TALIUS DIKE IS STILL ALIVE!

Hey guys.

I haven't been here in a long while; since last year actually. That's because I've had to divert my time and scarce resources into bettering myself, and I apologize for any discomfort my absence might've caused.

These days, my write-ups can mostly be found on Medium (www.medium.com/@TaliusDike), Instagram (www.Instagram.com/TaliusDike), and Facebook (www.facebook.com/TaliusDike)

If you're a fan of movies and TV series look up this handle @RinzyReviews on both IG and FB, that's the only thing we discss all day, everyday, and I love it. I can't wait to link up with y'all over there.

These days, if I'm not discussing movies, I'm scripting mine, or working on my debut novel.

Cheers,
Arinze Talius Dike
(#TheSummarizer)

Advice To Women

A woman is only as good as the man she beds.

The one she shares her sheet with tells so much about her.

What she likes; What she loathes; How she thinks.

It goes beyond the thrills of skipped heartbeats. The initial attraction;

The fatal feel;

The dreaded seal.

The stench to come, so deep it follows through, the days after.

Things are never the same again after that hour of guilt.

She takes a part of him same way he takes of hers.

But she's mostly ill because emotions take the better part of her.

Emotions begin to cloud judgements;

And in time, all that's left is an empty vessel dwelling in sentiments and regrets.

It's a dangerous place to be.

So, use your head.

#TheSummarizer.

I'm Really Looking Forward To This

I'm really looking forward to this:

A world where people will love one another sincerely;

A world that'll be slow to anger;

A world that doesn't stone first and asks questions later;

A world that doesn't judge easily;

Where discrimination will not be tolerated, and prejudice with respect to race and sexuality uprooted without bias.

A world where freedom isn't only guaranteed before speech.

A world where no one longs to kill for self-gratification.

A world; My world; Our world; This world: can be better. It starts with you and I.

- Arinze Talius Dike
#TheSummarizer

The Power Of Life To Death

At that point she refused to budge, she never knew it'll turn around to her detriment.

She was on top of the world and she loved the feel.

The thrill, the risk, they all worked to amplify her already stroked ego - they contributed to her defeat, her demise.

At the point of death, she thawed. "What a life I lived," she reminisced. Thoughts of her actions and inactions caused her tears to flow freely.

Soon, life fled from her... the stench of regrets filled the air.

At her funeral, the atmosphere was solemn.

'She led a good life,' one of the eulogies read.

But we all knew it was a great lie.

A woman was born with nothing. She grew up, had a name and became mean. She died. And now, a woman has no name anymore; memories are all that's left.

The powers of this world intoxicate; if only we can always remember it almost never ends well.

Be wise!

- Arinze Talius Dike
#TheSummarizer.

My New Age

That I may live always looking forward with the hope of a better future as my drive, and the thought that I have the power to influence it every step of the way

• Life is a journey, not an adventure - I hope to enjoy very well.

If you think of it, life's quite short; too short to hold on to grudges and keep malice. Preach peace!

Should peace no longer be an option, go straight to war. This is because, life's also too short to live cowering under the dictatorship of a fellow man.

• Enjoy everyday as it comes: you may never get another opportunity like it. Take risks, break away from routine and abandon protocols - this way, you'll always discover new techniques to go about old assignments.

• More often than not express yourself. Avoid living life under the shadow cast by another person.

By expressing yourself you stand a greater chance to be heard and getting to proffer general solutions that actually work. With this comes the opportunity to build a larger circle of associates who'll love nothing better than to partner with you.

• Life's too short to remain alone. Go out; meet that fine person meant for you - the nice girl down the street who wants nothing more than to know your name. The calm guy who'd do anything to spend five minutes in the presence of your awesomeness. Fall in and out of love (if need be) because love is the greatest gift of life, it is the purest form of energy that has the capacity to pass through every one of us if we allow it. You owe it to yourself to love, in truth.

• Never deny the world the awesome package that is YOU! You are unique in your own way, made to bring something special to the universe. Never sell yourself short, as incompetent, or uninspiring enough to effect change on subject matters around you. You have the ability to affect your immediate environment and the world at large.

• Never let songs get finished from your lips: Your song is your contribution to the humanity album.

• Take it from me, bless yourself and neighbors as many times as you can. Effect your society by being part of it, not just a spectator but a participator also.

Happy birthday to me!!!

- Arinze Talius Dike.

