Today, I am celebrating two years of monthly newsletter with you. Ask me two years ago and I'll say I don't know. But here we are, celebrating two years! It's a whole lot but I think it's nice that you should also thank Gloria Ayoola, the lady who told me to start the newsletter.
Background story & Facts
Do you know that the first post I made remains unpublished till this date? Of course, because I was scared. Then the second post was launched as the first. In fact, I never knew that this newsletter would be about life lessons. I'd thought it would be about African History, which is my course of study but in a way, after reading a couple of books, I came to the conclusion that it was going to be helpful content. There have been the Parable Series, Why Series, Question Your Thoughts Series & finally the Buildups Series.
[Picture of the unpublished History post - first post]
Do you want to know another fact about this newsletter?
Okay. I know that you're giddy. Just wait, let's do a small town meeting then I will give you five facts but you have to promise me that you won't laugh.
Today's topic is one of my most treasured topics in the Why Series. Why Should I Persist? Is it really worth it? Why should I even bother myself? If you ever ask yourself these questions, you're not mad. In fact, it doesn't me you're giving up talkless of fucking up.
You're asking this question because you're human and you deserve a reward for whatever you find yourself doing. Trust me, starting out is easy but continuing is where the problem is. Some of us have that friend that is next to Winston Churchill in giving advice but once it comes to execution, they will show you 20 reasons you shouldn't persist. Then you're there, thinking how someone can be a beautiful spoiler. Persistence is not easy. Oh! You're waiting for me to sugarcoat? It's not! Persistence is simply doing it when you don't want to. Persistence is simply doing it when you love it. Persistence is simply doing it when you can't see the reward. Persistence is simply showing up when it rains snow. If you've not seen real life snow, don't worry we're in it together.
So, if persistence is doing what I don't want to do, why should I continue to do it?
Did I sound philosophical?
Really? I can't believe that you just laugh!
Here are three points I've used and I think will be beneficial to you too when it comes to the question of persistence.
Reward Yourself.
Have you heard this before? Do you know that rewarding yourself gives you the happiness to continue. Everytime I publish a newsletter, I take myself out to eat. I love Chicken by the way. Sometimes, I satisfy myself by telling how good I look, you can argue with yourself. Sometimes, I reward myself by buying more books. I put a reward system to the act. One of the numerous things I learn from James Clear's Atomic Habits.
Never underestimate what will come after setting out.
If you've ever trekked a long distance, you'll know this point. People often say, the journey of a thousand miles starts with a step but we don't talk about the tiredness that happens in the thousand mile journey. Most inspirational speakers are brilliant speakers. They spark interest and persistence in your heart but they don't talk much about the days you want to give up. In the past 2 years, there are months that I want to give up. There are months I don't want to publish, there are most I feel so weak, there are months I am going through a lot but what kept me going is that I have prepared my mind for days that I may not feel too great to go on.
Be honest with yourself.
If it's not working out, try another thing. Don't waste your precious time in seeing a way where there's none. This point is a little bit harsh but it's the truth. If you're doing it, and you don't feel like you should continue and it's not coming from a place of laziness but from a sincere place of lack of interest—quit! Because, there's no reason for persistence when the heart is elsewhere.
And that's a wrap for this month. Take those three points and see how things change for you. So, as promised, here are five facts about this Newsletter;
I don't edit this newsletter, I write it out as it comes to my mind so that you can see the rawness.
I don't know what I am going to write until the day I write.
This newsletter was initially meant to be about History, later I thought about content marketing, finally I relaxed in Self-help.
I used to publish every Saturday before.
On my first published post, I got two sign ups and 61 people viewed it.
Yay! Of course, I can't celebrate two years without giving goodies. So, here is a compilation of three posts in the Parable Series.
Thank you