For Linda Ikeji and our Collective Lessons in Vulnerability

Let me very first start this article by saying that I do not understand Linda Ikeji personally, we aren’t buddies, and I have actually “satisfied” her only a couple of times at social gatherings …

Written By:
Francesca Uriri

Published On:
24 Sep 2016

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However with all of that being said, I likewise have a deep and abiding regard for her. Is that paradoxical? Perhaps. But I’ve pertained to understand that you can disagree with someone on something and still respect them. Whether you accept it or not, Linda has actually revealed through her amazing journey of being a blog writer and viewpoint influencer, that she is a motivation to numerous people all over the world. She has boot strapped her method to success using a model that was when unpopular and scoffed at. She’s an Outlier, and handles to influence, prompt and baffle lots of simultaneously, and with fervour.

I can’t believe of a great deal of individuals who’ve run a modelling firm, an events business, a publication and a lot of other services, stopped working at them, and still kept pressing forward. I likewise don’t understand of anyone else (a minimum of not on this side of the world), who is lawfully making lots of cash by blogging.
[ad] I imply, before Linda, whoever believed it was possible to purchase a home in Banana Island, and open a string of media-related services acquired from the profits of running a chatter blog site? If the United States of America has the “American dream,” then Linda Ifeoma Ikeji has the “Naija Dream.” Strong, ruthless in its pursuit of happiness and hope, and eventually, effective. Here’s a lady who struck ground no at some time in her life, and is back to level 100. You need to appreciate such grit and determination, since as my Sapele individuals will say “E nor easy.”

Linda or “Lin-Lin” as she’s fondly called by those who are close to her turned 36 years old a couple of days earlier; and to mark her big day, she published a 14-minute long video on her blog. Within hours of her publishing this video, social media was buzzing with all kinds of remarks and remarks about it – and I knew that I needed to see it for myself. 3 minutes into the video, I wasn’t rather sure whether I liked it or not, because it came off as slightly insincere and scripted; plus Linda looked a little uncomfortable dealing with the camera. However, something changed soon after – I’m not even sure what. But the veneer of coolness cracked, and something more warm, earthy, real and vulnerable spilled out.
[advertisement] And as Linda began to speak about her failures, her desires, her relationship with God, her belief in the credibility of her dreams, her utter wonder at how her life ended up, and the affirmation that she still “strategies to be around for a long period of time,” something in me likewise paved the way to the hope and motivation that she was sharing.

And possibly it was a moment, perhaps that thing was short lived, however I acknowledged it, and I felt it highly. Because it was genuine, powerful and wholehearted. And in that one unique minute, I forgot all the times I did not like Linda, or all the annoying things she had done, and in that suspended area, in between my laptop computer screen and her video, I celebrated with her. I cheered her on, and I frantically wanted her to be successful.

So you can imagine my irritation when individuals took just a couple of seconds of that video – of her desiring an incredible guy for a spouse – and turned it into an event for unsightly small talk, senseless rhetoric and upsetting remarks. How do you condense ALL she said, and narrow that down to just one segment of her video? What is incorrect if she freely (and extremely honestly I might add), discussed what she wants? Is her desire for a partner in some way less legitimate or shameful since she discussed it outdoors? If she had spoken about additional growing her company or buying another house – would those declarations be consulted with derisive remarks? Exists not a quiet strength and self-respect in such a guileless show of vulnerability? When individuals truthfully and honestly open up themselves, the least we can do, the least we need to do as human beings is to accord them the respect and dignity that they are worthy of.