New year's eve
Date:Tuesday, 7th of December, 2021
Day 11 prompt: About New year's eve
Published by: Greatwolfman
It is the one time in the whole year where "**see you next year**" is the same as "**see you tomorrow**", it also happens to be my Mom's birthday, since she was born in the night between New years eve and New year, we celebrate it twice, we take 31st as the main day since New Year already celebrates itself.
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Having fun with fireworks
My fondest memory of New years eve is going out with the other kids to throw Knockout and Fireworks. We were quite playful and noisy until one day, a boy whilst playing with the knockout, held on for too long and hurt himself, my Dad who panics a lot immediately suspended all forms of outing on New Year's eve and we were not allowed to play with any form of Fireworks or Knockout.
[Image Source]
I started going to church on New years eve with my buddy Ronnie, I use that time to pray and contemplate all my failures and triumphs throughout the year as I set new goals into the new year. I no longer find throwing knockouts interesting though but it's fun to watch as the fireworks hit the sky making beautiful colors and letters.
Most couples or young teenagers take this time to express their love to their other half.
***"10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1....Happy New year"***
***I watch from my corner as they make their first kiss of the year***...even my buddy Ronnie, while I sit alone observing and feeling very awkward. Almost like I'm the only single person in the whole building, can you relate?
[Image Source]
A friend of mine was argued that there is nothing special about New years eve
***"It is just another day in the year where you wake up and realize you haven't really achieved much and even though people party for a day, you still have to survive January and the long list of bills for what usually seems to be the longest month, I don't think a day is 24hours in January because it's always very long, almost like time would pause for a while"***
**January, the longest month of the year**
Speaking of which, have you also noticed how long January always is? Next year, I will be spending the month in school going through 8 am to 6 am lecturers as I try to survive sleepless nights working on building measurement and contract documentation.
*Okay, let me not divert from the main topic, back to New years eve.*
Trying to stay up all night as you stare cautiously at the clock and digital calendar as the year changes can be really tedious, sometimes boring when the power is off (which is usually the case in Nigeria). One time, I overslept and missed it, I felt bad throughout the whole day. What a way to start a new year eh
My Worst New Year's Eve experience
`It feels very irritating adding the image but you get the idea`
My worst New year experience was the time I had conjunctivitis, popularly referred to as "Apollo" (not the Greek god Apollo). As usual, we had stayed at home trying to have as much fun as we could, unknowingly to us, our neighbor's son had contacted the infection and just like that it began to spread until everyone in the house had it, it was very awkward, you should see how we all looked in the family portrait all wearing glasses to cover our "red eyes". The good thing about that was that we didn't get any visitors because they were wary of the infection so we had a lot to eat. Even though my eyes were hurting, the taste of the fried turkey was enough to give me enough comfort. I'm a foodie.
The last new year's eve wasn't quite "adventurous", due to COVID 19 restrictions, all forms of social gatherings were canceled so I had to stay at home, at least I got to spend quality time with my family, we joked about the year we all had Apollo, I would have posted the picture but it didn't seem appropriate so Dad instructed us to get rid of it and we took a better one when we were all feeling better. ***You know, as the saying goes, Family that stays together, gets Apollo together eh.***
*I had this article written in the morning but was quite busy settling in and had to go for a lectures among other things, the urgent things which came up. I had a lot of fun reminiscing on the past. I hope you also had a nice time reading it.*
[Lead Image Source: Unsplash]
The pen is a great weapon
Date:Monday, 6th of December, 2021
Day 10 prompt:About an object
Published by: Greatwolfman
I'm supposed to write about an object and I thought to myself - "***what would be the perfect one to write about***", there were a lot of honorable mentions like my Guitar, my bracelet, the TV remote, and others but the most unlikely, my pen.
The pen is indeed a deadly weapon when in good hands, and No, it is not what you think, I'm not referring to ***John Wick***, I'm sure you remember the legend of the ***boogeyman***, where he killed people in a bar with a pencil. That is not the type of deadly I'm referring to though, it's more metaphorical than literal.
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The evolution from pencil to biro
The educational system makes us start with **pencils** (pen with lead) before advancing to using **biro** (pen with ink), the reason behind this is that it is easier to erase mistakes with pencils than a biro, this is necessary to improve penmanship, although it didn't work for me because my writing isn't very "***legible***". I once read a post that stated this fact as it applies to life, as we grow older, it becomes more and more difficult to correct the mistakes we make.
Means of expression
There are some words you can't utter when given the means to do it, not because you don't know how but because you can't transfer those thoughts to words. A lot of students go through this without even knowing, ask them to define a particular term and they won't, but give them pen and paper in the exam hall, the word will flow through their hands to the paper.
This is why teachers encourage their students to write notes or jot down because it helps the brain assimilate faster than just seeing and listening.
There are some emotions that you find very difficult to express, but when you try writing it down, it just flows like a river, the use of a pen can't be fully justified.
Exams partner
It's my job to remember what I have read and it's my pen's job to put it down, sometimes it has to work faster than usual to keep less I forget, it also has a chewy cover that I can bite on to process my thought and it wouldn't mind, very selfless that one.
It's important to also have a backup though, you never know when one might decide to go on a break when it can't keep up.
Great fighters
Oh yes, when I was younger, the only reason we bought sophisticated pens with our lunch money was to win battles, and my oh my was it fun. Now that I look back at it, I find it was one of my most cherished childhood memories.
[**Image Source**] https://medium.com/@aswathkrishnan/thank-you-sir-he-said-for-the-second-time-as-he-impatiently-gestured-me-to-sign-the-check-i-5a797e69d5b5
We would find a flat table, everyone will position their pen on the table in whatever position feels okay and then each player would be given turns to flick their pen to hit other opponents, the last pen on the table wins.
If you are not familiar with this game then you didn't have as much fun as I did. Of course, this meant we always had to disturb our parents all the time for money to buy pens because after taking so many hits in battle, the pen will just refuse to write.
The pen is useless without the master
Of course, as cool as the pen is, it is useless without the master- You. You need to tell it what to do (unless of course, it is to stop writing well, they decide that on their own).
Being a master comes with its own responsibility, you need to decide what to put down on a paper and also consider the thought of the people who will read it, because just as good as a pen can bring joy and happiness to someone, it can also bring pain
It holds memories and stories which can be used for good or bad
Have you ever just looked at your pen and wonder - "***What stories do you have to tell"?***
There was a popular movie production I grew up watching, The **Wale Adenuga** **Production(WAP)** here in Nigeria, there is a popular quote they always say at the end of any of the movies. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wale_Adenuga_Production#:~:text=Wale%20Adenuga%20Productions%20Limited%2C%20(in,family%2C%20Papa%20Ajasco%20and%20Binta.
***"We are just pencils in the hands of the creator"***
This just means even though we are the ones using a pen and paper to pass along a message, we are still tools from a higher power, but it's still up to us to use this power for either good or bad.
***A pen*** in the context doesn't have to be a physical pen but anything that you can use to express your thoughts, from painting, carving, writing, or even typing, they are all forms of expression.
We all have the ability to express our innermost thoughts and desire, so in a way, we are all writers, if you are here on read.cash, then it means you have found yours.
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About the skies
Date:Saturday, 4th of December,2021
Day 9 prompt:About the sky
Published by: Greatwolfman
*Do you ever look up to the sky and see the clouds forming, thinking to yourself that it is in fact telling you a story? For the most time of my childhood, I would spend hours doing this, so much that it started to affect my eyesight so I had to stop, but now and then, I would find myself doing it again, subconsciously.*
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The sky is the heavens
How many of you thought the sky was the heavens? I always believed that the clouds forming were images of people who have passed away and are now in heaven, it was so nice to see that heaven was just up in the sky and if I was Superman, I could fly to the sky whenever I wanted to dine with the Angels.
Rain are tears from Angels
When it rained, it meant the Angels were crying to me, I would stare at the sky to see where the rain was coming from, but my eyes weren't strong enough to see the heavens in all its divinity, "what could make the angels cry this much" - I would wonder.
Sango, the god of lightning
Africa is rich with a lot of cultural beliefs, one of which is the god Sango. Thor is the god of thunder in Norse Mythology as Sango is the god of thunder in the popular Yoruba Culture in Nigeria. Our parents would often tell us about these people who once lived as men before they transcended as gods, when it rains and we see the lightning, I would believe Sango was the one making the thunder.
Science almost ruined it all for me
Basic science ruined my imaginations when I learned how cloud formation works as well as what causes lightning to strike, for a moment at least but not for long because even though my initial thoughts of the cloud had been corrupted, it still holds memories, some sad, some happy but all beautiful.
I can relate some of my most familiar memories with the weather of the sky at the time, if you look inward, I'm sure you can too.
The early morning cold sky's memories
How early would you say you leave home on a daily basis? 5 am? 6 am? How about 3 am. It was not by choice really. I was in my final year in high school and the school principal was determined to make sure we had very good results especially in Mathematics.
An early morning lesson was organized specifically for this purpose, since I lived at quite a distance from school, I would have to wake up quite early to leave for school. At the time I had a huge crush on this girl and was always looking forward to seeing her. In case you are wondering, I did ask her to be my girlfriend, there is a whole article on that story. When I think of this type of sky, that is the beautiful memory that comes to mind.
The dark cloudy sky's memories
This one feels lonely to me. It reminds me of all the times I would stay at home alone, looking out the window while Mom slept after locking the doors because she knew we would go out to play in the rain and end up catching a cold.
I would watch as the drop of rain hits the ground and would start storing my wild imaginations, it was good that I could escape mentally but it still felt lonely.
The clear blue sky's memories
This one feels like hope, it is my idea of a brighter day. Not so sunny or dark, just nice. You could even see the birds in the skies flying in beautiful patterns. When it gets hard and I look up to the clear blue skies, I just feel like everything will be alright.
The moonless dark night sky's memories
Have you ever wondered why bad things often happen in the dark when watching Horror films? Well, the night feels scary especially when the moon is nowhere to be found.
This memory had been recently associated with the night my dog died. It was just like any other night and Harmony was not feeling the usual, I remember I had just finished talking to @The.Ada just before I realized he was dead. It is a memory that might linger on for a while.
*This is just from my own point of view and a peek into my memories, when you think about the sky, what memories come to mind?*
`Thank you for all your support, I apologize if I haven't been as active as I should, I've been preparing for school resumption but as soon as I'm settled in, I will be active again`
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About Nature
Date: Friday, 3rd of December,2021
Day 8 prompt: About Nature
Published by: Greatwolfman
*This challenge wouldn't be complete without talking about Nature and all the gifts it has presented to us. This one is for you Earth.*
**Nature** always has a way of creating its own balance, so, what happens if that balance gets upset? Have you given that any thought? What if I told you it already has and we are experiencing the aftereffect now?
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The Theory
I am a firm believer that everything that happens in the spiritual has its physical representation, hence the reason I can't rule out the "Big Bang" hypothesis which explains that the world was created with a *Big bang* as the name suggests and this process took billions of years to get to what we have today, and while science might not be able to prove it extensively, there shouldn't be any doubt left in our minds that one day the world will come to an end.
If this theory is correct, then it would take billions of years for this to happen, maybe even more, but what if something or someone acts as an entropy, quickening this said end even closer than we imagine?
Yes, that is exactly what we are doing, with our hands we are killing Nature, even though there are a lot of awareness programs going on, nothing is changing.
Problems
Have you started to notice the weather variations? Shouldn't that be enough signs that Nature is dying and we have to save her, at least prolong her lifespan?
The depletion of the Ozone layer, a layer found in the Earth's stratosphere that protects the Earth from the poisonous Ultraviolet rays from the Sun is a topic now thought in High schools and the major cause of this depletion is the CFC compound which means Chelsea Football Club (haha, that was meant as a joke) I assume we all know the meaning, I mean, we should, given that we are all trying to save the Earth right? C-F-C stands for ChloroFluoroCarbon, a compound used in refrigerators and Air Conditioning units for our comfort.
For our own comfort, the earth has to pay that price, this fact has been known for years but nothing has changed, so let us face it, we can't do enough to save Nature but fear not, she has a way of creating her own balance, the only downside to this is that it might involve us dying.
Have you noticed the increase in Earthquakes, Hurricanes, floods among other disasters? What if this is nature's way of creating balance? It is sad and painful hearing of such disasters on the news, life's lost and properties destroyed, we shouldn't have to go through such pains, no more.
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Solutions
Enough of the problems, let us talk solutions, what can we do to make this world a better place? (this line reminds me of the King of Pop, Micheal Jackson, if you haven't, listen to "**Heal the World**") https://youtu.be/BWf-eARnf6U
Awareness
When you hear the "*Earth Song*" by Micheal Jackson, do you just listen to the rhythms or also the lyrics?
*What have we done to the world, look at what we have done- Micheal Jackson (Earth song)*
If that wasn't enough, what about "*Earth*" by Lil Dicky featuring some of the most popular artists around the world, Ariana Grande, Justin Beiber, Kanye West, and many more.
If you missed that, then you can't have missed some of the wonderful articles here that talk about this specific topic, so, I believe awareness has already started.
Save the Earth
If you were expecting more steps then you will be disappointed. It is a two (2) step process, without doing this second step, the process can not be said to be complete, more talk, and even more action.
In the world of science, there has been some great improvement in the field of creating more eco-friendly inventions, the use of Solar Panel to power buildings and other appliances even cars will reduce the use of carbon-based fuels which releases poisonous gases to the atmosphere.
We can also encourage recycling rather than disposing some of these biodegradable substances in some of the most awful places polluting the whole surrounding.
We can go green, by this, I don't mean you need to become a vegetarian, you can do this by planting more flowers and trees. We give off Carbon(IV)oxide, which is necessary for Photosynthesis and they give off Oxygen which is necessary for ~~seeing~~ (haha, I mean breathing).
Conclusion
It is not too late to save the planet, I know I started this article looking dark and hopeless but there is still hope and it depends on you and me, together. We need to play our part so that we can leave a better world for future generations.
*References*
Big Bang - Wikipedia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang
*ChloroFluoroCarbon- Wikipedia* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorofluorocarbon#:~:text=Chlorofluorocarbons%20(CFCs)%20are%20anthropogenic%20compounds,aerosol%20cans%2C%20and%20as%20solvents.
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About a loved one
Date:Wednesday,1st of December, 2021
Day 7 prompt: About a loved one
Published by: Greatwolfman
*I don't have to even think long and hard for this one, my Mother. Before you get all judgemental, I love my Dad too but this article is about my Mother. Her birthday is approaching and I have not yet decided on what to give her as a present, trust me, I have tried but I can't seem to be able to think of one that would be enough to say "thank you".*
`This article also goes out to every woman out there, the pain and struggle you go through just to bring forth another human to the world is a gift. It can't have been easy.`
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Source: **Unsplash**
The sacrifices this woman has made just so her kids would be happy just makes her the best, and I pray to God to keep her alive to enjoy the fruit of her womb.
