A better Nigeria
The idea of a democracy is to give power to the people. It's aim is to give the people a voice and a stand to choose for themselves who they think will be the best suited leader. Is it really democracy if the voice of the people isn't heard?
Nigeria hasn't had it good these past few years. Almost seems like whether you voted or not, the decision had already been made for you. A lot of people have lost their lives or have been left injured in recent times and yet, it seems like no one is listening.
The dead and injured are as a result of protests against police brutality that went on in the country for nearly two weeks. Nigerian youths are just demanding for a better life and to move about freely without being constantly subjected to extortion and harassment by the police. Having a nice car and nice clothes, living the comfortable live now appears to be a crime.
An average Nigerian youth isn't considered safe if you don't have connections. This is translated to mean having affiliations with people of higher social or political status that can assist you climb up the ladder of life or escape the harassment that comes from the police.
The children of the rich or our leaders do not face this same treatment as average Nigerian youths do. It's sad that our country isn't even safe for us anymore. We just want a better Nigeria.
A Nigerian activist, Aisha Yesufu said this about Nigeria and I quote "*A country where the child of a nobody can become a somebody without knowing anybody*". That is what we are demanding for. A country where you can climb up the ladder to success without connections and purely because you merit whatever comes to you.
This brings me to accountability and transparency.
*What is accountability?*
Accountability means being held responsible or answerable for ones actions(or perhaps lack of action where one should have been taken).
The idea of electing a democratic government into office is to speak for the people. In essence, the government are answerable to the people and should have the best interest of the people at heart.
*How about transparency?*
Transparency in the context of governance, means being open and honest in all official activities. The implication is that all activities are scrupulous enough that they could bear public scrutiny.
Accountability and transparency are mainly considered the two main pillars of good corporate governance. The idea is for the people to be knowledgeable about the actions and decisions of our leaders. Being aware of the how's, the whys and the whats.
It is important that our leaders realize this and work towards making the country better and great. It's pertinent that they listen to the cries and demands of the people. The citizens are tired of the fake promises and campaigns and demand that their voices will be heard.
The safeguard of lives and properties should be a priority. The people need to feel the government working for them and not against them.
Say a prayer for Nigeria, despite the tough times, we believe that better days are ahead. Hoping the change comes sooner than expected. Our voices must be heard.
Addiction
This isn't a new word to anyone, most of us are familiar with it. The term is mostly used to refer to something that is unhealthy and negative.
**What qualifies as an addiction?**
According to Wikipedia, addiction is a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse effects.
It can also be defined as a condition where a person finds themselves unable to stop using a substance or engaging in a particular behaviour.
Let it be noted that an *addiction* and a *habit* are two different things. Whereas a habit can be negative or positive, an addiction is considered to be strictly negative.
**What are the types of addiction?**
When it comes to addiction, people's minds first point to drugs, alcohol and the likes but that isn't the limit to it. Addictions can be categorized into two parts:- Chemical Addiction and Behavioural Addiction.
***Chemical addiction***
This is where the drugs and alcohol fall under. Here, a person is excessively drawn to the use of substances. It is the abusive use of any substance despite the harmful effects and negative consequences that might arise. Examples of such substances that are abused include cocaine, nicotine, cannabis, even regular drugs with over the counter prescriptions etc.
***Behavioural addiction***
This category refers to those persistent and repetitive behaviours that one carries out even if there's no gain from it. Those destructive compelling behaviours to an extent which causes adverse consequences to an individual's personal and social life as well as mental and physical health .People can be addicted to gambling, pornography, shopping, cellphones- *yes, there are people that can't do without it*, social media, a relationship that they feel they can't do without etc. It's unfortunate that people who suffer from this find it very difficult to stop engaging in such compulsive behaviours due to lack o awareness and education, without treatment and intervention.
**Signs of addiction**
An intense craving for the substance that prevents you from focusing on other things.
You feel discomfort or get uneasy if you can't access the substance you crave.
You experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit.
It's hard for you to quit as you find yourself keep going back to it.
You need it to feel a certain type of way or affect your mood to make you feel better.
It's beginning to affect how you feel about other activities you usually enjoy as you're no longer interested in them.
It's beginning to affect your relationships as you tend to put off or reduce social, recreational or household activities as a result.
You may not have control of your usage and you feel regret or remorseful afterwards.
**How do addictions come about?**
Addictions arise when an individual forms or fall victim to a repetitive use of substance or behaviour in order to satisfy a self imposed craving but which ultimately has negative effects or outcomes to the individual involved.
**What causes addiction?**
A few causes of addiction include:
Some addictions come as a result of genetic factors, probably a family member or a close relative was an addict.
Poor coping skills when it comes to handling stress, so you turn to these addictions to help you get by.
Some addictions came as a result of trauma, underlying anxiety or depression.
It can also come as a result of influence from friends and the environment.
Negative thoughts that could push one to channel it into use of substance for example as a way of healing.
**Consequences of addiction**
It's no surprise that people only stop when they've suffered enough from the negative consequences. When they've suffered enough pain and regret that they don't want to go down that road anymore. On one hand, addiction feels so good that you might not want to stop, on the other hand, it also has its negative consequences.
It could damage your relationships as such behaviours could put a strain on relationships with loved ones as well as affect self esteem as you might feel disappointed in yourself.
Health wise when it comes to substance abuse, it can lead to potential health problems such as cancer and infertility.
It can result in one not finding interest in the things they usually did for recreation.
It could also affect ones finances as they constantly spend money to satisfy their addiction.
With all being said, it's evident that addictions aren't healthy. Anyone suffering from one form of addiction or the other needs to seek help so that personal, mental, social, physical health etc will all be functioning just fine.
Domestic violence
It's no surprise that the issue of domestic violence is still rampant in our society today. My attention was once again drawn to the issue when I went online on twitter and read a tweet about a guy that abused his girlfriend. It's a sad world we live in.
Before we even talk about domestic violence, what is violence in itself?
Violence an act of physical force that causes or is intended to cause harm. The damage inflicted by violence may be physical, psychological, or both. Violence may be distinguished from aggression, a more general type of hostile behaviour that may be physical, verbal, or passive in nature.
When it comes to domestic violence, it's really self explanatory. This violence is committed by someone of a close circle. It could be a family member, a partner, an ex- partner. The bottom line is that for domestic violence to occur, there's usually some sort of close relationship between the abuser and the victim. In such cases, the victim might be dependent on the abuser or the abuser is considered to hold a higher level of power when compared to the victim.
**Who are the victims of domestic violence?**
The truth is that anyone can be a victim, absolutely anyone. The young, the old, men, women, children of all walks of life. It's not restricted to religion, ethnicity, race, you name it. Anyone can be affected. Women and children are considered to suffer domestic violence the most but for today, my concern will be on domestic violence concerning women.
**Types of domestic violence**
Domestic violence can be categorized into three main types; physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse. Others include financial abuse and psychological abuse.
Physical abuse
I believe this is the most common form of abuse. It involves the use of physical force to cause harm or injury to the victim. It includes choking, punching, slapping, kicking, stabbing, scalding or burning, pulling of hair and many more. Generally, it's anything that can cause physical harm to the victim.
Emotional abuse
This form of abuse makes people wonder about their self worth. It could be verbal where they're constantly insulted, body shamed, criticized, even their opinions are taken for granted. They begin to feel they're useless and have nothing positive to contribute. Sometimes, emotional abuse is combined with other types of abuse like physical, sexual, psychological or financial and it's effects can be detrimental to one's health. Such relationships are very unhealthy as it doesn't do you any good.
Sexual abuse
It involves sexual behaviour forced upon a person. It's mostly used when the abuser thinks the victim is weaker than he is. Not only that, it could also be if someone is forced into using contraceptives or getting an abortion, harassment in form of touching that is not welcomed.
Financial abuse
This can be a situation where the victim is prevented from getting an education, not allowed to have a job of their own rendering them totally dependent on the abuser. It's a way of controlling so that every action they take, the abuser will be aware.
Psychological abuse
When considering this form of abuse, it could range from preventing the victim from contacting or keeping touch with friends and family, threatening the victim, not allowing them to go out or have relations with other people.
