When is the best retirement age?

It's 2am and I'm up already.
Not quite strange sha, especially as I didn't take a shower before going to bed the night before. Sleep is always interrupted when it happens like this. It's just a silly habit I formed that is now haunting me.

I've been given a slot to perform another piece at an official event in March. I've started writing it though and I think I want to do something out of my comfort which means more practice. *shivers*
First point of practice I guess would be at the monthly poetry reading I normally attend.

So a random thought jumped into my head as I tried to make good use of my awake time. "When is the best retirement age?" Occasionally, I see adverts on BRT buses on various Pension Administrators but one advert slogan that has caught my attention and possibly admiration (for the rhymes anyways) is Stanbic Pensions' which reads 'Today's swagger might be tomorrow's stagger'. Hehehe... I love the humor, yet serious sense of the ad.

So I was kinda thinking...when is the best age/time to start planning retirement?
What would one do in retirement?

We must have heard cases of people who died few years after leaving their jobs which I guess is due to physical inactivity and reduced social interaction. I doubt if retirement is really a function of age though.

I think it's a function of planning ahead though and planning early also. I have this friend who already has his children's school fees till secondary school planned for (he's gotten more than half ready). He's not married yet by the way. Oh sorry, I meant he's not even dating yet! I once thought he was plain crazy, paranoid and all sorts but really it's good to plan ahead. A Forbes article I read went on to give a few solid tips on planning early too.

At least, have a faint idea of when you wanna retire and how you wanna spend it. I believe it puts things in perspective and could even make you know how and where to channel your energy and resources to. Just my thoughts though.
I stumbled on another interesting article on the subject also.

So have you thought about retirement?
When do you think is the best age/time?
Share your ideas...

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A few Issues...

Here's hoping this post will break the jinx and I'm not in anyway trying to make light of the fact that I haven't dropped a word in months.

I've battled with so much guilt of not being able to write a single post and I'll try also not to be dramatic in explaining what has been going on.

Thing is...I'm kinda overwhelmed. There's so much clogged up in my head. So many things race through my mind per time that I hardly find the peaceful mental posture to pen down my thoughts. My greatest fear was even when I tried to write and couldn't figure what to write about. I guess it's a chronic form of writer's block I'm currently experiencing but keeping quiet about it hasn't helped. So here's me in my humble skin letting you in on the few issues I'm experiencing and hoping you'll understand as you've always.

Work has been a bit overwhelming and the perfectionist side of me has not helped either. I actually wrote a few things but never bothered to publish cuz it just never made any sense. So, I always thought to myself..."Okay fine, you can't write Michael, then soak yourself in more work". Only got worse. lol.

I missed the monthly poetry reading I normally  attend this January  which I only missed once last year. Well, enough of narrating the issues.

On a brighter side, some good things also happened:

- I read a poem at an official event in December and it was well enjoyed. When a partner walks up to you and gives you the 'Did-you-write-that-lovely-piece' look with a handshake, then you know it was a good one.

- Errm, I summoned the courage to re-write and put up one of the stories I talked about earlier in this post.

- The Hidden Ville comic by Koryarts finally got published. 

- I bought a new gadget that I'd been craving to buy since last year. I call her 'Regina'. lol!

- I met Huntly Anabs (a fellow blogger) in person and he visited me with a gift in December. I was elated!!!

- I discovered more on my walk with God.
- Super Eagles are in the AFCON 2013 Finals!

Though it's coming late, Cheers to a wonderful 2013 with you guys!

New Story!...Trending Now: Skydying

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What has become of us...?

I still maintain the fact Nigeria will change for the better despite contrary belief but of recent I've had to ask myself some questions such as "How bad do we have to get to become good?", "Will this change happen in my lifetime?" and many more of that sort.

I see the father figures of our times who will one day head families and its saddening to see that there's a lot of distraction and misplacement of values these days. The other day I was listening to Inspiration FM and a woman was almost in tears of how she learnt to tolerate her husband who always verbally abused and put her morale down. She made a statement that she had to learn to treat him as who he should be and not what he currently was. I'm thinking at the same time and asking myself if I should see Nigeria this way too.

