I don’t think there’s anyone who is a couch potato like myself. And to make it worse, I don’t think there’s anyone who actually desires to go out as I do. One minute I want to go out, and when I’m out,‘ohhhh take me home’.
Remember the Orchestra tickets I got for free? They were tickets to the London Symphony Orchestra and I was really looking forward to it. Really Really. Not because we love the orchestra, but we just wanted to feel like ‘cool kids’, and tick that off our list.
It was scheduled for the 17th of April – (i.e. yesterday) for 7 pm. But we didn’t go. At about 5 pm, the couch and the English Premier League seemed like a better option. Especially when we discovered the renditions were going to be in German. Ha.
Anyway, the reason for this post is how I got the tickets in the first place.
I feel like there’s an office event every other week that requires a donation for charity. Half the things we do are done for charity. And that’s awesome. Sometimes we bake for charity, we have a quiz competition for charity or wear a Christmas jumper for charity.
So on one of these charity events, this one being – “wear red and donate £2”, the little ‘elves’ went round collecting the £2 minimum from all those who wore red.
I didn’t wear red – I totally forgot. So I ought not to have felt bad, that I didn’t donate anything. I honestly didn’t have coins or cash – they give change if you ask for it. But once I had to drop £10 because I was kinda shy to ask for change, and I thought ‘well it’s for charity’.
But this time, I almost felt like I was being judged – like ‘ordinary £2 you can’t even donate for charity’. But then I remembered the times I’d acted like a little elf and Partners (you know, the ones who share the profit of the firm) had simply said ‘sorry, no money’.
On this day, my supervisor actually wore red. A red jumper. Actually, it was more of burgundy. But for the purposes of donations, ‘yes please that’s red, can we have your £2?’
He didn’t donate coins. He donated cash. Obviously, that means a minimum of £5. It might have been £10 – I don’t remember exactly. By donating he qualified automatically for a raffle draw.
“Do you have a specific lucky number ticket you’ll like?” the elf asked.
“No not really… just give me anyone“, he replied.
He further asked what the prizes were and the elves told him. “I don’t think Partners are allowed to win though” he said.
Then I put all the shyness aside and spoke up: ‘Well if you win, I can have your prize’. To be honest, my mind was on the more attractive prizes, like the weekend stay for two at the Mayfair Hotel.
Guess what? He won!
I don’t think I’ve actually won a raffle before. Well, I guess I won this in a roundabout way. Definitely an exception to the rule of ‘if you don’t buy the ticket you can’t win the lotto’.
Well, the entire essence of this post is Don’t be shy.
Don’t be shy of asking for something/help if you need or want it.
Don’t be shy of owning up and saying ‘No Money’ if you can’t afford something. Even if it’s for charity.
What are you often shy of? Have you won a raffle before? Please tell me the secret, so I can win something at our next charity event.
Anyone been to the orchestra? Did we miss out much?
Love,
Kachee… Xx
pS: The title of this post is actually a tongue twister. Try and say it 10 times without blabbing.
“Shyness has a strange element of narcissism, a belief that how we look, how we perform is truly important to other people. ”
BagosMutendiBlog
April 18, 2016 at 15:32But you sef…*actually repeating the tonguetwister while colleagues laugh away
Kachee || KacheeTee.com
April 18, 2016 at 16:45Haha. Did you succeed?
BagosMutendiBlog
April 20, 2016 at 10:33Mmmhmm….
Oluwatosin Olori Oko Falaiye
April 18, 2016 at 20:21Reading your posts inspires me a lot as I can relate to many of the things you write about. Each time i read, I tell myself “Tosin, see one of your secret role-models writing hits back to back, you must pick up those things on your ‘do on the side bucket list’ ” but alas … I will very soon sha. Trying to figure out how.Anyway … that said, this being shy thing affects many of us (by many of us I can only confirm my situation. lol). We process what others would think of us if our actions don’t conform to the ‘norm’ or if what we have or do to say doesn’t sit well with the other person(s). I am silently worried about getting turned down that many times I end up keep my requests to myself. Only God know how many opportunities have passed me by as a result of this. Hopefully when next I have stuff to go for, i’d remember my coded role model says “why shall you shy Tosin”
Kachee || KacheeTee.com
April 19, 2016 at 17:23Tosin! You should totally pick up those things you want to do. Starting is the hardest bit trust me, but from then on it gets easier.I get worried about being turned A LOT!, especially when I’m very optimistic or hopeful. BUt yes, we cannot imagine the opportunities that pass us by on such occasions. That was even what I wanted to use as the quote, but I couldn’t find the author “Shyness has ruined so many good opportunities”. As for that secret role model things.Thanks for the wash oh. It has added to brighten my day.
