Growing Older by Understanding and Respecting the Passage of Time

Growing Older by Understanding and Respecting the Passage of Time

- ("Àsìkò ni ọba àgbà")

As we grow older, something changes inside us. We begin to value peace more than noise and understanding more than being right. Life humbles us in ways we never expected. It teaches us that not everything deserves our energy, our time, or our reaction.

In our younger years, we often chase after things that do not truly matter - attention, approval, arguments, or even the wrong people. But with time, we realize how much nonsense we gave importance to. We wasted time worrying about things that had no real value. Slowly, we start letting go.

We stop forcing friendships. We stop trying to fit into spaces where we clearly do not belong. We stop explaining ourselves to those who are committed to misunderstanding us. Instead, we begin to grow quietly, calmly, and wisely.

The older we get, the more we appreciate quiet mornings, simple routines, and genuine connections. We learn that silence can be healing, and distance can be protection. Not everything needs a reaction. Not every battle needs to be fought.

Growth teaches us acceptance. We start accepting people for who they are and situations for what they are. We don’t waste energy trying to change others. We focus on ourselves, our peace, and our journey.

And in this stillness, we begin to feel more alive than ever. The noise fades, the stress lessens, and the path becomes clearer. Life becomes less about proving a point, and more about living with purpose.

So, the older you get, the more quiet you become not because you have less to say, but because you finally understand what’s truly worth your words, your time, and your heart.

Àgbàlagbà ni ẹ̀mí orí é ni.

Written by

Àyàn Àgalu.

* NOTE: The above adage is among the "Sayings or Proverbs of Our elders" in the culture and heritage of the Yoruba, in Western (and South Western) Nigeria. The Yoruba proverb is translated into English language by the writer.

* This is the exact story as the one with the Yoruba title https://yinkadixon.blogspot.com/2025/07/asiko-ni-oba-agba-growing-older-by.html

First Impressions Matter: Who is Rotarian Victor Ojelabi?

Rotarian Victor Ojelabi wearing his signature red Yoruba cap and blue traditional attire, featured in the Yinka Dixon Blog article “First Impressions Matter: Who is Rotarian Victor Ojelabi?”

First Impressions Matter: Who is Rotarian Victor Ojelabi? | Yinka Dixon Blog

by Dr. Yinka Dixon | New Beginnings Impact Journal | 31 August 2025

Answering the Question When Does The Pain End?

by Yinka Dixon-Oludaiye

When does the pain end was a question posed by a friend to Yetunde Daramola in 2010.

She, in turn asked friends and family on Facebook "When Does the Pain End?".

I attempted a response by giving the response below.

When does the pain end?

How long does it take for the hurt to heal?

How do people deal with their hurt?

Why Do My Friends Call Me "The Queen of New Beginnings?"

~ A Story of Quiet Power, Sacred Resets, and Rising Without Permission

By Dr. Yinka Dixon, PhD (hon)

🌞 A BRAND NEW DAY

TUESDAY, 8 JULY 2025

“Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while you’re working.”

— Henri Matisse

Sometimes, the clarity you need doesn’t come before the work!! It shows up while you're in motion.

🎯 Don't wait to "feel like it."

Start anyway.

Write that first sentence.

Make that one call.

Show up to the task even if your mood has not caught up yet.

You will be amazed at what gets activated once you begin.

You have an unending powerful resource inside of you!

You just need to start and keep going!

Today, be encouraged to move first.

Inspiration is a daily gift that follows your effort. 🎁💝

AFFIRMATION:

I take initiative today, even if I don’t have all the answers or the energy.

Momentum will catch up with me.

Clarity will find me.

Grace will carry me forward.

AMEN!! 💃🏾🕺

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"Greatness rarely starts with certainty. It begins with courage."

~Dr. Yinka Dixon

Your Friend and Sister

Dr. Yinka Dixon

The Queen of New Beginnings

📍 linktr.ee/yinkadixon

📍 linktr.ee/nbimpact

#ABrandNewDay #PurposeInMotion #NewBeginningsImpact #NBQuotes #DrYinkaDixon

Sunday's Sacred Pause for Purpose

Sundays are not a break from growtg. They are your sacred pause to realign with purpose.

📅 Sunday, 6th July 2025

A Gentle Reset

A Brand New Day

Good Day! 🙏🏾

"Sundays are not a break from growth — they are your sacred pause to realign with purpose."

~ Yinka Dixon

I’ve come to love Sundays for one reason:

They whisper to us… “You don’t have to do more to matter, but you do have to stay aligned to grow.”

