Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to this week’s episode of Words of Wednesday.
Your one and only Wordsmith reporting for duty.

Earlier today, I went on my walk before the evening settled in. I was trying to catch the sunset and I kind of did, but I also kind of missed it from the angle I wanted. Which made me realize that if I want to keep doing these longer walks and still catch the views properly, I need to start earlier. The walks have gotten longer because I’ve been trying to consistently get over 10,000 steps, but now I’m realizing timing matters too.
More daylight. Better views.
Better pictures. Better moments.

And honestly, today’s walk gave me a lot to think about. A lot of curiosity-awakening thoughts. A lot of reflection. So let’s get into it.

First things first. Lloyiso’s album Never Thought I Could is Grammy-worthy. I said what I said.

It feels short enough to be an EP, but I guess that’s just the direction music is moving in these days. Either way, it is such a good body of work. It’s introspective, vulnerable, emotional.
It really explores love from a male perspective in a way that feels honest and layered.

Now, I definitely have thoughts about Loe Shimmy’s love life based on the album, but I’ll keep those to myself for now. Maybe one day I’ll get the opportunity to interview him and ask him directly. Until then, we move.

Still spinning Asake’s new album Money as well. I mentioned it last week and I stand by what I said. A few songs on there are absolutely going to become major records. Right now there’s obviously marketing push behind the album, but the real test is whether the songs continue to grow organically over the next few weeks. So far though, very strong project.

Another album I revisited today was Basketmouth’s Yabasi. What an incredible project. I randomly saw a clip of Oxlade performing one of the songs he featured on and it immediately sent me back to the album during my walk. So good. Truly one of those projects that deserved more love than it got.

Anyways.

When was the last time you truly dreamt?

And I don’t mean dreaming out of desperation. I mean dreaming out of excitement. Out of wonder. Out of possibility.

I’m currently navigating one of the biggest decisions I’ve ever made as an adult and it’s been interesting watching myself process it all in real time. Hopefully by the grace of God, everything works out the way it’s supposed to. I’ve prayed about it, but honestly, I probably need to pray even more.

While I was walking today, I caught a few glimpses of downtown Austin. I’ll probably share some pictures below. And as I stood there taking it all in, I caught myself thinking, “I really want to live downtown one day.” Not just visit. Live there. Wake up and do these walks every morning or every evening with the skyline right there in front of me.

But then another thought hit me. I could probably force that life right now if I really wanted to, but it would compromise other aspects of my quality of life that I currently enjoy. And that made me realize maybe I just don’t have that particular version of life yet. Not because it isn’t possible, but because maybe it’s just not time yet.

And somehow that led me into another thought entirely.

When was the last time I allowed myself to dream bigger?

Because I’ve dreamt before. I dreamt about moving here. I dreamt about career growth. Promotions. Stability. Leadership opportunities. And by God’s grace, so much of that has happened.

But beyond survival and adulthood and career progression, how much have I allowed myself to dream creatively? About poetry. About spoken word. About content creation. About storytelling. About building something bigger than what I originally imagined for myself?

I don’t know if I’ve fully done that.

I think adulthood has a way of making practicality consume you. Your bills. Your job. Your responsibilities. Your routines. Your quality of life becomes tied to consistency and structure, and somewhere in there, you slowly stop engaging with wonder. With magic. With possibility.

And I want that back.

I need to dream louder. Bigger. More intentionally.

Because if I’m being honest, every major thing I wrote down and prayed about over the last few years, God has brought to pass in one way or another. Sometimes even beyond what I imagined.

So maybe the issue now is that I need to start writing again. Dreaming again. Speaking life over things again.

People often tell me that I’m naturally suited for influencing or storytelling or content creation. And maybe they’re right. A lot of it has felt surprisingly natural to me. I’ve never really felt like I had to force a personality online. You guys genuinely get very raw versions of me.

I know how to dress. I know my angles. I know how to capture moments that feel like me. Sometimes I’ll literally just walk outside my apartment, take a few pictures, and post them. I still do a terrible job posting consistently or posting on time, but still, it’s become a real extension of who I am.

And hopefully it grows into more.

More partnerships. More storytelling. More opportunities. Maybe even a full career lane one day. Who knows.

But all of that starts with dreaming.