Adaku
April 18, 2016 at 20:36I can relate to the shyness. Sometimes it’s ego or fear of embarrassment. I haven’t won a raffle draw before o.. I need tips too. It’s frustrating.I think I’ve lost hope infact.I think I’m still conscious but not shy.I realised shyness attracts even more of the attention you don’t want.I learnt that from The Voice auditions 😀
Kachee || KacheeTee.com
April 19, 2016 at 11:11It’s often fear of embarrassment. I often hate asking people for stuff or for help. But these days, I get do it anyway. I also understand what you mean by conscious but bot shy. But still, we are giving in to what people will think of us, and that’s sort of not good.Re Raffle: My dear, I think I’ve given up as well oh.
Precious Nkeih
April 19, 2016 at 03:46Haha I love the way you write. I’ll be visiting again.Precious Core Blog
Kachee || KacheeTee.com
April 19, 2016 at 11:09Thank you so much Precious. I had a look at your blog and I like it! Especially because you’re from Cameroon!. And your girls are so cute…Thanks for stopping by..
pagesbyike
April 19, 2016 at 14:44Haha! My shyness has mood swings. Shyness truly is a form of narcissism. I never saw it that way. I try consciously not to be too self-conscious these days, i try to be more God-conscious in my affairs and it works. It’s a deliberate effort though. I’ve been to an Orchestra concert twice; once with my friends and the second by myself! It was my birthday present to myself. LOL! I loved it! It was a rendition of one of my fave movies’ The Gladiator” at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington. The movie was playing on a screen and the orchestra played the sound tracks, i enjoyed it immensely. :*
Kachee || KacheeTee.com
April 19, 2016 at 17:25Being God-conscious is the key Bae.re: Orchestra, maybe if a movie was involved I might have been tempted. This one was at Barbican. I’ll still go one for though. One day…
Faith
April 20, 2016 at 16:12You know, commenting on your blog kind of brought me out of my shy-zone. So, here’s to you!I used to be the chic who’d love up on a post in my mind, with the ‘ohhs!’ and ‘ahhs!’..and not write pim! who e epp? Lol.I’ve missed some really good opportunities just because I applied adhesive as lipstick ‘fore stepping out. Earlier this month, I began to seriously pray for courage to ask for help when I need and affirm that I am the righteous and we as bold as lions! What’s that line about a closed mouth being a closed destiny?I’m going on to take hold of all ’em opportunities and ASK for help; and encourage myself even (and especially) after receiving a No.Thank you for emphasizing this, Kachi! Thank you for your witty, down-to-earth writing laced with laughs and beautiful lessons.Oh..and sharing this post is me taking a tiny-weeny step in exiting the shy-zone.
Kachee || KacheeTee.com
April 21, 2016 at 19:05Here’s to you right back Faith for commenting! Not saying pim no epp anybody oh. Lol. We are indeed as bold as the Lions and the worst we can get is a No!Thank you for sharing. I appreciated that so so much. xx
Ify Halim
April 21, 2016 at 17:43My first time on your blog! And I love it btw 😊My mum has this funny saying “Man wey get shame bele rotten” and it’s statements like it that echo in my mind, pushing me when I feel shy to speak up. Thanks for the fun reminder.www.ifyhalim.com
Kachee || KacheeTee.com
April 21, 2016 at 19:03Thank you Ify – It’s a really new blog. Just 2 months plus.I was curious about your name and I checked your blog, and that linked me to your guest post on Tuke’s blog where you explained it. Lol! Interesting. At least my kids get to be half Igbo and Yoruba.Oh my gosh! That’s such a funny saying by your mum. Lool!Stop by often. xx
KIKELOMO OMOTALADE
April 26, 2016 at 10:38Not sure you missed much even though i haven’t attended one…………i can just imagine it would be all slow and i will be sleepy…..lolCan’t say I am shy though(maybe sometimes)
Kachee || KacheeTee.com
April 26, 2016 at 11:46To be honest I don’t think we missed that much, esp as it was in German.I’ll have to for an English one soon though. We’re all shy sometimes I think…Xx
Eziaha Bolaji-Olojo
May 10, 2016 at 14:42You woulda slept through that orchestra. EPL is not even a fair alternative.For Coloured Girls killed any love I may have had for the snoozefest. The Movie that is.I don’t know how to be shy… not even half a shy bone in me.HahaI hope you win something bigger again loveE’Www.eziaha.com
Kachee || KacheeTee.com
May 12, 2016 at 08:53Thanks E’. I was pretty convinced I’ll have slept, so I guess that’s why I didn’t bother. i can tell that you’re definitely not the shy type! Awesome.Muah. Xx