For Linda Ikeji and our Collective Lessons in Vulnerability

<br>Let me very first begin this short article by stating that I do not know Linda Ikeji personally, we aren’t close good friends, and I have actually “fulfilled” her just a number of times at social events …<br>
<br>Written By:
Francesca Uriri<br>
<br>Published On:
24 Sep 2016<br>
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<br>However with all of that being said, I likewise have a deep and abiding respect for her. Is that paradoxical? Perhaps. But I have actually concerned understand that you can disagree with somebody on something and still appreciate them. Whether you accept it or not, Linda has shown through her amazing journey of being a blogger and viewpoint influencer, that she is an inspiration to many individuals all over the world. She has boot strapped her way to success using a model that was as soon as unpopular and belittled. She’s an Outlier, and handles to influence, prompt and baffle lots of simultaneously, and with fervour.<br>
<br>I can’t think of a great deal of people who have actually run a modelling firm, an occasions business, a publication and a lot of other services, failed at them, and still kept pressing forward. I also do not know of anyone else (a minimum of not on this side of the world), who is lawfully making lots of cash by blogging.
[advertisement] I mean, before Linda, whoever believed it was possible to purchase a home in Banana Island, and open a string of media-related organizations gained from the earnings of running a gossip blog? If the United States of America has the “American dream,” then Linda Ifeoma Ikeji has the “Naija Dream.” Strong, relentless in its of joy and hope, and eventually, successful. Here’s a woman who hit ground zero at some time in her life, and is back to level 100. You have to appreciate such grit and determination, due to the fact that as my Sapele people will state “E nor easy.”<br>
<br>Linda or “Lin-Lin” as she’s fondly called by those who are close to her turned 36 years old a few days earlier; and to mark her special day, she posted a 14-minute long video on her blog site. Within hours of her publishing this video, social media was buzzing with all kinds of comments and remarks about it – and I knew that I had to see it for myself. 3 minutes into the video, I wasn’t quite sure whether I liked it or not, due to the fact that it came off as a little insincere and scripted; plus Linda looked a little unpleasant facing the video camera. However, something changed quickly after – I’m not even sure what. But the veneer of coolness cracked, and something more warm, earthy, authentic and susceptible spilled out.
[advertisement] And as Linda began to discuss her failures, her desires, her relationship with God, her belief in the validity of her dreams, her utter wonder at how her life turned out, and the affirmation that she still “strategies to be around for a very long time,” something in me also paved the way to the hope and motivation that she was sharing.<br>
<br>And possibly it was a psychological moment, maybe that thing was fleeting, however I recognized it, and I felt it highly. Because it was genuine, effective and sincere. And because one special moment, I forgot all the times I disliked Linda, or all the irritating things she had done, and because suspended space, between my laptop computer screen and her video, I commemorated with her. I cheered her on, and I desperately wanted her to be successful.<br>
<br>So you can imagine my irritation when individuals took simply a few seconds of that video – of her preferring an amazing man for a partner – and turned it into an occasion for ugly banter, ridiculous rhetoric and painful remarks. How do you condense ALL she said, and narrow that down to just one sector of her video? What is incorrect if she freely (and extremely honestly I might include), spoke about what she wants? Is her desire for a husband somehow less legitimate or disgraceful because she spoke about it outdoors? If she had spoken about more growing her business or buying another house – would those statements be met with derisive remarks? Exists not a quiet strength and self-respect in such a guileless program of vulnerability? When individuals honestly and truthfully open up themselves, the least we can do, the least we must do as human beings is to accord them the respect and self-respect that they are worthy of.<br>