For Linda Ikeji and our Collective Lessons in Vulnerability

[michaelbrookes]

<br>Let me first start this by saying that I don’t understand Linda Ikeji personally, we aren’t close good friends, and I have actually “met” her just a number of times at social gatherings …<br>
<br>Written By:
Francesca Uriri<br>
<br>Published On:
24 Sep 2016<br>
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<br>However with all of that being said, I also have a deep and abiding respect for her. Is that ironic? Perhaps. But I’ve concerned understand that you can disagree with someone on something and still appreciate them. Whether you accept it or not, Linda has shown through her amazing journey of being a blog writer and viewpoint influencer, that she is a motivation to numerous individuals all over the world. She has boot strapped her method to success using a model that was when unpopular and belittled. She’s an Outlier, and handles to motivate, incite and baffle lots of simultaneously, and with fervour.<br>
<br>I can’t consider a lot of people who have actually run a modelling agency, an events business, a magazine and a lot of other services, failed at them, and still kept pressing forward. I also do not know of anyone else (at least not on this side of the planet), who is lawfully making tons of cash by blogging.
[ad] I indicate, before Linda, whoever thought it was possible to buy a house in Banana Island, and open a string of media-related services gotten from the earnings of running a chatter blog site? If the United States of America has the “American dream,” then Linda Ifeoma Ikeji has the “Naija Dream.” Strong, ruthless in its pursuit of happiness and hope, and ultimately, successful. Here’s a woman who hit ground no at some point in her life, and is back to level 100. You have to appreciate such grit and decision, because as my Sapele people will state “E nor simple.”<br>
<br>Linda or “Lin-Lin” as she’s fondly called by those who are close to her turned 36 years old a few days back; and to mark her wedding, she posted a 14-minute long video on her blog site. Within hours of her publishing this video, social networks was buzzing with all sort of remarks and remarks about it – and I knew that I needed to see it for myself. 3 minutes into the video, I wasn’t rather sure whether I liked it or not, because it came off as slightly insincere and scripted; plus Linda looked a little unpleasant dealing with the video camera. However, something changed soon after – I’m not even sure what. But the veneer of coolness split, and something more warm, earthy, real and vulnerable spilled out.
[advertisement] And as Linda began to speak about her failures, her desires, her relationship with God, her belief in the validity of her dreams, her utter amazement at how her life ended up, and the affirmation that she still “plans to be around for a long time,” something in me likewise paved the way to the hope and inspiration that she was sharing.<br>
<br>And maybe it was a psychological moment, maybe that thing was fleeting, but I recognized it, and I felt it highly. Because it was sincere, powerful and heartfelt. And because one unique moment, I ignored all the times I did not like Linda, or all the irritating things she had actually done, and in that suspended space, between my laptop computer screen and her video, I commemorated with her. I cheered her on, and I frantically wanted her to be successful.<br>
<br>So you can envision my inflammation when individuals took simply a few seconds of that video – of her desiring a fantastic male for a hubby – and turned it into an occasion for awful banter, senseless rhetoric and hurtful remarks. How do you condense ALL she stated, and narrow that down to just one section of her video? What is incorrect if she openly (and really truthfully I might include), spoke about what she wants? Is her desire for a spouse somehow less valid or outrageous due to the fact that she discussed it outdoors? If she had spoken about additional growing her business or purchasing another home – would those declarations be consulted with derisive comments? Exists not a peaceful strength and self-respect in such a guileless show of vulnerability? When individuals truthfully and honestly open themselves, the least we can do, the least we should do as humans is to accord them the regard and self-respect that they are worthy of.<br>

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