**What causes this abuse?**
This question comes up. What drives this people to do what they do? How do they feel comfortable living the way they do? I'll say that they want to feel superior and exercise power. They want to feel like they're in charge, it's their way of exercising authority. It could be because they have low self esteem, anger issues, extreme jealousy and obsession or thru probably feel they're inferior to their partner.
In some places due to traditional beliefs, it can happen that they feel they need to subdue and control their partners to prove their masculinity.
They grew up in harsh and violent circumstances or a family where they witnessed domestic abuse and feel it's right or a normal thing to do.
In the view of the victim, excessive dependent on the abuser can result in violence.
Substance abuse such as getting drunk on alcohol can cause these abusers to act out on their victims.
Some people have undiagnosed personal or psychological disorders that need to be addressed.
They're other reasons why abuse occur, but this doesn't negate the fact that domestic violence is wrong and shouldn't be tolerated. These reasons only point out why abusers feel it's acceptable to act the way they do.
**Why do women stay in abusive relationships?**
It could be they're totally dependent on the abuser and have no funds of their own. They feel they can't start a life of their own outside what they know.
For cases where they're married and kids are involved, some stay because they feel it'll be better for the kids to have both parents together.
The society also influences their actions, they feel they'll be condemned by society for being divorced.
Some are afraid of what the abuser would do to them if they try to leave.
Others believe the abuser will change with time, and hold on to the false hope that they can be the saviour and make them change from their ways.
For those that grew up in abusive environment, they might think domestic violence is acceptable.
Some are unaware of the help that will come for them. They feel isolated and alone.
They still love their partner or abuser. There are many more other reasons. Feel free to add yours.
**What are the effects of domestic violence on victims?**
They can suffer from low self esteem, have trust issues, anger or fear in the case of emotional abuse.
They can suffer from isolation and withdrawal.
In the case of sexual abuse, it can lead to contacting STDs or other sexual issues.
It can lead to long term mental problems
Physics injuries can be incurred in the process.
In conclusion, even if awareness has been created to the public concerning the issue, we shouldn't stop creating the awareness. They're people out there who suffer silently because they feel their voices will not be heard of ignored. The world can do better.
Happiness or comfort
Let's talk happiness and comfort. Do you prefer to be happy or just comfortable? I believe we've all come across the saying I rather cry in a Lamborghini than in a bus or something similar of that nature. With the nature of our world today, everyone just wants to make it big, some at the detriment of their happiness.
We've placed wealth and riches at such high standard that if you're not rich, little or no attention is paid to you. Little wonder why everyone is struggling to be at the top. The issue is that everyone is trying to be comfortable in life, trying to get the best of the best and sometimes, in the process they forget how to be happy.
So what's the difference between happiness and comfort?
Being happy implies that you find joy and fulfillment in what you do compared to comfort where you're indifferent, not happy and not sad either. You're on neutral ground.
According to the dictionary, comfort can be defined as a state of physical ease and freedom from pain and constraint. Wikipedia defines comfort(or being comfortable) as a sense of physical or psychological ease, often characterized as a lack of hardship. A comfortable life doesn't always equate to a happy life.
The thing with us humans is that we always want to achieve more. We're not comfortable being comfortable, we're always trying harder, struggling to be better and in the end, we might lose ourselves in the process.
There are so many rich people doing well for themselves but still aren't happy with their lives. They just feel something is missing, some know what it is while others don't
Being comfortable could be:
Having a well paid job that you don't actually like doing. Yes, it's paying the bills, making life easier but it probably doesn't make you happy.
Being in a relationship because you feel life will be easier with that person.
Your life is probably rigid, the same routine everyday, you don't do spontaneous things for fun because you're so focused on managing your time plus the many other examples.
You tend to always avoid risks and problems. How then do you expect to grow?
Considering happiness, the dictionary defines happiness as the state of pleasurable contentment of mind; deep pleasure in or contentment with one's circumstances. According to Wikipedia, the term happiness is used in the context of mental or emotional states, including positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. It is also used in the context of life satisfaction, subjective well-being, eudaimonia, flourishing and well-being.
What about the popular saying that money can buy happiness. Yes, it's true to some extent but at the same time it's temporary. The excitement of getting something new or something you've always wanted will eventually wear off with time and you're back to the beginning, using money to buy more things you feel will make you happy.
The good thing about happiness is that you can be comfortable alongside it. We may not always have all we want in terms of material possessions, but there's this joy and contentment that comes with being truly happy.
If you're a movie lover, I believe you've come across movies where we have a workaholic with a rigid lifestyle, then someone comes along that changes their view of life and makes them want to love a little and go out of their comfort zone.
Happiness can be considered to be:
You love your job. For something you're passionate about, you'll be quite excited to do it.
You're in a healthy relationship with friends and family.
You aren't afraid of change. You're open to exploring and taking risks. It's how you grow.
You're living in the moment and not obsessing about the past or how the future will turn out.
Simple things excite you like hearing your favourite song come on on the radio or simply taking a walk.
You have good health and good sleep.
You probably don't have regrets because you're living your best life.
You're not afraid of failure and you have hobbies you enjoy.
So while we're all trying in our own way to make living better and comfortable, let's not forget to put our happiness in front too because it's just as important. It's part of having the good life.
Thankful - Join the patronage
It's been days since I've actually posted something here and I haven't really been active on the site. I won't deny the fact that I was a bit discouraged being that I wrote articles and yet I wasn't getting any tips. Truly, the new system hasn't been favourable to me and I noticed cryptocurrency articles seemed to get more tips. Personally, I'm not well informed about cryptocurrency so how could I possibly write an article about it..Lol.
Sometime last week, my friend @bmjc98 mentioned me on a post titled the Patronage by @Macronald.
**What is the Patronage?**
In his very own words, *"The Patronage is my commitment to support and motivate users especially newbies (all users are eligible) with a 7-day tip on their articles and to help them to get some needed attention."*
Basically, his aim is to help those of us that don't have enough audience or users that engage in our articles. With the new system of getting tips, it's his own way of helping the newbies get the boost they need to move further on this platform. Every week, users will be given the opportunity to nominate two people that they believe this initiative will be of great help to them. The users with the highest nominations get to win the 7- day tip for the week.
Here's the link to the article below
https://read.cash/@Macronald/the-patronage-the-one-week-upvotes-f6b2e39c
Sincerely, I didn't think I'll be selected as a pioneer beneficiary. I didn't even put my mind to it at all. You can imagine my surprise when I came online to see that I was selected together with @bbghitte - congratulations to us. This alone is a big source of motivation for me to not stop posting on this site. Thank you so much @Macronald for choosing us as your pioneer beneficiaries. You're doing an amazing job by choosing to help us.
Also, I won't fail to give a shout-out to my dear friend @bmjc98. We're practically strangers considering the fact that we're from two totally different continents but from the very first day I joined this platform, she's been my biggest support. I can't thank you less and I'm so grateful for all you've been doing for me. I don't take it for granted. You're amazing.
I had thought to myself that maybe my articles were not good enough to be tipped but seeing the way my friend supports me and looks out for me, I'm reminded of the fact that I shouldn't give up.
To those that feel discouraged like I did, please don't stop writing, you never know who is looking out for you.
Let's not forget that sometimes, things can seem stagnant and appear as if they're not moving but it's never a sign to stop trying. I'm reminded to not lose confidence in myself.
I'm happy to say I feel more energised and happy to write an article here. The motivation comes in the little things. You never know who'll be excited to have this opportunity.
So, let's help each other. Do you know someone who could really benefit from this initiative? You get the chance to nominate a friend. Why not tell a friend to tell a friend about this generous offer. Hurry now and follow @Macronald so you don't miss the chance of getting notified when the voting begins. Each round of voting starts on Wednesdays and runs through Sundays and the beneficiaries are selected.
Family is everything
This is an appreciation post to my amazing sisters whom I love dearly. It's just us girls as we don't have a brother and we're doing just fine. Life has been exciting and beautiful to us. I'm lucky to have not one, not two or three but four of them. I have three elder and one younger sister and I couldn't have asked for better.
Recently, I accompanied my immediate elder sister to a bridal shop for gown testing - she's getting married in December. I didn't realize up until now how much time has elapsed. I remember when we were younger, we used to have a lot of fun together. In addition, my parents thought it wise that all the kids sharing a room will help us bind better and I believe that turned out perfectly.