When I was younger, and I fell sick, my mother would not leave my side until I was better, what do you want to eat? She would ask and I would reply lazily " nothing" and then she would spend a moment begging me to eat until I finally agree, such patience for that little stubborn boy.
When I would come back from school crying over one reason or the other, she would ask me why I was crying and that would make me cry, even more, she would sit down patiently to listen to all my troubles and would offer words of comfort right after, like magic I would feel a lot better.
Image source https://m.scooper.news/nigeria/2021/01/10/were-you-flogged-when-you-were-a-child-how-has-it-helped-you-now-that-you-are-grown-up/13064822
I also remember the beatings she would visit on my butt cheeks with Mr. Do Good, the name of her cane. She named it so because she meant for it to Instill discipline since that was the only language we understood, as I once mentioned in an article, we would often hide the came or throw it away but the next day a new one would come.
There was a night my brother and I decided to steal meat from the pot, we had succeeded multiple times in the past and gotten away with it but this night wouldn't be the same. She was waiting for us by the door as we were about to escape back to the room. Oh, that night we received beating like never before and no one would come to save us.
Sometimes I would wonder if she ever sleeps, she was always the last to sleep and first to wake, and when I would have a bad dream, she was the first name I would call and like the speed of sound, she would rush down to the room.
Growing up, we couldn't sleep without bedtime stories, even when she would have a stressful day at work and it was even clear in her voice, she would still tell us the stories until we slept, so many beautiful memories.
Source: **Unsplash**
If women were allowed to rule the world, we would have far better governments.
Mothers know how to truly care about the well-being of others because they know what true love is.
The Ant Colonies always turn out successful and often a formidable force, ever wonder why? They are ruled by the Queen, it's true that King Ant also has a role to play, so does every single ant in the colony but the Queen Ant makes for a better leader, and it is because of her that the colony continues to grow.
Behind every successful man is a woman, even if we try to overlook this very important detail, if you still don't see the importance of a woman to the growth of society then you have much to learn.
Here is the thing, as we grow older, we start to forget the roles they played in our upbringing, you stop calling, a day becomes two to weeks to months, if you haven't, call your mother today, visit her, give her the attention she deserves, they might not say it out loud but it means a lot to them.
To be clear, a mother doesn't have to be a feminine character but also a massive character, basically, anyone who showered you with love, care, and protection, someone important in your life that without them, you won't be where you are right now.
To all Mothers out there, on behalf of everyone, we love you, thank you for everything you've done, even the ones gone unnoticed.
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Abandonment
Date:Tuesday,30th of November, 2021
Day 6 prompt: About Abandonment
Published by: Greatwolfman
Abandonment according to **Cambridge Dictionary** https://dictionary-cambridge-org.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/dictionary.cambridge.org/amp/english/abandonment?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16382484612759&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.cambridge.org%2Fdictionary%2Fenglish%2Fabandonment
**the act of leaving someone or something or of ending or stopping something, usually forever**
It sounds scary doesn't it, but such is the reality of a lot of people today, from babies left in front of the church to kids left at the orphanage. The question is this
***Abandonment, good or bad?***
It's bad, everything has its good and bad, to portray my argument I will make use of a story, you might want to read carefully if you wish to understand the reason for my answer.
*A young girl, Mary, is pregnant, she didn't plan for this yet she has found herself in such a situation, the man responsible has denied all ties to her and abandoned her, leaving her to fend for herself. She wouldn't bear to risk being abandoned by her family who happened to be pastors and fear her mishap would bring only shame to the family.*
*When she went to the clinic, she was given the option to abort the child or give birth to the baby, she chose to give birth to the boy since she couldn't bring herself to abort the baby so she went on with it.*
*She ran away from home to keep it hidden from her parents fearing what they would think of her given their positions and their beliefs. 9 months passed and she finally gave birth to a baby, a beautiful bouncy baby boy. She knew she couldn't keep him so she decided to send the child to an orphanage.*
*The child was adopted by a couple who had been searching for the fruit of the womb for a very long time, where he was raised into a successful young man.*
The story has no end yet, you can fix an end to it if you want but it's enough to make my point.
Mary got abandoned by her boyfriend, then she abandoned her son because she feared abandonment from her parents.
***So, was it good or bad?***
It was wrong for the boyfriend to bail on her when she got pregnant. He should have taken responsibility for the child. That was a wrong move to leave a pregnant lady alone by denying responsibilities, perhaps if he did things differently, everything would have turned out differently.
Mary should have faced her parents, perhaps If she had faced her fear of abandonment, her parents would have accepted her. She chose to let her fears prevent her from knowing what her parent's decision would be.
Her parents should have done more with showing more love and giving more attention to their daughter, perhaps instead of creating fears in her, it would have encouraged her to speak up when she felt alone and scared instead of running away, may I add for 9 whole months.
***Conclusion***
In the end, it doesn't matter who was at fault, only the victim of all the decisions, the little baby. The little child will grow up without ever knowing why he was abandoned, and this is due to poor decisions by the parents.
While this story might be only fiction, there are a lot of such situations happening in different parts of the world, in this case, the little boy turned out well, others might not be so fortunate and just end up moving from one foster home to another until they are eventually left to take care of themselves in the wicked streets and plausibly turning to a life of crime to survive
Most people despite being raised in good homes still suffer from abandonment issues, a trait common among teenagers. We all do at different times in our lives, the constant fear of being lonely.
This fear of Abandonment is referred to as Autophobia
**Autophobia**
*A morbid fear of being egotistical or a dread of being alone or isolated. Sufferers need not be physically alone, but just to believe that they are ignored or unloved.*
Source: **Wikipedia** https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autophobia#:~:text=This%20turns%20into%20autophobia%20because,when%20they%20were%20growing%20up.
This is the sixth (6th) topic from my 30-day challenge before the end of the year. It had always been one of my greatest fear but I'm making an effort to adjust to it.
In my little experience, instead of creating fears of the unknown or scared of being afraid of people leaving you, always have it in mind that there is always a time when people will leave, so embrace what time you have, cherish every moment.
**Can you imagine how life would be if you were the last person on Earth?**
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About love
Date:Sunday,28th of November, 2021
Day 5 prompt: About love
Published by: Greatwolfman
*I'm taking a break from my 30-day prompt challenge, I should be writing* ***About Love*** *but this is what I feel like writing at the moment. This is another one of my diary entry except it's not coded.*
*I haven't been as active as I should in a while due to some personal reasons. At the time of writing this article, it's Saturday but I won't publish it until Sunday, which is in a couple of hours, I figured it's a good way to start the week besides everyone needs to rest once in a while, or twice.*
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*I also want to make this entry interesting so I'm thinking of adding some riddles at the end with an incentive to give a big thank you to my readers for all the continuous support. Enjoy*
***Update:***
***After a good night rest, I decided to write an article about love instead using my lame attempt at poetry, I hope you like it***
***It's another night and I'm still here gazing at the stars. Oh wait, the stars are gone and I'm staring at the black night sky. The moon is nowhere to be found, it must have gone to hide behind the clouds. Even the crickets are silent, a clear indication that a storm is coming.***
***I look around and observe that I'm alone, I call out to my family but no response is heard. I look through the window and saw that even the street was silent, where did everyone go. The once busy Street was quiet, you could hear a pin drop. What a nightmare.***
***Just then, I heard voices, I look to see where they came from, there I saw them approaching, dark shadows approaching, familiars even. My demons, fear, anger, jealousy, hatred, anguish, you name it.***
***How far do you reckon I can run? How long do you think it would take before they catch up to me? Why is there only darkness? Where did the light go to?***
***It's like I'm trapped in a cage with nowhere to escape, alone. They catch up to me and I seem to be out of strength to fight back, I let them take over, I let them win.***
***Fear whispered into my ears, "you are all alone" it said. "No one can save you from me"***
***Anger said "where are your loved ones when you need them, after all the sacrifices you made, they all left you here"***
***Jealousy showed me an illusion of people around me all happy, "they are happy without you, don't you want what they have?"***
***Anguish decided to add salt to injury, "why don't you cry, it hurts doesn't it".***
***Perhaps they are right. I'm about to give up when I heard a voice call out my name. In the distance, I saw a flicker of light, It was Love.***
***It drew closer and I saw the dark shadows take a step back, they couldn't come close to the light.***
***Love came close to me and showed me the people that still cared about me. It was so pure that it brought tears to my eyes, as it did, the flame grew bigger.***
***It kept on growing until it was as bright as the sun and it revealed that I wasn't alone, I just couldn't see because the darkness had covered everything.***
***I was happy again.***
**Closing thoughts**
Love is the greatest force of all. I can still remember the first time I said the three magic words - "I love you". I was only 13 years old yet I knew exactly what those words meant, surprisingly that word has lost its meaning today. Nothing beats that feeling.
The holy books preach love yet we spend most of our days hating on other people. ~~I think~~ I know the world will be a better place if we only showed love towards one another instead of hatred and resentment.
Love is the greatest gift of all, to be able to love someone and show it is one of the greatest gifts to be given to mankind. It is what defines "humanity", without love, we are better off dead.
Show love to everyone around you, it doesn't matter what origin they came from, their beliefs or race, their skin color, white or black, we are only humans. I love you all.
To break the ice, here are a set of easy Riddles for you to play with.
One (riddle) per person, if you answer more than one, you will be disqualified.
***I can break, I can be clogged, I can be attacked, I can be given, I can be kept, I can be crushed, yet I can be whole at the same time. What am I?***
***Arnold Schwarzenegger’s is really long. Michael J. Fox’s is short. Daffy Duck’s isn’t human. Madonna doesn’t have one, and I want yours. What is it?***
***I can make people happy, I can make people cry. I can make people want me, and I can drive people crazy. What am I?***
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About Loneliness
Date:Thursday,26th of November,2021
Day 4 prompt: About Loneliness
Published by: Greatwolfman
Yeah, it feels lonely even writing about it. Have you ever been to a camp, church camp, or just school or recreational camp trip filled with a lot of activities, and after a couple of days of having fun it's time to go back home but you can't go because you need to stay behind to assist the camp masters and organizers clean up but you have to say goodbye to every one of your friends as they leave for home, then you are done with cleaning, so you find a place to sit and are alone reminiscing on the good times you had with your friends, even though you will still see them again but for the moment, there seems to be a void you can't fill? that is what loneliness is.
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**A few months back**, I posed a question to my coursemates, if you had the power to live forever, would you do it? Most people said "***Yes, why not***" but one person said "***No***", I was curious so I asked why and his point was "***Loneliness***",s when you live for a very long time, you will have to see the people close to you pass on, friends, family and loved ones. For days on end, you could just sit down alone, gazing at the sky trying to recall how your life used to be, tears begin to form in your eyes because you miss the good old days. You might be fortunate to have beautiful grandkids and you might be able to tell them stories until you can't anymore due to old age, you won't be able to die but living becomes harder. That is just so lonely and sad.
**As teenagers,** we often get to a point we just want to disappear, zone out, delete our social media, and ghost everyone for like a week or month depending on how much of an emotional wreck we are at the moment but does that even help? We have that faint idea that somehow loneliness would cure the sadness that we feel disregarding the fact that it only acts as fuel to the burning flame in our hearts.
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**As young adults,** when we get tired and lonely we often return home to replenish lost strength through the love of our family but ***is a house really a home when your loved ones are gone?***
Having money does help, but have you ever wondered why people who have enough money end up committing suicide? I won't mention names but if you cast your thoughts towards that and try making use of Google, you would see quite a list, I'm not saying suicide is the answer to loneliness but it is obvious that money might not be the solution to everything. Getting a good promotion and even making a lot of profit from a particular investment. Such news we would want to share it with friends and loved ones but then as Ed Sheeran said, "***what is success if you have no one left to share it with?***". My greatest fear in life is turning back to see that everyone I have ever loved is gone.
My last article was on "***Friends***", this article can be linked because it is at such times when it feels lonely that good friends appear and save us from the emotional torment we have intentionally or unintentionally subjected ourselves to.
**My friends**, when you ever feel lonely look around you, you will discover that the world is filled with a lot of people, a lot of things yet to try, and places to be. You haven't truly lived until you live. So open your eyes and smile through the pain, it gets better. Remember it's always darkest before dawn.
I have to be honest, it was quite difficult writing about this article today. Some topics can be quite sensitive to write about but in this case, it is based on my review of the year and it is definitely something to talk about considering the number of times I have felt that way this year. Everyone gets lonely, but what varies is how long we choose to remain drowned in that sea and the type of friends we have around who help us get through tough times.
Before ending this article I would like to ask a question, *****If you are given the chance to live forever, would you take it, and why?*****
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About Friends
Date:Thursday,25th of November,2021
Day 3 prompt : About Friends
Published by: Greatwolfman
I didn't grow up around a lot of friends, which might have been a good thing given the neighborhood I was but somehow I ended up making many good friends, each had a role to play in my life to where I am today.
Good or bad, a friend is still a friend.
they can build you or break you, that is why choosing your friends is one of the most important things you have to do while growing up, the funny thing is we can't always choose who our friends are, sometimes they choose us and "**No**" is just not an acceptable answer.
I am an introvert which is why it wasn't easy making any friends growing up, but as fate would have it, I ended meeting some great people, though I may never see some of them again, and haven't even met most of them, they all played an important role in my life.
Source: **Unsplash**
A friend is someone who tells you when you are wrong
It's not uncommon for friends to fall out over a misunderstanding, oftentimes, the cause of this has to do with one of the duo making a mistake and the other trying to correct him or her. I know this because I had to pull one of my friends from getting into a big mess, it's complicated but I'm glad she is thanking me today. I know you are probably thinking "***why didn't you just mind your business, let him experience the consequences on her own***?", well, I did what I did because she helped through what seemed like my darkest time at the moment and my conscience wouldn't let me rest unless I repay the favor. A good friend wouldn't always agree with you, that's how you know you've got a good one. Find the one who will always challenge you when you are wrong.
*Oh, and if you ever happen to be right, do not hesitate to tell them " I told you so" hahaha.*
A friend won't let you do stupid things alone.
Okay, sometimes your friend won't have to disagree with you, especially if he's weird like you. A few years back, we went to visit a friend, they had this beautiful **Boerboel dog called Lucy**, as a lover of Dogs myself I wanted to befriend the dog, the friend we went to visit wasn't around so we were instructed to wait a bit for her to return from her errand.
