FOOD-LAW-MANIA.    
               (@thatfooddielawyer)
          By Azeezat Ifemide Adejare.


            Lockdown Shenanigans.
When I received a message from Coach Ejiro of @eplusthestoryteller aked me to come on the radar and share my thoughts about the whole lockdown situation currently rocking our worlds on different levels and varying degrees, I experienced a strong hesitation.

First, I have been unable to keep up with my periodic "Foodlawmania" blog post. And then in the midst of putting a structure to my life and getting back on track regarding that, as well as next steps, the dreaded COVID 19 happened!

I was on the verge of signing a contract for a legal related role (finally! I've dreamt and prayed about this opportunity for  virtually two years), with an organization within the Greater Toronto Area, when the lock down directive was announced. I got an email that the company had decided to stall all recruitment processes due to the uncertainties that lie ahead (understandably so).
Surprisingly however, I wasn't sad about it. I guess the fact that I was finally found worthy of being offered a role in my field, brought me an unprecedented feeling of accomplishment! I saw it as a win, and wore it like a gold medal with pride!

Trust me when I say I have pulled through this globally turbulent period, by simply being so grateful for this blessing, and I've been able to channel whatever amount of energy I manage to garner on each day (having taken on multiple additional roles to survive the COVID 19 era) towards other aspects of my growth that I'm currently journeying towards, at this time.

I must also add at this point, that it has not been all fun and games. It's been overwhelming to say the least, and I find myself having to stay in touch with my mind space, more often than usual.
And so I wondered...
"What content would I be sharing through this beautiful platform, that would be of benefit to the amazing readers?"

As I type this, I must confess that I am still lost as to what the answer to this is. But then, it would seem that in the midst of the recent massive unleashing of online resources, free virtual classes, hook ups, and even weddings; countless Live sessions (I featured in one myself. Not doing so bad after all, eh? Oh yes! I even started a workout routine that I have been able to stay consistent with); and keeping up with the number of new cases, deaths, and discharged COVID 19 patients, simply taking the time to document my experiences through these times, might just be what someone needs to read in order to pause and put things in perspective...

I have advocated for maintaining a positive mindset since the inception of the lockdown directive though, and it sort of turned out to have had the eventual effect of being spoken into LIFE!

So whenever the feeling of overwhelm creeps in, as a result of being behind on to-do's or assigned tasks, my state of mind has forced me to continue to thread the path of paying closer attention to the seemingly unimportant things.
And this finally brings me to the crux of the post...
For too long, the wrong standards regarding the idea of growth and success have been constantly set, leading to a lot of us being unduly pressured to the point of paying zero attention to the little yet, very remarkable wins. Once we're not hitting a target regarding work or business, floating a new business, or being an influence on the virtual space, we hardly feel like we're smashing goals!

However, COVID 19 has once again reinforced the fact that, the most overlooked gestures such as: spending time bonding with the family (I have successfully tried out some amazing recipes and my plating skills even went a notch higher), taking time out to reach out to others, and most importantly, being a source of succour to those in need, are milestones totally worth celebrating!
I've realized now, more than ever:
"In the ordinary gestures, lie EXTRAORDINARY impact!!!"
It's therefore no surprise how much I have connected with the song "Ordinary People" by the phenomenal Cobhams Asuquo. It's been on repeat in my Playlist and I'm blessed by it daily.

I recommend a daily dose of this track, and if you have a unique thought process like mine, you might just have attained that turning point in your life. The lessons in it are that powerful!
I need to go catch some sleep now so I can wake up for Sahur (Yes,It's the beloved month of Ramadan!) But let me drop these final words just like I did on my Instagram Live session last weekend:

Be deliberate about connecting with your mind space."

We should by all means, aim high and strive to attain those huge goals! We must however not lose ourselves in the process, by failing to acknowledge and celebrate the little things.

May the Lord heal our land and equip us with all that we need, to evolve  into the whole new world that the COVID experience is taking us into.


Can I get an "Amen"?
      
