7:00 a.m. used to mean one thing when we were much younger.

It meant rushing down to school because assembly would soon begin.

It meant using polish(ororo and foam)to shine our shoes the night before, hoping our socks matched, and praying we hadn't forgotten our homework on the dining table.

I remember the way we'd run out of the house with our bags half-zipped and our lunch boxes in hand, hurrying through those narrow streets because we were already late.

I remember the friends who walked the same route with us every morning. The ones who would wait for you even when you delayed. The ones who somehow made the journey feel a little less lonely with us screaming at the top of our voice even before the assembly ground “the day is bright, is bright and fair”!

Back then, life was measured in school bells, break time, and long holidays.

I remember begging my dad to let me play one more game on his phone before everyone started getting ready. Snake. Bounce. Even before Temple Run came out.

There was also that game where you had to stack blocks perfectly. We'd sit in corners with our eyes glued to those tiny screens, completely absorbed in worlds that somehow felt bigger than the phones we held.

I remember the excitement of seeing someone with a new phone. The way we'd gather around, hoping for a turn. The way our older neighbours would look at us like we were disturbances before eventually giving in.

Our biggest worries were small enough to disappear by the next morning.

“Mummy mummy are you going to cook rice for for us to take to school tomorrow or spa-ghe-tti”?

Would my teacher mark my homework?

Will I get to sit in the front row today?

Will I be applauded for being the neatest girl class?

I remember those days.

The innocence. The simplicity. The feeling that time was endless.

Then, somehow…

7:00 a.m. changed.

Now, it means getting ready for work. Or sitting in Lagos traffic. Or ending a night shift. For someone else, it means refreshing an email inbox, hoping today is the day an opportunity finally arrives. For another person, it means checking their account balance before making another difficult financial decision. Some are praying over medical reports. Some are trying to heal from relationships that ended without an explanation. Some are wondering whether they'll ever meet the person they're praying to build a future with.

Others are simply trying to make it through another repeated week like this.

Life became serious.

Not all at once. But quietly. The games disappeared. The borrowed phones became our own phones. Ironically, we hardly play those games anymore. Sometimes the memory returns for a few seconds and disappears before I can fully sit with it. The things we couldn't wait to grow into eventually arrived, along with responsibilities we never imagined.

I used to think adulthood would feel different. That I'd feel more prepared, more certain, more in control. Instead, I find myself praying many of the same prayers, hoping for the same peace, and learning that nobody, young or old really has life figured out.

So growing up isn’t all of this…

Becoming fearless. Becoming free. But learning to keep moving while carrying things no one else can see.

Still…

I keep reminding myself of something.

Those school mornings didn't last forever. Neither will these.

One day, today's worries will become stories.

I remember listening to older people tell their stories and wondering what mine would sound like. I didn't know then that I was already living it.

One day, we'll look back at this version of ourselves with more compassion than criticism.

One day, we'll realise that even this season was shaping us in ways we couldn't see.

Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But one day, this version of us will become a memory too.

We'll speak about it the same way we now speak about school mornings…with a smile that only time can give.

Because nothing stays the same forever. Not joy. Not pain. Not waiting. Not hardship. Not uncertainty.

It won't always be the same.

Been a while since we had a heart-to-heart conversation…..I miss you.❤️

So recently, I saw somewhere that “sleeping at night is easy, but waking up in the morning is by the grace of God.”

For some reason, that opinion didn’t sit well with me. Not because I disagree that waking up is a gift o….but because the statement seemed to overlook how hard night can be for so many people.

I know some who find it difficult to sleep at night; those with insomnia, others battling with chronic sleep disorders, pressures of the day and everything in between.

Personally, there are nights when closing my eyes feels like a nightmare. The constant thoughts, the racing heart, the busy mind and tired body that ceases to cooperate. Some nights end with me stuffing myself with slices of bread at 2:00 a.m., hoping to distract myself from the sadness I feel long enough to finally fall asleep.

So this should go without saying…

Everything we do is by the mercies and grace of God. Sleeping. Waking. Walking. Reading. Talking.

Nothing we do is facilitated by our own power or will. Every breath we take is sustained by God.

Perhaps the person who wrote that simply meant that waking up every morning is a “gift from God”. I understand and I agree, it is. But I just couldn’t help thinking about those for whom the night itself is a battle.

If waking up is by the grace of God, then so is falling asleep. Grace does not only meet us at sunrise; it carries us through the dark, holds us through the night, and meets us again in the morning.

God’s grace to you always.❤️

It’s been one month since your birthday. And somehow, I thought to write to you. I know you’re probably thinking about your next big event. Birthday to you is long gone and I won’t even be surprised at all. Because it’s you.

Before your birthday, you were thinking of what it feels like to be older. You planned the whole birthday scenario in your head and how happy you’d be that day even though you ended up on your bed, not sad but just there.

Right now, you’re writing your exams but, but probably asking what happens after your induction.

You don’t even know your exam score yet, but you’re already comparing past events…to future what ifs…

I know you’re not an ingrate. You’ve never been; It’s just your heart…it doesn’t know how to slow down. Like it’s always racing. What’s that your favourite sport again? Peaceeee!!!! You’re always on the run.

The person you went on a icecream date with will think you’re normal. They don’t know. (Laughs in nobody is actually 100% normal). Even when you’re interacting with friends, when you’re sitting in church… somewhere in your chest, there’s a quiet hum of “what’s next, what’s next, what’s next.”

To make you feel better, I think a lot of people feel this too. You probably are not alone.