PS: This was typed two months ago against my birthday. I forgot about it until today. Though four days later than its originally slated premiere, the message remains same.

My Classroom

Today I took time to study my class closely; to look farther into the casual-minds of people I've called mates for some years now, and I came to a conclusion. Let me tell you the story of my classroom.

The many things visible inside my classroom:

• Uchendu enjoying himself peacefully with a bottle of Pepsi at the entrance. Timothy sees him, and runs to beg for a sip. Soon later a mini scene strats. Timothy is laughing loud because the supposed-Pepsi tastes just like Zobo;

•  Amaka, in a circle of her friends - Somto and Gabriella - the clique she always boasts off - they take joy taunting every other girl who isn't in their league: any babe who doesn't dress up to their high standard is an enemy, those who don't dress well and do not worship them either are greater enemies;

• Anderson, who comes to school only twelve times in a semester of which ten are exam days. He suddenly becomes a friend in these days of sudden school interest, and can possibly give me a private jet if only I have the courage to ask. He's best friends with Liz;

• Anwulika, who has vowed to never talk to me again till the day we graduate. This is because she got an E, and I got a D in Maths 301 during our last semester's exams even though we sat together (Please, help me tell her I wasn't the one who marked the paper?) I've tried to apologize but she doesn't want to listen to me, and always uses the slightest opportunity to fall my hand in front of the class;

• The guys - Magnus, Sylvester, Kelechi, Ugo, Nnamdi, and some other department's guys from the next class separated from us by a thin wall, all digging it out with the talk about last night's big match, consoling themselves over their 'casted' bets and the reassurance that the next gamble will be more successful;

• Special shout out to all the department's love birds - you might still make heaven, who knows;

• Chika, the finest girl in the department, the only fine girl I know without a squad, a well known enemy of Amaka and friends because they refused to agree on who's better between them to lead the squad. She's actually beautiful but I don't really care much after that fact,

• Pastor Elijah, the guy everyone loves to avoid: the killer of every atom of fun in the class, always reminding you that Jesus loves you and hence hates your skinny jeans because you're revealing too much of your body's contour - LOL;

• Sister Linda, she complements Brother Elijah, she's the butter to his bread, always sitting with him on the same bench studying the bible with him (He he he!) and going for evangelism together. I wonder what he'd do without her;

• Let's go to the front of my class, 'the den of the geeks from Greece' I always try to do the maths in my head, I try to deduce who's worst off from this squad (they all appear equal), not because I hate them or anything, but because they can't help but look and sound awkward in everything we do in class, their worth isn't known and their happiness not anyone's business until it's time for quiz or worst exams when the entire class suddenly realizes they exist and begs them incessantly for the slightest of answer to not get an F;

• Liz, the self acclaimed finest girl in town, since our first year I've always wondered what's so fine in her, I keep praying that God reveals that hidden truth to me (but until then). Liz (who's full name is Elizabeth, but rejects it because of the stigma from her village people who call her Elizah!), is that kind of girl most of you have met at one point in your life, she's always feeling too fly (Even Amaka and Chika no reach), because she has contested in all the top pageantry around school we won't hear word again, I really hope she understands that all is vanity.

• Before I forget this bunch of weirdos, they always walking together and doing weird things - I suspect they're a cult, but no be my mouth anti-cult go here that suspicion from, God forbid bad thing. Shout out to you all weird gees (Bolu, Red head, Skin-guard, Sandals, and Fanta) I dey hail una, big bosses dem, even though I hope una no read this.

Who I'm I forgetting? Hm-mm ... Should I talk about my lecturers, the strange ones ... maybe some other time.

OK!... Here's my humble class. (I almost forget to say, my course-rep's name is Humble!)

Everyone should be able to relate to this tale: we all have our own Uchendu, Amaka, Anderson and all the rest, it's not peculiar to any school in any particular geopolitical zone, it's a general thing you get when you pack people from different walks of life into a space, they react and respond differently, we should learn to tolerate our individual differences.

Now I understand this, I have nothing but love for my class, and I can't imagine a class without the weird gees, the beauty queen or even the drama queens, they all have their function and destinies,

I love you all, my ever noisy class.
.
.
.
Wait! Wait! I almost forgot myself and my crew. #TeamSilentGuys, we're the quiet ones, and the most liable to enter heaven out of the entire class, we complement the 'Terry G' in the others.

Now I'm done.

Specially dedicated to Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka,

Pure and Industrial Chemistry Department, Class of 2016/2017.

