself, rebuilt my mindset, and slowly let go of fear. I can’t share the full story yet, because I know this isn’t the end. But I’ve learned some deep truths along the way, and I think you should know them: Nothing lasts forever. Storms come, but they pass. Embrace each season for what it ...

  “Ladi, odi ne?” “Have I offended you in any way?” Chenu’s voice was low and soft, but his eyes held concern. “Your eyes are guarded, and your hackles are up. I could almost swear you growled at me this morning.” He stepped into the kitchen, his tone a mixture of confusion and worry. “My love, did I do something wrong?” Chenu wrapped his arms around his wife, pulling her to his chest. She froze. “No,” Ladi mumbled, trying to shrug him off, but he held her firmly, his grip tender yet insistent. “Then why have you been building walls around yourself this past week?” Chenu’s voice softened as he spoke, his fingers gently stroking her back. “At first, I thought you were tired, but I watched you smile at everyone else, and when I approached you... the smile vanished. My love, tell me what I’ve done. I promised myself I’d never be the cause of your sadness. Please, tell me.” His voice cracked with sincerity. “Tell me, and I’ll apologize at once and try to make it right. Anything you w...