Growing up, we were separated by school, work and our different dreams and we didn't have the luxury of spending so much time together anymore. When the coronavirus pandemic took over, we all came back home and had the opportunity to spend a lot of time together again. It's one of the things I'm grateful for during this period. I've come to the realization that things will not always be the same again since one of us is getting married already. It feels so surreal, we were kids and now we're here, each running our own race. I believe life has more exciting plans in store for us.
My eldest sister is a sweetheart, I guess as the first daughter, she had to have a lot of first experiences for our sake. We're very lucky to have her. She shares most of her experiences with us and makes things so much easier. I especially love her because she's my confidant. She's very much invested in my well being and progress. She loves Rihanna so much..lol. I remember the time I told her I got my heartbroken, she was so sweet and reassured me that it can only get better. She's simply priceless.
For my second sister, aahh. I don't know of anyone who is so outspoken as she is. She's confident, strong-willed and exceptional. I'm not a good writer but she's certainly the real deal. Most times, I look at her and marvel at how one person could know so much. She loves to read broad and is always ready to chip in a meaningful contribution to a conversation. If she doesn't know about a topic, she doesn't hesitate to look it up or ask questions. She's also a big fan of Manchester United football club. Did I mention that she used to be very skinny? If only you could see her now. Her weight gain came as a surprise to most of us.
My immediate elder sister is a sweetheart too. She's a very social person and has managed to have a lot of friends, I don't know how she does it. Lol. I'm certain she isn't made for the office world, she's her own boss. I particularly love how anything she sets her mind to, no matter how small, it works out for her. I love her spirit and commitment to her business and how she perseveres even through tough times. If you need someone to accompany you shopping, take her. When we were younger, we used to fight and argue a lot and we still do that now. Lol. It doesn't negate or come close to the fact that I love her so much.
As for my younger sister, she's my rockstar. I call her that not because she's an artiste, but she loves music so much. I'm grateful that I have her because left to me, I wouldn't know any songs. Lol. She literally keeps me up to date. I guess because we're the youngest two, we're particularly close. We share a lot of funny inside jokes with each other. Back when we were younger, I used to be the taller one and it was obvious I was older. If you come across my younger sister and I on the street, your first thought will probably be that she's older considering the fact that I'm a bit on the small side. Lol. As of now, she's quite indecisive of a career path but she certainly wants to be happy with what she does. She doesn't mind repeating her favourite series over and over again. She also finds it childish that I still watch animated movies. According to her, I've grown past that age. Lol.
I don't know what the future has in store for us, but I'm hopeful that it's going to be exciting and beautiful.
What do you love about your siblings?
The world doesn't pay attention unless you're beautiful, rich, popular or dead
We live in a selfish world, each man for himself. Nobody really cares about you unless you're rich, beautiful, popular or dead. People are more interested and care to know what goes on with these set of people.
I'm not in anyway referring to the care you get from friends and loved one. Of course, we all have people that genuinely look out for our well being and it's something we must all appreciate and not take for granted.
Let's see what makes these set of people so interesting to the public.
**Beauty**
I believe we're all familiar with the quote
*Beauty attracts the eye but personality captures the heart.*
In this case, I'm referring to the outer beauty, the first part of that quote. We're not talking about inner beauty and all that. People are attracted by what they see, the society's standard of beauty. You're likely to get more attention and opportunities than others usually would. When a beautiful person walks into a room, they'll probably get noticed first because of the attention they command just by their looks. At the same time, it might not be easy to spot the genuine people that like you for who you are and not just for a pretty face. For one, they're people that are just familiar with you to get a photo that will attract likes and comments on social media, or they just want to be seen taking a stroll with you on the street. Beautiful people are sometimes misunderstood because it's believed that they have nothing upstairs.
**Rich**
*A poor man has no friends.*
The rich are mostly noticed for what can be gained from them. Everyone wants to succeed in life and make it, people just want to work their way to the top. Most people are associated with the rich for the influence or money they can benefit from them. They care because of what they hope to gain from that association. The rich are respected, afterall it is said that money answers all things. It's also hard for a rich person to know genuine friends from those that just want to use you as a ladder to success.
**Popular**
*There is a price for popularity, critics look for your weaknesses, your flaws, anything that makes work seem like a fluke and not seem worthy of all the attention it's getting.*
The thing about being popular is that your business is everyone else's business. They're literally living life with you and follow you up. Take celebrities for example, whatever they do, even the smallest or mundane things, they'll always get the attention. To walk into a diner and grab a coffee, it's everywhere on the internet. Such a life! It's easy to get backlash from people at the slightest chance because so much is expected from them. We forget they're also human and are prone to making mistakes. It's no surprise how much influence they have that the mere fact of being spotted with them, you're on the news too.
**Dead**
*The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.*
I guess death brings people together since it's a time of sober reflection on life itself. It's like a wake up call, a reminder that life can be over at the blink of en eye. At the mention of death, all the judging and opinions are put aside and there's only mourning except for cases where the bad outweighed the good. When death calls, everyone is suddenly caring, they remember moments they had with the death, and all grudges are forgotten. People don't care when there's life and it's sad. The popular and rich are mostly likely to still be remembered even after the period of mourning is over because of the impact they made.
Despite all this, you don't have to be beautiful, rich, popular or dead before you make an impact. The one person you were nice to remembers you, your family and friends know who you are and how valuable you are. These people have seen you, they've known you and they appreciate you. That alone in itself matters.
Thank you for reading through!
Being a better friend
I hope you're all having a beautiful Monday and you're doing fine.
A relationship can be defined as the way in which two or more people behave and are involved with each other.
The importance of relationships in life cannot be overemphasized. I'm not only referring to romantic relationships here, but also relationships with family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, peers , mentors, mentees even the ones you consider as your enemies.
As humans, we all crave for and need social interaction. Without relationships, life can be boring and unentertaining. Having healthy relationships with the people around us makes like fun, fulfilling and interesting to live.
I'm trying to navigate the friends phase of the relationship. I have a lot to work on in that department and I hope I will get better with time.
Is there anyone here like me that just goes into hiding? Not talking to friends or anything like that. One of those moments that you just need to take a break from everything and be on your own. Well, I'm having one of those moments now.
I don't know what is really the issue with me, I can't really say. I can go days or weeks without reaching out to my friends.
I'm not sure if it's the fact that I'm an introvert. I'm always happy to be around my friends, I really appreciate them but I always find myself just disappearing on them without knowing.
I'm not certain it's the right way to go. I mean just keeping away from friends and all. I get these mood swings that causes me to distant myself from people. I tend to fold up and go into my space.
Don't get me wrong, I don't find it difficult to make friends, I like meeting new people and everyday and getting to know them. The vibe is always great but the problem comes when you have to be calling and texting to keep up. I'm terrible at that.
I find it easier to have one on one communication with people, we can talk for long hours and have all the fun.
This is one of the issues I'm dealing with currently. I've had some of my friends complain that it's as if I don't care about them. In honesty, I actually do. I guess I'm not just big on the whole calling and texting thing.
I'm grateful for the friends I have. I wouldn't trade them for anything. The ones that have stuck by me and are always checking up on me.
The truth is, I don't want to continue like this, I want to be a better friend.
It scares me to think that I'll wake up one day and realize I don't have any friends, because I've been so occupied in my own space and forgetting the little things that matter.
Is there anyone here like me? Do you have issues when it comes to keeping up with friends and being active in their lives? It'll be good to know that I'm not alone.
What about the people that had issues like this too? How did you cope? How have you managed to be a better friend?
For the really social people, how do you people do it?
Random facts about me
Happy Sunday to everyone! I hope you're all having a good day today.
Since this platform cuts across the world, I thought it'll be nice to share a few facts about myself. I'll love to hear a few facts about you too in the comment section.
I'm a twenty- year old girl and I'm Nigerian.
My birthday is April 27
I still live with my parents.. there's no rush on my part..lol
I'm the fourth of five girls. I don't have a brother.
Did I mention that I'm short? I'm 5'2
Unlike most people, I enjoy watching horror movies.