PS: All characters here a fictional, but I'm sure we all can relate to them
(Tweet @TaliusDike FB: Life Summaries by Talius

WHAT THEY SAY WHEN YOU'RE NOT THERE.

Yes. I've come again.

I believe the title is self explanatory, I'll delve straight into the reasons I decided to talk about this.

The yearly Easter period sees lots of festivities within its dates. As customary, wedding ceremonies take alarming precedence; practically every street has a bride to be during this time. It happened my good friend got married to her long time beau during this year's Easter festivities. I graced the occasion with my one of a kind low-key presence. At the point I sat with a mutual friend I heard lots of things, what people had to say about the young couple.

This particular clique sat behind me spread out to my left hand side. About four of them, three ladies and a man. They were friends of the bride, save for one of them (the ring-leader, a slay mama) who realized midway the ceremony that she also knew the groom. You needed to see the lamentation in her voice - lamentation expertly laced behind clamors of fake-excitement. I could tell they were fake because its my joy uncovering slay-idiots and their misguided way. According to her, the guy used to live across her room at acertain point in his education journey, and she couldn't believe he was getting married.

'Benji, is getting married. It's a lie! Small Benji. Jesus!'

Her wails were endless. I was almost tempted to asked if she had a thing for the guy, or if they once ran a certain package, to stylishly signal my friend to beware of her and wiles she might present in the near unforeseen future. But it later became clear that she was suffering from a case of latent-jealousy.

At first, I am sure, slay-mama Nkoli (let's call her Nkoli), would have been shaken when Ada (let's say that's the bride's name) invited her for the wedding. Girls can be unnecessary covetous even when they don't need the bone of contention. Nkoli arriving the ceremony in all her slay glory and recognizing the groom, and coming to realize that what Benji and Ada share she doesn't yet have, and might not in a long while because she's still slaying, buried strains of jealousy begin to rise up like Christ did. In fact, I think wedding ceremonies should be banned from Easter period; maybe that's the cause.

Anyways, this is the tale of one slay mama/ trap princess/ slay queen/ trap idiot, started to blow her mouth out of proportion. When she realized she was beginning to draw much attention, she ended by praising the couple,

'Both of them are responsible sha!'

And that was when her slay man, or should I saw sugar bobo added his own, 'Responsible people are the ones that make mistake the most.' And that was how another round of gossip started. SMH!

So know, whatever it is, people must talk, and it's not because they care; nobody cares; but because their lives are so empty they hope to fill up the void at that moment by trashing yours. That high feel is temporal, yet mind-blowing. But then, is it worth it?

What do you say at other people's back? Answer this before you start to curse and castigate this slay-mama, or wonder what people are saying at your own back.

- Rinzy Talius Dike

(Tweet @TaliusDike, and @LSbyTalius)

FB: Life Summaries by Talius 

NOBODY CARES

NOBODY CARES

That's the sad truth about life. You're dying, no one cares. You're still alive, no one truly cares. Life is a personal journey and also a selfish one.

And to think this discussion came up as a joke between I and two friends strolling a path. I realize as I type this, that I also don't care if you like the message or not. (That's only true to an extent sha!)

Because no one truly cares, that's why:
- Parents give birth to children of theirs to protect personal interests, and most alter the love shown to children begat outside their loins.
- An only son is made to marry early, to protect their interest.
- A child is given off by the parents to make a way for the remaining ten siblings.
- There's so much budget padding and whistle-blowing in the country.
- Why a lecturer fails you for a pardonable offense.
- Cigarette companies warn you of death after collecting your money for the pack...

The list is endless.

Life is unfair, and the easiest way to not be a permanent recipient of all its baggage is to toughen up and to an extent stop caring.

Nah! I'm joking.

Care. Show love. There's too much negativity in the world; we can only try out part by infusing as much positive energy into it as we can. That way, we'd know if things would get better, and polithievecians would stop carting away our money.

Nah! I'm joking too.

Whistle-blowing is presently the most lucrative job in Nigeria. If you care deep enough, do not blow your whistle for that criminal that has made life difficult for you and the masses.

What am I saying sef? Let me come and be going.

(singing as I leave... nobody cares! nobody cares o!...)


- Rinzy Talius Dike
FB: Life Summaries by Talius
(Tweet @TaliusDike, and @LSbyTalius)

The Untypical Nigerian Husband

I remember when I sent this piece to Daniel Nkado's DNB Story to publish two years ago. How time flies!
PS: This is a throwback piece.

