Nike Campbell-Fatoki's Blog, page 6
November 18, 2012
My remarks- book launch of Thread of Gold Beads
I thought I would share my remarks given yesterday at the book launch of my debut novel - Thread of Gold Beads (now available on amazon.com). It is titled "Live Your Best Life". Enjoy the read, and I hope you take something away from it,
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us”
These were the words of Alexander Graham Bell, scientist, engineer and inventor of the telephone. Unbeknownst to most, including myself, Bell’s mother and wife were deaf. He did not wallow in self-pity when his mother’s hearing began to fail; rather, he taught her sign language, helping her to understand and communicate with the world around her. Bell’s circumstances had a profound impact on his life’s work, eventually leading to research and experiments with hearing devices and award of the US patent of the telephone. He used his situation to make the most of his life.
It’s wonderful to see you all tonight, every single one of you. You are here because you have all affected my life at some point, and it is only natural that I share tonight with you.
Thread of Gold Beads was set in motion many years ago in Lagos Nigeria. I was blessed to have doting grandparents who enjoyed not just me but all of their grandchildren being around them. My maternal grandparents loved to tell stories about their lives and how they grew up. I loved listening to those stories. Stories of how my Grandmother’s grandmother fled war-torn Dahomey in the late 1890s, stories of how my great grandmother settled in Abeokuta and was displaced due to Christians being oppressed and her eventual move to Ebute-metta, Lagos, Mainland, my grandmother’s tumultuous early child hood and even a more harrowing one for my Grandfather. They endured suffering and loss, held on to hope, and trusted in the one true God. Their stories became a part of me. It only seemed natural that I wove a tale out of them. Thread of Gold Beads, though fictional, is loosely based on their lives.
My life has not been a bed of roses, and this is more a testament to the people who encouraged me and saw the best in me. I began my ‘career’ when I was about nine years old. I wrote stories similar to Enid Blyton and was my very own illustrator. I was also my publisher and distributor; easy because all I had to do was staple the papers I had written on together and set it proudly on a table. I was the Number 1 best seller on my sister’s list. She was always eager to read my work.
I was fortunate to have positive role models in my mother and grandmother who epitomized what a strong woman should be – hardworking, forward-thinking, spunky, God fearing with still enough time to devote to the most important thing in life – investing in their children, the next generation.
In retrospect, I realize that my writing was my way of escaping to another world where I had the power to shape characters the way I wanted without apology. My very first non –family proclamation that I might actually have that ‘something’ came in the form of my English teacher at Queen’s College Lagos, my high school. It was during class one afternoon in the 11thgrade, SS2 for those who attended secondary school in Nigeria. She began distributing the papers she had just graded, and that’s when I heard her say,
“All of you take a moment to look at Nike’s paper. She did a very good job.”
She handed my paper to me. I had received a nine out of ten. The highest mark I had ever received in English. The funny thing was that it had been one of the easiest assignments I had ever written. It was a letter to an elder sister I never had. I had poured my heart into a letter to a non-existent older sister because I had for a long time, wished for one. After the class ended, everyone clamored around me to read the letter.
As I grew older, I read more, gravitating towards historical fiction that told the tales of the past in the most interesting way that held my attention.
Life, always full of surprises with its many turns and bumps along the way has been the best teacher for me. I believe I am standing here due to these many turns. Thread of Gold Beads is a cauldron of experiences, hopes, fears that I hope will communicate the authenticity of this work.
My hope is that this book will minister to those who are in tough situations right now, letting them know, this is only a bump in the road. Life continues. To those whom everything is going well for, a reminder that tough situations will come, and you must be prepared. And for those who do not know where life is taking them, it is time to take the reins of your life by making the decisions that matter most.
We only live life once and we owe it to ourselves to live the best one. Live your best life by realizing that first and foremost:
Everything happens for a reason, even the sad and unfortunate events, it is how you react to the events that matterPay it forward – give someone else an opportunityPursue your passionAffect others positivelyChallenge yourself ; Keep on learning, it never grows oldHold on to the things that matter, let go of the things that don’tLearn the lessons from bitter experiences and let go of everything else.
