Circumspecte

This morning, while doing my daily inspiration rounds, I felt an urge to dig back into the archives of this blog and read something from a younger me. I do that sometimes. It's not just fascinating, but also inspiring to see the growth in one's life. Also if I'm lucky enough,  younger Jemi might just have some sense or two to teach me. Anyway, I dug all the way back and that's when I realized: October 13, 2012 was Circumspect's 5th Anniversary! Wow. Not because I actually didn't realize it at the time, but because it's been FIVE years since my first post . Half a decade! People often ask why and how I started this blog. Like most other things, I didn't have a grand plan. I just wanted to share my love for writing . It wasn't to educate, teach, learn from, interact with, or even inspire others, nor was it to put myself out there and maybe garner some opportunities. No, the initial intention behind Circumspect was to share passion . But it did beco...

The thing about embarking on a new experience - travel, project, idea, decision, dream, opportunity - is that you always uncover yourself anew. -- "Why don't you write anymore?" That's the question that sent me running back here. The number of false-start posts I've had in the last two months are shameful to say the least You either go all in or it's nothing at all. So what keeps stopping me? Sense of duty Of what I should be doing (studying, reading, problem solving), and when I should be doing it (NOW!). Ironically, that's also what keeps me from starting. Anything. When did the notion of putting thoughts out there seem so scary? The moment certainty walked out the door Of who I am/should be and exactly what I am/should be up to. We all - or I do - like to put things out there that We are - I am - sure about Nobody wants to be accused of plagiarizing, heresay or concocting pure nonsense Unless you're just in the business of plagiariz...

Beautiful sunset in Salim Sarr, Louga Dear Senegal, I don't know how I made it through this one. I really don't. It's kind of hard to imagine you'd be sitting int he waiting lounge at the airport with all one, two, three pieces of excess luggage checked in...at virtually zero cost. Something that should have otherwise been at least $300 came down to a tip of 10,000CFAs, the equivalent of $20. It's at times like this that I re-resolve to continue proclaiming "I'm blessed", or as Nikki Minaj would say, "No, I'm not lucky, I'm blessed." Aside my friend's brush in with your police force - who have apparently (and ironically) decided to use the Holy Islamic Day of Friday to arrest invidivuals who don't have their national ID cards on them, and then consequently exact a bribe of 10,000CFAs (Ha! Come try that one in Ghana!) - everything went as well as can be. Funny what 10,000CFAs can do in one night huh? Anyway, who am I to cal...

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it" - Helen Keller -- Dear "Discouraged One", Life is hard. There's no two ways about that. Sometimes it gets better, other times, it gets worse. And in those one in a million times, it makes you feel like you'll never make it out alive or the same. And you usually don't. Instead, you come out stronger, with a couple more lessons under your belt, and most importantly, with the feeling of being achingly alive, instead of simply existing. Everyone goes through their trials and tribulations in life, but the key difference between those who overcome and those who crumble under the weight of problems is summed up in two simple words: personal effort . Ever encountered that one individual who seems to have their life all figured out? Who always has the best opportunities, the coolest friends, the brightest smile? That one person who you are convinced was born with a silver s...

Before I start, just a quick 'thank you' to Moi for reminding me that I even intended to share my Ramadan experience/lessons on here. Like you said, God sometimes speaks through people :) Okay, back to the scheduled program. Days two through five of Ramadan have been filled with so many lessons, I'm surprised I even have the energy to write this post. Unlike Day one which was essentially a physical test of my adaptation to the Senegalese sun and long hours, these three days have been a revolving door of churning out my thoughts and feelings. I keep going back and forth on this same issue, but this time it's a bit different. Actually, let me speak plainly. That was lesson number one: Say what you need to say. Speak your truth. Not THE truth, mind you. But YOUR truth. Most situations involve many truths. Hence speak YOUR truth. And allow others to speak their respective truths as well. I don't want to believe that God made life out to be this complicated, it'...

My aunt just forwarded this to me, and I decided to share with y'all - going w/ the whole end-of-year-time-for-reflection theme. The insert below was written by Regina Brett (Columnist with The Plain Dealer) and was copied from Cleveland.Com . I find them to be very inspiring and great advice! I did a similar post when I turned 23 . Enjoy! -- Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on By  Regina Brett May 28, 2006, 10:13AM To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update: 1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 7. Cry with someone. It's more heal...

So it's official! I'm done taking undergraduate classes! With exactly 8 days to graduation, there is a lot on my mind, and a lot I would love to share about this AMAZING journey. But, everything's a brewing storm of emotions at the moment, so I'll wait until after graduation, when everything seeps in, and then I'll make that post.  For now... I absolutely adore Paulo Coelho. His books are so inspiring, real and simple. I love the simplicity of his writing and I am always motivated by his words. I came across one of his works, and apparently, there's a free download of this one "Maktub" and some of this other stuff on his official website:  http://www.paulocoelho.com/engl/dow.shtml#ingles   Here are some of my favorite exercepts from his work "Maktub" (which means "It is written" in Arabic.") They are a whole bunch, so I will post them in installments of ten. Enjoy! 1. Do not always try to be consistent.  Saint Paul, after all, ...