#BN2015Epilogues: Omami Jojo is Grateful for Little Mercies

Last year BellaNaija Features put together an inspiring feature series to round off the year. The 2014 Epilogues featured 10 real people who took an introspective look at their year and wrote about it. This year, we decided to make the call public to our readers. {Click here if you missed it} It is our hope and desire that we will have enough entries to have a story up every day from the 1st to the 31st of December. We have received an impressive number of entries and we hope that you will share yours with us.

We kicked off the series and so far we’ve had the following entries: Jennifer G , Morountodun , Victory, Mayowa ,  Harmony ,Dekky , OJ , Busola , Modupe, The Prodigal Daughter and Ayomikun.

We’re very grateful to everyone who has sent in an entry and we intend to share all the stories we receive. Don’t forget to send in your entry with the subject “2015 Epilogues” before 15th of December 2015. 

This Sunday, we’re sharing a deeply reflective piece by Omami Jojo. Through the horrors of 2015, she is grateful for little mercies and this is encouraging to us all.

***

The two quotes below were in my heart this year and somewhat defined how I viewed things.

1) “We are not troubled by things, but by the views of which we take of them”

With this in mind, I decided to take a different view of things that have happened to me. I did not complain as much as I have in previous years.

2)”Your morning starts when you wake up”

This helped me put things into perspective and lean away from comparing myself to people. Instead, I worked towards making my own life count to ME, not bowing to other peoples ideas of me.

Unlike other years, I did not have a set in stone plan or specific goals for the year. {For 2016 though, I’ve got few plans with deadlines besides them:)} This was purposely done. Being quite driven, I really just wanted to chill out and live freely. It was soo worth it, I feel like I just drank in ‘Life’.

I am so thankful for my friends and family. I can’t list everything. From my girls becoming mothers, to seeing some really amazing transformations in families around me. God really did answer some long due prayers and put people back on the path of life.

Even as I prepared this reflection, I got good news from a friend, and I’m thankful over again.

I took bold steps and went on adventures I had only dreamt of, I sang more and laughed more. I poured my life out to the people around me. I lived life like it was not about me. This was rewarding (immaterial)

I made deliberate efforts to be positive and speak words of life to people rather than criticise. Part of this was because I truly realised how imperfect I am, how human I am even in my best moments. So why should I expect the world of people? Chill out! A tough lesson that I’m still learning.

There were some really difficult moments where I dealt with bitterness and cynicism coming from someone in my life whose choices and way of living has caused immense discomfort to the people around. I was not sure I had forgiven them but their absence gave me some comfort. It was short lived and I finally had to take ownership of my emotions. It was one of the biggest battles but I triumphed and learned to be gracious.

I did not see all my ‘big’ prayers answered but I certainly saw little mercies and I knew that I was not alone.

Like many Nigerians and people of the world, I grieved! I still do: terrorism and extremism destroying lifes, dreams and innocent futures. I’ve been broken and crushed. I yearn for peace and an end to evil. I pray 2016 is better for us all.
May we all be workers of peace in our communities.

Love without wanting anything back. Give especially to those who can’t pay you back.

Photo Credit: Dreamstime | Michael Zhang