My darling Peace…

You’re about to complete nursing school. It wasn’t easy. Never has. Remember the times you kept showing up for clinicals, the times you were scared of failing due to the mistakes you made during OSCE procedures, the times you broke down because you couldn’t afford a bill and no one to really pick you up from the emotional mess you were in. Remember?

There was one time, You were in a bus on transit questioning if all of these efforts will ever produce something worth later.

Oh in 400lvl…, You organized events while you were studying for exams. Geez now I’m thinking about it, you actually used to be good at multi-tasking.

You started writing publicly even when you had just 2 people to read what you had to say. You started writing from courage, to heal, to find your voice, you kept on despite the mistakes.

You’ve been building in the last one year more than you’ve ever had to but somehow, after all that, you still wonder if you’re doing enough.

My darling Peace, I’ve noticed something else…

You are much kinder to other people than you are to yourself.

If someone your age told you they survived nursing school, built a small writing audience, rap the in choir, own a skill and kept praying and hoping each day for something better to come their way, you’d tell them “you’re doing amazing.” But when you look at yourself??

Sometimes I really wish you could just breathe. I know you really want to breathe. So why not let it?

Also, not every brave thing you do needs to be put on trial. Post the video. Leave it up. Write the thought. Don’t delete it. Take the risk. Extend a handshake, you’re not timid. Stop asking for permission to move….!

And one more thing, Peace…

You must learn to stay.

Stay in the joy for five minutes before looking for the next problem. Stay in the answered prayer before worrying about the next one. Stay in the beautiful moment long enough to actually feel it.

Younger you would be so fascinated at how much you’ve grown. Accept it or not.

She would look at you and say: “Wait… you’re still soft? After all you’ve been through? You’re still praying? You’re still trying???”

Hmmmmm….

I hope I actually become what I’m learning. Sometimes I forget I need to act myself out of that habit, the thinking about the next thing before the day is done.

I really hope I get better. I hope I don’t keep thinking about the next big thing but learn to stay long enough to feel the glory of what God has already done and is doing…

For anyone reading this whose heart also races like mine, I see you. I don’t have your answers but in my silent prayers, I include you.🤍

Love,

From a version of me that’s still learning the same lesson.

Every year, I post the pictures, the captions, make the “grateful for another year” posts and quietly just disappear.

I used to think it didn’t really matter. I know no one is going to beat me for not announcing my age (duhhhh) but for so long l knew it was way more than that. Maybe it's because I look way younger than I am. Maybe it's because every new age feels more serious than the person I think I am. Maybe…

To be honest making it known always felt like opening myself up to a kind of judgement I wasn't ready for and this year was no different.

Imagine me quietly turning 23 and acting like nothing happened. Well... in my defense, 23 sounded very serious. Like, too serious. Some of my male friends got married to their wives between the ages of 22 and 24. Some are building careers. Some are doing all these grown-up things and looking responsible while doing them. Meanwhile, I'm here like... "Wait first. Me? Twenty-three??!!"

The funniest part was when I was chatting with a friend on Ig and he said, "Woah, welcome to your Jordan year."

I was like, Kini?

I immediately ran to Google sha.

Because uncle, what do you mean Jordan year???

Na so I start to dey read o. I began seeing all those things people say about 23. I was just laughing. But somewhere inside my head, there was also a small voice whispering, "Peace... time don reach to serious o."

And honestly, that's what 23 feels like so far.

You're not old. You're not young either. But you're old enough for life to start asking harder questions. Questions about purpose. Questions about responsibility. Questions about what exactly you're doing with your life. And before you say it, no, this isn't comparison o. But let's not pretend we don't all feel that urge to compare sometimes.

Funnily enough, some days I actually accept that not everyone has it all figured out. That most people are like me too, figuring things out as they go. Which is slightly comforting, to be honest.

Now, if you're 22, please come closer. COME CLOSERRRRR!!!

Don't rush this thing. Take your time. Live. Try things. Embarrass yourself a little. Start the project. Send the application. Talk to the people. Take the picture. Wear the outfit. Apply for the opportunity. Go on that date. Find your church. Fall in love if you wish to. 😂

Well… to be serious

Because nobody tells you that one day you'll wake up and suddenly be 23. And somehow people start looking at you like you're supposed to know THINGS. Me that I'm still trying to understand some things myself.

And to those of you that are 24, 25, 26 and above... Where are you people right now? 🥺

I'm taking notes.

If there is any survival guide, now is the time to release it oooooooo. Because you people have been suspiciously quiet.

I think being 23 might just be doing things that scare you. It's daring to do things that don't always make sense at first. It's realizing that fear doesn't magically disappear one morning. You just become brave enough to move with it.

And honestly, I want that from 23.

Not overthinking every step. Not living like every mistake is the end of the world. Not being so cautious that I never fully experience the beauty in life.

Because if I'm being honest, 22-year-old me was careful. Very careful. Infact too careful. (My subsconscious tells me it paid off)

But heyyy, l was always thinking:

"What if this goes wrong?" "What if people don't like it?" "What if I fail?" "What if I embarrass myself?"

This year, I want to ask a different question.🥹

What if it works? And even if it doesn't? At least I tried. At least I lived. At least I showed up.

So here's to 23. 🌷

Old enough to know better.

Young enough to still blame some things on growth.

And hopefully brave enough to do some of the things that have scared me for far too long.

You’re tired.

Tired of repeating the same cycle over and over again.

Tired of submitting your CV countless times.