Sunday is your permission:

🧘🏾‍♀️ To pause.

📖 To reflect.

🛠️ To gently plan.

💛 To reset your heart and your pace without guilt.

This is the mid-year, mid-life, or even mid-dream checkpoint for some of us.

Use this Sunday to:

✔️ Realign with what matters

✔️ Review where you’re going

✔️ Prepare for one brave decision this coming week

You're not behind. You’re in process. And that matters.

Looking Ahead:

This new week is your field.

Plant wisely.

Water intentionally.

Harvest in faith.

Your Sister and Friend

Dr. Yinka Dixon

New Beginnings Queen

New Beginnings Impact Network Ltd.

Facebook: @NBImpactNetwork

💥 Business & Community: https://linktr.ee/nbimpact

💥 Connect & Grow: https://linktr.ee/yinkadixon

#NewBeginningsQueen #SundayReset #PurposeRest #IntentionalWeek #NBImpactNetwork #MidyearMomentum

The Sun Rises With Readiness and Resolve

The weekend is not a pause.

It’s a softer place to keep growing.

SATURDAY, 5th July 2025

A Brand New Day

Good Morning! 🙏🏾

"The weekend is not a pause.

It’s a softer place to keep growing."

~ Yinka Dixon

Once upon a time and not too long ago, I would use the weekends as a form of "escape."

Now I use them to embrace life, gently, intentionally, and with God's peace and grace.

There is no need for a race....

I chase noone.

Noone is chasing me.

Like you, I'm in a race all by myself, as God designed.

But there's the need to remain rooted in who you’re becoming.

Saturday can be that "sanctuary" where you:

🌱 Reflect.

📖 Recharge.

🧠 Realign.

With God's plan and purpose for YOU.

It is still a huge part of your process.

It's just a quieter "space."

So, today, remain grounded, like the seed you planted.

God can only bless what you plant and attend to, with a great harvest.

This weekend, STAY Focused!

Stay ROOTED in your goals.

For your harvest comes!! 🌿

NO SHAKING!!

With calm purpose,

Your Friend and Sister.

Dr. Yinka Dixon

Queen of New Beginnings!!

New Beginnings Impact Network Ltd.

Àsìkò ni ọba àgbà - Growing Older by Understanding and Respecting the Passage of Time

"Àsìkò ni ọba àgbà" -

Growing Older by Understanding and Respecting the Passage of Time.

So, the older you get, the more quiet you become not because you have less to say, but because you finally understand what’s truly worth your words, your time, and your heart.

Àgbàlagbà ni ẹ̀mí orí é ni.

Written by

Àyàn Àgalu.

** NOTE: The above adage is among the "Sayings or Proverbs of Our elders" in the culture and heritage of the Yoruba, in Western (and South Western) Nigeria. The Yoruba proverb is translated into English language by the writer.

* * There is an exact version of this story with an English title at this link https://yinkadixon.blogspot.com/2025/07/Growing Older by Understanding the Passage of Time.html

Back up Your Faith With Preparation

Faith isn’t just about believing. It’s about preparing

Friday, 4th July 2025

A Brand New Day

Good Day! 🙏🏾

"Faith isn’t just about believing. It’s about preparing."

~ Yinka Dixon

Friday used to mean the end of a stressful week for me.

But over time, I realised — faithful people don’t just collapse on Friday. They prepare.

They prepare for next week.

They prepare for the life they say they want.

They prepare when there’s no applause and no one watching.

Many of us say we have faith.

But true faith shows up in preparation, not just declarations.

Are you ready for what you’re praying for?

Are you preparing for what you said you believe?

Then keep organising a part of your life with quiet expectation.

Let heaven see your readiness.

💬 If you are like me, you're probably ensuring you avoid an "Overdrive!"

Let's just keep winning, one day at a time. May the heavens will back us up. 🙏🏾🙌

Your friend & sister.

Dr. Yinka Dixon

New Beginnings Queen

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If you’re a healthcare professional, educator, or career-changer considering a bold next step, this could be your moment.

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"Consistency is the quiet power behind every visible breakthrough."

~ Yinka Dixon

Its a Brand New Day

Most people give up midweek because they confuse restlessness with failure.

That was my story.

Up until last year, if I didn't see physical growth, I would stop making further effort until it became a pattern.

At first, I thought it was procrastination. But I later realised that it was discouragement, borne out of a perfectionist mentality.

Bad habits are formed.