Should I see my country for its numerous potential untapped? Should I believe in the youths of today as the leaders of tomorrow? Where have we missed it and how did we get here?
My heart goes out to the souls that were lost in the Helicopter crash. May their gentle souls rest in peace.

This Friday I was on my way home, a bit late though and as a friend dropped me at the bus-stop, I knew I had to walk briskly. I almost got robbed by these men who started walking towards me until I crossed to the other side of the road and took this God-sent bus to a taxi park to take me home. Such is the state of things, kidnapping is the order of the day, corruption is a comedy episode for us.

Numerous innocent souls have lost their lives on Nigerian soil caused by our own negligence and we think we can attain quick fixes by prayers and fasting alone. Even God told us to settle grudges with our fellow neighbours before approaching His presence.How much more, the lives lost so far.

2 Chron. 7:14 - "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

We have blood stains on our hands, it's time we rethink our priorities.
When we read the sad news of innocent people being kidnapped, dying, we should bear in mind that it could have been us. Our witnessing of a new day is another chance at life, a chance to change the plight of someone, a chance to shine our lights to repel the looming darkness.

All we can do is either be a part of the change and/or pray for the change agents. God bless Nigeria!

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Is Chivalry Dead?

I write this with great worry and concern...lol.
Okay, firstly I'm posting this from my e-mail so pardon me if it doesn't come out well formatted. Uggh! Phone typing is just major stress but I'll try as I don't want this to go just like that.
So back to the topic which is as clear as can be and I'll appreciate your honest feedback. I ask again, 'Is Chivalry dead???' Or is it on life support?
("Chivalry - the sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms...")
So what prompted this post is the seemingly subtle yet obvious rebellion against the 'perfect gentleman'. I had a discussion with a friend of mine and we drifted into guys being gentlemanly and all and she just poured out her mind of how she can't just stand a guy acting all nicey and opening doors for her and the unbearable chair-pulling stunts at the dinner table, to mention a few.
I remember Relentless' recent post on if there was existence of the Perfect Nigerian Gentleman.
Another scenario was in a church setting where the topic of what a guy looks for in a lady and vice versa was discussed. It was clear from the various opinions that most ladies were not fans of the 'Mr Nice' type of guy. In fact, the results took me aback and I was forced to think and come up with logical reasons to support why that was so.
We're in the times where trends show women breaking grounds in areas formerly seen as male territory in Career, business, government and many more sectors.
I personally offered to help a lady carrying two bags (laptop bag and handbag) with her laptop bag but she refused. Same lady, same scenario, different day, I gladly did not bother offering to help carry the bag as I guessed what the response would be. This time around she asked why I didn't go ahead to offer to help.
Shocked I gave the reason which was as result of the previous 'elah' and we laughed about it but she suggested that I should still had asked.
Men are natural protectors and want to show off that part of themselves to women by offering assistance to do some things for them. Although motives could vary, but I still think its cool to accept help when its offered.
So do you think Chivalry is dead? On life support? Or its has just simply been redefined in this present times.
Would love to hear your views...
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

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Blogging and my hiatus

It's been a constant struggle trying to put up a post for more than a month now.

Before I go on, I'm really sorry for the long silence. I thought it not wise to just put up something here without visiting your blogs so I had to do a lil visit round almost all the blogs I follow.

As you can see, we changed skin o, hehehe. Please help fill in the poll by the right sidebar. I'll appreciate it a lot!

Lots have happened in the past few days, my birthday, stress from everyday life, an encounter with a Sierraleonean  refugee, to mention a few.
I was ranting to a friend just this weekend of the number of things I was juggling and was advised to focus on things that matter. Blogging for me is one and you guys have just been super-duper awesome.

Hopefully, I've resumed fully now by God's grace. Wish you guys a lovely week ahead and stay tuned for some juicy stuff.

