Wear it well, and another batch of unsolicited gems and advice.

That I honestly should be getting paid for, because.

I took this picture while in Tallinn…there was something about the silhouette of the building that kind of caught me in my step. The way the sun and the sky…something.

Spectacular.

My people. I greet you. The universe has been universing, right? Well, as I like to remind myself, we were given a terminal diagnosis the moment we were born, so we don’t have time to be wasting and mulling over stuff. We have to move.

We’re out here doing battle…living, loving, doing, making, getting, giving, receiving, failing, succeeding, et al. And of course, taking notes while at it. Here are some of mine since the last time I hit you with ones and twos:

• Wear it well. So, if life is lifing, how do you wear it? I heard this guy say, "No matter what you are going thru, never have to look like your circumstances." I kind of agree. But. The thing is, you should be consistent. Whether you are killing it or getting killed, as long as you are consistent in how you carry yourself and interact with the world, you are wearing it well. The world adjusts to you. If success means you level up, wear things a certain way, and then things go to hell, and you have to downgrade, that is not wearing it well. And the real wahala is this: things fall apart, but the facade has to be maintained, so you do things you wouldn't otherwise do, and desperation starts making the calls for you.

• What’s that saying: “When the gods wish to punish us, they give us everything we’ve ever wanted.”

• You want everyone to know your name and no one to know your face, says Tim Ferriss. A friend had a great counter to this: “But I have a great face.” Hey, I am just sharing the quote; it’s your face. Do whatever you want with your face, is it by force?

• I met this woman in Estonia a couple of weeks ago, and she said this to me: Don’t underestimate the hole your absence will create in the world. It’s not often I get rocked by a simple sentence, but I am still rocking. I am saying that to you now o. Because…truth.

• Some circuits need to be cut. People, situations. When we say protect your peace, that's what we mean, no? Why hang around people or environments where your peace is under constant threat? Disrespect. Being taken for granted. Ghosted. No. I had a former student reach out to me, pretend like she actually cared about what was going on, and once she got her recommendation/referral, disappeared without even a thank you. I don't play those kinds of games, so I quietly cut circuits that are of no use to me, and move on.

• You know what kind of games I do play? Video games. You know the most underrated skill in the world right now? Being a gamer. Yes, I said it. And I am not talking about FIFA, that is not gaming, that is living out your failed sports career on PlayStation. Or Call of Duty, which is just wanton violence (I play Call of Duty, btw, but by myself…none of that multiplayer nonsense). I am talking about strategy games, epic universes, and immersive stories. Side quests. Solving puzzles. Going against the big boss. Get rocked down seven times, get up eight. Being a gamer is a game-changer because it rewires how you look at attacking problems. No matter what the obstacle is, there is always a way.

• I came across this awesome, awesome piece by Danielle Coffyn called “The Aggressive Pursuit of Joy”. Ladies and gentlemen, Danielle Coffyn:

  

• “Some seasons we cannot escape biopsy results, bad bosses, and unpaid bills. Pain is the currency of existence.” Eish. Preach, Danielle.

• Ever hear of The Four Agreements? No? Well, neither did I back in the day.

  • Be impeccable with your word.

  • Don’t take anything personally.

  • Don’t make assumptions.

  • Always do your best.

Sound simple, right? I bet you can’t practice all four this coming week. Go ahead, try. And then send me a WhatsApp with your report.

• There is recent research that states approximately 75% of people claim they come up with their best ideas when they shower. Makes sense. I know this person who doesn’t like taking showers, and their ideas are trash.

• Biko, abeg...get some downtime. Downtime is a time of 1-der: physically (wonder) and mentally (wander). A time to ponder. When’s the last time you just sat and pondered? Ponder, please. And if you ponder your way into a stash of Anthropic or SpaceX pre-IPO stock, holler at your boy so I can partake, pronto.

• I stopped twittering a long time ago (same with Facebook). There’s this guy, Naval, who has a huge following on Twitter. I think he drinks his own gin juice way too much, but he had his gems. This one from 2022 was a hit in my book: Your success in life depends on your ability to make good decisions. Your happiness depends on your ability not to care about the outcomes. Gbam!

• This reply: Your peace depends on knowing the difference. Hmmm...na wa o. That one was a sliding tackle to the system, my friends. Success, happiness, and peace.

Alright, that’s my time abeg. Do you. Do good. Be good. And I’ll see you on the other side.