Monthly BroadCast 2016 (Second Quarter)

April 2016

One reason why having goals is a great thing is that it gives us something to look forward to. Something new, something better or maybe even someone through new connections.

A new quarter is always an opportunity to review goals we have set for ourselves, family, career or business. Now is a time to pick up that list and get inspired to give ourselves a good pat on the back for those we can cross out and a re-boost on those we need to buckle up on.

And if you don't have a list, it's not late to pen something down. One line on every area of your life is a great way to start. A little step at a time and you'll definitely get there.

Have an Awesome April

May 2016

So, most times we have some fantastic ideas we want to launch out on. Some to impact lives and some mainly for personal development or perhaps to enrich our relationships. But many times we stall, infact most times we stall.

Here's one thing one of my mentors advised - start anyway and keep tweaking. More often than not, we are waiting for the perfect time. But there really isn't always a perfect time. 

Greatness begins with the little things...poco a poco. Even with errors, you'll be learning as you go. And will more likely get there than not starting. When it does get so tough, latch on to a word of encouragement that will bring back a stir.

May your May be blessed 

Fondly

June 2016

Of late life as a relay has been on my mind. Relay races, unlike other track events, have batons exchanged within a team at different points till the finish line is reached. Typically lots of practice is essential ahead of the day. And of course the right sports gear must be worn. 

At a time like this, you need to become conscious of the race you will run or are currently running. So, which team have you made yourself a part of? Do you all have eyes on the same and correct finish line? Do you know who you will take the baton from? Check who you are following (especially unconsciously). Are you aware someone somewhere is somewhat gearing to take a baton from you? (What legacy/footprints are you leaving behind?) Are you practicing rigorously enough to run your best? Will you keep on till the finish line is reached?

When this awareness settles with us, we are able to live even more deliberately. In particular though, ensure you take your baton from the right person(s) and handover with grace and inspiration. Give your best always and persevere till the finish.

May your June be filled with Joy

Fondly

@Folafayo

Photo Credit - Linked in // https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/shrinknp_800_800/p/4/005/0a0/1cb/367cdf9.jpg

Monthly BroadCast 2016 (First Quarter)

January 2016

It's another year again and it's definitely promising to be packed with lots of goodies. But then 2015 came with a lot as well and personally I ended the year extremely thankful.

However I've learnt that being grateful has no stop date, and for this year, it would only be awesome to wake up and sleep daily with a thankful heart. Remember a thank you to anyone who helps you or even for 'small' gestures. You could also start a journal of all that stirs gratitude in you, one you can read again & again during the year.

This will not only help you develop the ability to look out positively in life but it would make you even more beautiful. After all, thankful hearts radiate beauty.

Have a blessed January.


Fondly
@Folafayo

February 2016 

One thing that came strongly to me early in the year was this phrase - "Guard your heart".

We are often careful to look out for open doors in our homes and offices. And very rarely careless at night when we retire to bed. Sometimes even rechecking our locks to be sure we didn't miss any.

The heart shouldn't be treated any less. That is the womb that carries your goals and dreams. So, who are those you share your deep thoughts with? What images do you constantly behold? What words of life do you ensure gets in? Do they keep your heart safe or endangered?

Keep your heart guarded and have a fabulous February

Fondly@FolaFayo

March 2016

Every now and then we learn something new. It could be deliberate like reading a book, attending a training or one-on-one interaction with someone who shares insights or tips with us.

Some other times, we bump into new lessons. A quote we see online, a message we hear on the media just flipping the channels or even those experiences we have that leave strong impressions on us.

One needful thing though, that will differentiate you as time goes on are the practices you take up as a result of these learnings to be better. Sometimes God may allow an experience re-occur until we actually master responding to such differently more so in a better way.

Don't leave your learning opportunities at jotting stage, or sharing with others. Make it a habit to include as a new action in your life.

Have a Marvellous March

Fondly@FolaFayo 

Monthly Broadcast 2015 (1st Quarter)

So, in the past two years or thereabout, I have broadcasted messages monthly (via Whatsapp) to inspire, motivate and encourage. For posterity sake :), I will now include them on Footsteps.

Also, only a few people get the messages and those who have not had the opportunity to read them in the past, can now do so on the blog. I will share in the next few weeks all the broadcasts so far for 2015 in a quarterly format, starting with the first.

I'm sure the messages will still be as relevant and timely as when shared earlier in the year too. Be blessed...!

(For January 2015, it was simple New Year Greeting, wishing everyone a great year ahead) 

February 2015
Ok, it is true that we are all different and we have our way of doing things - from making eggs to brushing our teeth...from how we make friends to how we handle issues.

However as we relate more with people, if we let ourselves be open, we discover new ways which may actually be better.

