Friday Flow #46

Sing a song of not-sixpence

What’s up?

How’s it going with you? It’s been a tough few weeks for me, for several reasons I can’t go in-depth into now (I might sometime), but there’s also a lot I’m grateful for, including great stories, even better friends and my faith in a God I believe holds you even when you struggle with holding on.

I’m also grateful to be able to write this every week, and for every single person who reads it. Thank you for that. 🤗

What do you hold on to in your difficult times?

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How to use your voice (essay)

This week, I wrote about the difference between how we see ourselves and how others do. It was inspired by a bunch of different things that came together recently, and I tried to weave the threads into this. Here’s how it begins:

There’s a world of difference in how we see ourselves and how others see us.

I’ve often been described as intense. I’m the kind of person who tends to come on too strong and speak (or write) too forcefully. Sometimes it’s considered a good thing, and I’m perceived as confident. Other times and with other people, I might pass for conceited. And there are a few who think I’m just a con man and it’s all an act. It’s a thin line and it all depends who’s on the receiving end. But it’s (mostly) neither confidence or conceit.

I remember the first time, many years ago, when I realised a work colleague saw me as a threat…

You can read the rest of the essay here: Sing the song of your life

A fantastic game

I discovered the most delightful game this week, on Apple Arcade. It’s called Fantasian and it’s an absolutely gorgeous turn-based RPG (role playing game) in the vein of Dungeons and Dragons and Final Fantasy—and was in fact made by the same guys who first developed Final Fantasy! (Click the link to download it—or to learn more if none of that made sense to you.)

Here’s a couple photos I took while playing: they don’t capture the gameplay but they show you how great it looks.

If you have any Apple product and enjoy games at all, you should absolutely check it out: Apple Arcade is free for 30 days (£5 a month after that). And you can do like I do with free trials I don’t intend to keep: set a calendar reminder to cancel on day 28 (which leaves a spare day if you don’t get to it)!

Sticks and drums (proverb)

Speaking of voices:

Had the stick not banged on the drum, its sweet voice would not be known.

I really do believe that if you ever meet someone who is genuinely kind and gracious, ask them what they’ve been through. People like that almost always have a story and in my experience it’s far more unpleasant than you would imagine for how sweet they are.

It doesn’t make me any fonder of adversity but it does give me a deeper appreciation for those who come through it truly richer—and imparting that richness to others.

I’d love to hear your stories of anyone like that you were able to talk to!

Talk soon,

Doc Ayomide

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