DIARY: November to Remember (2023)

Oh, my! So much can happen in one month! It’s incredible how this month has turned into a lifetime of milestones. Wow! 

November Highlights 2023

It has been a custom for me since 2017 to be very intentional about capturing my moments, blessings and lessons IN November. I don’t know what inspired this tradition, but I do know that I am never the same person by the end of November. I’m always evolving – from being broken to healed, single to married, married to pregnant, overwhelmed mother to joyful mother, and all that good stuff. I’m thankful for the Holy Spirit who quickens me to rise up to the challenge every single year. 

Here are the highlights of my November 2023:

1. Best Portrait So Far

During my quiet time, I got a leading to create a portrait of me on my branded T-shirt, inscribed AMAKAMEDIA. So I penned it down on my to-do list for the weekend. I thought I’d go to the studio to do that. 

The next day during my quiet time, the Holy Spirit prompted me about the portrait. I was so restless. He wanted me to get it done like right NOW. 

Immediately, I rushed to powder my face and apply some lip gloss. Then, I switched on my ring light, set my phone on timer and SNAPPED. 

I Asked 4 People, “Who Do You Say That I Am?”

Let’s look at it this way; I am following the footsteps of Jesus in the stunning context where he asked his disciples this question, “What are the people saying about me, the Son of Man? Who do they believe I am?” They answered, “Some are convinced you are John the Baptizer, others say you are Elijah reincarnated, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

“But you—who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked.

Narrowing Down My Niche

Sometimes you start to doubt your own unique identity. Sometimes you get confused with the reality of what you’re trying to do and how you’re going about it. Sometimes you just need more depth in understanding what you are already doing. I wanted to see me through the lens of my closest friends… and they showed up for me in a different way than I expected them to. 

I am humbled to think that this is what S, P, M and B think of me. 

Question 1:

When you think of "AMAKAMEDIA," what vibes or feelings do you get?

S: One who is very passionate and pours her emotions into her content.

P: Vibes of authenticity and openness.

M: Amaka as a person.  Personal blog, where she shares her journey, news or some stuffs like that.

B: AMAKAMEDIA 

Question 2:

What words or phrases pop into your head when you hear "AMAKAMEDIA"?

Don’t be a Silhouette of Your Authentic Self

Welcome to November! I am really excited about this month. I can’t really point a finger to WHAT exactly I am excited about but I’m very sure that it’s partly because I am growing up and becoming the woman I am called to be. Wow! What a woman I am!

Don’t Become Your Own Best Impersonator

I have been gleaning from a number of inspiring women since the WOWMAN Conference. As in! God has women oh! I see the amazing things He is doing with/through the lives of these women and I’m like, “I want to be in this army!”. 

I am currently seeking God’s face to UNDERSTAND the uniqueness and specifications of my design, makeup and purpose. I am seeking clear-cut direction and focus-driven vision. I have a burning desire to step into my season as a woman who is:

ACTIVELY positioned in her unique place of assignment ✔️

POWERFULLY armed with strategic tools for execution  ✔️

AUDACIOUSLY living out authenticity, grace and love ✔️

Growing Like Beautiful Flowers

I’ve never been more intentional about embracing my femininity than I am now as a mum of two adorable girls. While I’ve always been very girly in some special way —my voice, my style, my grace, my walk, my smile...and even my name (Nwamaka meaning Beautiful Baby Girl) —I do not ever want to lose that fundamental core. 

International Girl Child Day 2023

“I will bless Nwamaka and her girls, like rain that falls on dry ground. They will grow like beautiful flowers. They will have strong roots, like the great trees in Lebanon. They will grow like a tree that makes new branches. They will be beautiful like olive trees. They will have a sweet smell, like the forests in Lebanon.”

— Hosea‬ ‭14:5-6‬ ‭

God made this captivating and tantalizing promise first to Israel and He has extended it to me as well. I’m still savouring every bite of this promise; each translation leaves me anticipating more. The Word of God is so yummy. What a delight!

To commemorate today, October 11th, as the International Day of the Girl Child, I want to share this piece with you:

No matter what you feel in this moment – you were created to display God’s BEAUTY and GRACE.

STYLE: Embrace Femininity with Blue

Why is pink often linked to girls and blue to boys? Ever pondered this? Just considered it today and was super surprised by my findings. Huh!

Happy Style-Sunday!

Let Girls Wear Blue 

Can you remember the day somebody else was wearing the same outfit as you? There was probably a time when you were out at an event, or at work, or the mall, or at school, or in the church and you suddenly noticed that someone was wearing an item identical to what you were wearing. Maybe the same dress, jacket, shoes, t-shirt . . . etc.

How do you react to such wonderful moments? For me, I ALWAYS acknowledge and appreciate them. I can also take it two steps further to create a style post out of it.

I have reacted a couple of times (see here and here) and I'm doing it again. It feels so good!

