Pressure- Stress- Drug&Alcohol Misuse!
Date: Sunday, April 10th, 2022.
Hello readers, Happy Sunday to you all, and welcome to another wonderful day; I hope you achieve what you want today.
Today is the 10th day of April!
Drug and Alcohol misuse is something that we all know of, and it is a major problem in our society today because it seems like most people are turning to drugs and alcohol to save them from their problems.
Drug and Alcohol misuse begins in a different ways for different people.
There are numerous explanations for why people choose to abuse drugs&alcohol, and it affects everyone no matter their background or socioeconomic standing.
Unlike what people think, drug abuse isn't only caused by mental illness, low-income family upbringing, or even homelessness.
Some high-income, educated people and families can still fall victim to drug abuse.
There are three major causes of drug & alcohol misuse, and certain people may face these factors for using drugs.
**Physical:** Using drugs to make you physically better than you are.
**Emotional:** People tend to use drugs when they feel like filling a void in their hearts, maybe due to losing a loved one or a breakup.
**Psychological:** Feelings of inadequacy towards the world and themselves may make people use drugs to boost their confidence or self-esteem.
There may be physical, emotional, and psychological reasons why people end up taking drugs, but several catalysts fall under this.
Emotional stress can come from many sources; not everyone has the same issues, so we can't say one thing causes it.
Emotional stress could come from a divorce, a loss, unemployment, finances, and even health and medical issues may cause it.
On the physical aspect of things, people may take drugs to boost their endurance and physical capabilities, usually done by athletes.
Finally, people with mental illness, mental trauma, or even general attitude may take drugs for psychological issues.
Regardless of the triggers for the misuse, we need to learn how to cope in productive and healthy ways, but the problem is most people turn to these substances because they feel it would be the easiest way to solve their problems.
Some of the most common causes of drug misuse:
Career Pressure
Relaxation
Self-Medication
End of a relationship
Social and Peer Pressure
Trauma and Abuse
Instant Gratification
Isolation
To enhance physical capabilities/performance
**Career Pressure:** It is normal to have our identity tied to our career in today's society. Many people today, their careers put much pressure on them to perform, which is reflected in their idea of self-worth.
Career Pressure may cause a lot of emotional and psychological pressure and help alleviate their work stress, so they work better; people tend to turn to drugs to help cope with their failures.
**Isolation:** Even if they are more connected than ever, many people in our society suffer from isolation.
When they feel like they can't relate with others or that their peers don't understand them, they may feel out of place.
These feelings may lead to low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and depression in the long term. To numb the feelings of loneliness, they use drugs&alcohol to relieve their pain and forget about their isolation.
**Instant Gratification:** In today's society, people tend to love instant gratification, which means they look for things that will instantly give them pleasure and satisfaction, as opposed to delayed gratification.
It is more prevalent in young people because they are more conditioned to expect things on-demand.
**End of a Relationship:**
The end of a relationship is one of the most emotionally destructive events in a person's life.
When a relationship ends, maybe a divorce/breakup can negatively affect a person's self-confidence/esteem, affecting other areas such as their career, families, friendships, and even ability to find purpose again.
If a person who has gone through a breakup doesn't get enough emotional support, they may use drugs to escape their emotions.
**Relaxation:** A normal adult faces a lot of life obligations such as taxes, bills, work, and family. Many people may look for outlets to help them relax and find peace from their everyday obligations.
Unfortunately, people may use drugs to relax during the evenings and weekends. If left unchecked, it may become an addiction.
**Conclusion**
No matter the reason for drugs & alcohol misuse, it is always better to seek proper therapy.
No one is beyond treatment; no matter what may have caused it, there will always be a treatment and long-term recovery.
Thank you for reading!
Anxiety-Depression-Suicide!
Date: Sunday, April 10th, 2022.
Hello readers, Happy Sunday to you all, and welcome to another wonderful day; I hope you achieve what you want today.
Today is the 10th day of April!
I read a paper the other day, and I was surprised to see the steady increase in suicide rates yearly. Every year, more and more people decided that enough was enough and ended their lives.
It is said that suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S, and it is the second leading reason for death for people ages 10-34 years. One individual commits suicide every eleven minutes, which is sad when you think about it.
Suicide is a severe problem in our society, but we refuse to look into it for some reason; we look the other way even when we see the statistics that show how serious of a problem it is.
It saddens me to hear someone dies every eleven minutes; even as I write this, there is probably someone out there thinking of taking their life.
I can't even begin to imagine the amount of pain, stress, and frustration a person must be feeling for them to think their only option is to end their own life.
It is hard to imagine what would lead a friend, family, or co-worker to commit suicide.
Sometimes they don't even show you any warning signs; you see them smiling like normal and having fun with you, but they are thinking of taking their life deep inside.
Many aspects lead people to commit suicide.
*****Traumatic Stress*****
You may not know what kind of experiences a person has gone through in their past.
We all walk around with our past scars on our bodies, and while they might be invisible, they still inflict more damage than visible scars.
It isn't easy going through a traumatic situation, and even if you survived it, there is still a high probability that you will carry it with you for the rest of your life.
It eventually becomes a heavy burden on you and leads you to end yourself because it seems like the easy way out.
*****Hopelessness*****
Hopelessness means a sensation or state of misery or absence of hope.
It is said that a person doesn't truly die when they are killed, but when they give up hope. A person facing a physical or social challenge that isn't improving may lose hope and commit suicide.
When people feel like they have lost all hope in things changing, it may overshadow all the good experiences/things in their lives, making suicide look like a better option.
It may seem clear to an outside viewer that things will get better for the individual, but people facing depression will not be able to see a way out due to pessimism and despair.
*****Chronic Illness and Pain*****
When an individual has a chronic illness or pain that seems to be incurable, they may look to suicide to escape their suffering, and even in some countries, aided suicide is lawful for this reason.
Chronic pain is also known to bring about depression and anxiety, which raises the likelihood of suicidal thoughts in an individual.
It is said that people with chronic pain are four times more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression than the average person.
*****Social Isolation*****
There are many explanations for why an individual may become socially isolated; losing a family member, a spouse, or even a friend may lead one to isolate themselves from the world.
Social Isolation may also be induced by low self-esteem, which may lead to loneliness, depression, and drug or alcohol abuse.
*****Feeling like a burden to others*****.
When you feel that you are a burden or dragging your loved ones down, you tend to feel bad and depressed about your unfulfilling life.
Most people who commit suicide often state that their families/friends would be better off without them.
*****Conclusion*****
It is impossible to know all the reasons why a person commits suicide, and while they may have something to live for, it may not always seem that way.
If you have a friend or a loved one who isn't in high spirits, always try your best to reach out to them and find out why they aren't feeling good about themselves.
Suicide can be prevented; all it takes is for you to be caring and alert to those around you who seem to be showing signs.
**Thank you for reading!**
Expectations Vs. Reality!
Date: Saturday, April 9th, 2022
Hello readers, Happy Saturday to you all, and welcome to another wonderful day; I hope you achieve what you want today.
Today is the 9th day of April, meaning we have finally entered the weekend!
**"Endowed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be dissatisfied."**
Despite what your senses may tell you, it has been shown that everyone predicts how they will feel in various situations.
For example, a newly married couple will estimate their happiness level only to go higher over the years, but the truth is happiness tends to diminish as time passes.
We sometimes believe that the ideal job, perfect relationship, or fortune will change our happiness levels permanently. Still, the reality is they will only give us a fleeting boost of joy.
Sometimes our expectations may confuse us into thinking that our goals/dreams will bring us much more than it does, so we tend to pursue the wrong goals.
Reality Vs. Expectations
If you read Charles Dicken's book on **"Great Expectations,"** you will understand the problem with having expectations.
In the story, the main character, Pip, inherits funds from a hidden patron; he views the fortune as a way to marry the girl of his dreams.
When he found out that money didn't play a major role in the larger plan, he realized that he had taken many important gifts and relationships in his life for granted.
The expectations he had robbed him of fully appreciating his reality.
We may not enjoy what we have because we tend to expect more or compare what we have to what we could have.
How often have you focused so much on something you wanted that you didn't truly savor what you already had?
How often might your expectations for great things make you feel like what you have isn't already great, even when many others have less than you?
Our expectations may get the better of us when we expect more than what is realistic in a given situation.
You might be expecting your partner to live up to what you see in romantic films/movies or jobs to be idealized versions we had as children or our lives to match what we see on Instagram.
Our expectations may create considerable stress when they don't match actuality.
You can also consider how social media can greatly contribute to this; We compare our worst moments with the best moments of other individuals, which are often filtered to look perfect. We may not even recognize this mismatched comparison.
Our expectations for life may be skewed and unrealistic based on what we think others have. Our view of what others have is limited, and they don't have the life that we perceive.
People who spend excess time on social media tend to be less happy because they surround themselves with a **"Perfect life."**
It is essential to take a more serious look into how your expectations stack up to reality. Here are some healthy ways to begin.
Ask yourself if expectations should be this way, are you thinking the right way, or raising your hopes? Where did your expectations come from, and are they real?
When you enter a new position, ask yourself what you expect will happen?
When you feel depressed or disappointed, try to think whether it was practical to expect what you were hoping for.
Managing Expectations
It all comes down to your awareness; becoming aware of what you want is a great start. Becoming mindful of what you "should" be expecting is also a wide idea.
When you find something isn't going the way you expected, actively look for the positives in what you have. You may find that the moment you get over the disappointment, you gain something you didn't even think you had.
When you see others post on social media, remind yourself that what you see may not be reality. You should know that not everything you see on social media is real; what you see isn't always the truth.
Striving for more may lead you to work your hardest and do your best, but it can also rob you of happiness/joy, especially when you wish things to come more efficiently than they do or in a different way.
**Be more aware of your expectations**.
Thank you for reading!
Downsides of Ignoring Sleep!
Date: Friday, April 8th, 2022
Hello readers, Happy Friday to you all, and welcome to another wonderful day; I hope you achieve what you want today.
Today is the 8th day of April, meaning we have finally entered the weekend! TGIF
From Monday to Friday, maybe even Saturday, we work our various jobs in hopes that we can get our payments
at the end of our sessions
Some of us may even be working three to four jobs to meet.
We all have goals that we want to achieve, but it is also important to get enough rest to achieve those dreams.
You may be exercising and eating regularly, but when you don't get at least seven hours of sleep every night, you may be ruining your other efforts.
I am not being dramatic; only saying the truth here! Sleep is vital for your health, and many people tend to be guilty of ignoring sleep.
**How much sleep do you need?**
You may be asking yourself if eight hours of sleep is beneficial to our health, and below I will list some sleep schedules.
Adults, 26-64 years- 7 to 9 hours of sleep
Adults, 65+ years- 7 to 8 hours of sleep
Young adults, 18-25 years- 7 to 9 hours of sleep
Teenagers, 14-18 years: 8 to 10 hours of sleep
A minimum of seven hours is a step in the right direction, as you can see, and it will also improve your overall health.
**What happens when you don't get enough sleep?**
There are reasons why we are advised to get enough sleep, and while we may ignore them, we forget that doing this will only harm us in the future.
Denying your body enough sleep will negatively affect your health in various ways. There will be short-term consequences and long-term consequences.
Short-Term Consequences!
**Bad Memory:** When you lack sleep, there will be a chance you will lose your ability to think, process, and remember information.
**Greater odds for car accidents:** I would never recommend anyone to drive a car if they lack sleep because there is a high possibility you will be involved in an accident. It is said that driving while being tired accounts for thousands of car crashes, accidents, and injuries every year.
**Relationship Dispute:** Lack of sleep can make you moody and increase the chances of conflict between you and your loved ones. You get angry/upset over the smallest things, and even when you can solve the issue easily, you add more fire to the flame due to frustration and stress.
**Grade of Life:** There will be instances where you don't feel like doing anything and always feel tired because you ignore sleep/rest. You may even miss out on work and other activities you do.
