Cozzy Thoughts

If History Repeats Itself, the 2020s Will Be a Great Decade

2020-11-30T13:24:00.000-08:00

~written by Cody Collins

The 1920s, 50s and 90s; what do these three decades have in common? They were all periods of prosperity in the U.S. that came after a major global downfall. Can we throw 2020 in there too?

With the events that have unfolded from COVID-19, and the world coming to a halt, it seems like life will never be normal. But in time, life will go back to “normal,” even if it is a new normal.

In “recent” history there have been several examples of crises affecting most of the world. And COVID-19 is no different. But in those instances of crisis, prosperity followed, especially for the U.S.

Take a deep breath, if history repeats itself, everything will be alright.

The 1920s: Pandemic, Great Depression And War

Everyone knows of the Roaring Twenties. The 1920s were filled with glitter and extravagance. The turmoil before this prosperity was two-fold though.

Many hoped WWI would be the war to end all wars. That is how devastating and involved it was compared to wars past. Unfortunately, that was not true.

But this was a war unlike anything before it. About 7 million were maimed for life, 11 percent of France’s population was killed or wounded, and nearly 40 million died. The most surprising fact is that half the deaths were military and the other half were civilians. So many countries were active in this war and it hurt many families.

As if that war wasn’t bad enough for people of that era — there was a pandemic. The flu pandemic in 1918 makes COVID-19 look minuscule by comparison. The 1918 pandemic, sometimes known as the Spanish Flu, was extremely deadly. The CDC estimated that 500 million people, about one-third of the population, were infected with this virus. The number of deaths was estimated at 50 milli on.

Think of your average school class size (about 30 students). For every 30, ten got this flu, and of those ten, one would not survive. Now imagine this in every class around the world. Going from a world war to a lethal pandemic is what historians would consider a rough few years.

The 1950s: Genocide And More War

Image by Broadmark from Pixabay

Wouldn’t you know, a generation after the war to end all wars, we have another one. WWII is probably the most infamous war of all time. Six years of fighting, 45-60 million deaths, and countries left in shambles. There was also an attempt from both Axis Powers for wide-spread extermination.

Heavy losses were suffered on all sides. Despite this, the U.S. was one of the countries whose economy flourished post-WWII. The American middle class had more wealth than ever before and were helping the economy by spending said wealth.

Government spending was also a big factor during this time. Countless highways and schools were built during this decade. New technologies and government contracts helped American based companies grow as well.

1990s: Nuclear War!

Photo by Johannes Daleng on Unsplash

Two world powers rose after WWII, the US and the Soviet Union. Both sought more influence than the other and in doing so, had a 40-year standoff known as the Cold War. The US and the Soviet Union both believed their systems were the correct way of governing. It was either the Western system of capitalism or the Marxist ideology of Socialism based in the Soviet Union.

The Cold War, however, is noteworthy for its lack of fighting. But people were always nervous for the nightmarish reality of an all-out atomic war.

A notable symbol of the period was the Berlin Wall. It separated East and West Germany and represented the dichotomy between US capitalism and Russian socialism. The Berlin Wall came down in 1989, symbolizing the end of the war. The Soviet Union would fall just two years later.

With the Cold War over, the 90s catapulted the US into a decade of prosperity. While the 90s started off slow, the economy kicked back up in the latter half of the decade.

Unlike previous decades, the 90s had low inflation. The decade also had rising productivity and a growing stock market. The 90s into the early 2000s was the longest economic expansion in US history, until 2019.

Final Thoughts

There’s always going to be global issues. And hopefully once the struggle is over, better times follow. This has been the case for many examples throughout history.

So yeah, times are tough now, but never forget the future is always brighter.

And don’t forget to wear your masks too!

Originally published at yardcouch.com

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What I do think of the BLM protests as someone outside of the US

2020-10-04T05:30:00.002-07:00

I would like to give an opinion from one mildly affected by this issue mostly and from the perspective of what the experience seems to be from the blacks looking from outside the hot zone.

I am a Nigerian, a black man of 23 and in my country, there's of course no racism since we are all of the same color.

First of all, I will start with my country and the African bias in Africa by Africans

The opposite seems to be the case in some sense. For people who are in corporate industries, you'd see that those who study in the white man's country have advantages in employment in the workplace.

It's common for the government to overlook their own people to give huge contracts to foreign companies and people even if we have the same level of expertise in the country. So I would say we are faced with a different type of racism or prejudice.

Sometimes I wonder if the colonial era in the country twisted our minds so much that we can't seem to just appreciate our own.

I'm sure the world heard about the questionable xenophobic act of South Africans killing Nigerians in their country. It brought a huge question mark ❓ on whether we are ready to even defend our own

It begs the question that if we are divided against ourselves, how can we expect to fight the real stigma of the supremacy of the whites over blacks in the world at large?

This brings me to the other issue of what's going on in America, the UK, and other countries where racism has devoured the human soul and been propagated in several facets.

I'm going, to be honest and plain, racism is a disease. When I hear about it around the world. I wonder what would make someone think that just because his color looks brighter, that he is better than another human being. That is an insult to the intelligence of the human race.

Looking at the US, I see that most of what America is today, the success and all avaveragel the contribution of the hardworking black people in the country. Without blacks, America won't be the America we see today. There have been black innovators in technology who contributed immensely to America.

The footprint in Hollywood is undeniable, it's a full package.

So why the violence and fighting, they sure are valuable for the country.

In my own opinion, I feel it's a fear that the blacks are overthrowing their identity and hold on the country.

Anyways, that is what I think looking from outside. In terms of a solution, I really don't know. Progressively the stigma is going to go away, but the message has to be plain and clearly stated across all institutions

Black lives matter!

So when I initially wrote this post on Quora, I got some replied some comments that I would like to drop in this

• Someone insinuated that if Africans hadn't been colonized that we probably wouldn't have gotten this much developed. My answer to that is... Before you was Egypt, so stop being presumptuous. Like someone rightly said in the comments, Nation's rise, fall and rise again. Development isn't on a straight linear curve but together humanity moves forward.

