I HATE MY NICKNAMES

"Esther David"

The first time I realised how unique my name is, was in Jss 2 (I attended Providence Heights, the best secondary School in Lagos Mainland🤪)

This story actually starts at my first English class for the 1st term, and our beautiful teacher asked everyone to introduce themselves. Before that day, I've not had to call out my full name, so I was given the exclusive right to let everyone know how to address me! Immediately she repeated the name, Esther David, she smiled and asked me where I was from. That's usually the next question even till date. I'm so sure you asked that same question! (I'll share that one another day, it's not part of today's gist).

How did that make me feel?

UNIQUE. ONE OF A KIND. AMAZING!🎉

I still remember the feeling and she continued to call me that exact name for as long as I remember!

Fast forward to 100 level, I had a few nicknames here and there, one of them was Sleeping Beauty!

I don't know how I started to accept the name but all of a sudden I was writing it as part of my names, on my Physics textbook, that I didn't need, but paid so much money for🙄. And as expected, I slept so much all through the 1st semester🤦🏻‍♀️, while my roomies and friends were busy mingling and getting caught up in October rush (BTW, if you are part of those that discouraged me from being a part of October rush in 2012, let me just let you know that the level of fear you put in me, was not necessary Fam... Who knows 😒) Still can't explain how I still passed that semester.

October rush is...

Keep reading, I'll tell you soon...🤭

I had another one that stuck and till date, I have course mates who have either decided not to stop calling me that name, or never really got to know my real name. I'm not going to share that name because

I HATE THAT NICKNAME

I didn't even identify with it, because not so many people called me that name, and over time, as they got to know me, so many people stopped.

NOT EVERYONE THOUGH!

HUMANS!🙄

   ***†********************†**

What is the Koko of the whole matter?

You can't stop at the level of accepting all what people call you.

Concerning that nickname, I remember telling some people, "That's not my name!". A particular guy I told was even like "My bad, I don't even know your name", so I told him the correct appellative. Some others that I told, did not agree with me ooo, they insisted on calling me the same crazy nickname, even in public... 

Like i said... 

HUMANS.

The third category had gotten so used to it that after correcting them over and over, i got tired. Those ones are on another level.

That didn't stop me from rejecting the name in my head and heart. Presently, except you knew that name at some point, you wouldn't know I'm the one being referred to.

I feel This applies to how you accept and reject certain things. The world will throw words, and even if no one wants to see or understand why you are not accepting of those qualifications, you owe it to yourself to sieve out all those qualifications.

 If you dont like the sound of it, reject it.

If it's not representative of where you are and who you are (or have) becoming, Don't accept it.

Let the world say it, but don't allow your heart settle for it.

Those names do mean a lot; I mean, consider your birth name now, and let me know if it doesn't have anything to do with how your life has played out!

If you see me going around calling myself Ayo (Joy), I want you to know now that it's my name. It's representative of who I am. I'm a Joy Giver, I ooze soo much joy, when you are around me, you are exposed to Joy Overflowing!

Did I lose you?

I hope not!

Let me repeat that for you, so you can remember

Let the world say it, but don't allow your heart settle for it.

If you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it, let me know!

P.S.

You do deserve to know, since you got this far.

October rush is a time in October after 100 level girls have settled in and the guys in other levels start to scout for potential babes or playthings 😒😒

I can only share the abbrev. version of the nickname that led to this ted talk... BANS.

Maybe in the future, I'll be willing to divulge✌🏼

#Joygiver

 #Joyoverflowing