As you can see, these are some of the negative short-term effects of ignoring sleep; some of them may even affect your life permanently.
Imagine getting into an accident because you didn't listen to your body and rest, and you have no one else to blame for that but yourself.
**Long-Term Consequences**
**Diabetes**
**High Blood Pressure**
**Heart Attack**
**Heart Failure**
**Stroke**
**Death**
**Depression**
**Obesity**
**Lowered Immune System**
Sleep Deprivation will end up affecting your appearance. Over time, it will lead you to premature skin wrinkling and dark circles under your eye. In other words, lack of sleep will surely lead you to wrinkle prematurely.
How to sleep better
There are some proven methods to get better sleep, and I will be listing them below.
**Put away your phones and tablets:** Electronic devices keep your mind active, which may remove the sleep from your eyes. It is always better to put down your mobile/digital devices like laptops and smartphones at least an hour before bedtime.
**Don't look at a clock when you wake up prematurely:** The moment you look at the clock, then forget sleeping because your mind will begin calculating how long it's been since you slept and what you have to do the next day.
**Treat sleep like a medicine:** With all the daily activities, you may find yourself putting sleep at the bottom of your priority. You need to make sleeping a major priority in your life and make an adequate schedule.
Thank you for reading!
Gaming, Reading and all that Jazz!
Date: Thursday, April 7th, 2022
Hello readers, Happy Thursday to you all, and welcome to another wonderful day; I hope you achieve what you want today.
Today is the 7th day of April, meaning we have one more day to go before the weekend.
I am so glad that the rain has finally started, and the weather is getting cold and dark again. I love seeing cloudy skies, and dark themes because it helps me relax and sleep better.
Today I would be giving myself questions to answer, and I do hope you enjoy it.
*****Choose One Food to eat forever!*****
There are many delicious options to choose from in the world, but if I were to pick one food to eat forever then I would choose to eat Noodle/Spaghetti for the rest of my life.
It may sound like a plain food but noodles are one of the best meals in the world, especially when mixed with different ingredients and spices.
In my previous food articles, I have written about how I would love to eat ramen at least once in my life, and that is one of my goals. I always wonder how ramen taste, and anytime I see pictures of it on the internet I always end up hungry.
If I were to pick a second meal to eat forever, then I would choose **“Pork,”** because it is my favorite, especially when added to spaghetti, it is too die for, lol.
*****Things I enjoy!*****
I am not someone that goes out a lot, so I don’t have much outside activities to do, but there are other things I do enjoy doing such as,
***Reading!***
*When you don’t go out much, you tend to find reading interesting because it is one of the best ways to divert your mind from stress and problems.*
*Reading is a great way for me to get my mind off the real world especially when I read fictional books like Harry Potter, and the likes; In my previous article, I wrote about the benefits of reading, and how it also helps to improve vocabulary and writing skills.*
*One of the reasons I am able to think of topics to write daily is because of the books I have read in the past which help to boost my creativity, and writing. Even though I had never written six-hundred word articles before, I was creating articles daily.*
***Drawing!***
*Ever since I was little, I have always wondered how artists were able to create characters and images with their hands, and I aspired to be like them one day.*
*It wasn’t easy learning to draw especially when I didn’t even have any talent for it, and sometimes I even felt like quitting and giving up drawing, but no matter how much frustration I felt, I always found myself holding a pencil and eraser the next day.*
*I may not be a professional or the best in the world, but I am glad I am able to draw better than when I was little, and maybe if I give it more time, I can create my own characters and story. I would feel so happy to see my story and characters being read by the world.*
***Gaming!***
*I have always been a fan of games, and I can remember the first game I played was a snake game on my mom’s phone when I was little, ever since then I have always loved playing games because they are fun.*
*I can’t count the amount of games I have played in my life, but I am sure I enjoyed every single one of them because games have a way of bringing a smile to my face no matter how sad I am.*
*Like reading, and drawing, it also opens up a world that may not exist, but the more you play the more immersed you become in the game.*
*I love reading, gaming, and drawing because they are great stress relievers and open up a new world that may not exist, but is fun.*
*I would be ending the article here for today, I hope you enjoyed it!*
*Thank you for reading!*
Why I love Reading!
Date: Wednesday, April 6th, 2022
Hello readers, Happy Wednesday to you all, and welcome to another wonderful day; I hope you achieve what you want today.
Today is the 6th day of April, meaning we have two more days to go before the weekend.
Nowadays, it is quite hard for people to focus on anything other than their cell phones or digital devices, and even research can prove this.
It is said that ***"Generation Z,"*** spends more time on their phones than they spend on reading a book or even learning in general. It would be safe to say that most people have forgotten the idea of opening a book.
Before the appearance of electronics, people didn't need to be reminded of the importance of reading; reading was almost a daily activity, especially for people who wanted to gain more knowledge.
From astronomers to philosophers, these people relied heavily on books because that is where they got their knowledge from. But as time passed, people started finding interest in other forms of entertainment or didn't care to read.
I wouldn't say that digital devices are the problem because it all depends on the individual that uses them.
Numerous advantages come from daily/regular reading, from making you smarter to improve your writing and reading skills.
In this piece, I will be putting a few benefits/advantages that come with daily/consistent reading. I hope you enjoy it.
Stress Reduction
There is always something on our minds that keeps bothering us, and sometimes we don't even know how to get our minds off it.
Reading will give you the mental space to occupy yourself with something more engaging and divert your mind from your concerns.
Understanding Enhancement
From the beginning, we have always developed and grown mentally; that is how we have been able to survive.
Many scholars give credit to the academic books written by our ancestors for our knowledge.
The essence of reading is now more than ever because not everything is in digitalized form.
There are numerous methods to learn about the life, from self-help to fiction.
If you ever feel demotivated, you can read some passionate biography to lift your spirit.
I love reading is that the knowledge you get from reading a book can never be taken away from you; unlike physical assets that can be disposed of, knowledge will stay with you till the end of time.
Vocabulary Enhancement!
You may not be convinced about why reading is important, but I bet this part will interest you.
Do you know that the more you read, the more vocabulary you gain? No matter the book you read, you will always learn new words.
Having significant control over language is known to help many people in both their academic and professional lives.
Moreover, with better vocabulary understanding, you get to fill yourself with confidence when sitting in a group with scholarly individuals.
It is also possible for you to learn various new languages depending on the books you read daily.
Improves Concentration and Focus
One of the worst aspects about technology has done to humanity is how it has made us lazy. Almost every activity is done with ease.
I am not saying that is an awful thing, but people tend to become lazy when things become easier. Nowadays, we hardly make an effort to focus on solving problems or concentrate on improving ourselves.
***Do you want food? Order it on your phone.***
***Do you want new clothes? Order it on your phone.***
***Don't want to forget something? Set a Reminder.***
I am sure you can see where I am going with those examples; I know we can all agree that we have grown lazier over the years and no longer put effort into doing things anymore.
Reading can help bring back the lost power of concentration and focus.
Keeping yourself occupied with reading for 15-30 minutes a day will be great for your brain. It will help boost your concentration and focus.
If you are looking to get more knowledgeable, reading daily will help you reach that goal. You can gain a lot of things if you adopt the habit of reading regularly.
Thank you for reading!
Pros and Cons to Social Media!
As the world advances in technology, social media has become one of the most important forms of communication.
It would be related to the high usage of smartphones, computers, and the internet.
Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn have become integral tools in our personal and professional lives.
I wouldn't be saying the truth if I said that social media hadn't had a massive impact on how we live our lives.
It has changed how we interact/communicate with each other, and it has given us a platform to share our ideas and thoughts with the world.
However, like everything else in life, social media has pros and cons.
We will be looking at the positive and negative aspects of social media.
We will discuss why social media is so important, and we will also explore some of the negativity that comes with it.
What is the Social Media?
Social media can be broadly defined as a collection of online tools and platforms that allow people to share and connect information.
It includes applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and WhatsApp
Pros of Social Media!
Connecting with Friends and Family
A major advantage of social media is that it allows us to connect with friends and family online.
It gives us a platform to share photos, videos, thoughts, and ideas. This can be especially helpful for people who live far away from their friends and family.
Social media is the most common way to stay in touch with friends and family who live far away.
Also, social media connects us to new friends we don't even know.
For example, people who share the same interests and opinions can connect and collaborate on projects without seeing one another.
Quick Access to Information
Another benefit is that it gives us quick access to information.
We can find out about the latest news, events, and happenings by simply checking our social media feeds. We get updated with current details and happenings today through social media.
This is great for people who can't stay up-to-date with the news through traditional media such as newspapers and television.
Better Learning Opportunities
You can use different social media platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, and Google+ to learn new things and discuss educational topics.
For example, you can watch educational videos and solve school assignments on YouTube or read articles on LinkedIn.
You can also use social media to improve your skills by connecting with other experts in their field.
Job Opportunities
Social media can also help you find a job. Internet users can connect with potential employers, and you can also use it to showcase your skills and experience.
Years ago, you had to submit your CV and portfolio physically, but now you can post them on your social media profile.
Also, social networking sites allow job seekers and young people to get social media monitoring and mentoring from experts.
Talent Discovery
Social networking can also be used to find new talent. You can use social media to find people who are skilled in a particular area, and you can also find people who are interested in working for your company.
Fun and Entertainment
Last but not least, social media is also entertaining. We can use it to watch funny videos, read articles, and connect with friends. Social media allows us to take a break from our everyday lives and relax.
Negatives of Social Media
While social media has tons of benefits, it also has its fair share of negatives.
Time-consuming
One major disadvantage of social media is that it can be very time-consuming.
We can easily get lost in our social media feeds and spend hours scrolling through them. This can be especially harmful to people already struggling with time management.
Cyberbullying
One negative aspect of social media is cyberbullying and online bullying. Cyberbullying is when someone bullies or harasses someone else through electronic means. This can include sending mean messages, posting hurtful comments, and sharing embarrassing photos or videos.
Fake News
Another major problem with social media is the spread of fake news. Fake news is news that is not true and is often presented as being real.
Social media platforms are ideal for spreading fake news because they allow users to share content quickly and easily.
This can cause much distress/confusion and make people make bad decisions based on false information.
Addiction
Social media can also be addictive.
Individuals can get addicted to the rush of dopamine that they get when they post something and receive lots of likes or comments. This can lead to people spending too much time on social media and neglecting other important aspects of their lives.
Privacy Issues
Another issue with social media is privacy. Social media platforms usually collect a lot of data about their users, and this data can be used for marketing motives or even sold to other companies. This may be a big concern for people who value their privacy.
Self-Image Issues and Low-Self Esteem Problems
Social media can also be harmful to our self-image and cause low-self esteem problems. Social media platforms are often filled with images of perfect people, making us feel bad about ourselves.
We might start to compare our lives to the lives of others and feel like we are falling short. This may lead you to depression and other mental health problems.
Conclusion
In conclusion, social media sites have both pros and cons.
You need to be aware of the pros and cons of social media to make smart decisions about whether you want to use social media.
It is also important to be aware of the potential negative effects of social media sites and take steps to protect yourself from all these.
Thanks for reading!
Silly Questions to answer!
Date: Tuesday, April 5th, 2022
Hello readers, Happy Tuesday to you all, and welcome to the first Tuesday of the month; I hope you have a great day.
Today is the 5th day of April, meaning we have three more days to go before the weekend.
I was reading an article on the @Jumper-01 page, and I was very interested in the questions he was answering; they were quite exciting and funny at the same time.
You can check his version of this article when you click on this link; it is quite interesting. https://read.cash/@Jumper-01/strange-and-silly-questions-fc4661c5
Without further ado, let us get to answer some questions!