• And yes all lives matter, but the question was regarding the blacks and the black lives matter campaign.

• Also, America is not the only country that faces this or even where the worse racists live, but its the country I chose to talk about cause it also happens to be a favorite country. (it really has a rich history, Nigerians love y'all even though...you know. lol, I'd stop there)

• And yes, the biggest part that blacks have played a role in is the music industry. I put it together with Hollywood at first, but yeah, in the music industry, I dare to say blacks have dominated. From Michael Jackson to Beyonce to Tupac, the music culture has been influenced greatly by creative and gifted blacks.

My opinion about what's going on with the effect of the riots on the white folks who are not racist.

I hate it when I'm being blamed for something I didn't do or given a more than fair share of the consequences of something that I had no part of. I'd give you a snippet from my life, an experience that just sums up what it feels like. (or at least how I connect to it)

There was this time when I was younger, my two brothers- my twin and younger one of about 6 at the time, where playing catch me in the living room. Normally, I used to be you know the more active one, and all but then that day I was just calm for no reason, perhaps I was hungry cause I can't think of any other reason.

I kept trying to tell them to stop. I knew something bad was going to happen, they kept jumping on the chairs and table and making a whole lot of noise while my parents where out in the veranda...but they won't listen. So I just sat in one of the chairs, tired of talking. And then my twin while running or jumping landed on the center table and broke it. Immediately my Dad came rushing in, got angry, and started flogging them.

I sat calmly knowing I had no part in it, but after he had finished flogging them, he turned to me and said I was getting it too. I looked bewildered, why? I protested. He said I should have warned them more. And he flogged me as much as he did the others, making me understand for the first time how much this life isn't fair. I felt hurt, broken, and unjustly treated... I didn't deserve this.

And that's why I can say I feel for those who don't deserve to be part of this mess.

Who has unjustly been stripped off their livelihood, molested and assaulted in the public, called names, talked down when they weren't even part of the white racists in the country.

Here is an instance I refer to:

A mob of Portland Black Lives Matter protesters forced a white man to crash his truck, then punched and kicked him unconscious, disturbing footage. He was dragged from the truck and tackled to the ground as he begged for help — getting repeatedly punched as he tried to call his wife while pleading with his attackers as he sat on the ground, the videos show. BLM mob beats white man unconscious after making him crash truck: video

In this picture, young men could be seen carrying crowbars as they tore down plywood covering store windows and bashed their way inside and looted

The wreckage left after looters destroy a shop in Midtown Manhattan.

Black lives matter, yes, but all lives matter ultimately too.

If we get to lump people(the whites who aren't racist) in with other folks(the white racists) as bad just because of the color of their skin, is that not the same as being racist? Are we not doing the same thing all over again?

This truly is not the message we want to pass out. I think some people are trying to use this as a way to paint the issue- the black lives protest badly and I don't think it's right.

Black oppression ND racism, in general, is a disease but this is not what we want and surely not the way to go in eradicating it. We can't fight darkness with darkness, only through light can we extinguish it.

I think that black people feel that the whites are not taking this very seriously in the country and so are using these mediums and outrage to show that.

Falling back on my story- snippet from my life, while it's not fair to get a share of the consequence of something I had no part of. I could have gone out and reported them, shed light on the matter, and rid myself of any backlash.

So my message to whites caught up in this mess even though you really don't engage in racist acts is that standing on the fence worsens the issue, if we can find ways to shed more light on these problems and not stay mute, it'd bring clarity and more resolution to the issue and cause for stronger and more fair policies and regulations.

Apologies in advance if I hurt or struck any painful chord. It's just my opinion.

But I would really love to hear from you about what you think about the BLM protests, drop them in the comments section.

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13 ways to look smarter than you are

2020-09-12T04:45:00.009-07:00

I'd admit, 8/10 most of the time, I'm not the smartest person in the room. It's not easy keeping up with the other high functioning grey matters, but the benefits of being smart are hard to ignore.

For one, you get to not be ignored. When you speak, people would listen and want to know what your opinion is.

There's also the fact that you stand out from the crowd at events, you get privileges in the workplaces, schools and are easily accepted; I don't need to preach about the benefits of popularity.

People give you this respect even when they don't know much about your life. You look smart, you seem important and you're treated with respect.

What if I say I can tell you how to look smart, gain all the perks without having to sleep with textbooks every night, and being Einstein's prodigy. ( Don't worry, I'd tell how to be his prodigy later, lol )

Like the saying goes in the movie Forrest Gump, "Smart is as smart does". You are smart if you act smart. If you do what smart people do consistently, you are smart.

Follow me as I tell you twelve ways on how to look smarter on Cozzy Thoughts.

1. Be More Expressive

The first thing you got to do is start being expressive when you talk. Yes, you have to switch things up when you talk. Avoid being monotone, you'd sound dumb. Learn to change your pitch and tone as you talk, emphasizing important words, and using body language to demonstrate.

When you sound sure of what you're saying, people tend to listen. More so, the energy in your expression tends to make the conversation interesting, all this making you sound smart.

2. Dress Smart

I have to say, this is one of the simplest things you can do to switch up your game on the smart scale. If you want to be taken seriously ever, you've got to look the part. Your dressing matters for first impressions.

Learn to wear clean fitted clothes and put on nice perfume to fit the part.

According to Riskology, your dressing changes the message people hear and this only proves that people who take care of themselves look smarter than people who don't.

3. Wear Glasses

Research shows that people who put on glasses come off naturally as smart. It might seem annoying at first and even less attractive to be putting on glasses especially if you aren't impaired, but it really does boost the intelligent look.

Studies show that dark-rimmed glasses are perceived as more intelligent but less attractive whereas that of rimless glasses is seen to be both smart and more trustworthy. Glasses anyone?

4. Stop swearing

Use words to sway not tell away your audience. Stop using swear words and speak clearly with more confidence. Studies show that when you use swear words and bad language, it makes you sound less smart.

I ain't need to buttress this point, just compare the dumbest person you know to the smartest, you'd come to terms with this.