***

The Untypical Nigerian Husband

Ebuka and Nneka have been married for 3 years now.

Though to them, it seemed like 33 years. It is obvious that love has finally been lost in the union.

"You can get a divorce if you want!" Ebuka would shout on top of his voice at every chance he gets to chastise his wife.

He claimed she nagged a lot, though his voice was usually the more frequently heard.

Truth is, he was already tired of the marriage and now only in it because of his father.

He didn't understand why his millionaire father had to insist he continued staying in this hell of a marriage when he could easily get another woman to marry.

Another woman he would live peacefully with and would not be a problem to his soul.

But his father had maintained he held on to the union, endured whatever hell he claimed to be passing through in his marriage.

The elections were fast approaching and a divorce scandal from his son could destroy his chances of getting into public office.

Ebuka didn't understand why his happiness should be the price to be paid for his father's political ambition. But he knew better than to argue with his father, or disobey him—his large inheritance was at stake.

But today, the argument had taken a new turn. Ebuka was ready to let all hell break loose.

On Nneka's request he returned home earlier than usual to find a man in a corporate wear sitting in his living room. The man was going through some papers in a file with austere confidence, just the way lawyers do.

Ebuka began to wonder.

His wife called him aside. “Your father wants me to divorce you,” she told him. “He sent this lawyer to make it happen as quickly as possible and I've been assured 50 million naira as settlement once this is done.”

“50 million for what?” he asked.

“For my silence," Nneka told him. “The money will be deposited into my account as soon as everything is finalized, so please be nice and walk over to that table and sign the papers.”

Ebuka was dumbfounded. "Wait, did you just say 50 million naira?” he asked again.

Nneka nodded. “50 million naira only,” she said.

His heart began to beat faster as he wondered why his father would prefer to give such a huge amount of money to someone not related to him by blood, especially when he has been requesting for just 2 million naira from him for the past four weeks to put into his business.

From his pocket, Ebuka pulled out his phone and dialled his father to know the reason behind this spite.

His father told him that was the only way to avoid a messy separation between him and his wife.

Ebuka wasn't finding it funny especially the part where his father mentioned that the settlement to be given to his wife would be taken from his inheritance and that he could have whatever was left of it whenever it pleased him.

With that much sum gone from his inheritance he’d be lucky if he still has a full100 thousand left.

Ebuka got off the phone call with his father, shaking his head in disagreement.

No way he could allow his many years of patience and waiting for his inheritance to grow go to waste just like that.

Immediately, he held up his phone again and called his pastor requesting for a date for he and his wife to come for the renewal of their marital vows and keep their bond strong and lasting.

Fast forward to 10 years now, Ebuka has stopped complaining about his wife. He and Nneka now have two beautiful children and a happy home and his dad just stepped down from public office and a party was thrown in his honour.

At that party, Ebuka’s father and Nneka had the opportunity to reminisce over their ideas to hire a con artist 10 years ago to act as the lawyer and get Ebuka to take life serious.

It was their secret. They treasured it and again swore there was no need for Ebuka to know.

What's Holy About The Holy Week?

For the non-Christians, this is the Holy week - the week that ushers in Easter Sunday (the Sunday that's supposedly the one Jesus Christ rose from the dead.)

Permit me to say, but since time immemorial, this week boasts of the highest rate of hypocrisy among Christians. To be truthful, the entire Lenten season is a scam. Sort of.

Now, many might wonder why I'm saying this, but there's no need sugar-coating something almost everyone knows, even if we don't like to admit it. The reason for this my ideology stems from the fact that most of us aren't really Christians, we only answer the name as a tag because we identify with the Church as against other forms of religion. Truthfully, most of us have no single strand of Christ-likeness in us, which is made evident from the many sinful acts we nonchalantly spearhead in our daily lives.

The Holy Week. The well revered Holy Week. The week when even the staunchest of sinners goes about preaching the need to strive to be Holy, to attend the Good Friday's Stations of the Cross procession. The week scholars of the Bible, Pastors, Priests, etc., urge you to be at your best behavior for the sake of reverence to something that has lost its meaning through extreme negligence.

I ask, who is fooling who?