Tired of writing that exam…re-taking it… and applying all over again.

You’re tired of waiting for the right partner, the man of your youth, the lady of your dreams.

Everything irritates you more easily now.

Your reactions… your responses…you can’t even control them like before.

Everything feels so patterned. And honestly…..it’s tiring.

But one thing I’d say, is that you rest.

Find comfort in God. Pause. Reflect.

God is still working in you. Yes. He is still working in you.

I’m not here to motivate you, just to remind you that God is not done with you yet.

Please say this out loud. {……(your name), God is not done with you yet!}. Amen.

In time… you will flourish. It may take days, months, even years…

But for now… Please pause.

Allow your heart to rest in God… not man.

Take a break from the worry, take a break from the pressure, take a break from the constant need to figure it all out. Pleaseeeee.

Pause. Reflect. Selah

For my sis reading this, I found a channel on YouTube you can subscribe to. Name is “Sis let’s pray”, link above. And if you ever need someone to pray with or some encouragement, it’s a very supportive place to be. I’d be back for my brothers too.

Selah. 🤍

What happens after all of these is gone?

A question l kept pondering over. Staying face on camera so hard with the idea of being the successful one tomorrow. It’s either l succeed or l succeed or l succeed. The obsession has become a constant. I wonder if I’m stealing the success of today already.

What happens after l pass my exams?

What happens after l leave school?

What happens to the relationships I’ve built?

What happens after l bid goodbye to my Alma mater?

What happens? really….

Another life probably begins l know. l get a job; Start working, earn a salary, afford the things l want, live in the satisfaction I’ve always wanted, provide for my loved ones, show up for service. But what happens after? It’s not like I’m thinking about the future or worrying…I’m just concerned about the recent affinity to make it by all means, concerned about the reality of a part of me coming to a close.

I wonder if there’s actually a blue print I’m going to be leaving behind all of these.

I wonder if there’s so much in my current life that l cannot see yet.

I wonder if I’m missing out on the real things happening in the present already.

5 years in school. But after all of it.. what happens really?

You mean l would no longer get to see the people around me?

People I’ve held up so close. People I’ve given a part of me. Things I’ve mastered so much, l’d soon have to let go?

Back to family, back to base, back to who l really am. Back to learning and re-learning the parts I’ve been away from for years. There’s just something fishy about all these. It’s just like every human on earth right now…One day, we get to leave this world to our home. Even the Bible says we’re in the world but not of the world; which means this is only temporary. How temporary indeed.

What happens when all of this is gone?

Your favourite person becomes another stranger probably…Or another WhatsApp contact you communicate with maybe after you come across their post. No, it’s not like these are all l want to happen…It’s just me thinking out loud. What if?

When l was much younger in Secondary school, I was really eager to be done with school. But at that point,,, it never looked like there was going to be another world, full of new people, new life, new characters. I imagined it though but l didn’t get it until l came into the reality.

What happens when all of these is gone?

No l don’t want to be the one who lives life just valiantly. I believe there’s more. Hence these questions…

And listen… if you feel so satisfied right now, I promise you, there’s something wrong somewhere probably. You must be able to see beyond life from where you’re at. From the calm you see. From the people around you, look beyond.

I’m not saying you should look for chaos when there’s none. Live your life to the fullest, with God as your daily anchor. But! You must have it at the back of your mind,,,, there’s more.

What happens when all of this is gone?

Beyond the media, can l really stand to the tests of time? What will be said about this girl who studied here? Did she really impact lives or was she too invested thinking about what making an impact looks like. Did she heal or did she get more wounds to carry along the next phase? I don’t know if I’m ready for the life after this phase, I honestly do not know.

I guess nobody prepares you for a nostalgic near-future experience.

For someone who has a lot of things to do; a lot of systems to change, for someone who’s being awaited for, I question myself a lot. Just like now…

Someone please tell me life is truly in phases and even after this, when the time comes it’s going to be just normal. Tell me I’m going to be able to figure it out. Please tell me l wouldn’t have to wait for answers in places where l never planted questions. Someone tell me I’m going to be fine and everything is going to be alright.

Someone please tell me that after all of this, what comes next is something l can handle. Someone please tell me after all of this, my zeal for a successful life dosen’t drive me crazy in the end. Someone tell me I can finally rest a little without feeling guilty. Someone tell me l won’t be loosing myself in the process all over again.

…From my heart to yours

What happens when all of this is gone?

It led me to ponder a series of questions….

Why did I join Substack?

Personally, I yearn for something deeper. Against the noise of this world, I crave a place of quiet. I want to be able to write to people who hear me speak even without uttering a word. To find my voice. To connect with people who talk real. Who feel real.

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Few weeks back, I had the opportunity to read a couple of writeups about why our celebrities are joining this community and it stirred something in me. You see, we often forget that celebrities are humans first. They have feelings that go beyond a highlight reel or a viral post. Many of them possess talents much deeper than what they’re known for.

I remember when I first joined this community, I was captivated by the stories from creators like Hauwa and Tobe. I mean, I know these people! On Instagram, everything feels like a race for followers, the beautiful camera, the performance, the rich uncle and aunty vibes. But here? It’s a different world. I felt lucky to share a digital circle with people I admired, seeing them tell vulnerable stories like they were my neighbors.

Is it for the money?

