Last week Friday I wrote about my pet peeves, things that shouldn't annoy me but they somehow do.

Today I have decided to balance things out with just 26 little things that make me happy. In no particular order, of course.

So, without further ado, here are 26 little things that make me happy. Feel free to judge me.

1. Someone sending me airtime without me asking. >>>>>>>>>>

2. Credit alerts 🤭🤭.

3. The smell of new books.

4. Random "I thought of you" messages.

5. Learning something new.

6. Finishing a task earlier than expected.

7. Someone remembering a tiny detail I mentioned weeks ago.

8. Hugging people I love.

9. Watching travel vlogs.

10. A compliment from a stranger.

11. Window seats on public transport.

12. Opening a delivery of something I ordered.

13. Finding money in my pocket just when I'm about to wash my clothes.

14. The first bite of really good food when I'm hungry.

15. Coming back home after a long day and meeting food at home. >>>>

16. Saying or doing something random and hearing, "This really helped me."

17. Discovering a worship song that says exactly what I couldn't put into words.

18. The smell of freshly baked pastries, especially cake and bread.

19. Rewatching my favourite romcom.

20. Wearing an outfit that comes together exactly how I imagined.

21. Seeing vegetables grow during the rainy season.

22. Finally finishing something I've been procrastinating.

23. A beautiful sunset.

24. Public holidays falling on Mondays or Tuesdays instead of Thursdays or Fridays.

25. Seeing and carrying newborn babies.

26. Eating really good suya.

Trust me, if I get five of these in a day, I'm describing that day as a good day... or probably a perfect day.

I'm curious... What are some of the little things that make you happy? 🤍

See you next Friday.

I stared at him for a few seconds wondering what that meant. I had never heard the phrase before, and I kept trying to make sense of it. A pet... a peeve... together? Then I thought does it mean pets I find annoying?

But the conversation we were having before he popped the question had nothing to do with pets. I just concluded that it was one of those English expressions that make perfect sense only after someone explains them.

He noticed I was quiet and told me what it actually meant. When he did, I remember thinking out loud, "Oh there's actually a word for things that irrationally annoy us.”

A "pet peeve" is a minor, specific habit or behavior that intensely annoys or irritates an individual, even though it may not bother anyone else.

Since that day, I've been taking mental notes of things that get under my skin.

Here's my list, in no particular order.

1. Interrupting during a conversation: There is almost always someone who won't let us get three words in before they're already talking about something else over us. People like this make me sick to my stomach. Arrghh

2. Not putting things back where you took them: If you borrowed it, your brain clearly remembers where it took it from.

3. People who say, "I'm sorry, but...": Nine times out of ten, the word but cancels the apology. Immediately you said that but I'm zooming out of the conversation.

4. Asking me a question I just answered a few seconds ago; Excuse me, were you listening, or have you just been waiting for me to finish talking so you can also speak?

5. Using my things without telling me: I probably would have said yes if you had asked.

6. Being late or deciding not to show up without informing anyone: I know unavoidable things happen. I don't mind a simple "I'm running late" or "I can't make it" . It goes a long way.

7. Making sounds when chewing gum: Please why does your chewing need sound effects?

8. Saying you'll do something and then disappearing: I would rather hear “No”, "I can't" than be left waiting.

9. Not picking up food crumbs after eating: Cleaning up after yourself is the bare minimum, just pick the crumbs please.

10. Not flushing after using the toilet: Again clean up after yourself. Please just flush.

11. Leaving the toilet seat open: For goodness sake It's one of those little things that takes less than a second to do. Just close it.

12. Passive-aggressiveness: This one is exhausting, If something is bothering you, I would rather you say it.

13. Someone I don't know making physical contact: Unless we're familiar with each other, don't touch me.

14. Meeting a door closed and leaving it open after walking through it: You met the door closed, opened it, walked through... then decided to leave it wide open. Why?

15. Leaving wet towels on the bed: I'm confused, the towel rack is there, you left the chairs and even the bathroom door to drop your wet towel on the bed.

Seeing this list makes me feel like I’m problematic and insufferable.

But I promise you, I'm not difficult. These things don't exactly ruin my day, and I'm not keeping score. They just make me pause and think, "Really?", “Are you okay?”

Then again, I'm almost certain I'm on someone else's pet peeve list too. The thing that barely registers for one person can be another person's "Please, for the love of everything good, stop doing that.”

I know I can't be the only one. Your turn. What's that one tiny thing people do that instantly gets under your skin?

See you next Friday 💙.

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There was a time in my life when I was almost convinced my mother was a witch.

I had my reasons and to me that time they were valid and the only explanation.

But before I state my reasons and plead my case on why I thought my mother was a witch, I would like to thank God for her life. She turned 55 on June 9th, and it has been beautiful watching her age like fine wine.

Also thank you for all the prayers and beautiful wishes she received from the Substack note I posted on her birthday.

Now let’s travel back to the very beginning.

When my parents got married, they immediately started trying to have children, but that was not forthcoming. After many years of trying and waiting with several miscarriages and stillbirths, my mother finally got pregnant with me.

The pregnancy journey was not smooth at all.

She told me that in the 6th month of her pregnancy I stopped kicking or even moving, she went to the hospital and the doctor said the baby was dead.