People need to wake up. We need to start seeing pass the Church and what it no longer represents. The Church has lost a large chunk of its true values. We need to begin to see pass the reasoning that going to Church every Sunday increases our chances of being right with God. To see pass the false truth that going for confession offsets our burdened heart for us to start the count again from zero to full-cup of sin when we'll be due for another confession. Till we see the need to be selfless beings who are ready to serve Christ in full, truth and in spirit, there's no need deceiving ourselves. One can either be for God or for mammoth, but never both at the same time.

So, if you aren't ready to serve now, stop the pretense!

Growing up, I heard a lot of references to how judgment will start in the Church. I never understood it then, but it's beginning to make sense now. Remember, the Church are the persons who make up the congregation and priesthood, not the building.

Few days ago, there was this article about Mount Zion Ministry reminding people not to drag God's name into Efe of BB Naija's win. Their reason was that BBN was immoral and God wasn't central to Efe's victory. People (mostly Christians) went on rampage, because this generation detests the truth. But that's where it gets interesting, the truth is the truth and it will never change. If you find fault with what Mount Zion Ministry said, check yourself, because you're already in trouble. God is God, yesterday, today, and forever. No manner of twisted doctrine in Church, or form of alteration by persons will ever change that.

- Arinze Talius Dike©

 Tweet @TaliusDike @LsByTalius
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THE HOLE SIZE, BASED ON LOGISTICS.

They said to me, you can never get to that level in life; you can only admire but never will you get there.

At first it got to me. I'd lay on my bed staring at the ceiling, mentally calculating its area and perimeter to know if fatigue would cause me to drown into a long and painless sleep. Everyday was like that, until after a while it stopped working.

The rejection continued, and I wanted the easy way out.

I returned from my routine job that faithful evening; gentle, quiet, self-absorbed I was, for it was to be my last day on earth. God! What was I thinking?

I set out for the street, a polythene back in hand, one that contained all sorts of instruments to take away my pains. There was this cloud resting over my head that caused me to view the world in a whole different light. I was going going to die and I was ready for it even if the world feigned it wasn't.

I thought of what my mother would say, how she'd react when they break the sad news to her. It broke my heart to be the one to break hers of all her thirteen children, but my mind was made up and even my love for her wasn't going to hold me back.

I thought of Abigail, the love of my life. How life would be for her once I'm finally gone - she'd be free to marry that rich man who's been toasting her for a while now. I can imagine her face, the one where she'd be angry to return home and not find her stay at home lover, only to hear later that he's gone for good. But, if the love of my mother couldn't deter me from this path, certainly not her.

 

The choice place for my exit - a place commonly called The Hole, based on logistics. Ironic that it had a metaphorical hole that was going to feast on my life.

The Hole welcomed me. Everyone I met from the moment I entered the arena, smiled to me. I almost felt at home. I felt welcomed and loved enough to immediately  appreciate my choice of where to say goodbye. Then came the hard decision - which weapon to murder myself with? I picked up the kitchen knife, but felt it too blunt to do a neat job. Poison? Too harsh a way for anyone to die, most especially a person who the world had been thoroughly unjust to.

I had worked myself out for ten years at The Company, only to be tossed out at the slightest accusation of theft. My sack came with an assurance that I'd spend the next fifteen years of my life in jail, over an offense I sincerely know nothing about.

The easiest way out of this betrayal is death - death by the ropes. I took my weapon of choice and decorated my neck with it. Looking downward, where people gallivanted round the mall, I didn't give it a second thought, I took that leap of faith, only to be set free as fast as I did.

I went ballistic. Why would the police interfere with a man tired of this life? Why would they leave the thousands who wanted their rescue on the third mainland bridge, just for me?

My inquiry revealed they saved me to face the full extent of my crimes - stealing money from the firm and also killing the brother of the C.E.O. in retribution.

Now, I'm looked up, in chains, no way to take my life, and certainly no way did I take another man's.

What am I supposed to do?

- Arinze Talius Dike

FB: Life Summaries by Talius
 

Twitter: @LSbyTalius; @TaliusDike

A Sound of Hope to my 2037 self

I'm not really sure how best to address you because I'm lost within thinking which of my many personalities has take precedence in your time. I pray you to not take offense at my lack of such formality.

I want to ask how you fair, not because I fear for your era but because in my time every conversation has to proceed with the question - How are you?

I want to also believe you got married to an angel, had the wonderful son and beautiful daughter I always craved for; but sensibility quickly reminds me that if wishes were horses beggars would ride all day - so instead I'm asking, which of the lesser evils did you achieve?

