For Linda Ikeji and our Collective Lessons in Vulnerability

[suzannewalters]

<br>Let me very first begin this article by saying that I do not know Linda Ikeji personally, we aren’t close good friends, and I’ve “satisfied” 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 stated, I likewise have a deep and abiding respect for her. Is that ironic? Perhaps. But I’ve pertained to understand that you can disagree with somebody on something and still respect them. Whether you accept it or not, Linda has actually shown through her exceptional journey of being a blogger and opinion influencer, that she is a motivation to numerous people all over the world. She has boot strapped her way to success using a model that was once undesirable and belittled. She’s an Outlier, and manages to influence, incite and baffle many all at when, and with fervour.<br>
<br>I can’t think about a lot of individuals who have actually run a modelling firm, an events business, a magazine and a lot of other services, stopped working at them, and still kept pushing forward. I also don’t know of anybody else (at least not on this side of the planet), who is lawfully making lots of money by blogging.
[advertisement] I indicate, before Linda, whoever thought it was possible to purchase a home in Banana Island, and open a string of media-related companies acquired from the profits of running a gossip blog? If the United States of America has the “American dream,” then Linda Ifeoma Ikeji has the “Naija Dream.” Strong, relentless in its pursuit of joy and hope, and eventually, successful. Here’s a female who hit ground no at some point in her life, and is back to level 100. You need to respect such grit and determination, due to the fact that as my Sapele people will say “E nor easy.”<br>
<br>Linda or “Lin-Lin” as she’s fondly called by those who are close to her turned 36 years of ages a couple of days ago; and to mark her big day, she published a 14-minute long video on her blog. Within hours of her posting this video, social networks was buzzing with all sort of comments and remarks about it – and I understood that I needed to see it for myself. 3 minutes into the video, I wasn’t rather sure whether I liked it or not, since it came off as somewhat insincere and scripted; plus Linda looked a little uncomfortable dealing with the electronic camera. However, something altered soon after – I’m not even sure what. But the veneer of coolness cracked, and something more warm, earthy, authentic and susceptible 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 awe at how her life ended up, and the affirmation that she still “strategies to be around for a very long time,” something in me likewise provided method to the hope and inspiration that she was sharing.<br>
<br>And possibly it was an emotional moment, possibly that thing was fleeting, but I recognized it, and I felt it strongly. Because it was genuine, effective and wholehearted. And because one special minute, I forgot about all the times I disliked Linda, or all the irritating things she had actually done, and in that suspended area, in between my laptop computer screen and her video, I commemorated with her. I cheered her on, and I desperately desired her to succeed.<br>
<br>So you can picture my inflammation when individuals took just a couple of seconds of that video – of her preferring a remarkable man for a partner – and turned it into an occasion for awful small talk, ridiculous rhetoric and hurtful remarks. How do you condense ALL she said, and narrow that down to simply one segment of her video? What is wrong if she freely (and extremely honestly I might add), discussed what she ? Is her desire for a spouse in some way less legitimate or disgraceful since she spoke about it in the open? If she had spoken about more growing her service or buying another home – would those statements be satisfied with derisive comments? Is there not a peaceful strength and dignity in such a guileless show of vulnerability? When people truthfully and honestly open themselves, the least we can do, the least we should do as people is to accord them the respect and self-respect that they deserve.<br>

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