Writing with Juliet Iwelunmor

If true happiness consists of getting out of oneself, then for the past three years, I have been out. I have gotten out and these days, I plan to not only get out, but stay out with everything I keep. This to me is the heart of the matter. The idea of knowing who I am without what I do as Airhihenbuwa would always say. I’m at the point in life where if you understand me or not, misunderstand me or not. Me I’m okay. And if you think I’m wrong or not. As long as it’s what I want, I’m okay. Na my happiness concern me, I no come life to stress. We are Ndi Ike Ndi Ike. Na we get Obodo. Anyi ji Obodo. I have plenty motivation of my own for all I do with a name like Onyelo planted on my forehead.

I found myself saying these things the other day when someone asked what it was like to work with me. They were wondering if they would be independent too. I chuckled and secretly said, thought under my breath, we are not aligned. If you knew me, and knew me well, then you would know the first thing about me, is how can I help you write your own grant. I don’t need you. Don’t want your ideas too. I have plenty of my own that it overflows. I’m so at that point in life where if you understand me or not. I’m okay. Know that my happiness comes first. My people’s own too. We are rising and shining like the sun. Everything is shining on us.

The next day, for someone who understood me, we plotted everything he needed to succeed. He will because to him and everyone who understands me, my stance and only stance always, is ‘how can I help?’ I will go to the moon for those who understand me. I would give them the moon too. To see the right people at my table is all I want. It’s all I have ever wanted. To be in a space that allows this to finally flourish on its own is priceless. I will forever be grateful to the people and former place where all this began. Grace and gratitude is all I have these days for them and those who paved the road to this high point of my life where light literally shines on all I do.