You just made a discovery- Happy DECEMBER!

Hey friend,

Been a minute.

It’s the last month of the year, and I’m stepping into it with gratitude, excitement, and tiny bits of me to reveal to you

I have a phobia for crossing open gutters. 😅 Yes, you read that right.

It's an irrational fear of crossing open gutters.

It’s not your everyday “eww, gross” reaction—oh no, mine comes with full-blown anxiety and 5 seconds of pure panic as I pray not to get swallowed by the abyss.

Don’t judge me! 😭

But there’s a story behind this fear.

It’s a little funny, a little embarrassing, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll find a lesson tucked in there somewhere.

Since I was young, I've always been scared of big gutters.

I hated crossing them, especially those ones without a slab.

Fast forward to when I was in SS1.

I schooled at Zinnia College, Ikeja (you just might know it), around Toyin street, Lagos state, Nigeria (for those unfamiliar)

One day, I had typhoid and my dad was called to pick me from the sick bay to the hospital.

We went to St Leo's Hospital, Toyin (on the same road as my school)

I was admitted into the hospital and placed on a drip.

Drip got done while I was asleep. When I woke up, I saw my mum seated next to me and she said "Oya Oya, wear your shoes let's go home"

I got down from the bed, a little dizzy, but thought to myself "I'll rest when I get home". Little did I know...

I walked out of the hospital with my mom, still dizzy, we crossed the road to take a taxi home. On the other side of the road, we stood in front of a big gutter, that had no slab, was deep, black, dirty, and filled with water up to almost half way of the depth.

It wasn't up to 3 minutes, I felt myself drowning. In the eye of my mind, I was in a pool and struggling to swim out, gulping a lot of water, but my hands felt stiff and glued to my sides.

I heard shouts of "help me ooo...help me!!!". That was my mom, screaming for help.

In a split second, I was helped out, by bystanders and bike men. I looked like a monster from ScoobyDoo, my white shirt became BLACK, my grey skirt, turned BLACK my white socks took the opposite, my black shoes became heavy and filled with water. All I could remember looking for was my D&G earring Pops just bought for myself and my sister 🙄😒

Well, I was taken back into the hospital. Bathed OUTSIDE. Admitted again, Given drips et al and treated for infection.

For 1 week, every waste that came from my body was black, even my vomits. Yup! I DRANK the gutter water while I was 'drowning'.

I survived. That's why I can share this story.

(Pardon any graphic representations made)

Well, now you know that about me.

This December, I want us to reflect on the “gutters” we face in life, those small, random fears or challenges that seem bigger than they are. December is the perfect time to laugh about them, face them, or at least side-step them with style.

I'll be embarking on a 31 days "Get-To-Know-ME" challenge, #GTKMchallenge, where I'll share fun facts about me everyday

Feel free to join me. Write me or tag me on LinkedIn et al when you post.

You can join my Community to stay in touch and share more personally.

I'm also on IG and X, incase you're there too.

Stay in touch.

Enjoy this last 31 days in 2024.

Happy New Month.

Happy DECEMBER!.!!

2025 was a GENEROUS year!

💙

Lady Bhie.