****What is the dumbest way you've been hurt?****
*This question brings back memories of my childhood injuries, which sometimes scare me because I wonder how I survived most of them.*
*Luckily for me, most of them healed pretty quickly and didn't leave marks, but if I were to mention the dumbest one, I would say the* ***"Ear Incident."***
*It happened when I was 2-3 years old, showing that it was genuinely a day I can never forget.*
*I was in the living room playing with some toys, and then I found a small broomstick on the floor; I put it in my mouth at first, but then I tried putting it in my ear.*
*I knew I had messed up at that moment because the broomstick kept going deeper into my ear and didn't want to come out no matter how much I tried.*
*I got rushed to the hospital, but I can't remember what happened; all I know is they got it out.*
*From that day, I stopped playing with small objects.*
****Things I am too old to do, but I still enjoy****?
*I hate aging because you don't get to do the things you loved during your childhood days.*
*There are many things I enjoy but can't do now, but the one that pains me the most is* ***"bouncy castles."***
*I don't even know who put an age limit on bouncy castles. Can't we all enjoy it😰*
*I hope to buy my trampoline one day to do it at home without interference.*
****What is the weirdest text I have received recently?****
*It may be a universal thing, but in Nigeria, you should be ready to receive at least 5-6 scam texts in the morning.*
*They usually write,* ***"you have won this sum of money, put in your bank account to claim it".*** *I hate receiving this text every morning, and it is so annoying.*
****The first thing I do after getting home from a trip?****
*I don't get tired after getting back from a trip, no matter how long it is. I usually watch Tv or stay busy.*
****If I was given a chance to steal something, what would it be?****
*There are many things to steal in the world, but if I were to be given a chance to steal one then it would be all the wealth in the world, lol. I don't know what I would do with it, but I am sure I would spend it on those that are close to me, and also on myself.*
****One thing my brain is trying to convince me to do, but I am fighting it?****
*My brain always tells me to have fun with other people and take a break from writing, but I tend to ignore it because I have to focus on achieving my goals.*
****If I was given a chance to travel back to the past, would I go?****
*I am sure we all ask ourselves this question at least once a month or maybe even twice.*
*Sometimes I think of what I would do if I were given a chance to travel to the past, and over the years, my answer seems to have changed quite a lot.*
*I have recently thought of these questions, and I have concluded that I won't want to change anything from my past because I won't be "Me without them."*
*There may have been some bad decisions that I took, and it may have hurt me, but I have learned from the pain, which makes me a better person.*
*If I go back and change those decisions, I won't learn anything.*
I will be ending it here for today! Thank you for reading!
The foolishness of Youth!
Date: Monday, April 4th, 2022
Hello readers, Happy Monday to you all, and welcome to the first Monday of the month; I hope you have a great day.
Today is the 4th day of April, meaning work has started again, and we would all have to return to our various jobs and activities.
I am so glad I am done with my exams because I am finally on a break from all my school activities, and I can rest from lectures.
My life at the university has taught me many things, and I was able to see only a fraction of how the real world looks.
As I said before, my dorm is mixed, so both the guys and girls stay together, which makes for a horrible combination because I sometimes can't sleep at night.
It is my first time staying with people who aren't my family, so it isn't easy, but I have been able to adjust well.
During my stay in the dorm, I have seen a lot of disturbing things that may not be disturbing to others, but it is quite weird to me.
I am the youngest in the whole dorm, but I am the most sense because they tend to behave like children even when they are all older.
There have been many occasions where they have shown their childish behavior, and I would like to list a few here.
On Thursday, we were having our final exam, and while I was in my room reading the night before, the rest were outside holding a party.
In the beginning, I thought it was a regular party where they would dance and all, but I was shocked to smell alcohol and even marijuana.
I had to cover my nose so I wouldn't inhale some of it, but the smell was so intense that I had to lock everywhere.
As if the situation wasn't bad, I immediately heard shouting everywhere. When I checked, I found out two people had collapsed because they had taken a large amount of marijuana.
I wouldn't say I am a horrible human being, but at that moment, I genuinely felt like laughing because they finally got what they wanted.
**How can someone that has never taken marijuana to take a large amount of it and not expect any consequences?**
The sad part was that they couldn't even tell the officers because they didn't want to get expelled, so they had to treat them in the rooms.
I was quite worried when I saw their mouths foaming and rolling on the ground, but it made me realize how foolish young people are.
It wasn't the first time something like this has happened, and I am sure it wouldn't be the last because they never learned their lesson.
Every time they keep making the same mistakes and doing things that would hurt or damage their bodies instead of focusing on the right things.
If it isn't smoking, then it is s*x; if it isn't that, then it is drug intake, which is the worse because it may kill them eventually.
The weirdest part about this is that I look like a freak for not joining them and taking the drugs, and they always try to make me take it with them, but I refuse wholeheartedly.
My parents always told me that living with other people wouldn't be easy because they would always try to make me part of them.
I have learned that people will always try their best to turn you into what they want, not what is good.
Other new people in my dorm may not have taken marijuana before, but because they wanted to fit into the crowd, they took it, and now they ended up rolling on the ground unconscious.
I know it isn't easy being different from others because you will feel like an outcast, but it is better to be an outcast than do the wrong thing that will hurt me in the future.
I am still a teenager; maybe that's why I think this way, but I know I will never join them, and I hope God gives me the strength to overcome their temptations.
Thank you for reading!
Never Have I Ever (Student's Version)
Date: Sunday, April 3rd, 2022
Hello readers, Happy New Month readers to you all, and welcome to the first Sunday of the month; I hope you have a great day.
Today is the 3rd day of April, meaning the new month has started moving, and you also have to start preparing your plans and take action on what you have planned for the month.
**"If you have your childhood with you, you will never become old."-Tom Stoppard.**
This article will be my second for today, so don't worry if you see my article in your feed again. I am trying to cover up for last month's article challenge, and I hope I can meet up with my article count.
For some time, I have seen a very interesting articles that everyone seems to be doing, and as I read their articles, I have found myself smiling or laughing because some of them are funny.
I am sure you all know the **"Never Have I Ever, (Students Version); today**, I will be writing my version of that article, and I hope you enjoy it.
Skipped a class
*I don't know how to answer this, I know I have skipped classes in the past, but only because of health issues I had during my primary school period.*
I always had to go to the hospital during exam periods, and then I would have to write the exam all by myself in the principal's office, which was very scary, lol.
I remember sitting on my chair, and she would look at me with an intense gaze like she was telling me, **"There is no one to help you, focus on your work,"** the funny part about this is anytime I wrote my exams alone, I always got in the top 3 of the class.
I hated skipping classes because I would have to copy all the notes that I missed, and this made me never skip classes, only when I had health issues.
At my university, I can't skip classes because I would fail the whole semester; if you miss one class, you have missed an important section, so I tend to go for all my classes.
**Cheat in Exams!**
*My first answer will also apply here because I usually don't write exams with people, so I didn't have any opportunity to cheat or help anyone in their exams.*
*In my high school, they usually separated everyone into different classes.*
*For some insane reason, they always put me with the juniors, and they didn't understand what I was being taught, so there was no point in asking them.*
*I was not too fond of exam periods because I knew I would have to work twice as much as everyone. After all, they all had each other, but I was all alone.*
*Even in my final school exams, I was alone in my class, but I am glad I was able to enter the top 3, lol!*
*I may seem upset about my exam situation, but I am quite grateful that I was always put alone because it helped me read better and not rely on anyone to help me.*
Forged my parent's signature
*I would say I only had one situation where I was tempted to forge my parent's signature, and that was during a field trip.*
*I can still remember that day; clearly, they had given us the slip for our parents to sign, but when I got home, no one was there, and by the time they arrived, I was already asleep, so that I couldn't give them.*
*I was quite forgetful then, and I didn't give them in the morning and went to school excited about the field trip.*
*I remember the pain I felt when I was sent back to my class because I didn't have my parent's signature, I felt like crying that day, but I couldn't because it was my fault.*
*That was the best field trip in the school, and when everyone came back, they made sure the pain I felt was worse.*
*I can never forge my parent's signature, no matter the situation.*
Make fake excuses for being late.
*I don't mean to boast, but I was a professional in this area because even if I stayed ten minutes from school, I always found an excuse to say, and I made excuses even when I was early.*
*I once told the prefect in charge that* ***" The weather in my area was bad, and there was a storm,"*** *even when I knew my house was not too far from the school.*
*I don't know if the perfect believed me or were tired of my bullsh*t lies, but luckily they let me go.*
I will be ending the article here, and I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you!
Article Summary March!
Date: Sunday, April 3rd, 2022
Hello readers, Happy New Month readers to you all, and welcome to the first Sunday of the month; I hope you have a great day.
Today is the 3rd day of April, meaning the new month has started moving, and you also have to start preparing your plans and take action on what you have planned for the month.
Another month has ended; it is finally time to list my articles for the past month and maybe put in a few details for you.
It wasn't easy writing articles during March because of my exams, but I am glad I could make at least 20+ articles even with all the problems.
The month of March wasn't easy because I had to give myself a pep talk every night so I could write two articles for the next day, and I am glad I did.
I am done with my exams now, and I can finally take a break and rest, but that only means I get to be more active on the platform again, which makes me excited for the future.
I could even make a decent amount of BCH from writing, even though it wasn't consistent, and I was able to mint/sell some NFTs this month which made me happy.
I am so glad Rusty didn't abandon me due to my absence; they are such a nice robot.
I don't want to take much of your time in a summary article, so I will make this article short and good; I hope you enjoy it and thank you all for your support.
Articles for the month of March!
Six steps to Healthier skin https://read.cash/@Oikawa/six-steps-to-healthier-skin-0d87f43b
Addiction or Want? Which option leads you to success. https://read.cash/@Oikawa/addiction-or-want-which-leads-you-to-success-ca3910f3
Aren't you important also? https://read.cash/@Oikawa/arent-you-important-also-d8c71171
Nothing wrong with a normal life! https://read.cash/@Oikawa/nothing-wrong-with-a-normal-life-9d6d69b9
Best to be prepared https://read.cash/@Oikawa/best-to-be-prepared-202fe89a
Beating the Heat! https://read.cash/@Oikawa/beating-the-heat-7760da34
Three things I can't live without https://read.cash/@Oikawa/3-things-i-cant-live-without-f476df0e
It's all about the memories. https://read.cash/@Oikawa/its-all-about-the-memories-7293e956
How to beat billing in Nigeria https://read.cash/@Oikawa/how-to-beat-billing-in-nigeria-78f34279
There will always be opposition! Don't be afraid to fight https://read.cash/@Oikawa/there-will-always-be-opposition-dont-be-afraid-to-fight-cf47aee1
Where is God? https://read.cash/@Oikawa/where-is-god-bde0c464
Praying for better times! https://read.cash/@Oikawa/praying-for-better-times-5bdeeff6
Would you rather? https://read.cash/@Oikawa/would-you-rather-c8b2b2ca
Consequences of being an Introvert! https://read.cash/@Oikawa/consequences-of-being-an-introvert-01d5f8dc
Reality: Only for a moment https://read.cash/@Oikawa/reality-only-for-a-moment-9fffc3bc
Effects of positivity! https://read.cash/@Oikawa/effects-of-positivity-80d7998a
Reality: I am the only Human https://read.cash/@Oikawa/reality-i-am-only-human-ad3f6719
Effects of Negative Self-Talk https://read.cash/@Oikawa/effects-of-negative-self-talk-e106d8f4
Raising awareness of Social Anxiety https://read.cash/@Oikawa/raising-awareness-on-social-anxiety-a9820d37
Self-Hate https://read.cash/@Oikawa/self-hate-1fbad937
Don't limit your imagination! https://read.cash/@Oikawa/dont-limit-your-imagination-71455694
Music for the month! https://read.cash/@Oikawa/music-for-the-month-8a1d179e
Are you a fan of Pink lips? https://read.cash/@Oikawa/are-you-a-fan-of-pink-lips-5f566957
Question? Questions? https://read.cash/@Oikawa/question-questions-943b2745
True Nature of Social Media! https://read.cash/@Oikawa/true-nature-of-social-media-469039c9
Future of Socializing and Dating! https://read.cash/@Oikawa/future-of-socializing-and-dating-d715e760
Reminiscing: Awkward Prank moment https://read.cash/@Oikawa/reminiscing-about-the-past-awkward-prank-moment-c12a3004
Exercising benefits! https://read.cash/@Oikawa/exercising-benefits-74bd956a
If you are interested in the articles, please do click on it, and you will get to read it.