My younger sister still doesn't understand why I love animated movies. She feels I'm way past that age and it shouldn't be so. Somebody should please tell her anime movies are the best.
I like maths and numbers in comparison to theory.
I'm a very emotional person and words get to me easily.
It seems my tear glands are very active considering its easy for me to cry...lol.. please don't say anything.
I've had my heart broken before. It was a tough time for me but I'm totally fine now.
I like pets especially dogs and cats but I guess I'm more of a cat person.
Funny enough, I've never been out of the country. Hoping to change that fact soon. There's so much I want to see.
I'm a food lover and I like the idea of cooking. Most times I'm on YouTube checking out a new recipe.
I particularly love the number seven. Don't ask me why, I don't know.
When I was younger, I always wanted to be a banker because I thought bankers must have a lot of money..lol..that was silly of me.
My favourite movies so far will be *life itself* and *knives out.*
I'm a terrible dancer. Trust me, you don't want to see that.
I don't have a favourite colour, I have two - blue and red.
Recently, I got interested in learning how to braid hair. I've been using my younger sister's hair for practice.
I don't really keep up with the daily trends when it comes to music but my favourite artiste is Taylor Swift.
I'm an introvert, I don't go out a lot and I tend to like my own space.
I'm not really good at chess but I love how the game puts my mind to work.
I prefer paper books when compared to e books. I like the idea of flipping through pages and taking notes as I want.
I don't like snakes.
I don't like the smell of grass as it is being cut, it makes me feel like throwing up.
I like country music and of course, I like afro music too.
When it comes to football, I'm yet to find the club I love. I decided to join my elder sister and support Manchester United since she's such a huge fan.
Recently, I realized I'll love to teach.
I love my best friend because I can literally tell him anything and not get judged for it.
I'm currently studying chemical engineering in the university.
I talk fast when I get super excited.
I'm still shy when it comes to public speaking but around my friends I'm quite verbal.
I prefer tea to coffee
I've not seen game of thrones.
I prefer watching movies compared to series.
I've been told by a lot of people that I have a beautiful smile.
My earliest memory of tasting honey, I remember thinking they lied to me. That the phrase as sweet as honey isn't true.
Those are just a few facts about me and I know I'm boring..Lol.
I'm interested in hearing a few facts about you. Drop it in the comment section 👇
Don't forget to smile today.
We need each other
I believe most of us joined this platform because you don't just write, but you get paid for writing. The idea was cool and appealing and we signed up eagerly.
Upon joining the platform, we began to interact with other people and even made a few friends from all over the world.
I believe anyone that writes an article here or a short post hopes to get interaction. Remember when you made your first post and got your first comment? It was exciting right? The fact that someone noticed your article.
There is that joy and satisfaction that comes from the fact that people have actually read your article and found it worthy to drop a comment.
I joined this platform about a week ago because my friend referred me. I was excited to get interactions from people no matter how small. To me, it was big considering the fact that I was new.
While the point system was still in place, this platform was much more fun because of the idea that you get more points from interactions.
With the implementation of the new system that features the bot giving tips, I'm of the opinion that it doesn't favour everyone.
I've noticed that interactions have really dropped since more tips are given to articles plus according to the bot, longer articles get more tips.
Everyone is focused on making articles that are interesting enough to get tipped by the bot. That's not a bad thing as this is our number one aim for being on this site.
My concerns is that with this new system, people with low subscribers are at a disadvantage. I've noticed that what attracts the bot to an article is how much engagement the article gets. In essence, the more the engagements, the higher the chance of the random rewarder paying your article a visit.
The people that have been on this platform longer and have managed to be noticed and gotten a lot of subscribers are likely to gain more from this new system as they will probably get more interactions.
It's quite discouraging to come online and see that nothing is moving. It's like no one cares. Everyone is trying to be noticed by the random rewarder. The interactions have reduced drastically.
I know it's hard, I struggle too to get interactions considering my time here has been short but I'm holding onto the fact that with time, it'll get better.
What about the newbies? How do we expect these people to get noticed by the random rewarder if we don't pay attention to them.
What's the essence of writing an article here if you don't get interactions? How is it encouraging to people who are new to the system or those that have barely managed to gain subscribers.
Since interactions have reduced, the bot doesn't notice some people's articles and because of that, they get discouraged about continuing their stay on this platform.
I'm aware that we're all chasing a primary goal here and that is to earn from this platform. Let's not forget that we all need each other.
For the tips to go round as much as possible, I encourage us to do like we used to before the new system. Let's continue interacting, dropping comments and liking posts. That way, everyone is likely to earn something from this platform.
Please, let's try to be selfless as much as we can. It'll be really encouraging to get engagements on an article and have the random rewarder visit it.
Let's be our brother's and our sister's keeper. The more the engagements, the better chance of getting reward. Let's help one another rise. Thank you!
Follow your own path
We live in a society where the state of the economy has demanded a lot of people to start up their own businesses especially in my country - Nigeria. I hear a lot of people say that if you want to make it big, you have to be your own boss. You have to take the initiative and start up your own business rather than work under someone. It seems like people are condemned for being employees and continuous praise goes to the entrepreneur.
Who then is an entrepreneur?
An entrepreneur is a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking financial risks in the hope of making profit.
According to the business dictionary, a person who exercises initiative by organising a venture to take benefit of an opportunity, and as a decision maker, decides what, how and how much of a good or service will be produced.
The question is this
Should everyone be an entrepreneur?
Nowadays, when I go online on social media, I see that a lot of people are marketing either one good or the other. It's almost like everyone is starting their own business.
We come across new books on how to become an entrepreneur and how to excel as one. A big shout out to all those that are following that path of starting their own business and are consistent in what they do.
What about the people that aren't cut out for that path?
The truth is that everyone can be an entrepreneur but not everyone should be an entrepreneur.
In my country, there's this idea that is going around that going to school is a waste considering most people finish school and can't find jobs. Most people are jumping into the train of starting their own business when they don't even know how to go about it.
I believe there's nothing wrong with being an employee because we all need each other. Some people actually enjoy the working hours. If you know you're not cut out for the life of an entrepreneur, then don't follow the multitude. You can succeed and do very well for yourself on your own path.
To be an entrepreneur, here's a few points
**You have to make sacrifices**
The truth is being an entrepreneur is hard. Starting a business isn't easy. At first, you won't have people rushing in to patronise you. At that time, you need to sacrifice your money or savings to start what you want. It may take a while before the business starts to pay and support you like you would want so for a certain period, you have to manage.
**Be able to take risks and make decisions**
Being an entrepreneur in itself is a risk because you can't be certain the business will pay off. They have to take decisions concerning their business and how it's supposed to move forward. Taking a risk is being open to the possibility that the plan might work out or not. It's like fifty fifty. If you can't handle that, maybe it's not a part for you.
**You need to have passion**
If you're looking for fast money, entrepreneurship might not be for you. The truth is, you can't be certain money will come fast from your business. Still, you have to be consistent and do what you do and continually look for ways to make things better and promote your business to make profit. It just doesn't happen overnight. You need to really be interested in what you're doing if not, it'll be easy for you to give up along the line.
**Be a people person**
Hahahaha. To be an entrepreneur, you must know how to relate with other people. How else do you expect people to take interest in your business and want to patronise? Good networking and connections can move your business faster than you think. You cannot sit in your comfort zone and people will come to you.
**Be able to manage and market**
To be an entrepreneur, one must know the concept of money and how money works. It's important so that you know where you stand and can run your business effectively. Also, you must know how to properly market your products to get people interested.
Is the entrepreneurship path for you or not? Whether yes or no, as long as we're all doing well for ourselves in our respective interests, that's all that matters.
What do you think?
The package
Lydia walked into the boutique smiling to herself. It was evident that she was in a good mood that fine afternoon. Why wouldn't she be? She was on her way back from work when she got a text message from her husband. Their daughter's results for the session was out and she was at the top of her class. At that moment, she was a really proud mother considering how her daughter had struggled with her academics the past term. As a reward, she had stopped by the boutique to get her a new dress. She remembered how much her daughter wanted one. It wasn't that she had a lot of money but she really wanted to do this for her baby girl.
She had barely taken seven steps into the boutique when an attendant walked up to her.