I thank you for your presence here tonight, and I hope that this book will go beyond the walls of this building, of your homes, as you pick up a copy today. Use it to bless someone, and they in turn bless another. God bless.
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us”
These were the words of Alexander Graham Bell, scientist, engineer and inventor of the telephone. Unbeknownst to most, including myself, Bell’s mother and wife were deaf. He did not wallow in self-pity when his mother’s hearing began to fail; rather, he taught her sign language, helping her to understand and communicate with the world around her. Bell’s circumstances had a profound impact on his life’s work, eventually leading to research and experiments with hearing devices and award of the US patent of the telephone. He used his situation to make the most of his life.
It’s wonderful to see you all tonight, every single one of you. You are here because you have all affected my life at some point, and it is only natural that I share tonight with you.
Thread of Gold Beads was set in motion many years ago in Lagos Nigeria. I was blessed to have doting grandparents who enjoyed not just me but all of their grandchildren being around them. My maternal grandparents loved to tell stories about their lives and how they grew up. I loved listening to those stories. Stories of how my Grandmother’s grandmother fled war-torn Dahomey in the late 1890s, stories of how my great grandmother settled in Abeokuta and was displaced due to Christians being oppressed and her eventual move to Ebute-metta, Lagos, Mainland, my grandmother’s tumultuous early child hood and even a more harrowing one for my Grandfather. They endured suffering and loss, held on to hope, and trusted in the one true God. Their stories became a part of me. It only seemed natural that I wove a tale out of them. Thread of Gold Beads, though fictional, is loosely based on their lives.
My life has not been a bed of roses, and this is more a testament to the people who encouraged me and saw the best in me. I began my ‘career’ when I was about nine years old. I wrote stories similar to Enid Blyton and was my very own illustrator. I was also my publisher and distributor; easy because all I had to do was staple the papers I had written on together and set it proudly on a table. I was the Number 1 best seller on my sister’s list. She was always eager to read my work.
I was fortunate to have positive role models in my mother and grandmother who epitomized what a strong woman should be – hardworking, forward-thinking, spunky, God fearing with still enough time to devote to the most important thing in life – investing in their children, the next generation.
In retrospect, I realize that my writing was my way of escaping to another world where I had the power to shape characters the way I wanted without apology. My very first non –family proclamation that I might actually have that ‘something’ came in the form of my English teacher at Queen’s College Lagos, my high school. It was during class one afternoon in the 11thgrade, SS2 for those who attended secondary school in Nigeria. She began distributing the papers she had just graded, and that’s when I heard her say,
“All of you take a moment to look at Nike’s paper. She did a very good job.”
She handed my paper to me. I had received a nine out of ten. The highest mark I had ever received in English. The funny thing was that it had been one of the easiest assignments I had ever written. It was a letter to an elder sister I never had. I had poured my heart into a letter to a non-existent older sister because I had for a long time, wished for one. After the class ended, everyone clamored around me to read the letter.
As I grew older, I read more, gravitating towards historical fiction that told the tales of the past in the most interesting way that held my attention.
Life, always full of surprises with its many turns and bumps along the way has been the best teacher for me. I believe I am standing here due to these many turns. Thread of Gold Beads is a cauldron of experiences, hopes, fears that I hope will communicate the authenticity of this work.
My hope is that this book will minister to those who are in tough situations right now, letting them know, this is only a bump in the road. Life continues. To those whom everything is going well for, a reminder that tough situations will come, and you must be prepared. And for those who do not know where life is taking them, it is time to take the reins of your life by making the decisions that matter most.
We only live life once and we owe it to ourselves to live the best one. Live your best life by realizing that first and foremost:
Everything happens for a reason, even the sad and unfortunate events, it is how you react to the events that matterPay it forward – give someone else an opportunityPursue your passionAffect others positivelyChallenge yourself ; Keep on learning, it never grows oldHold on to the things that matter, let go of the things that don’tLearn the lessons from bitter experiences and let go of everything else.