********"****************************"
@thatfoodielawyer takes your taste bud on a ride with her Asun recipe(spicy barbecued goat meat), with a twist. Click the link below, for more as you watch the video
:https//www.instagram.com/p/B2DHSbWFBTr/?igshid=ibd4fxrua2a7


@thatfoodielawyer voices out against xenophobia.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2HqgcYn149/?igshid=1357ikg15zvqz

email: thatfooddielawyer@gmail.com

LET’S ALL BE MAD BUT, BE NOT MAD.  
  Poem, written by Azeezat Ifemide .

Are They Mad?
They’re “western”, from the saner climes; they colonized a region and ruled by instilling unimaginable fear on the ‘subjects’; they segregate the people based on their skin color and social status, rained terror on the land, leaving everyone terrified of experiencing Nightfall in Soweto…
Are They Mad?
They light creatures of like-kind on fire, watching with satisfaction, as life seeped out of the victim in the most horrific manner! They justify their dastardly act, claiming these creatures have enjoyed “better prosperity” on their land, and therefore deserve to burn! “How dare they?” they ask.
Now, I ask…
“How dare you?”
Who do you pay, for the oxygen that you inhale and carbondioxide you exhale?
Who do you pay, for roaming the large expanse of land, on which you build, multiply and chase your dreams?
Who do you pay, for the sunshine and the rainfall that take turns to provide you comfort when you need it the most?
Is any man an island on his own!?

Are We Mad?
We respond in the exact same manner we speak vehemently against; becoming exactly what we condemn! Burning down buildings and businesses owned or co-owned by our very own; rendering our own already under-employed citizens jobless in the process. We create unrest in our own land, making a mockery of the unique privilege of experiencing a violent free independence of our motherland…
Am I Mad?
I am mad at the leaders, who have ruled and continue to rule my motherland; exchanging the baton of power as though they were running a relay race, and ruling the country with the same level of cluelessness, recklessness and irresponsibility!
I am mad at the leaders who have turned my motherland into a subject as well as, an object of ridicule that its own citizens would rather not reckon or be associated with.
I am mad at the leaders who have made successful citizens with admirable jobs, leave everything behind and flee the country under the ‘guise’ of migration, for a minus 45 degrees temperate region to rather earn a living doing ‘odd’ jobs on multiple shifts, just because the system at least, works!
I am mad at the followers, who have given in to the faulty system and would rather scam another, of their hard earned money; treating national currencies with total disregard, acting with reckless abandon!
I am mad at the followers, who have defaced my fellow resourceful, resilient and unbreakable-spirited citizens around the world, and renamed us in the most distasteful of ways!
Am I mad?
Yes, I dey mad over my beautiful country, Nigeria, a land overflowing with abundance of milk and honey. A 200 million population of the most versatile melanin dripping people, who ever graced the face of the earth!
I dey mad over the “ginger”, and the swag, and the ‘never give up’ attitude of my countrymen, which is responsible for the default statement that “oozes” from their mouths even in the most difficult situations: 
“We die here!!”

I dey mad over my country, the preferred hub, which women from every race would raher marry from; I dey mad over the distinctness of the Kente, the Ankara, and the Adire fabrics, adorned by the most proportionate and sumptuous bodies of voluptuous women,
 wey set die!!!

I dey mad over the robust African culture, the richest in the world, I dare say, expressed in Arts, in Craft, in Folklore, in Clothing, in Cuisine, in Music, and in several beautiful Languages.
I dey mad over the courageous and fearless bursting of the azonto, the etigi, and more recently, the shakushaku dance moves on the biggest and most prestigious stages across the world, in celebration of outstanding excellence!
I dey mad over the ‘baddest’ combination of the silkiest Amala, the slimiest Ewedu, the smoothest Gbegiri, and the rich local flavor of the palm oil stew, cooked  firewood style!
I dey mad over the healthy contest between different versions of jollof, which has only ensured we an even wider variety of cuisine from Africa, to the world!
At the end of the day: We’re all mad here!
However, let’s all be mad but, be not mad…
    Written by Azeezat Ifemide Adejare.




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