P.S.: Please let me know in the comments what you feel can be improved on. Thanks!

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Meeting a blogger + The big picture

It's a new week and I'm positive about how great it's going to be.

One of the highlights for blogging for me has always been meeting fellow bloggers face-to-face and I think it gets a lil more interesting when you see a familiar face and you wondering where you knew the person from.

So I saw a fellow blogger last week. Yay! Precisely Feyi (@msdawari) and I was shocked at first, cuz it was a bit dark at that time and I probably did not expect anyone to recognize someone you haven't met physically that easy at night. Twas fun really. Can wait to meet the rest of you in blogsville...(you know yourselves shebi ;-)  )

About that trip to the Equity Resort...Yah it was another round of fun again.

I think I'd define my weeks so far as a bit on the edge as I've been overwhelmed with things to do.

But in all I learnt something from a book I'm currently reading 'Thinking for a Change' by John Maxwell. It called the 'Big Picture thinking'.
It sure helps you put things in perspective as you tend to have the big picture in mind which might be a goal we want to aspire to reach in life or a dream desire. Big picture thinking helps you engage in activities that are productive in achieving that goal.

Big Picture thinking would make an aspiring writer find time to read and write in the midst of 'activities'.
Big Picture thinking would make an aspiring fashion designer start scouring fashion mags and blogs to widen his/her view.

Thing is we could get so muddled up with activities that we forget why and what we were called to 'be'. That is actually the big picture. It must always be in-view.

Here's one of the pinshurs...

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MIA Series: Pt 3 - Beach Resort Trip

So this will be the final in the series I started in my last two posts.

You guys totally have given me another name based on the forgetful act I executed on my friend's wedding. Hehe, it's not as bad as it may have seemed though. And don't change your mind of inviting me to your wedding. Noooooo! Jellof wice must not pass me by.

Throughout last month, I was operating on a funny dimension where I engaged in a lot of activities but just couldn't find reasonable time for the things that mattered. I felt exhausted almost everytime when I just think of the fact that I had blogged over a month ago.

So I had this opportunity to join a group of people in church for a trip to Eko Tourist Beach Resort (a.k.a. Akodo beach) which lasted for 2 and a half days. Twas the definition of F.U.N.!

Day 1
The hyper side of me couldn't wait to extract all the fun so I dashed to the football pitch as we arrived...in hot Akodo sun...
25 minutes later, you should have seen me panting like a goat that just drowned.

On the pitch few minutes after arrival

Just so you know, the picture below shows how hyper I was...:-D



Me on ze right in ze air catching ze wind!

At evening time, my tummy had started singing the Symphony of Beethoven in Waffi language. Luckily, lunchinner (lunch + dinner) was about to be served...

Me with ze striped Tees...

Day 2 (Saturday)
Early morning aerobics, Beach jogging, team build activities and many more took place. I learnt one aerobic routine that dealt with my thighs for a week. Gush! Exercise is gewd I must say!

One of the Team build activities on 'Trust'

Here you had to blindfold someone who was your partner in front and the person was meant to fall backwards with the assurance and trust that you'll catch him/her.

I learnt a lot from this exercise. Sometimes in life we just have to learn to trust people...over time.

In the night, we had camp fire, ate barbeque (stole from people's plates while being chased around), danced through the night, sat on the sand with new-found friends, gisted a lot and collected contacts.(Yes...contacts *wink*)

We visited the site where Obafemi Awolowo was kept under house arrest in those days (before independence I guess, not sure). But I saw the clothes he wore, his shoes (nice leather ones), the bath tub he used then...everything well-preserved.


The Fashola-refurbished site where Awo was kept

Asides the fun and visits, we also had the chance to give stuff to the people around the Akodo community. Things like school bags, food, blankets, mosquito nets and the Word was shared with them. I felt fulfilled atr this point. The high point was where I was selected to conduct an interview with the Onilekki of Lekki alongside the organizers. I held the mic with a camera facing me and delivered. Hehe, I hope I can have access to the video to share with you guys.