Some will say it’s just another golden opportunity for them to make more money. And that may be part of it. But I believe it’s beyond that. Celebrities crave connection too. On other platforms, there is so much toxicity as we know, but that’s far from what we have here. These people have thoughts, and sharing them is often the best thing they can do. But what happens when every intention you have feels like a crime? You drop one word and the world comes rushing to devour you like a vulture waiting for your downfall.

I know how dragging and scandal spread like wildfire. But we must remember that these individuals aren’t the cause of every unpeaceful event on the internet. I believe celebrities on Substack are simply humans looking for a home for their thoughts…just like you and me.

Another question: Are we marking territories here?

I’ve also noticed some of us quoting things like “I don’t want this place to turn into Twitter now that celebrities are joining.”

But this is a community open to people of all races, socio-economic statuses, and tribes. It is not a territory to be owned. Infact, seeing these familiar faces here reminds me of one truth: all we see is not all we know. Whether someone has ten followers or ten million, that number doesn’t define their entire personality. And if we start gatekeeping out of fear of substack becoming twitter, we only limit ourselves. Substack isn’t ours to defend. At the end of the day, we’re all just looking for a place where we can live, write, and be happy.

Your faves and celebrities deserve an inner peace too. A place to share their vulnerabilities and stories without being judged for it. So instead of gatekeeping, let’s accept that we’re all humans. We all want to be heard. Not just seen.

My thoughts are a bit scattered around but here’s my POV.

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Few days ago, I was in the labour room witnessing the beautiful pain of birth. Standing right in the delivery suite,all l could see was a woman with so much endurance and strength inside of her. But beyond the physical, my mind travelled far. And l began to think about the significance of labour in the layman’s life generally.

Maybe it’s my writer’s mindset, or maybe because I’m just a deep thinker, but as I watched the intensity in that room, I’ve never seen delivery the same way again. I got the understanding that what happens in the labor ward is the exact blueprint for what happens in our private lives.

Let me explain. Medically, the pain felt during labour occurs due to uterine contractions and these contractions are required for labour to progress. They dilate and thin the woman’s cervix to allow for the birth of the baby. Without these contractions, labour stalls. No contraction, no delivery.

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In active labour, these contractions are frequent and intense. That’s why if wishes were horses, every woman would choose to have her baby without the pain that comes with it. Even me.😂Cause ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

But guess what? There’s a shift that happens when there’s an understanding of what the contractions are there for. It changes the whole game. Fr. A pregnant woman would go through labour without breaking, even when it hurts, because she’s aware all she’s feeling is a sign of progress. This is exactly what happens when you are birthing something new in your life. While your audience is expectant, you are navigating the private contractions of your own growth. The late-night map-plans, the discomfort, the doubt, the hunt for capital, the delay and the fear that comes with “will it really come out safe and alive?”

Hear me out, Just like the woman in the labour room, the pain isn’t there to break you. It’s going to hurt, It’s going to take time, the preps are going to be intense but all that is proof that something is about to be born. It’s a sign of progress. It may be hard, but don’t stop. Push!!

If you are in the middle of a contraction right now whether it’s in your academics, career, your business, or your personal growth…just know that I am rooting for you. Don’t stop now. You are closer than you think.

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Last year, I was buried under school events and leadership demands. I was so busy meeting the needs of my community that I left myself out. It took a fellowship invitation just to remind me that we were even in the month of love.👀

Now, it’s February 2026, and honestly? This time, I’m doing even more things. The pressure is high. As a final-year nursing student, the weight of everything!! Exams; projects, the hustle. It feels a lot mehn. I feel that urgent need to be reading or doing something productive every single second. Honestly, If you invite me out right now, I’ll probably say no. Because arghhhhhhhhhhhh.🤦‍♀️

I’m waiting to see what this month brings though, but truth be told, my cup is at its brim. Not like l have a babe to be looking forward to valentine.🤫😂 February 14th will likely just be another day of the grind. Or probably not?

This February!! my last as an undergraduate. I pray it is.🥺 Because of that, I’m trying even though it feels impossible, to find a second to breathe. Each night, I question if l can give myself a little more grace in the middle of this weight. I keep reminding myself that this is my last opportunity to make things right at the finish line. I’ve told my Abba, about it all. I just pray it ends well.

Guysssssss, a day gone is gone forever. February 2026 will never happen again. So DO what you have TO DO.

And yes, I’d love to hear from you…. What lessons did last February teach you, and what mistakes are you making sure not to repeat this month? I’d be in the comments!🥺

It’s the middle of the night, and I’m currently taking a quick break from my books. I'm right in the thick of back-to-back school semester exams, and if you’ve been following my journey as a finalist, you know the schedule is incredibly a lot right now.

But even in the middle of it, I’m holding onto these quiet, honest moments to connect with you. I wanted to let you in on a secret first.The Peace Podcast (TPP), officially launches next Friday!🥺

It’s a space I’ve been preparing for the gists and heart-to-hearts that are too deep for your screen and mine too!! The intersections of faith, the reality of nursing, and the beautiful unseen parts of our future.🥹 Please keep me in your prayers as I continue with my exams.

Thanks you for reading.

Please subscribe, don’t miss out on this one.❤️

#TPP is coming.

Stay peaceful,

Adegboyega Peace Ibukun

Don’t get me wrong. As a Christian, I solidly believe in the riches of my Father in heaven. But I also know that poverty is not a good thing at all! See, when you’re down, people will project their wickedness to you and try to make you see good intentions in it. God pleaseeeeeee.

Let me take you back to four years ago when all I needed was to move forward. All I needed was to break free. But even then, someone I trusted didn’t think it was wrong to ask me certain things. After everything she knew I went through! This same person who was preaching endurance to me every day still went ahead to ask if I’d be willing. Willing to do what, ma???

