To James Clear!

I asked about a book on the timeline recently. Atomic Habits by James Clear. I read different kinds of books. I’m that person that would rather read than watch TV. Of all the books I’ve read in recent times, this book made such a positive impact in my life. I have been procrastinating and putting myself down on some things that I’ve always wanted to do. Like write a book; fiction and non-fiction.

People often ask me why I’m able to give good advice and talk sensibly. I wish they had met my dad. I owe so much to that man. Mallam Idris Olayinka Gold. In his short sojourn on earth, he left an indelible mark on us all. There’s a reason why I agree that the most important decision you have to make in life is who you marry or have kids with. It has a reverberating effect all the way down to your children. It is hard to see two sensible people end up having children without sense. Highly unlikely. There will always be outliers though.

I have always put myself down that I cannot write anything that people will want to read. What does a dermatologist know about writing? But I always got encouragement from people online. Then I read Atomic habits. And my life was changed. I started writing the words. One after the other. And I don’t know how but I’m halfway on the book about my dad and my first novel which is a romance novel.

I decided on romance because I am an incurable romantic. No matter how jaded and blasé the world gets about love, I still believe firmly in it because I am surrounded by love. I choose to be deliberate in what I surround myself with. No negativity. While writing my novel, I had some couples in my mind that were my muse (myself inclusive).
I tell people…”Mute all negativity and toxicity around you”.

Yes, Nigeria is hard. But while I’m still in it, it is still my home. Even if I leave, it would always be a second home. So if I see that all you talk about is negativity on the country with no atom of positivity, I deliberately avoid you.

When I first moved to our new location, I realized I started getting so unhappy. I could not understand why. It was my husband that noticed that I was listening to news too much and there was so much negativity there. He told me to stop which I did. And I became much better. I am very selective about the kind of things I listen to now.

So dear friend….no matter how much negativity you see, there are positive stories. The world has never been black and white, there are always grays and other colors in between. Be deliberate about keeping positivity in your space. Nobody…I repeat nobody has it all. But the people that are truly happy are those that are content. Not contentment with mediocrity, but with what they have been blessed with while striving to improve themselves.

So here’s to James Clear, the author of Atomic habits. I am grateful that you were blessed with the knowledge to write this book. Thank you for your gift.