Gratitude Challenge

Whatever the history of the gratitude challenge, I have officially succeeded in manipulating my long time classmate and friend, Adia Oro-ghene to nominate me to take up this challenge for 3 reasons:1) i luv a gud challenge as much as i luv you, yes you. 2) trust vinny not to pass on an opportunity to write 3) who goes wrong with gratitude, anyway? Enough said already, let's get started on my next post.

It's about time I started blogging more faithfully. First, I have to say I am sorry for running off my blog for months the way I did. It's gonna be better now, I promise. Watch this space for everything pretty, lovely and sweet, everything inspiring, everything educational, everything Christian, everything feminine, everything humane and everything me. As a writer, I hate to be curtailed so I would just blog about everything. Now, let's get started.............

Sun

       Sun
    The sun
    Is so much fun.
    Refreshing like a bun.
    Not scary like a gun.
    Don't you know, hun?

   If God had a refrigerator,  
   your picture would be on it.
   If he had a wallet, your photo
   would be in it.
   He sends you flowers every spring
   and a sunrise every morning.
   Whenever you want to talk,
   He'll listen.
   He can live anywhere in
   the universe, and
   He chose your heart.
   What about the Christmas
   gift He sent you in
   Bethlehem, not to mention
   that Friday at Calvary?
   Face it, friend. He's crazy
   about you.

Your Hairstylist and You.

                                                     Your Hairstylist and You

  Getting a great hair-do isn’t as simple as walking into a beauty shop, pushing a few hundred naira bills into the waiting hands of your ‘hungry’ hairstylist, grabbing a can of coke, sipping on it and browsing through the latest edition of Genevieve Magazine or even dozing off on her ‘boring’ conversation while she goes about her ‘dirty’ business of styling your hair.

  Hell no! It takes a lot more than that. Mutual respect and understanding between you and your hairstylist would go a long way to get you that look many a man would fall for. Here are some secret truths about your hairstylist that s/he will not share with you but which would set you off to a good start for a good hair day. Enjoy!

Ø  S/he is a stylist, not God and you are probably Negroid not Caucasian. So, if you want a long, blonde mane cascading over your shoulders and wind-blown like Beyonce’s in ‘Crazy in Love’, get yourself a Yaki or Expression weave-on, colour 33 precisely, because no matter what chemicals or creams your hairstylist prescribes, you’d NEVER be a natural blonde and you will continually get frustrated over nothing.

Ø  S/he is a beautician not a magician. S/he can give you Toni Braxton’s ‘Breathe Again’ hair cut or Rihanna’s ‘Take a Bow’ hair-do but s/he can’t give you their faces and their looks. Nothing bad in trying out somebody else’s hairstyle but while you are at it, appreciate your individuality – the size of your head and the shape of your face.

Ø   Show him or her some basic respect – Call ahead to let them know you are coming and if you are gonna be late for an appointment, call to let them know so they can do something else in that time. Greet them when you walk into their shop. Say ‘Thank you’ when they are done with your hair. It don’t matter that you paid for their service. Have you ever stopped to think how rough, untidy and ugly everyone would look, if we had no stylists? Be patient with them; correct them politely or courteously when you think they are getting the style wrong.

Ø  S/he does not have super-sonic speed so come at least two hours earlier if you’ve got to go somewhere with that new look because if you don’t , s/he would be rushed and you might end up looking like a scarecrow – no fault of theirs. Don’t ask to be squeezed in when s/he’s already booked. S/he’d be taking time and effort from other clients and it’s not good for his or her business.

Ø  S/he doesn’t just have a comb, s/he’s also got an opinion. Don’t just pick on a style and insist on it. Ask their opinion and listen to it. They are in the best position to tell you the hairstyle suitable for your round, oval or long face.

Ø  S/he is a professional, not a beggar and a hair trim isn’t like a paper trim. It requires their expertise, skill, knowledge and time. Would you say to your dentist, “it’s just a tooth” or to your doctor “it’s just a leg”? No. So, why would you say to your hairstylist “it’s just a hair trim”. That single bill you stuff into the shampoo person’s hand isn’t doing them any favours. With the global economic depression, two or three hundred naira bills doesn’t buy much anymore. You owe them at least 500 bucks for each touch up, more if your hair is a virgin one.

Ø  S/he doesn’t have a computerized memory. Some clients would say “Fix my hair just like you did it the other time”. That always baffles me. The average time women wear their hair is between three to four weeks and your hairstylist probably has hundreds of clients. How, in God’s name are they supposed to remember when your last time was and exactly how they fixed your hair the last time? If you want a carbon copy of a style you loved, take a picture of it, bring it along and show it to them whenever you want a repeat of the style. Is that too much to ask?

Ø   S/he is human, not super-human. Standing all day, using scissors, combs and a blow-dryer takes its toll on them. Job hazards of hairstylists include arthritis in their fingers from all the holding, combing and stretching, calcium deposits in their wrists from handling all those hair creams and relaxers and ten percent less hearing from the constant noise of the blow-dryer. Most hairstylists retire daily as physical wrecks so you should bear with them when they are tired.  Your hair would be turn out better if you give  them a little break, say twenty minutes to regain their lost energy.

