For Linda Ikeji and our Collective Lessons in Vulnerability

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<br>Let me very first start this post by saying that I do not understand Linda Ikeji personally, we aren’t buddies, and I’ve “met” her just a number of times at celebrations …<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 also have a deep and abiding respect for her. Is that ironic? Perhaps. But I have actually pertained to understand that you can disagree with somebody 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 opinion influencer, that she is a motivation to many people all over the world. She has boot strapped her way to success utilizing a design that was when unpopular and belittled. She’s an Outlier, and manages to motivate, incite and baffle numerous simultaneously, and with fervour.<br>
<br>I can’t consider a great deal of people who have actually run a modelling firm, an events company, a magazine and a bunch of other services, failed at them, and still kept pushing forward. I also don’t understand of anyone else (at least not on this side of the planet), who is lawfully making lots of cash by blogging.
[advertisement] I indicate, before Linda, whoever thought it was possible to buy a home in Banana Island, and open a string of media-related organizations acquired from the proceeds of running a gossip blog site? If the United States of America has the “American dream,” then Linda Ifeoma Ikeji has the “Naija Dream.” Strong, unrelenting in its pursuit of happiness and hope, and ultimately, successful. Here’s a lady who struck ground zero at some point in her life, and is back to level 100. You need 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 earlier; 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 type 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 quite sure whether I liked it or not, because it came off as slightly insincere and scripted; plus Linda looked a little unpleasant facing the electronic camera. However, something altered quickly after – I’m not even sure what. But the veneer of coolness broke, and something more warm, earthy, real and vulnerable spilled out.
[ad] And as Linda started to discuss 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 “strategies to be around for a long period of time,” something in me likewise provided method to the hope and motivation that she was sharing.<br>
<br>And perhaps it was an emotional minute, perhaps that thing was short lived, but I acknowledged it, and I felt it strongly. Because it was genuine, powerful and wholehearted. And in that one unique moment, I forgot all the times I did not like Linda, or all the frustrating things she had actually done, and in that suspended area, in between my laptop computer screen and her video, I celebrated with her. I cheered her on, and I frantically wanted her to be successful.<br>
<br>So you can envision my irritation when individuals took simply a few seconds of that video – of her preferring a fantastic man for a spouse – and turned it into a celebration for unsightly banter, senseless rhetoric and hurtful remarks. How do you condense ALL she stated, and narrow that down to just one segment of her video? What is incorrect if she honestly (and very truthfully I might add), discussed what she wants? Is her desire for a partner somehow less valid or disgraceful because she spoke about it in the open? If she had discussed additional growing her service or buying another home – would those declarations be consulted with derisive comments? Is there not a quiet strength and dignity in such a guileless program of vulnerability? When people truthfully and truthfully open themselves, the least we can do, the least we should do as human beings is to accord them the respect and self-respect that they are worthy of.<br>

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