If one is the same person one was 5 years ago, there is a problem. Each year should have come with at least one new and better way...as we continue in the new year, be open, be true to change... be better.

Have a Fabulous February
@FolaFayo

March 2015  
Just this week, I came across this quote in a book by Francine Rivers - "Don't let a day go by without seeing some wonder in it".

Simple as it sounds, it could be a challenge sometimes. Probably because we feel like our to do list never seems to end, people around us are falling below our expectations, uncertainties holding us back from certain decisions or the days seem to pass quite stressfully.

Yet it is possible. A wonder in your spouse's touch or kind gesture; your kids smile or soft breath while sleeping; the bird that takes flight at the slightest sound; the sun's rays as it rises, it's effects as it sets...there are wonders all around, if we will look. All pointing to a God who has you on His mind all the time.

Have a blessed month this March
@FolaFayo

(PhotoCredit - ShutterStock , S.R.Lee Photo Traveller)

There's More To You

Sometime ago, I was trimming my son's nails and then he asked, "Mummy why does this, though small, make noise?" He was wondering why there was sound coming from such trivial activity and with small objects. My response to him – it’s not always about the size of a thing but what it is made of.

Then I went on to explain various types of materials and their properties. I also mentioned different sizes of things that could be made from them and their varying strengths or capacity to produce sound when broken or cut. As I explained, I was reminded that our 'size' or what others see is not all there is to us. Infact our parts which cannot be seen actually define us, distinguish us from others and determine how we ‘make noise’ when being broken or cut.

There are a number of parts to who we are, but an important one is what we believe. What we believe about ourselves, what we believe about others, what we believe about life (and many life issues), what we believe about what we see and what we believe about life beyond this life. But most importantly is what we believe about the One who made us, His thoughts about us and plans for us.

The truth is, we live life and deal with what it throws at us based on what we believe. If you want to stir change in your life or others, you need to start with the belief system. I know what I believe, do you?

A story many know comes to mind, about the wise man and the foolish man who built houses. The wise man built his on the rock and foolish on sand. When the storm came, the house on the sand collapsed but the one on the rock stood firm. The story did not say any of the houses was built with poor materials but it was clear that their foundations differentiated them. So our foundation is also as important as what we believe. Personally, I recommend building all of life on that which is permanent especially the eternal. Temporary things are not only short term but wreck and waste the best of efforts and resources.

As we continue in the year, with the opportunities for the new and for change, let's be challenged to review our beliefs and also become more conscious of them. Let us also ensure our lives (attitudes, values, dreams and works) are based on foundations that will stand the test of time, in particular with eternal value.

The Vantage Point

Despite the fact that I squeal over the possibilities of an engagement announcement and get a little 'mushy' perusing wedding and other related photos, bridal showers weren't events I used to be at in the past. Probably because it was not really in vogue where I grew up and even in my time. So being at my lil sister's bridal shower was a rare one for me and memorable too.

Now I also don't know what actually goes down at most showers, but the planners of this one made sure there was good time devoted to talking. During this session, questions were asked and lots of counsel shared, mostly from the experiences of those who have been married years before. All to better prepare the new bride for the new phase.

I felt privileged being able to contribute my own bit, having been on this journey for some years too. It seemed natural to look back at the many lessons I'd garnered over the years and to bring it to such a forum to share.

In reality, we all stand in what I'll call 'Points of Advantage'. We've been there, we've seen that, we've done that. We have had successes that brought us gladness. We have had falls, stirred ourselves up, brushed off the dusts and resumed the runs. In all, we have grown and gathered such wealth of knowledge that only experience doles to those it has had direct contact with.

On another hand, life gives us opportunities to leave footprints for those coming after, such that they would run even better. It allows us from the strength we have gained to provide a helping hand or a supporting shoulder to that one who has become weary.

However, at other times, it challenges us to seek out those opportunities to share our wisdom because of the Vantage Point where we now stand. It is easy to look down on certain moments of our lives and assume no one needs to hear that story, but you'll be amazed at how desperately some need them.  

I remember the movie – Vantage Point, which I watched years back. It showed clearly how the spots where people have stood in life have better positioned them for specific views of life's happenings. Eventually our vantage points when better perceived helps connect those dots when we've stepped out of it all.

So then, as we live and learn, let us maximise our many Vantage Points so someone else may see better, understand deeper, or just simply be reminded that that impossible is possible.

2014... What Will You Sow?

I was in a discussion with some close friends over the holidays. And we looked at the different encouragements and themes many people, groups, organisations and ministries/churches start the year with. Then one of us asked a question. Is there anywhere people are challenged to look out for what to give in a new year? Or in another way, are we being inspired to make a difference in life or community as against, what we would get?