"Good afternoon ma, how can we help you? What might you need?" She asked.
Lydia took a glance at her and liked her immediately.
"I'm hoping to find a beautiful dress for my daughter" she replied.
She was led to the section that housed the clothes. The first dress she saw, she dismissed it immediately. It looked like it had been sitting in the boutique for a long time and no one had come to buy it.
The second dress she came across was indeed new but it wasn't what she wanted either. The design didn't sit well with her. It was like the designer was confused and tried to add so many patterns to the dress at once.
Most of the clothes she saw didn't quite suit her taste. They were either too bland or there was too much going on with the design that she didn't understand.
She was about to turn and leave when a very beautiful red sequin dress caught her attention. *This would be perfect for my baby!* She exclaimed. It was exactly what she wanted. Everything about the dress screamed perfect. She was sure her daughter would love this dress.
" This is the one I want." She said.
The attendant smiled at her and said
" You do have eyes for the best".
If you've read this story, this brings me to my point today **- Packaging.**
What then is packaging?
In simple terms, it is the manner in which a person or product is promoted.
It's like when you see a plate of food that is so inviting and looks delicious. You expect it to taste the same way it looks. You don't expect anything less.
Just like Lydia in our story, you want to make a purchase of a good or a service, you'll certainly go for the best. You won't look twice at the ones that don't look appealing. We go for the *packaging*.
Sometimes, when we finally make the purchase, we realize the package in itself isn't what we expected but we were drawn to it by the packaging, by how well that product was presented.
It's the same for us humans. If you want to be noticed. If you want to be taken seriously, you have to know how to organise yourself. The way you present yourself to people plays a big role in you going far in life.
Self packaging involves the way you appear as a means of promoting yourself in the midst of other people. It is more than your outfit or dressing. It is in summary, everything about you. The way you interact with people, to how much self confidence you have. The fact that you always keep a smile on and have your head held high.
Try to always look presentable for a meeting or an event. Remember, we're all like Lydia, we're first moved by what we see.
If you're with someone, try to be attentive to them. Put your phone away and give them the attention. It speaks a lot about you. It shows you're interested and will leave a positive impression.
Don't forget to smile and be confident in yourself. If you appear unsure of yourself, you might not be taken seriously.
The issue is that sometimes people that we are better than at something get the position we wanted. Why? It's how they presented themselves or how they were seen. You might have everything needed to make it in life but if you don't know how to present yourself to others, you won't be able to promote yourself and everything you worked for might appear to be a waste.
Some of us had given a bad first impression about ourselves to people. If you're opportune to get other chance, let's do better.
So, let's ask ourselves this question
How do we want to be seen?
What tips do you have that helps you progress in the midst of other people? I'm interested in hearing them in the comments. We're all here to learn. Thank you❤️
Let's talk emotions
Do you feel sad? Angry? Happy? The list of emotions are endless. I am blessed to be surrounded by people I can learn from everyday. I learnt about emotions recently.
Psychology defines emotion as a complex state of feeling that results in physical and psychological changes that influence thought and and behaviour.
The Merriam Webster dictionary defines emotion as a conscious mental reaction (such as anger or fear) subjectively experienced as strong feeling usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioural changes in the body.
Basically, emotions are our feelings at a particular point in time. Some emotions occur briefly like a feeling of embarrassment. We also have other emotions like joy, anger, happiness, surprise, fear, disgust etc. The list is endless.
It is through our emotions that we can express or understand how we feel at a particular point in time. Emotions are very real and we can't help the way we feel but we can control the way we react to the way we feel.
There's a few points I learnt about emotions and I want to share.
**Emotions are real but not who you are**
Let's say you failed an exam, you did poorly in a job interview, or a love affair went wrong. At that moment, you might say to yourself that you're a failure, stupid or even call yourself a fool. You're just acting out based on how you feel at that moment. You're not any of those things you're saying to yourself.
**Emotions are real but not final**
The thing with emotions is that they can change at any point in time. Let's consider people in a relationship. Say your partner annoys you or frustrates you, you might feel you don't love them anymore because of what happened but it's just a temporary feeling and you don't actually mean it. Overtime, you'll come to realize it was just something you felt at that moment because you still love them.
**Emotions are real but not always right**
Yes, a perfect example is saying you're in love with a married man or woman. Yes, you might love them but what you're feeling is not right because this person is already married to someone else. In essence, you what something that isn't yours and you can't have them. So, that feeling isn't right.
**Are real so let them propell you**
It's high time we all developed a positive attitude towards things. Emotions are like a driving force, they get you to where you're going. If you give a positive mindset to your job or whatever it is you want to do, you'll be amazed at how much you accomplish. On the other hand, if you always have negative thoughts and are always feeling lazy towards matters, you won't go far. So channel your emotions to do something good for you.
Managing a challenge
A challenge can be seen as a difficult task or problem. It is difficulty one faces while trying to reach a particular goal or task. The thing about challenges is that once you're able to overcome them, you come out stronger and better than you were before. It's like a process that shapes you and pushes you to limits, testing how much you can endure. It takes grace to be able to get through the challenges we face everyday.
Challenges can come in so many ways. It could come as a result of loss of something or someone very valuable to you or it could be setbacks, things that didn't go exactly as planned, issues that prevents you from getting to your goal and aim. It could also be failure which forces you to re-evaluate issues on why things turned out the way they did.
I'm going to be sharing a specific event in my life that made me look at things differently. I'm a school lover, I love anything school related and I don't see it as a bore. I've come to find out that the academic world intrigues me a lot.
I finished secondary school in 2016 and I really hoped to gain admission into the university of my choice that year. It didn't exactly turn out as planned and this was a huge setback for me considering I wanted to finish the university early and I had already started making plans of the things I wanted to achieve at a specific time in the future. To me, this was a big challenge. My friends had gotten admission and I felt left out. It seemed like at that point everybody around me was doing well except for me and I thought my time was wasting. Life is unpredictable, we make our own plans but sometimes it has its own surprises.
How did I deal with this?
This was an academic disappointment for me but I had to cope with it.
**Accept that this was happening**
Challenges are part of our everyday life. I had to come to terms with the fact that this is life, I had no power to change the way things were. I couldn't deny what I was feeling at the time. I was sad, I was unhappy and I cried a few times but I had to accept the way things were. I realized that it's okay for me to feel all these sad emotions. It's okay to let it out and not bottle up whatever it is you're feeling. It's part of living.
**I planned better**
Yes, I was feeling all of these sad emotions but I couldn't dwell on them. I had to ask myself questions. What is it that hindered me from getting admission? What was I doing wrong? How can I make it better? I was going to take the exams that qualified me for the university again. I had to study harder and better. I realized I didn't practice a lot of past questions but had dwelled mostly on my own knowledge so I made sure I have time to that. I put in extra hours to learn the topics I didn't understand better so that I can perform better.
**I'm not alone**
In the course of staying home for another year, I realised that I wasn't alone. They were many other people in my shoes but I was too focused on myself to notice. The fact that I wasn't alone made me feel better and made things easier for me. I believed it was just a phase and I could get through it. They are people that have been in my shoes and they had gotten through it.
**I had support from family and friends**
Support goes a long way in life. After my performance in the exam was below expectation, I expected my parents to be mad at me. Surprisingly, they were very cool with me and supported me. They assured me that everything was going to be fine and that there was room for me to do better. That support helped me a lot and prompted me to even do better the next time because I didn't want to disappoint them. Sometimes, all we need is an encouraging word from a friend or family to make things easier.
**I made enquiries**.
Considering I was trying to get into the university, I took it upon myself to engage with those that were already in the system. I listened to their stories and what it was like for them when they were applying to get into school too. I think that period helped me to understand the system even before I entered it. I got a lot of tips that helped me. It's okay to ask people for help. They're people that are more knowledgeable than we are and we have to listen to them.
**I was optimistic and trusted God**
Given my situation at the time, there was a lot of things going through my mind like I wasn't deserving, I wasn't good enough. If I couldn't get admission when I freshly out of school how then will I concentrate and get admission the following year. I had to discard those negative thoughts and replace it with positive thoughts. The thought that I had a year to myself to explore and do the things I want to do for myself, that God wanted it this way. The thought that there was a reason why I didn't do well in my exams and the admission didn't come through. I believed God had better plans in store for me. Trusting God and having positive thoughts in situations has really helped me. I try not to concentrate on the cons but rather the pros of the situation.