I thank you for your presence here tonight, and I hope that this book will go beyond the walls of this building, of your homes, as you pick up a copy today. Use it to bless someone, and they in turn bless another. God bless.
September 20, 2012
Unchartered Territory
“Before you can graduate, you have to take a swimming class. It’s mandatory”
My mouth went dry, stomach began to churn, and I felt my eyes dilate. Life as I knew it was over for me. Here I was, straight out of Lagos Nigeria, never once attempted to learn how to swim and was now being told I had to get at least a B to graduate from college. I felt completely discouraged standing in line as other students went ahead of me to test out on the first day, and receive an A.
I climbed in gingerly in the shallow end of the pool, very self-conscious in my one-piece and held on tightly to the side.
“Put your face down in to the water,” the instructor said.
That was easy.
“Now hold on to the side and kick out your feet.”
Not bad either. We did that a couple of times until I felt comfortable. The first day wasn’t so bad after all. The instructor finally told us to get out of the pool. I began to move and then suddenly felt myself going under. I flapped my arms wildly, gulping in water. I was drowning! Finally, I felt hands pull me up and came up for air.
“Are you alright?”
I looked around, pushing my feet up to stand in the water, immediately feeling embarassed. I nodded, looking everywhere but at the classmate who had helped me.
“Are you sure?” She asked, touching my shoulder slightly.
“Yes, thanks.”
She studied me a moment longer, shrugged, and then got out of the pool. The other students watched as I got out, and ran for the showers. I could tell what they were all thinking. I would forever be known as the girl who had almost managed to drown in the shallow end of the pool.
I dreaded those many weeks I had to return to the pool twice a week 8:10AM on the dot. I knew if I wanted to graduate, I had to find a way to pass. So I did, but with the help of a classmate who I will never forget and a friend. I began going every other evening to the pool with this class mate and a friend who taught me. In fact, it became more of a community at the pool at Burr Gymnasium where everyone tried to help out. Slowly, and I mean, extremely slowly and painfully, I learned how to float, how to flip underwater, even complete a front crawl and back stroke AND tread in the water.
The day for my final test came, and I passed. I got a B+. I couldn’t have felt prouder if I had an A+. If anyone had ever told me I would make it, I would have laughed in their face. But I did. I was in unchartered territory, but I made it, not by myself, but with help of others who reached out to me.
September 11, 2012
I am ME
Today's September 11. Eleven years ago, I still remember where I was when I heard the news. It only comes as a reminder that we should live our best life. Tomorrow's not guaranteed. May the souls of the departed continue to rest in peace.
"I am ME."
I never actually got that, never let it sink in until it finally dawned on me. Everyone comes to this realization at some point in their lives. For some, they are fortunate to experience it at an early age, but for many, I’ve come to realize, it takes years, sadly, when one foot is already in the grave. Why do you often see older people speaking their mind so freely and making no apologies? They have finally been liberated.
Growing up, I often heard these words from parents and older ones, “Why don’t you be like your brother or sister,”’ “Why can’t you be like your cousin?”
I always detested those comparisons. If there was ever anything that motivated me NOT to do something, it was comparing me with someone else.
Unconsciously, we have been trained to be like others, at home it was dad, mom, or a sibling. At work, it was a predecessor, who for the most part, was a saint and you had to live up to that high standard.
My realization hit me on the job. I won’t tell you which job, LOL. I don’t plan on burning any bridges right now. I became tired of doing things the way my predecessor did it, and decided I would do what worked for me. I am my own person, who got to where I was by the grace of God and with my intellect. I reasoned, my employers must have seen some value to employ me, so I needed to have that faith in myself. That was my AHA moment. From then on, I've done things my way, and it began to flow. I've even surprised myself a few times.
Are you living every day in your own skin, or does it take so much more effort being what others want you to be?
Ask yourself, ‘am I ME?