According to her, she just stood up and said “Not my baby” and went back home. A few days later I started kicking again.

She gave birth to me, and everyone started calling me a miracle baby.

I kid you not, everyone around loved me and treated me like an egg that could crack at any moment if not taken care of.

I mean everyone except my mother.

In my head, that was how it should be, I'm that special. Shey I was the miracle baby, the answer to the long awaited prayers.

So imagine how I felt when the very person I expected was supposed to be the happiest about my arrival, the most loving and protective, seemed determined to make my life difficult.

Everyone else handled me with extra care. My mother handled me with discipline.

Now do you understand why I said I thought my mother was a witch?.

My mother was like a thorn in my flesh as a child.

When everyone told me “Well done Jo'an”,

my mother would say “Is that the best you can do? You are made for more.”

I could easily lie and get what I want from everyone around except my mother, she always knew when I was lying. Even after rehearsing my story, one question from her and I'm stammering.

Now to the worst part.

I was a late bloomer academically. My head was never really in school ( let's just say I was a dull girl). I preferred to just play instead of studying. If it were left to me, I would have happily spent every afternoon outside playing.

Unfortunately for me, I was my mother's child.

Assignments were traumatic.

Doing my homework under my mother's supervision felt like serving a prison sentence.

From the moment I sat down with my books until the moment I finished, my mother would flog me.

She would flog me when I got distracted, when I wasn't paying attention and even when I made a mistake.

To make matters worse, she loved all the teachers I hated.

You remember all those strict teachers that we always prayed not to ever enter their class? Those were her favorite.

At the end of every school year, she would buy them gifts of appreciation.

While other parents came to school to complain that a teacher flogged their child for failing a test or classwork, my mother would call the teacher to thank them.

Yes you read it well thank them ooo.

At that point, what was I supposed to think? 😒 I was convinced she enjoyed making my life miserable.

My dad, on the other hand, was the sweetest person on earth.

If I wanted something, my dad would find a way to give it to me. He was my safe place, my partner in crime, and the parent I ran to whenever life became difficult thanks to my mother.

Anytime he travelled for work, I'm always sick from the day he travels to the day he returns.

I used to hate to wash plates, I still do 😆. I was always punished for not washing the plates before my mom got back from home. My dad got a way to save me, no he didn't wash the plate for me.

Whenever he is on night shift, he will let me play, but once it's one hour to when my mom closes from work, he will call me to come and wash the plates.

Not because he enjoyed assigning chores.

But because he knew what would happen if my mother came home and found them sitting there.

While washing, my dad would supervise me, saving me from the storm that was sure to arrive with my mother's return.

Another thing about my mother is that she is a perfectionist.

Growing up, I found it very strange. She knew exactly where she kept everything. If anything shifted by even a few inches, she knew.

Now, in Primary 5, peer pressure and bad friends led me to steal from my mother ooo😭.

Before you judge me, I will like you to know that this operation took weeks of planning and calculations. There was no way I could touch my mother's bag without her noticing.

The plan was simple.

Spill water on the floor when she went to take her bath, scatter the room in the name of mopping so that she won't suspect her bag was tampered with.

People of God, the plan worked.

To my greatest shock, when I opened my mother's purse, I discovered that her money was arranged according to denomination, from the highest to the lowest. 😆

Something like this

Back to the story.

I just picked 2 from each denomination (5 naira to 200). I hid the money separately in different books.

That was some professor-level thinking. Money Heist had nothing on me. 😆

When my mother came back, she asked why the room was scattered.

I told her I mistakenly poured water on the floor.

She replied with "Okay." Just okay ooo 😲

I was so happy.

For the first time in my life, my mother fell for my lie.

I went to take my bath and came back to find all my books scattered on the floor.

My life flashed before my eyes.

I had been caught on my very first attempt. 😭

My mother didn't say a word to me, she just asked my siblings to leave the room.

She locked the doors and windows. Mind you, I was with a wet body and only a towel.

I don't have the words to describe what happened next, for lack of better words i will say it was an encounter. The only thing I had was our neighbours begging her to leave me.

I still remember them shouting:

"Mummy Jo'an, please open the door! You will kill her"

And my mother shouting back:

"I gave birth to her. I will kill her and give birth to another one!"

They kept begging, my mother didn't stop until she was tired.

She said that she would come to school and report me during assembly.

The next morning, my dad came back from work and my mother told him what happened.

The disappointment on his face broke me, and for the first time in my life, my dad punished me too.

That was the first and last time I ever tried to steal anything.

That morning during assembly, our principal announced that a parent had come to report their child for stealing at home. I felt like the whole ground should just open and swallow me. But to my greatest surprise, it was not me but the friend that encouraged me to start stealing.

After coming back from school that day, I was ill ooo from all the beating.

When I got better, I came to one conclusion:

There was no way this woman was the one that gave birth to me.

I told my dad that I was adopted and that he was my only real parent.

The next day, I packed my clothes inside one small nylon bag and told my mother that I was going to look for my real mother.

This woman looked at me straight in the eyes and said,

"Okay. Safe journey. When you find your real mother, tell her to come and pay me for taking care of you."

I just replied with,

"Thank you," and left.