**I took the exams again**
There's a saying that *it's not over until it's over.* I didn't give up because it didn't work the first time, instead, I took the exams again because I was more confident now. I believed I could do better than before. I didn't allow the past to weigh me down but rather I kept pushing. Quitting wasn't an option. Whatever it is I go through, I look on the bright side that I'll only be losing if I give up.
I'm happy to say that considering that very issue, I got admission the following year. I didn't end up in my dream university but I'm much happier now. I believe things actually worked out for my good because considering the fact that if I had gotten the admission the previous year, I wouldn't have had the amazing friends I have today as well as the opportunities to be better that present themselves everyday. I've learned to embrace challenges now and see them as an opportunity to learn and be a better person.
This is my entry for the question
**How do you overcome challenges that life throws at you?**
Link below
https://read.cash/@Jane/500-subscribers-im-giving-sponsorhips-b9b884f0
That you to my friend @bmjc98 for informing me about this.
A big thank you to the amazing @Jane for this opportunity.
Anger
There's a reality show going on in my country called Big Brother Naija. Here, contestants live in an isolated house for specific period of time competing for a large cash prize. This year's cash prize is 85million naira and twenty housemates went in for the show. During the show, viewers are given the opportunity to vote for their favourite housemates with the least person on the voting chart going home every Sunday until the week of the finale where five housemates are left and the winner is announced on the finale day.
Something happened about three weeks ago in the house. Two of the housemates happened to form a strong bond and were good friends until one person started developing feelings. Since the feelings wasn't mutual, they both agreed to give each other space.
It turned out that they had a disagreement on that faithful day. The girl in question had found out that the guy had said something that suggested she was interested in him to another housemate. This didn't sit well with her considering he was supposed to be her friend. She counted it as gossip and lashed out badly resulting in her disqualification from the show.
Let it be noted that the house comes with its rules and one of them included the fact that you shouldn't threaten a fellow housemate plus the fact that you shouldn't destroy anything in the house. Well, it turned out she broke those rules because in that moment of anger, she said some very hurtful things and even went as far as making living uncomfortable for a fellow housemate. At that moment, she wasn't even willing to listen to those that told her to stop with the abuses she was raining on the guy.
All along, the guy in question didn't say anything to her. He didn't react to her rants despite all the insults and kept his cool. There's a high chance if he had reacted to her insults, he would've been disqualified alongside with her.
The issue is the fact that both she and the guy in question were two strong contenders in the house. The viewers absolutely loved them and there was no way to know which of them will actually win the show until the finale. That single act of lashing out ruined her chances. If only she hadn't reacted that way, things would've turned out differently and she would've still been on the show. For a second, she had lost sight of the prize money that was at stake and had allowed her emotions to get the better part of her. Yes, the guy must've said something that didn't sit right with her but at that moment, her reaction spoilt everything for her.
It's the same with a lot of people. Do you allow your anger to take control of you? People get angry and do things or say things that they later regret. Anger is a temporary emotion that if not managed, can lead to a permanent destruction.
Sometimes people offend us, do things that get us upset but let's remember to pay back evil with good. Remember that two wrongs don't make a right. Let's not do something we'll regret because we couldn't control our temper and things got out of hand.
Thank you for taking time to read through. I'm hoping to see your feedback in the comments ❤️
Everybody is important
Greetings!! Hope you're all doing fine today. I'm going to be pointing out something in regards to the power of a team. Let's use the game of chess as a case study.
The chess game is made for two players consisting of sixteen pieces for each player making it a total of thirty-two. These pieces are further grouped into six types. Each player has a King, a Queen, 2 Bishops, 2 Knights, 2 Rooks or Castle and 8 Pawns.
The King is considered as the most important piece of the game as the goal of the game is to make sure your King is safe from checkmate. Whilst protecting your King, your goal is to checkmate the King of the opposite team. The King moves one square in any direction as long as it's path is not being blocked and can also make a special move called castling.
The Queen is considered the most powerful piece in the game. This is because she's allowed to move in any direction on the chess board be it horizontally, vertically or diagonally as long as her path is not being blocked by another piece.
The Bishop is allow to move only diagonally as long as it's path isn't being blocked by another piece.
The Rooks can move vertically and horizontally given their paths are not being blocked by another piece. It also partakes in the special move castling alongside the King.
The Knight moves in an L - shape and is allowed to jump over pieces even if they block his path.
The Pawn is considered the weakest in the game of chess. It's allowed the option of moving two squares forward on the first move and only one in subsequent moves and capture diagonally in opposition to how they move. They can't move backwards unlike other pieces on the board. They can also make a special move called the en passant.
Most people are quick to write off the pawn as not having any important use but let's not forget that even as being the smallest and considered the weakest piece, the pawn in itself is powerful if you use it wisely.
If a pawn is successful in crossing over to the opponent's side of the board, they have the option of being transformed into any piece of their choice be it the Queen, Bishop, Knight, Rook with exception to the King.
In a chess game, the pawns numbering eight are lined up in front as the first line of defense in protecting the King. They're underestimated because they're small but their job is also just as important as any other piece. Other pieces cannot do it on their own. Yes, they might be considered as being superior to the pawns, but it's team work that leads to the success of the team. The combined efforts of all the pieces on the chess board.
Similarly, in an organisation, a company or any group in particular that has an hierarchy, everybody is just as important. The people at the bottom of the hierarchy are considered unimportant or should I say are underestimated. Is it the cleaner that makes sure the place is always best and tidy? Or the receptionist who is the first bus stop for people coming in? Or the security man in his post?
Some people feel because they're the managers, the bosses of the organisation that they're better than the others and their job is far more important than the other. The truth, it's team work that ensures the success of the team. The combined efforts of all the workers is what brings glory. If you feel you're too important try to do the job of the other person for a day or even a week. We don't appreciate these people enough.
So, thank that person today that you feel their job is unimportant but their presence is also one thing that contributes to the success of the team. We might be the Queen's, Kings, Bishops, Knights and Rooks of the team but let's not fail to appreciate the Pawns that are the first line of defense for the team.
Hope you enjoyed this article. Will be interested in having your feedback. Thank you❤️
To all photographers on read.cash
Hello everyone. I've been on this platform for five days now and I've noticed the people that do well to share pictures they captured with us.
Most people do well to share photos that they took of nature. When I look at those photos, I'm reminded of how beautiful nature is. The little things we don't take notice of or think are not important.
I'm also reminded of the importance of photography. Pictures speak emotions like when you capture someone smiling, crying, angry, sad, most of us can relate. Also, appreciating the beauty of nature for those that capture the beauty of flowers, trees, the environment in general.
Pictures also serve as memories like the ones you capture with your family, friends and loved ones. It can serve as a reminder to an event you might've forgotten about but seeing those pictures relieves the memory all over again.
So, here's a thank you to everyone on read.cash that have shared their photos in one way or the other. We get to see beauty through your eyes.
By the way, I'm not a good photographer so it's extra appreciation to you guys.😁😁
What does photography mean to you?
Live in the moment
It's a beautiful day so why not enjoy it. Many of us worry too much about the unknown and things we can't control. It's okay to make plans but don't forget that no one really knows what tommorow will be. It's in our human nature to plan ahead, about the things we want to do and goals we want to achieve but sometimes life has surprising twists.
We're not in a position to control the events of life because everything is in the hands of God. The only thing we can do is hope and believe that theses goals and plans will be realized. I stress myself about issues at times that tend to bother me but then I realize that stressing might not change things. I can only hope and believe and leave the rest to God. Since we have no control over the future, why not enjoy the moment we're in. The gift of today.
Sometimes, people aren't worried about the future, but they feel haunted by the events of the past which prevents them from fully enjoying life in the moment. Are you that person? It's true that we can't change the past. The events of the past might've been your fault or the actions of another that affected you negatively but you shouldn't allow it hold you down. What are you doing with the gift of today? Why are you obsessing about things you can't control?