Maybe you need to do that too.

Maybe somewhere along the line you got so focused on surviving life that you stopped imagining what life could become. So let this be your reminder to dream again. Write things down again. Pray over them again. Believe in them again.

During the walk tonight, I also noticed a few fireflies.

At first I wasn’t even sure I saw them because they appear so briefly. One second they’re there, the next second they disappear. Blink too quickly and you miss them entirely.

And somehow that reminded me of opportunities. Relationships. Timing. Life itself.

Sometimes the biggest moments in your life arrive quietly. Briefly. Almost magically. And if you hesitate too long or second guess yourself too much, you miss them.

It reminded me of something that happened years ago in Arizona. I was on the phone with my best friend Atafi because we were both heading to the Grand Canyon. I got there earlier than him and while walking through the airport I thought I saw 50 Cent.

I called him immediately and he was like, “There’s no way 50 Cent is in Arizona.”

And for a second, I believed him.

Then something told me to check. So I Googled it and sure enough, 50 Cent had a show in Scottsdale the next day.

I was so upset because Get Rich or Die Tryin’ was one of the first albums I ever owned as a kid. Meeting him would have been crazy to me at the time.

And it made me think about how often we blink because someone else cannot see what we see.

Not because they mean harm, but because they’re not experiencing the moment from our perspective. And if you’re not careful, other people’s limitations, doubts, or inability to recognize something can make you miss what was right in front of you.

You blink and a career opportunity passes.
You blink and love passes.
You blink and purpose passes.

So stay present. Trust your instincts sometimes. See things for yourself.

Last but not least, your boy is finally recovering from being sick and thank God for that because the last week and a half has been absolutely miserable.

I’m finally feeling like myself again and I’m really excited about the response to some of the content I’ve been posting lately. Especially the cooking videos.

Ironically, I think I’ve realized I need to completely change how I edit them. The longer form style isn’t holding attention the way I want it to. I think shorter cuts and quicker pacing might work better for the audience I currently have. So we’ll experiment with that.

And maybe a YouTube channel soon too. Who knows.

Anyways, till next time, stay up.

Hi guys!
it’s been a minute.

Okay, maybe not a minute, but it’s been a little bit. I’m currently nursing the most ridiculous cold that crept up on me out of nowhere.

Literally last week, I was bragging about how this is the longest I’ve gone into a new year without getting sick… and then boom…stuffy nose, headache, congestion. Just all-around annoyance.

And honestly, I think it’s a combination of things. Austin has some ridiculous weather.

I remember when I first moved here—now almost two and a half years ago (can you believe that?)—and one thing I’ve learned is: you’ve got to stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.

Because the way Austin is set up, you can wake up freezing, deal with rain by noon, catch sunshine in the afternoon, and then somehow get hail or humidity by night. It makes no sense.

Late last week, we had rain, then it got hot on Saturday and Sunday, and I was outside. I genuinely think my body just wasn’t prepared for the constant switch-up—and now here we are.

Two days out of the gym. If you know me, you know how much I hate my routine being disrupted.

But at the same time, I was just telling a friend recently that I’ve been going so hard with fitness that I might actually need to slow down a bit and let the progress settle in. So maybe this forced pause isn’t the worst thing.

I do plan on getting back in today—arm day. Light work. We’ll see how I feel.

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This post might feel a little all over the place. Maybe it’s the Theraflu. Maybe it’s the NyQuil. Who knows.

But something really hit me over the past couple of days.

It’s important to pray about the little things.

I’ve written before about asking the Holy Spirit to help me find things…keys, random stuff around the house—and somehow they show up. But being sick made me realize something…

I was doing everything—ginger, tea, medicine, zinc—but I didn’t pray. Not once.

And that bothered me.
Because I sat there thinking, “Why didn’t I just pause and ask God to heal me?” By His stripes, we are healed. But sometimes I go through the motions and forget the foundation.
So if you’re reading this—say a quick prayer for me and for yourself about that thing that’s on your heart. I’m trying to get back to full strength and back to my routines.

Speaking of routines…
On Friday night, I wanted a burger. Bad.
Burger, chicken sandwich, milkshake—the whole thing. I fought it. I really did. I didn’t get the milkshake on Friday… ended up getting it on Saturday.

