A Nostalgic Reflection Of Joy: Replying to Week #230.

I want to especially appreciate the amazing team @ladiesofhive that put this week's title together because it really appealed to me. And, of course, @irenenavarroart, the beautiful judge of the week.

I am Happiness Ugochukwu. I am a female therapist, specifically a behavioral and communication therapist, a mother to a very calm and inquisitive son, and a dynamic and energetic daughter. I am a loving and supportive wife to my husband, the only sister to my five brothers, and a cherished daughter to my parents.

Growing up, watching television was more than entertainment for me—I would call it an escape, a teacher, and at least a pal and a buddy. Among the numerous TV shows I watched, two stood out: Tom and Jerry, the classical animated series, and I Need to know the then-popular TV series acted by a now-popular Afican actress, Funke Akindele. These two television shows, although different in there various content and purpose, played an important role in shaping my childhood.

I drew the sketch myself.

Tom and Jerry was my favorite cartoon until today, It actually remains a cherished part of my childhood memories. I usually get intrigued by the endless chase between the mischievous Jerry and the ever-frustrated Tom. Despite watching this cartoon on several occasions, I still find myself laughing uncontrollably at their antics, clever tricks and the hilarious chaos that is shown in every episode.

Humor and laughter was actually something I really needed while I was growing up. My father was poisoned. All attempts to cure him here in Lagos failed, so he was relocated to the village for a traditional remedy. My mother, who was my biggest source of comfort and confidence had to accompany my dad to the village for support, assistant and personal care. After all efforts to cure my dad, he eventually died. One of the greatest challenges of my childhood was my mother relocating to the village, she was my help and emotional anchor. Her absent taught me to be independent and resilient at a young age.

As the only girl in the family, I really missed my mum. However, I actually missed my dad the most because I was closer to him than to my mum. I was then left with my five brothers, who were hardly around, because they had to work extra hours to fend for themselves and me. This included feeding, house rent, electrical bills, their university school fees, my primary school fees, and other miscellaneous expenses along the way.Since I was the youngest as at that time, this left me in an environment where I had to figure out so many things on my own. Most times, I felt overwhelmed by my brothers' loud noises from their unnecessary arguments and excessive rough play.

Watching Tom and Jerry gave me a break from all that "loud playful but hurtful fight." among my energetic brothers and provided moments of pure joy, where I didn't have to think about my sadness and challenges. Instead, I could just have laugh after laugh—deep, hearty laughs that really hurt my stomach and choke me most times. It really felt good; I felt lighter after every laugh. It taught me the importance of finding happiness in just simple little things. Even today, I still hold on to that lesson. No matter how difficult life's journey gets, I have made a conscious resolution to try as much as possible to find joy in the simplest and littlest things and moments, just as I did while watching Tom and Jerry

While Tom and Jerry gave me humor and laughter, I Need to Know gave me profound knowledge—the kind of knowledge that I actually need to navigate life as an adolescent and into my teenage years. This series featured a now-popular actress, who was actually my favorite actress at the time. It was one of the most influential shows of its time. It focused on addressing real-life Issues that many young people faced but often do not have the right information about.

I can still recall the first time I heard about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from this television series. It was not something that was openly discussed around me, but I Need to Know tackled those essential topics in a way that actually made sense to me.The show did not only talk about them; It thoroughly educated, seriously warned, and politely encouraged safe and informed decision- making. This knowledge was important to me because it provided me with insight that I might not have acquired otherwise. The most interesting thing about this show is that it sparked my curiousity to learn more beyond what I have heard and watched. I started asking questions about health, relationships, and personal hygiene—mostly things that many young people grapple with and eventually struggle through without adequate guidance.

Certainly, I do have my goals and dreams for the future. However, I definitely cherish the moments that have built unforgettable memories in my life today.
I also draw great happiness from creative pursuit like art and music. The artistic display above of Tom and Jerry was one of my many artworks done over time. Whether I am drawing, writing, or working on a personal project, those quiet times of creativity feel incredibly fulfilling. There is a special feeling that envelopes me when I actually bring an idea to life. Drawing gives me peace and focus, helping me to revitalize my energy back.
That moment of silence while I connect with my sketchbook gives me additional joy.

Tom and Jerry and I Need to Know were two sides of thesame coin—one gave me happiness and the other gave me wisdom. Art was never left out. They gave me incredible joy and a source of companionship during my childhood journey, where I had to navigate life with limited guidance.