That was when the idea popped into my head. People often say *the Devil makes work for lazy hands* but I had to witness it.
"*Let us play with dog*" - I playfully suggested.
"*We won't be able to have real fun with it unless it was out of his gatehouse, let us set it free*" - he suggested
"*Yes, then we would see the first to get caught*" - I said.
We even placed a bet on it
Well, you can guess how that turned out.
I had a big dog pounce on me and so much slobber on my face. Lucy caught up with me but didn't bite me, a dog can tell who is a lover and who is not, she was happy to out of her cage and just wanted to play. My body did hurt from hitting the floor but it was fun to see how playful Lucy was with friends.
Perhaps trying stupid things isn't that bad after all, I would know because I went on to try other things, the recent one was climbing a mango tree and coming in contact with a snake.
Source: **Unsplash**
A friend would always have your back
Have you heard about the "**Bro-code**", well, the legends are true, I've seen it myself, in fact, I once tried writing an article about it but there is a rule that states no lady should ever see it, and know its contents in entirety.
*Rule No 65, section A, article 1: A good Bro should always have his bros back (to put it modestly).* Yes, I quoted it. If you ever wonder why Bros don't snitch on each other or make gossips like my Mom and Sister would do for hours, it's because of the code. Without the code to keep us in line, Bros won't exist.
"**Bros**" in this context means **Good Friends**, friends so close that they now consider each other as Brothers, who said Family is only connected by blood eh. I have a lot of secrets that only my Bros know but they will never spill it to anyone, but recently I'm beginning to think that the only reason they wouldn't do that is that I also have things that could implicate them but No, we have a code, let us put our poisonous blackmail tendencies as an excuse for the Bro Code.
Only your friends know your secret, so only he could reveal it.
https://youtu.be/X3lT1CivkLo
**Bob Marley** is one of my favorite musicians of all time, I grew listening to his music. It wasn't by choice, my mother would just keep playing it on repeat that even when the song wasn't playing, you could still hear it.
I would advise you to listen to the lyrics of the song above, each sentence you hear is the sad but true reality of life. Having a lot of friends gives room for betrayal because you don't know who to trust.
Friendship demands loyalty and trust, without it, it will crumble and fall like the walls of Jericho, choose your friends wisely. Also, don't try just any stupid thing with your friend because you want to be supportive, sometimes you have to be the saner one.
I have made a lot of friends on read.cash but I won't be able to tag everyone, the list is really long. When I feel unhappy, I just come here to read articles and I always get uplifted, this morning it was @Theblackdoll article that did the trick, I'm sure many more will have that effect today.
**Mahal ko kayong lahat, salamat sa lahat ng suporta ninyo**
I hope I got it right.
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Day 2: About Life
Date: Tuesday, 23rd of November,2021
Day 2: Life
Published by: Greatwolfman
This is a topic everyone can relate to, there is nothing I'm going to write about that hasn't been experienced or felt by anyone in the past. I'm filled with nostalgia looking back at how my life has been and all the experiences and challenges it dished out, the hard lessons I had to learn.
It is said that life begins from the time you are in your mother's womb to the day you pass on. Some spiritual beliefs even go further to ascertain that there is life after physical death, I only know what I know so that is what I will be writing about.
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***So, what is life?***
There are so many definitions of "***Life***". By "life" I'm not referring to just being alive but also living. Life is a game, you can play it, life is a puzzle filled with a lot of challenges, you can solve it, life is a journey filled with adventures, you need to travel, life is a combination of beauty and chaos, you need to embrace it, life is everything, appreciate it, good or bad, such is life
Life is basically what you make of it, ***we all have the power to make decisions through free will***, we can tell what is right from wrong and also act on them. I know as kids we have someone making those decisions but as you grow older, you become the one who makes them.
Image source: **Unsplash**
As I said in my previous article, ***this is a time of reflection*** for me as I access the way I've lived throughout this year. I started this year on a good note, with a lot of reasons to smile despite the COVID restrictions, I got to even learn more about Cryptocurrency (I wish I knew about read. cash then but I vaguely remember @HappyBoy talking about it in one of our conversations but didn't take it too seriously). I suffered heartbreaks and disappointment, I fell in love, I had to go through the stress of having online classes, I made more friends, lost a dog, got new puppies, and other things I may not mention in this article. If I have to go through it again, I wouldn't (just kidding, I would but this time with more knowledge on what to expect). Those experiences make up living.
***There is this belief that the older you get, the wiser you are.***
People take needs or warning from an elderly man or woman more seriously than the word of their Pastors or Imam, there is a belief that they have experienced more about life hence why they know more. Right or wrong, I will leave that to your comment.
Image Source:**Unsplash**
***Life is the greatest teacher.***
It can make you or mar you, and if you choose to remain on your fit and overcome those challenges, it will simply mean you have qualified for another challenge and more will keep on coming. I think I have quoted this in one of my earlier articles, depicted from ***The Karate Kid*** starring ***Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith***.
***When life knocks you down, you can always choose to get back up***
When you think about it, it does make a lot of sense, we have the choice to give up and just go home or to get up on our feet, learn from our mistakes and keep on fighting, **WE HAVE A CHOICE!**
***Life is a race, if you don't run fast, you would get trampled upon***
If that sounds familiar then you have probably seen "***3 idiots***', a Bollywood movie that talks about the story of three friends and their life from college to adulthood. The movie started with the principal of the school making that quote. Everyone is on the run, whether you believe this or not, we all have our race, slow or fast, it doesn't matter as long as you keep forging ahead, the path might not be smooth and maybe somewhat crooked but that is still up to you to choose your path (the smooth and free road isn't always bad as depicted in stories and movies, but that doesn't mean it won't have its challenges).
***My thoughts?***
At the end of the day, you should be able to look back at how you have lived and smile. In the song "***Forever Young***" which features ***Mr. Hudson and Jay - Z***, the lyrics caught my attention and I've tried to live my life that way ever since, so I will leave you with that to think about.
***Life is for living, not living uptight until you are somewhere up in the sky.***
***Leave a mark they can't erase, neither space nor time.***
**Source** https://genius.com/Jay-z-young-forever-lyrics
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About feelings
Day 1: Feelings
Date: Monday,22nd of November,2021
Published by: Greatwolfman
Feelings, many scholars have defined it with various words but I can only make use of one to buttress my point. Making reference to **Cambridge Dictionary**: https://dictionary-cambridge-org.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/dictionary.cambridge.org/amp/english/feeling?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16375784286354&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.cambridge.org%2Fdictionary%2Fenglish%2Ffeeling
***Feelings****;*
***emotions, especially those influenced by other people:***
I find it most accurate because she is the one who has influenced the way I feel right now and that has pushed me to write on this subject, the best way to express the feelings words can't fully explain.
**There she was again**, happy as she ran across the yard, I almost forgot she wasn't mine anymore until I saw the new guy. My heart came crashing again as reality struck me and I woke up, **it was only a dream.**
**I checked the time**, it was only 3 am and I couldn't go back to sleep, I tried using my headphones to play music from Ed Sheeran's new album which only made me feel worse. I had deleted your contact in hopes that I would forget it but my brain just wouldn't agree with my heart. It took a lot of energy not to dial the number as I switched my phone off.
**I tried to sleep and the memory of the last time we spoke came to me**, you were drunk that day as you spoke to me. You said you missed me and you hated me at the same time, I could you were crying over the phone. I couldn't do anything about your current state so I listened to what you had to say hoping it would help clear your thoughts and whatever you feel inside. Until the conversation came to end.
**My personal feud against taking alcohol has been going on for a long time**, if not, I should be drinking right now as I write the article to try and help with the burden. I've moved on, I really have but sometimes old scars open and begins to bleed again, that's exactly how I feel.
**I know it's okay not to be okay but it's important we try to find the light in the dark**. Although I miss you, that's all about that, my heart beats for another. There are a lot of things to be happy about, the lives of my parents, my new puppies, my great friends, and also your happiness, I know it was only a dream but I pray that smile never leaves your face.
**Some people say feelings are overrated** but I believe that is what defines us. It is one of the best gifts bestowed upon us by the almighty, be it love, pain, anger, frustration, depression, joy, and happiness, it's ours to express.
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**Imagine if we couldn't express how we feel,** imagine if we couldn't cry or scream or smile, what do you think life would be all about. The thoughts of that alone is sad. Feelings is a major driving force of society and this gift is not only particular to human but other animals. An Elephant would mourn the loss of a loved one for days guiding the carcass, the mother hen would chase after a Hawk for taking one of her own, a lion would fight to defend the pride.
**2021 is soon coming to an end, this should be a period of reflection** on the past as we walk into the future, I was fortunate to come across a 30-day writing prompt that would help me express my feelings and bring more clarity. I have always had issues "communicating" so this would serve as my therapy session.
**Here is my advice to you who has decided to keep all of those feelings bottled up in there**, it's hard to know who to trust so you are a bit careful with whom you want to share it with but I will tell you this from experience, if you wish to move on and be happy, you have to let some of it go. Express yourself the way you know how but ensure no one gets hurt because that would be wrong. Cry if you must, scream even, but let it flow out like a river. That freedom you will feel can not be fully justified with just words my friend.
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****Plagiarism Check****
The Bullied Becomes the Bully
*The title says it all and I'm sure you also have your guesses. This story dates back to preschool, I was quite chubby when I was little, I guess it was what attracted the bullies to me which also got my little brother involved. You might find this funny but I assure you, it wasn't.*
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The Bullied
Image Source: **Unsplash**
It all started one day when a grade 6 student took it upon himself to make my life and that of my little brother miserable. He threatened to make our lives worse if we informed our parents or the school authorities, of course, we were intimidated and dumb too.
He would often send us on stupid errands and force us to carry some of his load. He had a big bag which was sometimes heavy, now that I think of it I wonder what he kept in them, I won't be surprised if he intentionally added rocks there just to frustrate us.
Some days, I would pretend to be sick so I could avoid him, but when I returned he made sure I suffered for running away. It became so much that I hardly ever left the class so I could be close to my class teacher, and once the closing bell rang, I would run quickly to the bus and hide so he wouldn't find me or my little brother.
Preschool was hell, I once begged my Dad to change my school, when asked why, I couldn't say. I feel like there are some things parents should know without having to hear their kids utter any words but then again my parents were often busy.
This continued until one fateful day, I had had enough. He instructed me to do something and I refused.
"I didn't come to school to be a slave, I came to learn" - I told him.
He laughed and dragged my little brother closer and gave him a slap that saw him fall to the ground. I was completely outraged seeing my brother cry that I ran with all my might and threw my body on him which surprisingly sent him to the ground. With a series of blows and slaps, a crowd gathered to cheer my victory.
It was customary to force sand into the mouth of the defeated as a sign of victory, I did. When I was done, he was just there crying. I realized I was a lot stronger than he was and had nothing to fear. The other seniors never dared mess with me again, alas, I was free from the bully.
The Bully
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My reputation for standing up to the bully made me famous, I had discovered a hidden strength within me and was feared and respected for it. This lasted for years until I was now in Grade 6, my final year at Preschool, then came in a new student, he was recently admitted to Grade 5 and wasn't aware of the "rules".
One day, after the morning assembly, " we called him (my friends and I), we were planning to give him our idea of an initiation ceremony but he ignored us and walked away. I felt ashamed, we all did and we decided to teach him a lesson.
Pride comes before a fall my friends and I was about to learn of this lesson the only way it would sink in at the time. After closing hours, we managed to corner him in the classroom. We locked the doors and shut the windows, it was a typical 10 to 1 fight, we can't call this a fight, it was to be a beating.
The surprising thing happened, we were no match for this new guy judging from the way he practically tossed us away, we were caught in our own trap. We tried to run away but he kept on catching and giving us a beating, we did manage to land some punches which gave us just enough time to escape.
Okay, I didn't see that coming. I came back home with a busted lip, I lied I slipped and fell, you know, the usual lie we told to cover up the reason for the scars incurred on our delicate skin.
The following morning after the general assembly, no word was uttered as he walked past, we had to come to an understanding, it was a compromise.
Recently, I saw him again, he called out to me smiling and I wasn't even upset to see him, it was nice to see familiar faces from PreSchool, we even joked about the beatings. The scars may be gone but the memories will live on.
Closing notes
Image Source: **Unsplash**
It is wrong to make people hate themselves just so you can feel good about yourselves. Such practices should be condemned and students should not be afraid to go to the right authorities.
I wouldn't encourage you to fight it out, the bully might be stronger which might only leave you hurt unless of course, it's the last option. There are no denial bullies can be intimidating, but a time will come when you have to stand up and fight for yourself if no one will.
I was once bullied and I was once a bully, if there is anything I learned from both experiences, it's this, it doesn't last forever, even the bullies can get bullied. Having the courage to resist such people is the first step towards adulthood. The world is full of bullies, you have to be strong to fight back.
