Poetry by Yemeece

Welcome to the season finale of the podcast. We are wrapping up this season with the topic: Becoming Whole. I am more than convinced that choosing to become whole is perhaps the best thing we can do for ourselves and the journey of becoming whole is simply bringing yourself from a place of self-centeredness to a place of great awareness. This is the yellow brick road that changes everything. Today's poem is titled Feast: here you are. thinking things you believe are your truths. things that put you down before your reflection. you have gathered cache of voices on this journey to becoming you. voices that whipped your self-esteem and handed you a plethora of rules. rules no one can justify or meet. the crucible of these weights crush you over and over like an unending ocean tide. you are afraid to stay with yourself. you run a lot. To people. To places. To ideas. anything that drowns the noise. but all you need to do is feast. feast on your silence till it feeds you a voice. Rehearse your voice till it becomes your own. Use your voice to silence the cache of past voices hovering over your peace. Turn a soft lens inwards. Outgrowing yourself is inevitable. Your desires will change over time. You should practice being gentle a little bit more with yourself. You must forgive yourself too. and quickly. unlearn the culture of shame. holding yourself up to a standard of perfection is an easy way to die. No one has ever survived being perfect. This episode summarizes my goal and vision for you as my listener. Please share and visit the website Yemeece.com to sign up and subscribe to my newsletter. Thank you for listening. Cheers

In lieu of World Poetry Day/week, join me on this episode as I share with you five poems that have reshaped, redefined and refined my thoughts. The first poem is Creation Story written by Titilope Sonuga. The second poem is Alone written by Maya Angelou. The third poem is Still we must rise written by me. The fourth poem is from the book "BONE" written by Yrsa Daley-Ward. The fifth poem is from the book "Questions for Ada" written by Ijeoma Umebinyuo.  If you enjoy this episode, please rate, share and introduce the podcast to someone this week. You can also leave me messages. I will absolutely be thrilled to hear from you. Have a beautiful week. Follow on instagram @yemeece.

“…You don't always get what you expect. I wish someone, sometime when I was growing up, would have told me what expectations would get me. Our parents, schools, everyone tells us things will be a certain way when we're adults and if they're not that way, we should make them be; or at least pretend. But after a certain point that just doesn't work.” ― Chris Crutcher A lot of us are under pressure and it is from the weight of the expectations we carry. Expectations create pressure, one that comes with having to fulfill. How? Because all expectations create a mental image in your mind that you find yourself striving for all your life to make into reality. On this episode, we discuss how the weights of expectations hurts us physically and psychologically. We also go ineptly on what to do with expectations in general. If you have enjoyed this episode, please visit the website, share and follow me on instagram — @yemeece

Today's episode is a conversation on the parts of ourselves that we deliberately hide because of the fear of rejection or shame. We go ineptly on into how keeping away the parts of our lives keeps us living inauthentic lives and trying to be different versions of ourselves around different people.  This episode is gentle, a balm, a nudge for you and I to embrace every part of our story, seek help with accepting ourselves completely as we go on daily to be the best humanly possible version of ourselves.  Please share, and invite someone to listen as well. Also, visit the website Yemeece.com to sign up and subscribe.  I hope you enjoy todays episode. Cheers

Hello guys! Happy new year. I missed you a lot. In this very first episode for the new year, it is just me, Yemeece talking about a crucial topic to me. You know how big I am on self-development, so this year, I am committing myself to having conversations and reading poems centered around working on yourself and being the best possible human you can be.  This episode "The Stories We Tell," is centered around the narrative that is in your mind and how you see yourself because we are the stories we tell ourselves, and I'd like you to reflect carefully in your me-time about this question: What is the real story you tell yourself when you are just by yourself?  I love this quote by Eleanor Brown and I want you to read it twice over. It says: “We all have stories we tell ourselves. We tell ourselves we are too fat, or too ugly, or too old, or too foolish. We tell ourselves these stories because they allow us to excuse our actions, and they allow us to pass off the responsibility for things we have done - maybe to something within our control, but anything other than the decisions we have made...And it is past time, I think, for you to stop telling that particular story, and tell the story of yourself. Stop defining yourself in terms of them. You don't just have to exist in the empty spaces they leave. There are times in our lives when we have to realize our past is precisely what it is, and we cannot change it. But we can change the story we tell ourselves about it, and by doing that, we can change the future.” Please share with someone, leave a comment, and follow me on instagram @yemeece.  Have a beautiful week. 

