Glorious Wilberforce, also known as GreatGlorious, is an inspiring young lady from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. She graduated from the Niger Delta University with an undergraduate degree in English and Literary Studies. Currently a public servant, writer, poet and a content creator, according to GreatGlorious, she also mentions that she’s “passionate about youth capacity building and development.” Indeed, you’ll discover her passion in her story below and hopefully, you can catch some fresh inspiration too.
HER UNIQUE AND SELF LOVE (USL) STORY
“Life is best enjoyed when we live as our true self in the pursuit of our individual purposes and never letting people’s verdict rule over our life.”
GreatGlorious narrates her own story…
“I grew up in a separated home, so I didn’t really have the love a mother and father gives to a child. In my primary three (3), I settled in with my maternal grandparents. There were more ladies in the house so I felt adapting won’t be a problem, I believed they would help bridge the gap of that parental love I lacked, but it turned out to be a different story.
“Though my aunts never hated me, but their utterances towards me were never pleasant and positive. They always described me as ugly, arrogant and treated me so which impressed a negative psychology in me, therefore creating the feeling of abandonment and distance. As such, I grew up always angry and unhappy. Every day, I lived by their description of me. I would lock myself up in the room and cry [most times] at the thought of it, with the hope that the burden would be lifted, as well as questioning God why He created me to such family. I developed hatred and jealousy for females who looked so beautiful and condemn myself as the unfortunate. My turning point was in Secondary School when I heard in our usual morning devotion. The Vice Principal preached on the subject that all creation of God were beautiful, wise and wonderful. We were led to sing the hymn which goes thus:
“All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
The Lord God made them all…”
“I was astonished at such positive description inclusive of me and was curious and eager to hear more. So, I walked up to him and told him my predicament. He spent time, further explaining to me God’s notion of beauty and worthiness as contrary to antics. He also recommended books for me to read and ask me to sing the hymn continually to myself. His words kindled a little life in me so I decided to exercise his recommendations, making the hymn my favorite and also collecting some of the books. Consequently, I became exposed to individuals like Joyce Meyer and Oprah Winfrey and realized that I was none of those ill descriptions of people.
“A further turning point was the realization that I could change the effects of those ill words on me. I then took the decision to avoid being exposed to such negativity by picking to stay in environments where positivism reigned supreme, also to acquaint myself with individuals and program that are so structured. That seed of attraction to books the vice principal deposited in me grew in leaps and bounds. Then quotes and motivational books naturally took a better part of me. Quotes created the ambience I longed for as a growing up child in my circumstance; confronting me with the right words that made me get nice and feel positive. The passion to be a quote writer thus fueled up in me.”
No matter the ordeal we’ve gone through… we are too special and too unique!
“As early as my Junior Secondary School (JSS2), I started my advocacy through writing quotes. It was my first step lending my little hand in helping to curb the devastation and hurt that accompanied my kind of experience in society. Coincidentally, the indulgence of my age mates afforded me a platform every evening where I read my quotes for them. Though, the forum was driven by my passion, the associated fun was not just for me but my play mates also because they always looked forward to it every evening. Little by little, that shy, angry and ugly Glorious as it were, evolved to a beautiful, bold, happy and purposeful lady.”
Overcoming the power of negative words
“So, I became fully convinced how peripheral those ill descriptions were and also decided to help liberate as many females in the same condition as I used to be, through my message of love and the uniqueness of self. I started with my age mates at home, in the church and school with the ones that were taunted and labeled as idiots, and fools etc. more so, being appointed to so many lead roles in my church, virtually enabled my activism wax stronger. A significant testimony that motivated me the more was in the year 2010, when I enrolled in extra-mural lessons, preparing for the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) Examination. [There,] I met a girl by name Silvia whose height (her short nature) was embarrassing to her. She lived in shame due to it and was afraid of any gathering. As it were, we became friends and I recommended few books for her. As at when we were sitting for the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) Examination, which was an interval of six months, she had been able to build confidence believing she is unique in her own way.
“As a university undergraduate, I had compiled over hundred quotes advocating for self love and uniqueness, which were subsequently posted to as many people as I can reach through different social media platforms as inspirational good morning messages. Over the years, I have come to the realization that one major cause of failure in life is acceptance of stigmatization. Yes, the phenomenon is general, but the impact on the individual differs and unfortunately results to wrong decisions, lifestyles, and attitudes (etc.) in some people which outcomes denied them of truly living life in the way they ought. Thank God, I was guided to this understanding and aided to the decision of having absolute control of my life.
“Today, I have an online whatsapp platform with over 180 females where a monthly teaching is done. The testimony has been amazing. I have also featured in so many programs to speak or share my story with them. Life is best enjoyed when we live as our true selves, in the pursuit of our individual purposes not letting people’s verdicts rule over our lives.
“The July edition of the USL Project with the topic “THE
Connect with her on here Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and USL WhatsApp platform (females only).
Do you know about Victoria Ana who was once a beauty queen but now inspires tons of youth? See this story about jealousy and read about a sad girl from a broken home.
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Awesome write-up, amazing story. Thanks for the lessons
Awesome write-up, amazing story. Thanks for the lessons
Real touching… keep inspiring many.
A simple story of one who is consistent in the face of so many odds. Thanks for inspiring so many the way you do. So blessed by the read
Read till the very end. We all need to do more to stop the many things we complain about. God bless you loads, ma
We only realise who we are when we become our true selves, for some it may take few years, others life long and many may not even realise.
Nice….keep it up!