Hallow's eve specials
Date: 30th of October, 2021
Publisher: Greatwolfman
**It was just like any other evening**, I had just returned home from school. I was starving so I went to the kitchen and discovered that there was food kept in the thermos flask. I went into my room to change and freshen up as I had a very tedious journey. The peace in the house was just suiting and comforting, no one was at home. I checked the time, it was already 10:30 pm, as I mentioned, it was a very tedious journey.
**I sat down comfortably in the living room and ate as I binged on one of my favorite Zee-World programme-Fear Files**. It is a program that talks about people who had been attacked by supernatural entities like demons and ghosts or just restless spirits who can't move on to the other side due to their earthly attachment. I enjoyed the thrill but sadly I couldn't watch till the end as I was exhausted so I decided to get ready for bed.
**I took to the sink to wash the dirty plates, I checked all the doors were locked, I then moved to switch on the external light for security before dashing to my room to lay on my bed.** Just before I slept, I plugged in my phone to charge as I finally got comfortable with my pillow. Back in the school hostel, the bed wasn't quite comfortable enough, not as comfortable as the bed I had at home, since I was only going to be home for that night, I took my time to cherish every bonding moment I had with it.
**Not so long after I had laid down, I heard a knock on the door**. I checked the time, it was almost midnight, who would be knocking at this time of the night. I sneaked out of the room as stealthily as I could, I peeped through the window but saw no one. I was beginning to doubt if I heard right until I heard the knock again. I didn't want anyone to know I was in so I still didn't respond, I took a peek and still saw no one.
Image source
**Panic would be an understatement, I wanted to scream but I couldn't, it felt odd and scary**. Just around a dark spot outside, I noticed something staring at me...a dark figure. I crawled back to my room, got out my Bible, and placed it on the nightstand. I couldn't possibly call 911, what would I tell them - "I think I'm been attacked by a ghost"? I tried calling mom and dad but there was no signal. I started to recite Psalm 23 from the bible- " The lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want...". After about 10 minutes of reciting this verse, I felt a bit calm, no evil would befall me, I was sure of it. Just then the power went off.
"***Could this be any worse***" - I thought to myself.
Sleep eluded for as long as humanly possible, my blood must have been filled with adrenaline after such an experience. Alas, Mother Nature has her ways, **I fell asleep with the Bible on my bed.** I woke up a few minutes later except that I wasn't awake, I was still sleeping but I was conscious of it. My gaze went to my room's door when I noticed the dark figure was standing there staring at me.
I couldn't make out its face but it was definitely an entity. I had no idea what it wanted, I was about to scream out but I noticed my voice was gone, no matter how hard I tried I couldn't make words come out. I tried moving my feet and my legs but I couldn't. I had lost control of my body. **The entity came closer and closer and I couldn't do anything to get away.** I felt its hand pressing against me as I tried to fight back but my body wasn't listening to me.
I screamed with all my might but still no words, *who would hear my cry for help anyway*. **Finally, I was able to break free, I had no idea how but I regained control of my body, I was in tears and my body still felt heavy.** ***Was it a dream or was it real?*** **I couldn't tell.** The power was back on as well as the service providers. I called my Mom immediately to inform her of what I had experienced. She called it a dream and instructed me to pray immediately which I did.
I still wasn't satisfied so I decided to visit google.
`Please note, if you ever fall sick to any ailment, NEVER google your symptoms, just go to a clinic and get an expert opinion`
Apparently, Science has an explanation to every supernatural experience. **Sleep Paralysis** is a phenomenon in which your brain is awake but your body is still fast asleep. I hadn't been getting enough sleep so I suffered the attack. I later discovered that eating late could cause that. I sort of figured out on my own that perhaps watching a scary movie just before bed is not such a bright idea and what I saw through the window could have just been a sleep-deprived brain hallucinating.
`Sleep Paralysis:`
`A state, during waking up or falling asleep, in which a person is aware but unable to move or speak. During an episode, one may hallucinate (hear, feel, or see things that are not there), which often results in fear. Episodes generally last less than a couple of minutes. It may occur as a single episode or be recurrent.`
**Source: Wikipedia** https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis
**Fiction or reality, you choose what you want to believe, what's real and what isn't.** Perhaps there is more to the supernatural than I understand, perhaps it was all a dream, it doesn't change the awful experience that almost made me shit my pants.
*I hope you had a good scare and also fun reading this article, tomorrow is Halloween. I have been reading* @Theblackdoll *articles on the subject and I decided to join in. I have never seen so much dedication to a topic before, 31 days of writing stories about Halloween. If you wish to get a good scare, just visit her page and enjoy.*
#**Halloweencontest2021**
Lead Image Source: **Unsplash**
Halloween - the Origin
Date: 29th of October, 2021
Publisher: Greatwolfman
Halloween is by far one of the most celebrated holidays today. Today I will be taking you on a ride into the origin of this celebration. We will also have a look into the symbolism of the "Jack-o'-Lantern" and "trick-or-treats". By the end of this article, you should learn at least a thing or two that you didn't know before today. Let us begin.
**Samhain**
**Samhain** was a popular holiday tradition among the Celts held every October 31st. It signified "Summers end". The night of October 31st also marked the Celtic New year, the end of summer, and the beginning of winter. It was believed that on this day the veil which separated the land of the living from the dead was at its thinnest granting permission for the dead spirits to come into the land of the living.
Image Source https://www.scotlandshop.com/tartanblog/scottish-halloween
Families who lost their loved ones would invite the spirits of their dead relatives to join in the celebration, they would wear a guise with a mask to protect their identity and avoid harm from evil spirits.
The druid and Celts villages would then light huge bonfires to prevent the evil spirits from causing harm as well as honor the dead. Animal sacrifices were made as a ritual to mark this celebration.
All-Saints-day (Hallowmas)
During the Roman invasion, Christianity took its hold as it began to spread. The Christians believed Samhain to be a pagan holiday and condemned it, tagging the **Celts and druids as devil worshippers**, forcing the pagans to either dissolve or evolve.
The Vatican made a smart move to merge this holiday with a church holiday as they were trying to convert the pagans with ease. **A lot of pagan practices were twisted to suit the church-sanctioned holidays**, but that would be an article for another day.
Samhain was soon changed to **Hallowmas** which meant " All-saints-day" coined from the word "Hallow" meaning saint. Instead of the celebration of pagan gods as the celts did, it became a day to celebrate all the Christian saints and martyrs.
Image Source https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/hallowmas
November 1st became the day for this celebration. Church bells would ring out loud to signify the beginning of this celebration.
October 31st, the night before **Hallowmas** was celebrated as Halloween from the merging of the word "Hallows-eve". Just like that, **Halloween** was born.
The Puritans
Trying to explain the Puritans from a theological view might only make this article boring so I'll summarize. There were the members of Protestant churches which means that they didn't agree with the Pope of Rome controlling all the church activities in the world.
Image Source https://www.history.com/.amp/news/pilgrims-puritans-differences
***H.L Mencken defines A Puritan as:***
"*Someone fearful of someone somewhere else having fun and will do everything to stop it"*
Growing up who would refer to those people who hate having fun as Puritans although it was completely out of context.
The Puritans who were responsible for the colonization of America were Protestants and did not celebrate the Catholic Church holidays as they believed them to be the worship of Idols. Due to this, the tradition of celebrating Hallowmas and Halloween soon faded away in America.
Halloween is back
In the mid 19th century, something happened that definitely changed the course of history. We have this even to thank for the Halloween celebration today.
In the 1840s there was a **potato famine** which saw a lot of **Irish immigrants** move to America and they didn't come alone, they brought some of their customs with them one of which was "*Halloween*".
Jack-o'-Lantern (carved Pumpkin)
Image Source
This myth behind this symbol dates back to the 17th century when it meant "**man of a lantern**", which signified the *Nightwatchmen*. There was a folklore that goes thus
*There was a man named Jack, he was a very stingy man. When he died he was not allowed into heaven, he wasn't allowed into hell either because he had done something to anger the devil too. He was then sent into eternal darkness with only a turnip filled with coal to guide him.*
`The link to the full story can be found in the reference section`
The Irish people would carve creepy faces in pumpkins to scare Jack and other spirits away.
Image Source
After the immigration to America, it was discovered that there was an abundance of Pumpkins and soon it became a better substitute for turnips.
Today the Pumpkin is regarded as the symbol of Halloween.
Trick-or-Treat
Image Source
The origin of this practice dates back to Britain's celebration of **"all-souls-day".** A day where the poor and needy would move from house to house to beg for food, they would often be given " soul cakes", a snack made from sacred flour and water, and in return, they would pray for relatives who had passed away.
Children would also dress in costumes and mask collecting food or fruits sometimes even money in return they would entertain the household through songs or jokes. This tradition was revived by the Irish Immigrant as "**Trick-or-Treat**"
At this inception of this tradition for Halloween, there were more tricks than treats, it gave room for hooliganism and Vandalism and so it had to stop. To dissuade such practices adults would have to offer treats to kids as bribery and that was how Trick-or-Treat was born.
`I think Threat-or-Treat feels better since the word "Trick" was actually a threat or a form of mischief.`
`"If you don't give us sweets we will destroy your property"`
`Oh! The intimidation and Horror`
Closing thoughts
The origin of Halloween is surrounded by a lot of beliefs and practices which date back to about 2000 years ago. Regardless of its origin, it has soon grown to be one of the favorite holidays of the year. An evening where you can be whoever you want to be, you are only limited to your imagination. Of course, you can always stay at home and binge on Horror movies, I have a list, you can check my articles for notable suggestions.
`Did you know?`
`Allhallowtide is a combination of Hallows-eve, All-saints day, and all-souls-day spanning from October 31st to November 2nd.`
*What a fun time! If you were to choose a nice Halloween costume for a party, what would you go as and why?*
*References*
*A book of Prefaces by H.L Mencken* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Book_of_Prefaces
SAMHAIN - Historical facts https://www-history-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.history.com/.amp/topics/holidays/samhain?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16355008741331&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.history.com%2Ftopics%2Fholidays%2Fsamhain
Halloween https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allhallowtide
Trick or treat https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-or-treating
The myth behind Jack-o'-lantern https://www-history-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.history.com/.amp/news/history-of-the-jack-o-lantern-irish-origins?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16355015521397&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.history.com%2Fnews%2Fhistory-of-the-jack-o-lantern-irish-origins
The History of Halloween by National Geographic https://youtu.be/R-VRAemIvbI
The History of Halloween - Traditions explained https://youtu.be/QjiQCnE4G8Y
Lead Image Soure : **Unsplash**
**Test for plagiarism**
I am very disappointed
This is me, venting out my displeasure the best way I know. If you noticed I haven't visited any articles all day and there is a very good reason for that. I will do my best not to make this article as short as I can even though there are a lot of things I would love to get off my chest. To summarize my disappointment, I wasn't successful in getting a bed space today during the hostel balloting exercise.
**Tug-of-war**
I am still an undergraduate in college, hence the need to get a "bed-space" in the school hostel since I live very far away from the University. So, the need to get a room in the school hostel - if only that were easy.
To get a "bed-space", you need to ballot for it. This process is usually done online and as such, it is important to get a very strong network provided as well as enough Data.
The term "Tug-of-war" as written above coins from the fact that getting a bed-space within the school hostel is a battle of "who has got the best network". With few available spaces, the odds of you getting a space are very low.
My Suspicions
This battle is as old as time and we have all learned to live with it but this time it was different. Something was off, I could feel it deep within the fibers of bones. You can call it a hunch.
Today was one of those days - Balloting for bed space - as we are about to begin a new session. For weeks, everyone had been preparing. Those who couldn't ballot on their own paid a large sum to those who can (and may I say that the chances aren't 100%).
I bought fuel to power the generator because the Power here can't be relied upon. They have a funny way of disappointing someone (and I was right, a few minutes into the time the balloting began, the power was off).
It was announced that this process would only last from 8 am today until 4 pm. It seemed like a good window of opportunity to make it work as the battle began. Just then the Server crashed. This was expected because the volume of people visiting the site was many. You would think things should have been put in place to prevent this from happening or at least reduce it.
Contrary to how it was when after a few hours you would have started seeing Testimonies of people who got spaces, it was different this time, the chat rooms were filled with complaints about the server which kept on crashing.
It would also seem that there were even fewer spaces left to ballot since only a few people (within my observational coverage and survey) got spaces. I kept on trying all day trying to get it but all my efforts and preparations meant nothing as I am now left to find a place to stay.
My Concerns
Officially, Squatting is Illegal**.** There is a rule against squatting people in the hostels and due to the recent events caused by the pandemic, measures have been put in place to try and reduce the number of people that stay in a room within the School Hostels.
This solution creates even bigger problems. Where would the greater amount of students who are still without accommodation stay? The few people that got spaces are ready to even sell it for extravagant prices, I wouldn't blame them since it's economically lucrative. It is simple economics, scarcity and high demand will lead to an increase in the price of the commodity, after all, money is very important in the life of students.
Solution
It's necessary to get good accommodation within proximity to the school. Security is another issue students face, although it is safer within the school campus it's not outside, these are the factors I will be considering as I look for accommodation around the school. I might consider squatting or not, it depends on how the search goes but I'm hopeful.
I think if the school had more hostels, this issue might just get resolved but I don't see that happening any time soon. It's just an experience we just have to go through I guess. It doesn't change how I currently feel but being sad and disappointed won't change the outcome of things. What I need to do now is to start working towards a solution and I'm confident that I will find a way.
Lead Image Source: Unsplash free images
Riddles + Cryptography = UFM
The title is not a typographical error, it's part of a game we will be playing today. I don't want to write about my life experiences today neither do I want to write about love or heartbreaks. This is one of those days when you just write for fun. I don't know what you do for fun, and we can't possibly play green light, red light. I can't even play that game without thinking about the squid game. So, what about "**Riddles**"?
Riddles can be defined by **Cambridge Dictionary** as: https://dictionary-cambridge-org.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/dictionary.cambridge.org/amp/english/riddle?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16353195670908&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.cambridge.org%2Fdictionary%2Fenglish%2Friddle
**a type of question that describes something in a difficult and confusing way and has a clever or funny answer often asked as a game**
**something that is confusing, or a problem that is difficult to solve**
I was just thinking the other day, do you realize how proud stages can be? Yes, we know you are indeed wise, we have come for your wisdom on a particular matter, and instead of giving a solution you only add more riddles. You might think me weird for this but I hate when I'm seeing a movie and the wise or all-knowing guru starts to speak in riddles instead of giving a simple and direct answer.
We can cite a few
The Lion King 3: Timon searches for his Hakuna Matata
Image Source http://cautiouscreative.com/2010/05/03/lion-king-1-12-meets-flickering-pixels/
**Timon, the meerkat**, had left his family because they claimed he just didn't fit in, so he decided to find another place where he did. On his journey, he got lost. Just then he found **Old Rafiki, the Baboon**. Rafiki decided to help him, but did he?
Timon wanted a place where everything was beautiful and perfect and Rafiki knew just the place, but instead of just drawing him a map, his reply was:
*"To find it, you must look beyond what you see"*
Do you see what I'm saying? Don't worry, I'll leave a reference link so you could see it for yourself. I apologize to those who haven't seen "The Lion King" yet.
Merlin and Kilgharrah, the dragon.
Image Source https://princessofdragons.wordpress.com/tag/kilgharrah/
The great dragon, Kilgharrah, was known for his wisdom and his never-ending riddle. I thought it was cool but when he keeps adding more confusion, it only gets annoying.
