I got a pendant

"Don't copy people, let people copy you", my parents said when we had a huge disagreement on whether I should dye my hair or nor. Yes, sometimes, I'm still my parents' child.

I never understood that quote.

It felt hypocritical I guess. It sounded to me like, "as long as it is not you doing it, anyone else can do it for all we care". Well, I asked for clarity, and that is exactly what they wanted it to sound.

My parents are quite conservative, so much so, that their opposing views are 75% dismissive of the context of the topic. I've come to let love live, cos I cannot come and die.

It's 3:37am, and I find myself remembering when I told them that their opinions may not matter in the next 50 years cos they'll probably be resting but I'll be 60+ regretting the things I didn't do cos "my parents didn't approve".

My dad especially; averse to jewellery and accessories on guys is one hell of a case. When I was a kid, he'd catch with rubber rings and pull it so hard that it pwahs on your hand.

So I started with branded bands, then chambalas, then one, and two, and three. The first time he saw three on my wrist, he said, "Praise, this is not who you are". Lol.

"Sorry dad. This is who I am. You've tried but you didn't succeed. I'm keeping these on.", I said. He sighed in surrender.

Then I added a ring—a quite special one from a special someone that I really can't find anymore. Nimi, I'm sorry. First time he saw it, there was it—the exasperation of "I have tried". My mum will go on to tell me that my dad used to wear quite a number of jewellery when he was my age.

"Awww".

"He even used to wear pendants", she said. Ahan! What am I waiting for? Lol. I now have two.

***************************************************************** Iron sharpens iron, but a knife shouldn't do the job of a cutlass. *****************************************************************

Finally installed my website template, Semplice today and I found myself snooping through Van Schneider's website. The highlight was when I caught myself comparing my voice/tone to his. As if that wasn't worse enough, I was beginning to morph into his way of writing.

It is easy to feel like you're not doing well enough when building inspiration. A good hack to avoid unintentional plagiarism is to stop taking inspiration from people and things in the same space of what you're doing.

Writing a newsletter? Don't read other newsletters to figure out how to write yours. Read a book instead. Pick up an article. Subscribe to the New York Times opinion column. Read memoirs or Twitter threads.

Designing a fashion logo? Don't look at other fashion logos for inspiration. Look at lifestyle, engineering, medical, healthcare brands. Attend fashion shows. Read fashion articles.

Build a website? Don't look at other websites in the same industry.

Don't end up being unoriginal in the name of inspiration. I think, in creative work, inspiration should not set a standard; it should provide clarity & direction.

Inspiration should answer the how level of creative conceptualization.

******************************************************** For example, I got this callout idea from Van Schneider. ********************************************************

But, my voice will remain mine as I continue to fine tune it with the things I read and write daily.

So, yes I got a pendant—because I always wanted one—against the notion of my parents that "peer pressure" dey affect me.

I'll be at Bells University on Saturday speaking on being relevant in the Design & Tech Industry. In one of the breakout sessions, the third God–Future X event will be happening with designers.

​

At the end of this month, I'll be holding 7-seat exclusive roundtable conversation at Ile-Ife. Details concerning that will be out soon.

I end this letter with Loki & Jordan hopping around the house like crazy people.

It's 4AM now.

I hope you were sleeping.

Bye. Ciao.

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