Limiting beliefs are disempowering and counterproductive.

So, I made a U-Turn and returned to teaching digital skills to Seniors and change seekers.

At almost 65, as long as I wake up and can stand on my own two feet, I have refused to give up.

Seeds don't stop rooting because they have no leaves. You don't uproot a seed to see if it's grown roots. You trust the process and keep watering the plant, until growth. It’s a slow, sometimes painful process.

Don't stop now.

Water what you planted yesterday.

Wednesday is not the middle of anything!!

It is the bridge in the middle. It is part of the process.

If you have determined to cross the bridge with focus and faith, reply with: I'M STILL GOING STRONG 💪🏾

Well, KEEP MOVING.

Dr. Yinka Dixon

New Beginnings Queen

New Beginnings Impact Network Ltd.

💥 VIEW MY BUSINESS & COMMUNITY PAGES: https://linktr.ee/nbimpact

💥 READ MY STORIES OR STAY CONNECTED https://linktr.ee/yinkadixon

#NewBeginningsQueen #StillGoing #MidweekMomentum #DintGiveUp #BridgeBuilder #FocusAndFaith

A New Month is a Responsibility

A New Month a Responsibility

A Brand New Day

Tuesday, 1st July 2025

"A new month is not a reset. It is a responsibility.

You must plant what you want to harvest."

~ YinkaDixon

Today marks the beginning of the second half of the year.

This is not the time to wait for perfect conditions.

This is the time to decide.

Decide what you will start,

what you will grow,

and what you will complete:

during this JULY and going forward.

If you don't commit to showing up for yourself this month, you will not achieve much. In 12 months time, what you did not start today, will still be a "plan in progress."

Will you tell yourself that you need to do, and make yourself go do it?

You can look in the mirror and say, "I am #JULYREADY"

Then, go out and win!

Dr. Yinka Dixon (hon).

Queen of New Beginnings

New Beginnings Impact Network Ltd (Community Outreach)

💥 https://linktr.ee/nbimpact

💥 https://linktr.ee/yinkadixon

#NewBeginningsQueen #JulyReady #StartStrong #PurposeDriven #ClarityAndCourage

Craft Your Day With Insight and Intention

In the dawn of a new day, chart your course boldly, guided by insight, inspired by intention.

Monday, 30th June 2025

A Brand New Day

Good Day!

"In the dawn of a new day, chart your course boldly, guided by insight, inspired by intention."

~YinkaDixon

Today is not just Monday.

It’s a mindset checkpoint.

You don’t need everything to be perfect.

You just need to start with clarity and courage.

As long as you can stand on your own two feet, if you tell yourself you are stepping forward into this day with FOCUS, your body will align with your mind. It has very little choice 💃🏾🕺

Wishing you a beautiful week of brand new wins 🏆✨️

Dr. Yinka Dixon

New Beginnings Queen.

💥 https://linktr.ee/nbimpact

💥 https://linktr.ee/yinkadixon

#NewBeginningsQueen, #JumpStart #FocusForward #MondayMindset #MondayWins #ClarityAndCourage

Tobins of Trim: 40 Years, One Shopfront, and a Lifetime of Community Grace

Tobins of Trim:

40 Years, One Shopfront, and a Lifetime of Community Grace

By Dr. Yinka Dixon, PhD (hc)
Queen of New Beginnings

“What are you doing for your birthday today?”

Without skipping a beat, Ann smiled and said:
“I still have to turn up to work!”

In those few words, you hear it all: the grit, grace, and grounded resilience that define Ann Tobin - and by extension, the beloved family shop she co-runs with her husband Kieran in Trim, County Meath, Ireland.

Yesterday, Thursday 26th June 2025, I stumbled upon something timeless.
A shop with balloons swaying gently outside, marked “40 Years” caught my eye.
The name on the green-trimmed windows?

TOBINS.

And behind the glass, a universe of stories:
Giftware. Greeting cards. Vintage memorabilia.

And just inside the door, was the real treasure - Ann Tobin, who, as it turned out, would be turning 64 the very next day.

As I admired the longevity of the shop, I commented on how remarkable 40 years in business is, and asked if she was in her 60s too — explaining I’d be 65 in October and love capturing people and stories.
She smiled and said warmly:

“I’m 64 tomorrow, Friday.”
“And we’ve been doing this for 40 years!”

I wished her a happy birthday in advance and took a short video of her — because moments like that deserve to be kept, celebrated, and shared.

