Today is a Good Day

If you hang around me, you are likely to hear me say “It’s going to be a great day” at the start of a new day. It’s a modification of something I heard someone say regularly on radio. I used to be an avid listener of The Morning Drive on Rhythm 94.7 FM when the show was anchored by Meka Akerejola. He always said “Today is a good day”. I loved the phrase and made my own adaptation.

Fortuitously, he and his family joined my church (Lighthouse Abuja). I heard him speak for the first time in church in 2015 when he gave a testimony about his successful kidney transplant. When the opportunity presented itself, I went to introduce myself to him. I told him I loved his radio show and I found his testimony touching. His response was “Come here man” and he gave me the biggest hug. That was one of his trademarks. Meka did not play with his hugs. Whether you were an old friend or he was meeting you for the first time, you were bound to get a warm hug from him.

When I discovered that he was also a graphic designer, he was my “ go to guy” for anything design related. In the course of our design relationship, I got to know him better. Despite his health challenges, he was a positive person. He always said “zero negativity”. I remember once when he was speaking to me and someone else about some of the challenges he was facing at work at that time. The other person was suggesting an approach that involved “fire and brimstone”, Meka just looked at me and gave that his smile and said “why can’t we all just get along?” Vintage Meks! Always pursuing peace .

He had great work ethic. He was innovative and hardworking. When he left Nigeria for India at the beginning of the year, he told me he was still available for work. I thought his health was paramount. However, he told me he would still be able to work until he actually did the procedure and until last week, he was still helping me out with designs. When people leave, all we are left with are memories and lessons. I have so many memories but would share three lessons that occurred between February and this month.

The first was our first phone conversation after he had arrived India. I called him on whatsapp and he immediately switched to video call. This was to be the pattern for our subsequent conversations. He told me his monthly data plan was 90GB and so he wanted to see my face. With hindsight, I know why!. We spoke about many things. He wanted me to see Indians parking their bikes and leaving their keys in it without the fear of it being stolen. He asked when Nigerians will be their brother’s keeper? The lesson was try and be your brother’s keeper.

On February 21, he sent me this message in the picture below. He was helping me design a flyer for a training event and he complained that the picture I wanted to use would be limited to my face. He wanted me to be bolder. So he sent this picture of a lady using a full frontal picture for a similar business training and wrote “This could be you. But you’ll be there hiding…..” I had a good laugh when I read it. The lesson was don’t hide and dim your light. He was a great cheerleader and encourager.

The third was a testament to his generosity. He helped me design 2 flyers. One for a corporate event that occurred today (March 21) and the other for a training I was supposed to facilitate in April. He asked me not to pay for one of the flyers (my own). He said it was “complimentary”and I have no inkling as to why he did that. I guess it was his parting gift.It just shows the kind of heart he had. He was a generous soul and he was generous to the end.

He was a wonderful family man. He adored his wife and his eyes sparkled when he talked about their son. He doted on his 3 younger sisters whom he described as “Original Ogori Princesses”. He did not play with his pounded yam! He radiated warmth, love and light. He was a fighter. He was a great person who enriched those he met along the way.

We exchanged messages on Sunday. He left on Thursday. This reminds me about the brevity of life. Here today, Gone tomorrow. Today is a gift. Don’t let it go to waste. Today is a good day!