It was when I got to our gate that I realized this was a very stupid decision.

But shame did not let me turn back ooo.

So I continued my journey and went straight to my pastor's house because it was close to our house. They sha called my mother she came and picked me. Shame wear me agbada 😆 🤣.

People of God, my story was passed down to my younger ones, my parents trained them with my story 😆. The four of them didn't have the mind to attempt stealing. Till today you can keep your money or any valuables in our house, you will come back and meet it there.

As I grew older, I realized my mother was not a witch.

She was just a mother who refused to let me become a spoilt child.

Looking back now, I am grateful for the discipline and tough love. She made me understand that being loved was not an excuse to be irresponsible.

I am happy she did not allow my dad and everyone around me to raise me like they wanted to. I sometimes wonder what my life would have looked like if she had joined everyone else in pampering me.

Honestly, I don't even want to imagine it.

My mother raised me to think on my feet. She taught me resilience, discipline, and accountability. She taught me that actions have consequences and that hard work matters.

So every time someone compliments me on being intelligent, resourceful, or how well I work under pressure, I silently thank my mother and say a prayer for her.

I later finally got to ask my mother why she was tough on me alone and not any of my siblings.

She said it was because she knew i could be more. It was also because my dad was always busy with work, and as her own career began to take off, she knew might not have the same amount of time for my younger siblings.

So she needed to set an example.

And apparently, I was the scapegoat 😭😆.

I am happy to announce that today, my mother is one of my best friends. Somehow, the same woman I was convinced enjoyed making my life miserable is now one of my biggest cheerleaders.

She trusts my judgment, supports my decisions, celebrates my wins, and stands by me when things don't go as planned.

So no, my mother was not a witch.

She was a young woman who saw potential in me long before I could see it in myself.

And for every flogging, every correction, every strict teacher she thanked, and every time she refused to lower her standards for me, I am grateful.

Thank you, Mum.

And happy 55th birthday once again ❤️.

P.S I was going to write a straight to the point appreciation article for my mum today, but after rewatching The Good Bad Mother (a kdrama) I decided to switch it up a bit. I could relate so well to the Kdrama.

See you next Friday.

[1] The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

[2] “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

[3] I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” [4] So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.

[5] He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. Genesis 12:1-5 NIV‬

Hello God's Favorite,

Last week I started with walking by faith and not by sight, I wrote about the importance of trusting God beyond what our physical eyes can see. You can check that out HERE, if you have not read it.

Today I will be talking about one of the greatest examples of this principle. Yeap I will be talking about our father Abraham, a man whose journey was defined by faith in God's promises even when he could not see the full picture.

Whenever I read about Abraham in the Bible or think about the trajectory of his life just because he obeyed God, I'm always in awe.

3 questions that almost always pop into my mind are:

1. What if Abraham had not listened or even trusted God? What would have happened to him?

2. What if Sarah had refused to go with Abraham? Would he have left without her or stayed with her?

3. How would I react or respond if maybe one day when I get married my husband comes back home and said: “Jo'an, pack your bags God said I should leave this place and travel to a new land that he would show him” And mind you, this is not the case of God said we should move from Abuja to Zamfara ooo. He does not know where we are going.

For question 1 and 2 we will never get to know the answer. And for question 3 all I will say is, It’s easy to say “I would obey God too” when I have seen Abraham's testimony in hindsight. But the true test is not knowing that God will come through, it is during the journey when nothing makes sense yet, and God is still asking for trust.

A few days ago, I was having a conversation with a friend about NYSC postings. And we were complaining about how NYSC was posting people far away from home even with how unsafe the country currently is. And how people were refusing to go where they were posted because of the insecurity.

I told him that I don't exactly blame people who influence their postings or relocate.

Then he shared his own story with me.

According to him, before NYSC, he prayed and asked God to be posted to somewhere he could be retained after service. When his posting came, he was sent to Kebbi State. During camp, he kept hearing stories about how people were more likely to get retained in Kano State, so he worked his relocation to Kano.

After service, the 3 other people he relocated with got retained but he was not retained.

Even with that he still stayed back in Kano for about a year and eventually got a job. But they told him that the organisation had branches all over the country and he might be posted to any of the branches.

Please my people guess where the organisation posted him to work?

If you guessed Kebbi state, you are right… he got a job that sent him back to the state he left.

I laughed so hard when he told me because if there's one thing I've come to realize, it's that God has a great sense of humour.

After all our calculations and attempts to help God out, we end up exactly where He intended us to be from the beginning. Most times we even attempt to strategize our way out of where God wants us to be because the situations in our lives might look uncomfortable or risky. We forget that we cannot out-maneuver the geography of God's will. If He has a blessing, a lesson, a mission, or a destiny for you in a specific location, He will ensure you get there even if He has to let you take a detour first.

When God asks us to take a step and we still cannot see the full path, we must trust and obey, because faith begins with obedience.

That was Abraham's reality. God did not give him a map, neither did he show him the destination, the timeline, or how everything would unfold. He simply said, "Go."

And Abraham went.

That is the part of Abraham's story that reminds me to trust God even when I cannot see the full picture the most.

Another part of Abraham's story that I find absolutely mind-blowing.

Imagine being childless and hearing this;

[14] The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west.