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Who is responsible? - the unsolved mystery
Date:Saturday, 20th of November, 2021
Published by: Greatwolfman
**Okay, get this, a man finds himself in a warehouse, he had been gagged, blindfolded and bound with no memories of how he got there, the people responsible for kidnapping him were not there either, his phone wasn't taken from him and from that he was able to check the last person who called him but he doesn't seem to remember anything including who the person was, so he calls him to meet up, but it doesn't seem to be a "him" but a lady, someone really familiar, she was his suspect.**
**This prompt was given my** @meitanteikudo **in the article "****Where am I****? from the** **PromptFactory** **to solve this mystery, he laid out the above hints but it's still not enough to solve the mystery, I also doubt I would be able to solve it completely so feel free to build on some of my points as we try and solve this mystery. Okay, friends, let us put on our thinking caps as we try to imitate Sherlock Holmes and put the pieces of the puzzle of the mystery.** https://read.cash/@meitanteikudo/where-am-i-9ef01edc https://read.cash/c/prompt-factory-1aa9
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*She was my girlfriend, I don't recall how things ended, I feel my memories coming back to me slowly. I'm determined to know the truth behind my capture, my hands are still a bit sore and my clothes are stained and partly stained with mud. The barkeep seemed to know me and offered me a beer which helped with the pain and a coat to cover my stained white clothes and to prevent me from freezing. I must have frequented this place in the past, I was about to ask him what he knew about me while trying not to be very awkward and that was when she came.*
*"****Hey, why would you start without me****" - she said with a smiling face.*
*Even though we were no longer together, it must have ended on a good note from her reaction. Why did she want to meet, is she responsible?*
*A lot of questions flow through my mind.*
*How did I get there? Where were the kidnappers? Do I call the police? I've seen a lot of similar cases in movies and often the police are in on it too. Would they believe what I have to say? How much does she know?*
*"****Hello, Mark, are you with me?****"*
*Mark, that is my name, at least one mystery solved.*
*"****We need to talk****" - she said*
*"****I'm sorry that I had to end the things between us, I just wanted to clear the air between us before my marriage"***
*Oh, so I should be the one feeling hurt? I guess we can say she didn't have a motive to have me kidnapped but guess who did? Her husband. I'm guessing he probably has insecurity issues, just when I thought I finally had figures out who was responsible*
*"****Marcus would be joining us soon, he is running late due to the heavy traffic, I had to rush down here so as not to keep you waiting, was surprised to see you were right on time for once*** *"*
*Marcus, she said his name as though we were familiars, then irony was the name did sound vaguely familiar. Oh well, speak of the devil and he will show his face. He walks towards us. Marcus was my close friend, that is of course since he stole my girl from me with his wealthy status and his charms.*
*Wait, was I okay with this? Did I agree to this, I will go with the flow to try and get some answers. Funny this reminds me of a joke, "a man, his best friend, and his ex-girlfriend walk into a bar, how many come out?" I laugh which is obvious to the couple.*
*"****I see you are in good spirit my friend, how have you been, I tried to contact you at work but you were not accounted for, your secretary said you had gone on a business trip, how was it?****"*
*Slowly my memories start to come back to me, I was indeed on a business trip but how did I get here? Whoever brought me back is responsible. I should rule Marcus and Janet out of it, yes,* ***Janet****, that's her name.*
*I decide to play the game by pretending to be happy or was I happy for them truly? After a couple of glasses and a long hour of pretense and take laughs, my Jaws begin to hurt. I wasn't quite drunk but the pain on my wrist felt numbed. Soon, they took their leave, perhaps they are a match made in heaven...or hell, I thought to myself as I smiled again.*
*A lady comes towards me, she slides a note in my pocket seductively which I found fascinating.*
*"****Call me****" -she said as she walked out.*
*I opened the letter to see what would only add to the mystery.*
***We have your girlfriend as a hostage, if you refuse to do as we say, she dies.***
***Don't bother trying to find us, we will find you***
***:-D***
*Oh shit! I rush out to see if I could stop the lady but she was nowhere to be found. Well, it looks like I also have a girlfriend.*
**There are still a lot of unanswered questions left to figure out, just as** @meitanteikudo **did, I have also laid out crumbs for you to piece together. It is quite a challenge trying to make sense of the mystery and also find a solution which IS the prompt.**
Do you accept the challenge?
A special thanks to @Bloghound for the sponsorship renewal, I appreciate your support and will do my best to show how grateful I am for this opportunity.
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The Art of writing
Date:Thursday, 18th of November, 2021
Published by: Greatwolfman
**Writing** is a beautiful form of expression, it's a gift to the whole of mankind, we sometimes underestimate its importance but without this great invention, we could as well return to the stone ages.
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Imagine if the teachings of **Jesus Christ** or **Prophet Muhammed** ended with their passing on, or the great works of scientists like **Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, or Issac Newton** couldn't be documented, of course, it would mean there would be nothing like going to schools (*which might not be such a bad thing considering ;-)* )
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Writing dates back to **3000 BC, it began with the** ****Sumerians****, it was one of the first developed cities in ****Mesopotamia****, a fact many people might not know anymore. *Be honest, did you know of this fact?* You are not alone, I didn't either, I learned it not too long ago while I was taking a walk down history
I realized that there were (still are) a lot of secrets and information we could have learned from the men of old if they could put it in writing. True, they told stories in form of **folklores** to pass down their knowledge but it would have been more "*believable"* if it was in written form, there is something so believable about something old in written form, it had to be very important for it to be written if you catch my drift.
*Its possible Dragons are not just myth but existed, the men of old saw them, maybe worshiped them, told stories of their greatness, the stories were passed down for generations as the magnificent creatures slowly went into extinction and were no more and soon the truth lived only in stories, stories become legends in folklores and these legends became myth.* ***Think about that?***
To this day, discoveries are still made of what remains of the old world and this is all thanks to ****writing**** although some of the old texts are difficult to understand. Some might never be deciphered.
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"*Begs the question, if the writings are in a particular language, why can't it be deciphered*" - you might wonder.
Writing wasn't always with letters as you are familiar with, the Sumerians made use of **Cuneiform**, that is, Pictures carved in clay to pass information, the Egyptians made use of **hieroglyphics** to achieve this same task, the **scribes** would spend hours trying to write a simple line in the temple on their clay plates, imagine how much effort would be put in just to depict a sentence. **Thanks to the evolution** of writing, we now how have letters where each unit represents a sound in our respective languages.
Image Source: **Quora** https://www.quora.com/How-difficult-would-it-be-to-write-with-cuneiform-or-hieroglyphs-compared-with-Chinese-characters
Today, writing has become a part of our daily lives. It's safe to say that **the majority of the world's population are writers.** It can take different forms, either an **Article, poetry, or even music.**
**Writing is simply putting down your thoughts in letters that other people can read**. It sounds simple but complicated at the same time. There are a lot of rules involved in the construction of tenses but *I say it doesn't matter*. If we go back to the initial reason Writing was invented, it was supposed to be able to pass along information, you don't need to be an expert writer to be able to share your thoughts, use the language you are comfortable with in a way you think your readers would be able to understand.
*If I didn't care about who would read this article I could have just written everything using cryptography leaving the key to deciphering the code at the top, this might be fun for some of us who enjoy unraveling mysteries but for the majority, they would just skip it which would ruin the very reason for writing in the first place.*
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I hope it's not too late to say **Happy Anniversary to read.cash**, the idea behind this platform is nothing short of genius. We are all writers but having a sense of purpose and motivation is enough to make us develop this skill that may have been lying dormant within us.
A friend once wrote an article about **legacies**, *I believe writing is the best legacy one can leave*. I can only imagine how curious I'd be to read an article from my great grandfather talking about his life and his time, his dreams and challenges among others. Wouldn't you be excited too? This is why I pray this platform lives on to withstand Time and even get a lot better. I believe we can change the world with **Writing**.
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****Plagiarism check****
7 remedies to a sick wallet
Date: Tuesday, 16th of November, 2021
Published by: Greatwolfman
*It was my last day in high school, the time to say goodbyes to friends you might never get to see again. Things were about to change. One day, I received a gift from a girl who confessed that she had feelings for me and she wanted me to have something to remember her by. I remember I was speechless, I was used to being ignored by girls due to my introverted nature.*
*I unwrapped the gift and guess what I saw? I'm sure at least some of you would have guessed it from the title of this article.*
**"The Richest Man in Babylon" by George Samuel Clason**
She gave me the perfect gift. I love reading books and this book was just one of a kind, I returned the favor by giving her a gift too and I was glad she appreciated it, we are just friends now though but good friends.
The book changed my life although I didn't realize this until later, I'm glad I wasn't too late to realize this.
***Regardless of your reason for clicking on this link to read this, I'm sure you will learn a thing or two that will change your financial situation for the better.***
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The writer made use of a Babylonian character to teach these lessons that I will try to explain these rules making reference to Bitcoin Cash hence the reason for using the word "wallet" in the title.
**There are 7 rules**, as long as you follow them, you will see a lot of improvement, many of us are already doing that without even realizing it. The rules might sound foreign so I will try and explain in the best possible way.
Rule No 1
"Start thy purse to fattening"
This rule emphasizes having savings. Months ago, I read an article that suggested saving $1 every day to a private wallet and not touching it. It doesn't have to be $1, if it's a few cents you can save, it's something as long as you are saving something somewhere. It doesn't matter much if it's in Fiat, a stable coin like USDT, or in Bitcoin Cash.
Most people have difficulty following this rule. The truth is when you have access to it, you will be tempted to go back to touch it, and soon enough it would lose its sole purpose. If you can do this successfully, you have taken the first step in "Fattening your purse".
*The journey to $1,000,000.00 begins with a few cents.*
Rule No 2
"Control thy expenditures"
After following the first rule, and your wallet beings to grow, your needs would grow too. We are humans, we can never be satisfied and our wants can't be satisfied. There is this pressure to want to maintain a standard and meet certain conditions. This is good but you should know that by doing this, you might simply return to having a lean wallet.
You need to know the differences between what you want and what you need. It is very easy to confuse the two.
*I'm not saying you shouldn't live a good life before you are trying to control your expenditure, do so, but moderately.*
Rule No 3
"Make they gold multiply"
Now, you know what it's like to have a fat wallet (or in the very least, "*not lean*"), but the journey doesn't end here. This is where "*Investing*" comes in but do not be fooled, in the course of carrying this out, you will come across a lot of "*get rich quick schemes*" @HappyBoy can relate from his experience with a scammer on Telegram recently.
There is a golden rule that says "**do not invest what you can not afford to lose"**, take this to heart as you **DYOR** (Do Your Own Research). Thanks to Smart BCH, a lot of developers can build their tokens, although there were some rug pulls but that only refers me back to the golden rule. You win some, you lose some, but by taking precautions, you will win more than you lose which should be your main priority as an investor as you try to multiply your earnings.
Rule No 4
"Guard thy treasures from loss"
As you try to fatten your wallet, you should also try to protect it. Since I'm directly referring to writers here who have some crypto hodlings, it is important you protect your "***private keys***", which could be in the form of "***12 seed phrases***".
Your wallet is only as secure as your 12 phrases, many writers have written articles on the importance of keeping these phrases safe. I wouldn't recommend storing someone on your phone since phones can get stolen or hacked. It is better to write it down somewhere safe and keep away from watchful eyes.
If you have your savings in Fiat, you should be careful with whom you share private and personal information. Storing your earnings as Crypto in your wallet gives you more control of your savings. Whichever form you decide to save your earnings, take precautions to protect it or you would have to start from the beginning.
Rule No 5
"Own thy own home"
We often spend money on a lot of liabilities without thinking about the future. We spend a lot on the latest mobile devices or Laptops, buying expensive cars and others but these are only liabilities (unless they serve as a medium for money to keep coming in). While we chase all these things, try and get a roof over your head.
There is a level of satisfaction that comes with knowing you would not have to spend a lot of money paying rents while trying to fatten your wallet. House rents are always rising, it adds more expenses and could even end up being a form of liabilities to your wallet.
*As you try to chase more wealth, ensure you also have a place you can call "****My home****".*
Rule No 6
"Insure a future income"
As you try to work towards fattening your purse, you need to know you won't be able to do this forever, eventually, you will want to retire. To insure future income can either be in form of some of your investment or the savings (**Rule No 1**).
I once heard a saying somewhere that "*you can only know you are wealthy when you start to make money in your sleep*". That's something to keep in mind as you try to ensure a future income
Rule No 7
"Increase thy ability to earn"
Don't put all your eggs in one basket. It's always good to learn new skills every day. We are currently in the computer age, which means that there is more value in software design skills, Computer programming, Crypto developers, Software design, and many more.
Today, read.cash and noise.cash has provided a means through which we can explore our writing skills to earn Bitcoin Cash. When you tell anyone about writing articles, the usual reply is "***I don't know how***" instead of "***How can I do this***" - to quote **Robert Kiyosaki**. It's never too late to learn a new skill as long as it can generate more income to your wallet. Having multiple sources of income Is the last and final rule you need to follow to fatten your wallet.
Conclusion
It's so wonderful how important rules can be, ***it is what separate us from the animals*** - to quote **John Wick.**
Rules can be difficult to follow, it is easier said than done but with time and dedication, it is possible. I have been trying to apply these rules and I've seen a lot of improvement, I'm sure if you do the same you will notice it too.
*The answer to every question is in a book somewhere, you just have to find it*
Lead Image Source: *Unsplash*
Plagiarism check
The day I was caught cheating
Date:Monday, 15th of November, 2021
Published by: Greatwolfman
*We all have our embarrassing moments, this was one of mine. I thought I would leave it buried in the past but there were far too many witnesses to keep it buried. It was my first time cheating and to be honest, I had no other choice. When you hear the story, perhaps you would understand me better.*
*Before I share the embarrassing experience, perhaps I should also let you know that I cheated a couple of times in high school and was never caught, how you ask? Relax, I'll share my secret with you.*
Image Source: **Unsplash**
For the task to be done accurately, we had a good team and cooperation. My friends and I were sorta nerds and we knew we could handle those questions with ease if we ever decide to read that particular subject but since it was only a ***Trade-subject (Animal Husbandary),*** we decided to "*swing it"*
It is not uncommon for the supervisors and invigilators to want to scatter our formation and do somebody search and for that we had a remedy, we didn't need to carry expo into the lab, we would have placed them under the tables in the lab, the one place they would never look. To solve the issue what I would refer to as "**Formation-displacement**", we had more people involved. After all, who will not want to join a team of professional cheaters, hahaha. We did it for the thrill of it since that was the only fun we coils have as nerds. It was our way of "***giving it back to the man".***
I'm so glad those days are behind me, I do miss my squad though, being in different colleges, chasing our lives goals, and ambitions have deterred us from our bad ways and taken us a step further into maturity. The price for cheating wasn't really heavy back in high school, and it sure wasn't going to affect our final exams performance since we didn't need the **Trade Subjec**t to enter College, it was merely an additional syllabus to ensure as students we learn other skills (it was unclear to us at the time).
**Oh! Those were fun times**. Now, in College, the penalty of getting caught will end with a minimum punishment of 1 year added to your program. It's not something I will ever want to try as much as I would have loved the thrill 5 years ago.
****Note: Cheating is a crime, do not do it****
*Okay, enough chit chats, let us get right to the embarrassing moment. Try not to laugh.*
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****Quick Backstory****
Image Source: **Unsplash**
I had trouble learning my native tongue, this was simply because it was never spoken at home, and it was against the rules to speak in vernacular back in pre-school. I managed the understand a few but still had trouble speaking, the real issue was interpreting it when in written form.
Imagine my luck when I realized I had no choice but to offer this subject. I felt lost in class and I had trouble writing and understanding my note, partially due to my bad handwriting but largely due to my ignorance and lack of will to learn.
In my defense, I had tried to read that subject a couple of times but it just didn't work. How am I supposed to learn a language I didn't understand? Not so long into the term, ***it was time for the first Continuous assessment test.***
I panicked and brought my note in with me, not that it would be of much help but it was my only chance, I wish I had the idea @Freedom007 had when confronted with a similar situation, I would have just hidden my answer script and not submit.
I managed to bring the book under my table and tried to search for similarities between my question and my note but wasn't getting any. I didn't even understand the question, how was I supposed to figure out the answer?
