Your words matter.
I love words.
The ability to condense thoughts and feelings into a few words will always humble me.
It's one of the reasons that, while I have gaps in my memories, the few I can vividly recall have to do with words that had a significant influence on me.
It was SS 1 second term, we just came back from the dining hall, I think it was a Tuesday, I'm not sure. Everyone was sitting on the floor outside our dormitory waiting for the person who went to get the key. I remember I was reading a book, can't remember the exact book, and Amanda walks up to me and says “Sophia, do you know you're very ugly, as in very very ugly.”
This was unprovoked, so I was flustered, I replied “I may be ugly but I'm 100x finer than you!”
It sounds like a good comeback, yeah, but even I could hear how much that statement lacked confidence and I guess that's what boosted her confidence to continue, that and the audience.
She laughed so hard and turned to a dormmate beside her, “Did you hear that, Sophia says she's finer than me”, The dormmate chuckled, as well as a few other people, and stands up to pack her things because by now, the dormitory is open. She turns to me and says “You can never be finer than me in this life”.
After the reply of the dormmate, I had already decided I wasn't going to reply again, so I packed my things and move to my bunk, she moves on to her clique and that's that.
It's been 10 years but I still remember this incident very clearly. I still remember how scorching the sun was that afternoon and how I regretted wearing my favorite red tank top beneath my uniform blouse. I remember being worried about sitting on the floor but deciding to after I realized I had worn my uniform skirt for 2 days and whether I was going to stress myself that hot afternoon and fetch water down so I could avoid seniors or just wake up around 3am and bathe.
I've never forgotten that conversation. I still see Amanda's Instagram and it's all love and light. It makes me wonder if she even remembers what she said that day and how it made me see myself for the next 4 years. Probably not.
It's crazy how your words can shape someone's life for years. How something you carelessly said years ago might be the reason why someone is really successful today or why someone is giving up. It might be the reason someone has stellar character.
It was SS 1……again, but first term this time around(most of my secondary school memories are from SS 1). I was a proper JJC and was about to learn another lesson.
Someone had stolen Latifah's money and Latifah was raining curses morning and night.
Most times she would cry and beg and even promised not to embarrass the person. What was my business, my money was not stolen so I actually didn't care.
This fateful Monday morning, Temidola(she had a unique Yoruba name, I think this is it.) approaches me and says “Sophia, come and help me. Give this money to Latifah, it's her money. It was a prank I just wanted to teach her not to be so careless. But don't tell her it was from me o. Just tell her you wanted to prank her. Don't tell her it was from me o.”
I really don't know how I fell for that.
I went to meet Latifah in the dining hall, delivered the message and went on my merry way. During break time , Latifah and a few other girls from my dorm approached me and asked if I was the one who stole the money.
Stole ke.
That was when my brain booted, I immediately told them the truth and they left. Later that day , one of my friends informed me that there was an argument about whether I was the theif or not and a lot of people said “Sophia can't steal, ask her, there's a mistake somewhere” and that was why they came to confront me.
“Sophia can't steal, ask her, there's a mistake somewhere”
Those words have shaped me. Till date, I strive to live a life where people will defend my character in my absence.
Your words matter. You can be a hero simply by the words you choose to speak. Don't say things carelessly, you may forget but those words might haunt someone forever, they may be the deciding factor why someone goes down a bad path or turns a new leaf.
Words are powerful. They're literally ticking time bombs, you should treat them as such.
Much Love,
Sophia♥️
It's true words shape us, it put a light on our path and for some it makes their light insignificant.
i still remember the day i followed my aunty to my grandma's construction site it was 2005 i was in primary 4 at that time. the bricklayers were working when we got there after sitting for about an hour me as a young boy trying to help the bricklayers out of curiosity.
She called me and asked if i like the work and i replied her it's fine and they are hard working and the next thing i heard from her is "i want you to learn it" i smirked thinking she isn't serious.
In 2006 after i finished my primary school she sat me down and told me she don't have power to sponsor my education anymore i was devastated, but what could i do than to accept my fate, but i was optimistic.
I started learning bricklaying and i read when i have the opportunity and in 2007 comes the word that shaped me.
It was one afternoon my aunty came back from the market and while unpacking the stuffs she bought there was a packet of pencil in it after we finished unpacking she started sharing the pen and when it was my turn my cousin said "do i want to use the pencil to write on the block when i get to site" i was so hurt because she make a jest of me.
though she came to apologise, but the deed has been done. tears roll down my cheeks she wiped it, but she couldn't see my heart bleed. she didn't know, but her words shaped me she probably has forgotten, but i can still hear the sound of her voice.