[15] All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.

[16] I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. ‭Genesis 13:14-16 NIV‬

Sir, excuse me please one minute, what offspring?

This man did not even have one child ooo.

Not one.

Yet God was talking about offspring that would be too numerous to count.

If I was in Abraham's shoes I will be thinking

"God, have You forgotten a small detail? Before we start counting descendants like the dust of the earth, shouldn't there be at least one child first?”

That is why I think Abraham's reaction in Gen 17:17 is valid sha….

Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” But even with that he still trusted God and believed that somehow, in a way only God could make possible, Sarah would bear him a son.

Everything Abraham could see contradicted God's promise. His present circumstances said it was "impossible," but God's word said "possibility.” Most times we find ourselves in situations where our reality contradicts God's promises. In those situations, choose to trust God's word. Romans 4:20-21 tells us that Abraham did not waver through unbelief but was strengthened in faith, being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

As if Abraham leaving his homeland to a place he did not know was not enough, he still trusted God and was really going to sacrifice the son he got from trusting God's promises. Isaac the very son through whom the promise was supposed to be fulfilled.

Based on the life of Abraham I will say walking by faith means:

• Stepping into the unknown with nothing but God's word to hold on to.

• Trusting God's direction even when the destination is unclear.

• Obeying God despite difficult circumstances.

• Remaining patient during seasons of waiting.

• Surrendering our plans and desires to His will.

• Believing that God is faithful even when we do not understand His process.

I encourage you to walk by faith and not by sight, because when we do that, we discover that God's promises are always greater than our limitations. Choose faith over fear and obedience over certainty.

See you next Friday ❤️

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7

There is nothing as comforting as certainty. Being able to know where you are headed, the outcomes of decisions and how things will turn out. As human beings, it is natural to want 100% guarantees before we move, answers before we trust, assurance before we move, evidence before we believe, and sight before faith.

But as Christians, God wants us to do the opposite. He has called us to walk by faith, not by sight.

Part of growing as a child of God is learning to see with not just our eyes (see beyond what is visible). We are meant to walk by faith and not by sight.

To walk by faith requires that we tune our hearts to the voice of the Holy Spirit and the truth of His Word. We must choose to live according to what God reveals to us, rather than trust our own understanding

Walking by faith is not ignoring reality or pretending challenges do not exist. It is choosing to trust God's promises and guidance even when it doesn’t make sense to us. Let me add that faith does not equal absence of questions; Instead it is confidence in God despite them. And it is impossible to please God without faith.

‭And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

To be able to walk by faith, we have to first of all believe God exists and have confidence in him.

Hacks that can help you boost your confidence in God.

1. Always thank him for the privilege of prayers and answer: Make it a habit to remember and thank him for always answering your prayers. Gratitude reminds us of His faithfulness and gives us confidence to trust Him again.

2. Pray like he is in the room with you: Pray with the awareness that God is listening to you. Pray from a place of trust, knowing that He hears you.

3. Change your prayer disposition: Instead of approaching God with doubt or uncertainty, come to him boldly and expectantly.

4. Expect a reply when you pray: When you pray, believe that God will respond. His answer may not always come in the way or timing you expect, but he is always at work.

5. Always ay what the word says about you: Faith grows when we align our thoughts and words with Scripture. Instead of speaking fear or defeat, declare God's promises over your life.

When faith feels difficult, always remember that we love, trust, and follow a God we have not physically seen, yet we are convinced of his presence and his goodness.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

‭1 Peter 1:8-9

Sometimes I wonder how different my journey would be if I spent less time trying to figure everything out and more time trusting the One who already knows the end from the beginning.

What do you think our lives would look like if we made decisions based on faith as opposed to what we could see or understand?

See you next Friday ❤️

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Yesterday, 28/05/2026, was World Menstrual Hygiene Day, and the theme was #PeriodFriendlyWorld.

I shared an article yesterday to mark the day. If you have a few minutes, you can read it HERE.

When men take the trouble to fully understand what goes behind all that bleeding, it becomes easier to be a stronger pillar of support to the women who are part of their lives.

I saw this quote yesterday ,and I could not agree more. Mind you, this was not on the bingo card to be day four’s article, I had to write this last minute.

Menstrual hygiene is not just a girls' issue; it's a human issue, and leaving boys in ignorance only breeds the stigma that holds everyone back. Educating and equipping boys with knowledge about menstrual health helps break the cycle of stigma and misinformation, creating a more period friendly world for girls.

But why are boys almost always excluded from conversations about periods and menstruation when they are also part of the society girls have to live in?

I schooled in Northern Nigeria, Yobe State precisely. I remember vividly in 200 level during a lab session, one of my lecturers asked some of us to stay behind and wash the apparatus we used. I asked if I could be exempted, and when he asked why, I said I was on my period and was having serious cramps.

The shock on almost all my male colleagues' faces was immediate.

Suddenly, the classroom was filled with murmurs:

“Why would she say something like that?”

“Ewww.”

Looking back now, I realize that reaction did not come from nowhere. It came from years of silence, misinformation, discomfort, and the deliberate exclusion of boys from conversations about menstrual health.

Girls are taught how to hide pads, how to whisper about cramps, and how to avoid “embarrassing” conversations.