Ø  S/he is not the problem, you are. Bodies and hair react as hormones change so if your hair is dry, listless or brittle, or if it’s not holding colour or style like it used to, don’t be quick to blame them, see a doctor. If your hair isn’t over-processed (too relaxed and therefore weak), it could mean you are pregnant or even menopausal (surprised?).

Ø  Kids should pay more. Why do you think a child’s haircut or hair-do should cost less than yours? Kids don’t sit still. They whine and kick. It’s usually a harrowing experience for your hairstylist.

Ø  S/he is not only your hairstylist; s/he is also your friend. Apart from immediate family members and intimate friends, they are the only other people who see you at your worst – when your hair is wet, when you have foils or rollers on your hair, when you don’t have make-up or jewellery on. There’s really nothing left for them to see. You can trust them with things. The truth is they are not just interested in your hair and your money but also in you. So, if you ever need a friend to confide in, your hairstylist can be one. If you are guessing I am a hairstylist, you need to have a re-guess cause that was the wrongest guess you ever made. I am outta here.

Ø   

10 Great Resolutions for the New Year.

 As we approach the end of one year and the beginning of another, it's best to make changes that would make us better people. Here are ten smart resolutions that would transform you in ways you never imagined.
1) Health: What better way to start the year than to resolve to take better care of your health. If you are over-weight, reduce your portions. Using smaller serving bowls or dishes for your meals will help. Do at least 10 t0 15 minutes of rigorous activity daily to exercise your body. If you smoke, quit smoking already! New research shows nicotine increases blood sugar level so in addition to cancer and other smoking health hazards, smokers are also now at risk of diabetes. Take antioxidants and lots of fruits and veggies. Sleep under a mosquito net; the mosquitoes seem to have developed thick skin to insecticides. De-worm regularly and do regular check-ups. Stop self medication; see a doctor when you are sick.
2) Finance: Resolve to save more in the coming year. It’s been said that you should save at least 10% of your income but if you have been doing that, then you’ll know that your savings will grow slowly if you adhere strictly to that. I suggest you save between 20% to 40% of your income, even 70% if you can. Make your savings earn more by investing it and then re-investing the returns.
3) Love and Marriage: Love is a beautiful thing. It makes life worth living. In 2013, let yourself fall in love. Don’t be afraid. It’s part of what makes you human. Although, it will hurt badly if it was a mistake and it all goes wrong, loving is still worth the happiness it brings no matter how short that happiness lasts. For the long over-due bachelors and spinsters, don’t you think its time to take the bold step and formalize/legalize that relationship? Gents, pop the question. Give that faithful girlfriend of so many years a ring. Ladies, do say ‘Yes’ when he pops the question.
4) Relationship with God: Here’s the time to move a step closer to your creator. Take it or leave it, you need Him more than he needs you and He is the only one who can give you that bright future that you so desire. Go to church, study the bible and communicate with him in prayers.
5) Career: Do something self-developmental. Improve your self-value and worth. Read books and get certifications that will increase your chances of getting a better job. If you already have a great job, go for courses, trainings, seminars and workshops that would make you better on your current job. Be professional and efficient at whatever you do, no matter how little it might seem to be.
6) Relationship with people: People are the most important ‘things’ in the world. It’s not okay to only be nice to your  spouse and nuclear/extended family members. Somebody once said “The person who is nice to you but isn’t nice to the waiter at the restaurant isn’t a nice person”. Develop some interpersonal and social skills in 2013. It is going to make you more lovable. You are going to win more friends and this would make you highly connected and influential.
7) Recreation and Family: Even though goals and targets have been set and must be met, make out time to relax. Indulge yourself sometimes. Find time to do something you enjoy doing. Spend time with your family and in that little time  you have to be the ones you love, make up for the times you aren't able to be with them.
8) Attitude: The saying that your attitude determines your altitude is now a cliche so I'd just say attitude is everything. Have the right attitude towards your job, your family, people and life generally. Think big and stay positive. Hating, bickering, maliciousness, back-biting and envy just sap useful energy.
9) Hygiene: It's about time you started paying more attention to your body and appearance. Do take good care of your hair, nail, teeth and skin. You should be the most important person to you, and if you don't take care of yourself, I wonder who will. Besides, if you fall sick, you would lose some time recuperating and that might hinder the timely achievement of your goals and fulfillment of your dreams.
10) Charity: In this new year, show some love to the needy and less privileged. It's amazing how just as little as 1% of your monthly income ($20 if you earn $2000) can wipe the tears on the faces of crying children and replace them with smiles. Therefore, I dare to say that for every one hundred you have, give one to charity. It makes the world a better place.
  Conclusively,life is all about getting better and it all starts with a decision and a determination to follow through on that decision. If you are determined enough, you will stick with your resolutions and be the better for it. A very happy and prosperous new year to my readers.

Welcome Message

You are welcome to my blog. It is really good to have you here. Do keep visiting and posting your comments and likes on my posts. Thanks already.