Ayo Obi

  In every generation, men carry an invisible weight, one that culture often overlooks because it’s expected that they “figure it out,” “stay strong,” and “keep moving.” Many men walk through life carrying invisible loads: financial pressure, leadership responsibilities, emotional battles they aren’t always encouraged to voice  and beneath the suits, the work boots, the confident smiles, and the easy laughter, there are real battles many men fight in silence. We’re taught to be anchors but rarely allowed to drift. We’re expected to be protectors, yet seldom protected. We’re encouraged to be problem-solvers but not always given room to admit when we feel overwhelmed. And yet, despite all this, men show up. We stand guard over our families, build dreams from scratch, and often stretch ourselves thin trying to balance purpose, provision, and personal identity.  We’re expected to lead, but rarely given space to admit we’re still learning. We pour out strength while quietly lo...

The world is sick for a surprisingly modest-sounding reason: we don’t understand love, yet we are rather convinced that we do.  We talk a lot about love of course, but generally in terms of a dizzying rapture lasting a few months focused on someone’s beauty, intelligence, and strength. I Love Differently Because Of You I’ve finally learned what love is and what it isn’t.  Love isn’t controlling or manipulative. Love doesn’t leave you feeling ashamed. Love doesn’t leave you feeling lonely. Love makes you feel taken care of. Love makes you feel secure, beautiful, and capable. Love secures you, and, for any woman reading this who feels the same way I did,  I hope you find a love that anchors you. I love differently because of you, because you taught me the difference between what we had, and what I truly deserved. I kind of thank you for that. Hugs 🤗 The Podcast

  I still remember the first day we met. We were too shy to say much at all. It's funny to think back to that time, Because now we're having a ball! They say that true friendship is rare, An adage that I believe to be true. Genuine friendship is something that I cherish. I am so lucky to have met you. Our bond is extremely special. It is unique in its own way. We have something irreplaceable. I love you more and more each day. We've been through so much together. In so little time we've shared, I will never forget all the moments That you've shown me how much you cared. Friends are forever, Especially the bond that you and I possess. I love your fun-filled personality. Somehow you never fail to impress. The world could use more people like you. It would certainly be a better place. I love everything about you. You are someone I could never replace. You are always there for me When my spirits need a little lift. I cannot thank you enough for that. You are truly an ex...

 I wish you'd know how close you are to my heart or how you and my thoughts never part. Or how you made me realize that love is one beautiful art. To explain this feeling, how do I even start? I'd start right from the beginning, but I can't remember when I fell in love with you.  All I know is that it was instant, and it made me feel like an infant. I see your calls, I get excited because it fires me up on my inside. I hear your voice and my heart jumps.  You show you love me and the harder it pumps. Anytime I think of you, I get a tingling sensation. Love is all I have for you, I'd say without hesitation But what I hate is that we are apart, so distant. Every day I love you a little bit more.  Every day I want you more and more.  Loving you with hopes you're on the other side loving me as much. #obismiles 

On this episode of the podcast, I sat down with a dear friend of mine Debbie Ahonsi. I call her the friendship guru. She is a lover of friendship. She gives insights into how to gain and keep friends. You can listen via  Apple Podcast Listen Notes Spotify Anchor.fm

I don't think you will ever fully understand How you've touched my life And how you've scared my heart with your awesomeness I don't think you will ever know how you've allowed me to experience something very rare It was blissful and am grateful I miss how we had fun Now we don't even say hello anymore; we're complete strangers Are we still friends or are we not? You told me once, but I forgot So tell me now, and tell me the truth As I think of our friendship I see that no matter the miles apart We're never apart in our hearts It's a tattoo scared in our sacred heart Embedded with stories for the unborn Saying goodbye was the hardest thing to do I never thought I would Especially not to you I knew I had to let you spread your wings and fly Still, the most difficult choice I'd made Au revoir mon cher ami 💔 -Ayo Obi

The ground is dry It's surface covered in dust This definitely must be a drought Why is the sun so hot Not what I want Who makes a channel for the torrents of rain? Who makes rain fall on dry ground? Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground  And make the withered plants spring up? Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dews? Can you shout to the clouds And make it rain? Ask the Lord for rain in the spring  He makes the storm clouds And He will send showers of rain so every field becomes a lush pasture. You drenched the plowed ground with rain Melting the clods and leveling the ridges You soften the earth with showers  And bless its abundant crops. I lift my hands to you in prayer Lord I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain When the king smiles, there is life His favor refreshes like a spring rain When clouds are heavy The rai...

