“I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.” ― Oscar Wilde
I am Dick David. As is my tradition, I am reviewing my life this year (2023) in a self-written living eulogy. I hope you enjoy it and also find it helpful. *** I felt like Sisyphus for most of this year. Sisyphus is a figure from Greek mythology who is condemned to endlessly push a … Read more
Earlier this year, in February, the internet broke over the Vogue Cover photo of Rihanna, with a serious and confident expression, leading A$AP Rocky by the hand, their baby cradled in his arms as he affectionately kissed the child’s forehead. The composition of the image bears a notable resemblance to the African Renaissance Monument, albeit … Read more
Somedays I wish it was all a dream. I wish I could wake up to a reality where I don’t feel confused and stressed out. Like a river, stress can be both a source of life and a destructive force that erodes your footing. It is possible to ride the waves of stress without being … Read more
As a kid, I sucked my thumb. I only stopped when I started getting shamed for it. I don’t think I would have ever stopped by myself. Why should I? I believe this comes into play in many forms of addiction. If you’re addicted to smoking, society and health professionals can nudge you to stop. … Read more
Look around and you will find reasons to throw in the towel. From your neighbourhood to your schoolyard, to your social media feed, there is a constant source of self-loathing and self-doubt. Friends’ galleries of accomplishments may remind you of how far you are from the finish line. Celebrities’ songs may make you feel socially … Read more
The desire to be liked is instinctive. We, as a species, evolved to pay attention to what other people think about us because in the wild we needed them – to like us – to survive. Even today, you still need people to like you to survive. So, worrying if you are liked or not … Read more
I grew up in a poor family in a bustling but economically impoverished neighbourhood of Lagos, Nigeria. With six of us living in one room (so you can imagine how cramped and exhausting it was). Sometimes, I would wake up to find myself under the bed, my face stained with charcoal from the blackened pots … Read more
I saw a meme a few days ago where a porcupine was admiring the smoothness of a snake. The porcupine said, “I hate these spikes. I wish I had her body”. Then, in the next frame, the smooth-skinned snake was picked up and carried away by an eagle. Seeing this, the porcupine said, “Thank you … Read more
As a new chess player, I made many mistakes. This was frustrating, and I would get discouraged whenever I lost to a more experienced player. However, looking back, I realize that my mistakes helped me improve my game. I learned to think more carefully about my moves and to consider more possibilities. Much like my … Read more
It is normal to think that you were ghosted because of your fault – maybe something you said (or didn’t say), did (or didn’t do), or lacked (or owned). But, just like rejection, ghosting actually has more to do with the other person than it does with you. Yes, you might have actually said, done, or lacked something, but it was still the person’s decision to cut you off without even giving any reason.