But then I realized something.
From the start of April till the end, I hadn’t had fast food. No burger. No milkshake. Nothing.
And that meant something to me.
Not because I eat it all the time—but because I wanted it, and I didn’t give in. And by the time I did, it was already May.

That felt like growth.
I got my fix, and honestly, I’m good for another month.

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Now… let’s talk about something that annoyed me.
Taliat’s Kitchen — count your days.
I’m saying this here because this is my safe space. I won’t take this to social media where things can go viral, but I need to say it.

They have some of the best Nigerian food in Austin. No debate.
But I’ve noticed a pattern—not just here, but in Sacramento, Oakland, now Austin—where Nigerian businesses grow, build a loyal base, and then start slipping.

Prices go up. Portions go down. Quality becomes inconsistent.

The first meal I had in Austin was ayamase, rice, and plantain from there in January 2024.
Yesterday? Same meal was pushing $22.
And the bowl was mostly kidney meat.

I hate kidney meat.
The stew was barely there, and they added an egg—which, once removed, made it even more obvious how little stew was actually in there.
I just don’t like dishonesty in business or products I am paying for.

As I get older, I’ve realized I don’t like people playing with my time, my money, or my loyalty. Because I would have checked them. And maybe I should have.

And before anyone jumps in with “Nigerian food is hard to make”….I hear it. I do. But when you’re cooking in bulk, your cost per plate goes down.

Meanwhile, other cuisines—Chinese, Indian—use similar proteins and still manage pricing better.
Something isn’t adding up.
If I’m wrong, let’s talk about it. But right now, it doesn’t make sense to me.

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Being sick has also taken away my walks.
You guys know I love my walks. Sometimes I even drive just to find a good place to walk. But this congestion? Yeah… not fun.
Also—who is the grumpiest person you know when they’re sick?

It’s me.
100% me.

I hate it. It disrupts everything. It makes me irritable. So if I’ve been quiet, it’s not personal—I just don’t want to transfer that energy to anyone else.
And can we talk about something real quick?

If I’m sick… why are you trying to kiss me?
Are you okay?
This is Idris Elba’s fault. That whole COVID era “I’m sticking beside him” nonsense—no. Absolutely not.
If you live in a four-bedroom house, USE THE ROOMS.
Isolate. Rest. Recover.
Love me from a distance for 48 hours. You’ll be fine.

You need to rest and get ready for the summer.
Summer’s coming!!! Or here sef.
What are your plans?
I feel like I just be traveling and telling you guys after the fact, but I actually want to hear from you. Drop your plans in the comments—trips, picnics, road trips, whatever.
I’m thinking about doing a road trip myself. From Austin—where should I go? A quiet cabin trip? Or a state close to Texas? Somewhere random? Put me on.

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Also—thank you.
Seriously.
To everyone who reads, comments, replies—I appreciate you. This blog is probably the most honest space I have. It’s where you get my real thoughts, unfiltered.
April was one of my biggest months in a long time—even without posting consistently. So thank you for rocking with me.
I’m realizing I might need to start writing these ahead of time, because life gets busy. But I also like giving you my thoughts in real time.
We’ll find a balance.

I also want to build my own website.

A proper one.

Landing page, blog, music reviews, content, everything in one place.

If you’ve got the skills—or know someone who does—reach out. I’m serious.

(And yes, if you’re the one person reading this thinking I’m talking to you… I am. And no, you’re not building it. You’ve got enough on your plate 😂)

Let me leave you with this: Everything in your life doesn’t have to look perfect to be perfect.
I’ve been chasing this idea of the “perfect life,” but I’m starting to realize—this is it.
This season. This version of me. This body, this job, these friendships, this impact.
You can want more and still appreciate where you are.

Both can exist.

I’ll see you all next week—by God’s grace, healthy, no congestion, back to normal.

And funnily enough, writing this is the best I’ve felt all week.
So thank you for that.

Before I go—go listen to Asake’s new album Money.
🎧 https://open.spotify.com/search/asake%20money
My favorites right now:

• Money Can’t Buy Happiness
• Gratitude
• Forgiveness

I’ll do a full review soon, but yeah…he did his thing.

Till next time. Stay up 🤞🏾