*"Arthur is the once and future king"*
*"There is no right or wrong Merlin, only what is and what isn't"*
You saw what he did there? I still can't make any sense of it.
In the past, Riddles and Puzzles served as a means of sending secret information. Sometimes I do wonder how many hours were spent trying to conjure up a Riddle. Some of those riddles remain unsolved till this day, a lot of mysteries that remained unraveled.
Some of these wise sages even went as far as burying their secrets with a lot of riddles to serve as a key. One wrong move and the secrets would be lost forever. They invented different security mechanisms that were considered advanced during their time.
Can We Say Riddles Gave Birth Cryptography?
Cryptography as defined by **Wikipedia** is about constructing and analyzing protocols that prevent third parties or the public from reading private messages. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptography
*I remember back in high school, my friends and I would communicate secretly in class using Cryptography, we would talk about how boring the class was getting, sometimes the teacher would catch us but wouldn't understand the jargon, it didn't work for our Mathematics teacher though. He knew what it was and took the paper home, luckily we didn't write anything implicating so we were saved. Contrary to what we thought, he found it interesting and encouraged us to learn more.*
*There was one I learned while reading a children's book. Unfortunately, I do not remember the name. I still have a lot of diaries that were encoded using this system, a lot of people have tried to have a look in the diary but still can't make sense of it. I mostly use the PigPen Cipher although I tweaked it a bit by adding a key, without the key, you can't crack it. I won't be sharing it though, I will be showing one that is much easier.*
The Atbash Cipher
It was very popular in the 1800s used by the Hebrews in translating text from the Bible. I learned this type of cipher when I read the book "**The Da Vinci Code**" by **Dan Brown**, probably one of the most controversial books of all time. I would be amazed if you haven't read it or at least heard of it.
`The Atbash Cipher is quite easy which is why I will be using it for this little challenge if you are game. There will be rewards for the first three correct answers to the three questions.`
The **Atbash Cipher** uses a mirror technique that suggests all is not as it seems which is similar to the **Caesar cipher**. It uses the substitution technique which suggests **"A" isn't "A" and "B" isn't "B".**
Unlike the Caesar Cipher, the Atbash Cipher has no private keys so it can be deciphered by almost anyone with knowledge of the Atbash Ciphering technique.
Image Source https://aminoapps.com/c/cartoon/amp/blog/gravity-falls-how-to-learn-atbash-cipher/ER1I_PuxaqDYqpv75xa1zPgmaB88lMb
It's A-Z arranged backward from Z-A.
**Example: "Z WLT" can be translated to "A DOG"**
Easy isn't it. If you find it fun, congratulations, you are now a nerd.
Now, let us have some fun
I mentioned earlier that today would just be about having fun, don't let the fact that your Bitcoin Cash is dipping a bit bother you too much, it just means more opportunity to earn more before we are back to the bullish market again.
Question:
***r szev yizmxsvh, yfg ml uifrg, gifmp, li ovzeva, dszg zn r?***
***dsviv wlvh glwzb xlnv yvuliv bvhgviwzb?***
***dszg xzm blf slow rm blfi ovug szmw yfg mlg rm blfi irtsg***
`Translate only one of the three (unless it had been answered). Write out the English translation as well as the answer. One question to one person, have fun.`
*References*
Timon meets Rafiki https://youtu.be/QO2cIFuTydg
Merlin and the Dragon https://youtu.be/BKL7q6yb8ME
The Atbash Cipher https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atbash
**Lead Image Source:** **Unsplash**
Se-ren-di-pi-ty
Have you ever experienced a serendipitous event? ...haha... This is just me flaunting the word "Serendipity" which has just been added to my vocabulary. Since I learned it, I have been looking for an excuse to use it (which I just did). Try saying "Serendipity" over and over, sounds cool, doesn't it?
**According to** **Collins Dictionary** https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/serendipity
**"******Serendipity**** **is the luck some people have in finding or creating interesting or valuable things by chance.**
I could randomly think of a lot of scientific experiments that are arguable serendipitous (ha! I used it again). Some of the popular ones I can think of includes:
The invention of ice cream cones
The making of Coca-Cola
The discovery of Vulcanised Rubber
I won't bore you with the details but you will find the reference link in the "Reference" section of this article to entertain your curiosities. Many people have written articles on different serendipitous activities over the years which is why I won't be doing the same, instead, I will share my experience. You might want to get popcorn for this haha.
There are several of such experiences I can think of, and as a firm believer that there's no such thing as luck because nothing happens by chance, there were some experiences I had that no matter how hard I try, I just don't see how to make sense of them, but what do I know eh.
**The mysterious 1000 Naira note (#1,000 or $2)**
Yes, $2 might seem really small in your country, it's definitely something in mine. This happened at a time when I had nothing. As a student, there are times when you have nothing because you might need to spend it on materials or projects. This was just one of those days.
It was a Friday, the end of a school week. I had no money left and wasn't expecting anything from my parents till the following week. As I ate my last plate of cereal for breakfast, I did my best to slow my pace as I would have to fight hunger for a while. I didn't want to start sharing my problems with anyone and so my big plan was to suffer in silence (a very bad idea).
As I said, it was Friday, the best time to watch your dirty clothes as you prepare for another busy week. Thankfully my Fridays are mostly free so I do most of my washing as early as possible. I started with the shirts, then to the trousers, I had mostly jeans and I always prefer to leave the thick clothing for last.
As I was about to wash the trousers, a thought came to me to check the pockets for sharp objects as I have been hurt that way in the past, so I did. With my thumb, I felt the slightly thick banknote in my pocket, and I gently brought it out. To my amazement, it was a 1000 Naira note ($2). I let out a scream of joy uncontrollably which led to about 30 seconds of awkward silence as everyone was staring at me. I still can't remember how I forgot it there till this day but boy was I happy. That was how I survived that week all thanks to the mysterious 1000 Naira banknote.
The close deadlines
This happened due to procrastination. It almost cost me my college admission. I was done with high school and had applied to a prestigious college in my country, the University of First choice, they called it (or so I thought).
We were supposed to upload some of our credentials online to be eligible to take the school exams for admission (the Post UTME). I had planned to do it earlier but kept on postponing it.
On this day, my mother had sent me on an errand to go to the market, after much persuasion I agreed. It is not that I don't like running errands for my parents, I was raised well, but when you have to do it all the time without so much of a break you just want to revolt (or it's probably all the teenagers hormones doing the talking).
As I dragged my feet to the market, right by a stall, I heard a woman talking to someone on the phone. I know it's good to mind your business but when she mentioned the name of my school to the person at the other end of the line, it got my attention.
"*The portal is closing tonight, I hope your daughter has uploaded her result*"
That was when I remembered what I had postponed. I ran back home from the market and I do not mean that figuratively. I dropped the things I bought in the kitchen. Grabbed my file which contained all my credentials and rush down to a Cyber-Cafe close by. I was able to submit it in the nick of time.
It was a close one, I didn't tell my parents about how I almost missed the deadline because I know just how many insults I would get as well as scolding because they kept on reminding me.
Closing thoughts
I first saw the word "Serendipity" in @meitanteikudo article and I fell in love with the word but after reading @JonicaBradley submission on this prompt it motivated me to share some of my experiences which in my defense I would call them "Serendipitous"
This wasn't my original article on the prompt "Serendipity" by the #PromptFactory, I had another article in mind when I discovered this would go very well with this topic, so I made a few changes, and voila, you have this. https://read.cash/c/prompt-factory-1aa9
Regardless of how you define "Serendipity", either by luck or by destiny, it doesn't change the fact that such experiences make you feel really happy and that is what matters.
This is my submission on the prompt "Serendipity" by the prompt factory, if you wish to be a part of it, you can. Publish an original article and submit it to the #PromptFactory https://read.cash/c/prompt-factory-1aa9
*References*
*15 Accidental Inventions You Can't Imagine Your Life Without* https://youtu.be/qO1brxn1rNs
Lead Image Source: Unsplash
Long distance relationships : it takes two to tango
**This is a very sensitive topic because it's based on something I once experienced. I decided to keep an open mind to avoid all forms of being biased by carrying out a survey and I got some really interesting replies that shed more light into this subject.**
Let me take the time out to flaunt my sponsors, check out their works.
Image Source
**Technological advancement** in the 21st century has made communication over long distances possible which also makes long-distance relationships a possibility. Nowadays it's even more common to hear of young teenagers being in a relationship with someone they only met through social media and still haven't met physically.
Before I proceed any further, we must get a clear definition of what Long distance relationship (LDR) means. According to Wikipedia : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-distance_relationship
***A long-distance relationship (LDR) or long-distance romantic relationship (LDRR) is an intimate relationship between partners who are geographically separated from one another.***
Image Source
**What do you do when you are in a relationship with someone who stays far away?**
From my survey, I was able to learn about the two important factors that are necessary to keep a long-distance relationship going
Communication
Trust
**Communication**
This is the most important aspect of maintaining a long-distance relationship. Thanks to the progress technology have made in recent years we can keep tabs on our loved ones through social media. You can just Skype or chat all day if you wish depending on your schedule. It's important to make this as continuous as before to fill the void the long-distance relationship will create.
**Trust**
For couples in long-distance relationships, the level of trust is important. Since you are not always going to be with him or her, how will you know if he or she isn't cheating on you? It's not at all news when such accusations come up, sometimes they are true. If you do not trust your partner, the relationship will definitely fail.
**Why do people go into such relationships**
There are a lot of factors that can influence people's choices when going into such relationships.
**Situation**
Some situations are simply out of our control and the best we can do is accept them and try to adapt to the changes. It's possible that the person you loves relocated to a new city for one reason or the other and you still want to make it work
**Space**
I was surprised to discover that some people intentionally go into a long-distance relationship because they want their space. Apparently spending so much time with the person they love is too much to bear. I found it ironic actually, is it possible to be in love with someone yet you don't want them to hover around you? Yes...it is and it's understandable.
**Introverts**
Do you have that friend who is very noisy and stubborn on social media but when you meet them in person they are just really quiet and would barely start a conversation? Such people will be more comfortable with maintaining long-distance relationships.
Image Source
**Is it possible for this relationship to survive without any physical connection?**
There is no denying that it could be quite difficult to go one without physical contact and when you find another person who is there to meet that needs, you end up cheating.
It's not all that bad, there are certain advantages of subjecting your loved ones to such a situation, so to say.
**You know who genuinely loves you**
We live in an era where it's just difficult to know who to trust. "Does he/she loves me for me?". If he/she is willing to wait that long just to be with you, that just proves how genuine his/her feelings are.
**Generate more fondness**
It's normal logic for the heart to want even more what it can't have. It has been scientifically proven and we can see the result in our daily lives. If you were told that you could never eat Chicken again, all of a sudden that is exactly what you will crave, the same logic applies to the fondness of the earth. I beg to differ though, I am convinced that you grow fonder of something or someone you spend more time with, not apart but that's just an argument for another day. Science hasn't always been perfect at predicting human behaviors because it's unique and also subject to change.
**Creates a sense of value**
Since you are mostly apart, that little time he/she comes over has more importance as compared to someone you see all the time thus creating a strong feeling of anticipation which is enough to keep the heart going and waiting patiently. In truth, a person can only be patient for so long but when the love is there, the wait is surely worth it. Such feelings can serve as fuel for the relationship.
**Would you want to be in a long-distance relationship or a short-distance relationship?**
The answer to this wasn't at all surprising as more people would prefer to spend more time with their loved ones except for a few who claim they are satisfied with the distance.
One man's meat can be a Mother's poison I guess. Personally, I have tasted the two and I'm convinced Short distance is better, of course, if you don't like your loved one to hover around you all the time it's only a matter of "communicating" with him/her.
Image source
**My thoughts**
*I will be honest with you, I had an extremely difficult time writing this article due to scars that have refused to heal. When they said time heals, they failed to mention just how long.*
*I challenged myself and went on with it but in order not to limit the information to just "me", I conducted a survey. Carrying out surveys is an important skill in gathering useful information on a particular subject, if you haven't tried it in the past then I suggest you do.*
*My advice to the lovers currently in a long-distance relationship is this, I know how hard it can get but don't let other people's failures affect your judgment. As long as the two of you are ready to make it work then it will.*
*Also, it's only temporary, you won't be apart forever, stay strong. Love always wins, after all, a wise lady once told me, "****it takes two to tango****"*
Lead Image Source:**Unsplash**
I am only human
**I** once thoughts I could do it all, be the perfect kid, the perfect son, the perfect friend. I always tried to satisfy people first before myself. I cared more about people's opinions than I cared to listen to what I needed.
**A**pparently, I lived in my own world where I thought everything could be perfect. I pushed myself to the limit to set a standard for my siblings to follow. "*it is the responsibility of the Firstborn to set a path for his siblings*"- I was often told while growing up.
**M**anipulating people into believing perfection exists in my opinion has been a big error in our ways. The idea of perfection belongs only to the creator. We want so much to be like the Creator that we now try to imitate him, we want to be the ones to judge and also the executioner forgetting that we are in fact filled with flaws. "*He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her*"- according to the gospel of John. It is written yet we seem to turn a blind eye to this part. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/let-him-who-is-without-sin-cast-the-first-stone#:~:text=Jesus%20thought%20for%20a%20moment,own%20consciences%20that%20they%20departed.&text=She%20replied%2C%20%E2%80%9CNo%20man%2C,go%20and%20sin%20no%20more.%E2%80%9D
**O**ver the years, a lot of people have come up with different theories to show how as humans we can strive toward perfection. Writers and poets came up with motivational quotes and beautiful poetry trying to paint a picture of what perfection should look like. Scientists built machines to carry out herculean tasks, Programmers wrote computer programs to help simplify complex problems. A big joke if you'd ask me, the human justification of what perfection should look like.
**N**owadays, the word "being human" means so little. In the past being human would have meant showing love and caring for another, in reality being human is quite the opposite. There is more hatred than love these days, the idea of jungle justice is becoming even more rampant and the word *being human* is slowly changing its meaning to "*being heartless*".
**L**ove and hate are part of being human, the two must exist for one can't consume the other. It's your job to try to keep both feelings balanced. The one that you feed the most gets more power and that is what defines you as a Human.
**Y**ou are who you claim to be. Part of being human is having the free will to decide, I guess that is why we are capable of committing sins. You have the power to say yes or no, you have the power to change the world and destroy it, whatever decision you make has its consequences.
**H**ow about we come together and redefine what being human is, destroy all forms of misconceptions of the term "Human" and instead of trying to be who people want you to be, why not just be your best self. We need to revive that spirit of compadre as we seek to achieve an even higher purpose.
**U**nderstanding what makes us human is a big step towards actualizing this dream. Imagine a world where there is no such thing as war and we all live in peace and harmony. Where there is a lot of sharing and love-filled gratitude. A world where your cheeks hurt from smiling too much. Wouldn't that be nice?
**M**istakes will be inevitable as we strive towards this goal, which is also part of being human. We are not perfect after all. The conscious volition and the readiness to accept mistakes and learn from them as we forge ahead on this path alone is enough.
**A**lthough, it is very possible that my suggestions might just be wrong because I'm also human, but do give this some thoughts. What idea of a perfect world do you see? Perhaps you will see the world from my point of view.
**N**evertheless, I will share my thoughts whilst hoping you make sense of it. I am only human, that's who I am but I can be more. I can rise above false misconceptions the world has accepted to be normal and perhaps lead others into being the best they can be. Maybe it is not possible to attain perfection, but I can continue to strive towards it. Who knows, maybe my single act of change can make this world a better place to live in someday.