I was able to write a total of twenty-eight articles in March, and I can't even believe I could write that much even with all the problems I was having.
When I wrote my first article in March, I was not expecting to continue writing because I had no ideas or topics to write about, but I am glad I could cultivate a reading habit.
**"You won't know what to write if you don't read."**
Article A Day- Mission Failed!
For the first time since I started on this platform, I didn't complete the article a day challenge; it makes me sad to know I couldn't accomplish this.
I had to write two articles a day, so I would be able to meet up with the articles that I couldn't write, and even though it was a risk, I am glad I wasn't banned from doing that.
"Get More Subscribers"- Ongoing!
At the start of March, I had 300 subscribers, but I was able to get a total of thirty-eight, which isn't bad, but I believe I could do better and engage more with other users.
By the end of April, I hope I will be able to get to 400 subscribers.
March was a fun and great month for me because I could start writing here again, and even though I wasn't as consistent as before, I am glad I could write that number of articles and make that sum of BCH.
I know the month of April will be another great month for me because I will make it that way, and God will give me the power and creativity to keep on writing articles.
Welcome to April, your month of blessings!
Thank you for reading this article!
Exercising benefits!
Date: Thursday, March 31st, 2022
Hello readers, Happy Thursday to you all, and welcome to the fourth day of the week; I hope you will have a great day.
Today is the 31st day of March, meaning we will be entering into a new month tomorrow.
When it comes to doing physical activities, I am not the person to call because I am not even built for it, but I still try my best to do some exercises when I have the time.
I know it is not easy telling yourself to start exercising regularly, and even I am guilty of skipping it sometimes when I feel too tired and don't feel like it.
I have noticed how our minds always find a way to skip things that would benefit or improve our well-being, and it doesn't even have to be about exercise.
Our minds always try to stop us from doing things, especially activities that we know will benefit us in the long run, and this is why people tend to invest in their future.
If you have noticed, we always want to procrastinate on activities that will help or improve us, and we will keep telling ourselves we will do it, but we never do
Exercising is a great way to improve your body and health without taking any medication; it is a natural process that will help you age well and reduce your chances of getting diseases when you are older.
Many benefits come from doing exercise, but we tend to overlook them because we don't want to do the work; we rather sit on our couch and stay unhealthy.
People don't understand that you don't need to go to the gym and pay for a membership for you to exercise; you can start from your bedroom with simple exercises like squats or pull-ups.
You may be questioning me by saying simple exercises, and while they may not be simple, it all comes down to your mindset.
If you set your mind that something will be extremely difficult for you, then there is a possibility that you will be stuck in ***"hard"*** difficulty because that is what you set it up as.
The moment you tell yourself it will be easy, you will enjoy the process and even get better at it.
Relieve Stress
It is said that the more you exercise, the less stress you tend to have because working up a sweat will help you manage mental and physical stress.
The more exercise you do, the more you boost your body's ability to deal with existing mental tension and reduce stress, so this is a win-win situation for you.
Boost Self-confidence
Most people engage in exercise to build up their body, but it is also to build up their self-confidence; exercising will boost your self-esteem and improve your positive self-image.
Regardless of your size, weight, age, exercise will quickly increase your level of attractiveness because you believe that you are doing a good thing.
Exercising is a way of reminding yourself how amazing and beautiful you genuinely are.
Exercising outdoors boosts a positive image of yourself.
For an extra boost of self-love, it is possible to take your workout outdoors.
You may not know this, but exercising outside will boost your self-esteem.
Have you ever seen a person jogging on the road, sweat all around their body, and you say to yourself, "They are pretty bold for doing that!"
Not many people in this world can go out to jog or exercise because we are all discouraged by what people will say or think about us.
Outdoor exercising is so good because of all the vitamin D you will be getting from the sun, and it is possible to reduce your chances of experiencing depression by doing this.
Why would you book a spa when an afternoon exercise, with a little bit of sunshine and fresh air, can give you all you need.
Pacify Anxiety
Let me ask you this question before I get into it- Which one of the options is possible to reduce your anxiety.
-A warm shower or a 20-25 minute jog?
I guess you would say the 20-minute jog because that allows you to interact more with your surroundings and people.
You don't have to talk with people; a simple greeting is enough to reduce your social anxiety and even boost your self-confidence.
Doing a 20-minute jog or a run on the treadmill will help in reducing any anxiety disorder you find yourself having.
Exercising even if not regularly will give you benefits that you didn't have before, and I encourage everyone to try doing some in their free time. It won't hurt to do one push at a time, it would hurt to grow old and be unhealthy.
Thank you for reading!
Reminiscing about the past: Awkward Prank moment
Date: Thursday, March 31st, 2022
Hello readers, Happy Thursday to you all, and welcome to the fourth day of the week; I hope you will have a great day.
Today is the 31st day of March, meaning by this time tomorrow, we will be celebrating **"April Fools."**
I can remember when I was still a kid, I loved playing pranks on people during April fools, and while I didn't go over the limit with my pranks, it was quite fun messing around with people.
I hate growing up because everything has to be serious.
I can't even play pranks on people anymore, and even when I do, it has to be a serious-minded prank or something mild if not, I would be seen as weird.
I miss back in the day when you could literally change the whole clocks in the school and run away before you were caught, or the one I hated the most was pulling down the pants.
Looking back at all those pranks, I feel bad and awkward because I must have frustrated my teachers back then because they would be the ones to fix all the clocks over again.
Now that I am quite older, I have started seeing the consequences of my pranks, and even if they may not have affected me, they affected the people around me negatively, which was wrong.
No matter how much I loved playing pranks on people, one prank I vowed to never partake in was the **"Pulling pants down"** prank.
I didn't originally hate this prank initially, and I actually found it quite funny as long as it didn't happen to me, but one day a certain event changed my views completely.
It all happened in my third year in junior school, we were still kind of kids, and we played pranks on ourselves almost every time, and while some of them were questionable, I don't think we thought much about them.
We usually did the pants pulling a prank on Fridays because we usually wore shorts that were pretty easy to remove because they were loose.
Due to this prank, I had to start wearing extra shorts inside my original sports shorts and some even more jeans to prevent it from happening to them.
On a certain Friday morning, when everyone seemed to have forgotten about the prank, it looked like no one would have their pants pulled, but we were wrong for thinking that way.
A certain classmate of mine was hiding in the shadows and waiting for everyone to relax before they could pull it down, and luckily for him, he found prey.
Another classmate who stood up to stretch didn't know his fate was already sealed, and unfortunately for him, he was staying in the front row seat of the class.
While he was stretching, the other guy quickly pulled it down, but the problem here was normally, we would only pull the first layer of shorts and won't completely remove everything.
For some reason, this guy removed everything he was wearing under, and that was the day I felt chills over a prank because, at that moment, he tripped on his shorts and fell down.
He was laying on the floor, with his pants pulled down and naked, everyone looking at him.
Now, I looked around to see if anyone else was looking, and I immediately heard laughter all around, and everyone started pointing at him.
He was shocked by his predicament, and he hurried to wear his shorts back, but by the time he wore his shorts, everyone had seen him, even the girls.
He was completely humiliated, and he didn't even dare to confront the perpetrator because all he could hear was the laughter of everyone.
That was the first I saw the consequences of pranking, and he immediately went to his chair and started to cry.
I was so sad because it wasn't meant to humiliate him like that, and now everyone had seen him naked.
It was quite awkward to see him carrying while the girls mocked him and called him **"Jingle Bells,"** the sad part is his name was **"Jingle bells"** till he graduated.
At that point, I decided to stop participating in pranks because even if it may be fun for you, it isn't always fun for the victim.
But I wonder if I can still prank someone this April Fools, Lol.
Thank you for reading!
Future of Socializing and Dating!
Date: Wednesday, March 30th, 2022
Hello readers, Happy Wednesday to you all, and welcome to the third day of the week; I hope you will have a great day.
Today is the 30th day of March, meaning we only have a day left till we enter a new month.
We are finally approaching the fourth month of the year, which is April, and you won't even believe that we only have eight months to enter 2023.
I would say this article continues my previous one from the morning because I didn't want to make that one very long, so I decided to make it a two-parter.
I previously talked about the true nature of social media, and how they don't really care about people or events, and what they care about are new trends and topics.
I used Twitter as an example because that is where all the action usually takes place, and if something is not on Twitter, it is probably not trending worldwide.
Twitter is a place filled with people who show they care about problems in the world, but the truth is they are only want to create excitement in their life.
I don't think Twitter is a bad platform, but the people who use it make it that way, and I wish they would stop.
They complain about every little thing and make a big fuss over the littlest of things.
I guess that is how the world is going, and I wish it wasn't because now it seems regular people control the media.
If Twitter says they want you banned or canceled, that will happen, and it doesn't even matter if you are speaking facts; they only care about milking a story.
Regarding this ***"Will and Chris incident,"*** I don't really agree with both sides, and while I do agree that the joke was quite harsh because she has a bald issue, I still say it was only a joke and nothing else.
He shouldn't have made the joke, but that doesn't mean he deserved a slap in front of everyone; they could have settled it backstage instead of showing everyone.
Another thing that I have started to notice online is the appearance of **"Dating apps."**
Dating apps have been around for some time, but it seems like they have become more influential nowadays, and I can't say that is a good thing.
As I wrote in my previous piece, technology has changed many things and even how we interact and build relationships with people.
In the past, a man/woman couldn't know at least 100 people of the opposite sex, but nowadays, everyone can do this from the comfort of their couch.
With the rise of Tinder, Instagram, and Bumble, the dating app age has begun, and it may mark the end of organic relationships.
Organic relationships are the traditional way of doing things, in which we're going up to the opposite sex and physically talking to them and getting to know them.
The only thing you do is download a dating app, and you get access to tons of people, and you only need to send a "Hi," and begin a conversation with them.
While this may seem good because it helps create relationships for people, I would say it is a very unhealthy way of getting a partner or starting a relationship in general.
I know some people out there have found their partners on dating apps, but those are the lucky ones who found the right person.
Socializing and interacting with other people is a major part of human needs.
Without it, we may go crazy, and that is why I think it is important for people to find relationships in the real world instead of an app.
There is nothing better than real life, and no app can give you the same experience and knowledge that speaking face to face with a person would give.
We are entering an age where fewer people will be out because we can all work from home now, date from home, and even go on virtual dates via Metaverse.
It wouldn't amaze me if, in the next 50 years, people will start living their lives in the virtual world instead of the actual one, but I hope we don't make it there.
One interesting fact I saw about a dating app called Tinder is that 80% of the women on the platform match with 20% of the top men, while 80% of the men fight for the few 20% of women.
That is very sad because it shows that people nowadays only care about finances and other material things.
One advice I have for you if you want to join an online dating app is to never join a dating app because you wouldn't find what you are looking for there, and if you are looking for a long-term or serious relationship, then pray you are lucky.
Thank you for reading!
True Nature of Social Media!
Date: Wednesday, March 30th, 2022
Hello readers, Happy Wednesday to you all, and welcome to the third day of the week; I hope you will have a great day.
Today is the 30th day of March, meaning we only have a day left till we enter a new month.
We are finally approaching the fourth month of the year, which is April, and you won't even believe that we only have eight months to enter 2023.
The world seems to be moving at a rather fast pace, and if you don't get on the ride, you may be left behind in the past, but the question is that a good or bad thing?
There have been many social shifts in the world, from the introduction of the internet, online chatting platforms, and dating apps.
I would say we have progressed quite a lot if you look at it because if you look at our society in the past, we didn't have half the technology we had today.
I always wonder what entertainment people in the past engaged in because I can't believe how boring those times must have been for them, but I guess that was why they always started wars.
