PAYING IT FORWARD.

Sometimes last year, I met a young and dynamic young man called Moshood Atinshola. I call him MSD. He was the one that brought light into my digital marketing journey. He gave me clarity and that was a lot for me. He was willing to make sure that I made waves in my career. We had a smooth relationship and everytime with him worth every time I had.

I grew up not understanding what it means to be helped and not paid back. So most times, every favour people did for me, I always had this mindset of paying them back so that it would be balanced. I didn't want you to do anything for me and I wouldn't be able to do anything for you in return. I hated it.

My relationship with MSD made me realize that I couldn't pay him back for all that he has done. It gave me concern for weeks. Then one particular day, I reached out to him and explained how I felt with him helping me and I not being able to reciprocate. I remember he gave a smile and said, there's no need for you to do that. He said all he wants is I pay it forward. Just as he has done, I should do it to somebody else. I was happy, but at the same time I wasn't satisfied.

All MSD was bothered about was that I made it in my chosen field. Paying him back didn't matter. I was humbled. I think a part of me just relaxed, I can't really explain my feelings anyways, but I felt some kind of way.

I was surprised sincerely. And I decided to heed to all that he said about me paying it forward. And it is a promise to myself that all the good favour I’ve gotten in the digital marketing space and beyond will be paid forward as long as I live. I think this is MSD way of saying THANK YOU.

Paying It Forward: What Does It Mean?

From my experience, paying it forward is the act of doing what somebody has done to you to a different person. For instance, if MSD paid my school fees while I was in the University, paying it forward is paying somebody’s else University fees in the future.

The concept of paying forward makes sense and I think it’s something we should imbibe in our society.

Somebody paid your school fees before? Pay it forward.

Has somebody given you clothes to wear? Pay it forward.

Has somebody made you smile and gave you hope? Pay it forward.

Has somebody given you reasons why giving up is not an option? Pay it forward.

Has somebody given you food to eat when you were hungry? Pay it forward.

Has somebody done something that has made you see life from a good perspective? Pay it forward.

MSD made me understand that paying it forward is the best way to reciprocate anything good somebody has done to me.

Are you willing to pay it forward?

Dear MSD,

I want to use this opportunity to say THANK YOU. Thank you for making my 2020 worth it. Thank you for making me believe that I was not limited because of certain limitations I had. Thank you for choosing to stick with me. Thank you for choosing to journey with me.

Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for pushing me each day and explaining things until I understood. Thank you for being my brother. Thank you for being my friend too. For this and many many that you’ve done, I’m grateful and it’s a promise that I’m going to pay every single iota of favour forward to the next person.

Sometimes, I don’t know what the future looks like or hold for me. I wanted to stay that I’ll make you proud which is what I want to do, but let me rephrase it and say that I’ll keep building and working hard till opportunities come my way. Everyday, sometimes looks like an unending battle and hope for the future is so thin, but I’ll never neglect the place of building as you’ve taught me.

It’s my prayers that you meet with just an opportunity that will change your life for good. I believe God hears me and he will accordingly to all that we say.

Thank you MSD. I’ve never made this statement before, and I’m going to do that today. I LOVE YOU MSD.

Thank you and thank you again.

Cheers to paying it forward🥂