Video Credit: Yinka Dixon 26June2025

🎂 Ann at 64: Still Turning Up – Even on Her Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANN...

Today, Friday 27th June 2025, Ann Tobin turns 64 - but instead of taking the day off, she did what she’s done for the last 40 years…

She opened the shop.

When I asked what she was doing to mark the day, she smiled and said:

“I still have to turn up to work!”

No fuss. No frills. Just a gentle laugh and the kind of quiet resilience only a self-employed woman of substance can carry.

Not a complaint, but a badge of honour.

Because while others retire, step back, or fade quietly into routine, Ann Tobin shows up - on her birthday, in every season, and for every customer.

And that… is legacy in action.

🎈 This is More Than Just A Shop – It's A Family Legacy

Tobins of Trim isn’t just a gift shop.

It’s a family-built, community-rooted legacy, shaped over four decades.

Ann and her husband have poured their lives into it, watching not just the business grow, but their children, their customers, and their town.

“Trim has changed a lot,” she said, reflecting as she looked down Market Street.
“We’ve seen businesses come and go. But we’re still here.”

She says it not with pride, but with gratitude.

That quiet Irish strength that speaks volumes without raising its voice.

Trim Castle - Google Image

🏰 Trim, Then and Now

In the 1980s, Trim was a quieter place.

The cobblestones hummed with local footfall. Tourism was a summer event, not a year-round rhythm. The Norman Castle stood sentinel over a town still finding its modern identity.

The Trim Castle is best known for its appearance in the film Braveheart, where it represented the walled city of York. As with so many castles in Ireland, the land was granted by King Henry II to his loyal supporters – in this case, Hugh de Lacy.

Tobins opened during that time, when small businesses were built with little more than trust, elbow grease, and local loyalty.

Today, the castle still stands, but so do Ann and her husband, still showing up, still serving, still greeting generations of locals and visitors alike.

Why This Story Matters

As a proud migrant, BookPreneur, Adult Vocational Assessor and Trainer, Life Transitions coach, Journalist, Migrant Community Advocate, Suicide Prevention First Aider, and the Designated Safeguarding Lead, I believe some stories should never go untold.

This is one of them.

It’s a story of a woman who never stopped showing up.
Of a family that gave a town its corner shop memory.

Of a community that grew around a humble little storefront on Market Street.

In a world that often rushes past people like Ann, I choose to pause.
Just to say:

We see you. We honour you. And we thank you.

🥂 Join Me in Celebrating:

🎉 Happy 64th Birthday, Ann Tobin
🎉 Happy 40th Business Anniversary to Tobins of Trim

This story is not just a business milestone!
It’s a reminder that legacy is built not in grand gestures, but in daily presence.

If you’ve ever bought a card, a gift, or even shared a kind word at Tobins -
Would you leave a message or memory below?

Even if you don't know Tobin's or Ann, a celebration is what it is.

Let’s fill the town with stories and love.
Let’s make this birthday unforgettable.

Because people like Ann Tobin don’t ask for applause.
But my goodness, they deserve it.

📍 Visit Tobins of Trim: www.tobinstrim.ie
📷 (Photo and Video Credit: Dr. Yinka Dixon (Queen of New Beginnings) June 26th, 2025
🖋 Story by: Dr. Yinka Dixon, NUJ (UK & Ireland) https://linktr.ee/yinkadixon/

#TobinsOfTrim #TrimStories #AnnTobin64 #40YearsOfLegacy #MigrantVoices #CommunityVoices #MigrantStories #MigrantMeath #NewBeginningsBlog #SupportLocalIreland #TrimGiftshop #ResilientEntrepreneurs #RoyalMeath #HughDeLacy #TrimCastle

THIS FATHER'S DAY POST IS FOR YOU - TO THE FATHERS WHO RAISED US RIGHT

TO THE FATHERS WHO RAISED US RIGHT

@ Olayinka Dixon (it's okay to follow my page)

THIS FATHER'S DAY POST IS FOR YOU.

(apologies that it is coming late.. but I promise, it was written just for you).. I simply refuse to let this tribute go without my voice.

THIS POMISES TO BE A LONG POST.

Yeah. Father's day met me sitting with a lady I met for the first time, listening to her stories of grief and new beginnings for 3+ hours after church. It was Sunday, but I was making calls for her intervention, getting information and offering guidance. I was worn out at the end of it, but glad I met her. She needed to make an immigration appeal. In her confusion, she would have got the date wrong, thinking the date was Thursday, when the last day should be Wednesday. If we don't believe that God works in mysterious ways, we need to rethink the stories of our lives, and how they seem to fit, neatly, regardless of past pain.