We are losing what it means to be civilized  We are losing respect for lives other than our own We are in trouble  And only a deep collective reckoning can bring us back from the brink Everybody wants a leader, a savior, a solution  But there isn’t one It’s not one thing-it’s everything Every day acts of goodwill and consciousness are what’s needed to restore our collective broken soul Daily we are saturated in negativity  But it takes only one candle to light a whole room of darkness  People think, oh, I have no power to change the world But we are the world, through our families, our work, our communities  And how you treat everyone in your world has an impact on the microcosm Don’t underestimate your power. Hate is potent, but so is kindness  And goodness, and grace  Use yours generously  Let’s be more discerning about what’s really happening to our country Get woke to how you can be an agen...

The images below was taken on Good Friday,  2019.

What strikes our innocence as we grow The society or our dogmatic refusal to change? Curiosity has killed our cats Viciously leaving their carcasses to our foes  Seen a lot of maze stuck fellows Running the cycle of hates and hallows Buried in the dug of insecurities  Thinking everyone is their enemy  Selfishness to self incurred  Damaging the very core of their existence  Culture leaving them ravaged in poverty Abuse never leave their polity  Greed soliciting their deprived minds So many never bother to fight back Accepting the hospitality of an enemy  Sleeping with a stranger -Ayo Obi  #society #obismiles

You steal from your future by the negligence of today Priding yourself with your ill-gotten wealth Deluded by the composite companionship with fools Who bewitched you? Greed or pride? Why are you foolish? Who says hard work brings no gain? Or labor doesn’t produce fruits? The lazy look for quick fixes Thinking tomorrow is a decade away  And the day after a century  Make hay while the time is right -Ayo Obi #obismiles #Prejudice #poetry #lagos

#LoveIsAyo I learnt the hard way what love really means I thought I knew what love is Truly love is all you’ve heard and more But not all it is Love is sacrifice  I’m sure you don’t know what is Love is giving your all And not expecting more than this Love taught me hard That am still struggling still  “I love you” is sweet to say but it’s more than these words Love is accepting the unseen And trusting all you see Love fills a void that no one can fill But you -Ayo Obi #LoveIsAyo #obismiles  #lovestory  #valentinesday

I tried so hard to put the equation of my life together  I tried plus and minus Trying to get the answer Without your help Every trial points me back to x Why x??? I fussed My reality is only clearer  With you beside me Your light shining my path As I walk with you I became convinced of your plans  and purpose  As I pursue your reality for me The reality of the x  Factored into my unexpected equation Makes my life easy  And my journey light I paused for a second Rewinded to the equation Then i realized my x  Is no other person but you All the while   -Ayo Obi

Been in search of greener pastures Worked the dust of the desert Just to get to that goodness I thought was far away All i needed was to look within Water my grass to be green Shine my light to my dark Be the sunshine to my world I realized I've missed the mark Lived for the fame Made my mistakes Just so I can get to this point Where I can boldly say It's all part of His plan He factored my mistakes Into my life's journey So when I fall I can get back up Stronger than before Now my test has become my testimony   - @obismiles   #Ire #spontaneous #writing #poetry   #words #spokenword #obismiles #writingcommunity #reason #live #love

Love sits waiting for a call All longs for love to call What makes love answer Motive or motion? The call was made And all became slayed Drowned in her embrace The bond is strong Love stuck close Knowing the heart is fickle Choice or decision? Made in a second Distance created The gap widens Who will build the bridge Love or lost? The decision stood still Love became a facade Embedded in the heart of a few The light became dim The voice weak Love speaks from within Only a few listened Cos only the few heard Time became old  Many were lost The tale went round Love was dead Love kept calling  Few heard Still -Ayo Obi

Perfect Imperfection  Lost amidst the crowd  All in the search of my reality I thought I know who I am Boosted about my exploits Pleasures that brought quilt  Moments that pierced through my soul Thought I had it all together I got deeper Couldn't find myself All became dim Can't see far Losing sight Couldn't see the light At the end of the tunnel  The journey became weary Had no place to call home No friend to call my own I struggle as i couldn't make this walk on my own I needed a saviour The one that will fix my sight Light my path And walk with me through it all -Ayo Obi

When it's time for you to leave here When it's time to leave your job When it's time to leave your home When it's time to leave your neighborhood When it's time to leave this planet Make sure it mattered that you were ever even here The only thing we know is that while we are here let's do something with it While we are here let's love and let's love a little harder While we are here let's give and let's give a little more While we are here let's get to doing what really matters   -Ayo Obi Photo Credit:  Brand Quarterly

Lay it down The pain and the shame Resting at his feet Cast your cares and put your worries to vain The one who sits Took it all away Those burdens are not yours to bear The shame ,the guilt Come as you are Rest in his embrace As you trust him to heal the hurts and pain And double the gain -Ayo Obi