Then she mentioned there was someone available who would pay me well. She said I just had to do the "necessary things." You know what that means?

Staying with her. Washing the dishes. Cooking the food. Buying the fuel. Washing the car. Doing the household laundry. The list goes on.

Omo, the anger that was rising inside me! Like how?

Maybe in her mind, she actually meant well though….Maybe she thought she was helping me out. But that’s the scary part about this life! when people think helping you means keeping you at a level they are comfortable with.

Did you forget I was in Uni? Aside from being in school, you already knew that staying with another Mabel was the last thing I needed for my life. You were the one preaching to me about patience, yet you’re the one trying to push me back into the same hole I just climbed out of.

Guys, some people can be very wicked and you’d think it’s all out of love. Fahfahfah! No get money first and you’d see how very good they are in manipulating.

Anytime you find yourself in this kind of situation, just say No. Please, don’t even start to compromise, especially when you know where you’re coming from. You cannot let cycles repeat themselves. She really thought I should go back to slavery just because she thinks I’m not capable of surviving on my own.

I may not have had it all. But l had God. I have God! And He will sort out my needs. I must not be poor!!!

Today, I received so many compliments on how beautiful I am. It wasn’t just the outfit; it was my face, my carriage, and my presence. Everything felt seen today.

My heart aches to meet you. I don’t know when, and I don’t know how, but I am certain that you will find me. How was church service today? I hope you went? My pastor talked about breaking limitations today, and I must say: everything keeping me beneath must cease this year in Jesus name! I hope you’re breaking limitations from your end, too. I love you so much, and it’s only a matter of time until we meet. Until then, I’ll keep praying for you and building myself into the woman you prayed to God for. Be strong and courageous; the Lord has so much good in store for you. For us. 🫶🏻

I love you, babe. I’ll write to you again. Please keep me in your prayers.

~Your wife.

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Now, if you’re reading this, you’d think I don’t like being in a library or better still, maybe I don’t like reading but heyyyyyyy my opponenttttt, you’ve been deceived.😂Or maybe not. I like reading, I know I can be lazy, but I like reading. The truth is, I usually read everywhere else because that’s not a library. At church, At dinner,in the middle of noise, when mosquitoes are biting. Somehow, I just think l read more when everywhere isn’t quiet and too comfortable. The heat and struggle just serves me more than staying cool and comfortable under the library AC. There’s something about the grind of the outside world that keeps me awake. Don’t judge me.🥲

So the reason anyone would be able to say they found me reading today in the library 06-01-26 is because I just had to.😩 Can I say I’m cooked? Cause l am o. They just released our exam timetable. And l was still composed sef. But as how na???With the couple of incourses l have lined up for me this week it’s only okay if they postpone the date.

Anyways, since they decided to show themselves, not me. I just had to take charge over what l could control; my actions. Normally, I wouldn’t have gone to the library, like I said. I probably would have stayed in my room, lying on my 2 by 5-inch student’s bed,😩 at the pavilion, the basketball court, in front of Iya Amina’s shop, or possibly even in the cold outside at night.But this time, I knew I had to take all the chances. Show up at the place I need to. For my own good. For my future. For the nurse I’m going to be soon. Time is ticking and the grind is really tough. Did I tell you guys I also have about 4 incourses to write between now and Friday?Oh yes! And I’m not even kidding. Anyways, I cannot be finished!! This medschool cannot finish me sehhhhh! I just pray for strength and courage even in the midst of the fear and pressure. 🥹

I’d be back. For now, put me in your prayers. 🥹🤲

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I know it’s been a long time. I stayed away from this space for longer than I intended. While this page has been quiet, my life has been so loud with the grind of being a student nurse and just being human basically.

I’m back now, God helping me, and I’m ready for it all. I’m no longer just a student with a dream; I am a Future registered nurse {RN} navigating the final, most intense lap of this marathon. This time around, I’m not just sharing content or my usual health research articles, I’m sharing the Heart-to-Hearts through this journey.

Here is what you can expect from this new chapter:

•The Raw Truth: No more hiding the hard days or running to hide when things get tough. I'm documenting the struggle of the journey and the grace found in it.

•Peace Adegboyega’s Podcast: A new audio series where I share the thoughts that are too heavy for a screen but perfect for a conversation. An audio series where l finally get to pour it all out.

•A Shared Path: Whether you’ve been here for long or you’re new, we are walking this path together; towards our purpose.

Thank you for waiting for me. 🥹Let’s begin again.

With love, Peace.

“Dear Lord, open my heart to accept the truth; that l need to heal, to forgive and to recieve all the love l truly deserve. Amen”.

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It's been 7 years since they saw each other.

Lagi came back and ran into Bono—his ex-girlfriend. Coincidence? Maybe. But the tension was thick. Nature had not warned him that he was going to run into her 7years later and be her pilot. At an instant, all he wanted was for them to get back together, to try again. Hmmmmm men shaaaaaa.

For Bono, 7 years ago, was not just a love story. It was one full of pain, torture, darkness!

Imagine a man so insecure and obsessed that he made you drink his blood—out of jealousy. That’s not just wicked. That’s trauma. That’s emotional captivity disguised as love.

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There’s a kind of hurt that plants itself deep in your soul. You pretend you’re fine. You laugh. You party. You give good vibes. But inside……

You feel… Empty. Worthless.Broken. This was the case of Bono.