But we rarely teach boys what menstruation actually is.

So many boys grow up only hearing jokes, insults, and half-truths about periods, and then we act surprised when they respond with disgust or mockery.

I think we need to intentionally include boys and men in these conversations. Because creating a #PeriodFriendlyWorld is not only a “women’s issue.” It is a societal issue.

Changing the world begins with changing how we respond to ordinary things.

Finally, drum rolls please for this announcement I’m about to make 🥁

I want to write a book more like a guide to periods, puberty, and growing up for adolescent girls between the ages of 8 and 14.

I was initially going to post this on Instagram and ask for volunteers to help with writing the book, but then I thought to myself: why Instagram when Substack has some of the most creative people on earth?

So, if you are a writer, educator, designer, health professional, illustrator, or simply someone passionate about helping young girls navigate adolescence with confidence and dignity, I would love to have you on this project.

P.S the book will be given to the girls for free. Please click on the link below to join the group or scan the QR Code.

Follow this link to join my WhatsApp group: Chat.whatsapp.com

See you next Friday ❤️

“I check, check

On the bus I check, check, check

In the class I check, check, check

Every hour I check, I check, I check

When I walk I check, check, check

I twist I check, check, check

I cover, I check

I hide, I check

Every hour I check, check

Check days are gone — no check

Check days are gone

I study, I sit, I stand — no check

Eight, eight — no check

Eight, eight — no check

No check, no check

Up to 8 hours long

On the bus, in the class

I study, I walk, I play

I dance — no stains, no check.” 🎵

If you grew up in Nigeria in the early 2000's, there is a high chance this jingle is currently playing in your head. For me this jingle really lived rent free in my head back then.

For those who don't know, this is the jingle for the always sanitary pad ad. I will look for the video and add it to this article.

P.S if you see the video when this is published it means I found it, if you don't it obviously means I didn’t find it so fingers crossed 🤞

I remember back then in primary school I was always looking forward to this ad, because whenever the ad starts, you know what time it is 😉 it was dance time.

Later on, it dawned on me that I did not actually know what the advert was for, so I asked my mum and she said when I grow up I will find out. I found it weird but I didn't think too much of it. One day I went to a shop close to my house and I saw one of our big aunties buying it, I asked her what it was and she just shushed me. There and then my curiosity went from 10 to 100. I hurried home to ask my mother, but she just kept saying it is something we are supposed to talk about discreetly and carefully.

But God bless Always sanitary pads for me, they did what my conservative northern mother was ashamed of doing, and that's going to schools to teach girls about menstruation and share pads with me and thousands of other girls.

Early this year I came across the always ad again on Tiktok and thought to myself,

Wow this advert captured the silent anxiety many girls live with during their periods.

The constant checking.

The fear of stains.

The discomfort.

The embarrassment.

The need to “hide it.”

For many girls and women, menstruation is something they have been taught to manage quietly, carefully, and sometimes shamefully. They are not supposed to talk about it loudly to their fellow girls and most definitely not supposed to talk about it around boys.

🩸Many girls in rural communities miss school because sanitary products are luxuries they cannot afford.

🩸Some are afraid to stand up in class without their friends checking for them.

🩸Others wrap sweaters around their waists “just in case.”

🩸Many others deal with painful cramps while pretending to be perfectly fine because society has taught them that periods should be hidden and endured silently.

These experiences have become so common that they now seem normal. Which should not be so if you ask me.

That jingle resonates so much now because beneath the catchy rhythm and danceable beat was something many girls could relate to but could not properly explain at the time. It spoke about an insecurity that followed girls into classrooms, buses, playgrounds, churches, and mosques.

The fear of “what if.”

What if I stain my skirt?

What if someone laughs at me?

What if the boys notice?

What if I cannot afford pads this month?

What if the pain becomes unbearable in school?

A period-friendly world is not only about girls getting access to sanitary pads, It is also about girls being able to talk about menstruation with confidence and dignity, regardless of who is there.

• It is about creating spaces where girls and women do not feel ashamed of something natural.

• It is about affordable menstrual products.

• It is about proper education for both boys and girls.

• It is about clean bathrooms, access to WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and support systems that make menstruation easier.

A pad should not be hidden in black nylon bags like contraband.

A girl should not have to whisper when asking for one.

Periods should not be treated like a taboo topic wrapped in shame and secrecy.

The more we normalize talking about menstrual health, the less shame the next generation has to carry.

Today, on World Menstrual Hygiene Day themed “#PeriodFriendlyWorld” I hope we continue building a world where no girl has to miss school or opportunities because of her period. A world where “check, check” days are truly gone, because we created environments that are safer, kinder, and more understanding.

Side note: Younger me would probably find it funny that the advert I danced to so passionately in primary school would one day inspire me to be a menstrual health advocate.

Thank you Always Sanitary Pad

What myths, beliefs, or unspoken rules about periods did you grow up hearing? I would love to read them in the comments. ❤️

Last Friday I wrote about 26 lessons I am learning about myself,you can catch up on that HERE if you have not read it.

Today I will be writing about 26 lessons I'm learning while relating with others.