Our lives are run by Impermanence, the law of change and becoming. A series of different moments coming together to give the impression of a continuous flow. Our lives are not solid or fixed, and when we embrace this truth, we can always move forward with grace. Join me in the podcast's mid-season as we dive into the Impermanence that runs our lives, embracing it and moving forward into a new season with hope. The poem read on this episode is called Impermanence Nothing is forever The only constant in life is Impermanence It is why I stay aware in full consciousness of time with my one goal to welcome everything with love, faith, and hope knowing it is in these strengths I become Until a new episode of the podcast airing on the 4th of January, 2021, please stay safe, and I'll see you in the new year. To stay connected, please subscribe to my newsletter on yemeece.com and follow me on Instagram @yemeece Happy Holidays!

Today's episode is a conversation on why it takes a village to become who we have the potential to be and the type of people you need in your village.  Also, this week marks the first year anniversary of my debut collection of poems; Stirredbylife. Please visit the website at yemeece.com for a look inside the book and other details.  Also, please share and subscribe to getting letters from me. You never know when I'll be in your inbox.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Today's episode is a conversation on silencing the bully that lives rent-free in our minds and head criticizing everything we do most especially when we want to move forward in our journeys.  THE CRITIC IN YOUR MIND The critic in my mind is a terrible master First it demands perfection and tears me down  at every turn, corner and minute You are not good enough - I shrink You are not enough - I shiver You will never be enough  So I live in the clutches of fear Tell me, how can I please this terrible master that tears me apart in my own voice? It knows my innermost fears, my greatest flaws and deepest shortcomings The critic knows I am yet to accept myself so it delights in the shadows tearing me apart So I stand up to the bully, I stand up to the critic I begin by accepting myself, I forgive myself, I welcome my flaws And suddenly the critic in my mind goes quiet and it becomes my excellent servant then I live, then I thrive, then I win If you have enjoyed this episode, please share and follow me on instagram -  @yemeece

Today's episode is a conversation surrounding the pressure that comes with our timeline of achievements,  a new month, and the year fast running to an end. It is that time of the year when anxiety sets in about unfulfilled plans even in a year that has shown us how minute of control we have over our lives. Today's conversation is about being patient, giving ourselves grace, and the flexibility of time as we deliberately choose joy even when it seems our plans have fallen apart. Today's poem is called CHOOSE JOY CHOOSE JOY Decide to choose joy When your plans fall by the wayside And your heart is blinded; Even when your soul is downcast in you Decide to choose joy Like an outburst of water to a dry brook Decide to choose joy Deliberately, intentionally and purposefully This story still ends well, Even when you may not understand how And even when understanding Doesn't change your emotions Until the waiting ends And the work in you is done Decide to choose joy

Today's episode is a conversation on what transpires in us after we suffer a brutal loss, one that leaves us with no closure. How do we grieve collectively in a healthy way, processing our feelings, caring for our mental health and leaning into the light called hope. This episode is tailored on the recent happenings in Nigeria that has left the world in shock and a lot of Nigerian youths scarred, scared and bleak. Follow me on instagram @yemeece and the hashtag is still #ENDSARS

Inspired by James Baldwin's quote "Trust your experience, remember from whence you came,"  This poem is a platter of reminders as you navigate your way around the traditional markers of adulthood.   In this episode, I talk about my own struggles with unconsciously equating my self worth to the milestones I am yet to attain, how it began to affect the way I saw myself and how I continue to fight my way out of this feeling.   Remember: The poem  ********  Remember on whose shoulders you stand  when life questions your worth.  Remember, you deserve to be here when they question your validity.  Remember generations of women and men who fought in silence so you can be full of sound.  Remember, for you, the price has been paid.  Remember this when you walk the path of least resistance.  Remember this when you have to choose between risk and comfort.  Remember to fight when they attach your self-worth to your achievements.  Remember, you were born worthy.  Remember your history as you continue the race to change the narrative.  Remember from where you came and swim in the dream of where you are headed.  Even when you can't see them, their voices echo in the backgrounds full of cheers and applause  urging you to remember their sacrifices.  Remember generations who fought in silence so you can be full of sound.  Remember this when life questions that you are.  Remember, for you, the price has been paid.  Remember and walk full of sound.  If this poem has touched you in any way, please share, rate and comment.   Also, follow me on Instagram @yemeece