A brand influencer doing well for her self yet…

They got back together while she pretended she was okay.

Likeee “Hello…. I'm not that lover girl you used to know”. All was a façade.

You see, no amount of fame, status, or “boss babe” energy can cover the damage a bleeding heart carries. And the worst part? Most times, no one knows you’re hurting. Maybe except that friend🥹 God bless Bono's mom.

She knew Bono needed more than just healing, she needed to forgive.

Her “Jesus girl” had now become the one that pays men to have sex and command them to leave the room. That's what pain does, turns affection into armour!!

May we find friends…may we be them ..may we be great mother's to our children.

There is something God does in your days of hurting…He allows some of these breakdowns because He knows we need to be undone to be truly healed. He uses moments like this to pull us back into wholeness.

Because while people may hurt us—only God can heal us.

Bono had a burden. She needed to break free. And girl, that might be just what you need too. Because unforgiveness is a prison. It’s not loud. It doesn’t wear chains. But it locks your joy quietly. Every “I’m fine” becomes another brick in the wall.

She tried to avenge all he cost her in the past. But in doing that, she got hurt the more. Isn't that how it is for us sometimes?….. “He has to suffer for all he did to me".

The truth is, Vengeance and Healing don't mix especially if you're still in love.

I may not know your pain or exactly what you had to go through…

But I'm writing to the girl who hasn’t truly cried about it. The one who keeps going, but lowkey feels stuck. The one who can’t even say his name without feeling tight in the chest. If you’re Bono in this season, may Isaiah 61:1 become your reality. You are not forgotten. You are being rebuilt.

I pray you heal. I pray you release it. I pray you allow God break the prison walls around your heart.🥺

Healing doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt. It means God wins in your story.

You’re still falling? Let it be into healing this time. 🤍

Your girl,

-therealpeacibk.♥️

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The truth? It wears me out. Will l stop?? No.

Do l even know how to not continue???

Hi guys, I'm here again. But this time, l just want to rant and probably get answers to two or more of my questions.

Thank you for the support in my last newsletter, the love was all over and l assure you more is coming. Yes more on the Medical Series with therealpeaceibk.

Growing up, I've always had this thing called regard, courtesy, reverence for those that surrounded me; Young and old.

At 10, I knew how to be respectful, to greet with humility.

No this one wasn't even about tribe. Yeah I'm Yoruba.

I didn't grow up amongst my own people. I was bred amongst non-indigenes of my father's land.

“You're a yoruba girl learn to kneel and greet properly”.

I was brought up in a place where you dare not look into the eyes of an adult while you're spoken to or being corrected.

I attended a Catholic church where everything was done in an ordely manner. When entering the church, you bow down as a sign of reverence. Leaving the church, you perform the same exercise. It was a norm.

You want your school fees paid? You kneel and present the teller for that session if not O.Y.O (On Your Own).

Growing up, I've had to do things so accordingly with regard to everyone around me. In my words, actions, even my thoughts had to be aligned.

The same respect you give to the chairman of the estate is the same you accord to the gate men, Peace.

Years have passed. And this is me in my twenties wondering where it all started,- this formality.

At what point did l start being so formal? Or has it been ingrained right from time? Maybe it's innate and l just didn't figure it out earlier.

“I am Peace Ibukun Adegboyega a 400lvl Student of Nursing, Lagos State College of Medicine(LASUCOM).

The exact introduction I'd give to a colleague of another department in MY school!!😭

We've met before but that introduction? I can't let it go.

What is your definition of Formal?

Is it being strict and rigid? Or probably very structured…. Sometimes, l feel like l lost out on some important connections because l was too careful, texting in a no in- formal way at all. Loosing potential friends & partners.

When it comes to close relationships with my friends though, l try as much to loosen up. '“How far?” Instead of “Hello”.

For people who are not so close to me, l don't even try.

But in all of this, sometimes l wonder, what if being formal is actually good rather than abnormal as l find it?

“What if being so formal is what gained you the most respect you would never had gotten from being just plain?”

The boundaries…..

I think about these things a lot. Trying to weigh the good sides and the bad sides of it.

Just last month l was chatting with someone new.

The next thing is are you always this formal?

Trust me, I am It would take a while before l let me a little guard down. And that's after you've managed to convince me in our interactions that l can be a little relaxed and not type out every word in full.

This is one part of myself I'm discovering so much.

I'm a structured babe.

If you don't text me with purpose and introduce yourself at first meet on an online platform l get infuriated. Like does this person not know how things are doneeeeee????!

Please tell me I'm not the only one like this…

Welcome back to this space!

I call it a safe space-The Writer’s Hub; where millions of words are shared in love and hope, trusting that someone, somewhere, might feel seen and find connection.

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Let’s talk about Trigeminal Neuralgia, the condition that can make something as simple as a smile feel like an electric shock.

What is the Trigeminal Nerve?

The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve, and it plays a huge role in carrying sensation from the face, eyes, sinuses, and mouth to the brain.

It has three major branches:

▪︎Ophthalmic (V1): Serves the eye, forehead, and nose

▪︎Maxillary (V2): Covers the upper teeth, gums, lip, cheek, lower eyelid, and side of the nose.

▪︎Mandibular (V3): Handles sensation from the lower teeth, gums, and lip.

In simpler terms, this nerve is what allows you to feel a gentle breeze on your cheek or, in the case of trigeminal neuralgia, intense pain in that same spot.