1. Kindness costs me nothing; Everyone is fighting one or two battles you don't know

2. I can't control what people do, but I can control how it affects me

3. People can't read my mind. If I don’t say it, they can’t know it. Expecting them to guess breeds disappointment.

4. The best apologies are the ones without qualifiers.“I’m sorry, but…” isn’t an apology.

5. Half of the conflicts we have die when people feel heard, so listen to understand, not to reply.

6. Consistency reveals character faster than words.

7. Not everyone deserves access to every part of my life.

8. Friendships evolve; Some are seasonal, some are lifelong.

9. People will surprise you both ways.

10. Tone carries more weight than words.

11. Gratitude transforms relationships. Say the “thanks for being my friend” out loud.

12. Boundaries are the invisible bridges to peace.

13. Loving others should never cost me myself.

14. Sometimes people project their insecurities onto others.

15. Forgiveness does not necessarily mean reconciliation.

16. Not everyone has the capacity to love me the way I need.

17. Unsaid expectations become unspoken resentment.

18. You can’t give what you don’t have.

19. Explaining myself to the wrong person changes nothing.

20. Friendship heartbreak can hurt just as deeply as romantic heartbreak.

21. Silence is also communication.

22. Not everyone who hurts me is bad. I can hate the wrong without hating the person.

23. I can’t always control how I'm perceived.

24. I can never please people.

25. The worst thing I can do to myself is displease myself to please people.

26. Patience and long suffering are recipes for a relationship.

Adulthood is teaching me that relationships are beautiful, complicated, stretching, and sometimes heartbreaking. The older I get, the more I realize that relating with people requires wisdom just as much as it requires love.

Which of these hit you hardest right now? I’d love to hear it in the comments.

See you next Friday 💕

Last week Friday I wrote about how 2016 was a very nostalgic year for me, but one I never want to experience again, and about how disappointment is not always the absence of God but sometimes it is the redirection of God. You can catch up on that HERE if you have not read it.

While I was thinking about what to write, I saw different posts on 25 things I learnt at 25. So I thought to myself why not write 26 lessons I'm learning about myself.

1. I feel guilty saying No to people, but I have come to realize most times it doesn't mean I'm selfish.

2. I overthink small things and underthink big decisions.

3. I want to be understood without always explaining myself.

4. I have mastered the art of “I’m okay” even when I’m not.

5. Most times all I need is just one good meal and one good conversation to feel better.

6. I want a soft life, but life keeps teaching me resilience.

7. I am becoming more honest with myself.

8. I am emotionally attached to little things that other people overlook.

9. I feel things very deeply.

10. I'm very self aware

11. I overthink because I care deeply.

12. I love to romanticize life because it helps me survive hard seasons.

13. I love being independent. It does not mean I am refusing help; I just don't know how to ask.

14. I have grown into someone I would have admired at 16.

15. I love documenting memories.

16. I want people to be able to read my mind without me having to talk.

17. My coping and defence mechanism is talking about random things and laughing.

18. I don't love myself as much as I should.

19. I get bored easily.

20. I run away from situations and discussions that make me feel uncomfortable.

21. I’m scared of changing my mind, but I am learning that I'm allowed to.

22. I work best when I feel inspired.

23. I hold on to a grudge for long, even after forgiving.

24. I enjoy teaching and sharing knowledge to younger girls.

25. I'm scared of opening up to people, but people are very comfortable opening up to me about their problems.

26. I'm a big baby that just wants to be happy 😊.

I'm not perfect, I'm a work in progress. Here’s to learning, unlearning, and relearning ✌️🥂.

2016 was a very nostalgic year for me, but a lot of things happened that I never want to experience again.

First, I wrote WAEC. I wrote my first Jamb and scored 258 (I got admission but couldn't go because of many issues), then my dad got very ill, to the point that we started giving up on him, but to the glory of God he is still alive, hale and healthy. Still in 2016 I had a life threatening illness that almost took me, but mercy said no God kept me. I started learning how to make bags while I was waiting for admission. I later dropped it in 2017 because that was not what I wanted to learn.

In 2020 I later learnt what I was passionate about, not that you asked but it was, Baking/Confectionary and Catering.

2016 was a lot for me but God was present.

Earlier I said I got admission to go to school but didn't go, I will tell you why. I wrote my first Jamb on 2nd March 2016, I remember because I still have the slip. I got admission to study medicine at the University of Abuja around late November. I still remember how happy I was 😆 but my joy didn't last 24 hours. You know why? My parents were explaining to me why I can't go because all the money they had was going into my dad's treatment and Abuja was expensive both the school fees and living expenses. That was the saddest I have been in my life, all my friends were going to school.

I can't explain how I felt in words, but for lack of a better word I will say depressed. I will say that led to my illness.

In a bid to make me happy my parents started looking for cheap Universities in Nigeria to send me to. On 30th December 2016 my mom called me from work.

These were her words “Jo'an do you mind schooling in Yobe State?” In my mind I was like where is Yobe state again? I had to recite state and capital to figure out that that was actually a state in Nigeria. And I replied to her with I don't mind. She said it was a new university and they were giving admission but I could not change my institution because Jamb had closed change of institution.

So I had to apply for remedial classes at the university instead. The weather and state of living in Yobe state was hell for me. I tried my best to fail my Jamb and got 182, but guess what I still got admission to study Biochemistry. I didn't like that but my mom kept saying just go by 200 level you will change to another university to study medicine.