5. Cut off Alcohol

There's nothing more off-putting for a smart person than to be caught with a glass of beer. For one thing, it makes you look quite irresponsible and well, not very smart.

This is backed by science under a term called the Imbibing idiot bias, which concluded that being spotted with alcohol tends to make people judge you as being less intelligent.

6. Talk Faster

You can use the strength of power talking to look smarter also. Being able to say a lot in a very short period of time tends to make people unconsciously think you know a lot. It is just the way we are wired.

But it also emanates confidence in what you are saying. Get rid of the umm and ahh in between and fire down. There are lots of resources out there that can help you out with your speech.

I'd just say, while talking just remember, always avoid speaking too softly, repeating yourself, and cutting others off.

7. Work On Your Posture

Learn to stand and walk upright. When you slouch a lot, you tend to look lazy, shy, and incompetent, not very smart. Fixing your posture can do more than just make you seem confident, you also avoid lots of back pain down the line.

Great posture is a sure way to look smart and confident whenever you are around peers.

8. Use Your Middle Initial

For some reason, when people see a middle initial in the name of a person, it makes that oerson come off as smart. Just say you met two guys with the names John F. Kennedy and Albert Einstein, and you had to guess which was a professor and a student, 8/10 you'd say John right.

Why? He sounds way more important, even though in reality we know that Albert is smarter( referring to their real identities ). So use your initials, and you'd be taken seriously even at face value.

9. Ask Insightful Questions

When you ask thought-provoking questions, you sound smart. People around you wonder what you're thinking. It's one way to make a good impression, especially when you can back it up with several facts about the subject.

10. Cite Your Sources

Oh now, no one, and I mean no one wants to mess with the 'I quote from' and " According to" guys. You know they have the ability to convince anyone they are sure of what they say and ultimately put you in your place in an argument. They are universally termed 'the smart ones.'

What if you could too, that'd be awesome. Learn to cite references by making mental notes around a particular subject or topic for reference, before meeting up with people with the same interests.

That way you're ready to engage in interesting conversations that would boost your smart radar.

11. Maintain Eye Contact

This one is very important, in addition to being expressive, maintaining eye contact with the people you are speaking or interacting with screams confidence. And a big chunk of confidence along with other things screams, yeah you guessed it...Smart.

Learn to maintain eye contact with the person you are interacting with and do that with different people at intervals in a crowd setting.

12. Smile

Have you ever met someone and the person is just putting on this confident smile in between talks, making you calm as well as perplexed? You can't help but wonder what that person knows that you don't right?

Well here's a look into why, in 2014, a study was made by Karel Kleisner and two colleagues about perceived intelligence in relation to people's looks. The results of it were that people can actually gauge or rather perceive intelligence from your looks, with those smiling rated as more intelligent.

The moral story of my blabbing is that it pays to smile more, and not just to look smarter, but also not to look calm and approachable.

13. Speak Last

Learn to listen more than you speak, and speak last. That way you get to absorb more information before responding. So when you speak, you can make better and informed contributions, knowing others' perceptions of the matter.

It also helps in groups and situations when you know little about the topic being discussed.

Instead of just saying things off your head you can help summarize and say what you think about others' viewpoints.

So this is all. Like everything, practice makes perfect. It might seem off at first doing these things but since they are not that difficult they are easy to stick with a little patience and persistence leading you to stand out as smart among your peers and live fully.

Like I hinted at the beginning, I'd drop some few pointers on how to actually become and grow smarter.

* Read books when you commute and before bed

* Surround yourself with smart people

* Explore and find new cultural experiences

* Keep up to date with the news for interesting conversations

* Listen to older folks

Have a go at these tips and tell me what you think in the comment box.

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What eating habits should I adopt| The concept of eating right

2020-09-03T14:49:00.010-07:00

I was thinking recently about what it means to eat right. Looking at an icon that died recently from colon cancer (Chadwick Boseman), I thought to myself, cancer has become a real scourge to the world, and one of the major causes is related to what we eat. This thought led me to think to myself if I really was putting the right stuff in my body.

You see, most of what we eat, which we most times seem not to track goes beyond just causing terminal health issues like cancer, diabetes, etc, in the long run; its also linked to mood swings, digestive problems, how we look outwardly, aging and so on.

So I did some research about 'everything eating', and I will share with you some of the secrets I discovered. Read on to discover healthy eating habits you should know for a much healthier approach to life.

What constitutes a healthy eating habit?

So what really makes a healthy eating habit. I pondered this question a lot. If I am to start eating right what should I be focusing on?

It turns out that there are really three major things we should be on our toes for when it comes to eating, and they are your food choices, hydration, and portion control.

Food choices

It is said that "we are what we eat", meaning whatever food we choose to put into our body will inevitably make up our body. And that is why choosing the right foods to eat is very important; that is, limiting or avoiding food that will compromise our body system in any way.

I decided to categorize the different foods available to us into junk food and healthy food; junk food being what us bad for our body and healthy food being what good. And I'm going to say more about these in a bit.

Hydration

Hydration here talks about our water intake. Water makes up 60% of the human body and is termed the most essential nutrient in the body. It is important to check in on the amount of water in our system because water aids in digestion, detoxifies our systems, hydrates skin, and does other cool stuff that's necessary for living.

We basically need to take 2/3 ounces of water of our body weight( pounds) daily. And I'm going to say more about that later. You can check how much water you need to consume daily based on your weight here.

Portion control

Portion control is a very key element in eating right. If we abuse the amount of food we eat just because it's the right type of food or a healthy choice, it's also a bad habit. Overeating can cause obesity which already is a huge problem in most societies. Globally, obesity is one of the top leading causes of death. It causes more than 2.8 million deaths each year. So we have to work on eating the right amount of food daily so as not to go overboard.

To do that, we would have to start keeping an eye on the number of calories we take in daily. There might be variations to this depending on the body size of the person, but generally, "it is said that the recommended daily calorie intake is 2,000 calories a day for women and 2,500 for men." Now I'm not saying you should go all calories crazy or anything but, just keep an eye on the amount you eat in relation to the number of calories you need to consume in a day.