Right now l feel like I'm doing a presentation because this thing is getting serious and it looks like presentation slidesssss. But stay with me please.😭

So here's the real question :

When should l start suspecting something is wrong?

From me to you, you should look out for these signs. The signs that never lie….

▪︎Very painful, sharp, electric-like spasms on one side of the face

▪︎Episodes lasting from a few seconds to under two minutes, though the pain can sometimes become constant

▪︎Pain typically around the eye, cheek, or jaw

▪︎No numbness or weakness—just pain, and lots of it.

If you're feeling all this and you're still at home taking PCM (paracetamol) to “relax”...please, go to the clinic. Bolanle these medications cannot work for you and I'd tell you why.

But before that, let me share some insights as regards the triggers, yes triggers!

One of the hardest parts about Trigeminal Neuralgia (T.N) is how unpredictable and sensitive it is. Pain can be triggered by:

▪︎Talking ▪︎Chewing ▪︎Brushing your teeth ▪︎Smiling ▪︎Or even a gust of wind

Simple, everyday actions become scary. That’s why it’s so important not to dismiss this condition.

Causes of Trigeminal Neuralgia(T.N.)

In 80% to 90% of people with T.N, the condition is due to a neighboring blood vessel pressing on the nerve. This irritates the protective sheath (myelin) around the nerve, making it more easily stimulated. This is known as classic or primary trigeminal neuralgia.

There is also the secondary (or symptomatic) TN which refers to cases where the nerve is irritated due to other illnesses or conditions, such as:

▪︎Multiple sclerosis (MS) ▪︎Tumors causing pressure on the nerve

▪︎Connective tissue diseases▪︎Congenital deformities of blood vessels

If no cause can be identified, this is referred to as idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia.

PS: “Medical school has thought me so much words l never knew I'd come across😭”.

One fascinating yet most debilitating thing about T.N is that the pain attacks on the face may occur randomly, or may be triggered by simple things like touching the face lightly, chewing, brushing the teeth or even exposure to a cool wind.

There is Good News!

Trigeminal Neuralgia is not hopeless. It can be managed. Let’s look at treatment options:

Medications :Conventional painkillers like acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), ibuprofen, or paracetamol are ineffective for TN because the pain attacks are too short-Exactly my point!

Even the strongest types of pain medication, such as opioids, have no effect.(based on research ).

However, prolonged episodes with recurring attacks, infusions containing special active ingredients may lessen the symptoms.

It’s recommended that patients follow long-term therapy to prevent attacks from occurring.

The medications of choice are anti-epileptic drugs, especially:

▪︎Carbamazepine▪︎Oxcarbazepine

These medications help reduce the number of painful episodes. Dosage is slowly increased until it’s effective and side effects are minimal.

Another mode of treatment is through Surgical/ Interventional Treatments.

The following options are available when medications fail:

1. Microvascular Decompression (MVD):

Breaks the contact between the nerve and the nearby blood vessel

Effective if imaging shows such contact is present.. It also relieves pressure on the nerve.

2. Neuroablation: A procedure carried out by the physician/surgeon.

It Involves destroying the nerve using heat, pressure, or an alcohol solution

3. Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy: A form of targeted radiation which prevents the nerve from sending pain signals to the brain.

Surgery is only performed if all other treatments have been exhausted or can’t be used due to side effects.

Stress management is crucial, as stress and anxiety can make the condition worse. -Copied.

Avoid known triggers and maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent malnutrition and weight loss, which can occur if the pain makes eating difficult.

You may want to visit your dentist if you often feel pain on your jaw bone/mandible. A quick step taken is always the best. And only then can a true diagnosis be ruled out!

This is an evidence based research and the information in this article cannot and should not replace a medical consultation and must not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment.

The End

If you’ve read this far and you’re simply just curious, you know someone who’s dealing with this, or you're wondering if what you’re feeling might be more than “just stress.”

Either way, I hope this post gives you clarity and courage. Speak about the things you find uncomfortable especially matters that relate with your health.

Let’s normalize talking about invisible pain. The one that nobody sees.

Sending love to everyone especially those with silent health struggles, you're not alone and we want to see you speak up and seek help!♥️

Stay tuned for our next episode on the medical series with therealpeaceibk.

Love always!♥️

Two simple phrases and maybe, two things you’ve been needing to hear today.

Subscribe now let’s unfold this piece together.

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Have you ever felt like something could have been perfect, if only it had happened at a different time?

Maybe it was a job you didn’t get.

An audition that didn’t work out.

A conversation you almost had.

A door that stayed closed no matter how much you knocked.

And in the quiet moments, you catch yourself thinking:

“If I had just gone for that audition…”

“If I had met the CEO myself at that conference…”

“If I had said yes sooner…..”

Would everything be different?

It’s always a trail of “ifs.” Until years pass. And suddenly, the “ifs” start to make sense, suddenly, with distance, we begin to see clearer.

In truth, sometimes the delay wasn’t denial.

It was protection. Redirection. Preparation.

And then there’s love. How can l not talk about that?!

Meeting someone at the wrong time. Right person!!

Kind, intentional, shared beliefs, aligned in values.

Pleasantries exchanged. Late-night conversations.

The connection was real! Undeniable!!

But life? Not ready.

The timing? Not kind either.

But maybe it was me.....

Honestly, I should call myself a bee.

Busy with this, busy with that. Barely any room for love.

As at last year, I said to myself, half-joking, half-serious:

“I pity anyone trying to love me romantically this season.”

Now, in 2025, I thought I was ready to open up more.