I didn't later change and that was the best decision I have ever made. I will say God gave me the best people and experiences in Yobe State. I met the best people in my stay from 2017 - 2023. People that influenced my growth spiritually and mentally. I won't trade the experiences I had for anything.

“2016 taught me that disappointment is not the absence of God; sometimes it is the redirection of God.”

I thought God had abandoned my dream, but He was simply leading me to the people, places, and purpose I needed most.

Facebook kept these pictures well for me.

Talking about Facebook, a lot happened in 2016 on Facebook, people were getting catfished, almost every girl was drawing eyebrows (some were terrible, others were pretty😍). Girls were bending their legs like they had a disability to snap pictures. I was guilty like mad 😆. You just had to be there.

We have an inside joke or better still an inside troll in my friend group, if you are not 26 you can't say many many years ago or 10 years ago. As the youngest in the group, my friends trolled me a lot. But guess who can now say all that? If you said Jo'an you are very correct.

Finally, I can say that I actually remember what happened 10 years ago in my group chat (that's a flex).

I can see the little moments, the big testimonies I'm thankful for, the laughter, the lessons, and even the mistakes I made along the way. I am grateful that God has been writing my story all along even when I wasn’t paying attention.

And if He has been that faithful in the moments I barely noticed, how much more in the ones I choose to live fully, with Him at the center?

With Love,

Your sister in the Lord ❤️

See you next Friday.

If you’re new here, welcome. If you’re not, thank you for staying. I’m really glad you found your way here 🤍

In case you didn’t know, I turned 26 on April 6th, and I had a blast. This is a little birthday recap… but before I get into the day, let me reintroduce myself.

My name is Jo’an. I’m a daughter of Zion, Abba’s masterpiece, and a Northern Nigerian Christian.

I am learning how to trust God more especially in my waiting season. I am learning what faith really is, what it means to grow in God’s timing and how to find my purpose in him.

Now, back to April 6th, my birthday.

I had a plan: survive the day on ₦26,000.

Let’s just say Nigeria, Nigeriaed me. Ahh Nigeria humbled me real quick.

Before even going out to embark on my mission, I don't know why I woke up that morning thinking my 26th birthday would feel different. Bigger. Clearer. Like I would wake up and suddenly understand everything and finally decode my life.

Instead I got the biggest reawakening of my life lol. It was like every other ordinary day, except I had a lot of calls and messages to reply to. And somewhere in that ordinariness, I made a decision to be intentional. So I gave myself a mission to survive my 26th birthday on 26k.

I dressed up and stepped out with my ₦26,000 and a very solid, detailed plan in my head for how I was going to spend it.

In my mind, it was simple, nice food, something small to make the day feel special. Nothing extra, just enjoyment, and staying within budget (jokes on me).

We drove to Nike art gallery first. I wanted to appreciate art and eat (the man there knows his onions, he makes one of the best suya I have had).

But when we got there, the gallery was closed for renovations. I felt disappointed but deep down I knew nothing was going to spoil that day for me.

I decided to go to the cinema to watch Onobiren (mind you i had never gone to the cinema before). So we drove to Novare Gateway Mall, we got there around 11:20ish and the movie had already started. The next showtime was 2:20, so I bought 2 tickets and decided to wait.

While waiting I decided to get food, the food was really nice for the price, I enjoyed every bit of it. I will visit the restaurant again. They had great food and a beautiful ambience. At this point I had already ditched my plans 😆.

Now I finished eating around 12:40ish and thought to have a little fun before 2:20. I couldn’t just sit around for hours, so I went to Novare Fun World to play video games.

And I had a blast. It was fun when i say fun i mean proper fun.

I still had about 30 minutes before the movie started, so I entered a nearby store just to feed my eyes. I ended up getting a nice perfume for myself and then I bought sunscreen.

Please pardon me, I need to briefly break character. I need to rant a bit.

Tell me why Nivea UV Super Water Gel is ₦16,800 in this economy? ₦16,800 for a small container that I’m supposed to be applying generously like I own a beach house? How many bottles will I need to buy in a year ehn?

At this point, skincare is honestly starting to feel like a cult disguised as self-care.

Because explain to me why I still bought it.

I just paid and left the store quietly like I didn’t just participate in financial recklessness.

Then I took a deep breath.

Because the next part of my day was something I had actually been looking forward to.

My first-ever cinema experience: Onobiren.

And I just want to say, it set the standard very high. It was perfectly executed from the casting, to the acting, to the directing, everything felt intentional. I loved every part of the movie.

The movie deserves a separate article where I will talk about it extensively, but for now let's focus on how I celebrated my birthday.

Side note: the popcorn at nova cinema was the best popcorn I have ever had, it was delicious.

After the movie I bought one shawarma from the cinema to take home which I will rate 6/10. I also bought 🍔 burger and 🍟 chips which I really enjoyed (i said to hell with healthy eating it's my birthday 😆).

Finally on my way home I branched the store close to my house to buy Capri - Sun. I bought a half pack that I finished in 3 days.

So… Did I Survive ₦26,000?

You know the answer.

No.

Nigeria won.

But also… I won.