*This is my submission to the "why not a rustic" challenge from the* ***#PromptFactory****.* https://read.cash/c/prompt-factory-1aa9
*Acrostic according to* *Cambridge dictionary* *is defined as:* https://dictionary-cambridge-org.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/dictionary.cambridge.org/amp/english/acrostic?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16350176066923&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.cambridge.org%2Fdictionary%2Fenglish%2Facrostic
***"a text, usually a poem, in which particular letters, such as the first letters of each line, spell a word or phrase"***
*If you noticed, the highlighted words spell out "****I AM ONLY HUMAN****". A lot of people have participated in this challenge, you can too. Write a creative content using the Acrostic style and submit it to the Promptfactory. If you are not yet a part of this community,* *here is a link.* *If you ever run out of topics to write on which is pretty common among writers, just visit the community and have fun.* https://read.cash/c/prompt-factory-1aa9
***Lead Image Source :*** ***Unsplash***
Laugh out loud
Laughing releases hormones that promote good health. I once created a list of horror movies, twice in fact. I realized that not a lot of people are a big fan of the scare that comes with such movies especially @PrincessMae, so I decided to publish a list of movies that would make you laugh.
By the way, check out my amazing sponsor's block
`You would also observe that PrincessMae has also joined the list, thanks for the support`
There are days where nothing just seems to go the way we planned and it's important to find someone or something to make us laugh. I published an article about that, you can check it **here** if you wish. https://read.cash/@Greatwolfman/there-are-bad-days-d9e52667
Alright, that's enough introduction, let us get right to it. There may be spoilers ahead, so watch out. I will be limiting the list to only 10, which suggests that there will be more. **Here are my top 10 picks for my "Laugh out Loud" series.**
**Dead pool**
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadpool_(film)
Image Source https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadpool_(film)
It's important to point out at this time that I'm a big fan of Ryan Reynolds, the dark humor just gets me every time. This is a movie I will recommend you check out if you haven't. I have only seen it about a couple of 100 times and might make it 101 tonight.
It's a Marvel Series Movie featuring Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) who suffered from cancer but is then exposed to chemical reactions that give him regenerative abilities. He uses this power to fight crimes and bring justice to the wicked, literally.
**Free Guy**
https://www.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/free-guy
Image Source https://www.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/free-guy
Another Ryan Renold movie again. Did I mention I'm a big fan? Imagine if you realized that your life was only a game, and the game was about to be destroyed weird right?
Guy (Ryan Reynolds) is a NPC (Non- Playable-Character) added to the multiplayer game to make it more fun for players. It so happens that this character suddenly develops a mind of his own, the world he once knew was only a computer program. He falls in love with a Player's Avatar who tells him the truth about his world and he sorts out to save the game by being the hero.
**The Hitman's bodyguard**
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1959563/
Image Source https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1959563/
Okay, you guessed it, it's Ryan Reynolds again. This one was very hilarious and I always find myself rolling on the floor whenever I see it.
Micheal Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) stars as a Bodyguard in this movie assigned to protect respectable clients until one day, a client on his watch. This loss took a toll on his career until he is forced to protect a convicted criminal, Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) who is supposed to testify in court against a very powerful and dangerous man, will he succeed?
*Honorable mention: Red Notice, still Ryan Reynolds, take it as a bonus from me.*
**Night School**
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_School_(2018_film)
Image Source https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_School_(2018_film)
Okay, let us switch from Ryan Reynolds to one of my favorite comedians of all time, Kevin Hart. I just love the way he acts, particularly his humor when he talks about his height.
Teddy (Kevin Hart), an educational misfit is forced to go back to school after he accidentally blows up his workplace and is unable to get another job because he hadn't taken his final exams. He takes up a Night Class and meets other misfits and together they try to pass the exams once and for all.
If you are also a fan of Tiffany Hadish, then I'm sure you will also love this movie, she happens to be their teacher. Oh! The drama.
**Ride along**
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ride_Along_(film)
Image Source https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ride_Along_(film)
Kevin Hart stars in this movie as a man (Ben Barber) determined to prove himself to his girlfriend's brother, James Payton who happens to be a cop, to seek his blessings for marriage to his sister. The problem started when his supposed future Brother-in-law who likes to work alone is Partners with Ben to investigate a crime syndicate. Will Ben succeed with his plans to impress James?
**Think like a man**
Image Source https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1621045/
I personally enjoyed this one and I believe that anyone who is in a relationship or about to get into one would learn a thing or two from it. The movie was simply hilarious, partly based on the book by Steve Harvey "Act like a lady, think like a man"
In the book, he exposes some of the secret plays men do to get a woman and shows how a woman can resist these gameplays and take control. It was all good until the boys (Kevin Hart and his friends) discovered this gameplay and decided to use it to their advantage. I'm trying not to drop any spoilers here, check it out if you haven't.
**Coming to America**
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0094898/
Image Source https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0094898/
A movie as old as time. Eddie Murphy made us all laugh in this movie, there is even a sequel to it.
The prince of a kingdom in Africa travels to America to seek a new bride. The ways of the Americans are very different from what he is used to, so he tries to adjust to the new setting. He falls in love with a beautiful girl but his father will never allow him marry another because he had been betrothed. The beautiful girl is also oblivious to his wealth and power, what will happen when his secret comes out?
**Daddy daycare**
Image Source https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daddy_Day_Care
I will be surprised if you haven't seen this movie. Eddie Murphy moved the heart of every mother out there showing that men are capable of running a day care.
Charlie (Eddie Murphy) and Phil (Jeff Garlin) start a day care center after Charlie lost his job and later grew desperate, he has always been good at raising his son, will he be able to handle a whole lot of millennials? I mean kids...haha
**Naked**
Image source https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_(2017_film)
Imagine having to relive the same day over and over, waking up completely naked. Marlon Wayans (Rob Anderson) stars in this movie as a man who is about to marry the girl of his dream.
He tries to impress his future father-in-law who dislikes him because he thinks he is irresponsible and not successful enough to marry his daughter.
On the morning of his wedding, he wakes up naked in an elevator with no memory of how he got there only to keep reliving the same experience, how will he break out of this time loop?
**Sextuplets**
Image source https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sextuplets_(film)
Imagine you discovered that you had siblings when you are deep into your middle age.
Alan's(Marlon Wayans) wife is pregnant, just around the time he discovers that he's only one of six children, he decides to reunite with his siblings before his baby is born. The adventure begins as he journeys to meet his lost family, will he make it in time? How will his family react to this news?
**This brings me to the end of the list, I hope you have a really good laugh. There will be a sequel to this article as time goes by, but for now, enjoy this little list.**
**I also tried my best not to include any spoilers, just some spice to lead the way as you explore the world of comedy and pure bliss.**
*References*
*Deadpool* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadpool_(film)
*Free guy* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Guy
*The Hitman's bodyguard* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitman%27s_Bodyguard
*Night School* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_School_(2018_film)
*Ride along* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ride_Along_(film)
*Think like a man* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_Like_a_Man#:~:text=Think%20Like%20a%20Man%20is,Lady%2C%20Think%20Like%20a%20Man.
*Coming to America* https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/coming_to_america
*Daddy day care* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daddy_Day_Care
*Naked* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_(2017_film)
*Sextuplets* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sextuplets_(film)
**You can follow me on**:
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If it were easy everyone would do it
*The Dark elves were trying to return the world to the dark ages using a weapon of mass destruction. Thor and Loki are trying to get it out of Asgard through a path known only to Loki since Odin, the all-father had forbidden passage through the Bifrost, the only known way in and out of Asgard. As the group approached the narrow void, Thor fears for their safety given the fact that Loki was indeed the god of mischief. As they drew near, Thor started to have doubts if Loki actually knew what he was doing, then Loki replies*
***"If it were easy, everyone would do it"***
I'm not here to tell a movie, if you wish to know how it ends, just go online and search for **Thor: The dark world** but I'm sure many of us have already seen it, if you missed that dialogue then you weren't paying close attention (or were you?) https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1981115/
Do check out my amazing and supportive sponsor's page
This article is related to the countless opportunities that surround us. A good example would be **read.cash**, *a wonderful platform where writers can express their thoughts and imaginations, learn from other writers, and earn Bitcoin cash, a very promising Cryptocurrency* yet, there are a lot of people who will pass on this opportunity.
What's is the reason behind this?
*I can think of a few which I'm going to talk about in this article. I hope that this article will inspire more writers to take up this challenge and face their weaknesses.*
***Laziness***
This is the major reason why most people refuse to take up this opportunity. The idea of writing original content can seem demanding and a lot of work. **They approach every opportunity with the idea that it would be easy money without even making an effort, often this category of people get scammed and lose money to scams in the process.**
There was a prompt on this topic "**Laziness**" by @JonicaBradley and it revealed a lot of interesting personalities and exposed people's views on what they thought about it. **You might think you are lazy but the fact that you are still here writing and publishing articles on read.cash proves that you are not**.
***Lack of the will to learn***
The usual answer I get from most people when I tell them about my journey on read.cash is that **they do not know how to write articles** but who does? The truth is that writing articles is **a continuous learning process**, there are some better at it than others when it comes to writing but that's the whole point, learn from other writers and improve your skill.
The usual motivational quote is **"Learn and then you can remove the L",** what if I tell you that is not the case here, **"Earn while you Learn"**, *doesn't that at least capture your interest?*
Writing is just like talking except you are putting it into words. The next task is now trying to improve how you narrate your speech so that your readers will understand the message you are trying to pass across.
***Lack of Motivation***
The BCH earned here can serve as a good form of motivation to everyone, but when you start and you aren't seeing any reward for your effort, **you just get disappointed and eventually quit.**
Sometimes, some young writers register here on read.cash but after a couple of posts, they just quit. Though some return after a while, some don't. This is the final reason why I think people pass on this opportunity to reach their full potential on read.cash
****My advise****
We all have dreams, we all want to be financially stable, I want to be a billionaire *(whenever I hear the music by Bruno Mars and Travie McCoy, I can't help but sing out loud to the pretty catchy lyrics)***.** **It's alright to have these dreams but you should know that until you make that sacrifice to work and break out of the cycle of laziness, those dreams will only exist in your mind.**
**I'm not going to butter your cup and tell you it's going to be easy, if it were, everyone would be doing it** (*ha, I feel like the mischievous backstabbing Loki using that line*), but as far as working goes, this is by far the best I have seen in a very long time.
It's alright to feel lazy sometimes, or get tired due to busy schedules **after all we are only humans** (*hmm, a perfect title to an article, wouldn't you agree?*), but so are the wealthy and successful people in the world. If you need motivation, find one of the successful people around you, discover how they face challenges and overcome them, learn from them and find your motivation.
One day, as you look back to tell your success story, you will remember this article and just smile. I can already imagine how that speech would go. I reckon it would look like this-**"It all started with read.cash, I read an article on..."**
There is an old parable that goes forth - "**you can only lead the horse to the river but you can't force it to drink water**". I can only say so much, eventually, I must take a pause, it's up to you now to decide on your next move.
References
Thor 2 : the dark world https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor:_The_Dark_World
Lead Image Source
We will never forget you
I have been trying to put words together all day trying to express just how much pain I still feel seeing how my brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers were gunned down for the sake of protesting against police brutality.
The **Special Anti Robbery Squad** **(SARS**) was established in 1992 with the sole objective of dealing with crimes associated with Robbery, Theft, kidnapping among others. Over the years it transformed into something else which led to an **all-wide protest** against the end of this organization. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Anti-Robbery_Squad
The peaceful protest was met with violence. The rate at which youths were getting abused was on a rise. **You could not even leave your house without the fear of being harassed.** It was becoming more dangerous to walk on the street as it was to me on the front line during battle.
It was a crime to live a life of luxury
You can't drive your fancy car or use your nice phones or even dress the way you want. Every single fault was an excuse to suffer some beatings. Grown men were being flogged, young girls were being punished, and the young boys couldn't be sure if they would survive the encounter **alive or dead**.
You can't have a crypto wallet
This protest fell during the time that cryptocurrency was beginning to gain ground in the country and it improved the standard of living of the average man which means almost everyone had a crypto wallet. If this wallet was found in your phone, you are definitely in big trouble.
Even traveling through public transport wasn't safe. They could stop the bus, ask everyone to step out, and begin to harass the youths. The man with the gun has the power, right?
https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/world-55899041.amp
The Birth of EndSARS
It got so bad that SARS was beginning to take justice into their own hands, killing youths in the name of self-defense, until someone caught a video of them shooting a couple of young adults in a hotel to death. This video went viral and soon the whole nation came out to protest against this brutality
It was the beginning of the **EndSARS protest.** For the first time in a very long time, **the nation had one voice and it was to put an end to this Organisation**. Old, Young, Crippled, Sick took to the street for a peaceful protest when the government refused to give in to the request.
You must be wondering, why write about this article today?
**20th of October, 2020** marks a red day that will forever be a stain in the history of our Nation. Innocent and Peaceful protesters were slaughtered for the sake of fighting for peace. **Today serves as a day of remembrance to the lives that were lost on that day**. The affected families are still grieving to this day. Every Nigerian youth still grieves to this day. ***It could have as well been me who died that day, I tell myself.***
**Mysteries Surrounding the Murder**
They were a lot of mysteries surrounding the brutal murder of innocent civilians that day, ***who gave the kill order? What happened to the CCTV's?*** All investigations have proved abortive, ***did the people in power approve this brutal act against humanity?*** The thoughts of it alone are enough to make one angry.
https://punchng.com/police-disperse-osun-endsars-protesters/?amp
Rest in peace, your sacrifice would not be in vain
Though lives were lost, a heavy price was paid just for peace. **The SARS was immediately disbanded** after the incident as the youths prepared to go to war with the government for retaliation. That act could have resulted in more bloodshed but **what less could you expect from the broken-hearted in an unjust country.**
Today, Nigerians all come out to remember the lives that were lost. All lives matter. **It was a painful experience but it showed how powerful the youths of this country can be when we all stand together.** This is my own little contribution to thank the people who gave their lives. Their bravery and Sacrifice will always be remembered. **We will never forget you.**
Lead Image Source https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/10/endsars-tension-as-youths-insist-on-anniversary-protest-2/amp/?relatedposts_hit=1&relatedposts_origin=1684028&relatedposts_position=0
BCH Nigerian Forum - reaching out to more people in Nigeria
This forum started as a dream of one person but has grown into a dream of others, myself included. What started as an idea is slowly materializing into a community. Over the months the community has gotten bigger as more writers keep coming in.
`Before I proceed any further, I want to take this time out to thank all my sponsors for their continuous support. You are the best.`
Feel free to check out these amazing sponsors.
Promoting mass adoption of BCH in Nigeria
**The primary goal of this forum is to promote BCH adoption in Nigeria**. A lot of people are still in the dark when it comes to the opportunity Bitcoin cash brings, more importantly, **SmartBCH**. Most of the "*older generation* " find it difficult to accept Cryptocurrency as a payment simply because they do not understand it, thus **leading them to call it a scam.**
People shun what they do not understand rather than learn what it is about. The famous excuse would be "**better safe than sorry"**. They fail to understand that the world is constantly evolving and that is exactly what this forum plans to change.
https://news.bitcoin.com/bitcoin-cash-network-completes-a-successful-hard-fork/
Mentorship
While that is the primary objective of this forum it is not all, mentoring new and upcoming writers is another. I remember when **HappyBoy** first told me about this opportunity five months ago, I didn't take it seriously and was about to let a very good opportunity slide until one day I decided to put together an article after months of being inactive, you know, exploring my passion of writing, and I loved it.