Kachi CG Releases New Official Music Video "Baby Girl" in Celebration of International Day of the Girl Child 2023

I was planning to save this for October 11th but I can’t wait any longer. I believe the whole wide world needs to hear this. Picture me gesticulating the ‘whole wide world’ with my arms outstretched, forming a very big circle. Yes, Kachi CG’s ‘Baby Girl’ deserves a global stage because it makes a universal statement: 

A baby girl is a gift to the world.

Click to watch the official video below:

I love this song, specially because it narrates my authentic story about desiring a boy as my second child. It’s a fusion of drama and music. Yours truly was featured. ;)

Promise Me – Pastor Jerry Eze

Every time I click on the ‘New Post’ button to draft a blog post, a fixed sentence serves as a constant reminder for me:

“Amaka, remember your life is meant to showcase the glory and beauty of God.”

The statement helps me stay on course. Coming across this article on the Teens WhatsApp post this morning, where I serve as a facilitator, stirred me. Yes, I promise! 

‘Promise Me’ as written by Pastor Jerry Eze

Promise me that you will never abandon your Purpose to make ignorant folks happy.

Please promise me that you will value Divine Validation over what anyone feels or thinks about you.

Promise me that you will not sabotage yourself and miss your Divine Timing.

Promise me that you will always see the Best out of every situation.

Please promise me that against all odds you won’t let your dream die.

Writing From Scratch Is No Longer Scratching, Is It?

I do not promote myself enough. No, scratch that. I do not market my products and services enough. It’s high time I started hyping up my own enterprise. 

Let me know if it’s working. ;)

‘I Write’ or ‘AI Right’

Recently, someone asked me why I had not been churning out content as I was doing before I got married. I laughed and I was surprised by the sound of that laughter.

Prior to that moment, such question would have taken me aback. I would have beaten myself up for not producing fruits as much as I wanted to. Thankfully, I had grown into a woman who knows what she has been called to bear in this season. 

If it was not because the question came right after a heartfelt appreciation of how one of my blog posts had helped her out, I would not have bothered with a response. However, I gave a reply stating that my content focus had evolved into videos and encouraged her to subscribe to my YouTube channel. 

Perhaps the reply was not satisfactory enough. This person now mistakenly said: Ahan, there is ChatGPT to help you create content nah. You can even transcribe your videos to text with AI.

I laughed again. But this time, the laughter was a private moment within me. No one heard it.

Major Takeaway from the ‘Just Us Girls’ Conference 2023

I am so happy. No, happy is an understatement. I am overjoyed! This year’s Just Us Girls Conference themed ‘WOWMAN’ was brought together specifically for me, right in this season. Wow! Like, I mean! 

I’m really loving how God has been so intentional about me this year (and this month, in particular). Thank You, my Sweet Jesus! 

WOWMAN Conference 2023

I am big on attending conferences, and I derive satisfaction in sharing my key lessons and notes with you. Remember when I shared my highlights from The Spirit-Life Conference in 2017? How about my notes from a Ruth-Naomi Meeting in 2018? And my lessons from the Excellent Leadership in 2019? Aha, you see! 

I have always enjoyed attending events that are geared towards my growth — mentally, socially, physically, and most importantly, spiritually. As long as I am led to attend, I prepare myself to receive everything that God intends to pour out into me. 

Like a butterfly, I am consistently and constantly living in a state of evolution. 

I practically live on knowing that there is an atmosphere that I need to be brought into right before my next upgrade. It could either be at a prayer meeting or a conference or from a place of pain and rejection. I am always looking out for where and how my heart can be stirred and my spirit will be lit up. I am always looking out for the WORD that will make the babies in my womb to leap. The Amaka you knew six months ago is MOST POSSIBLY not the same Amaka you will meet today.

Never Ever Write “My Husband Said” In A Professional Email

If you are reading this paragraph right now, just start laughing at me already. Just laugh. I didn’t know how funny the mail sounded until those who heard it started laughing about it. Lmho. 

Avoid Personal Reference In An Official Email

If you have been an ardent follower of Heart Rays, then you’d know that I share from real life experiences. I make it so raw that you can almost feel the emotions pouring onto the page. Yeah, I get that feedback from my readers A LOT. However, today is not going to be so emotional because I just want to get it over with. It’s 23:47 and I need to go to bed because I have to host a virtual brainstorming session with my team tomorrow morning. 

So, here’s the gist: Nigeria just concluded her gubernatorial election which brought a lot of tension in my local area due to tribal conflicts and electoral violence. It felt unsafe going to work today (Monday). My husband vehemently insisted that I stay back home with the girls as well. 

So I sent a mail to the HR stating that “my husband said...”. 

Please, laugh at me.

I don’t even know what I was thinking! 

Don’t be like me. Here are some reasons why you should AVOID using personal references in your professional emails:

1. It undermines your Credibility

When you're communicating in a professional setting, it's essential to maintain impartiality and avoid introducing personal biases or opinions into the conversation. Relying on someone else's opinion or authority in a professional setting suggests that you're not confident in your own knowledge or ability to make decisions. This can undermine your credibility in the workplace.