Nothing went as planned, but nothing went wrong either.

I learnt that not everything will go according to plan, but I have the power to choose joy. You have that power too, you can still be intentional to still have a beautiful day even when things don’t go the way you expected.

Anyway… that’s how I spent my 26th birthday.

10/10 experience. I would recommend 👌

Now, about being 26…

I’ve been thinking a lot. Reflecting and observing myself, my life, my relationships, my faith and everything.

So this is me officially announcing that I'm starting something I’m really excited about.

“26 Fridays at 26.”

Starting next week, Friday 8th May 2026 (because I needed a little time to settle into this 26 life first 😆), I’ll be sharing one article every Friday for 26 week.

Some weeks will be lessons and/or reflections. Some will be stories. Some will just be honest conversations about life, growth and my faith.

You don't want to miss this so stay tuned and watch this space.

Here’s to trusting God more, even when things don’t go as planned.

Because somehow, it always still works out.

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I attended my uncle's wedding and it became a survival story 😆.

I dressed up beautifully 😊 (evident in the picture above 🤭), minded my business with the expectations to just enjoy myself.… but somehow, I still became the main topic of discussion.

It started small.

“Ah-ah, you’re big now o!”

“Yes ma.”

“You are looking beautiful o.”

“Thank you ma.”

“What are you doing now?”

Before I could even finish answering, another aunty jumped in:

“Tor yaushe za mu zo bikin auranki?”

(Translation: So when are we coming for your wedding?)

I answered with a smile; very soon da yardar Allah (Translation: By God' grace).

Next thing

“Don’t wait too long o.”

“You know men like younger girls…”

Me in my head from where to where abeg you people should free me ooo.

And just like that, the wedding didn't feel like a celebration but like a checkpoint, where everyone had an opinion about my life and a place where my life was being measured against expectations I didn't set for myself.

This is the sad reality for many of us especially in northern Nigerian homes. Early marriage is not just encouraged, it is expected and if you are a girl above 23 and not married you are wasting time and falling behind.

What they don’t tell you is this:

So many people that rushed into marriage rushed out of it too. And nobody is gathering the family to discuss that part.

When the voices get loud: family and even your own fears it becomes easy to forget that:

Your life is not a race against others. It is a walk with God.

And God is not in a hurry.

There is a quiet confidence that comes from trusting Him, even when everything around you says, “Move faster.”

The Bible says: In Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

That means even when it doesn’t make sense.

Even when you feel “late.”

Even when people don’t understand your choices.

You trust Him.

Because rushing into something God has not ordained will cost you more than waiting for what He has prepared.

Marriage is not just a milestone it is a lifetime. And it is better to enter it in peace than in panic.

So when next they ask the questions again and you feel pressured, ask yourself this question:

Do I want to make a lifetime decision because I’m pressured?

Or because I’m led and ready?

For me my answer is; I would rather wait and be sure God is in it… than rush and spend years wishing I didn’t. Marriage is not a small thing. It’s not something I want to enter because everybody else is entering.

If you feel any pressure whatsover, or you are trusting and waiting on God for something, it doesn’t have to be about marriage alone remind yourself:

I am not behind.

I am not missing out.

I am not late.

I am aligned.

And no amount of noise can compete with the peace that comes from waiting to walk in God’s timing.

You'll be fine 🙂.

With Love ❤️

Your sister in the Lord.

I’m really glad you found your way here. And if it isn’t too late, happy New Year 😊

But before I get carried away, let me introduce myself.

My name is Jo’an. I am a daughter of Zion, Abba’s masterpiece, and a Northern Nigerian Christian. I am learning how to trust God deeply especially in the waiting seasons. I am learning faith, what it means to grow without rushing the process and finding my purpose in him. I care deeply about menstrual health and empowerment, and I believe conversations about our bodies deserve honesty and dignity. I also write about skincare because showing up for yourself in small, consistent ways matters.

If you’re wondering why this space exists and why now 🤔 

I have a hundred and one answers, but I’ll keep it simple.

This space is an extension of who I am as a Christian and what I’m becoming. I don’t have everything figured out, so I’ve chosen to learn out loud. I’m choosing gentle growth, with God at the center of it all. In a world that teaches women to be quiet about their bodies and their health, I’ve chosen to speak the God way. And just so we’re clear, I didn’t start this because I had everything figured out.

I started because I’m learning about faith, about my body, about consistency, and about what it truly means to care for myself without guilt.

Starting this i realized that starting is not the hard part, but staying consistent.

The kind of community I prayed to God to build for me is a space for people who are becoming in faith, in understanding their bodies, and in learning how to care for themselves without shame or pressure.

A community where questions are welcome. Where growth is not rushed. Where faith is lived. Where conversations about menstrual health and our bodies are honest and dignified. Where we share skincare routines and aim for consistency.

I pray that this space holds room for waiting seasons, for unlearning, for learning again. A space that understands that becoming takes time, and that God is present in the process.

You don’t need to arrive here with certainty. Curiosity is enough.

If you’re willing to grow in your knowledge for the word of God, ask questions, and walk with God while learning to care for yourself then this space is for you.

Welcome.

Let’s grow, gently and age like fine wine.

Best regards,

Your sister in the Lord.

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