I was so excited to share my article with my friends. I was less concerned about the BCH I had earned, I was contented with the fact that I was able to express myself freely, although I'm sure we can all agree that the coins earned from writing are a good form of inspiration to keep writing.
I did earn a few cents from my friend Rusty right from the start and from my friends who wanted to encourage me to write on, but I was doing it all wrong. I'm sure I wouldn't have developed more as a writer without having such good friends. **Happyboy** read one of my articles and decided to check my page, there he noticed that **I had zero activities** (this means I wasn't reading anyone's article or even dropping a comment and giving upvotes).
I honestly had no idea that I needed to read anyone's article too. I had been writing for about a week and was only just learning what I needed to do. While this might be irrelevant to some of us, it isn't to a lot of new writers here on read.cash. **Being able to put your thoughts into words is one thing, knowing how to relate with other people is another task and this is another objective of the forum.**
Mentorship is indeed a key element, it doesn't only encourage young writers but also help them know what needs to be done to improve their writing skill which will definitely lead them to earn more Bitcoin cash.
Follow-up on affiliates
It is very easy to inform people about earning Bitcoin cash through read.cash and noise.cash, **the difficult part is doing the follow-up**. It is very common to see a lot of newbies giving up after the first few articles when they don't see anything coming in and only a few of them even know what they need to do. This wouldn't be the case if the invitee takes his/her time to explain what needs to be done.
It's pointless inviting 100 people if none of them are ready to work. It's more reasonable to invite two partners and monitor their progress, these two will be more likely to invite even more people thereby leading to the progress of the community and Bitcoin Cash mass adoption.
I once wrote an article on the prompt " **What would you do if you had $590k?**", I shared my vision for a Bitcoin Cash community. It might be a long shot right now but I still believe that one day the vision will soon become a reality and it begins one step at a time. To create a Bitcoin cash community you need to first create a community as well as expose them to the possibilities of Bitcoin cash.
The most efficient way of building an even bigger community in Nigeria
**The fastest way to reach out to the masses is by first targeting the schools here in Nigeria,** which is how I got to hear about it myself. There are a lot of students searching for alternative sources of living just to get by and I believe introducing them to Bitcoin cash will go a long way towards mass adoption. This is now a plan on my agenda as I continue to pass along this opportunity. Of course, I won't be doing it alone, **I've got the whole members of the BCH Nigerian Forum doing the same.**
Closing note
I believe a great man once said "**you grow by lifting others**". As a member of this community this is what I intend to do, encouraging new upcoming writers, showing them the possibilities of Bitcoin cash, thankfully we have experts like **Fexonice** and **HappyBoy** who keep us updated on new opportunities on Bitcoin cash. We also have amazing writers like ate **Jane**, **PVMihalache**, **Pantera**, and many other wonderful writers who publish amazing articles about the crypto space which can be shared among friends and colleagues as well as newbies to keep them updated and informed.
**The future of Bitcoin cash is your responsibility. Do your best today in hopes of a better future.**
Lead Image Source https://cointelegraph.com/altcoins-for-beginners/what-is-bitcoin-cash-and-how-does-bch-work-a-beginners-guide/amp
There are bad days
Have you ever had a day where nothing seemed to work out the way you want to? I was talking to my good friend @King_Gozie today, and he was in a bit of a situation where things weren't going according to plan. I felt bad for him and this reminded me about an experience I once had.
Why are there bad days?
*Honestly, I have no idea. Could it be Karma or a message from God Or just you having a bad day?*
*Whatever reason behind this experience will remain a mystery to me. It can get really frustrating, enough to make a fully grown man cry. Just in case you were wondering, I didn't cry but it did frustrate me.*
Storytime
**You might this funny but I can assure you it wasn't. It happened to me because of a girl.**
I was a young boy who was crazy in love. I was in love with a girl who schooled far away. When you are a young teenager in love you do things you just wouldn't believe now when you look back.
The plan
We had not seen in a long time due to school activities and the tension was building up. We needed to meet up so a date was fixed. The perfect time, you could call it. I had just finished my exams and she had just resumed for a new session.
I told myself, "*Great, you need to make this journey*". I hate traveling, it's often because of the bad road and the heavy traffic and I also suffer from road sickness. Before this, I had never traveled anywhere that far especially to a place I've never been just to see a girl I love. Oh, if you can keep a secret, I didn't tell my parents about this.
It was morning, just like any other day. I woke up smiling feeling proud of myself about to make this journey. She had called multiple times that morning to find out of I was already on my way but it was only 6 am.
The first sign
I jumped down from my bed feeling all hyped and accidentally twisted my ankle in the process. That should have been the first sign but I didn't listen to that silent voice in my head. Luckily it wasn't severe, I had it straightened out by my roommate just before hitting the gym.
Phone stopped charging
I got back to the room and decided to call her back. I noticed my phone battery wasn't charged even though it was plugged in. ***The second rule about traveling is to always keep your phone switched on***. There was no way I would travel without having this fixed. So I hurried out of the hostel to meet up with a "Phone repairman", he charged me quite a sum but I didn't care, I wanted it fixed so I could start my long journey. He told me to come back after a few hours which I did. He tested it and it was charging again. I rushed back to the hostel to get some power into the phone so I could be on my way.
I found a traveling partner
Just then, a friend of mine (a coursemate) who was also leaving for home (as earlier mentioned we had just completed the session) offered to share a free ride promo code with me since he was going through the city which I have never been to. It was a good idea, at least I will have someone to talk to to help me with the nerves that were just killing me inside. So we ordered a ride and I gathered my belongings.
The phone situation just got worse
I remembered that I had seen her missed calls so I decided to call her back, only for me to discover that I could hear her but she couldn't hear me. Apparently the " Phone repairman" hadn't done a good job, why all this?
I went back to his shop to complain about what I had noticed and he made up an excuse about my phone's mouthpiece been bad and needed to be replaced. I argued it had been working well before now but the argument wasn't going to bring me anywhere close to fixing the phone. He requested another money to get that fixed. *What a cheater, preying on a young naive boy's desperation in the name of the business.*
I had little money left for the trip
The clock was ticking and I needed to make it in time to meet with the ordered vehicle which was supposed to take us to the garage where we would finally enter a bus to our destination. I saw my account balance and what was left there wouldn't be enough anymore. I had worked as a tutor that semester and was expecting my salary. The person in charge called to tell me he had sent my money to my bank account but it hadn't been reflected yet. He blamed it on his bank's network.
He accidentally canceled the free ride and lost the promo
I was so confused and didn't even know how best to proceed. I went back to the hostel and told my coursemate that he would have to leave without me since I wasn't ready yet only to be greeted with another disappointing news. He had accidentally canceled the ride wasting the free ride promo we had. I was so upset, tired, and frustrated that I just sat down on the bunk and buried my head with my hands. What is the meaning of all this? Since we no longer had a free ride, the solution was that we would have to carry our load to the school's garage and stop at different bus stops with the said heavy load until we get to the garage where we would enter the bus and be on our way.
I gave up on trying to fix the phone and found an alternative to
I went back for the phone. It was tested And was proven to be working. I went back to my hostel to face the problem head-on. I tried calling her again only the discover it was still the same issue, she still couldn't hear me. I was just about to smash my phone to the ground when a friend suggested using an earpiece temporarily till I get back. It worked and I was able to get in touch with her about my whereabouts. I was losing daylight and had a journey that would take hours to make.
Finally, some good news
Not too long, I got my credit alert on my phone and we started our little journey, my coursemate and I. We finally got to the garage only to discover that there was no bus on the ground because the last one was still in route stuck in traffic. We had to wait for almost 2 hours before the bus came. At this point, I had resolved within me that I was going to get to my destination really late.
The young boy who has never traveled, lost in a big city, it has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
I did manage to find my way even though it was late and I was also exhausted. ***The third rule about traveling, don't be afraid to ask for directions***, it's advisable to ask someone from the opposite sex, they are more likely to help you.
I made the journey at last. It was exhilarating filled with a lot of anger and frustration but it was worth it. If you were paying attention, you would notice I never gave the "***First rule about traveling", always tell someone before making that trip***. There are so many reasons who should that is why it is the first rule. If anything had happened to me, my parents wouldn't have known which was a stupid but calculated risk. Avoid unnecessary risk when you can.
We have all had bad days at some point in our lives, fortunately, it doesn't last forever.
Lead image source
I am a lazy boy
**Laziness**, **the quality of not being willing to work or use any effort according to** **Cambridge Dictionary****.** https://dictionary-cambridge-org.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/dictionary.cambridge.org/amp/english/laziness?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16344021031397&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.cambridge.org%2Fdictionary%2Fenglish%2Flaziness
**I am a lazy boy**, yes you read that right. I will be writing this article from my own point of view. The moment I saw this prompt by @JonicaBradley on laziness, I was still on my bed trying to decide on ***what*** time would be good enough to roll off the bed and get on with my day. Luckily my phone was arms reach, I decided to check my notifications, and "viola!!!" I saw this. By the way, this was three days ago..ha!! Bet you didn't see that coming
Image source
**I am a lazy boy**, yes you read that right. I am willing to bet I'm not the only one who's lazy. I am also willing to bet that you will skim through this article and just see how it ends. Welcome to the club mate, guess who is the leader eh. It's alright I know, you will probably convince yourself that you have a lot of articles to read so you won't be able to read through everything but my friend, that's the voice of laziness speaking.
**I am indeed a lazy boy**, I won't lie about that. I also know you are trying to prove me wrong so you are still reading along trying to convince yourself that you aren't lazy. I don't know about you but it does feel pretentious don't you think? Just saying. I would know because I am (doesn't mean I'm right though).
Image source
**I am very lazy**, yes, I did mention that earlier. I think I'm just trying to prove to myself that I don't have to be too lazy to type that sentence over and over so I just try to change some of the phrases. I'm beginning to think "Laziness" is not such a bad thing. I mean, it does induce a level of creativity as my friend @Oikawa ***has*** pointed in his article "Why you should be lazy" and I have lazily made an effort to show you. https://read.cash/@Oikawa/why-you-should-be-lazy-6fde84d3
**A very lazy boy I am**, no argument on that, I have made my peace with who I am. That's how I know that a lazy person loves procrastinating. I believe I was so inspired that I wrote an article about it (Procrastination) but I did fail to mention that procrastinating is not negative all the time (didn't I? You won't know unless you read it). I once procrastinate working on ***a*** particular project and it got canceled at the time due to an unforeseen incident (COVID-19), the serious student in my department had already started working and I felt so bad for them when the questions had to be changed to suit to lockdown challenges. The lazy ones like me didn't have to go through the disappointment. I'm sure @HappyBoy can relate (Hint: Building Maintenance Project). https://read.cash/@Greatwolfman/procastination-ea5876de
**I am that lazy boy**, I have checked my draft several times so far to check if I have written up to the minimum amount of words. I'm not proud of this and I do not encourage you to follow suit but it's important to add that you need to keep your articles above that minimum. *If you are still reading up to this point then I'm sure it's because of the riddle to which I will leave one hint for you - "****cap****"*
Image source
**It is me, the lazy boy**, if it's too far from arms reach then it's not for me. If it's no longer within my line of sight then it is lost forever. If I have to work to get it done then I probably won't get it done. If I need to go out of my house to see you then I might never see you. If I don't have to, then I won't. If you share some of these characteristics ***but*** still doubt whether you deserve to be part of our group, then I believe you have the answer.
**I am not that lazy though**. If I was I wouldn't be writing this article right now. There is a time for everything, a time to be lazy, and a time to be the opposite of being lazy. Trying to find a balance between these two aspects is ***no*** easy task yet it is a task that needs to be done. There are two sides to a coin, like night and day or good and evil, find your balance or it would destroy you.
Closing thoughts.
I would have to admit that it feels a lot like writing about myself but then again I'm sure many of you can relate to this prompt. Getting up from my bed has to be one of the first hectic tasks I have to perform each day when I wake up. The moment you realize that it's dawn and you have to ***head*** out to begin the day's activity can be tiring. Since I'm on holiday, I often don't need to wake up early unless when I absolutely need to, like trying to assist with breakfast so Mom and my little sister would get on with their day. Writing articles here on read.cash has gone a long way in helping me curb laziness as well.
Here's my advice to my fellow friends, I suggest you find something you love doing and just do it. If you have none, find one. Laziness can be a virtue and a poison as well but luckily it has an antidote.
**Interest**
**Consistency**
**Hard work**
If you loved this article and want to be a part of this prompt on "Laziness", here is what you need to do.
**Write an article on "Laziness".**
**Tag** @JonicaBradley **in your article.**
**Ensure your article is at least 600 words to attract good rewards.**
**Submit to the community -** **PromptlyJonica****, if you are not yet a part of the community then join.** https://read.cash/c/promptlyjonica-b4a0
**More importantly, have fun.**
Hello friends, this challenge is specifically for members of my lazy club but you are welcome to try it as well.
Image Source
*Hidden in my article lies a riddle*
*Read between the lines, it's quite easy and highlighted too*
*Don't delay, tick stock says the clock, alas the riddle won't be for long*
*I'm afraid it's only for the next 4 hours, any answer submitted later than that time, it would be a different song*
*The first 3 readers to solve this mystery, a nice reward they shall have, little thought it might be.*
*Winners, losers, lazy boys like myself, and hard workers who took the time to read the article, who will snatch my little reward? Only time will reveal.*
Lead image source https://www.shutterstock.com/search/lazy+boy
**Time of submission of article-21 : 30 hours (WAT)**
Do you believe in Fairy tales?
*I spent an awful amount of time reading fairy tale stories, and I would imagine myself to be the knight in shining armor saving the princess in distress from the evil queen. I would make swords out of sticks and shields out of umbrellas. I had this weird costume that came with a helmet. I had so few friends so I would often hop around the compound with my tricycle playing the role of a horse as I rode into battle. I have said this several times, I've got wild imaginations.*
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Then you can imagine how it was for me when my imagination started to become a reality, **the day I found my princess.**
It was just like any other day. It was a Friday evening, a good way to end the busy week of lectures, staying in the studio to make use of the free wifi to download animé.
`By the way, is "One piece" not the best animé in the world?`
Then she walked in and stole my heart. I stared in disbelief as such beauty was simply out of this world. I have finally found the princess to my little fairy tale and I was determined to make a move.
I approached her with a simple "**Hi**" and then she smiled in return with "**Hi**" and that was it, she stole my heart. Love at first sight I would call it. I saw butterflies, my heart started racing, the studio shined even brighter and I was utterly speechless.
Have I found the missing piece to my broken heart? She had come to the studio to study overnight. Angel was this girl's name, accurate in every way. She pulled me in (*but not for a kiss as I'm sure you had anticipated)*, she whispered into my right ear "***People are staring***". I wondered if she didn't know how beautiful she was, that has got to be how she's admired every day. I meant to say it but I was lost in the intoxicating aroma of her hair.
***She had all my weakness, beauty, and brains, the Achilles heel to my mighty heart. How can someone just have it all?***
I'm not good at making conversations but here I was flowing with topics to discuss. We argued about some of the dangers of time travel, different **Marvel and DC Characters**, and who was more powerful than " Superman". She topped the scale when she dived into animé and said "**Luffy**" has to be stronger than "**Superman**". By the way, if you are lost at this point it's because you were not paying attention, Luffy is the main character from "**One Piece**", my favorite animé.
It doesn't get any better than this, we talked for hours that she didn't even read her books again. It felt as though we were already familiars yet this would be day 1.
It was already Saturday morning, and probably one of the best Friday evenings. I had found my damsel and was determined to be her knight in shining amour. The hours went by really fast that we barely noticed it, if only I had the power to keep the sun hidden for a little longer, I would. Yes, I know that would be selfish but that is what I was prepared to do to savor the moments.