The sea-side

 

 

The goodies shared

Day 3 (Sunday)
Departure :-(

Saw a movie, packed our bags and set out for our various homes. I HAD FUN.

As a follow-up to this nice experience, I would be visiting the Equity Resort (Ijebu-Ode) soon and visit somewhere I've never been to outside Lagos. *fingers crossed*

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MIA Series: Pt 2 - The wedding and forgetfulness

I must say with all sincerity that the highlight of my week was reading the comments from you guys on my last post.

You people sha know how to make someone's head swell ehn. Okay lemme confess small: When I put up the post, I felt like it just did not sound right to just badge in, out of the blues and be expecting comments. But you all just proved that blogsville still remains a family. Family always accepts you.

I've been to some blogs and hope to visit more to know what y'all have been up to.

So I was given the cherished privilege to this wedding where I was asked to be on the grooms train (second time doing that *wears bad guy shades*)
Before the D-Day, groom had called series of meetings (about 3) with the guys & ladies on the train to discuss plans and all. You can guess that I didn't attend any. I really would have loved to with all sincerity.

Anyways, to cut long story short, I had set reminders on my BB, added the calendar, though I could not join the BB group cuz of my inactive BIS (been away for months, can't keep up with that thing. sheesh!).
In my head o, I sha knew it was August 18 and I relied on my phone who happens to double as my PA, to remind me.

Friday, August 17, best man calls me to remind me of the wedding by 9am tommorrow. I was happy.
But I think in the midst of my excitement, I mistook 'tommorrow' as 'next week'.

So I woke up on this beauriful saturday, checked the time...8am...checked the date...18th...somethinng didn't feel right...na so reminder just pop up! SEYI'S WEDDING - 1hour to go. I.WAS.MAD. 8:10am already

1 minute - Brush
2 minutes - Baff
7 minutes - Look for shoe all around the room
2 minutes 32 secs - Wear cloth (Luckily, I had those ready as I'd ironed for the week)

(8:22am)

28 secs - Rush out of out house
1 minute - Rush back to grab address (Luckily again I had checked directions on Google Maps the previous week)

Discovered the place was just 15 minutes drive from Ikeja. I.WAS.HAPPY
8:40am. I was there! Just in time for the pictures:

That's me walking in. Mr Latecomer

Has this happened to you guys before. Forgetting about a very important event? Or getting late to a very important meeting or date. Would like to know if this has happened before or I need to go for therapy. lol.

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MIA Series: Pt 1 - What I've been up to.

Ladies and Gentlemen...

Where do I start from sef. I know right! You don't need to say it *dodges shoe*

I was at at point beginning to think it was some e-curse that I had contracted which actually is part of the reasons I've been inactive for quite a while. I truly missed blogging and I will tell you in actual fact that I made attempts to blog but end up dumping it as the words didn't just always feel right.

(Did I mention I have perfectionism tendencies?)

It's a strength and a big weakness and I've decided to write something however it may sound (to me).

Highlights of where I've been, what I've been up to and what I've learnt; which I'll be talking more in-depth about in series include:

- Finishing 1 and a half books ('Rules of Work' - Richard Templar & 'How Stupidity Saved My Life' - Okechukwu Ofili)

- Hanging out at a beach resort for a couple of days

- Attending September Edition of the 'Loudthotz Poetry Reading'

- Visiting the Boys' Remand Home in Oregun with an NGO

- Being on the groom's train on a wedding

Anyways these are just about the major events that I have been involved in which I'll just talk about with the aim of sharing some things with you.

Hopefully, the writing jinx is broken. I feel the rush already and I'm optimistic about what lies ahead on the writing horizon. (LOL! I made that up, sounds cooool).

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Happy New Month! + 2nd Anniversary Audio Shoutout

Happy New Month to y'all!!! May this August bring you all the good things you desire. Amen.

As you all know, today marks our 2nd year anniversary at Mikesfrequency. Here's the Audio shoutout below. :-) Enjoy!

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