You're not getting any younger; hope you've started to plan for that early retirement I heavily crave for?

Hope you're happy with the various choices you've made? If not, write back, detailing all you did and didn't do right. If you do not write to me, when I finally arrive at your time and things aren't looking funny I definitely won't write to our 1997 self in order not to disrupt the timeline.

Hope you're enjoying the best of what this limited human life has to offer?

Life is very fragile and fleeting, making the right choices helps to alleviate the sufferings that come with its fragility.

Make positive choices always!

With love,
Your 2017 self.

Tweet @LSbyTalius @TaliusDike
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RELIGION HAS MADE US WICKED

Religion has made us wicked!

We spend more time church politicking than praying.

We spend extra time being religious than actually being Christians.

Religion has killed us: It has made us sentimental.

It has made us weak.

We lack love! And there is no health in us - simply because we are too religious.

We hate TJ, our foreign neighbor because of his identity, but claim to be one at peace with JT, the popular robber because he is one with our 'belief' and hasn't stolen directly from us yet!

We are hypocrites! It has done more harm than good! We are damaged goods!

A world without religion might be a better place; it should be. But, I doubt we'll ever find out, because religion is the identity, the world order, and not Christ whom we claim to be our cornerstone.

Twitter: @LsByTalius; FB: Life Summaries by Talius

What makes the quality of life different?

What makes the quality of life different?

Why is it that I and my neighbor have different reactions to almost the same environment inputs?

Am I just lucky that none of the many vile easily strolling the world has caught up to me yet?

I may not know why, I may never know. Probably there's more to it that meets the eye; more to it than the loud speaker of the church close to my house that would always remind me that... God knows all things before it happens.

I'm on the bridge, the one where you just have to choose if to continue believing in providence or that a man makes his path and every place he finds himself is as a direct consequence of his decision. That's where I am.

I'm not toeing the line of atheism; I can never, because I know there's a God. All I'm saying is that believing in him, following his ways and keeping his statutes' an individual race, one that can be run irrespective of race, belief, or denomination.

My quality of life is different, maybe because of His input, His gracious touch, His presence, I can never be certain, but whichever of His attributes, I am grateful. The things that kill my neighbors has only made me stronger!

FB: Life Summaries by Talius; Tweet @LsByTalius

Bigots everywhere!

Religious bigotry keeps eating deep into the hearts and minds of all practitioners, worst are the Christians who are supposed to be practicing the number one gospel of love.

We think we are better than the next person simply because he/she doesn't share same ideology and belief as ours, hence, we want to drown him/her anyway we can till she rethinks her poor choice.

Shame on us! Christ, the good Shepherd would weep on our behalves.

We need a rethink, we need to stop the hate, bigotry, and uncalled malice. Love is the message, and we all need to preach it till we can no more.
.

- Arinze Talius Dike

Twitter @LSbyTalius @TaliusDike
FB: Life Summaries by Talius

I Will Fly, Not Walk

He said I'd do great things, that my voice will be heard worldwide in conjunction with my name. My mom fell for it; thank God I was stronger.

Few years down the line... his prophecy still hadn't come to pass. I always knew he was a charlatan so I wasn't that bothered, but mom wouldn't stop talking about it, how her enemies weren't letting her son live his life to the fullest; so, she did what she knew how to do best.

From pot to fire they call it, this charlatan was no different from the one before. He claimed I was circled by demons on demand, powers from high places, and that the only way to be free was for me to embrace the church - his church.

Mother fell for it, I knew better, but just like the time before I couldn't resist, I had to make her happy.

Few years down the line and still nothing to show for it other than I was another pile to the growing lost of church-dogs hypnotized to serve man's needs in the name of God. Mom was going ballistic, something needed to happen. She called on the gods she knew, the ones who'd intercede on behalf of the God she worships. I was to do something to get something - my redemption. This time I said no. Obi was becoming a man and has to start standing for himself.

At this point I realised, all that I needed to excel was already in me. Mom's wishes are good and are for my progress, but if I continued listening I'll forever be living in her shadow.

The miracle you need has already happened, you just need to see out of the box to recognize it.

Twitter @LSbyTalius @TaliusDike
FB: Life Summaries By Talius

Should I Keep Calm For an Olodo (Updated version)

This woman wants a man to permanently call her own. But, she has nothing to offer in return even though her taste is high.

Mathew, the student, wants to pass his exam. But, he hasn't read anything quantifiable this semester.