It was morning and she had to leave, so did I. I requested to walk her to her hostel which she respectfully declined saying her hostel wasn't within the school premises. I escorted her to a Cab after successfully getting her number. I was determined to make this night the first of many.
Unfortunately, it would be the last time. She wasn't going to continue in the school because her Dad had gotten a job in the United State of America and they had to relocate abroad. If I was paying attention I would have noticed she had been preparing for her **SAT examinations**. She did call to inform me about this the following day which broke my heart.
We kept in contact for a while until days became weeks and weeks became months and then we slowly grew apart. A sad way to end a fairy tale. No happily ever afters.
The reality of life is quite different from what you read in books and see in movies. I believe I heard this from a movie, "***Sherlock Holmes***" perhaps?
***"Happily ever after are just stories that haven't ended yet"***
Don't get me wrong, I do love "Happily ever afters". I think people need to know that everything ends beautifully in the end, especially the little kids but as they grow, the experience will teach them even better.
***This is just my opinion, now back to you, do you believe in Fairy Tales***?
Lead image source from Unsplash images
The Odyssey, a journey back home : Part 3
Finally, the last and final part of the article is Odysseus's journey back home. I had a really nice time writing this article, I can only hope it was as much fun for to you reading it too. He had quite the adventure and battled mythical creatures just to make it back home.
If you missed the previous parts of the article, you can assess them here
-Part 1 https://read.cash/@Greatwolfman/the-odyssey-a-journey-back-home-part-1-17d59042
-Part 2 https://read.cash/@Greatwolfman/the-odyssey-a-journey-back-home-part-2-f9d4119c
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Ogygia (Calypso's Island).
Image source https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/M480401/Odyssey-Odysseus-and-Calypso
The waves swept poor Odysseus to Ogygia, the **home of the goddess, Calypso**. This island was inhabited by only women. They were shocked to finally see a man on their Island. Calypso fancied the mighty Odysseus and had no intentions of letting him go. Soon the thought of home started to fade from his mind.
For seven years he remained on this island.
**Athena**, the goddess of wisdom finally interfered and asks **Zeus** to order Calypso to let him go.
**Hermes**, the messenger of the gods delivered the news to Calypso who was displeased to hear of this but had no choice but to let Odysseus leave.
With the wood from the island, Odysseus managed to build a small raft and set sail for home following Calypso's instruction to use the star as a compass.
Scheria (Island of the Phaeacians)
Image Source https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheria
As he sailed once more for home, Poseidon sees him and sends a huge wave to destroy his raft. Odysseus tried to find his way through the violent waves but alas he was no match for the gods.
The frustrated Odysseus cries out in pain and anguish
*"What do you want from me?"*
*"I want to show you that without gods man is nothing" -* Poseidon replies
"*Forgive me great one, you have denied me passage back home and for that, I have paid a huge price"*
*"What more do you want from me?"*
A huge clap of waves is heard as Poseidon laughs as another big wave knocks poor Odysseus unconscious.
Finally learning his lesson, Poseidon lets him live for he has suffered enough. His body is swept ashore to the **Scheria**, the **Island of the Phaeacians**.
The Princess of Scheria-**Princess Nausica** was by the riverbank when her servants caught sight of a body. At first, they thought him to be dead but there was still air in his lungs. He was carried to the palace where he was taken good care of by the princess. When he was feeling better, the **King, Alcinous** invited him to a feast. He then decided to ask Odysseus who he was.
With tears heavy in his eyes, he told the king the whole story. The King soon recognized Odysseus as the Hero who brought about the idea of the Trojan horse that led the Greeks to win the 10-year war against the Trojans.
He immediately orders his men to get a ship ready to take "King" Odysseus of Ithaca home.
Odysseus remembers the warning his mother gave him when he went into the Underworld.
*"There are men in your palace that seek to take your throne"*
With that in mind, Odysseus took caution as he went back home. Athena disguised him as a beggar to aid him with the task of securing his Kingdom.
Ithaca, Odysseus returns home
Image source https://theconversation.com/amp/what-homers-odyssey-can-teach-us-about-reentering-the-world-after-a-year-of-isolation-159036
Odysseus was so pleased to be back home but his journey wasn't quite over. His palace was filled with suitors who seek the beautiful Penelope's hand in marriage.
She had delayed them long enough hoping for the day Odysseus would return.
**Telemachus** was already a man, he had searched far and wide for his father but was informed by King Agamemnon that they had left troy at the same time, it was possible Odysseus must have died on his way back to the sea.
The sad Telemachus returns home with the sad news to his mother. Penelope prays to the goddess Athena for guidance as she was about to select a suitor.
Before Odysseus left for war, he had left a bow for his son as a parting gift before sailing for troy. The bow was so strong that no one could string it.
This was the challenge Penelope had laid down for anyone who chooses to marry her.
***"I will marry anyone who can string this bow and shoot an arrow through twelve ax head arranged in a straight line with the said bow"***
All the suitors tried and failed.
"*Can I try?"* The old beggar requested, seeing as they couldn't do it, they allowed him to take a turn.
With one move the beggar was able to string the bow, drew up an arrow, and shot it through all the twelve ax heads.
Image source https://odysseythepodcast.com/episode-13-recognition-and-revenge/
Only one man could have strung the bow and shoot with so much precision, Odysseus.
The suitors stood in shock as the disguise wore off revealing Odysseus.
He immediately drew up more arrows and killed all the suitors for trying to steal his wife and dishonoring their king.
Image source https://odysseythepodcast.com/episode-13-recognition-and-revenge/
**Odysseus was finally reunited with his wife and son.**
The end
**Odysseus was a clever man, but he let his pride have the best of him and for that, he was punished. Though this story may simply be regarded as a myth there is no denying that there were a couple of lessons to be learned from experience. The most important one is "Humility". No matter how good you are, there is always someone better, give thanks and honor when due, remember, pride comes just before a fall.**
***What lessons did you get from his adventure?***
*References*
This article was referenced from the works of Homer https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer
Lead image source https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/homer-s-odyssey-10
The Odyssey, a journey back home : Part 2
*This is a continuation of the journey of Odysseus back home after the battle of Troy. If you have missed the first part, here is a link (**click here**)* https://read.cash/@Greatwolfman/the-odyssey-a-journey-back-home-part-1-17d59042
Aeaea (Circe's Island)
https://classicalwisdom.com/mythology/monsters/female-monsters-odyssey/
The wind blew Odysseus far away from home to an unknown land, all the food they had gathered had been lost to the sea and the crew was starving. Odysseus decided to send some of his men to explore the land for food. Hours went by and they never returned. After a while, Odysseus decided to send a search party to look for his men, suddenly a pig is seen running towards the crew, immediately the hungry men decided to pounce on the pig but another crew member runs shooting at the crew not to eat the pig.
He then narrated the story of how a witch had turned his mates into pigs after offering them food and wine.
Odysseus decided to go and investigate and instructed his men not to kill the pig. On his journey, Athena sent the messenger of the gods, Hermes, to help Odysseus in his quest.
`"You must eat of this plant or you will fall under the witch's spell" - Hermes instructed Odysseus.`
On arriving at the goddess castle, he was invited in and offered food and wine by **Circe**. To her astonishment, the spell didn't work. Odysseus then brought out his sword and threatened Circe, seeing that her power did not affect him, she surrendered. She took Odysseus to bed, fed him, and lifted the spell from his men. Circe then invites Odysseus and his men to a feast which the hungry crew agreed to.
https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/CIRCE-WITH-ODYSSEUS/753192FC9461AE3D
They decided to rest here for a few days before embarking on their journey. Little did they know that a day in **Circe's** palace was a year in the outside world. Odysseus was furious to discover how much time had passed and he forced his crew out and they continued their journey. Before leaving Circe told Odysseus to head for the Land of the dead, there he would meet a man named **Tiresias** who would tell him how to get back home.
The Underworld (Land of the Dead)
https://www.thoughtco.com/the-odyssey-book-ix-4093062
Odysseus and his men embarked on the journey to the underworld. He took a goat as a sacrifice as instructed to seek a meeting with the dead. The crew follows him to the entrance but from there he had to go alone. He saw **Tiresias** who then instructs Odysseus on what he needed to do to get back home. On his way back he saw his mother's ghost, she had taken her life thinking her son had died in Troy since he didn't return. With so much pain in his heart, he left the underworld to return to his crew.
The Island of the Sirens
https://schoolworkhelper.net/odyssey-vs-odysseus/
The journey back home would not be an easy one, he would have to pass the Island of the **Sirens**. You may have heard of the Sirens in a lot of sailor's poems. They sing beautiful tunes to attract sailors and then they eat them. To survive them, you would need to have a lot of self-control or just cover your ears with **beeswax**.
The crew was instructed to cover their ears with beeswax and Odysseus had to be tied to the mast of the ship (without beeswax) if he was to pass this Island. No matter how much he begged, his crew was not allowed his release him until they had passed this Island.
Scylla and Charybdis
https://rectorspage.wordpress.com/2020/08/02/scylla-and-charybdis/amp/
After they had passed the Island of the Sirens, they also had to between two cliffs. On one side of the cliff lived the **Scylla** and on the other lived the **Charybdis**.
The **Scylla** is a mythical creature with 6 heads if you behead its head another would grow in its place and the **Charybdis** is another mythical creature that lived under the water. It would often come to the surface to swallow up ships. Odysseus divided to row his ship close to the cliff of the Scylla. He lost a couple of his men to this beast but it was a better option as compared to losing the whole ship in one swallow to the Charybdis.
The Island of Helios
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_of_Helios
They survived their encounter with **the Sirens, the Scylla, and the Charybdis.** Now they had gotten to the Island of **Helios, the god of the sun**. Tiresias had instructed Odysseus in the land of the dead not to kill any of the cattle on this Island since they belonged to the sun god, Helios. The punishment for harming any of the cattle would anger the god who would kill all the members of his crew. If they were able to survive this temptation, they would all return home safely.
They still had enough food which Circe had given them but soon a heavy storm came and trapped them on this Island which lasted for months. They soon ran out of food and were hungry again.
One day when Odysseus was away, the crew decided to help themselves to a cattle despite the warnings and this made Helios very angry. When the storm died down, the crew decided to board their ship back home but then came another storm which destroyed the ship killing all the crew members, *all except Odysseus*.
As the wave swept his almost lifeless body ashore, the thoughts of seeing his beautiful Penelope again and his son, Telemachus.
**I don't know about you but I don't think anyone would have been able to last this long facing so many life-endangering adventures just to return home and now he's alone and has lost all his crew.**
*References*
This article is based on Homers Poem on the journey of Odysseus https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer
`All images are sourced with the links attached to each image (you can visit the source by clicking on the image`)
Lead image source https://gods-and-demons.fandom.com/wiki/Odysseus
What a beautiful morning it has been, thank you so much @Mictorrani for the sponsorship renewal, I really appreciate your encouragement and I'm forever grateful.
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The Odyssey, a journey back home : Part 1
*Are you a fan of Greek mythology? Does the name "****Odyssey****" mean anything to you? How familiar are you with the fall of Troy and the legend of Achilles? Fortunately, I wrote an article on this a few weeks back (**Trojan war**), and there I mentioned the name "****Odysseus****", the closest friend to* ***Achilles*** *after his cousin -****Patroclus***. https://read.cash/@Greatwolfman/the-trojan-war-f275d939
You see, Odysseus was a very wise man, a favorite to the goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom, yet, it is his pride that would destroy him in the end. As a kid, I would often read books related to the Legendary Achilles - the popular "**Iliad and the Odyssey**". Odyssey in the context would often be referred to as "a journey" - a long and tedious journey relating to what Odysseus faced as he tried to go back home after the Greeks had burned troy to the ground.
The hero, Odysseus was the **king of Ithaca**, an Island in Greece. The exact location of this place is debatable due to the advent of civilization. He was married to "**Penelope**", a cousin to the beautiful "**Helen**", Helen of Troy or Sparta as history would have it. Just before the journey to Troy for the war which lasted years, His wife, Penelope had just given birth to a beautiful son, "**Telemachus**". Unfortunately, he wouldn't see his beautiful boy grow into a man.
As mentioned earlier, his pride would be his fall. He was so proud that he wanted to claim credits for the one who came up with the idea of the "**Trojan Horse**", which added the Greeks in defeating the Trojans. He seemed to forget the roles the gods had played in their victory and this angered the god, Poseidon, god of the Aegean sea and brother to the great Zeus, the king of the gods.
*"without gods, man is nothing!!!"*
Poseidon's voice echoed through the clashing of the waters and Odysseus knew he would be punished for this but his pride wouldn't let him beg for mercy. The only way back home was through the sea and Poseidon controlled the sea.
Land of the Cicones
Image Source https://www.pdfprof.com/PDF_Image.php?idt=68814&t=28
There was a heavy storm that blew Odysseus and his crew to Ismarus, the land of the Cicones. Odysseus and his men decided to lay waste to this land, captured slaves, and gathered enough loot to tell their tales of triumphs. Greed took over as their continued their raid.
He underestimated the strength of the Cicones which cost him the life of most of his crew as they fled in defeat.
The land of the lotus-eaters
https://warriorsofmyth.fandom.com/wiki/Lotus-Eater
Image Source https://warriorsofmyth.fandom.com/wiki/Lotus-Eater
Hours turned into days, days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months as the tide led them on, still no signs of home. The wind took them to the land of the lotus-eaters, a land where the people there only fed on the lotus plant. This plant affected anyone who ate it, it made them forgot about home. It is unknown how long they had remained on this Island but Odyssey had to tie his crew members as he forced them back on the ships to continue on their journey.
The land of the Cyclops
Image source https://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/odysseus-and-cyclops-myth/
Odysseus and his crew journeyed back home, for days they sailed on with no line of sight to any land.
*"Land ahead"* - one of the crew members screamed. The crew were hungry and was almost out of their loot from troy. They arrived on the island, unknown to them at the time, it was the Island of the Cyclops, a giant beast with one eye. On the Island, they saw a cave filled with cheese and decided to help themselves to a nice meal and of course coupled with wine.
Just then, the Cyclops, **Polyphemus** walked into the cave together with his herds of sheep. He rolled a big boulder to close the entrance to the cave. The crew were trapped and had no way of escaping. The giant grabbed a hand full of men and are them. This left the other crew members frightened for their lives.
With no means of escape, Odysseus knew he had to be clever, he instructed his crew members to play beautiful music, then he offered a giant bowl of wine to the giant.
Polyphemus had never tasted wine before so he drank to his heart's content and then he was drunk, coupled with the soft music playing the giant began to feel sleepy.
*"Who is your leader?"* Polyphemus asked
*"It is I, oh great one"* - Odysseus replied
"*What is your name?"*- he asked Odysseus which he replied.
"*My name is nobody"*
*"I like you nobody and for this, I shall do you a favor and eat you last"*
The drink soon took effect and the giant sleep off.
Taking a long pole which they had found in the cave, they sharpened its end. As I have mentioned, the Cyclops has one eye, with a group effort, they lifted the giant pole and aimed it on Polyphemus's eyes, with that, the giant was blind.
Polyphemus screamed out in agony, rolled over the boulder for the cave to tell his neighbors what had happened.
*"Polyphemus, why are you screaming" -* they asked
"*Nobody, Nobody has blinded me"* - he cried
The neighbors took it as a joke and left him. Odysseus then instructed his crew members to make use of the herd of sheep wool to cover their backs as they crawled their way out of the cave.