Again yours might not be about maintaining your weight, depending on your BMI- Body Mass Index, which is used to measure whether your overweight or otherwise, you might need to start eating less or more to lose weight. To know more about that your BMI, take a look at this BMI calculator.

Now let's get into something much more serious. I just talked about the three factors to watch out for when trying to watch our eating habits and why but then, what exactly does a good meal consist of?

What a good meal should consist of?

When I was younger, I remember how they banged the idea of having a balanced diet in school. It was termed a 'healthy meal'. For those who don't know, a balanced diet is a meal that consists of the 6 essential nutrients our body needs: carbohydrate, protein, fats, water, vitamin, minerals in their right proportions. The last two though are only required in small quantities.

The funny thing about this balanced diet is that I really didn't believe it at that time when I heard in school. But when I really thought about it, it was what was already common in society as family meals. Picture a Rice and stew with maybe fish. That already is a balanced meal. Rice serves as carbohydrate and fish protein. The stew covers the fats, minerals, and vitamins cause of the ingredients used in preparing it, oil, maggi, spices, salt, etc.

So most homemade meals are really healthy balanced meals, but in other settings when perhaps when we are on the road or in another setting, we are faced with so many meals that are not balanced and are just there to, you know, fill us up not really giving us what our body really needs to thrive on.

This leads me to my two broad categories of food- Junk food and Healthy food. Junk foods are meals that do not really meet up with nutrients requirements for our body and are most times dangerous to us because of our health because of how they are prepared and processed.

Healthy food, on the other hand, meets up with the required nutrients, not too dense in calories, and are prepared properly. I am going to talk about them in detail later on.

What is considered Junk food?

So we've all heard or at least read about foods being junk and all, but here is the definition. Junk foods are defined as processed foods with negligible nutrient value and are often high in salt, sugar, and fat. They are usually very dense in calories and are by nature made to look as enticing and mouth-watering as possible. Tell me about it.

Just imagine a fat burger with cheese oozing from it and potato fries with fried chicken topped with a 65cl sweating bottle of coke, my mind screams SIGN ME UP ALREADY!!! But that's exactly what it's designed for. We find out that we consume more calories than we actually need and it most times has questionable processed ingredients in it and not as many nutrients.

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but frequent consumption of junk food increases the intake of excess fat, simple carbohydrates, and processed sugar which may lead to a higher risk of obesity and cardiovascular diseases among other chronic health problems. While it's not so bad to eat these once in a while as a treat, it shouldn't be something we consume daily.

Healthy meals to eat

I'd say home meals are the best. Like I mentioned earlier, a healthy meal should compromise of all the essential nutrients in their right proportion. One thing that works for most people is having a food roster where you've already chosen meals that you've identified as balanced meals.

Then as usual lunchtime is when you are tempted to eating something.

Bad eating habits to let go off

As you've been reading, you've probably seen some few bread crumbs in between

n the lines about this and ideas on cutting bad habits, but I'm gonna cut to the chase and list them all out already. Ready? Let's go.

1. Too Many Meals Away From Home

Eating out almost never as good as eating your own meals at home. Restaurants and take-out will always mean super-sized portions, along with more calories and sodium.

Solution: Put in the effort to prepare heavy time-consuming meals during the weekends, so you can keep then in the refrigerator. Setting up your lunch, before going out is a great idea before going out. Check out these healthy lunch recipes.

2. Forgetting to drink

Like I said before, hydration is very very very important. It happens to me a lot and I can credit my mom for that; especially if the meal is kind of watery, like maybe cereal. Drinking water helps digestion makes you feel full faster and is essential for the other workings of your body system.

Solution: Well, always have with you a glass of water close by whenever you are eating and take in water first before you start your meal. That at least helps to register in your mind a gap you need to fill up, if not during, at the end of the meal, and ultimately helps digestion.

3. Eating in front of a screen

One of my favorite things to do is eating while watching a movie. It gives me this happy feeling but honestly, that is not ideal. It can cause mindless eating as we eat not minding how much, just to cover the duration of the movie or show.

Solution: There are two options. Have a set amount of allowable low-calorie healthy snack to go with, or quit watching while eating. Finish your meal before you begin.

4. Skipping meals

Never skip breakfast. It's just wrong. For one thing, it could reduce your performance during the day and for another, it's going to make you overeat during lunch.

Solution: Eat before going out.

5 Giant Portion Sizes

It's very easy to overload your plate when it's your favorite meal (even a healthy one), but its never a good one. You'd just be preparing the way for obesity to come into your life.

Solution: Take it easy and stick to a regular smaller plate. Smaller portions scattered round the day is better than a large meal.

6. Eating Junk food for lunch cause you didn't plan

That's the thing, you hardly have great choices when you go out there. And these junks can be so tempting. You end up eating less nutritious high-calorie food cause you didn't think ahead.

Solution: Prepare your own lunch packs and live it up with an amazing fruit shake. There are so many healthy lunch ideas you can implement.

7. Eating too fast

Eating very fast is a bad habit that has been strongly linked to being overweight. That's because we don't give our brain time to catch up. The brain doesn’t signal that you’re full until about 15 to 20 minutes after you’ve started eating. If you gulp down your meal in 10 minutes or less, you could end up eating way more than you need.

Solution: learn to keep down your fork or spoon after each bite. If you are holding the food like say a burger, keep it down after every bite. That way you chew properly, swallow and maybe even remember to drink some water before taking the next bite.

8. Emotional eating

We have good days and bad days and depending on which it is, we sometimes use food as a way to celebrate or lick our wounds. For the latter, idea is that maybe eating something good or sweet can maybe switch off the bad in your life temporarily. Why this may be true, we all know that we tend to overdo it and eat more than we ought to, talk about binge eating. And it all leads to putting on some extra pounds that we didn't bargain for.

Solution: Try to find another stress-relieving activity. Take a walk, call a friend, do anything as long as it keeps you out of the kitchen long enough.

Great eating habits to adopt

While I have already said a lot on the subject of habits. I would still like to mention and list out a few habits to keep in mind, this time in the positive spectrum.

1. Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages

Keep a water bottle by your side so it's easy to implement.

2. Enjoy your favorite foods

Learn to enjoy your food but always do it in moderation. Best you have a small-sized bowl for your meals.

3. Eat several mini-meals during the day

This goes with the last tip. It is better to eat small-sized meals 4 or 5 times a day than large servings at once.

4. Eat protein at every meal

It helps to make you feel full longer, so it a great trip to incorporate protein in your meals. Stuck up and improvise with meals like healthy seafood, lean meat, egg whites, yogurt, cheese, soy, nuts, or beans into your meals and snacks

5. Be careful about nighttime snacks

Don't fall for the tempting offer of snacking carelessly after evening meals. If you must choose low-calorie snacks. and low-fat drinks and ice cream.

6. Weigh yourself once a week

It's always good to know what's up with your body and whether you're doing the right things. By this, you get to know whether you need to put up an add-up or lose-up weight program.

7. Always eat breakfast

We've talked about this already. Missing morning meals can really mess you your day, slow your metabolism leaving your performance in the dust as well as making you overeat later on. If you really have to go, plan ahead and prepare something to take with.

8. Clean you fridge off fattening foods

Take away the temptation from view. Food items and snacks that are rich in fat and are perhaps very enticing to eat should be kept away from cupboards and refrigerator.

9. Get enough sleep

Studies show that sleep deprivation is linked to being overweight. The science says that when you're sleep-deprived, your body overproduces the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin but under-produces the hormone leptin, which tells you when you're full. So getting enough sleep!....learn to sleep and wake up the same times every day to help form a habit.

10. Eat more fruits and vegetables.

Learn to eat vegetables and fruits cause they are rich in fiber, vitamins, and water. They also fill up the stomach fast and are very nutritious. The best way to implement this habit is to eat fruit alongside every meal(make smoothies for lunch). Let that be your dessert.

So that's that for habits. I really hope you implement these ideas I have shared with you. Your health is in your hands and good health is wealth like they say.

If you have great eating habits that you would love to share or perhaps a bad habit you're trying to get rid of, please share in the comment section below.

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Roots| Not knowing your native language in Nigeria

2020-08-19T08:17:00.012-07:00

I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was stressed out and just sat out in the veranda with the comfort of my dog just trying to relax. Then I heard this bang at the gate. With a frown, I got up to go check who was disturbing my blissful moment.

Here comes this guy around his 60's. He said he had worked here some time ago and while he was still telling me why he came, out of the blue, he started conversing in my Igbo dialect.

I don't speak Igbo, so it was really nerve-rattling for me... It wasn't the first time but that never stopped the feelings of illegitimacy in some sense.

To cut the long story short, while he was trying not to embarrass me more by deflecting back to our dialect... He just blurted out this question. Are you not Okonkwo's son, why can't you speak... And before I could utter a word... He emphatically, with a tone of finality said- You've lost your Roots!

How did it happen?

Back in the days, we used to speak in our native dialects without any form of a hindrance, it was the only way we knew how to communicate and we were proud of it. It brought to us a sense of connection( in the immediate community anyways), it was our identity and it was our culture.

But then the white men came and brought along religion, technology, and a new language-English. And English became access to technology and knowledge from the white man. It became the access to a better life and freedom.

Everyone wanted their kids to be like Mr. Kehinde's son who just came back from Cambridge and now has several government offers and jobs. Parents began teaching, encouraging, and making their kids learn and read in English schools...taking them out of the rural settings. We all wanted a better life.

Have we really lost it?

Yes and No!

It's a complete no brainer, yes we've lost it. We no longer have the fluency in our language or potency in the settings of our culture. Most children grow up without having any knowledge of the back story of where we come from except the rare holiday visits to go greet Mama once a year.

And parents fail to pass what they've had for years, their heritage, which gives them pride and a deeper connection to their clan and people; They fail to pass down to their kids the basic ability to speak their own native dialect by not even speaking it at home anymore.

But I say No because fast-forwarding 60+ years since our independence and we have a country that's now more connected to the global scene and resources like never before. We have scholars in every field, our kids are making records in ivy league schools.

And tech! we have elevators in buildings, electricity-producing glass (solar panels), and flying metallic birds (airplanes) which we would have ascribed to witchcraft in the past.

Also in Nigeria, many people identify more strongly with their ethnicity than with the state, people are viewed and view themselves above all through their language. This can prove to be very negative because, while languages create a sense of belonging, they can also be exclusive, divisive, and create stereotypes.

But now, we have the pidgin language, a subcategory of the English from the failings to fully capture the words of the English language initially.

Pidgin is known mostly to Nigerians. It has that same communal feeling of being able to connect with one another more deeply, and what's better is that everyone understands it. It's now even more widely accepted with top international brands like Google and BBC. It is more deeply interwoven with music, art, media, publications, and every facet of our daily lives. It preserves the embodiments of the Nigerian culture and it's a language we made ourselves from what was given to us. When we speak pidgin, it hits home base.

Where do we stand

We will always have within us a connection to our culture. Even without speaking, It is seen in our accent, our behaviors, and our preferences with choices we make every day.

Speaking in our native languages and passing it into the next generation will always be dependent on personal values and what each person feels he needs to pass down to the next generation. Parents and guardians will also be the most influential members in this sphere.

You can choose to be like Ngozi Chimamanda Adichie, a decorated English writer who speaks to her daughter at home in her native Igbo language. Paraphrasing, she said, "I need to give her what she needs basically, English can come later on".

Like I said it comes down to values. Personally, I would like to see more of that attitude. I don't think any parent should deny their child of their heritage and being able to speak their native dialect... Why give them a disadvantage in an already competitive world.

They need to understand their world better from different perspectives. Information and Knowledge is power; we can better get that knowledge through a better understanding and means of communication.

But while I feel the preservation of our native culture is good, I don't think it is right to question anyone about their validation to where they came from, simply by not being able to speak their dialects through conniving looks and questions. I'd like to see someone say, oh you can't speak Yoruba, switches to pidgin, and enjoy that same connection without making the person feel like half a man or an outcast.