Out of frustration, I had to turn around and I saw everyone writing really fast, I noticed the invigilator wasn't in class, so I stretched my neck a bit and tried to get some things down but due to my lack of social skills, I had no good friend at the time. ***These wicked people were covering their notes and then came the teacher's pet.***
Image Source: **Unsplash**
"***Teacher's pet***" are those exceptionally pretentious fellows that always try to show they are good and get the teacher's attention. Yes, I dislike such people, I'm sorry but I won't try to hide it especially after what happened next.
***"Aunty, someone is trying to copy my work"***
Sighs! It's funny now that I write about it but it wasn't funny that day. A part of me wanted to get up from my chair and give him a big punch to his face. The annoying part was I wasn't even close enough to him to copy him and that was going to be my line of defense if only I had hidden my note in time. I had forgotten I left it open after the effort proved fruitless.
I was called outside and carried out by my short nickers like a criminal. My answer script was torn into pieces, not that it mattered, aside from my name, it was blank.
I was given a couple of strokes and taken to the **Vice Principal Academics** office. He is late now but he was the only one who tried to see reason from my side. He didn't call my parents, he assumed that role and I explained my difficulty with understanding the language and my wish to be exempted from continuation with the classes but he advised me to give it a chance, he called for my class captain who happened to be fluent and tasked him being my tutor. I became better with time though but how glad I was when a mandate came and it was no longer compulsory.
It was a hard pill to swallow but I should have prepared more, perhaps I could have avoided such a mishap, I did retake the test after so much pleading and preparation. I learned a very important lesson too, even when it seems difficult as long as you have that will and interest to be better, you will find a way.
All images are sourced from **Unsplash free images**
Tarzan and Jane
Date: Sunday, 14th of February, 2021
Published by: Greatwolfman
**Once upon a time, In an alternate universe**, There lived an orphan named ****Tarzan****, he had spent most of his life lost in the wilderness getting raised by chimpanzees. He is an orphan whose parents had died on a field trip to the forest in search of some apes as a test subject for a new experiment they were supposed to carry.
Image Source https://deadliestfiction.fandom.com/wiki/Tarzan_(Disney)
The irony of everything is that **HapGaf**, the female Chimp who raised Tarzan had tried to save his parents from **AmaFex**, the fearless Lion who ruled the jungle but only succeeded in saving Tarzan. Tarzan spent his life among these animals and grew to love them and he was satisfied. He couldn't speak or walk properly and spent most of his life migrating with the rest of the chimps as the seasons changed, spending most of his time in trees, and soon his body adapted to this new environment.
He wasn't readily accepted by the rest of the chimps due to his nature and the fact humans hunted them for games, fortunately, the Queen of the group, **PrinCrown,** and her husband the King, **JumpOla**.
`I know you are probably thinking, weird names right? I guess the chimps had a nice sense of humor hahaha.`
Image Source https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Jane_Porter
Anyway, enough about Tarzan, enters Lady ****Jane****, her fresh lips red like the red rose, her fair skin, and her graceful walk, the epitome of beauty. Her presence is enough to light a completely dark room with her radiance. (Yes, I know the image doesn't do justice but I couldn't find a closer depiction, I'm not certain such work of arts even exists yet)
She was the only daughter of a wicked hunter, **James**, but she didn't share in his hatred towards wildlife but often cared for the little creatures that were in captivity. Often time they would end up running away from a locked cage, a big mystery you might think but it was the lovely Jane's doing. Her Father would scream in frustration but only a while for the love he had for his daughter was out of this world.
It so happened that **James** and his daughter **Jane** happened to be hunting in the same Forest **Tarzan** and his family lived in. On one sunny day, while James was on the hunt, Tarzan happened to be eating some bananas on a tree when the sight of beautiful Jane caught his eyes. He was surprised to see another human, but he was too shy to approach her.
Every night, he would come close to her camp just to watch her sleep, something about her fascinated him. He did this with great caution to avoid the ever-watchful eyes of her Father. His continuous disappointment over not being able to catch a single Chimp in this forest had made him cranky. One night, he almost lost of life to a stray bullet from James after he heard some movement in the trees.
One day, he finally decided to approach **Jane**, being unable to utter any human words he tried to make her comfortable around him which she found weird and her curiosity got the best of her.
"*How did a Human survive this long in the wild*" - she wondered
Image Source https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/walt-disneys-tarzan/images/38674575/title/tarzan-phone-background-photo
She did her best to hide Tarzan from her dad while he tried teaching him English. All this while she wasn't aware of his Feelings. Tarzan was a quick learner but not very smart. His absence was often noticed by his mother, and she would wonder when he'd runoff.
One day, she followed him secretly and saw what he was doing. She didn't approve of him getting close with the human girl after seeing firsthand how cruel Humans could be to their kind but what worried her the most was the fear of losing **Tarzan**. She expressed this to the leader of the group and they decided the best thing to do was to migrate again. This decision didn't sit well with Tarzan, he had fallen in love with Jane and wasn't ready to leave her, not yet. No matter how much he tried to make the leaders of the group (**PriCrown and JumpOla**) see reason, their decision wouldn't change.
The frustrated Tarzan ran off to be with Jane without caring for his family's wishes but on getting to the camp, he saw a young handsome man, from his appearance he definitely came from money. He would later learn his name was **Gratias**. Jane was about to get engaged to Gratias. Without saying a word it was evident to him that she loved Gratias as he brought about the diamond ring to propose.
He hadn't told her about his family during all the time he had spent with her because he hadn't learned to speak fluently, but he could understand English to an extent. There was no way he could explain the reason behind the reason he would be leaving.
With a broken heart, he moved on with his family. Jane hadn't noticed his disappearance due to her excitement over getting engaged to Gratias. When she finally noticed his absence, days had passed and Tarzan was long gone. She was very sad. She would wait for hours in the forest for days hoping he would return but he never did, at last, she gave up.
It is a sad reality but she would never see Tarzan that way, they lived in two different worlds after all thus bringing a rather sad end to a beautiful love story.
The end.
This article is a pure work of fiction, it was a challenge from the prompt factory by @Ellehcim - Cinderella did not lose her shoes. It was referenced from the ****Disney version of Tarzan**** https://read.cash/c/prompt-factory-1aa9 https://read.cash/@Ellehcim/cinderella-did-not-lose-her-shoe-fb57533a
The challenge is to write about a fairy tale and give it your own ending. This is mine. I'm sure it might not sit well with you that was why I began with "*in an alternate universe".*
I'm one of those who beliefs who belief that there are countless dimensions to this world we live in, somewhere out there is another Universe where another one of us exists. In one of that multiverse, I guess this is how the story "Tarzan" would end.
***Lead Image Source*** https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a33509223/disney-theory-tarzan-loincloth-penis/
Pip - A mothers love
Date: Saturday, 13th of November, 2021.
Published by: Greatwolfman.
**Today, I'm going to share a piece of good news with all of my readers, I'm so overjoyed as I write this article, I think I will write this in stages. The readers who have been following my post on noise.cash and read.cash would have figured out what this article is about by now.**
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Pip was lonely
On the first day of November, I lost **Harmony**, one of my dogs and I thought to myself, November is ruined forever. I saw **Pip's** eyes (my second dog), I could tell she was lonely, her favorite play partner was dead. I kept her company so she won't feel distressed and sad about it. It was her first time being pregnant and I wanted to make sure she was in good health to avoid any miscarriages. I increased her food and ensured she went for regular visits to the vets.
*Oh, for new dog owners, if you have a pregnant, avoid making use of Ecto-parasites chemicals to bathe her, it can kill the babies in her womb. I learned that during my visit to the vet.*
Pip became aggressive towards visitors
No offense intended to ladies, I know this first hand because I had to take care of my Mom when she was pregnant with my little sister, she was always cranky, and nothing ever seemed to satisfy her. Now, I'm guessing that was the same thing **Pip** was going through, and the only way she could express this feeling was by showing her aggressive nature towards strangers. Trust me on this, you don't want to get on the bad side of a pregnant dog.
Pip gives birth
Unlike humans, dogs don't carry babies for up to nine (9) months but a few weeks (usually nine to ten weeks). I thought I had it figured out but the mother knows best.
When a dog is about to give birth, her mother's instinct kicks in and she knows exactly what she needs to do. If you observe wild dogs, you would notice that would often dig holes before they give birth. They do this to provide a warm place for the little puppies. I was surprised to see Pip digging a hole near her Kennel, I found it odd but then again, a mother knows best I guess.
I awoke to the cries of a pregnant mother in labor last night, there was nothing I could do to comfort her as I heard her screams. I wasn't the one giving birth but I was panicking. The pain of childbirth can't be compared to anything in this world.
You may have seen it in movies but that is still a stepped-down version of the real experience. When it was over, Pip was already a Mother.
The new members of the Pack
Morning came and before my eyes were two healthy little puppies. Since it is her first time she won't give birth to many pups. The little things knew exactly where the breast milk would be, *isn't the creator just wonderful?* They wouldn't stop crying unless the breast is in their mouth, the funny thing is they are still yet to open their eyes.
Their cries remind me of **baby Pip**, she was so stubborn and would often cry when she wanted attention. She loved playing and was a biter, though she didn't bite to maim but to play. Seeing her grow from that little pup into a mother brings so much joy to my heart, I wish Harmony was alive to see this, I wonder what his reaction would be.
Rusty and Fazy
As @HappyBoy and I had discussed earlier in his article Rusty got a girlfriend, I mentioned my decision to name one of the pups **Rusty**. I haven't verified the sex of the little pups yet since they would not leave their mother's side, but I have found a name for both of them. https://read.cash/@HappyBoy/rusty-got-a-girlfriend-a15b21a7
I will give them some weeks to enjoy their mother's attention before I begin their training exercise. *I love training dogs, they are really intelligent creatures too.*
A mothers love
I can tell she's happy to be a mother, she is giving them all the attention they need to grow and is also being even more aggressive to anyone (except me of course) who comes closer to protect her puppies.
No love is ever greater than a mother's love for her children. A big thank you to all the Mothers out there (inclusive of Pet owners, like @bmjc98 and her furbabies), you are doing to most.
Mothers are the best, I don't care what other people might think, we should celebrate Mother's day every day.
I will be off for now, I need to ensure she is comfortable and eats enough Carbohydrates with Vitamins to regain her strength and the blood she lost last night.
***Image Source:All images taken by me with my cellular device***
The talk
Date: Friday, 12th of November, 2021
Published by: Greatwolfman
Yes, it is exactly what you think it is, one of the most awkward conversations parents ever hold with their children. I can see that you are already smiling, I'm not so sure as to why but I do know I will have a lovely time writing this piece.
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Now, let us talk about ***THE talk***, a discussion every parent will or would say their offsprings. I have always imagined what it would have sounded like.
***Mummy, where do babies come from?***
I can vividly remember asking my mom about this back in my early days when I was still a preschooler.
`Oh, by the way, if a little one ever asks this question, what would your answer be?`
This is one of the first lies parents tell their kids and innocent kids like us would believe every word.
*Babies come from the sky*
My first idea of where babies came from was ***the sky****,* and I believed it when my mom told me. It seemed the most reasonable explanation at the time since we were also made to believe babies came from heaven, heaven is up in the sky and hell is deep below the ground, if you match hard on the ground or throw stones to the ground, the Devil would feel pain. Most days, I would spend my time looking at the sky, and I could see babies in the cloud.
*Mummy look, God is making babies*
Now that I recall this instance, I just feel so stupid but no one would have noticed it because I was so adorable, you better believe it.
*Babies come out through the mouth*
Mother was pregnant with my little brother, I didn't know how the baby fell from the sky into her stomach, so I was really curious.
*Mommy, when are you taking this baby back to his house*
I don't remember saying this but mom reminds me now and then how *adorable* I was as a kid*.* I was excited to be having a little brother, but I was still curious where the baby would come out from. I had only two answers, either mother would vomit him out through her mouth or take a shit and push him out.
So, it wasn't a surprise when Mother told me the baby would come through ***the mouth,*** I'm sure I felt like a young Sherlock Holmes solving that mystery.
*Mommy gets pregnant when Mommy and Daddy are too close to each other*
I believed this until I got into High school, even after I knew the truth, a part of me still took precautions. In their defense, they were not lying, they only condensed it so I would understand. At least this is what I choose to believe
This was a lie my Father told to prevent me from going towards girls trying to seek a relationship because he believed it would only end up as a distraction and my studies were far more important.
It worked to an extent, I still had my little crushes from time to time, and since I didn't want to be a daddy at my young age, I would keep my distance.
My High School had a chair and table for each student, it was big enough to fit two kids and I was okay with it unless the other kid was a female.
You can imagine the shock I had in class when we were taught Reproduction in Basic Science. I don't think it was so professional to include such a topic too early like that or the fact that my Basic Science teacher laughed a lot as she tried to answer our questions.
You can imagine the shock I had when I learned the truth. The truth did not set me free. I got home that day and I didn't know what to say to my parents, should I be angry or happy? I felt so ashamed of learning the truth.
*Closing thoughts*
`How old were you when you discovered the truth?`
***These days parents don't bother to have THE talk anymore, the world has grown so much and basically every answer to every question can be found thanks to google. I guess that is why a child should grow with both parents but that is not always the case, the Mother will teach the girl child girls stuff while the Father would teach the boy child boys stuff.***
***I'm sure everyone here knows where babies come from so I won't bother saying it. I also understand now that what I was told were not lies but little fragments of the truth, enough to satisfy my curiosities and keep me from discovering the truth. Most kids today don't even get that luxury, they learn about everything on their own.***
***Oh, don't get me started on the time Puberty set in and my voice started changing and we started noticing hair in different places except my chin of course. I'm glad to see I now have beards growing. I will make a silent prayer for the grown-up guys who are still waiting for their first strands of hair, one day.***
*I hope you found this article interesting and shared a laugh or two. Ignorance is bliss, my friends.*
Lead Image Source: **Unsplash**
****Plagiarism Check****
The Search
Date: Wednesday, 10th of November, 2021
Published by: Greatwolfman
****The search**** was on, I was trying to find who I was in a world filled with challenges and responsibilities. Everyone wants to be the judge at the same time as the jury and executioner. You can not afford to make any mistake because If and when you do, *they* will all rally at you filled with hateful and condescending speeches that will force you into a spot where you just want to rip out your shirt and scream "****Leave me alone".****
People wanted me to ****change****, it was like I was supposed to fit into their definition of what a *human* should look like, why didn't they just get it to their thick skull that I just wanted to be *me*, and if they didn't like it, they could just walk out the door, instead of adding to ****my stress****.
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I often confuse my story with ****Nate****, probably because I find his lyrics relatable. Did you also notice how our names kind of rhyme - *Great <-> Nate*. His songs really get to me on a different level, he is just one of those artistes that focus more on the message they are passing rather than beats just so people can dance. This could also be me just ranting on and hating on them because I can't dance.
