Anne Mmeje

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Appreciation
When I started blogging, I never envisaged that my blog will become what it is today – a community of like minds inspiring one another and exchanging ideas on how to improve themselves and make their communities better places to live. I have been impressed with the class of people my blog attracts – mostly Nigeria’s educated who often times are more successful and knowledgeable than I am; people in whose hands it lies to change our country in the face of a struggling government. My stats also show me there are many readers from other countries. I am deeply grateful to you because your contributions helped set the tone for what this blog has become.

In one of my earliest posts, The Price for Nigeria’s Indifference to Maintaining Records, I had lamented the lack of records in Nigeria and how it had created a fertile ground for corruption to thrive in our country but with the first two comments on the post, I understood that Nigerians were tired of rehashing our many woes and rather preferred ideas on how to move forward. And since then, that is what this blog has been about; highlighting areas we need to improve on and more importantly emphasizing that we have to each become the change we want. With each post and your comments, I have become a better person. When I considered further narrowing down my niche, one of you advised me to write the posts as they come, as inspired, so that having to decide what is or isn’t appropriate for a target audience doesn’t dull me. I listened. Another suggested that there should be no named villains. Thank you.

Fear, then Courage
I had feared that by blogging and making my thoughts and opinions known, I would expose myself to criticism; that if I made a misstep, I could well be told: ‘Teacher, teach thyself’. Flawed as I am, I know I should be the last person making suggestions on how anybody can improve their lives. But then I remembered how people and books I had read made positive impact in my life and I knew I couldn’t deny others the pleasure of learning something new, however minute from me. I reckoned that if Max Lucado, one of the most influential christian writers of our time had given in to his own fears, then millions including myself wouldn’t have had the privilege of reading his numerous works. While I struggled with fears of my weakness, I came across a quote from Ambrose Redmooon that ‘Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear’. I knew then that what I had set out to do was much more noble than my own fear of being judged or found out. I thank you for not having judged me, for being civil even when we have different perspectives on a subject. And it is a paradox that now, my posts and your comments have actually made me a better person. I have had to make better judgements because from time to time I remember something I blogged about and knew that I shouldn’t do something I criticized in a post. This post, has helped me to be more patient with my child and the inspirational posts have made me more aware of what we can achieve if we unlock the power we have within us. Blogging has been therapeutic for me. It has helped me realize that I know very little and has pushed me to research and read more to improve myself. It wouldn’t have been possible without your support and encouragement, online and offline. So, thank you.

We Can Do This
Unfortunately, we live in a society where we are constantly bombarded with news of all the ills in the world; Oddities make use. My vision is that anytime someone visits my blog, they will leave better and happier than they came; they will be inspired by stories of people who are doing it right. I hope that we focus on the many good things in our world and not on the negative. And so far, through your edifying comments often illustrated with your very insightful personal stories, you have helped make this blog a haven for others.

Thank you for being a member of this community. You have made me a better person and I do hope that this blog also help you in some way. Someone told me they had wanted to print out one of my posts to give someone who they felt needed it at the time. I was glad to hear that. And I do hope you also do so when you feel the need to. Some of you are already sharing my links on your Facebook posts and have offered that I share my posts on your walls. I am eternally grateful to you. I also know that many of you don’t find the time to comment. While I would love it very much if you do, I do understand how pressed for time we all are.

So thank you once again, my esteemed readers and contributors. I am honored by your support and I am convinced that with your will and knowledge, we will be a force for good, changing our communities one day at a time.

Finally, if you have something you have been trying to do but have been putting off, please don’t procrastinate anymore. There will never be a right time to start it. When you do start it, you will realize you are actually more prepared than you thought. So go for your dreams and you will be amazed at how much gift God has given you.

Thank You.