RISING STRONG

RISING STRONG 

(Long post)

"Vulnerability is about showing up and being seen. It’s tough to do that when we’re terrified about what people might see or think.” ~ Brené Brown.

"Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it's our greatest measure of courage,” ~ Brené Brown.

“Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am brave and worthy of love and belonging,” ~ Brené Brown.

“I was reminded that shame is a liar and a story-stealer. I have to trust myself and the people I care about more than the gremlins, even if that means risking being hurt."~ Brené Brown.

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<> At a time of being very vulnerable was the same time my work as a change agent came to limelight. 

<> On 23rd March, 2015 after I chose Lagos in place of Abuja. I migrated to Lagos because of the overwhelming challenges I have been faced with in a search for greener pasture I thought but I had no place of my own there. So I thought of speaking with my old time friend that stays in Lagos if he could accomodate me for a while. I moved into Lagos with my hope rising for a better situation, he accomodated me and hosted me for a week, after that week I became homeless because I didn't want to burden him. That was how my struggles of being vulnerable completely began.

<> My first Sunday in Lagos was on the 29th of March, 2015.  It was the second day after the presidential election. On that day I boarded a LT bus (a common 25 seater yellow and black bus) from Berger to Obalende, Lagos my presumed destination for the Sunday worship was Lekki, Lagos. As we moved on the bus I boarded broke down on third mainland bridge. Seated in the bus having been tired of life the thought of jumping into the lagoon came. It was real and I wrestle with the thought, I resisted the suicidal thought just as demonic as it was. The Journey into becoming a change agent is more precious to me than taking my own life. I threw the thought into the bin. We were lucky to get another public transport.

<> Life became hard and I wouldn't just give up. 

<> I realized being vulnerable was the perfect time for me to work on my weaknesses, develop myself and continued the good work I am passionate about.

<> I encouraged myself in the Lord.

A look into my younger years of how it all started and what motivated me to continue.

<> I founded Barbara Abike Epperson Foundation (Baef) in 1998 to immortalized  Iya Barbara Epperson my late American foster grandmother. Till today I still wonder how a secondary school boy with a little knowledge on  how to run a organization found a nonprofit ?

But then I did it and i realised everything is possible if the right mindset and energy is channelled towards it. I had to give more than 100% energy to making "BAEF" come out great. 

<> Loosing my mother at age one and my father at age seven, becoming a orphan at a very  tender age you could tell how bad that was.

<> My 1994 senior secondary school education examination (ssce) was poor. I had only two pass in english language and agricultural science, scored F9 in other subjects. It was that bad that i made up my mind that I wasn't going to  resit for another SSCE examination again.

<> "Your late father will not be happy 😊 that you didn't further your education"  a family member said to me. 

<> I had purposed in my heart to make my late dad happy. Although I didn't know that was going to happen since I will not be furthering my education. 

<> In June 1996, I went to a private technical school to learn aluminium fabrication as a vocation. I committed my time and energy to learning the skill. While learning I gradually started self educating myself even outside the classroom. Later,  I graduated from the technical school.

<> In the year 2000, I started my technical company in Osogbo. 

My work was going well, in November 2003, I moved into my uncompleted house.

<> So far 30 apprentices graduated from my technical company up till 2015 when I left for Lagos and each of the 30 apprentices have also trained a minimum of 2 apprentices, directly and indirectly I have trained 90 individuals to earn a living. I'm so proud of what I have been able to accomplish.

<> I gave myself away to service by establishing the BAEF foundation that I had singlehandedly founded in memory of my beloved late foster grandmother and I wanted the foundation to stand tall and become a household name. 

<> Back to my Lagos migration story, I saw my migration into Lagos as an opportunity for me to do greater things and learn more so as to develop myself for the work ahead of me.

<> A typical day for me as an homeless visionary starts with prayers then a bath at the Lagos Island public bathroom, thereafter have my breakfast and  then walk down to see other people like me who are either homeless or pressed down. I obviously do not have all I needed not even one aside the air that I breathe,  but I needed to encourage and support others, that is me, that is what I was created for. After all these I will either attend a conference, a workshop, annual lecture, library etc. 

<> Before 2015 I didn't know how to leverage on social media to showcase my personal project and the works of BAEF. So I conceptualized strategies that I will use since no one will be available to work with me and BAEF on a full time. 

<> My impact works and the works of Baef got recognitions and recommendations from a lot of people home and abroad.

<> I made a few friends who stood by me. My friends are my Heroes, I continually pray for them. 

<> I spent five years in Lagos far from home out of the five years I was homeless for four years. I will not pray for my enemy to sleep outside just for a night let alone my loved ones. 

People are really going through a whole lot in Nigeria, cost of securing an accommodation is too high in major cities and those living in slums lives no good life. 

<> My five years in Lagos was like a Decade, I thought I wouldn't leave Lagos alive but here I am alive and stronger, praise God. Through it all I saw myself a CHAMPION, A WEALTHY PERSON. I didn't see myself living a fake life as I openly and in proverbs share my un/foreseen circumstances recurrently.

<> There is no human way you will go through what I went through and not have scars, I have scars that is healing and I'm grateful that I went, saw and conquered. I became a better person (I am still doing great) being able to do greater things because of the hurdles my vulnerability presented. 

<> Today many do not still believe that I'm an ordinary secondary school holder. I am out there doing great works. Today there are millions of secondary school holders, they went through the 6-3-3 levels of the educational system but the system never went through them, because our educational system and the overall setting is faulty and only a few makes success. 

<> I am grateful that I have made my parents proud through all I have engaged myself with in the past 22 years. 

<> I returned back home last year March(2019) and I'm rising strong 💪🏾, my scars are healing, and I'm controlling my #ptsd.

<> Lol, Whenever I display my cooked food 🥘 or do any funny thing like grinding pepper on a grinding stone here.....I'm only grateful to God almighty and everyone who stood by me, making the whole process a lesson that made me stronger ~ Jonathan.

To be continued. 

Please click to read about my post "The road to my transformation. 👇🏽

                                        👇🏽

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