The giant couldn't differentiate his herd of sheep from the crew since they all felt the same way and with that, Odysseus and his crew escaped to their ship and hurriedly sailed away.
From a safe distance, Odysseus told the Cyclops who he way.
"*It is I, Odysseus, who has blinded you*"
Little did he know the Polyphemus was a son of Poseidon.
The Island of Aeolia
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-odyssey-barnes-noble-signature-editions
Image source https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-odyssey-barnes-noble-signature-editions
The wind led them to the island of Aeolia, home to Aeolus, the god of the wind. He saw Odysseus's plight and decided to help him. Odysseus had initially come to the Island with a bag to get drinking water as his crew was dying of thirst. Aeolus then collects Odysseus's bag and blows wind into it. He instructs Odysseus not to open the bag until he gets back home.
With a soft wind, Aeolus guided Odysseus's ship back home.
Returning to the ship, his crew were quite curious to know what was in the windbag. Gold and silver? food? They wondered.
Odysseus stayed up all night to keep watch on the bag until at last thoughts of seeing his beautiful wife and son led him into a deep sleep. At last, they got close to land and Ithaca could be seen from a distance.
One of the crew members suggested they opened the bag to see what's in it. Immediately they did, a strong wind came and blew their ship even farther from home. Odysseus woke up due to the noise and wreckage to discover what had happened and let out a cry of anger and pain. He had been close to home but his crew members had cost him the chance of returning home.
**The journey of Odysseus continues. I won't be able to write everything in one article so I will publish it in parts. I have to say, what an adventure. So far, which of the adventures have you found captivating? There are more adventures to come, stay tuned.**
*References*.
All references are made to the great works of Homer https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey
`I also added a little fiction to the story and referred to the movie, The Odyssey`
Lead image source https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-odyssey-barnes-noble-signature-editions
The First time - My escape plan
I was going through @Deeepensiverse article today and came across this topic "First time I went exploring -almost got kidnapped". Her experience made me laugh, also she wasn't aware of the danger she was in at the time. https://read.cash/@Deeepensiverse/first-time-i-went-exploring-almost-kidnapped-bc984f31
As I read along, I couldn't help but think about **My Firsts.** The first time I ran away from the house, the first time I told someone *"I love you"*, the first time I traveled to a new city secretly without telling anyone and almost got lost just to see someone. We all have our firsts, you are about to read one of mine. I would also love to read yours. Unfortunately, I won't be able to tell you about all my firsts or this article would go on forever.
The first time I ran away from home
I'm sure we have all done this at some point in our lives yet we will definitely have different stories to tell about the experience.
It was a weekend, it was still in pre-school. My friends were outside having fun but I couldn't be a part of it since I was forced to attend extra lessons. I was not a very bright kid and was about to get demoted to a lower class since I wasn't coping really well in my current class so my mother thought it wise to engage me with extra lessons.
I never liked the lessons and I was determined to avoid this one, so I ran away from the house. I had a lot of weird ideas as a little kid, this was one of them and I definitely didn't think this through.
Early that morning I had made my usual protest against not wanting to do any lessons and as expected my mom made use of "***Mr. Do Good***"- *the name she gave her cane*- to force me to wait for the lesson teacher.
`Oh, do permit me to digress a little, I should add that Mr. Do Good also had a very hard time, he never lasted more than 3 days in that house before we found and destroyed him, unfortunately, another Mr. Do Good would take his place, so annoying. Why couldn't he just stay away eh?`
I had packed a few things in my school bag the night before to aid my escape as I had seen in movies. When she wasn't watching, I snuck out. The plan was simple, run away and go over to my Grandmothers place. I had been there in the past, maybe once or twice with my parents.
I was once convinced I knew the way as I headed out of the compound. I walked for a long time under the hot sun through the path I believed would lead me to my destination. Every street looked the same. I soon heard a growl in my stomach, I had not eaten. I was lost, tired, and hungry.
Back at home, my mom had been looking for me, she had called the neighbors to find out if they knew my whereabouts, a search party had stepped out to look for me.
I finally gave up since my legs couldn't carry me any further, I saw a small shed and decided to rest there a while. After about ten minutes of contemplation on whether to go back home or continue my journey, I decided to go back home, at least to get something to eat.
Now, this was the problem, I had no idea where I was or even how to get back home, I had been walking for hours through different streets and corners that I thought looked familiar.
I broke down in tears. Passers-by took one look at me and went on about their businesses. That day I told myself I would never run away from home again if only I could find my way. I was so thirsty so I decided to look for drinking water.
I figured if I was going to find my way back I would need to at least get hydrated. I approached a shop and begged for sachet water, the lady saw I had been crying and gave me one. I have never been more satisfied to drink water in my life. I finally got the courage to tell her my plight and agreed to help.
My Mother made us memorize her phone number, we would recite it every morning before leaving for school each day. That was what saved me on this particular day. My mother was so pleased to hear from me and also upset. I didn't even care about the flogging I would get when I got home from my Mom, thankfully, Dad wasn't around.
After what seemed like forever, I saw my mother coming together with some of our neighbors, tears of joy filled my eyes as I ran towards them. I received a lot of scolding from the people around when they heard the story but I didn't care.
I was so happy to finally see familiar faces. As predicted, "Mr. Do-Good" visited my body but I didn't mind. I had no tears left to cry. Of course, before the flogging was after I had filled my belly.
I had a very horrible day but in the end, I won a battle, the lesson was canceled (unfortunately not forever, just for that day). But what can I say, one small step for a boy, a giant step for all kids out there who disagrees with being forced to partake in extra lessons?
If you ask me what lesson I derived from this experience, then I would say this - it is important to eat well before engaging in an escape plan, more importantly, know the route.
In case you are wondering, that was just my first attempt, I did try again. Was it successful? I will never tell.
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*Did you have a fun time reading this article? Wouldn't you like to be a part of this prompt? It's alright, don't be shy, we will both have a good laugh, tell us about your first time.*
Lead image source https://amp.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2012/may/28/children-in-care-running-away
Do not watch it alone!!! Part 2
It's 10:52 pm on the 10th of October as I write this article
I must warn you, what you are about to read might frighten you, if you are not a fan of horror movies you might want to skip this article, but if you are one of the few bold hearted people who wish to continue reading then I must inform you that you do so at your own risk.
This article is merely a continuation of Do not watch it alone!!! which I published about a month ago, and in that time I was able to gather another list I think would be definitely worth your time if you love the thrill. https://read.cash/@Greatwolfman/do-not-watch-it-alone-0facee43
`Here is an advice from me, if you are going to see this movie then I suggest you do so at night, probably when it's raining and you are alone in your room with your headset or earpiece switches to maximize the experience. Not that it won't still freak you out if you see it during the daytime even with friends, just saying.`
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If you have read along to this point then I think it's only right I warn you that there may be spoilers ahead, although I will try not to do that, only a build-up to the storyline.
`Drum rolls (I just love adding dramatic effects to create an incentive for your wild imaginations)`
Things heard and seen
Image source https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Things_Heard_%26_Seen
*"This I can declare...things that are in heaven are more real than things that are in this world"*
_Emanuel Swedenborg
This is shown just before the movie begins, I'm sure you already have an idea of what it's about (or don't you?).
Where do you think we go after death, heaven? Hell? Well, in this movie we see the story of two happy couples and their daughter who relocated to a new city for work and so they relocated to this new building.
Then little by little they discovered that they were not alone. Apparently the building had a long history of the mysterious death of its occupants. The problem was the spirits of the dead lingered on.
What would become of them? Is the ghost of these departed ones going to cause harm to them? Well, one way to find out.
Fear Street - Trilogy
Image source
This movie has made its way into the heart of both fans of horror as well as mystery. https://comicbook.com/horror/amp/news/fear-street-trilogy-r-l-stine-rating-horror-netflix-books-stream/
In a little town called Shadyside, a girl and her little brother have to fight their way through a series of undead serial killers due to a curse from a powerful witch who blamed the town for her death. This curse has been passed down for generations until now. With everything on the line, will they survive this curse?
Malignant
Image source https://m.imdb.com/title/tt3811906/
Have you ever had that itch that you can't scratch? What about having an evil twin attached to your body? What happens when the evil twin takes complete control of your body?
A girl, Emily is adopted into a family with no knowledge of her past, she keeps hearing a voice in her head (which she often referred to as the devil) forcing her to do bad things. No one believes her when she tells them what is wrong with her, they say the voice is only an imaginary friend but is that all there is to it?
A couple of years later, the girl is now a woman, having difficulty in having a child due to miscarriages and an abusive husband. On one of their violent episodes, he smashed her skull to the wall unlocking a secret that would change their lives
No one gets out alive
Image source https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_One_Gets_Out_Alive_(film)
A young girl dropped out of college to tend to her sick mother, at last, she decided it was time for her to focus on her life so she decided to move to America from Mexico to find a job with hopes of being able to go back to college.
She rents a cheap apartment to stay in while she looked for a job but soon started to notice that things were not all that they seem in the building.
She tries to run away but will she be able to? What or who exactly is she up against?
Drag me to hell
Image source https://moviesanywhere.com/movie/drag-me-to-hell-unrated
Imagine if in the course of trying to do your job you are forced to refuse a client only to find out that your client is also a witch who out of anger places a curse on you. A curse that will only end once you are dead. The curse of the "lamia".
A loan officer, Christine, is cursed by an old gypsy lady when she fails to give her an extension on her loan. She doesn't take it seriously at first until the demon - " The Lamia" started haunting her in a bid to take her soul.
Will she survive this encounter? is her life about to change forever?
Don't hang up
Image source https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-Hang-Up-Sienna-Guillory/dp/B071WQJPR9
A prank gone wrong. I hate pranks because oftentimes they result in critical accidents which may cost the loss of life of either person.
A couple of teenagers have found joy in pranks calling people for social media buzz. It was all fun until their prank caused the death of a mother and her daughter. Returning home, the father is heartbroken and decided to take his revenge on the teenagers.
I can imagine the pain, can you? What will this man do to these teenagers as punishment, more importantly, how will he go about it?
Slender Man
Image source https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-Hang-Up-Sienna-Guillory/dp/B071WQJPR9
Four girls had a sleep-over when they things started to go wrong after their curiosity led them to "Slender Man".
Legend has it:
*Slender Man can manifest in a variety of forms, certain account speaks of hypnotic power that renders his victims helpless to stop themselves from walking into waiting arms.*
*While his origin and motives are completely unknown, he preys upon innocents youth, once you see him you are his, some he takes, some he doesn't, nobody knows why he takes who he takes or why he leaves who he leaves, but the ones he leaves behind ate messed up forever*
Regardless of all the warnings, they summon the demon and things turn out for the worst for them. What will happen to these four girls?
He's out there
A family decides to travel out of town on vacation. What started as a wonderful vacation soon turn into a night of bloodshed as they are being haunted by the presence of a serial killer (a Psychopath).
They have to fight to stay alive. Being in a remote area, it is difficult to get a signal so they could get themselves saved by the police. Will they survive?
**I have barely scratched the surface with this list, I hope you find them entertaining. A third part would be published next as soon as the opportunity presents itself.**
Lead image source from unsplash
Visions and views - a key to success
Visions and views, some would argue that they mean the same thing.
Vision according to Cambridge English Dictionary is defined as **the ability to imagine how something could develop in the future, or the ideas that come from imagining in this way** https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/a-man-without-a-vision-is-a-man-without-a-future-lalachan-abraham-sermon-on-vision-177220
Views on the other hand as defined by Cambridge English Dictionary is **an opinion, belief, or idea, or a way of thinking about something.** https://dictionary-cambridge-org.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/dictionary.cambridge.org/amp/english/view?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16337636759060&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.cambridge.org%2Fdictionary%2Fenglish%2Fview
Now, when we add these two principles together, you see how they are a major contributing factor to success. Let us take a more in-depth look at the subject
“**Some people can read War and Peace and come away thinking it's a simple adventure story.** **Others can read the ingredients on a chewing gum wrapper and unlock the secrets of the universe.”**
*_Lex Luthor*
Your views on everything matters more than you even begin to understand. I was reading *"Rich Dad, Poor Dad"* by **Robert Kiyosaki** and came across something that I would like to share with you.
***The rich man would tell his son that "lack of money is the root of all evil"***
***A poor man would tell his son that "Love of money is the root of all evil"***
Neither of them is wrong, only the perspective changes, the argument could go on forever and we still wouldn't have a winner. We often underestimate the power of sight, when I refer to sight I do not mean the ability to see with your eyes but the ability to see even beyond that.
What defines a person is their perspective. This same perspective is responsible for a person's success too. Have you ever heard of the story of any successful person without a vision?
Let us take read.cash as a case study to buttress this point. Many people joined this program to try and earn Bitcoin Cash, the early stage is always the most difficult especially when you are earning very little and Rusty rarely visits, after a while you just quit and leave but others stay. Why do you think they stayed? It's the vision, their perspectives, they know nothing good comes easy, you need to work for it, and patience and consistency are key. They don't mind the fact that they are earning a few cents at the moment, they are more focused on what needs to be done now to meet up with their future goals.
Take a look at all the successful businesses out there, it started with someone's Vision. The idea behind Facebook started with a vision, the idea behind Tesla started with a Vision. The idea behind noise.cash and read.cash also began with a vision. As you may well know, it is one thing to visualize a prospect and it is another thing to pursue it and make it a reality but it doesn't change the fact that it started with a Vision.
The writing prompt on what you would do with $590k was a test of the limit of your imagination, essentially a test of your vision as well as your views. These two things determine your success.
**"A man without a vision is a man without a future", the wise King Solomon once said.**
My Aunt once told us a story one evening during a Christmas holiday, I remember it vividly like it was yesterday, the smell of the chicken stew filled the room that evening. My cousins and I sat down on the mat as we listened attentively
*It was a wonderful harvest, the villagers were so happy, it was a time for plenty and merry. Everyone sold what they could and ate to their feel, everyone except for Mr. Ede. Me Ede was a man gifted with foresight, he saw what people were doing and thought it foolish to waste such a good harvest this way. He decided to buy from other farmers who sold at a relatively cheap rate due to the abundance and stored them. The villagers called him stupid for not wanting to enjoy the blessings of the fruitful harvest. Of course, people will always talk.*
*Alas, the harvest wouldn't last forever, and a time of famine began. You see, Mr. Ede had a vision, he wanted to become a wealthy farmer, he also knew that the time of scarcity is when the value of goods will go up and he anticipated such an event as he saved towards it.*
*Me Ede made good of this opportunity to sell what goods he had stored for almost twice the amount he had bought it and from there made a lot of money.*
That is a man with a vision. In more than one way I've shown you how visions and views are a detrimental factor to one's success. People will talk, they always do, but it's up to you to decide on what you choose to act on. Remember, the choice is always yours. Be the one with a vision, It is never too late.
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Lead image from unsplash
Hakuna Matata
***Hakuna Matata!***
***What a wonderful phrase***
***Hakuna Matata!***
***Ain't no passing craze***
***It means no worries***
***For the rest of your days***
***It's our problem-free philosophy***
***Hakuna Matata!***
https://www.moviepilot.de/news/konig-der-lowen-remake-fans-tief-enttauscht-von-neuer-hakuna-matata-szene-1119935.amp
*How old were you when you first saw The Lion King? If you haven't seen it I would be really shocked. I remember it was the first animated movie that made me emotional. Seeing a young Simba and a dead Mufasa -Simba's father - broke my young innocent heart. Of course, he was saved by Pumbaa and Timon - A warthog and a meerkat. Then the song ensued - Hakuna Matata.*
**Hakuna Matata** according to its translation in Swahili means "there are no troubles". It simply means everything will be okay - Dictionary.com https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/hakuna-matata/
I have to admit, it is a good motto to live by but is it without flaws? Is worrying really wrong? Will everything be alright if you do nothing?