Quite some things have changed in the world, but I don't want to talk about all the changes in human history; today, I would like to write about ***"Social media apps."***
I am sure we have all heard about social apps, and maybe some of us even use them from time to time to get to know people.
Social media apps were not as famous as they are now. Still, due to the pandemic and numerous lockdowns, people started craving human interactions, and the best way to do that was through dating and other socializing apps.
If you look at social media before and now, you will notice many changes because not many people are as engrossed as now, especially if you use Instagram and Twitter.
In the past, I didn't care too much about Twitter, and I didn't even know it was a very popular social app, but out of nowhere, it has become a court of justice and passing trends.
A week or four weeks ago, I remember when everyone on Twitter was praying for Ukraine and hoping that the war would end quickly and things would go back to the way they were.
This week, everyone has completely forgotten about the Ukraine situation and is focusing on the ***"Will Smith slaps Chris Rock scandal."***
I mean, I don't even know which one is more important anymore, whether it is the numerous amounts of bombs that are being launched in Ukraine or a slap that may have been staged.
I don't believe that slap was real because there was no way Chris Rock wouldn't have seen it coming and dodged or blocked it, but who knows, maybe it is real, and Will Smith slapped a man on live television in front of millions.
With this example, I am trying to say how fast people tend to forget things, especially on the internet, because that is how things work.
Do people on Twitter and other social platforms care about the people of Ukraine anymore, or did they ever really care about them from the beginning?
I have learned from using all these social media platforms that they only care about what is trending at the moment, and they tend to jump onto a new topic almost every week.
If it is not talking about ***"WWIII",*** they will start talking about ***"Cancelling people on the Internet,"*** and now they have finally found a new topic which is ***"Will Smith slaps Chris Rock."***
Something I find very funny about these people is how fast they create groups and communities for things that have always been there.
I was scrolling on my Twitter account, and I saw a group of people that came together because they felt furious that Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's hair loss.
I have heard a lot of bald jokes in my life, but for some reason, now they want to make it illegal for people to make bald jokes.
I don't know if the people on those platforms are real human beings because they seem to be making a big deal out of something as small as this while people are dying out there.
By the following week, I genuinely think they will all forget this incident and move on to the next topic that will catch their interest because that is how social media works.
I will continue this article in the coming one!
Thank you for reading!
Question? Questions?
Date: Tuesday, March 29th, 2022
Hello readers, happy Tuesday to you all, and welcome to the second day of the week; I hope you had a nice relaxing weekend.
Today is the 29th day of March, meaning we only have two days left till we enter a new month.
I saw this article on "Random Questions," and I got the questions from this **site**; here, you can find 350 random questions that are fun to answer. https://conversationstartersworld.com/good-questions-to-ask/
Let's start.
What are you currently worried about?
Hmmm, this is a tricky one because there are so many things I am worried about, but let me say "Building my read cash account".
I have been on read cash for six months now, soon seven months.
I know I haven't been as active as last year because of my schooling activities and bad internet, but I hope I can get to 600 subscribers this year because thats my goal.
I want to grow as a writer, so I will never give up; I have gotten several subscribers and amazing supporters these past six months, so I will keep writing and giving you good content.
***What movie can you watch over and over without ever getting tired?***
***HARRY POTTER!!!!!***
I can't count how many times I have rewatched it; when I watch it, my mind erases every scene and tells me to watch it again.
I have memorized some lines perfectly, and I remember the first time I watched it, I began to learn a British accent because it felt so sweet hearing them speaking like that.
"Comment your best Movie."
***What is something that will always be in fashion, no matter the years that pass?***
No matter how much time passes, I think people will never stop wearing Jeans no matter the years that pass. I am wearing it right now as I write this article and everyone around me.
***What riddles do you know?***
I will list some riddles that I know answer them in the Comments.
**Which do you think is: a ton of bricks or a ton of feathers?**
**If there are three apples and you take away two, how many apples do you have?**
**What begins with an "e" and only contains one letter?**
**I am the beginning of everything, the end of everywhere. I'm the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space. What am I?**
**What is so fragile that saying its name breaks it?**
**What goes through fields and cities but never moves?**
I think you can answer them. No cheating!!!
***If magic was real, what spell would you try to learn first?***
As I said before, I am a die-hard Harry Potter fan, so the spell I would want the most is.
**Accio** -This is a spell used in summoning objects; for a lazy person like me, this would be of great help.
**Alohomora:** Unlocks objects.
***What game have you played longest?***
I spent many hours playing "Apex Legends" during the pandemic; that was the only thing I could do besides Forex. It is a cool first-person shooter game.
I recommend it for anyone into first-person shooter games.
***What goal do you think humanity is not focused enough on achieving?***
"Preservation of Animals" There are so many people out there that kill endangered species, which is wrong; I wish there would be security for endangered species to preserve them; nothing deserves to go extinct.
***If animals could talk, which animal would be the most annoying?***
"Cats" are aliens because their eyes seem so vast; the whole world is in their eyes anytime I look at them. Jeez, now I am scared!!
***What outdoor activity haven't you tried but would like to?***
"Sky Diving" has always been on my to-do list since I was a Kid, It may seem dangerous to some, but it looks so exciting when I watch it; I get so hyped up even when I am not the one doing it.
What languages do you wish you could speak?
If there is any language, I would love to learn, that would be JAPANESE. I have always wanted to go to Japan; that was my first dream.
If possible, I would love to make plans to even live there for some time and learn their culture one day. It would be nice to eat some Japanese ramen also.
Thank you for reading!
Are you a fan of Pink lips?
**Are you a fan of pink lips?**
Pink lips have been a trend among young people over the years, and recently this trend seems to be rising, especially among women and young people. But can you blame them? Pink lips are good-looking, add radiant to the face, and add to your face glow.
This piece will show you tips on how to get pink lips with the help of nothing but onions.
People can get pink lips using natural treatments, such as shrubs, masks, or balms. But these remedies are not always permanent, below is how onions will help you get pink lips.
Ingredients.
To get pink lips with onions, get the following ingredients:
`1. Get two or three medium-sized onions.`
`2. Get a blender or juicer.`
`3. A knife`
`4. Vitamin E oil or supplements.`
`5. A container for storing the mixture.`
`6. sieve, strainer, or cheesecloth.`
`Use these steps to get pink lips with onions.`
To use onions to get pink lips, you will have to milk the onion juice first.
To get the onion juice using a blender:
`1. Firstly, cut your onions into smaller portions.`
`2. Put the chopped pieces of onions into a blender.`
`3. Add a measured amount of water to it.`
`4. Next, blend it into a fine paste.`
`5. Get a bowl and place either (a sieve, strainer, or a cheesecloth) on it.`
`6. Pour out the blended onion (onion paste) into the cheesecloth or filter to bring out the juice from the paste.`
To get onions juice using juice, follow the steps below:
`1. Cut your onions into smaller portions.`
`2. Pour the chopped pieces of onions inside the juicer.`
`3. Juice the chopped onions to extract the onion juice. You're halfway to getting your desired pink lips if you have extracted the juice from the onions through the juicer or strainer.`
`To get pink lips with onions, mix the onion juice with vitamin E oil or tablet and spread it on your lips at night before you go to bed. You should start seeing results in three to four weeks.`
Ways To Avoid Dark Lips.
If you don't require to have dark lips, avoid the following:
`1. Don't take excess caffeine to Avoid dark lips.`
`2. Avoid smoking.`
`3. Dehydration`
`4. Licking of lips.`
`5. Long contact with the sun`
The above are five ways you can use to avoid dark lips.
Using Onion Juice For Hair Growth.
Onion juice is used in multiple home remedies; one is for hair growth.
Onion juice will also promote hair growth; it is used to support hair growth and helps in preventing hair loss. Onion juice provides the hair with extra sulfur and increases the blood supply to the hair follicles.
Other home remedies for pink lips
See below home remedies for lip softening
`Coconut oil`
`Honey and Lemon mask`
`Coconut oil scrub`
`Sugar and olive oil`
`Cucumber`
`Beetroot`
You may be asking yourself questions, such as;
Is onion good for lips?
Yes, onion is good for the lips. Onion juice helps give you soft and radiant lips. Mix onion juice with vitamin E and apply it to your lips. Do this for at least a month for healthy, pink lips.
Can onions bring any side effects on the lips?
Yes, excessive onion on the skin and lips can lead to skin irritation; please be careful about the usage.
Pink lips give your face an attractive appearance. Pink lips are considered the most classic lips color among ladies. Onions contain lightening agents and, when mixed with vitamin E supplements, can help give you fresh, pinker, and soft lips.
I hope with these tips, you were able to get what you wanted, but please be careful not to overdo it, because too much of something may damage you.
Thank you for reading!
Music for the month!
Date: Sunday, March 27th, 2022
Hello Everyone, Happy Sunday to you all, and welcome to the seventh day of the week; I hope you will have a nice relaxing weekend.
Today is the 27th day of March, meaning we only have four days left till we enter a new month.
I have always been a fan of good music, and if you have read any of my previous "music" articles, you will know how much I love listening to music.
I usually use music to write my articles, especially when I don't have anything on my mind and I have to start creating ideas; I have found that music helps boost my creativity.
Even as I am writing this article, I am listening to some music, which helps me think and write better.
I am sure we all have our motivations for why we love music, but I love it because it helps boost my imagination and for relaxation purposes.
Ever since I entered college, music has become my best friend because it helps me a lot, especially when I am reading, I thought it would distract you, but it helps me.
Lately, I have been listening to some cool music, and I just thought I would share them with you in this article; I hope you enjoy it.
Anne Marie- Ride for me ft Yung Bleu! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp0I_t6b2nc
I didn't even know of this song till last month, but immediately I heard it, I fell in love with the music because it genuinely felt so good to my ears.
I don't usually listen to songs like that is because it is hood style, but I loved it because of her sweet voice and great lyrics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp0I_t6b2nc
[Chorus: Ann Marie]
***I need some loyalty***
***Someone who gon' ride for me***
***Boy, just match my loyalty***
***Swear you won't give up on me, boy, I***
***Just need some loyalty***
***Someone who gon' ride for me***
***Boy, match my loyalty***
***Swear you won't give up on me***
The song talks about loyalty in relationships and how it should be both-sided; everybody should strive to stay loyal to their partners and honor them because they love them.
Relationships won't be easy; you deal with another human being, which is one of the hardest things to do; you never know the other person is thinking/feeling.
It is up to you to make sure you honor and love your partner the same way you wish them to love you.
I have heard numerous people say, **"I don't think he/she can handle me,"** and when I hear this, I am so confused.
Are you an animal that they have to handle you?
Why can't you be normal and try your best to become a better person instead of causing trouble for another person in a relationship?
***CLEAN BANDIT- "I MISS YOU"*** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZs1AHQBz24
Like the previous song, I recently heard of this one, but I have been following the "Clean Bandit" group for quite a long time.
I once heard them in 2014, and ever since then, I have loved their music because it is always beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZs1AHQBz24
I Miss You: Song by Clean Bandit:
***And I know we're not supposed to talk***
***But I'm getting ahead of myself***
***I get scared when we're not***
***Because I'm afraid you're with somebody else***
***So I guess that it is gone***
***And I keep lying to myself***
***I can't accept it***
***I, I miss you, yeah I miss you***
***I miss you, yeah I miss you, oh I do***
***I miss you, yeah I miss you***
***Though I'm tryin' not to right now***
Listening to it for the first time on the radio made me so happy because I had never heard the song from **"Clean Bandit"** before, and I finally got to listen to it.
The song is all about the pains of breakups and how it affects both parties.
I can't even imagine how painful a breakup is because I have never been in a relationship, but I bet it is painful, especially when you have spent much time with that person and built a bond with them.
Lol, I guess I have been listening to many relationship songs lately, but I think that is because they are always so sweet and nice.
I would leave the link to both songs in the article; please click the link if you are interested in listening to them.
Thank you for reading!
Don't limit your imagination!
Date: Saturday, March 26th, 2022
Hello Everyone, Happy Saturday to you all, and welcome to the sixth day of the week; I hope you will have a nice relaxing weekend.