They say it may help us to get connected and have special treatment in high places- Nepotism; but I say what if we never needed that in the first place. Is that not what has turned our country upside down... Corruption here and there with people favoring 'who you know' to 'who merits the position'.

CONCLUSION and the end of my story

I cannot tell you how his statement made me feel.

I retorted, "No, I've not. I'm still a Nigerian. Not being able to speak the dialect I come from doesn't make me any less of a Nigerian than you are."

He said it again, "Yes you have."

And then I said, "Our generations are different. What it meant to your generation, how important it was is not exactly the same for us."

Seeing I wasn't budging and that this discussion will not just only be fruitless but limit his chances of finding his tools- which was what he came for, He changed the topic quickly.

In conclusion, I compare this whole discussion about roots to a tree. A tree has the roots, the trunk, branches, leaves, and flowers in some cases. You would never know that a flower is related to the roots with the colors and the appearances if they were cut off and placed side by side. They seem so different and far apart....they serve different purposes. And none envy the other or try to laugh or talk down to the other in any way because they know how connected they are. Without the other, they can't function properly.

As the roots stay below to give the tree support and as it grows and rises above to greater heights, so does its appearance change, turning into something more beautiful. Let's cherish each other regardless of our cultural disposition and makeup. We all belong to one single tree.

Share your thoughts in the comments section

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Being the man

2020-08-02T13:26:00.004-07:00

As far as you're under my roof, you'd do this and that... You're under my rule and so you can't do as you like.-- Dad

You're a man, you should be able to raise up that, pay for my meal, handle it, etc.

I just saw a snake at the backyard, go and kill it... You're a man ( like we are sacrificial lambs😅)

I think the cutouts/wire is sparking ...I'm scared to go and check it out, be a man.

Why did you allow those robbers harass me, are they not men like you? 🙄 (Sista, please I like my life)

So so and so just bought a car, look at how his girlfriend looks...is he not a man like you?

Everywhere, every day we guys face so much pressure growing up. Society expects you to be strong and capable of fending for yourself and leading situations even from an early age. The expectations can get very overwhelming and make you seek short cuts and ways to be the man when the situation calls for it.

And It doesn't get easier with social media. 🤦🏽‍♂️

For me, expectations have been one of my nightmares. It's like people just expect that as you get to a certain age, magically God hands over all the know-how manuals to you; Your body now just knows how to climb a tree, or drive a car. Some of these expectations can be so unrealistic and lead us to think there's something wrong with us.

There's so much focus on the girl child (and for good reason, I must add). But what about the male? Do we understand the mental stress these expectations from society can cause, the illicit ideas, quick schemes, and dishonest fronts we are forced to bend to, really do we?

What about depression? you know, many men suffer silently because of yet another popular notion that men are supposed to keep their problems to themselves, not show emotion. Hence the saying, "men do not cry". If we are not expected to even cry, then how can we even dream of telling someone that we are depressed... To society it's like madness; but trust me, it's real!

As much as we are leaders by nature, we need to be allowed to grow into it. My belief is that we need even more support along the way. Cause we would be expected to one day lead homes, the most basic institution which makes the nation.

To my guys out there, I want you all to know that there's time for everything. You don't become at once, you grow into it; so have faith in the process. Do not be burdened and deceived by the pressure from your peers, social media, or even your family; take your time. Have a plan, set up goals, and commit to it.

" It's not about how fast you get there, it's ABOUT how long you can sustain it and stay there. "

Sustainability can only come through genuine growth and genuine growth when you pay attention to the learning process. See you at the top!

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Going Home

2020-07-19T21:25:00.002-07:00

For months, I blamed the border restrictions for keeping me away from my home. It seemed like I was going to be having a dry spell in Portharcourt but it turned out amazingly great. I accomplished a lot; I bought a guitar, held amazing classes, started a blog, read great books, and had lots of company in the house, maybe even too much.

On the 12th of July, I finally was coming back home. I boarded this sienna car by the side of the road as my preferred bus park was closed. The journey wasn't as smooth as I pictured because of this young pregnant lady and her husband who were both fat...making it hard to move around. To top it off, the driver didn't drop me at the preferred location like we discussed making me make an unnecessary stop with the tons of loads I had to carry along. But in the end, I got home safely and hopefully without the COVID-19 virus.

I couldn't help but notice the humble attempts by Nigerians - hawkers and passersby - made to stay safe. But it was way off. Everyone wore masks not really to stay safe but like an access card to move around as around 95% didn't cover up properly or even at all. The distancing even in commercial vehicles was a fluke, with everybody cutting corners where they can. Coronavirus was now a cliché for the most part.

Going home wasn't as exciting as it should have been. This time I was coming with uncertainty about my future and career. I had launched several different enterprises online--a great community, Graphic designing enterprise, and training programs....even though still struggling to hold their own but they were great prospects for the future.

But coming back I was going to be involved in an apprenticeship outfit in a profession that I had lost faith in, that was going to probably take my time off the wonderful online activities and businesses I was already used to and part of. Plus it was going to take away most of the time I would want to invest in other businesses I was already nursing interest for. It just felt like my wings were being cut off somehow.

You see, I'm a very ambitious person with tons of interests. There are like five different unrelated careers I want to establish myself in, not to mention the hobbies I have which need constant learning and time to improve.

But have you ever felt like you are moving too fast? Like you just need to cut somethings off for a while and just focus on one thing at a time. Well, that was me. I knew I had to do that to make real progress. It's hard really, to postpone a dream for a while for another. The fear of losing that dream completely will always be there. And sometimes you don't even know which one to focus on.

This I believe is where we just have to take a leap of faith. I think we just need to figure out what's best for us at the moment with the resources available, time, and maybe interest.

Creating a road map for yourself would be the best thing you could do at this point. Set out what you need to be doing now... In 2 years..and the next.

At each stage, revaluation of how and what you're doing would now help us know what we need to be doing; If we are established enough to begin something new, still trying to stay firm and requiring more time or just struggling to keep your head above water and needing to move on.