Moving forward, you and I owe it to ourselves to live our best lives while we can. Live everyday like it's your last. We've in one way or the other ignored the things that matter because we're stressed about achieving goals. Some of us have become too busy for friends and family, too busy for the people that care about us. This is a reminder that tommorow is not promised. The vacation you wanted to take when you have the time, why not take it now? Your friends you promised you'll hang out with them next week? Don't procrastinate again. Get together with them. When last did you spend time with the people you call family? Or have you totally devoted you time to making plans about the future where nothing is certain and forgotten to live in the moment?
It's okay to make plans, it's okay to have goals and it's totally okay to work towards those plans and goals but let's not lose sight of the present in the process. Let's not forget what it feels like to take a walk and admire the beauty of nature.
I'm challenging you and I to do better. I'll end with this verses from the bible
Proverbs 19:21(NLT)
You can make many plans, but the Lord ’s purpose will prevail.
Matthew 6:34(NLT)
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Isaiah 43:18-19(AMP)
“Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past. Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.
James 4:13-15(NLT)
Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”
Another giveaway. This time @Greebajj is generous enough to be a sponsor for 20 of his subscribers. If you're interested and are in need of sponsorship, why not visit the link below for more information
https://read.cash/@Greebajj/giveaway-0170f8cc
Afro hair
If you're reading this, you probably have interest in afro hair. Afro hair is common among Africans and those in diaspora of African descent. Do you have afro hair? You have a friend that does? Or you're just curious? It's good to have you here. Thank you for dropping by. I'll be sharing how I personally take care of my afro hair on a wash day.
I believe afro hair is beautiful and I especially love my kinky tight curls. The tips I use in taking care of my hair includes washing, making use my hair is always moisturised, making use of protective styles like braids and twists, eating healthy, sleeping with a satin bonnet to protect the hair etc. Today, my focus is on a wash day routine. I wash my hair once a week.
**Prepoo**
The night before my wash day, I prepoo my hair. This process is necessary for me because it helps to prevent my hair from totally losing moisture when using shampoo. I achieve this by applying water and moisturising oil on my hair after I must've combed my hair then I leave it on for the night. Moisturising oils include coconut oil, aloe vera, olive oil. I mostly use either coconut oil or olive oil.
**Washing**
The next day after prepoo, I wash my hair with warm water using my hair wonder shampoo. My shampoo is sulfur free and works quite well for my hair. I try to massage my scalp as much as I can in the process of washing my hair.
**Protein treatment**
After washing, I go on to apply a protein treatment. The importance of this step is that it strengthens the hair and helps prevent breakage and damage. This step isn't something I do on a weekly basis. I apply a protein treatment once in a month using a do it yourself (DIY) I make myself at home. For my protein treatment, I mix an egg with a tablespoon of honey, a tablespoon of olive oil and one banana. I divide my hair into four sections, apply the mixture, cover it with a cap and let it sit for at least 20mins after which I rinse it out thoroughly with water.
**Deep condition**
On days where I do the protein treatment, I don't bother with this step otherwise, it's a regular routine as it follows the washing. This step is important because it helps to replace the moisture that the hair must've lost as a result of heat and styling. This is also a DIY treatment with a mixture of an egg and a tablespoon of olive oil. I divide my hair into sections and apply the mixture evenly and let it sit for about 20mins before rinsing it off thoroughly with water.
**LCO ( Leave - in conditioner, cream and oil)**
After the process of deep conditioning, I go ahead to use a leave - in conditioner. I especially like leave - in conditioners. They make detangling easy, prevents breakage and split ends as well as softens the hair for easy styling. I use the cantu leave - in conditioner and also apply it in sections. Following this process, I add hair cream to my hair and then seal it with olive oil.
So guys, that is my wash day routine. If you have afro hair. What's your routine like? If not, I'll still be happy to know how you take care of your hair.
Superheroes
This word *superheroes* popped in my head today. According to Wikipedia, A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that possesses abilities beyond those of ordinary people, who typically uses their powers to help the world become a better place, or is dedicated to protecting the public, and stopping evil. Many of us have seen movies or read comics that feature superheroes. We are all familiar with the likes of batman, superman, wonder woman, spider man, captain marvel, captain America, the X-Men, Iron man, Thor, black panther to mention a few. These characters have used their abilities to do the greater good in the world. They've proven to be courageous, dependable, noble and worthy of character. Some even go as far as putting their lives on the line proving how selfless they are.
So, I guess we all have our favourite superheroes. Who's yours? Before we all get carried away with the fantasy characters, let's not forget the real life superheroes around us. The people who have helped us in one way or the other, stood by us and assisted us even when we were undeserving.
Think about the people that have influenced you and looked out for you. It could be our parents who have always cared and made sacrifices for us from the moment we were born so that we could have a better life. Our family - brothers, sisters and other relatives. What about the friends we have made as we grow. People that are worth keeping long term because they've proven to be trustworthy and reliable. Do you have mentors? People that we look up to for guidance in life. These people ensure we follow the right path and not end up doing things or making decisions that could ruin us.
Remember the saying "not all heroes wear capes". Who is that person that has made living more worthwhile for you and positive about the race of life. Don't forget that friend that took care of you when you were sick or the person that helped you go to the grocery store when you couldn't yourself. The one that helped you complete your assignment in school. It's the little things that count. So today, let's be a little bit more appreciative and say a big thank you to these wonderful people. Cheers to all those that have made positive impacts in our lives. They're worth celebrating.
Love myths-2
It's @Kommie here again. We'll continue from where we stopped yesterday about love myths. Thank you to everyone that engaged on the post. To read the first part of this article, follow the link below. Thank you❤️
https://read.cash/@Kommie/love-myths-35f3b0c5
Here's the continuation of that article.
**You can love more than one person at a time**
Well, well, I believe if you are actually in love with someone like you claim, you wouldn't have time to share that with someone else. Since love is a commitment, you can't commit to two people, you'll consciously be giving your attention to one person. Be realistic with yourself, even if you claim to love two people, they'll come a time you have to make a decision of choosing one and by then, you'll know who you value more and who has won your heart.
**If you're in love, you won't be attracted to other people**
This is another point that is totally untrue. You'll definitely be attracted to other people. You might come across people that have certain qualities you admire in a partner but what keeps you disciplined and faithful in your relationship is the commitment you made to your partner. Remember, you choose them!
**Love is a bed of roses**
So here's the thing, people expect romantic relationships to be like a bed of roses. They want to enjoy it but forget that roses also have thorns. Yes, at one point or the other, you're surely bound to have disagreements with your partner, challenges and doubts about them. It is pertinent to acknowledge here that these things are normal and when you get through it, your bond with your partner becomes stronger and you appreciate them more. Remember, it is through adversity we become stronger.
**If it's love, it'll work naturally**
Okayy, we're here. When you first started dating, remember all the nice things you did for your partner? It could be that you called or texted everyday, you guys used to go on dates more often, or you probably have gifts. I have a question for you - *why have you stopped doing those things?* Your partner probably thinks you're no longer interested in being with them. To those that are still doing those kind gestures and fun things with their partners, don't stop. I'm proud of you. These little gestures are the fuel of the relationship and you have to keep that fuel burning and sometimes you might be required to make sacrifices too.
**True love does not exist**
With the way the world is today, it's hard for people to find true love. Some people don't even believe in it anymore. I'm here to tell you that true love does exist and you shouldn't write it off. There's someone out there who will love you with all your flaws and your scars and tell you that you're beautiful. Stay positive!
**Love will change you**
This message is for people that have issues they're dealing with. It could be you have some bad attitudes or traits that you've failed to manage and you believe love will change you. The only thing that can change you is the fact that you want to change and be a better person. What if your relationship doesn't work out? Does it mean you're back to those bad habits because you don't have a partner? If you really want to change, let it be that you're doing it for yourself and not to impress someone because if you're impressing, sooner or later you'll get tired and it'll affect your relationship.
Thank you so much for taking time to read. I hope you enjoyed this article. I'm hoping to get your feedback in the comment section. I love you guys ❤️
My biggest earnings
Good morning from this side. I hope you're enjoying your Sunday ❤️. I'm quite happy this morning because I didn't expect to gain this much as this is just my third day here.