I have dedicated more ****time**** to my self-growth but it looks like I will be needing more if I'm going to reach the level of self-actualization. The more I learn, the more confused I get which is why I think I will need more time, perhaps when I'm really old and grey I would be a lot wiser, that is if my memories don't fail me.
Every day, I set out on a really vibrant mood, full of hope, joy, and life but soon I ****return**** to the dark depths of emptiness as soon as the sun hides behind the clouds and night falls again. It's so lonely and scary too.
Many years ago, I was in preschool and our class teacher told us to write an essay on what we would like to be in the future. I remember I wrote something like "****when I grow up****, I want to buy a big Aeroplane". A big dream for a simple boy some would say, everything looked so easy and I was so full of hope, now I'm old enough and ****only**** just realized that there is still a lot of work and things to do to finally make that dream a reality. A part of me even thinks it's nothing but a child's dream.
Some days, the pressure is so much that I close my eyes and get lost in my imaginations, *my happy place*. Let me go back to when I only had to worry about *what cartoon show would be coming up next, which shoes I will be getting for Christmas, and what part of the fried chicken I will eat.* Life was so much simpler. I saw some preschoolers the other day and I wondered what must be going on in their minds, they probably have no clues yet as to what challenges life has to offer.
I ****hate myself**** for being this way, I should be happy. I have good friends and a loving family to support me, *so why am I still sad? why can't I just be happy? Why do I feel so alone?* ****I miss the days**** when I could do everything I wanted without caring what other people thought about it.
I know you are probably thinking to yourself, why let other people decide your happiness, ****no excuses**** there, but I was so young and naive and I thought the definition of being the good son was to please everyone. My perspective and outlook on life were blurred but experiences helped me see things from a clearer view.
I like this person I'm becoming. Things are not completely better but at least I know I have ****options****, to stay happy and hopeful or sad, I choose the former, I'm sure you know ****why**** by now. I don't think the "****thinking****" will end anytime soon, but it's a work in progress as I do my best to not give ****trauma**** the satisfaction of getting a victory.
NF - Nathan Feuerstein is an American Rapper (arguably the best rapper in the world, yes, I said it, come at me). He published the Album - "**The Search**" in 2019. I remember I was so addicted to this album that I played it every single day and memorized every single line. I found the lyrics very relatable, you might too if you listen closely.
I wrote this article based on this album making use of the title of each song as a phrase in my article. If you look at this carefully, you will observe that Music is simply articles with a tune.
`The Search`
`Leave me alone`
`Change`
`My stress`
`Nate`
`Time`
`Returns`
`When I grow up`
`Only`
`Let me go`
`Hate myself`
`I miss the days`
`No excuses`
`Like this`
`Options`
`Why`
`Thinking`
`Trauma`
Source
Lead image Source: **Unsplash**
The man behind the mask
*As humans, we adapt to certain situations around us. We just call it human nature and just follow our instincts. This particular human skill is wonderful but not without its flaws. I wonder,* ***who is the man behind the mask?***
Adaptation, a basic survival skill
We have learned to adapt to certain situations to try and fit in, those who can't are treated as outcasts, and those who manage to fit in will have to hold on to such pretense until at such time when the burden becomes too much the best and the mask adds up more weight until it's coming off on its own and the real you although now visible to everyone is no longer recognizable to you.
The real you is who you are when nobody is watching
There is a reason why people try to seclude themselves from a group when trying to discover who they are. This is common among the more spiritual people who often go to the wilderness or the mountain, somewhere they can be alone to build a bridge with their subconscious. You may also notice it in your behaviors when you often want to be alone in your room, or somewhere private, you don't want to be around friends or engage in any form of conversation. This is a much-needed retreat that has been built in our brain instinctively as a survival technique from the pressure to always try and fit in.
Image Source: Unsplash
Fake it till you make it
Trying to fit into certain situations is not as bad as you might already think. We live in a world where to be successful you need to be able to satisfy someone's need in one way or the other and more importantly, you need to know someone, very few people are opportune to be where they are today based on just their qualifications and skill set. To be recognized you need to do something "*extra*".
***The mind, the power palace***, this is where it comes in. A very powerful tool that one, it has the ability to change the world and a person completely. It is often said having a positive mind about something attracts positivity. By simply adjusting your mind to fit into certain scenarios, the whole body will follow suit. It's amazing how that is.
You love what you spend your time doing
Once your mind has adjusted to this new scenario, you start to discover this was what you wanted all along. You get that conviction that you are in the right place doing what you really love. Is *this all a facade? More like a mental escape? Or is this the truth?*
***To test this theory***, try and find out how many people in their given profession actually wanted to do that from the start. In fact, I believe nothing we do comes from us, ***it's all influenced***. Some kids end up being Medical Doctors because their parents are, some end up being Lawyers because Daddy told them how awesome Lawyers can be since they were children.
***Another way to test this theory*** is trying to spend more time reading a book, or playing a game or the most common one, spending more time with someone of the opposite sex, you just get more fond of that person, so much that when they are not there, you feel a void (*this is where my conviction about a boy and girl being best friends without getting any feelings attached stems from, but that could be up for debate*).
You see only what you see
Just like that, your mind has been wired to fit into any situation that brings more benefits to you, the real you starts to fade as you transform into this new person. You are happy with the changes, and that is all that matters, ***you see only what you want to see***. Who you used to be becomes a distant memory and just like that you wear a mask and convince yourself it is who you are meant to be. You wear this mask so much that you even forget to take it off and it soon becomes *****YOU*****.
Image Source: Unsplash
Change is constant
As time goes by and as nature would have it, ***everything changes***. Just as the sun would rise and set, and the season would change from winter to spring to summer and fall, situations will change as well and as such you will have to change your mask again.
*The humble lowly secretary who had great respect for his boss will suddenly become the proud Boss who shows hatred and contempt to those who work under him as a reminder of what he had been through to get to where he is OR The proud businessman who loses all of his finances to bankruptcy after a failed business decision and is now forced to start over.*
*Regardless of the current situation after the change, sitting in his penthouse with a glass of very expensive wine still wearing the new suit he had just bought from Italy custom made to his taste sitting on his comfortable sofa or living off the street trying to find a job as a waiter at McDonald's he will always wonder.*
"who is the man behind the mask?"
Lead Image Source: **Unsplash**
Plagiarism Check
The Dullahan
*"He is coming, I need to hide"*
*It's a really dark night, the moon is full as I try to find my way through the dark woods. The weather is really cold with white snow visible from the trees as I try to find my way to safety.*
*Just then, I noticed in the shadows of the tree, a headless horseman holding a whip made of human spine and holding its head on the other hand. It is the* ***Dullahan****, I knew this was where my journey would end as everywhere got silent as it said my name.*
Image Source https://myrealireland.com/irish-knowledge/the-dullahan-the-headless-horseman-of-ireland/
This is an Irish folklore that speaks of the headless horseman. This same being has been depicted in other cultures, you must have heard names like **the Shinigami, the Angel of death, The boatman, The Grimm reaper among others**. Even though they only exist as myths today, the stories have been passed down over the centuries. *Sit tight as I take you on a trip through history as we look closely into the myth surrounding* ***Dullahan****.*
Image Source https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Dullahan
The origin of the **Dullahan** stems from an old Celtic festival where they worshipped the god, **Crom Dubh, the sacrificial god of fertility.** This god demanded human sacrifice, and decapitation was what made him happy (so to speak).
*Did you know: this god is said to have African Origin*
Image Source https://darkemeraldtales.wordpress.com/2016/07/31/gods-of-light-and-darkness-lughnasa-crom-dubh-and-saint-patrick/amp/
`A very scary festival, especially if you are the chosen one to die`
As years went by and **Christianity grew**, such practices got banned and soon disappeared from the face of the Earth. **Crom Dubh** wasn't happy with it and decided to take up this form to collect the souls that were his **and thus the Dullahan was born.**
**The Dullahan** is closely related to the **Banshees**, they are both fairies (*yes I know, not exactly the way you imagine fairies to be)*, but **while the Banshee screams or cries as a warning of death that is to come, the Dullahan comes to claim the souls of the chosen victims.**
Image Source https://www.gmbinder.com/share/-ML7_46kr_rUOzSFy6x_
No one knows for sure how the victims are selected but the **Dullahan** will not stop riding until it has claimed the soul of its victim. *Where the Dullahan is seen, death soon follows*
This being is depicted as **a headless rider wearing black armor, riding a black horse. The horse often has glowing eyes which enables it to see to the far reaches of the earth to spot its victim**. The **Dullahan** although headless, the head is not far away. The head is sometimes held in his hands or the saddle of the horse.
**The Dullahan** is also seen riding a carriage made of coffins, skulls of victims as lamps with candles to light its path as well as body parts (the thigh bone of dead humans as weels). He is often seen holding a whip made of human spine.
Image source https://patmacewen.wordpress.com/tag/dullahan/
The coach moves so fast but makes no sound, that was his it got the name "**the Silent coach**". You hardly see it coming, and when you do, it's too late.
The horse has also been depicted as headless in some folklores with the ability to run very fast, so fast that the hoofs and the wheels of the carriages produce fires on which path they have trudged
*One Dullahan is scary enough, but sadly there are more than one, each given a particular soul to harvest and will stop at nothing until they have claimed the would of their victims*
Legend has it that hardly anyone who has seen the **Dullahan** has ever lived to tell the tale, it only needs to say the name of the victim after seeing them and the heart of the victim will stop at that instant.
The **Dullahan** rides with a specific goal to take the soul of its victims and will not stop riding until this task it's done, but it's not uncommon for innocent victims to be caught in the crossfire. Those who gaze directly at the **Dullahan end up either blind or dead.**
With the long **whip made of human spine**, it would take out the eyes of whoever saw him or **pour a basin of blood on the person signifying they would be next**
Trying to hide is pointless when it passes, all doors open in the presence of the **Dullahan**.
`This is really scary, even for me.`
Just like every being, the **Dullahan** has a weakness...****Gold****. *Cool right? For the wealthy people.*
Image Source https://medievalfactsexaminer.weebly.com/articles/the-headless-horseman-the-dullahan
The smallest form of gold is enough to scare the **Dullahan**, victims who are unfortunate to see this being will have to carry gold with them wherever they go. Sadly this is not a permanent solution because the Dullahan will hunt forever until its victim's soul has been claimed. The day they forget to keep **gold** (of any form) close to them, is the last day they **spend** alive.
`Get it? "gold" "spend" eh? It's a joke, if you don't get it, you can leave it.`
`I'm slowly freaking out here`.
Over the years, this story has been passed down and has gotten different interpretations as well as the origin as depicted by ***Washington Irving's movie, "the legend of the sleepy Hollow".***
There is more to the origin of the **Dullahan** that I will not be able to fully cover in this article as it's open to even more debate. With this "brief" article on the myth surrounding the **Dullahan**, I hope we now have an idea into this scary yet interesting Celtic Folklore.
*References*
Dullahan-Wikipedia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dullahan
How tales of the headless horseman came from Celtic mythology - The Irish Times https://www-irishtimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/how-tales-of-the-headless-horseman-came-from-celtic-mythology-1.4060086?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&mode=amp&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16363976234743&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Flife-and-style%2Fabroad%2Fhow-tales-of-the-headless-horseman-came-from-celtic-mythology-1.4060086
Lead Image Source: **Reddit** https://www.reddit.com/r/SMITEGODCONCEPTS/comments/g6ky1d/dullahan_the_headless_horseman/
Plagiarism Check
Give me one more chance
Date: Sunday, 7th of November, 2021
Published by: Greatwolfman
*There are certain things if given the chance you would want to change. I have given this a lot of thought in my previous articles on I wish, and time-traveling but I still don't feel like I've done justice to it. A lot has happened since I wrote those articles and I have grown too as life continues to dish out lessons.*
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Maybe I would be a little bit more social
Image Source: **Unsplash**
I spent most of my time growing up behind my room door when my close friends were not around. I would bury myself in comics and other books and would often imagine myself being one of the major characters in the book. I enjoyed every minute of it but it had its disadvantages.
**Human beings are social beings, we do not live alone and often need to interact with other people**, a skill I lacked due to limited exposure. People often took my silence as a sign of stupidity and would often try to make me that way in front of everyone and I still wouldn't say anything to defend myself. I could care less what people thought about me after all.
Getting admission into High School became a challenge when I was forced into scenarios where I would be called out to answer a question and even though I knew the answers I wouldn't be able to say it out loud due to what I would refer to as "anxiety-attacks".
This also happened whenever a girl approached me, I would be so shy and uncomfortable as I try to look for ways to awkwardly avoid any interactions. Yes, I was that weird kid.
It did get better with time after putting in a lot of effort over the year but still not as good as I hope.
Fortunately, I'm on the path to a profession that will give me even more exposure and force me to learn to be more social. If I had a second chance, I would change that aspect of myself and try to be more social.
I would have been active in read.cash the first time I heard about it
Image Source : **Unsplash**
My profile will show I joined this platform five months ago but that wasn't the case. I did register without even realizing it and I also had trouble navigating my way through it that I just abandoned it and took it as a waste of time.
Months passed by and I saw more of my friends taking it seriously, I remember when @King_Gozie and @Gaftekloriginal took up their phone in class to register under the supervision of @HappyBoy . It could have also been me and I showed interest for a while before brushing it off, a big mistake, I know that now.
Just like the mistakes most newbies make, **I failed to read the instruction from the admin and just went on to write articles.** I wasn't following anyone and would often get visits from my friends. I would look at what they had earned from writing their articles and will compare it to mine. I was puzzled as to why I wasn't earning as much, I thought I needed to write even longer articles and I did but still no difference, eventually I stopped and lost interest again.
Weeks passed and I decided to give it one more try as I was feeling down and needed to let it all out. In the past, I would use my voice recorder to say exactly how I feel and still didn't feel better as I did when I wrote it out.
I started getting visits from Rusty even though I was barely following anyone or giving upvotes or even dropping comments on writers' articles, a big thanks to **HappyBoy** for pointing out my mistakes.
I was never good at writing and I'm still learning but over the months I have gotten considerably better thanks to the awesome articles from other writers here. I learned a very important lesson
***"it's never too late to start, it's never too late learning, and more importantly, when the opportunity comes your way, seize it".***
If I had one more chance, I wouldn't postpone and just get right to it.
I would play with my dog again
Image Source: **Unsplash**
I guess this will always be there. Recently I lost my dog, he had been with the family for a very long time and his death left a void that won't be filled anytime soon. I think back to the moment before he died and I regret all the time I had to play with him that I didn't. I know death is inevitable, **everything that lives, dies** but what I wouldn't give to pet him again.