Also, learning to accept that you might fail at something even though it seems to be a winner is great. It takes the pressure of. There is no success without failure... Just remember that. Accept that this is you at the time making your own decisions as best informed as you can.

I've understood that it's better to risk being the best at something than being mediocre at everything. Opportunities they say comes but once but the truth is some opportunities will always be there. Take your time to learn the things you need to. Wait your turn if you have to but always stay focus on your game plan.

So for me, I know I want to be successful and all, but I've got to put in the time. I've got to walk in my own stride and at my own pace. Right now the said profession is something I still have an interest in, the opportunity is there like never before and my prospects sincerely are high. So I'm going all in, placing some of my dreams on the road map and looking up to God.

Thanks for reading. If you resonate with what I'm saying, have had a similar experience, or feel like you're in that place right now please drop a comment about it.

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Running & Jogging | What's the deal?

2020-07-08T04:37:00.035-07:00

Hey guys, been a while. So I want to talk about my experience Jogging. I'm sure you've seen or had people around you who do mild or regular jogging, maybe on weekends; or better still you do it yourself. Well, I was like most of you who kept admiring these brave guys who made the decision to wake up every morning and put in time in doing what looks like a punishment rather than an enjoyable exercise routine. Here's how I started and made my own decision.

It started with a look at one of my shoes which looked so cool and sporty but unfortunately had some part of it peeling out.

Then I remembered I was beginning to add a little extra fat on my tummy; not to mention that I hardly went out of the house due to the pandemic which warranted a little bit of activity.

And so, the decision was made. I was going to begin a Jogging routine. I repaired my shoe and then chose my best sporty clothes that fit well with me and went out the next day.

Experience: I decided to go round my estate, 3 corners out of 4, and back to my start point. I tried out some warm-ups but I didn't know what I was doing so I just started running. The goal was five laps. But on my third lap, I knew it was better I stop cause my heart was tugging at me and my legs experiencing pain.

And that's how I became a Jogging Beginner.

Jogging VS Running, what's the difference?

Personally, I don't think it's much of a big deal. Jogging is a slow form of running, running at a slower pace. Running itself requires much more intensity.

You have a set distance and a goal, you run at a faster pace and often times your limit, so as to beat a time or fit in a particular duration.

Another thing is, runners often get offended when you call them joggers; cause to them they are fully invested in something more, in training, to become better at it, beat a record, hit a particular goal....whereas joggers do it just routinely and in a leisurely manner to keep fit.

On the other hand, if you call a jogger a runner, they feel flattered cause it makes them look goal-oriented.

In summary for me, being a runner or jogger depends on two things- pace and passion. When your running is more goal-oriented to become better and is more like a lifestyle for you....feel free to term yourself a runner. If you do it to keep fit and stay healthy, then you can say you're probably more of a jogger. That's how I see it personally.

What you stand to gain (Health Benefits)

Now when I started, I didn't know how jogging really helped, I just knew it looked good on me and it helped keep me fit. So I looked it up and here's what I found out.

1. It builds the Immune System

Jogging helps boost the production of white blood cells in the body and builds us immunity. Regular Jogging keeps our body active and able to fight off diseases. It's known to stimulate the production of lymphocytes and macrophages that combat and fight off infections in the body.

2. Boosts the Respiratory System

One obvious one is that it boosts our respiratory system since it's an aerobic workout - one that involves intense breathing. It does this by strengthening the muscles in the lungs, which helps us take in more oxygen and remove carbon dioxide effectively. Hypothetically thinking, this could solve snoring.

3. Jogging helps in weight loss

Jogging boosts metabolism and is more effective than merely walking or trekking.

"I remember when I was in school, we always joked around that in Uniport, all you needed to do to lose weight is walk to class. We moved around a lot so it seemed like we were always doing constant exercise. But it turned we were partly wrong. On the other hand, it could make us stressed and eat more = ~~Bad~~"

A healthy diet along with regular Jogging will melt the extra fat that you've always wanted to shed.

A half-hour jog easily burns around 300 calories. Another thing is, jogging does not only burn fat, but it also helps maintain your weight. So when you get that perfect body size, do not stop your routine; it's beneficial too to keep at it.

4. It has Anti-aging Benefits

Who knew? Well, what did you expect... comparing an always fit individual doing exercise to a lazy bum sleeping on the couch. Picture it, if you had to guess, who would live longer naturally? Of course the exercise guy... cause the body is being maintained regularly.

OK, not getting ahead of myself, the scientific reason would be that jogging ensures that the skin receives more oxygen and blood. Now you know 😊

5. Improves Bone Strength

Another advantage is that it maintains bone health. When you start jogging at first, the bones experience some amount of stress and load(like all exercise do). I sure experienced that when I started and I'm still experiencing it by the way, but it gets better.

Jogging prepares the bones to bear this additional stress which it starts to endure on a regular basis, further strengthening the bones and helping to prevent bone trauma and injuries.

With a stronger bone and improved bone thickness, it wards off problems like arthritis, osteoporosis, rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, and other problems we get from time to time as we get older.

Again, it makes the bones of the hip and spine stronger. I'm not the one that's going to tell you how that helps....but for a guess, picture your sex life 😉

6. Keeps your mind healthy

Away with the mental stress alright. Jogging plays a major role in improving your mental health.

Research shows that when you jog, your body releases endorphins, a hormone that helps lift up your spirit and make you feel positive about yourself. You feel calm and uplifted after a good jog and it's a great way to manage stress.

7. Great for you Heart ♥

Jogging is a cardiovascular workout, meaning it is great for your heart. And it ensures blood is pumped faster to the heart and thus maintain blood pressure. With regular Jogging, heart diseases are also kept in control.

This is a lot of benefits and more than enough reasons to give Jogging a real shot. If you're considering this, I'm ahead of you and ready to give you heads up on tips and what you'd need.

How to begin| Points to note

• See your doctor for a check-up

Just to be safe, if you have a pre-existing medical condition or are above 40, its best to get advice from your doctor concerning engaging physical activity.

• Buy or use an appropriate pair of shoes

The type of shoe you use can greatly affect your jogging experience. A sporty shoe or sneaker with a comfy feel and a solid sole will do.