Today is the 26th day of March, meaning we only have five days left till we enter a new month.
Do you know that you are at your strongest when you let your imagination run wild?
Have you ever asked yourself how humanity got to the point it is now where we have all this technological advancement even though we didn’t know anything before?
Can you compare us from a hundred years ago to this day?
We have advanced so much in all aspects, whether in medicine, education, or technology, thanks to our endless imagination and creativity.
A person is only limited by how much they use their imagination, and the moment they let their imagination run wild is when they can truly create something out of nothing.
Who would have expected we would be able to make a vehicle that can fly, but look at us now, we have airplanes that can get you from one continent to another within hours.
It all started when someone looked at their surroundings and used what they saw to create what they imagined.
For example, if you look at an airplane, you will see that it resembles a bird, just like a boat resembles a shark; I call using what you see to create what you imagine.
If you look around the world, many natural things inspired us to create objects and technology, as I have mentioned above with the airplane and boat example.
Napoleon Hill, the author of Think and Grow Rich, said this about imagination.
***“Imagination is the most remarkable, miraculous, inconceivably assertive force the world has ever known.”***
The world is full of many things that can inspire you to use your imagination and create things, but the problem is we tend to forget our surroundings nowadays and only worry about our social life.
Nowadays, I tend to see fewer people rely on their imagination; instead, they copy what someone else has done and say it is theirs.
It is even said that most of our thoughts/actions aren’t even ours anymore; they are only there because we have heard or seen someone do them.
We are all just copying each other instead of finding a different approach or thinking for ourselves.
When you utilize your imagination, you can create mental images of things, stimulations, ideas with no input from the five senses.
It is the power to create images from things that have never happened or don’t exist.
Your imagination allows you to create or fantasize about something you want, even if it is not in reality yet.
When used correctly, your imagination will improve your ability to form authentic ideas and creative solutions to problems.
Using your imagination will bring many benefits into your life, which will help you create the life you want to live.
**It speeds up the attainment of your goals:** Using your imagination will help you push through mental noise and clutter, meaning you will focus on more important things.
**It will increase your capacity to see situations from several angles**: Developing your imagination will also increase your curiosity; this will train your mind to see situations from different perspectives. This skill will help resolve conflicts and enhance your communication and clarity.
**Problem-solving:** Your imagination will increase your creativity, which will help you find solutions to problems that arise in your life.
**Reduced stress levels and improved overall health:** Having improved clarity will increase your self-confidence; this means you will handle unexpected situations better because your mind is always prepared.
Using your imagination will help you experience reality in a world inside your mind, and when you use it well, you will be able to create a world that doesn’t even exist yet.
A well-invented imagination will help you become a powerful creator and allow you to shape the future you want for yourself.
Don’t restrict yourself to what has already been imagined/created; let your mind run wild and overcome the limits of your imaginations to the point you have no more limits.
Practice your imagination every day, and you won’t be disappointed!
Self-Hate
Date: Saturday, March 26th, 2022
Hello Everyone, Happy Saturday to you all, and welcome to the sixth day of the week; I hope you will have a nice relaxing weekend.
Today is the 26th day of March, meaning we only have five days left till we enter a new month.
For some of us, the phrase **"you are your worst enemy,"** holds a lot of truth.
The sad truth is what limits most of us in our lives and stops us from reaching our full potential is self-hatred and our feelings of unworthiness.
**"I hate myself, I am not worth it"** is a relatively common thought.
**Where do these emotions or thoughts come from?**
**How do these emotions influence us? and**
**How can you push past them and learn to love yourself instead of indulging in constant self-hatred?**
You can hate yourself too much; a person might despise their appearance, feel like they are not good at anything, or treat others badly.
These thoughts may lead you to want to hurt or punish yourself, and no one deserves to live like this.
***What exactly is Self-hate!***
Firstly, living with self-hate is the same as living with an inner bully; this bully criticizes and degrades you constantly, making you feel powerless, worthless, ugly, bad, fat, or like a failure.
This inner bully also convinces you that other people view you the same way, which may lead to anxiety or low self-esteem.
Self-hate tends to develop over time.
The more you do it to yourself, the stronger it becomes; it is typically triggered by more than one factor, such as perfectionism, false expectations, or past/childhood trauma.
False Expectations
It is standard to want to join, be accepted, or be wanted. However, sometimes our anticipations of self can be elevated and unattainable by any human.
These unrealistic expectations lead us to fall short and feel that we are failures.
During these moments of self-hate, our inner critic shows up to shame and remind us of how disappointing we are as a human, and even when our rational side tells us the truth, the inner critic will always find a way to bring us down.
Perfectionism
Conclusion: a perfectionist is viewed as a person who allows no margin of error in their work and no room for human limitations or mistakes.
These people expect no error in whatever they are doing, and they try their best to do this in all situations.
It is essential to know that we often take on this mindset of a perfectionist because we are afraid of pain and feelings of disconnection.
We believe that when we perform a task perfectly, we somehow prevent ourselves from feeling pain.
This pain may include feelings of embarrassment, shame, loneliness, abandonment, ridicule, etc.
Trauma
People who exhibit self-hate have gone through traumatic or emotionally challenging experiences in their childhood/past.
When children/infants pass through traumatic experiences, they begin to view the world as an unsafe place and the people around them as dangerous.
In a step to make sense of the world, they may develop a narrative that makes them feel like they are not worth loving and have no value. These hateful statements may have been made directly to them by a parent or loved one, and they soon become familiar with their inner critic.
Social Comparison
While it is standard to look around and notice what other people are doing, it can become quite painful when you place value on that observation.
It is common to have **"upward comparison," which** means having the disposition to notice and give value to others performing "better" and devaluing themselves with self-hatred statements.
Self-hatred influences and affects several aspects of our daily life.
It can prevent you from making an important decision, connecting with others, taking risks, or achieving goals.
If you struggle with self-hatred, you may encounter the consequences in many ways or areas.
How to stop Self-Hatred
**Tame your inner critic**
**Inventory your strengths**
**Learn to accept compliments**
**Develop self-compassion**
**Practice forgiveness**
Remember that stopping self-hatred will take time; it might feel impossible or challenging at times, you may even find yourself grieving, which is normal.
When you let go of negative criticism, you make more room for joy, peace, and connection in your life.
Raising awareness on Social Anxiety
Date: 25th March 2022
Hello Everyone, Happy Friday to you all, and welcome to the fifth day of the week; I hope you had a nice rest.
Today is the 25th day of March, meaning we only have six days left till we enter a new month.
Have you ever felt extremely uncomfortable or nervous in a social situation or event?
Maybe you have become uneasy when meeting up with someone you have never met before or gotten sweaty hands when giving a presentation in front of a large crowd.
Walking into a room full of people and public speaking isn't a thrilling experience for everyone, but some people can deal with it.
I don't feel comfortable with social gatherings or interactions because it feels weird and forced, like everyone is coming together to fix their loneliness.
Social anxiety disorder is, better known as social phobia, means the overwhelming and long-term fear of social events/situations.
It is said to start during the teenage years and can be very distressing and impactful on one's life, but it gets better as they get older for some people.
For example, people with social phobia tend to avoid all social contact because things others may consider "regular," like making eye contact and small talk, make them awkward.
Sometimes this may lead to all aspects of their life falling apart, not just their social life.
Social anxiety affects most people, but you won't know because most people don't even know this disorder is real.
It may come in different forms; some people may not be able to speak in public or initiate a conversation, while others may find themselves anxious and scared of any social situation.
People with a social anxiety disorder may experience it in many different forms, but there are some common traits that people with it show, and I will list them below.
**Trouble talking with strangers.**
**Trouble making eye contact with others**
**Trouble in having relationships (dating)**
**Never attending parties or large social gatherings.**
**Anxious when eating in public**
**Starting/Initiating a conversation**
There are many other traits, but I don't want to list them in this article.
Some of these traits may not cause trouble for you; let us take, for example, giving a speech may be hard for you, but going to parties may seem normal.
You may find it easy to start a conversation but hard to step into a crowded space.
All socially nervous people may have different reasons for hating certain situations, but in general, they are all afraid:
**Being embarrassed or shamed, and they show it by sweating, blushing, or shaking.**
**They are scared of being watched or judged by others.**
**Being the center of attention or offending someone**
You may ask yourself what it feels like to be socially anxious and how you know if you are.
The experience may be distinct for everyone, but special traits align with people with this disorder. Watch out for these traits.
***Extremely conscious of social events/situations.***
***Hesitant to conversate with others.***
***Having a chronic, persistent and intense fear of being judged by other individuals.***
***Need to avoid eye contact***
There are also physical symptoms such as:
***Muscle tension***
***Crying***
***Sweating***
***Shaking***
***Inability to catch one breath***
***Out of body sensation***
You may have these symptoms and get anxious before an event, or you might even spend weeks worrying about it; this happens a lot to me.
After the event, you will worry about how you acted and what you said.
Some of you may be wondering what causes social disorder, and while there is no definite answer to that, some things can be linked to it.
It may be genetics, maybe a family member of yours has it, and the disorder was passed down to you.
It may be due to bullying, abuse, or teasing.
Sometimes even overbearing and controlling parents may cause it.
Social anxiety affects one's life and even prevents one from living it fully.
It may lead to:
***Sensitivity to criticism***
***Poor social skills that may never improve***
***Hatred for oneself or self-criticism***
***Depression***
The easiest and safest way to solve social anxiety is to see a doctor or therapist who will listen and help you solve the problem.
It is not healthy to bottle it up and keep quiet; instead, talk to someone who will listen to you.
Don't treat social anxiety disorder like it is normal because it isn't, and if left unchecked, it may even lead to suicidal thoughts. Be bold and ask for help from a professional.
Thank you for reading!#SpeakUp
Effects of Negative Self-Talk
Date: Thursday, March 24th, 2022
Hello Everyone, Happy Thursday to you all, and welcome to the fourth day of the week; I hope you had a nice rest.
Today is the 24th day of March, meaning we only have seven days left till we enter a new month.
Do you know that inside, everyone is a critic?
Have you ever heard that little voice that keeps you motivated or helps you work towards your goals?
Maybe it reminded you that what you were eating wasn't healthy for you, or what you were doing wasn't the right decision.
This voice is known as self-talk, and while sometimes it can be helpful, other times it can be harmful to us.
Negative self-talk is something I think we have all experienced at one point in our lives, and it may have come in many forms.
It is known to create significant stress, not only to us but also to those around us.
Negative self-talk may sound like this.
**"I am not very good at this, maybe I should avoid taking any more attempts for my own safety." or**
**"I can never do anything right, because I am not good enough."**
It may seem like a logical appraisal of the situation, but it becomes a fear-based mentality.
**"I can't acknowledge I got an E on my math test; I will never be able to go to a good college."**
The pondering of your inner self may resemble the voice of a friend or critical parent from the past.
In simple terms, Negative self-talk is an inner dialogue you have with yourself, and it may be limiting your potential.
Negative self-talk stops you from believing in yourself and your abilities.
It is any feeling/thought that destroys your ability to make positive alterations in your life.
Negative self-talk doesn't only increase stress levels, but it also destroys your path to success.
It may be damaging in many ways, and some studies even show that negative self-talk may lead to mental health problems.
You will be less motivated and helpless when you focus on negative thoughts.
Negative self-talk may lead to depression in some severe cases, so you must fix it.
People who engage in negative self-talk frequently tend to be more stressed than others because their reality is changed to create a scenario where they don't have the ability or resources to reach the goals they set for themselves.
Engaging in Negative self-talk can lead to a lowered ability to see the opportunities coming towards you.
It may also lead to a decreased urge to capitalize or use opportunities.
***Perfectionism:*** When you are wrapped in negative self-talk, you believe "great" isn't as good as "perfect." Mere high achievers tend to be better than their perfectionist counterparts because they are less stressed and happy with their well-done job.