The man with the popular shop along the street wants to buy the latest Range Rover this Christmas. But, he hasn't started saving or making plans towards this feat.

What do you think is common to all these people?

They're Olodos.


I have never really understood the idea behind people who publicize almost every detail of their lives, both the relevant and the irrelevant. Months ago I came across someone on my FB timeline thanking God for a successful examination, and hoping he'll help him with the remaining ones just as he magically did that day.

I never knew God performed magic, until that moment.


There's every possibility that this person (and all like him) isn't in the top 90 of the 100 students in his class that prepared for that exam, yet, he still had to announce to the world that he just wrote an exam he cannot defend. These category of people find it hard to get on their knees and pray for the miracle they want. I sometimes wonder if Facebook had suddenly get rebranded as a miracle center - The sacred order of those who can't face their problems physically but come online to do so.

It hurts my person each time I see grown men and woman in this present time fall victim to senseless and well-glaring underage post, in the name of being relevant and 'active' on social media. If you have nothing new and important to communicate, keep shut! You'd save yourself a lot of embarrassment (from people like me that'll always tell you the truth).


If you want something, anything at all, be ready to work for it. Good things rarely come easy. Make the conscious effort to want to raise your station, and see things fall in place, because your dedication to a cause will cause things to align better.

Yes, there may be detractors; or has any man ever achieved anything without having people wanting to put him down.

Every story has its villain. And, for every hero there is an antihero or outright villain. Be ready to face your demons, in whatever form they might appear, and see yourself conquering mountains to get to that top you've so much craved for.

FB: Life Summaries by Talius
Tweet @LSbyTalius @TaliusDike

I just want to say thank you

I felt like putting my pen to paper again.


I felt like saying a better thank you than the last time. I usually  get to say it often, but I've been saying it plenty of late.

Thank you for being you.

Thank you for loving me the way I am - imperfect, flaw-filled, human.

Thank you for having my back even when I was unsure.

Thank you for providing when I could, and wouldn't.

Thank you for watching over me while I sleep.

Thank you for never giving up on me.

Thank you for being my friend.

Thank you for being you - flawed, human.

Thank you for everything.

Cheers, to better days; days when I can still say thank you comfortably, without fear or favor.

Thank you!!!

A New Year

I saw a thread on a forum earlier today, where a moniker was complaining why the world recognizes mostly the Gregorian calendar. Whatever the case may be, The Gregorian Calendar has declared that we are in a New year.

Happy, 2017 everyone !!!

We thank God for the grace of life thus far; we pray that he continues to guide our actions.

Into the beauty of 2017 we already are, and we alone have the power to retain or cast-away this beauty.

Do what is right, do what is just. If your conscience is alive, let it lead. If not, strive to get your conscience kicking again by associating with positive acts for positive vibes.

This isn't a blank page page to undo all wrongs, but a reminder that time is going - the second coming close, and your death closer (should Christ tarry.)

Things may or may not get better in the country, but we'll survive, because we're survivors, and majority.

Happy 2017!!! Have a blessed year.

A Day in One Hundred

As I stare at the screen before me, I can't help but think that I've lost it... Or maybe, I'm about to.

'Everyday for the thief, one day for the owner to rejoice.'

A very popular saying. I've always wondered what happens to the past ninety-nine days of loss, pain and anguish. Does the owner suddenly become fine and forget his burdens, simply because the villain of his story has been caught?

Of course not.

The pains, the losses, and voids caused still remain, and no manner of punishment meted out to the captured-menace would restore peace, or plant joy where there's already a void of great loss.


I really think I've lost it.

I got caught in the web I've always preached others avoid. How? I don't remember. What I do know is, I want out.

My demons don't want me to.

What if I didn't know better?


Dele's my friend. He's up for the death row as penalty for breaking a law. Does his sin stain me because I was his friend, or because I didn't call him to caution?

I might never be able to tell that truth, for  its time flips swiftly. He'll be dead soon.

Sleep eludes me from my own truth. Probably this rambling is caused by early signs of insomnia, or probably, my lack of closures causing me to dream dreams and see visions.

I almost want to think I'm far gone for restoration, but no commodity can be curbed fully off its market value.


I'm tempted to make you say goodbye to the winds for me, tell them to let bye-gones remain bye. I feel my sins catching up; the Ghost-riders coming for me. I need an escape plan, and I need one ASAP!



Rinzy,
(The Summarizer)
Thurs, 05/12/16.