This got me thinking beyond that day. Personally I'm a believer in having a positive outlook to a new beginning (like a year) by having a theme to focus on. I even recommend it. That way, as much as possible the mind is stayed on what is right. And more often than not, it help brings about the right results too.

However, this year, I've been compelled to reconsider an addition to this perspective. It's like a farmer, who commences a season with a great harvest in mind. The big question to ask him would be "what seed are you planning to sow?" This would lead to other deliberations like what kind of field/soil must he have, when must he plant, how must he plant, what other people or things must he have for this great harvest to be a reality.

My thought is many get to hear these encouragements, sometimes even quote them often but don't go beyond believing. However, if a farmer sows no seed, no matter how big his harvest dream is, he'll get nothing.

So here's the simple challenge, we need to ask ourselves over and over again this question. What am I going to sow to achieve this year's favour, supernatural turnaround, upgrade, increase et al. Like I learnt from my hubby recently, your seed could be in 3 forms - Time, Talent or Treasure. Do you know what seed you must sow for that harvest?

Do you have to believe more, spend more time with God, wake earlier, sleep later?  Do you need to learn something new, revisit the drawing board on a forgotten project? Are you going to be more committed in your relationship, communicate better, talk less, meet new people? Would you let go of some mindsets, give to a charity or someone really in need... When this has been identified, then look into the best way to sow it. Try to learn from others, and also ensure you maximise all opportunities that come up.

I'm assured this additional approach to starting a new phase, would help a great deal. Even the Great Book says - He gives seed to the sower...you have a seed, do you know it, will you sow it? For surely, we can't take 2014 like 2013 and expect anything different.

Even Cinderella Had Till Midnight

I’m sure many would understand what it is like to get an inspiration on something to share, but never really get around doing it. That is the case with this post. As time passed I’ve also had different ideas on how to title it, from ‘Yes the grass may just be greener on the other side, but the owner of the field probably has blisters’ to ‘It’s not going to come or stay that easy’. Finally I decided on this perhaps because it’s the most recent.

 

For all who recall the famous Cinderalla story, her wishes did come true (courtesy of her fairy godmother) but then could only hold till Midnight. ‘Cos in reality, wishes are limited. They could set us off on the course but we have more to do in reality. And this actually is the message I’ve carried in my mind for so long, with too many incidents hitting it home over and over again.

 

Life allows us very often the occasion to compare. To look over the fence and often just wish for the results and accomplishments of others, but very rarely the efforts that have been put in. It’s about time we go beyond that, and consciously move to being deliberate and purposeful about what we truly wouldn’t mind, what we really want in every area of life.

 

No relationship for example would blossom without being cared for. Be it with family, friends, colleagues or even God. It’s easy to watch others and desire the intimacy/rapport we see. But it wasn’t automatic for them. Choices were made, actions were deliberately taken that is why they enjoy what they have. Are you willing to be humble, to compromise for fairness, to serve, to give (hugs, kisses, time, encouragement and support or gifts), forgive offenses and even to pray? Are you ready to show courtesy, saying ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘I’m sorry’ at the right time and in the right way? So if you are fortunate to be married to a rare gem, you’ll need to brace yourself up more consciously for that gem to remain rare, even to you.

 

That child of yours is not going to be a believer in your faith, ideals and values just because you are. You need to make sure you walk the talk, in addition to teaching because that’s what kids know best. No school is going to make a genius out of your child (academically or in extra-curricular). Look out for the “outliers” in your child’s school, there’s definitely something different the folks are doing. What have you observed in your child? What have you done so far? Are you ready to motivate, encourage or pay an expert to coach to help him be the best he can be?

 

Yes you graduated the same year as that friend of yours. Probably you even got your great job months before he got his. How come he rarely complains of needing funds for personal things, he even just invested in another income generating opportunity. And he also gets to go on vacations to take a break now and then. Yet you don’t understand how your take home isn’t actually taking you home. You shouldn’t be wondering, instead ask questions, read books (e.g. the Richest man in Babylon, simple and practicable), make a plan, if possible get someone you can be accountable to, note your expenses and review it, save something as often as you can, invest in other streams of income…it won’t be easy but your grass will get greener.

 

The same applies to your health. How careful are you about what and when you eat? Don’t just sign up at that gym, get started. What of that skill/knowledge you gained a while back? It will only remain unproductive as long as you don’t upgrade or creatively apply it, even if voluntarily.

 

In all honesty, it’s difficult to push though on anything that doesn’t even mean anything to us. It’s tough to consciously study and learn about what we don’t value. Perhaps it’s a re-orientation that is required, to begin to value, and stop taking casually those things that really matter. But if for any reason, that relationship means the world to you, if your health should tell a different story in your lineage, if your child is indeed your treasure… by all means, go beyond wishing, become deliberate, even get the blisters because the sun and the rain would come and they will help guarantee the greenness of your field.