It's human nature to worry, and this is because we care. When you care about something or someone you won't be able to help yourself. Perhaps it's a default setting.
"**Hakuna Matata**" is having hope that things will get better. "**Nothing lasts forever**" the sages would often say but somehow it feels as though good times don't last for very long forcing us to worry even more.
Why do you worry if it won't change what has happened? Why do you worry when it won't solve anything?
We often confuse the saying "**not worrying**" with "**not doing anything**" which is wrong. Hakuna Matata is not an excuse for being lazy.
If you have an exams and you refuse to study, will you magically know the answers just my saying "Hakuna Matata?
As you can see from that example, Hakuna Matata is merely the first step towards arriving at a solution.
You should focus more on what you can control, not what you can't. I know sometimes we just can't control ourselves and it is also healthy to shed tears when you are really concerned about it but don't dwell too much on it. If there is anything you can still do about it, then you need to focus your time and effort on that rather than worrying.
I recently posted an article "Lessons from the Vikings" which explained that worrying over something all night long will only leave worse than it did the previous day.
*What should you do?*
https://www.dictionary.com/e/emoji/thinking-face-emoji/
I broke it down into two situations.
1. If you are worried about something and there is nothing you can do about it.
Then just stop worrying since it won't solve anything.
If you are religious, you may decide to start praying, it can bring you the comfort you need to have a clear mind.
Just because you can't solve it doesn't mean someone else can't. Share your dilemma with people you trust but beware, not everyone is your friend.
Cut your losses, accept that what has happened has happened. Find out why it did and take note of the lessons.
***2. If you are worried about something and you can still do something about it.***
Well, for one I don't see the point in you getting worried. You can easily take deep breathes to calm your body to plan a clear course towards finding a solution. The steps are quite simple
Identify the problem and discover what went wrong
Try to find the solution, you may need to seek advice from someone who has the needed experience to err on the side of caution.
Implement the said solution
Closing thought
As you can see, you don't have to worry about anything because everything is going to be all right (Bob Marley). Life is no bed made of roses, it comes with its daily challenges.
What doesn't break you only makes you stronger and for that, you shouldn't quit or just give up and certainly not worry. Okay you should worry but don't dwell too much on it.
Before I round up this article I need to ask this question.
`Have you ever been in a situation where things are not going the way you like, and now you're worried about what could happen next, instead of cutting losses and moving on, you decide to do nothing but worry and the situation continues to worsen?`
Hahaha, No, I'm not talking about crypto trading - or am I? I'll never tell. I'm sure you understand the point I'm driving at.
**Here's my advice to you, stop worrying, start living. Life has it's challenges, face them.**
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*References*
The Lion King
UnsplashUnsplash
All images used has been linked to it's source.
Lead image credits goes to Unsplash
Two sponsorships in one day. I'm so happy and also feel very lucky to have these two sponsors. Thank you @Olasquare and foryoubtc09 for the sponsorship, I appreciate it.
Controlling your emotions - Anger
*"****I had no idea what had just happened, I lost it. He kept on getting on my nerves and I tried to ignore him but he brought my mother into it****"- I told the policemen as they took me away in one of their vans*.
I hadn't realized it earlier probably due to the adrenaline pumping through my blood at the moment that I was bleeding. The journey to the Police station was a long one. I noticed students and passersby pointing to the Van, I swear I heard them say "that is the reason we send you to school, so you won't end up like that boy".
I had completed my O'level Certificate examinations and was waiting for admission into the university when the incident happened. It was a simple game of football but it soon turned into a violent battle.
My side was leading by a long gap and the other side didn't seem to be getting better. Slowly the game started getting rough as the opposing team grew even more desperate to balance the scale. All efforts proved abortive since it was almost impossible to break through our defensive line - *with me being the main defender.*
We decided we had played enough and it was time to blow the final whistle. It was becoming pathetic to see them waste so much energy. They didn't want it to end, so they pleaded and we agreed to the continuation of the game. The trashing went on until "**he**" came at me. With a right hook from him and I was on the ground. My teammates surrounded us to see what caused the fight, he claimed I had stepped on his foot - which was a lie.
He was bigger and stronger than me, also older. I tried to call him out for lying against me but he slapped me back to the ground. At this point, the game could no longer continue. I was on the ground as he tried to pounce on me for a further beating but was stopped by his teammates. I tasted blood in my tongue as I got back up on my feet with swollen cheeks. My parents had organized a therapy session in the past to help me cope with my anger and for a while, it worked until today.
***Did you know that anger can be a great source of strength?*** As I took the beatings I tried to remain calm...until he used the forbidden word which involved my mother. With renewed energy and strength I got up from the ground and gave him a strong kick to his left leg and he fell hard to the ground. While he was on the ground and still in shock given that he wasn't expecting my attack, I had the upper hand - literally. I rushed some blows to his face and then I paused to catch my breath
`Fighting isn't as easy as the movies make it seem. You get tired and would need to take breaks from time to time. I wonder how people fought in the days of the old by wielding heavy swords and raising heavy shields with their heavy armor and would often have to fight for long hours covering long distances.`
He tried to get back up on his feet, but I launched another attack with a strong kick to his chest. The cheering crowd fell silent as we observed his motionless body. I bragged about my victory but it was short-lived when I realized what had just happened. I had killed someone.
It wasn't long after this had happened that the angry mob advanced towards me. I knew trying to explain what led to the "accident" to prove my innocence would be pointless, after all, ***the dead man is always innocent***. So, I ran and they chased me.
I had seen what angry mobs do to criminals on the news but I never imagined it would be my turn. No, not like this, I won't die this way. I ran as fast as my leg could carry me, I didn't know I could move at such speed. Luckily an elderly lady allowed me to hide in her apartment in the closet. While I hid, I didn't know when the tears started rolling off my cheeks. I could barely differentiate the taste of the tears from the sweat and the blood as it came in contact with my tongue.
***What would mom say? Would she be proud that I fought to defend her honor or disappointed that I gave in to my demons?*** I wished I could go back in time and change what had happened. I wish I had just stayed at home instead of going out with friends to play football.
I knew I was better off in the police station than with the angry mob. I begged the elderly woman who allowed me in to hide to call the police which she did with pain in her eyes. She had known me since I was a baby, I ran errands for her and kept her company during the period that I stayed at home.
I have never been more pleased to hear the sirens of a copper as I was that day. The mob soon dispersed as they were now focused on compelling his parents. I received curses from his parents as well as bystanders. I was the victim here yet I would be the one to get punished for trying to defend myself. I couldn't bear to look at my mother in the face but I imagine the news would have gotten to her by now.
*Do not feel bad for me for I'm real and unreal at the same time. I'm merely a figment of Greatwolfman's imagination to inspire you to take control of your life by not giving in to anger. With one swing of a blow, your whole life could come to end, treat my story as a lesson.* ***Don't make the same mistakes I did.***
***While this work may be pure fiction it could also be real, I refrained from mentioning any name to keep my characters anonymous. I passed by the prison cell and could only imagine the story each of the prisoners could tell on how they got to where they are. If I were to guess, I would say "Violence". The tendency to get upset is common to every living being but it is up to you to control it. Control your emotions at all times or it could be your downfall.***
Lead Image Source credits goes to Unsplash.com
Avatar - The Elements
*The Elements that make up the world as we have today were depicted in this animated movie showing different characters who could control these elements. I remember the first time I saw it, I had a dream I was also a bender of such elements. It's crazy how far and wide the mind can travel sometimes when you are fast asleep.*
`If you dear test the limits of your imaginations then this article is for you.`
*Avatar tells the story of people who could control the different elements of the world -* ***Water, Air, Fire, Earth****. Of course, as the series went on we discovered other variations along the way which still stemmed from these four elements.*
`Right now I'm about to come off all nerdy and geeky to you or coming off spiritual...or just boring, it all depends on your perspective.`
`Before I go all geeky and nerdy I would like to show you my wonderful sponsors.`
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*What amazed me the most about this series is the way the creators blended a lot of spiritual lessons as well as moral lessons. I could write articles for a week-long trying to point out the lessons but unfortunately, that is not what this article is going to be about.*
***If you could wish to be a bender, which would you choose as your element?***
*Oops, silly me. I need to discuss each of the elements first.*
Water Bending
Image source https://www.deviantart.com/moptop4000/art/Waterbending-Final-List-849231478
**Origin**
According to the series, the original master of this bending was the Moon Spirit. Water has to do with the continuous flow and direction of energy like a flowing river. Water benders are at their greatest form at night when the moon is up in the sky
**Ability**
Due to their element, they settled in the polar regions, and often their houses are made of ice, and their cities are surrounded by water to serve as a form of defense against evaders. Due to their ability to control the ocean, they have a powerful Naval army.
The greatest water bending form is the "Blood bending". A Blood bender can control the blood that flows in the human body controlling people to do their will without having control of their bodies. Only a few powerful Benders could do this and it was usually in the presence of a full moon -Although there were exceptions.
**Weakness**
Without the moon, a water bending is at its weakest point with a limited means of defense. Take out the moon, you destroy the water benders. By the moon, I'm referring to the moon spirits who decided to be a part of the human world.
Air bending
Image Source https://www.deviantart.com/moptop4000/art/Airbending-Final-list-853944519
**Origin**
The original benders were the "Flying Bisons".
*"All life is sacred"*
This was their most important teaching. They were usually monks and also vegetarians. They lived in tall mountains and we're known for their exceptional kindness and their superiority when it comes to their relationship with the spirits and their ability to perform Spiritual travels.
**Ability**
They never had an army since they didn't believe in violence. They had better communication with the spirits and animals.
An air bender knows the true meaning of balance and a lot about the error of the human ways.
They are good gliders since they control the element of air and could evade enemy attacks with ease as a means of defense.
The most powerful air-bending form is only unlocked when one clears himself of every attachment with the world. The benders can fly as one with the wind. Even though the benders weren't recognized for partaking in violence, some people derailed from this teaching and were able to control the air people breathe in their lungs, suffocating them.
**Weakness**
They had no known weakness unless if it's right to say that their teaching didn't align with the false ways of the world. Where they saw peaceful resolution, others saw violence. This contributed to them going extinct although their teachings remained.
Fire bending
Image source https://www.deviantart.com/moptop4000/art/Firebending-final-list-861893625
**Origin**
When you think of fire, you think of rage, anger, and destruction. Fire can consume and destroy anything it touches. But fire isn't evil. The original masters were the Dragons. The power of fire comes from the Sun although over the years, anger and rage became a source of their bending.
**Ability**
They have a very powerful army as well as numbers due to the fact that for a good number of years they had wiped out and defeated other benders trying to control the world hence the reason they are resented and feared by most nations.
The most powerful form of their bending is their ability to direct lightning. This bending is known to be deadly even to the blender because it can kill them if not properly controlled. There is a risk of redirection.
**Weakness**
Their weakness comes with the disappearance of the sun. The Solar Eclipse. That is when they are at their weakest.
Earth bending
Image source https://www.deviantart.com/moptop4000/art/Earthbending-Final-List-879655212
**Origin**
Earth bending is one of the most formidable elements there is according to my analysis. The original benders were the badger moles. They are blind animals capable of seeing by feeling the vibrations of the earth itself.
**Ability**
They are the only known nation known to have fought back the Fire Nations during the war that saw Air benders wiped out as well as most of the water benders.
Their ability to control the very earth which we tread on gives them the upper hand. It doesn't end here. They are also capable of seeing even their eyes closed by feeling the earth's vibrations.
An earth bender is also capable of bending the earth's impurities in metals. I dare say that they can also control the human body just like the Water benders blood bending. The blood is made up of iron, if they can bend that iron then they can blood bed too.
The most powerful form of this bending is their ability to bend lava which is similar to fire bending itself due to the heat it generates.
**Weakness**
Their weakness is their very element, they are weak on the sea. Without Earth, they have no power.
Conclusion
I once created a scenario in my head to decide which was the most powerful bending. I concluded that it was Earth bending. Your thoughts might vary from mine but it's still opened for debate.
If you had to choose one, which would it be and why? What do you think is the most powerful bending? It would be lovely to hear your thoughts on the matter.
References
Avatar - the last Air bender
Avatar - the legend of
Lead image source https://medium.com/whiteboard-to-infinity/the-physics-of-avatar-the-last-airbender-and-the-legend-of-korra-1c212efb4b9a
If I were...a little boy
**If I were a little boy**, I would wake up so late in the morning, crawl out of bed without a worry in the world except what would be on the table for breakfast. I would eat while watching one of my favorite cartoons and if it got changed, I would cry out loud until my wish would be fulfilled. With a fat and satisfied stomach, I would venture back to my room to play with my toys before finally deciding to freshen up after so many pleas which I would gladly decline until a bribe was proposed. Is it weird that most kids believe crying solved everything?
**If I were a little boy**, I would sneak out of the house when no one would be looking to ride bicycles with my friends. We would ride all day till our legs can't anymore, we would play with sand and make a lot of mess. We would play a little game of "Police and Thief" with handmade catapults. When we get tired of hurting one another, we would focus our attention on capturing grasshoppers and Prey-Mantis and chase those "Agama" lizards down their holes as we scream and declare ourselves the king of our little jungle.
**If I were a little boy**, I wouldn't worry too much about school, things like getting promoted to the next class or failing a particular subject - one of the many privileges of going to a family's private Nursery and Primary School. I won't even bother opening any book for exams, just do my own bit and leave. No matter how good or bad I perform, the caring and supportive eyes from my parents would always be there to cheer me up with gifts for my effort. I would brag about my result all week to every visitor that comes over and they would reward my enthusiasm with money which mother would help me keep for later (well, you know what happens right?)
`True story`
`I didn't know I had to read for any exams in school till I finally left pre-school and had to begin my junior years in a Federal high school. I remember bringing a ball to school that day only to notice how everyone was trying to study. I was so confused and shocked at the same time. Finally I decided to open my book and the first thing I ever memorized was "What is Social Studies? Social studies is the study of man and his environment". This event continues to live rent free in my memory.`
**If I were a little boy**, I would treasure those evenings when I had help from neighbors to do my "Home-work" from school which usually comprised of "Verbal and Quantitative reasoning" and I would go to school the following morning so sure of getting all the answers right. No mistakes.
**If I were a little boy**, I would live those cold nights when the power was off and mother would tell us tales of her life as well as her adventures, also bedtime stories as we lay in her bed sleeping when father would be away for work. I would do my best not to sleep off since I never get to stay awake to listen to the end of the stories.
**If I were a little boy**, I would appreciate those long evenings when we would all sit together and eat as a family and grandmother would scold father for not allowing us to go back to the kitchen for more.
**If I were a little boy,** I would treasure Christmas even more as we wouldn't be able to sleep waiting to show off our new clothes and shoes and eat chicken. This might not mean much to you but to that little kid, it was everything. There was always something that made that Christmas food taste better. I would play with my Toy horse and car till it broke and I would still try to fix the broken pieces till I got tired of it.
**"If I were a little boy"** is merely a wish every adult has. When we were much younger, we could only think of what we would do when we were older. Being an adult isn't so much fun as you thought, is it? Even though I can't possibly turn back time, at least I can let my mind escape.