There are still some things, if given the chance to change anything, you will leave them just the way they are because those slight imperfections are what make the whole experience unique. **My first crush, my first heartbreak, meeting the love of my life, my biggest failure, my near-death experiences,** and many more that have brought me to where I am today, I wouldn't change anything about them because, without them, I wouldn't be me.
Lead Image Source: **Unsplash**
**Plagiarism Check**
Celtic Mythlogical Creatures - Abhartach, the Banshee
*As you know I'm a big fan of History and Myths, I've written an article on Norse Mythology - Ragnarok and I also write on Greek Mythology - Troy. Recently I have taken a liking to Celtic Mythological creatures. After I researched the origin of Halloween, I decided to take it a step further to learn more about their beliefs and I found some interesting facts that I think you would love to know. I won't be able to cover everything, but this would be the first part of the series.*
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**Abhartach, the Irish Vampire**
Image Source https://mythologycreatures.net/abhartach-2/
Most of you should be familiar with Bram Stocker Dracula movie. This movie is loosely based on the legend of **Abhartach**.
Image Source https://www.lifepersona.com/the-legend-of-the-irish-abhartach-the-origin-of-bram-stocker-s-dracula
**Abhartach** was a **dwarf** and a **wizard** who also happened to be a Celt **chieftain**, he was very cruel and for that, his subject didn't like him very much but couldn't stand up to him because they feared him. As fate would have it, a war broke out and **Abhartach was killed**.
The people rejoiced in his death and **he was buried standing as it was customary for the burial of a chieftain** but the celebration wouldn't last for long as the morning came **Abhartach** was alive once more but he wasn't human anymore, he was now a vampire, he ordered blood sacrifice from his subject since he needed their blood for his survival.
Image Source https://aminoapps.com/c/mythology/amp/blog/abhartach-irish-celtic-vampire/BrKD_rbtwuZJgx0J1n1ld71R5NPdRXkqV
The villagers cried out and the hero who history remembers as **Cathain** answered. **Cathain** fought and killed the monster and **Abhartach** was buried once more. The following day he arose from the dead...again. The villagers were frightened of him and they obeyed him when he demanded more blood to fill his bowl.
Once again Cathain came to the rescue, he fought and killed Abhartach, this time sure he was dead but the following morning, Abhartach was alive again.
Out of frustration, he decided to seek out help from the **druids** (although another part of this story says that it was a Christian saint). The wise druid told him that Abhartach was indeed one of the undead and to kill him he would need **a special weapon**. He was given **a wooden sword made from the yew tree**, he was also instructed to **bury Abhartach's body faced down**, **a big rock should be used to cover his grave and finally, Hawthorne seeds should be scattered over his grave**.
**Cathain** did as he was told and finally, **Abhartach** was no more. Today the place he was buried now has a Hawthorne tree from the seeds that were scattered over it.
Image Source https://archive.4plebs.org/x/thread/17209577/
In the 1990s, a group of people went there to cut down the tree for industrial purposes but the chainsaw malfunctioned 3 times. They decided to move the stone with a chain but the chain snapped lethally wounding one of the workers as his blood was scattered all over the site **Abhartach** was buried.
`Is it possible he still lives and one day he will rise again and continue his torment on the world?`
The Banshee
Image Source https://medicinalchemistrydotblog.wordpress.com/2018/12/06/banshee-meaning-of-the-word-and-examples/amp/
I first heard this term years ago when the ***Teen Wolf*** series was still on but in this article, we will be looking at the origin of this creature.
According to Irish Folklore, **the Banshees** are harbingers of death. **Their screams could be taken as a warning of impending death to come** and only the families to be affected would hear the cries of a banshee.
Image Source https://www.artstation.com/artwork/rRvzP6
*I sometimes wonder if the wise men of old heard this cry and this was how they knew they were about to die?*
There are a lot of folklores regarding the banshee and its origin but there is one similarity, **the banshee is always described as a female.**
Legend has it that **Banshees** are spirits of the departed ones who are unable to move on due to their sinful nature while they lived and cursed to walk the earth for eternity as retribution.
It is said that there were once women who sang songs for the dead and would often request a drink - "**alcohol**" - as payment which was considered a sin although this could have been to dissuade ladies from taking alcohol. It is also believed that **Banshees are fairies** who have sinned.
It is said that **Banshees are often associated with only one family**, the family they belonged to while they were alive. It is also believed that death heightens one's feelings as one passes on. A good and loving spirit would be filled with love and kindness, while an evil one will be filled with hatred.
Image source https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2019/06/bizarre-encounters-with-real-banshees/
When you close your eyes and think of a banshee, we often see her wicked black-cloaked and ugly creature flying through the sky like a witch, screaming but this is not true of all Banshees. **Just as there is light and dark, there are evil Banshees and also good Banshees.**
*The good Banshees have been said to have gold or black hair with a beautiful yet pale face wearing a long white gown. Their cries are usually* ***one of sorrow*** *to warn a family of a death that is about to happen.*
Image Source https://moviesandmania.com/2013/05/04/banshee-mythological-creature/
*The bad Banshees were the exact opposite and happens to the popular description of a banshee, a major difference between the two can be seen in their cries. While a good Banshee sings sorrowfully over the impending loss of a family member,* ***the bad Banshee lets out a scream of joy over the loss of a family member.***
Back in the old Irish day, it was often wise to believe and listen to the cries of the "***wailing woman***" as you make preparations towards the impending death.
Image Source https://en.m.termwiki.com/EN/banshee_%E2%82%80%E2%82%81
As Christianity grew and times changed, a lot of Irish believes got lost to the wind or transformed and soon, the Banshee would only be remembered as a myth.
***It is said that the cries of the Banshee can still be heard at night in the woods of Ireland but you must be warned, the cries mean death is near.***
`Oh, how much I would love to go on, but it would have to be continued on another article. I hope you found this little piece of history fascinating, more articles on this subject to come.`
*Reference*
*Abhartach - Wikipedia* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhartach
*The legend of the Banshee* https://www-celtic--weddingrings-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.celtic-weddingrings.com/en/amp/content/38-legend-of-the-banshee.amphtml?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16362052963735&csi=1&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.celtic-weddingrings.com%2Fceltic-mythology%2Flegend-of-the-banshee
Lead Image Source : **audiobooks** https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/celtic-mythology-irish-myths-and-ancient-folklore-from-the-british-isles/394962
A big thank you to ate @Jane and @King_Gozie for the sponsorship, I appreciate it so much, you both have been a big inspiration to me.
I'm taking a break today, I need to treat my eyes and body better today, I decided this after reading @Jane 's article this morning. Till tomorrow guys, I will try to make up for today's article some other time of the month. By the way, am I the only one who can already smell Christmas?
Going solo on Battle Royale
I was feeling bored today, after my guitar lessons I noticed my fingers were sore, so I decided to take a break. So far I have made a lot of improvement on my chord progression even though it's a bit slow, still not as good with fingerpicking and strumming, I think I will leave it on hold until I'm good with my chords.
What better way to take a break after a long day of practice than to go **SOLO** on **Call of Duty Mobile - Isolated Battle Royale.** To make it more interesting I decided to go all geeky and create a Fictional story off it. If you are a gamer and you love fiction, I have a feeling you would enjoy this creative writing. Oh, and if you want to team up on **CODm**, you can leave your ID.
Call me a coward, but when you go solo, you want to play it smart by avoiding a lot of head-on contacts as much as possible whilst laying traps in buildings hence why I went as "**Trap-Master**". As a soldier, how well you are able to use your skill will determine your survival on the battlefield.
**The match begins when 100 soldiers, paired up or solo all fly to the battlefield with nothing but a melee like a knife, a sword, or an ax. The next thing is deciding on the location on the map you would want to land on, you want to avoid overcrowded places to avoid being the "first-blood" to be shed on the battlefield, the last team to survive wins.**
*Here comes the hero of the story,* ***GreatWolfMan****, the Arnold Schwarzenegger to the "Commando" movie.*
Dressed in his red armor, ready for battle, determined to win by playing it smart rather than showing off his aiming and shooting skills.
I decide to land in "**Crash**", it's a good landing site for me because it is a good place to pick up nice weapons and there are a lot of buildings where I can lay my traps. I plan to avoid as many confrontations as possible, but I will still need to get my weapon ready in case I'm being engaged by the enemies.
I immediately opened my parachutes, and hunt for weapons, I didn't find a good weapon at first though, I was about to loot up a shotgun and a submachine gun, I figured it won't do much if I come across any of the opposing teams so I head out to scout for better weapons, I'm hoping to find an **AK-47** Assault rifle or a **MX9** - Sub-Machine gun. Just then I got the memo that the **safe zone was about to shrink**, if you are caught outside the safe zone, your health will start to deplete as the gas outside the zone is poisonous. I also noticed that I still had a long way to go, so I hurried along to get to the safe zone as quickly as possible while I continue my search for a good weapon.
I started running as fast as my legs could carry me while I observed how the number of soldiers alive begins to reduce.
Just then, I spot the top of a cliff, a good spot to get some height so I can glide to safety, so I head for it, not long after I had successfully found one **Ak-47** Assault Rifle with **two clips of Heavy Ammo**. I hate that I have to keep running but the other option would be suicide.
I can see some buildings in front, so I head towards it ready to lay my traps all over the building while I wait patiently **like the tiger hunting its prey**.
*I have laid the traps at the entrances while I wait patiently for my victim. I heard some footsteps getting closer but I also noticed that I'm still too far from the safe zone as I checked the map, I will have to move quickly, but only after I eliminate this target*.
Just as I had planned it, he entered my building and got electrocuted. I had to give him my own form of mercy killing because I hate to see soldiers grovel as they die slowly and painfully, just like that, I got my second kill of the match. It looks like I might just win this.
I need to start moving, and I have a long way to go but as luck would have it, I found a car, looks like I'm supposed to win after all.
I had to ditch the car along the way after I had crashed it multiple times, I almost killed myself with my own hands by my vehicle's explosion. I got my driving license from playing GTA-V, that is how much of a professional driver I am.
I switched cars multiple times but I won't bore you with all details, finally, I got to the safe zone and decided to camp in the **Frigid area -This area had houses that had been flooded by water**, and I felt it would be a good hiding place since the footsteps of the enemies would be louder as they got closer. I set my trap wire everywhere as I observed how many soldiers were still standing. My plan was working. Let them eliminate one another while I hide and wait for the last man standing, then like an opportunist, I will go in for the kill.
Just then, one of them walked into my building and I had no choice but to eliminate him, *poor fella*. Just like that GreatWolfMan had his 2nd kill of the battle with only 5 people left standing, excluding me, 4.
Oh! I can smell victory, I got too comfortable that I ignored to check the map as I continued to laid more traps in the building and fired warning shots to attract more victims, just like the hunter, laying food crumbs to attract the leopard.
I got caught up doing this that I hadn't realized that the safe zone was shrinking again. Before I could run to safety, it was game over, dead in the very building I had intended to destroy my enemies.
Just then I got the result, even though I didn't get first place, I still came close to being the 2nd out of 100 soldiers divided into 27 teams, by playing it smart, it wasn't the victory I had hoped for but it's still a victory regardless.
***That is all from me, about a week ago, Pantera posted an article about crypto going to battle, it inspired me to create mine but I just thought I would make mine different by giving you a breakdown of a live gameplay. I hope you enjoyed it.***
***I learned that you can only run away from your problems for so long, eventually, you will have to come out and face them before it's too late, what did you learn?***
`All images are a screenshot from my phone, edited by me to fit my article based on a live gameplay by Grand Master GreatWolfMan on the 4th of November, 2021.`
`Courtesy of: Call of Duty Mobile`
Where do we go when we die?
***"Who is this?*** **"** I say when I notice someone sleeping in my bed, who could this be? I panic as I run out of the room in my robe to check on my mother. I see my sister sleeping on her bed peacefully, mom was also fast asleep as I entered the room.
***"Mother, Mother, wake up"***
"***There is someone in my room"*** - I whisper.
She doesn't seem to hear me, I tried shaking her but it does not affect her. I noticed my body seemed to phase through her, this felt odd, while I was trying to figure out what was wrong, I saw it, white light so bright that it frightened me. I hid by the bed while frantically trying to wake Mom up.
I noticed some people walking towards the light, it felt close at the same time, distant. I start to wonder what was going on. Out of shock I close my eyes and scream for help, the light faded away. I made a sigh of relief as I went back to wake mom up, the same result. Just then I noticed that I had walked through the door without opening it.
***What is going on?*** I go back to the door and was able to pass through it like it was nothing.
***"Oh no! Am I...?"***
I rushed back to my room to see who was lying there, and behold, it was me... I am dead. I felt my body go cold with fright as I stumble on the ground staring at my body.
*How did I die? I must have suffered from a heart attack, or Asthma attack, was I poisoned? I try to investigate my dead.*
I try to make a lot of noise so someone would come and check on my body at least to try and save me. I run back to my mother's room screaming and shouting, all of a sudden she wakes up. The look on her face seemed disturbing as she went to her toilet to take a pee.
She opened her room door and head to where I was sleeping, I followed her just behind, happy that she may have somehow felt my presence. She calls my name, which I answer
*Oops, she can't hear me anymore*
She doesn't know that as she calls my name again, she moves closer to call me.
***"Wake up, it's time to prepare for school"***
I completely forgot about school amid all the confusion.
That was when I heard her scream
***"My son!!!My son!!! Please wake up"***
I try to tell her I'm right here, but she can't hear me. She cries for help as our neighbors rush to come knocking in.
The next thing I notice, I'm being rushed into a vehicle to the hospital I guess. My sister is awake now.
***"Mommy what is going on"***
My crying mother is still weeping as the neighbors try to console her.
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***"Mum don't cry, I'm here, I'm okay"***
It doesn't seem to work. I felt my body being pulled away and now I'm in the hospital as the doctors are trying their best to bring me back to life.
I don't like what they are doing to my body. A bunch of doctors slotting needles into my body with an artificial respirator. I had indeed suffered a heart attack in my sleep. I watch them try to bring me back to life for what seemed like forever
***"Time of death, 7:35 am".***
I stare at my body, it felt weird staring at me. I follow the doctor behind as he goes to break the news. Mother and my little Sister had arrived at the hospital in the waiting room. My little sister seemed oblivious to what was going on while mom paced about still filled with tears.
***"I'm sorry, we did all that we could but we couldn't save him"*** - the doctor said
My mom immediately faints but is quickly supported by the clinical staff as they rushed her to a hospital bed. They must have given her some pills or one of the long needles to make her sleep.