All of Monday 16th June found me in the middle of O'Connell Street. Yes. Some of you remember that street from one of my stories. Yesterday, I had business to conduct just off that street. A Joyful business, nothing like the story I told you about that bridge. lol. But, I returned home very late and tired. That is the second reason this post is late. But, I owe this tribute to all fathers that are like MY father to their children, especially their daughters.

Happy Father’s Day to the real MVPs, especially the men who raised bold, fearless daughters and never tried to dim their light.

To my beloved father, 9 years gone!

You raised a woman unafraid of life.

I remember your voice, your values, and your fire.

In your youth, you used to take my sister and I horse-riding.

You made time to take us to jump on trampolines till we tired out.

You taught us to speak - unhindered.

I still remember those jackpot machines you used to take us to, somewhere in Zaria, Kaduna, or Jos.

You would hand us bags of coins, and watch us win or lose (we mostly lost). Then you would say:

“Come on, let's go. The game is rigged, you must know when to walk away.”

That was your lesson in financial prudence. In making wise choices. In being frugal and free.

Some fathers never truly leave their children.

They just become part of your backbone.

Your voice, your principles, your strength still echo in my every step - as you whisper fairness. Justice. And an unapologetic standard for excellence.

Some fathers raise their sons to conquer.

Others raise their daughters to command, to rise, to speak, to dare.

And let’s be clear - It is not every man that can raise a strong daughter. It takes a lot of strength to raise one

It takes even more strength to let her soar.

And not every man can marry a Daddy’s Girl.

Daddy did not groom her for every man.

It takes a special kind of grace to marry a Daddy's Girl, because her father already set the standard.

Today, I celebrate those fathers.

I raise my glass to you all.

Those fathers who raise girls that know their worth.

Girls who don’t shrink.

Girls who leave legacy footprints.

Daddy’s Girls. Their Fathers’ Daughters.

Now here is my “random” thought... (and I get loads of these)...

(Though maybe it’s not so random after all.)

Make of it what you will.

If it’s okay, or even celebrated, to be a Daddy’s Girl,

Why are some women afraid of a man who loves his mother?

Is being a “Mother’s Son” really so wrong?

I ask because I truly wonder.

Here’s what I believe:

A real "Mother’s Som" (the healthy kind of Omo Mama eh), grows up to be very emotionally rich.

He knows how to care. To nurture. To listen. To protect.

He has seen a woman love fiercely, and he respects that love in others.

Where lies the real danger??

It is not the man who loves / loved his mother.

The danger is that one who never had a healthy model of womanhood…

Or worse still - that one who resents women because he never properly experienced a mother’s love.

(Well, that is what I believe. Many boys grow up to be men, refusing their mother's love, treating her with disdain, making her cry night after night.....

THAT IS THE MAN TO BE AFRAID OF...

NOT THE ONE WHO LOVES HIS MOTHER.

Give me a Mother's Son, any day....

How can you not love a man who cares for his mom?

Women, you have nothing to fear from a Mother’s son.

Rather, fear the man who is an emotionally disconnected boy in a man’s body.

Strong women are often Daddy’s Girls. Their Fathers’ Daughters.

And strong, men who love deeply and passionately?

Many of them were raised on the knees of strong mothers - with tenderness, love, and truth.

So let’s break that “Mother’s Boy” stereotype once and for all.

Because if a man does not honour the first woman who ever loved him,

how will he know how to honour the next woman who comes his way?

To every father, whether present or remembered -

Thank you for building strong female backbones and for birthing beautiful boldness in skirts.

You are not just loved.

You can never be forgotten.

Today, we celebrate you all.

Fathers. Foundations. Forever.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.

~Dr. Yinka Dixon

Queen of New Beginnings

FOR REFERENCE:

MVP = Most Valuable Player.

Originally a sports term, now used to celebrate someone who makes a meaningful, powerful impact in any field, including IN family life

(someone like YOUR dad, perhaps?)

#FathersDay #StrongFathers #DaddysGirl #MummysBoy #LegacyMakers #NBImpact #NewBeginningsMovement

#LegacyBuilders #HorseRidingLessons #NewBeginnings #FatherFigures #EmotionalMaturity #NewBeginningsQueen #ConsciousMasculinity #RealMenLoveTheirMothers

WRITTEN FOR:

for Father's Day 15 June 2025.

posted: 17 June 2025

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