*Oh! I wish I were a little boy, maybe I would have asked her to marry me, such things won't be regarded as creepy at such an age, just cute. Hahaha, Just kidding -think about it though.*
*There are a lot of things children do that are considered cute but when adults do them it's just awkward. Wouldn't it be good to just do what comes to your mind without fear of being judged? Children would often walk around naked without even realizing it. No sense of shame or regret without a care in the world about what other people think.*
***If I were a little boy.***
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Lead image source from Unsplash
I won't be posting a new article today, reason being that the last one is about 10 minutes long which should serve for two days straight. Due to my busy schedule, I could react to most articles until this evening. It's almost time to go to bed and I have reviewed over 20 brilliant articles. I even learned some great tips on how to write beautiful articles and the concept of having savings. I'm sure I will even learn more tomorrow. That will be all from me for today, tomorrow is another day, having a beautiful night's rest.
Life lessons from the Vikings
It's a new month and an Independence Day celebration for my country, Nigeria. For me, it's that time of the month for self-reflection.
`Do you believe everything happens for a reason?`
`Do you believe that you were supposed to read this article right now?`
`Do you get that feeling that this message was probably meant for you?`
I had that feeling too, hence this wonderful article.
If you haven't, do check out my wonderful sponsors
I have been obsessed with **Norse Mythology** for as long as I can remember, I even wrote an article about Ragnarok - the doom of the gods. It was my obsession that led me to stumble upon the idea behind this article.
I came across a YouTube video that spoke about some lessons from the Vikings. You may have heard of Vikings before now (or not) but you can do your research.
**24 Norse Life Rules (Lessons from the Vikings)** https://youtu.be/Ejtmd3b4J_c
There are so many lessons to be learned especially from the wise men of old. One thing about the truth is it doesn't change. **It's always the same.**
***Lesson 1:***
***Be a person of worldly intelligence if you desire to sit with kings. The man who only carries the limited scope of his village will be a laughing stock.***
This means you should aspire to learn more, broaden your knowledge scope.
*Knowledge is power*
The world is filled with ideas to explore, find that which suits you, learn more about and build on that knowledge
***Lesson 2:***
***Travel far and wide and you shall possess the secrets of men***
The secret of success isn't just where you stand and traveling doesn't necessarily mean taking a bus or a train or a plane to a different country, it also means leaving your comfort zone to learn even more things about the world.
***Lesson 3:***
***When fear leads the way the destination is never glorious***
Fear is the major reason why a lot of people are unsuccessful today. We are scared of "what might be" that we prefer to hide in the shadows. You need to face those fears today if you want things to change for the better.
*Take that leap of faith.*
***Lesson 4:***
***As one candle can light another, so too can the greatness of mind be transferred among men. To remain in solitude is to deprive oneself of this kindling.***
This takes me back to a speech Nelson Mandela once said
"*And as we let our lights shine, we unconsciously do the same to others*"
We all have the power to shine and together we shine even brighter. I feel so glad to be a part of this community of great writers, each with their glows, we are the ones who make up read.cash, our articles, our stories, our ideas are capable of changing the world but alone, we do not have such power.
***Lesson 5:***
***Take care with your speech, it can be the catalyst for many needless problems. You never know who could be lending an ear to your ramblings***
So many wars began with a single speech and lending ears.
Sometimes do you find yourself in a mess and you wish you had just kept your mouth shut instead of getting involved?
Many people are dead today just because of what they have said in the past. Be mindful of what you say, always. Even the walls have ears these days.
***Lesson 6:***
***If you desire to claim a place in the world, arise early. The slothful wolf starves and the sleeping man rarely sees victory***
*"There is no food for a lazy man"*
Wake up! The race is on. Whatever you do just ensure you are moving.
Whatever plans you have made for this month, you won't be able to achieve it if you are just there lying down. As the wise men said
*"The sleeping man rarely sees victory"*
***Lesson 7:***
***Understand that a storm can change its course without warning, always be prepared to brave a storm.***
*"Always be prepared" - the boy scouts code*
Life has its challenges and most times they come even without a warning, you need to be ready to face life's adversities. Having a backup plan would be wise. You can also have some savings set aside in case of an emergency.
***Lesson 8:***
***Defeat your enemies in the fields before they reach your house***
The Vikings were always at war, but they were smart to ensure that these wars were fought on the field, not in their homes.
Your home is where you are most vulnerable, whatever troubles you are facing always ensure it doesn't reach your house.
This also applies to transferring aggression. Sometimes working in the office can be stressful and you might be tensed up, then you get home and start to release those negative tensions by making other people feel bad. It's wrong.
***Lesson 9:***
***No matter how cautiously you live, there is no escaping the fatal clutches of old age. So then, better to join the fray and fight proudly for something worth obtaining.***
Live while you can, we all grow old someday and we all die. I once read a saying that at our last moment, we do not regret what we have done but what we didn't do.
*Confess your feelings to that girl, make that trip, eat that food, take that Job. Do what makes you happy. That is what living is about.*
***Lesson 10:***
***A good friend speaks truly and from the heart, the one whose speech is always pleasant can not be***
We all have people we call friends, but not all your friends are actually your friends. True friends will always tell you the truth even if it hurts, the fake ones will only tell you what you want to hear. Be careful of the friends you keep
*"Only your friend know your secret, so only he could reveal it" - Bob Marley*
***Lesson 11:***
***What will be etched into history about your life? What legend will be left long after you're gone? How have you made the world better?***
**Ponder these questions daily.**
My friend, @HappyBoy wrote an article about leaving a legacy for future generations. We must ponder these questions every day.
Ask yourself right now
*"have you made the world better today?"*
*"What legacy will you be leaving behind once you are gone?"*
*"How do you want to be remembered?"*
***Lesson 12:***
***There is always a sage wiser and warrior bolder than yourself, be careful not to become too comfortable.***
"*Do not get too comfortable on your high horse*" - I feel like I have heard this saying somewhere, a movie perhaps?
No matter where you are right now, know that there is always someone better, aspire to be the best you can be.
As Abraham Maslow would put it in his "Hierarchy of Needs"
*"Self Actualization - Reaching one's full potential"*
***Lesson 13:***
***Boastful thinking and exclamation of one's brilliance attract misfortune into one's life. Live humbly, with quiet confidence and troubles will rarely beset you.***
Humility is sacred
*"Be humble, sit down" - Kendrick Lamar*
Pride comes before a fall, do not let it overtake you. Control your pride and remain humble but remain confident.
***Lesson 14:***
***Enemies often lurk in the shadows around corners, it would be wise to check them before venturing further on your path.***
While this may not apply to everyone always be watchful. Always watch your back, the world can be a dangerous place especially when you do not know who to trust. These days, the person you believe to be your best friend can turn out to be your worst enemy.
***Lesson 15:***
***Moderate yourself ruthlessly, allowing greed to consume you will bring nothing but sorrow***
Greed has been known to be the cause of many great men's downfall. Greed for more power, for more wealth, for more and more. Control yourself, do things moderately. If you let greed consume you, expect trouble's knock on your door.
***Lesson 16:***
***The critical man is quick to point the finger and causes much dismay amongst others. He is unknowing that he too shares in their faults.***
I am guilty of this, always quick to point fingers, sometimes I'm right, other times are wrong. Pointing fingers creates disparities among friends based on pointless accusations with the main catalyst being the critical man. Do not be quick to point fingers less you create even more problems for yourself and those around you.
***Lesson 17:***
***Lying awake in the night battling ill thoughts offers no solutions. You rise unrested and in no better position than before.***
*Why do you worry so much when worrying solves nothing?*
This is a common behavior experienced by almost everyone. We often worry over things we have no control of. Instead of worrying so much, try finding a solution. Thinking about it all day and all night solves nothing.
***Lesson 18***
***No matter if your dwelling is a fragile shack of sticks and mud it is valuable to have a home. Nothing crushes a man's spirit more than having to beg.***
It takes a lot to have to beg someone for something but when you have no choice, you just do.
This lesson speaks on "*Satisfaction*". Be contented with what you have, however little.
***Lesson 19:***
***Joyous is he who shares in his riches. The coward hoards and lives in fear, rarely delighting in the fortune that seldom comes his way.***
There is joy in giving but do so wisely. Many of us fall under the category of the coward who continues to hide his share of riches in fear that he may never have them again. read.cash has allowed everyone to work on this aspect, showing that little support to another writer means a lot.
***Lesson 20:***
***Do not be ashamed of having simple clothing, pay more attention to your hygiene and demeanor.***
The way you carry yourself will determine the way people will address you.
You might not have much, maybe unable to purchase the best of trends in the fashion world or live the good life, but with whatever you have, maintain it.
***Lesson 21:***
***Do not be fooled by money, it makes the most unreliable friend***
Having money attracts a lot of friends but unfortunately, not all of them are real, when the money fades so will the lot of them. Do not be fooled.
***Lesson 22:***
***Give praise for each day regardless of what fate brings.***
Be thankful, always. Treat each day as a gift and be grateful for all life brings, good or bad, there is a reason for it even if it's not known to you.
*"We thank thee"*
***Lesson 23:***
***When the winds are harsh one should chop wood, in fair weather row out to sea, in the romantic glow of candlelight passionately talk with a woman. Use a ship for travel, a shield for defense, and a sword for striking. Everything has its time and place.***
*"There is time for everything"*
Ensure you are doing the right things at the right time. Time to buy, time to sell, time to hodl, time to swap, time to write articles, time to read them. Be productive with how you manage your time.
***Lesson 24:***
***Common sense is your best friend***
This has to be the most important lesson of all.
I'm guilty of trying to find complex ways to tackle problems when there are easy ways to deal with them.
*I guess common sense isn't as common as one would think.*
**I learned a lot from writing this article, I'm sure you did too, at least one. Once again I'm convinced that the truth about life is all around us, we just have to keep our eyes open to see.**
**Happy New Month Family, many more blessings and accomplishments to come.**
**Lead image source from Unsplash**
BCH - The Evolution of Money
It's the last day of the month, a day of reflection some would call it. I was talking to a friend two nights ago about read.cash, I noticed the confused look he had when I brought up Bitcoin Cash. Finally, he asked me
"What is Bitcoin Cash?" - he said
Then I saw my error, I was wrong to assume he knew what Bitcoin Cash was.
"It's a cryptocurrency"- I replied
"Crypto what? "
Another error, these days with the constant evolution of the world, you would expect almost everyone to be conversant with what Cryptocurrencies are.
Many people are still unaware of the opportunity it brings widely due to ignorance or simple negligence, written off as a scam.
People have been cheated so many times in the past that they are not ready to take anything seriously, they regard anything they do not understand as a scam.
Imagine his surprise when I told him about how I earn Bitcoin Cash from writing articles.
"How much did you pay to register?"
"Nothing, it's free"
"It's not possible, it's a scam, better quit it"
It sounds too good to be true but it is, and I wouldn't have learned of this opportunity if I didn't open myself to learning.
The world is constantly evolving, it would be really bad to be left behind. So last night, an idea struck my mind.
Trying to explain what Bitcoin cash is without giving full background to a layman is like speaking in a foreign language. NFT's, Farms, Airdrops, Swapping, Hodling, Crypto Wallets, and other terms are not easy to understand to newbies of the Crypto-verse, so why not break it down to the easiest possible explanation for better understanding eh? which is what this article will be about
Before I proceed, I want to thank my wonderful sponsors for their support in my journey here as a writer.
Image Source https://lifemathmoney.com/the-history-and-evolution-of-money/
**Evolution** refers to constant change, according to science, even human beings evolved into what we are today. The world is constantly changing. What we had in the past is different from what we have now. One of which is **Money**
**Money** is simply an exchange between two or more people for a particular product or service. Over the decades, it has taken up different shapes and forms
Trade-by-Barter.
Image Source https://historyplex.com/barter-services-history-of-barter-system
At the earliest point in civilization, this was a major means of exchange. Wealthy men were classified based on the size of their farms and crop produces as well as their flocks which comprised Horses, Sheep, Goats, and Cows.
*Man -1 : hello there mate, I would like to purchase one of your fine horses, he's a beast, I like him.*
*Man -2 : Alright there mate, I'm afraid it's going to cost you, you see he's a fine steed and a rare one. What do you have to offer for him?*
*Man -1: what do you say I give you a bag of rice and a bag of salt for him eh?*
*Man-2: I'm afraid that won't cut it, 3 bags of rice and a bag of salt should seal the exchange*
*Man -1: 2 bags of rice and a bag of salt is my final offer*
*Man -2: Looks like we've got a deal*
Just like that, the deal was done. This method functioned for a while until the inception of Metallic Money
Metallic Money
Image Source https://www.dailyfx.com/forex/fundamental/article/special_report/2019/08/22/Gold-Price-Forecast-Rally-to-Receive-Boost-from-Massive-ETF-Holdings-silver-price.html/amp
**Gold and Silver** became the new criteria for measuring wealth and this was largely due to its scarcity.
The scarcity of a commodity increases the value.
*Man 1: I love your house, I would like to purchase it*
*Man 2: I'm afraid it's not up for sale*
*Man 1: I will offer you 10 gold pieces for it*
*Man 2: getting upset, It is not up for sale friend*
*Man 1: determined to get the property, 2 bags of gold and a bag of silver.*
*Man 2: now you are talking, I think we have a deal, my good man.*
Now, you might wonder, transporting such amounts of money from place to place could be risky, heavy, and open for theft. Another major problem was calculating the worth of the gold. Judging a gold's worth by its weight wasn't good enough.
Metallic Coins
Image Source https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coin
This was introduced and values were assigned to the coins making it easy to count and measure.
*Man 1: I would like you to come work for me*
*Man 2: that depends on my pay.*
*Man 1: what's your offer.*
*Man 2: 10 pounds and 5 shillings*
*Man 1: deal*
*Man 2: wait, what? Just like that?*
*Man 1: Yes, just like that*
*Man 2: I think I would like to raise my fee*
*Man 1: a deal is a deal*
Soon enough, metallic money started to prove difficult to transport about so the next evolution began
Paper Money
Image Source https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banknote
We have banknotes today in every part of the world, this is the idea of "Money" most people have. This has been widely adopted by everyone.
Banknotes were lighter and easy to save in banks and there were allowances to exchange these notes for other currencies based on their value.
Due to the short lifespan, it couldn't be kept for a long time and was not advisable for carrying out large transactions.
Plastic Money
Image Source https://m.economictimes.com/markets/stocks/news/how-to-secure-plastic-money/amp_articleshow/56096258.cms
Credit cards and the Debit card were an upgrade from paper money, this curbed the issues of theft and made transactions a lot easy, these transactions are controlled by banks. The banks have the power to charge you for these services and also control who sends and receives the funds. Evolution didn't stop here though
Cryptocurrency.
Image Source https://www.news18.com/amp/news/business/cryptocurrency-update-5-crypto-assets-surge-up-to-10313-in-24-hours-details-here-4250489.html
In easy terms, digital money. You can't hold it but it has value in fiat currencies. These currencies are not influenced by world banks and also ensures transparency as well security of transactions since you are the only one who possesses the private keys. These currencies are capable of massive growth due to their adoption hence more volatile than fiat currencies.
Image source https://www.bitcoin.com/get-started/what-is-bitcoin-cash/
Bitcoin Cash is one of those currencies, and due to recent developments, its adoption, as well as holders, keeps on increasing which will ultimately lead to the rise in value of this coin.
read.cash is just one of such platforms that enables you to earn Bitcoin Cash (BCH).
At this rate with the constant increase with the adoption of this coin, the value is sure to go higher as time goes by.
*I intentionally refused to go into details to avoid confusion, but with this, you now have a general idea of what Cryptocurrencies are and the origin.*
*Lead image Source from Unsplash*
@Greatwolfman