But love feels even more delicate. It’s not that I don’t want it, I do.

But I’ve learned it's not something I want to mishandle either.

So sometimes I withdraw.

Not because I don’t care, but because I do. Deeply.

And it’s not just about romance.

I think I may have missed out on moments;

with important people, life-shaping chances, doors that looked like destiny.

Or maybe I didn’t.

Maybe it just wasn’t time.

Maybe those things are still unfolding....just not in the way I expected.

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I’m honestly learning to pause without shame. To trust in timing.

To be patient. Not passive, but peaceful.

I just hope that soon, I’ll be able to show up fully....

Not in fragments. Not in fear. But with truth and tenderness.

Maybe next time, we won’t meet at a business conference, with name tags and stiff small talk.

Maybe it’ll be somewhere quieter……

like a cozy coffee shop, one of those quiet ones, tucked in a corner of the city.

The kind that smells like cinnamon and grace.

With rain pour and gentle breeze on the outside.

Where the conversation doesn’t have to prove anything….

Where no one’s trying too hard.

Where I’m not too busy. And we’re both simply present.

A time where the love, the opportunity, the grace -all click.

And I’ll be there.

Ready.

Waiting.

Maybe that’s where it’ll all come together, where it’ll all make sense.

Maybe then, it’ll finally be:

Right place. Right time.

If this spoke to you, if you’ve ever waited on timing, you're not alone.

Subscribe, share, or just leave a comment. I’d love to hear your story too.

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Always❤

-therealpeaceibk.

If social media was a mirror, it would be the kind that lies to you.

Welcome to Instagram! where every feed seems perfectly tailored for you.

Where algorithms seem to understand exactly what you're going through.

I am Peace Addegboyega, and you're welcome to my safe space.

In today's newsletter, I'd be taking you through social media. Yessss, it's what we hear all the time. But you don't want to miss out on this.

Kindly suscribe to my channel, it's free and free things are sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

Sometime last week, l found myself scrolling through social media for over 7 hours straight!

No, l wasn't looking for anything. I was just hooked by the perfection that displayed on my feed. How some people’s lives are just effortlessly put together.

The flowers, purple curtains,the friendships and the vacation, How about those getting the Masters? PHD?

Ah even with my small beginning l must be playing!!!

I was hooked on guides and lessons l thought were so perfect and could help me change my life for the better.

“These are the rules successful people must be following”.

Sounds familiar right? Keep reading!

With time, l have realised that the Masters of this thing called Social Media are those that have learnt to filter their realities.

After taking 87 selfies, 77 cut scenes, Amaka picked just three—the ones with the best smiles and angles—to post. No you didn't see it, l did.

To you, it seemed like the perfect thing on the Internet.

But that's what she wanted you to see.

The truth? Most people won’t share their failures or breakdowns.

We all do it, don’t we? Post the best and leave the rest. But at what cost?

Hear me out! Social media is indeed an incredible tool for learning and inspiration.

I, infact celebrate the wins and accomplishments.

This is because they are true off the camera and we all need continued support and encouragement.

Great teachings? perfect!

How about entertainment? 100 percent!

All these good things ……but!

In recent times, it has been a mirror-ing through the lens of another.

Dear friend, stand firm your ground, your values and consciousness.

Don't get carried away by fake standards; loose nights of good sleep because you're too focused on becoming that person.

Not all the 5 principles of love and success is meant for you.

Wait! Why are you even buying pressure?

Why?

This reminds me of a timeless truth from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet(ACT 1,Scene 3):

"This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day,Thou canst not then be false to any man”.

The world teaches us to filter, to curate, to fit into a mold. But how beautiful would life be if we chose to embrace our existence, our true selves, our authenticity?

Thank you for reading, your thoughts mean the world to me.

Subscribe to my Substack,and see you next week!

With love always,♥️

therealpeaceibk.

Being the regular workaholic and miss economical but this particular day l decided to take a bike home. Let me spend small money, l musn't trek all the time. Body no be fire wood. Abi?

That's how l handed the biscuit with me to the bike man that carried me to my destination, l never had the intention of offering him the biscuit. But l did while he dropped me off and yes he accepted it, smiled, thanked me, and that was it. Or so I thought.

Later that week, I bumped into him again. This time, I decided to walk, but little did I know, this decision would lead to another unexpected gesture.This time, I was walking. Don't judge me—I just didn’t have enough for a ride!

l was with a 10 litre Jerrican on my head. Goodness! I was tired. That's how l heard someone calling "sisi" "sisi".

It was the same bike man! I barely remembered him but he did. Before I could say a word, he was already offering to help. I panicked. “Ah, I don’t have money o!” I repeated, half-laughing, half-serious. But he waved it off, insisting to give me a ride to my destination, same location, same spot.

I was stunned. All I did was offer a biscuit. Something so small, so insignificant to me. And yet, to him, it was enough to remember me, enough to respond with kindness.

It made me wonder—how many little things do we overlook daily? A smile, a small gift, a quick act of kindness. We often brush them off, thinking they don’t mean much. But what if they are the most powerful moments we share?

How often do we dismiss them as “too small” or “too little” to matter? But maybe, just maybe, the little things are the big things in disguise.

There are days l remind myself: Keep being kind. Keep giving, even in small ways. Someone remembers. Someone is touched. And sometimes, the truth is kindness finds its way back to you.

It does.

Thank you for reading🥂

kindly suscribe to my channel if you haven't.

With love.♥️

It's therealpeaceibk.