Writing with Juliet Iwelunmor

Nothing you’ll find on a plantain farm is charming. A small bed of roses in a garden is charming. Palm trees planted near streams of water are charming. There’s beauty and tranquility in things planted in rows, leaning together as if by design. But a plantain farm, with its tall green stems and dry stalks of harvest, is far from charming. So too is this life we live.

One of the highlights of our visit to the village was spending time at a plantain farm. There, I learned a valuable lesson about life: nothing remains constant. Some days will be filled with activity, while others will be empty. However, each day will bring its own unique experiences. Regardless of whether the day is full or empty, rise above it. Your growth and well-being depend on reaching for the sky, just like plantains, until you produce fruits that nourish your soul. I’m carrying this lesson with me and rising through this year like plantains.