*Is this how I'm going to die? I still have so much more to live for, I still have a lot of things to do.*
They put me in a body bag as I'm being moved to the mortuary. It felt really cold, yet it wasn't me anymore. The hospital is soon crowded with my family and friends, most of which I barely recognize. I watch them cry for me even though they barely knew me.
"***Ugh, hypocrites***" - I say feeling disgusted by the pretense.
Mother comes out feeling conscious, eyes were swollen from crying, the neighbor takes my sister to school as mom addresses the good wishers. It breaks me to see her cry but no matter how much I scream, she doesn't hear me.
*How do I let her know I'm still alive and well? How do I make her see me?*
*It sucks to be dead, that is when you realize a bunch of things you would have loved to do but can't anymore, you just stare at people unaware of your presence talking about you with so much pity in their tone.*
***"He was so young, why did he have to die"***
It's almost like there is a supposed fixed time to die.
I keep moving around the hospital but seeing my mother cry for me hurt me the most, It's a very painful sight.
I'm tired of moving over the whole place when nobody can even see me or hear me, it's frustrating.
The worst part was my burial ceremony. As my body was lowered to the ground, I tried protesting but my efforts were useless. I love my body and I would love to keep looking at it.
Everyone is dressed in black for the occasion. It wasn't a big party which I found comforting. I stood by my grave as I watched people come over my body to say good things about me one after the other until there was nothing more to say.
They all left while I stood by my grave to protect my body. I did get visits from time to time, but soon the visit started to reduce, from a day to a week then to a month and then months.
I am just here, nowhere to go, it feels like torment, ***where do I go from here? It is time to move on.***
**This work was inspired by @Jane article -** **the forgotten soul****, which was also inspired by** @Eunoia **-** **Happy death Anniversary self****. It's pure fiction with a blend of what I think the afterlife would look like for the departed souls who are still bound to this earth life for one reason or the other and unable to move on. You might just call it "Earthly attachment". I hope you found it entertaining and not really creepy.** https://read.cash/@Jane/the-forgotten-soul-c2e7e28b#comment-bfb0b05f https://read.cash/@Eunoia/happy-death-anniversary-self-86a5425a
Lead Image Source: **Unsplash**
Therapy Session: Moving on
This piece is dedicated to everyone who is going through a tough time and has lost someone they cared about. I thought long and hard about what to write today and this just seemed to fit in all the right places. This article is about something I'm currently dealing with so I hope it's as much importance and usefulness to you as it is to me.
Image source: **Unsplash**
*****Therapist*****: *Greatwolfman, how are you feeling today?*
****Greatwolfman****: **I'm an emotional mess and it's worse than before. I hate the world**
****Therapist****: *"Hate" is such a strong world, do you mind talking about it*
****Greatwolfman****: **I don't think I can, it's hard as it is just thinking about it**
****Therapist****: *I know it's hard, but when you share your thoughts it helps lighten the burden.*
****Greatwolfman****: **Okay, where do I start?**
****Therapist****: *How about you start by telling me how you are* ***really*** *feeling.*
Image source: **Unsplash**
****Greatwolfman****: **Alright, uhm, I am back to the dark place once again sitting and dining with my demons, I guess there is something really comforting about it. It almost feels like home, I drown my pain and sorrows in sad songs composed mentally with no lyrics, no word could ever be enough to fit into such a sad tune.**
**Daytime comes and I have to fake being happy, my face even hurts from forcing smiles. "I'm okay" is all I can say but deep down I'm hurting, it still feels like dreaming. It hurts too much.**
**No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to find a reason to smile, I bury myself watching some tv shows, just to make me forget but nothing works. I don't want to go out because everything I see only serves as a reminder of what I will never have again. Every happy face reminds me of what I had**
**Now I know I won't ever be able to recreate those memories, it hurts even more. It feels like I'm in the middle of a wide ocean with no land in sight. I just feel lost.**
**I still see him, I still haven't gotten used to not having him around. It feels like a dream and any moment now I will wake up and give him a big hug again. It has been a really long time since I felt this way. I wish I could have done something to save him.**
Image source: Unsplash
****Therapist****: *I see, that is a lot of emotions to deal with all at once, why don't we take it one by one?*
*What you are feeling is perfectly normal, I would be worried if you didn't feel this way after this big loss. I'm also glad that you came to me for professional help.*
*We all get lost sometimes, at such times we must try to find the light in the dark. Your family and friends are in a good position to help you through such times. You need to be reminded of the good things you still have. Instead of giving all your focus to what you have lost, look around you and take note of what you've still got. The loving family and the supportive friends, and hey, you got me too.*
*Everything happens for a reason, maybe we do not know why but God knows better. His time was up, and I'm sure he would be happy if you let him go now. Instead of focusing on the painful memories, take comfort in the happy times you shared.*
*We all have our unique way of dealing with losses, if you need time to do this, you are allowed but don't put your life on hold just because of a hurtful experience, we do not live forever, and time waits for no one. Life is one long roller-coaster filled with a lot of experiences. You will experience love, pain, joy, excitement, and many more.*
*A wise lady once told me*
"**Death is the beauty of living**"
@The.Ada
*The moment you accept that death is only a part of living, you will be free.*
*Here is my advice to you son, you go out there and you live your best life, do it for him and more importantly for yourself. It's time for you to move on. He might be gone but he lives on in your memory, tell his story.*
*Time does heal wounds. Although the scars might remain, it's not such a bad thing. It is through pain that we are able to grow and come out, even stronger than ever. Don't worry, you will come out of this just fine.*
***Bell rings***
****Therapist****: *Right on time, looks like our time is up, I will give you some time to process these thoughts and let them sink deep.*
****Greatwolfman****: **Thanks for the time, I feel a lot lighter already.**
`Talking to yourself might seem weird but when you've got an imaginary friend like I do who also happens to be a Therapist, a wise one, plus, I don't have to pay any fee, it sort of feels right, you know?`
`Well, this is me and this is what I have to say. I feel better, I hope you do too. Greatwolfman, It's time to move on.`
Lead image source : **Unsplash**
Harmony is gone
I sat down alone with thoughts, trying to understand why bad things have to happen to good people. Trying to understand why we people need to die, why can't we just live forever? Sounds stupid, I know, but just don't say it to someone who just lost someone he loves.
I'm here sitting in my corner, screaming my throats out but no one can hear me, no is listening, loneliness hits harder. I hate the way I'm feeling. I'm angry with the world. Why do you have to take my boy's life?
I stand in a corner seeing my little sister cry over this big loss to the family. I try to act tough and strong as I scream at her to stop crying so as not to attract people's attention. Before I could utter any words, the tears come crashing out like endless waves. I'm not the type to break easily but not this time. I left to the scene to cry in silence.
I come back to stare at his lifeless body. I can't leave him out here like this, he deserves a proper burial. When you've raised someone from childbirth to adulthood, it takes a big toll on you when you lose them.
It seems like it was just yesterday when he came into our lives. He was very playful and restless, always causing a mess and crying all night. As he grew up, we got closer, I could talk to him about what was bothering me and surprisingly he understood, he had a weird way of comforting me. He would roll on the floor playful until I smiled. He knew when I was happy, sad, and angry.
I couldn't continue staring at him, he deserves a proper burial. I need to be strong, no more crying, it's time to straighten up. He had a good life, he lived well and died well. He had been feeling down for a while, the doctors said it was because he was getting old. Silly of me to think he would be with me forever.
As I dug the ground to bury him, I'm reminded of all the good times we had. He loved when I rubbed his stomach. He would jump on me whenever I got back from school, oftentimes staining my clothes but I wouldn't mind because I was missing him too. I always had treats for him, so he would hover around my bag until I had given it to him.
Recently, he stopped playing, which was why I took him to the veterinary clinic for a check-up, they didn't see anything wrong with him but he started eating less, playing less, and sleeping more. This evening, I called him to have his dinner but he just walked up to me, I guess to say goodbye, he didn't even touch the food before he walked away. I knew something was up because I made his favorite food.
Later, I went to check his kernel, he wasn't there, that was when I saw his lifeless body on the porch. I prayed it was a prank and he would wake up, but he didn't. Tears filled my eyes as I screamed for him to wake up before breaking the news to the family.
It's a sad day for me, a sad day indeed. November 1 will now represent the day I lost Harmony. What a way to start a new month, I woke up this morning filled with excitement but I'm going to bed filled with pain, sorrow, and heartache. If I had the power to turn back time to when he was little just to play with him one last time, I would.
Dogs are very loyal, Harmony was. I hate to use the past tense but it's time for me to accept the reality. He has created a void in the family, one that won't be easily filled. He is gone now but his memories will live on. I'm not ashamed to say I cried, I might still do that once I drop this device, he was my best friend.
It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to my boy. I do not know where dogs go when they die, but wherever he is right now he's happy. He's probably up to some of the mischief I thought him. Rest on Harmony, rest on my little wolf.
**Lead Image Source from me, it was the last picture I took of him. It was the day I got back from school, he was very excited to see me as he laid on the ground for some attention and to manipulate me into giving him treats, smart boy**.
Titanic - Hymn to the sea
`I will make a recommendation as you go forward to read this article. There is a link to the song "Hymn to the sea" below, to get the full experience of this work, I would advise playing it along as you read. Fair warning, if you won't be able to handle the emotions, you should ignore this, it might bring a tear to your eyes.`
https://youtu.be/6wz1xA5kxVI
*A song was written to appease the sea for the lives that were lost, the properties destroyed and the memories lost to her. Man challenged her and she responded in turn by showing her amazing power that Men might fear and respect her. This is the story of the* ***Titanic****.*
Image Source https://local12.com/amp/news/around-the-web/video-april-15-marks-109-years-since-titanic-sank
April 15, 1912, brought a sad and mournful story that told of hopes and dreams swallowed and buried in the dark cold sea. A memory that will live on and continue to be passed on to the next generation. The painful woes and cries of families and friends, a sad story indeed we shall visit today.
Image Source https://local12.com/amp/news/around-the-web/video-april-15-marks-109-years-since-titanic-sank
**April 12, 1912, the R.M.S Titanic stool tall and shiny in all her glory as the most luxurious and biggest sheep to ever set sail**. The whole of England came out to see the mighty ship leave the shores of Southampton. It had enough space to accommodate people of all works of life, from first-class passengers to the third glass passengers. "A beautiful work of Architecture" one would call it. Captain John Smith sure took it as an honor to command this mighty ship, one last time as he set out on a retirement plan.
Back at the docks, families, and friends all came out gazing at her beauty and/or boarding the ship. Farewells were made, it was to be the journey of a lifetime. If this happened to be in the 21st century, it would be buzzing all over social media. Big celebrities would be on it for the status and fame, who would want to miss that given they had the money and time. *Ahoy*, as it is a popular quote made for men of the sea as they big goodbyes.
Image Source https://allthatsinteresting.com/titanic-sinking-photos#10
I still feel the emotions of the loss as I write this article, you would think one shouldn't feel this way, after all, I wasn't there and this happened 109 years ago. The story has been told and retold in movies. The book "The Wreck of the Titan" by Morgan Robertson first published in 1898, 14 years before the Titanic would set sail should have served as a warning for what was about to happen yet it wasn't even noticed until after the horror had taken place.
Image Source https://www.pinterest.com/amp/pin/485755509804479402/
I can only use my imagination to begin to take in all the grandeur of this ship as the passengers moved up and down the various floors through the grand staircase. The joy and excitement they felt, the smiles they shared, and the hope that filled their eyes and they gazed at the far and wide ocean as **they journeyed to New York, America from Southampton, England.** The crew must have been working tirelessly to meet the requirements and satisfaction of their guest. The Telephone operators must have been sending messages to people land from the people on the ship.
Image source https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/532621093424311946/
Perhaps there was no **Jack or Rose** as the 1997 movie suggests, but there were indeed a lot of Jack and a lot of Roses who might have fallen in love on the ship and sadly would never get to continue their beautiful Fairy tale on land. Fathers, Mothers, Children, Uncles, Aunts, boys, girls, even pets were aboard the ship. **If only they knew what fate awaited them.**
You can point fingers all day at who you think is to be blamed for this disaster. The Architect for his design? the Captain for moving at full speed? the crew for not detecting the iceberg on time? the Telephone company for not picking up on the warning messages from nearby ships? the ship that was close by that ignored the Titanic call for help because they believed it to be a prank? among other things that could have prevented the ship from sinking but it still wouldn't change history.
At around 23:40 hours, April 14, 1912, the moon wasn't to be found, a dark night it was, the temperature of the sea surface was below 28°F (-2.22°C), so cold that no one would be able to last more than a few seconds after falling in as they would suffer from **hypothermic shock.**
2,240 passengers were aboard the Titanic when it struck a giant iceberg. The lifeboat was insufficient to carry all the passengers. The rule of the sea dictates that in the case of an emergency, **women, and children would be first** before trying to save the men. Imagine children saying goodbyes to their father, wives saying goodbyes to their husband, with little or no hope of ever seeing again. I know how hard it can be to say your last goodbyes, so I can feel the pain each passenger felt, I'm sure you can relate too.
Image Source https://allthatsinteresting.com/titanic-sinking-photos#10
A distress call was sent out of the Titanic to neighboring ships, a cry for help, only the **R.M.S Carpathia** was within close range and even at full speed, it would take hours to get to the Titanic. It did arrive but the Titanic was gone, the few people who managed to get on the lifeboats were rescued. Tears of pain and joy, losses that will never be recovered. Famous and wealthy people, some whose bodies will never be found but their names will be remembered in the book. of history.
Image Source https://allthatsinteresting.com/titanic-sinking-photos#10
That night, **1500 people fell to their watery grave** and by 2:2o am on April 15, 1912, the Titanic had sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic. The ship that was referred to as "**Unsinkable**" met her end. By morning, the news had gotten around and the whole world was in shock, bad news at people's doorstep. It was a sad day even for the survivors of the wreckage.
Image Source https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/105-years-ago-today-the-unsinkable-titanic-hits-an-iceberg/amp/
**James Horner** composed the song "**Hymn to sea**" to be featured in the Titanic, but each time I listen to it, it sounds like a magical piece to honor the ones who died on that unfaithful night. It's like a secret love song to the sea pleading that such a tragedy never occurs again. Every song tells a story, you just have to listen closely.
*Reference*
Titanic Sinks-History https://www-history-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.history.com/.amp/this-day-in-history/titanic-sinks?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16356969952711&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.history.com%2Fthis-day-in-history%2Ftitanic-sinks
The sinking of Titanic - Wikipedia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_the_Titanic
Timeline of the Titanic's final hours https://www.britannica.com/story/timeline-of-the-titanics-final-hours
**Lead Image Source** https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/532621093424311946/
@Greatwolfman
