Still Here.

I had a dream. A really big one. Like… almost disrespectfully big.

I won’t say what it was, but I failed. I really, really failed.

At the time, it felt like the end. Every exit blocked. Every door slammed shut. No reroute. No detour. Just… stuck. And I was so young. I mean, I’m still young: 21, strong, and healthy :) But back then, it felt like life had already scored a massive goal against me. Honestly, how I’m here today? Only God knows.

But somehow, I got through.

I didn’t glide through. I didn’t glow-up overnight. I stumbled. I cried. I questioned everything. And then, very slowly, I started moving again. Looking back now, I can say this with my full chest: I failed my way into growth. Maybe even into success.

So if you’re failing right now, please don’t turn it into shame. Failure isn’t a character flaw. It’s not proof that you’re behind or broken. It’s just part of the process: an annoying, humbling, sometimes painful part, but still a part.

Everyone’s failure looks different. Yours might be loud or quiet. Public or private. But whatever it is… don’t be afraid of it. Take the L. Sit with it. Learn what it’s trying to teach you. And then, when you’re ready, keep going. The W doesn’t always come quickly, but it does come.

And honestly? After all that failing, I’m still here

Still standing. Still trying. Still winning some days, still learning on others.

One day, I’ll probably write a book called Failing Failure. It’ll just be me laughing at all the times I tripped, faceplanted, got it completely wrong, and somehow still ended up stronger. Still hopeful. Still alive.

So, if your journey feels daunting right now, hear this: falling doesn’t mean you’re finished. Sometimes, it’s just how you learn to stand better.

All my love,

-Olamide from MANI