• Make sure you warm-up

This helps you get into the rhythm and avoid unwarranted cramps, pains, and injuries. Do some stretching and jumping.... just small stuff.

• Plan your route

Make sure you know where you're going, how far you're going, and if possible choose flat grassy areas. Also, avoid running along main roads to avoid breathing in exhaust fumes and pollution from other motor vehicles.

• Schedule your runs for early mornings or evenings

This helps avoid the busy activities and distraction as well as exhaustion fumes in the busy hours of the day. Also, it makes it easier as the heat and sunlight rays on your skin are on the low, and also the humidity at those times helps your body cool down.

• Start with brisk walking

It's good to remember to pace yourself. Your aim should be 30 minutes per session but starting out, you probably wouldn't get there immediately. You can allow a minimum of six weeks to build up to your regular running. Also, allow at least two complete rest days each week to avoid injury.

Tips and safety suggestions for an enjoyable run

• Do no eat directly before going for a run.

• Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your run.

• If you're using a headset along, try to stay alert and do not have the music too loud.

• Tell someone where you plan to run and when you think you'd be back.

• Avoid running in the hottest part of the day

• Avoid running in a dangerous and isolated area.

• Take your mobile phone with you for emergencies.

• If you get injured while running, stop and go back seek medical help.

And so that's it. If you decided to start a running routine, congrats! If you are an avid runner or an admirer of the sport, you can chip in your own suggestions and experiences about running.

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I had a NIGHTMARE... was it a divination? 🤷🏽‍♂️

2020-06-30T04:05:00.007-07:00

So a few days back, I had this nightmare a few hours into my sleep. It was hard to separate reality from dreaming. There was this dark feeling like someone was watching and something was coming. I was half awake and tried to get up but I couldn't; I couldn't speak, couldn't move either. After a while, I managed to force myself to move and that was it... I was up.

That was my experience, one among several that I have experienced as an adult; not frequent but eventful. It's hard to picture lots of adults experiencing this... It's normally the kids who fuss about it. And if an adult says something about it, usually it is used to depict a bad experience or situation they've found themselves in. But the truth is, between 2-8% of the adult population is actually plagued with nightmares.

What nightmares are?

Now, contrary to popular opinion, not all nightmares are actually nightmares. According to WebMD, nightmares are vividly realistic, disturbing dreams that rattle you awake from a deep sleep. They are well known to strike fear into you and make your heartbeat pretty fast, a fast rush of scary 👻. They occur mostly in the early morning hours. But what people don't know about is Night terror. Although it causes the same effects, it's slightly different.

Night terrors occur in the first few hours after falling asleep, and they are experienced as feelings, not dreams so people don't really know why they're upbeat in a scary fashion after waking up. Now thinking about it again, I probably had a night terror 🤭.

Causes

So what could be the cause of these nightmares? There are lots of factors that could add up to you having a bad night, it could also be a combination of two or more factors. Some of the common ones are listed below:

• Increase in metabolism due to late-night snacks

• Sleep deprivation

• Sleep disorder

• Withdrawal from certain medications, substances & alcohol

• Use of antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, or any medication that acts on the brain... Tranquilizers maybe?

• Psychological disorders such as severe anxiety and depression or even PTSD.

In general, I believe nightmares happen when your body is stressed and is not in the right state; also when your mental health is compromised in any way.

What do they mean?

It is a popular belief to link nightmares and dreams to some sort of divination, a foretell of something that would happen. I'm going to talk about a few of them and I am sure I'd get a few 'I've had that' from some of you. Please indicate in the comment if you resonate with any one of them.

1. Invasion

You dream that someone is breaking into your home, bedroom, or office. According to analysts, this could tell that your personal space is being invaded either physically, emotionally, or spiritually. It could also mean you're having a bacterial/ viral infection.

2. You can't move
This one happens when your mind wakes up before your body does; they are out of sync for a few seconds and we dream we are paralyzed... Kinda similar to the experience I had.

3. You can't breath
This one here, for us in Nigeria, would mean that someone is pressing you spiritually and a popular phrase 'your village people have come for you' will be used. But trying to be more positive and less diabolical about it, it would mean that you just feel restricted, not getting enough personal space to yourself

4. Death
A common one, I'd say. You died or someone else died in the dream would probably sum it up. It sometimes literally means that something like that is about to happen to some degree. But it's not like that for most cases and being more positive it could mean you're letting go of old ways or bad behavior, maybe a friend. It also helps us reassess our life as we are confronted with fears about our mortality... Something like 'Damn I could die any day, I need to get my shit together' 😅

5. You're being chased
This was my brother's signature nightmare growing up. He used to be chased by everything and anything. Well, he got the nightmares and I used to wet the bed, that was the deal the universe gave us. 🤝 😂
Back to our subject of discussion, running away from something scary in a dream could mean that you're running away from stepping up to something; maybe a decision, a fact, or a situation. The fix though is simple here, you just need to wake up to your fears and face reality, your life... with much courage.

So what do we do about it?

Well, there are several things that you can try but the idea is just for you to eliminate any form of stress and get your body into its default natural, healthy state.

The first would be to reduce any form of mental related medication to help reduce its frequency at least, especially if you have anxiety or PTSD problems. Finding a way to treat those disorders permanently would also help. Other methods would be to have a healthy regular sleeping routine. Also, engage in regular exercise or meditation sessions that'd help reduce stress.

Again avoid alcohol, caffeine, or nicotine which could well stay in your body for over 12 hours and cause sleep deprivation.

Lending a shoulder

One other thing, I'd like to end this wonderful article about nightmare on is, about helping a suffering friend who is having nightmares. The truth is, we all go through things beyond our control, and in those times, we may need a shoulder to cry.... a little nudge, or just a listening ear. Show empathy by being there and listening, talking about your experiences if you've had similar... But never look down on them. Don't be judgemental to them for being weak, remember, it could be you.

Thanks for reading till the end, you're really a real champ 👍🏾. Please drop a comment about something you resonated with, your experience, or just your suggestion.

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