I earned 825.0points as at yesterday and that is a big win for me. Yayyyyyyyy. I'm so grateful to everyone that has taken their time to engage in my articles. I couldn't have gained this without you guys. You're the best 😍. Thank you to the read cash too. You guys are doing an amazing job.
I don't know what it is I'm really doing but it's definitely working for me. I try to engage in people's articles by commenting and I put up my own articles too. I participate in giveaways and I discovered some communities pay for frequent and quality articles. I'm really sharing this to encourage people especially newbies like me. Don't stop doing what you're doing. Be consistent and your hardwork will surely pay off.
The beauty of the world
A very big thank you to @Dreamer for choosing this beautiful topic for this writing contest. If you want to participate, here's the link below
https://read.cash/@Dreamer/4-giveaway-writing-contest-b498c95a
According to Wikipedia, *the world is the earth and all life on it including human civilization.* The world in itself is very beautiful ranging from the sun and moon, the sky, the seas, land, vegetation, the animals in the sea, the sky and on land as well as the people that live in it.
In my own opinion, there's nothing as beautiful as the people itself - *it's you and me* . The world consists of seven continents and one hundred and ninety five countries. It's all common knowledge that we require a heart and brain to function, oxygen to breathe and food to survive. In these ways we're similar but at the same time we're also different.
Where we grow up and find ourselves affects the way we think, our attitude, thoughts, beliefs, behaviour and character. We are either tall or slim, fat or slim. We also have differences in regards to race and the languages we speak. It's these differences that makes us beautiful. Just like the saying goes- ***there is beauty in diversity .***
Imagine living in a world where everyone acted the same, looked the same, talked the same way, life will definitely be bland and boring. How about a world without people in it? It's evident we're the crowning beauty of it all. We're in a position to manage all the other resources of this world.
In conclusion, I hope we can all learn to appreciate our differences as well as our similarities because that is where true beauty lies.
I'll also like to say thank you to @Ladyv28. I hope you're able to spare the time to read this article and I hope you enjoy it.
Drama at home
Hello my country people. How una dey? Mek I yan you people short story. It's totally fiction. Hope you enjoy it😀😀.
For as long as I can remember, God has been a very integral part of our Nigerian family- we were raised as very staunch Christians. Well, sometime last year, I went over to the cousins to spend the holiday. My aunt, blessed with four daughters also has a son; Caleb. Being the only male in the family he had almost everything on a platter of gold which includes his studying in a Canadian university. Luckily he got a job as soon as he'd graduated and was doing pretty well. It was on a Monday that the news we'd wished for eight long years came- Caleb was coming home! You will agree that "anxious" was an understatement to describe how all of us were feeling and to make matters worse; he was bringing his fiancée with him. Everyone at home was so excited except my aunt who kept stressing the fact that he's going to be bringing a white woman home.
The Sunday that followed, my afternoon nap was interrupted by loud voices coming from the living room. My cousin; Nora who is same age as myself came rushing into the room. "Caleb is back o..hurry up and come out". I didn't hesitate to ask her about his fiancée but she insisted I come and see things for myself. I immediately jumped off the bed and rushed off in excitement. Approaching the living room, the loud voices became clearer and from what I could hear, it wasn't turning out well.
I arrived at the living room and it was in that moment I realized what was going on. It was true, Caleb was indeed back. The issue wasn't that the fiancée was of a different race, religion or ethnic group. Standing there in the living room was Caleb's fiancée- it's a he!
Love myths
Let's discuss love and relationships today. What does love mean to you? There are so many myths that are spreading about what love is and what love isn't. Recently, I learnt quite a few facts about the issue and I want to share it here with you guys.
Some people have been hurt by others in the name of love and have brought up different reasons why things are the way they are. Here are some common myths that are not true about love:
**Love is a feeling**
Love isn't just a feeling. It's a commitment you make to someone to be there through thick and thin. If we all left it to feelings, I guess we'll find ourselves loving a lot of people because at one point or the other, you feel for certain persons.
**Love at first sight**
I hear this very often. I'm of the opinion that this is not true. Yes, you meet someone for the first time, at that point, it's merely an attraction. Something about them that stood out for you. And example is this, you enter a boutique and see a very nice dress, at first glance you really love it and want it. But then you see the price tag and realize it's way out of your budget. When you get to know someone, you may realize this isn't what you wanted.
**Love equates sex**
As a Christian, the bible doesn't support sex outside marriage. There are so many people that see sex as the only way to proof intimacy. You'll hear them say *if you love me, you'll sleep with me.* Consider people that engage in casual sex, does it mean they love these people? Certainly not. Don't be deceived! If they see sex as the only way to proof you love them- *run*! It's not worth you having a heartbreak over.
**Money and material things can buy love**
Hahahaha! Let's be sincere to ourselves. Yes, money can get someone to pay attention to you. The fact that you offer gifts to them can make them hang around you. But don't miss the point here, they're only around for the money. What happens when all of that is gone? The so acclaimed love goes with it and you're cast aside. They're there for the material things they can gain from you. Please walk away.
**You don't choose who you love, love chooses you.**
This isn't true please. Let's be realistic, at one point or the other you've been attracted to people, people you considered going into a relationship with. But for some reason, you didn't push through with it. You come across some one that you want to be in your life, that you really want things to work out with and you tell yourself that it's worth it. You're making a commitment to that person! *You chose them.* Why didn't it work with the others? The truth is that it isn't what you wanted!
This is part 1 of this article. If you enjoyed it please stay tuned for part 2. Also, please do well to share your thoughts in the comments as we're all learning.
My workout routine
I believe everybody does one set of exercise or the other. But we all have one common goal and that is to keep fit. Some people go to the gym while others like me - do it at home. My goal for working out has been to grow my booty-*got to target those glutes and hip dips right?*😂😂 It's been three weeks already since I started. I must confess, some days I feel really lazy but the goal keeps me going.
This is me sharing my workout routine. I do about five exercises 4 to 5 times in a week taking about a day or two to relax those muscles. I do this in the comfort of home and so far I depend on just my body weight for the exercises. As I progress, I'll consider adding equipment to the routine as well as incorporate other exercises too to switch things up.
So far, the five exercises I've been doing are:
**Side leg raises**
I do 2 sets of 20reps each on both sides i.e a total of 40reps on each leg.
**Fire hydrants**
I do 2 sets of 20reps each on both sides i.e a total of 40reps on each leg.
**Donkey kicks**
2 sets of 20reps each on both sides i.e a total of 40reps on each leg.
**Glute bridges**
2 sets of 20reps i.e a total of 40reps.
**Squats**
2 sets of 20 reps i.e a total of 40reps.
In total, it takes roughly an hour to complete a session for the day. What's your goal for working out? Anybody here working their booty too? What's your workout routine like?
A fan of ebooks or Paper books?
How are you all doing today??? Again, I'm glad to have you here. Let's be friends.❤️ Today, I have a question for you guys.
***Ebooks or Paper books, which do you prefer and why?***
Well, as for me- *It's paper books.* Please tell me I'm not the only one that is a big fan of paper books. It's no new thing that with the advancement of technology in the world ebooks are taking over. Despite this, I still love the feel of paper on my hands and flipping through pages as I read a book. There's just something satisfying about it. It's easier for me to go back to make references to a previous page since I have a visual memory of its location in my head. In addition to that, there's no distractions that come from social media when using ebooks.
When reading, I like to make highlights, sometimes draw, make notes on my book. It's fun for me and paper books give me that allowance. The feel of entering a library and seeing the way books are stacked and arranged. I'm not hoping to enter a library sometime in the future and discover all the books have been replaced by computers- *I dread it!*
Do not get me wrong, I make use of ebooks too but paper books are a preference. I'm aware that just as they're pros to something, there's also cons. I choose to focus on the pros of paper books here. So, I'll love to hear your opinion in the comments. Which do you prefer- *will you go with ebooks or Paper books?*
Hello beautiful people. It's another day and my second day on RC. Yayyyyy!!! I'm hoping to make a lot of friends. Do well to subscribe and say hi in the comment section. I'll be happy to subscribe 🤗🤗
Thank you guys for an amazing first day on this platform. Meanwhile, it's raining heavily over here hence, the perfect time to snuggle under a blanket😅. This is goodnight from me.
@Kommie