**Limited Initiative:** The more you tell yourself you can't achieve or do something, the more you believe it. If you tell yourself you can't become successful, you would never be.
**Sensations of Depression:** As I have written before, negative self-talk may lead to depression because when you keep overthinking things, you will only find yourself confused and wrecked.
**Difficulties in Relationships:** The constant self-criticism will make you seem insecure and needy, or it may even turn into a negative habit that will affect/bother others around you.
The most obvious disadvantage of negative self-talk is that it will never be positive.
It may sound simplistic, but positivity will always beat negativity.
The soundest way to reach success is to start being positive instead of negative about every situation you find yourself in.
Instead of telling yourself,
**"I can't do this."**
Tell yourself:
**"I can do it."**
Challenge yourself to do things instead of stating you can't do them because you are not perfect at it.
Anytime you find yourself negative, try resetting yourself with a slight tap to your wrist; this may help you realize what you are doing and stop it.
I hope with this article, you can know the toxic effects of negative self-talk.
Thank you!
Reality: I am only Human
My name is Lilian and I am the mother of a drug addict.
My son Michael may be going through his teenage years, but I never expected him to turn towards drugs to solve his problems.
I know I may not be there for my children, but I have always respected and felt proud of how responsible he has been since his fathers death.
In my absence, he became more of a parent to his siblings than I.
Being successful has always been my number one priority, but when I got married everything change because I finally found someone I loved and he loved me back.
I remember when I got pregnant with my first child, Michael, I wish God had told me how his life would have gone.
I wish he had told me he would be born with a severe breathing issue.
I wish he had told me that my son would grow up without a father.
I wish he had told me that my son would become a drug addict, maybe if he had told me, I would have been a better mother to him.
I remember when we lost all hope due to his breathing problems, I didn’t know how to save my child, and I had given up on him.
I felt so ashamed of myself because I couldn’t do anything for my child, and even went as far as giving up on him.
The truth is “I am only human” and I am bound to feel that way.
I would never have imagined that I would lose my husband, or that my children would lose their father.
I couldn’t console my children because I couldn’t even console myself.
I wasn’t there for them when they needed me the most, and all I could do was think of myself, but “ I am only human” and I also felt depressed at that moment.
I had to go back to work so I could provide for my children, but the truth is I didn’t know if I could be a good mother to them.
I worked from morning till night, Monday till Sunday’s, January till December, so I could take my mind of my problems and responsibilities.
Working was the only escape I had from my reality, and even if it meant missing my kids birthday, I am sure they would understand that I have to work for them.
But in reality, I am only being selfish.
I remember when Michael entered high school, I noticed his behavior change, and he always came back with torn clothes.
Even when I knows something was wrong with him, I didn’t say anything because I thought he would handle it like he always did.
I thought he didn’t need me and could take care of himself, but I was wrong.
I am sure Michael needed me at that moment, but I couldn’t save him due to my fear and selfishness.
I wish I could turn back time and help him when he needed me.
I wish I could turn back time and be a good mother to my children.
But I remember that no matter how many wishes I make, this is my reality and it isn’t going anywhere.
The day I confronted Micheal over his drug abuse made me realize how much I have failed my family.
I wasn’t there to nurture and care for them.
I wasn’t there to celebrate their birthdays.
All I did was blame the fact that I was a human and I couldn’t do everything.
I am a failure as a mother, and just as Micheal said, I wish I had died instead of his father.
Sometimes I imagine how my children’s lives would have been if I had died instead, and every time I imagine I always see smiles.
I can blame my humanity for all my problems, but after everything, I am still the one that made those choices.
I am sure if I had spent more time with them instead of work, maybe Michael wouldn’t have turned to drugs.
I know it may be too late to change the past, but I want to try my best to change the future.
I want to start taking responsibility for my children, and no matter how hard it is, I would never give up.
The reason why humans are strong is because we have the power to change, and that is what I am going to do.
I love my children, and I hope I can win their love back.
I hope God gives me the strength to do so. Thank you.
Effects of positivity!
Date: Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022
Hello Everyone, Happy Tuesday to you all, and welcome to the second day of the new week, I hope you had a nice rest.
Today is the 22nd day of the month, meaning we only have nine days left till we enter a new month.
Some of us may be feelings negative about this because we haven’t achieved everything we had planned for the month.
The truth is thinking negatively will never help you to achieve what you want, instead it will draw you back even more because it leads you to procrastination.
It is said that having negative thoughts, feelings or attitudes may affect your health especially when you try to repress them.
Negative attitudes and feelings create chronic stress, which ends up upsetting the body hormones and system, depleting the chemical in your brain that is responsible for happiness.
Positive thoughts, feelings and attitudes on the other hand helps us with stress management and may also improve our health and lifespan.
I think it is important for everyone to practice overcoming negative thoughts.
The moment you learn how to create positive thoughts out of negative situations, you will begin to see the world in a different light.
Most people think positive thinking means that we should ignore life’s less pleasant situations, but that isn’t what it means.
Positive thinking basically means approaching unpleasant situations or scenarios in a more productive and positive manner or way.
You should always think the best is going to happen to you in every situation you find yourself instead of the worst.
Positive thinking starts with self-talk.
seld-talk being the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through every individuals mind.
These automatic thoughts may be negative or positive, some of them come from reason and logic.
Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that you make because of your lack of expectations and lack of information due to preconceived ideas do what may happen.
If the thoughts that run through your mind are always or mostly negative, then this means your outlook on life is probably on the pessimistic side.
If your thoughts are mostly positive, then you are likely working on the optimistic side of life, and you practice positive thinking.
Unlike negative thinking which only deals damage to your body, mind and system, positive thinking actually has health benefits that have been proven.
It leads to a lower rate of depression
Increased life span
Better physical and psychological well-being
Lower levels of pain and distress
There are more benefits that come with a positive mindset, but I don’t wish to make this article a lengthy one so I will leave you with only this four.
One question I would ask you is
“Why think negatively when you haven’t even approached the situation yet?
You don’t know what will happen so isn’t it better to go in hoping for the best instead of the worst.
Thinking positively causes no harm neither does it affect your health, it only gives you good benefits, while raising your confidence and esteem.
Having a positive outlook on life will enable you in coping better with stressful scenarios and situations you find yourself in, which reduces the possibility of health problems.
Having a negative outlook will not go overnight, and you shouldn’t expect to become an optimist in only a day.
But with constant practice, eventually your self-talk will have less criticism and more acceptance.
This will also lead you to become less critical or negative about the world around you.
When your state of mind is optimistic, it would be easier for you to handle your everyday stressful events in a constructive manner.
***Think Positive!Not Negative***
Thank you for reading!
Reality: Only for a moment
Hello everyone, how are you all doing? It is kind of weird talking in front of you all, seeing as this is my first time in rehab.
I find it funny and sad at the same time, because I never would have thought I would end up as a drug addict in a million years, but here I am now in rehab.
I would say that all the events that have happened in my life are what have led me to ethics point, but it still brings me to tears anytime I remember how horrible I have become as a person.
From the day I was born, I have had problems, first was the deadly breathing problem that affected me during my younger days.
You would say God didn’t want me on this planet because he has tried his best to kill me in every situation I have found myself in, I don’t even know if I am cursed or it’s just bad luck.
One day I can never forget is when my bad luck took someone important away from me, you could say that was when my life begun to change for the worse.
My father was a great man, he was my hero, and I always looked up to him because he was the person I wanted to become.
He died trying to save me from an accident that I blame myself for.
He pushed me away from the car, but in the process of doing that, he ended up losing his own life.
I am grateful for what he did for me, and there is no single day I don’t remember it, but I wish he had let me die instead of pushing me away.
Ever since that day, I have always felt I was my fault that he died, if only I hadn’t bothered him to go to the park.
If only I didn’t leave his hand that day and rub towards the road, maybe he would still be alive today.
This thoughts run through my head daily like a never ending cycle of torture, and I don’t even know what to do with them.
I have ended up believing that it was my fault that my father died, and I don’t deserve to live a happy life because I am basically a murderer.
I killed my own father.
After my fathers death, my mother had to work extra hours to make more money, and while I don’t blame her for doing that, I wished she had been a mother first instead of leaving us.
I don’t even remember my mother much from that day because she had been absent ever since then.
It felt like we had become a burden to her, and her life would have been way better if we weren’t around.
Being the oldest meant I had to take care of both the house and my siblings, a brother and a sister.
I had to start taking responsibility for them and the house at the age of 8, and even if I didn’t know what I was doing, I always tried my best to satisfy them because I didn’t want them to feel sad.
I swore to myself that I would never allow them to cry or feel depressed due to our situation.
Even if mother wasn’t around, I would try my best to become what I thought a mother was.
I can remember my little sister sixth birthday, my mom couldn’t make it due to her business meetings, I had to make a cake for my sister even when I had never made one before.
It wasn’t easy but putting a smile on my little sisters face was my number one priority, and there was no way I would let her down.
Seeing the smile on her face as she ate the cake made me feel so happy even when we both knew the cake wasn’t perfect or sweet.
I was always happy staying with my siblings, but I was never happy when I entered high school.
It was a placed filled with many individuals and personalities who found joy in oppressing the weak, and unfortunately for me I was weak.
I was bullied daily and never left school with out a bruise on my body, all I had were cuts and torn clothes.
It was during these times that I found the wonders of drugs, and I still remember the day I took my first molly.
The moment it entered my mouth, all my pains and worries disappeared.
I felt like a cloud floating gently around the skies without a care in the world.
What made me sad was the fact that it lasted “only for a moment” before I got back to my usual depressed self, and reality was even worse than before I took it.
To escape the problems I had, I took more pills hoping they would help me forgot my troubles, and I wanted to enter that illusionary world once more.
I hadn’t told anyone that I had started taking drugs, and my mother wouldn’t know because she didn’t even care when I came home with torn clothes.
I looked her in the eyes daily so she could see the pain I was in, I came back from school with bruises and torn clothes but she never did anything.
I don’t think I can even call her my mother anymore.
I remember the day she found out I was taking drugs, it was a day filled with threats and the truth.
She had confronted me about my drug addiction, and even threatened to call the police on me.
I was fed up with her nonsense that day, because she couldn’t even talk to me like a mother, instead she treated me like a criminal.
I blamed her for everything that happened and genuinely wished that she had died instead of my father.
She tried calling the police, but I grabbed a knife to threaten her.
In that moment, I wondered to myself “Am I the one doing this? Or is it the drugs?
I looked the other way to see my siblings with tears in their eyes.
I had vowed to never make them sad, but here I was threatening our mother with a knife.
I dropped the knife and broke down in tears.
I don’t think I deserve to live anymore for doing that to my family.
I am a wicked human being and I don’t deserve life.
I found myself repeating the words I said to myself when father died.
Later that day, I took more drugs to forget what had happened, but I collapsed due to overdose.
I can’t remember much of it but I ended up in the hospital, and a week later I found myself here.
I have made up my mind to change, I know I am not the same Michael my siblings loved, I am a different person, and even though I wish that wasn’t the case. It is.
I know it wouldn’t be easy to quit drugs because we all want to enter that world where all ours worries disappear.
One thing I would always remember is that no matter how many drugs I take I will still end up in reality, and those drugs last “only for a moment”
Starting form today, I would try my best to be a better person for my siblings and for myself, I hope you all will take care of me.
Thank you.
Consequences of being an Introvert!
Date:18th March 2022
*****TGIF!!!*****
Happy Friday, Readers! How are you all doing today? I hope you had an amazing Thursday, and I am also praying that your Friday will be even greater.
We are on the sixth/fifth day of the week, and we are finally entering the ending weeks of march because only thirteen days are left until we enter April.
When I started college, I was reminded how fast time passed because it was only three months ago (January) that I entered, and now we are entering April; it genuinely is shocking that three months have gone in the blink of an eye.
Before starting college, I always thought it would be an interesting life where you could live alone without the heavy influence of one’s parents, and if you read my previous article, you would know how much I love being alone.
I can remember my high school classmates talking about how great college life was because it meant they would get to do many things they couldn’t do with their parents.
Some of them talked about how many parties they would go to, how many relationships they would have, and things of that nature.
Fast forward a year later, and entering college, I don’t see the need to do all that, and instead of living the life I had previously stated, I have found myself becoming more introverted than I already was in the past.
I have always been introverted, meaning “**I feel more comfortable focusing on my inner thoughts and ideas, rather than what’s happening externally or around me.”**
That statement is a perfect explanation for how my college life has become.
After my lectures/classes, I usually return to my room and spend the whole day there; sometimes I read, other times I use my phone/laptop to browse readcash and other platforms, some would say it is a boring lifestyle, but it is what makes me happy.
I have always found joy in staying by myself and not interacting with many people, and while this may mean that I won’t have many or a large number of friends, I am ok with that because having lots of friends isn’t a guarantee that I would be happier/satisfied.
I have never really found anything wrong with being introverted, but maybe that was because I didn’t have many people around me except my classmates, and I was already good friends with all of them.
Being in a new state where I don’t know anyone has shown me that there are disadvantages to being introverted, and in society, people will always look at you with disgust if you don’t fit their narrative.
My dorm is a mixed one, meaning that both males and females stay in the same area, and while I don’t have a problem with it, it sure causes me a lot of problems because it seems like everyone is in a relationship or trying to be friends with benefits for some reason.
Being the only guy who talks with neither the girls nor the boys has made me become an alien or weird human.
Staying alone/being introverted has several hurdles, and it is quite funny that even when you try to be quiet and restricted, people will still find a way to oppress you.
People always tend to label me as weird or snobbish when I don’t interact or talk with them, and sometimes they even say I am a suspicious character because I always keep to myself.
They always label a lot of negative traits to me, and while I don’t care about it because I know that is not who I am, it tends to make me frustrated sometimes because people can be so foolish sometimes.
I was walking past a girl the other day, and when she saw me, she started shouting ***“weirdo”*** repeatedly.
I didn’t care much about it because it didn’t affect me, but I was shocked how a person was willing to mock another for wanting to be alone.
It wouldn’t be the first time this sort of thing is happening, which is why I was able to keep my composure even when she shouted that there are other times when they spread rumors that I was a killer; I was shocked to hear this one because I couldn’t even hurt anyone.
Being in this situation has shown me how bad people really can get.
I am even more glad that I stay alone because I would never want to be associated with people who do all these sorts of things, like spreading rumors about someone you don’t even know.
That is both childish and dumb, and I guess I was wrong to think I ever thought there would be more mature people in college.
I will be ending the article here because it is already too long, and I don’t wish to bore you with a long article.
Thank you for reading!
Would you rather?
***Date: 17th March 2022***
***Happy Thursday, Readers! How are you all doing today? I hope you had an amazing Wednesday, and I am also praying that your Thursday will be even greater.***
We have reached the fourth day of the week, and only a few days remain until I start my exams, which makes me scared and also happy at the same time because I would get to rest for a few weeks before the next session.
Easter is coming, and I am sure some of my relatives will be celebrating, and I don't want to miss out on the sumptuous meals that will be served during their celebrations.
It may not be easy writing my exams and writing articles here.
Still, I have already wasted two months due to an internet connection, and I don't want to waste any more time outside of the platform because I will miss out on many things.
I think it would benefit it if I write more articles before next week, so that way I can still be able to publish articles, but what pains me is that I won't be able to comment or upvote anyone's articles.
I am sure I would think of a way to solve that issue.
I apologize if I don't visit or upvote your articles, I promise that after exams, I will be fully back to grinding here and other platforms, and I also recently got into NFTs, which I want to add this year.
Anyway, I don't want to flood this article with all that, so I think I would get to the topic of today, which is a prompt I got from @JonicaBradley, and I hope you all enjoy my article this prompt.
I don't think I would be answering all the questions; I would choose the ones I can answer.
**Writing Prompt #25: Would You Rather** https://read.cash/@JonicaBradley/writing-prompt-25-would-you-rather-fb526a93
**(1). Live Alone or be surrounded by crowds of people?**
My answer for this one is simple: I would rather live alone, and when I say alone, I mean building a small vintage house in the mountain regions where the nearest person is either one to two hours away from me.
It is not like I have anything against people, but I find it suffocating when I am around many people, especially when I don't know anyone.
Living alone is something I have always cherished because it means I won't have to worry about anybody except for myself, and while that might sound selfish or anti-social, it isn't because
I find more joy in staying by myself than staying with others.
Basically, in life, we are always alone. We never really have any connection with other people. The only person who is constantly involved in my life is me. I also know more about myself than anyone else.
Being surrounded by crowds of people doesn't mean anything because **"No matter how many allies you have with you when you die, you will be alone."**
**(2). Be Too Hungry or Too Thirsty?**
This question is tricky because I know I can't do without food and water, especially water.
Still, for the sake of the question, I would have to go with "Be Too Hungry," because I know how much my body loves water and how it can't do without consuming water regularly.
I would say it is easier for me to manage my hunger than my thirst, and I hate being thirsty because it causes a lot of pain to my throat, and I may even get a severe sore throat from not drinking water which I despise.
**(3). Be too hot or too cold?**
I am not sure if anyone here would even pick "Be too hot," but if there is, then you are a brave person.
Living in a tropical climate/region such as Nigeria, I would choose "Be too cold," anyway, because I know what true heat feels like.
I never want to experience that situation ever again.
Lately, the weather over here has been pretty bad, and I am sure you would understand what I am implying if you read my previous article.
The sun is out to kill us nowadays; it isn't just shining a light on the earth anymore; this time, it is burning us.
I pray for the rainy seasons to come because I am so fed up with the deadly sunlight that I have been getting these past few days.
I would have to end this article here because I don't want it to be too long, but I hope you enjoyed my answers, and you can also join in the prompt if you are interested.
Thank you for reading!
Praying for better times!
Date:16th March 2022
Happy Wednesday, Readers! How are you all doing today? I hope you had an amazing Tuesday, and I am also praying that your Wednesday will be even greater.
We are on the third day of the week, and only a few days remain till we enter the new month, which makes you wonder how time flies by so fast.
I don’t think I would be lying if I were to say “If you blink, the whole year would pass you by,” because at this point, anything is possible, especially within this last two/three years were we have had absolutely no rest whatsoever.
In 2020, the beginning of a new decade, we all thought the year would be amazing because we had plans to visit places, and achieve all the goals we had set for the year, but without any notice, we started hearing news of WW3 coming, and after that Corona Virus entered the stage.
I am glad the war didn’t start at that time, because if it did I am not sure the world would have been able to handle the virus which was spreading at a deadly rate.
I don’t know what this new decade has in store for us, but I genuinely hope nothing bad happens anymore because with the way things are going, I won’t be surprised if I see an alien invasion, or zombie apocalypse.
All jokes aside, we all need to join our hands together and pray for our world because at the rate we are going, we will eventually lead ourselves to destruction, and unlike the dinosaurs we won’t even need a meteorite to wipe us out, instead this time it may be a nuclear bomb.
In my country, Nigeria, it even feels like everywhere is on fire because of the fuel scarcity which we have found ourselves in, and sometimes when you go out you won’t even feel safe anymore because you aren’t sure if you will return home.
It was just recently that a man died just because he picked up his phone and answered his call, I couldn’t believe it when I heard it but when his family clarified it, I was more shocked because you would never imagine someone dies just because they picked up a call.
During these times that we live in Nigeria, rituals are becoming more and more prevalent, and I recently heard of 5 kidnappings in my area, which makes me feel so unsafe, and I can’t even go to classes without feeling weird or that someone is watching me closely, it genuinely isn’t comfortable.
My parents call me daily to check if I am safe, and even though I just reply “yes” to them so they don’t feel worried, I don’t actually feel so safe where I am, because no one knows what will happen in the future, and all we can do is think positive.
Another sad story I heard was of my friends passing, this story was so sad for me because of the events that took place in it.
A friend of mine who had always wanted to enter the university, finally gained admission to a university that she wanted, I was so happy, and wished only the best for her, but it seemed like life had other plans for her.
On her way back from the university, she was involved in a major accident, but the weird part was out of everyone in the vehicle, she was the only one who incurred severe injuries, even her parents were with her but they didn’t have any injuries.
Another weird thing is while in the ambulance that was taking her to the hospital, she had another accident which sadly ended her life.
Her death is a sad one because I can remember hearing her happy voice when she gained admission, and that was only a week ago, I wouldn’t have thought that she would die only a week later, and there is no way I can ever talk or hang out with her again.
It is like she in on the other side of a huge wall, and there is no way I can reach her ever again, which really pains me.
I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable with this article, but all I would say is please stay safe out there everyone.
Thank you for reading!
Wishing for better times ahead!
Where is God?
Date:15th March 2022
Happy Tuesday, Readers! How are you all doing today? I hope you had an amazing Monday, and I am also praying that your Tuesday will be even greater.
We are on the second day of the week, and I am sure most of us already wish for the weekend to come again because sometimes the previous week’s stress still resides, and two days isn’t enough to rid us.
When I wake up, I don’t usually like listening or reading the newspaper because I already know all I would see is negative things that will affect my thought process for the whole day, so why bother even reading.
I only recently heard about the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
While I don’t know the full details of what is going on, I can only pray for the war to stop because war is not something anyone wants, and I can’t even imagine how the children must be feeling right now.
Kids who have never seen war and kids who have seen war will always have different values!
The weird part is that I didn’t even find out the war was going on through the newspaper or anything like that; I actually found out through the infinite number of memes people posted online.
I find it funny that people that aren’t even fighting in the war are still making memes about being drafted even when the situation is one of life-or-death, and I am sure the people fighting in the war aren’t finding it funny, but some people wish they could get drafted.
While I was checking details on the war, I heard a voice say
**“If there truly was a God, none of these horrible things would be happening, and another person said,**
**” If I were God, I would make sure everyone on the earth is happy, and nothing bad will ever happen.**
In situations like this, I don’t even know what to say or think because I am conflicted about whether they are right or wrong.
With all the problems around the world, it is quite hard for one to believe that God genuinely exists, and I am sure many people also feel this way.
**We ask in desperation, “If God is indeed good, why do we suffer.**
**If God is all-powerful, why doesn’t he deliver me?”**
We find it difficult to restore our suffering with our faith in God.
One thing we should know is that God gave humans control over themselves, and that is why we are free to make our own decisions and live our lives freely, but God never said there won’t be trouble in the world.
Humanity is the problem because we always try our best to create problems for ourselves even when there seems to be none.
Sometimes we don’t need to blame God for our problems because, after all, we are the ones who make the decisions, so why should we bring God into the matters that we started.
Suffering, Hatred, War, Anger, Envy, Jealousy, all these I have mentioned are caused by human nature, and there is nothing we can do about that because that is what makes us human.
I have to go back to that quote earlier which said early which said,
**” If I were God, I would make sure everyone on the earth is happy, and nothing bad will ever happen.**
This quote is something no person should ever say because if a human being were to become God, I am sure humanity would be wiped out instantly.
After all, we have all seen what happens when a person has too much power; they usually get corrupt and evil.
*****Do you think the world would be healthier if you were God? If you have an answer to this, please put it in the comment box.*****
Most people think having power makes things easy, but what you don’t know is the amount of responsibility that power comes with maybe too much for people, leading them to make bad decisions.
I have seen many people who changed immediately; they got a taste of power, and I am not talking about a good change; this person changed so much that I couldn’t even recognize them anymore.
Power has a way of changing people, and it is only a strong-willed person that doesn’t change.
There are many corrupt people on earth, and most of these people can be found in leadership positions, which doesn’t surprise me because power corrupts people.
Most of our leaders may not always have been corrupt humans, but I am sure when they got to these positions of power, something must have changed them to become what we know and hate now.
In short, power corrupts people, and if a human being becomes God, then we will all be erased.
Thank you for reading!
@Oikawa