IVORY COAST Vs BRAZIL HEARTACHE!

Hi friends,

The World Cup fever has indeed gripped many house holds especially in Africa. I must admit, am not spared too! As much as i am a long time football fanatic (I have watched and played the game for many years myself), am very careful when it comes to this beautiful game. Undoubtedly, it’s a major stress avenue for many who love the game. This is but with minimal effect on ‘been there, seen it all’ category of fans.

The game between Ivory Coast and Brazil (or Brasil as they are officially known), was a major disappointment for many in the host continent. Moreover, many were longing for a surprise result which never happened. Many, as a result were absolutely gutted to the extent of cursing and lashing out all manner of abuses to African teams and the continent at large. It was another of a string of awful results by Africans beginning with S.Africa, Cameroon, Algeria and Nigeria.

I am disappointed too to be frank but an experienced soccer fan will tell you that there was little window of optimism from the beginning. The reasons being statistics; they have a lot of bearing on a game. Some of them were:-

1. Brazil had won the World Cup a record 5 times Vs The Elephant’s NIL  hence, Brazil are far more experienced.

2. Though Drogba played a part of the game and scored, the talismanic striker and captain wasn’t fully fit due to recent injury.

3. Brazil have played in every tournament while Ivory Coast got to the World Cup once, in 2006 before now. Brazil being a football powerhouse, know what it takes to win a difficult game.

4. The effects from disappointments by African teams might have got into Ivory Coast’s psychology.

The above and other statistics are important to consider before watching a game, to avoid a major heartache in future. Ain’t saying it was a mistake to watch the game. There’s always a glimmer of hope somewhere; watch it but always expect anything. Support your team faithfully and wish you success. Cheers!

Thank you friend,

Be Happy!

Abra.

DEATH AND STRESS!

Hi friend,

Who even wants to mention this dreadful word? Death is destiny and we all gona die one day, right? may be wrong…We may heve a different belief and i understand that! Death is a bitter truth that we have to leave with but friend, am not here to scare you! Rather, am here to encourage you to face it! You can even make preparations for it coz the best lot are the prepared ones. Have you realized that death and stress are ‘married?’ We are gripped by fear and anxiety when we are faced by danger which might cost us our life! When we loose our loved ones, we are sure to be stressed and worried. Sometimes, we fear we might follow the next minute or day!

Take it easy in these situations. You can only do what you can do…may be pray for the departed, if you believe in prayers. As dear as they are to us, life does not stop there. It only stops when it stops! In other words move on and make sure you’ve done enough to sustain your family in case you pass on. Someone once asked; “If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And what are you waiting?” I guess he meant that you should surround yourself with beneficial people who will help you out in times of tragedy.

FAMILY/LOVED ONE DEATH POEM:

“A death in the family leaves

a void that cannot be filled.

 No one can ever take the

place of this individual in the

world. We should not try to

 comfort the family by saying

that “it was his time

any way,” or, “he was

suffering.” These may be time

to mourn the fact that things

will never be the same. One minute

he was here and now he is gone. The

human mind must be allowed to

sit with this reality. Mourning is a 

necessary part of the human experience.

If it is ignored, a general feeling of sadness

may pervade the whole family.”

~Anonymous

Thank you friend,

Be Happy!

Abra.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS Vs STRESS!

Hi friends,

We have special people we love ‘religiously’ in our lives. They might be our parents, friends, spouses etc. There is a unique ‘chemistry’ involved in these relationships. It’s quite exciting and different from what we feel for that ‘just another person’ in the streets. Love, passion, romance, guilt, jilt, deceiption are common in these relationships. “The line between love and hatred is very thin,” they say!. Be guaranteed that in many instances strong passionate love for someone can turn into hatred when they deceive us. There in comes stress, anxiety, panic & worry!

Friend, i count on you to try your level best to keep it cool and foster a good relationship with everyone around you. It can only save you a great deal of stress. Develope an open line of communication with those you love. If you encounter individuals who are always up for a confrontation or want to physically harm you, leave the company immediately! You are better of alone plus there are many good beneficial individuals out there in need of a good friend like you. Always strive to keep your relationships smooth, irrespective of it’s nature.

Some Useful Quotes:

1.”Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you, when the limo breaks down.”~Oprah Winfrey

2.”There are times when two people need to step apart from one another, but there is no rule that says they have to turn and fire.”~Robert Brault

3.”Shared joy is a double joy: shared sorrow is half a sorrow.”~Sweedish Proverb

4.”There’s one sad truth in life

 i’ve found

while journeying east and

west-

The only folks we really

wound

Are those we love the best.

We flatter those we scarcely

know.

We please the fleeting guest,

And deal full many a

thoughtless blow

To those who love us best.”

~Ella Wheeler Wilcox

5. “Oh, the comfort-the

in expressible comfort of

feeling safe with a person-

having neither to weigh

thoughts nor measure

words, but pouring them all

right out, just as they are,

chaff and grain together;

certain that a faithful hand

will take and sift them, keep

what is worth keeping, and

then with the breath of

kindness blow the rest away.”

~Dinah Craik, A life for a life, 1859

Thank you friend,

Be Happy!

Abra.

PERSONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY!

Hi friends,

               I must say, am proud to be associated with you therefore, i must apologize for not posting in the last two days. This was due to some other ‘noble’ undertakings that i’ll only reveal with a bribe!Nah…am kiding!

Straight away to our noble task-PERSONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY-is important and we shouldn’t allow the lack of them to gag our lives by causing us a great deal of stress and anxiety.

Health is key to having a good and prosperous life. Health to humans is as oil to a machine! For the machine’s moveable parts to function properly, constant oiling and maintanance is necessary. In turn, production levels are expected to be high.

We need to eat balanced diet, drink clean water and protect our body from germs and other infectious organisms. In case we unavoidably fall ill, it’s only good to seek medical advice from a qualified Doctor as soon as possible to avoid the illness getting serious.

In the same case as the machine, if our bodies fail to function properly, production levels certainly will be low. This might cause us stress and anxiety. What we do is crucial to us and our lives i.e studies, domestic tasks, office work etc. We need to be in the right shape both physically and mentally to be efficient. That way we’ll get what we desire and live a happy life :) Remember happiness is the opposite of stress! Live healthy to avoid unnecessary medical costs which might result to financial stress.

We musn’t forget safety is also our item of discussion here. Have you ever felt someone is following you all the time? or experienced an accident scare? The fears might be genuine or illusionistic! Fear of death caused by insecurity in our streets or road safety concerns, deny us freedom to go about our daily activities.

To avoid safety stress, make sure you avoid dangers of all sorts i.e boarding unworthy vehicles, walking around in unsafe street corners, walking weird hours of the night etc. Hey, ain’t saying you can dodge death!  If you should walk late, make sure you are in the company of someone you trust. Our body should be guided by our brain. We just need to be cautious in life, to be safe.

It’s not my wish to prolong this subject because of its obvious nature. So buddy, i wish you good health and safe stay!

Thank you friend,

Be Happy!

Abra.

PERSONAL CONCERNS Vs STRESS!

 

First and formost i think it will be unfair if we made any attempt of revealing personal issues…What’s personal can only be personal! But then again, it will only be fair if we speculate on the personal concerns that cause us much stress. In any case, knowledge is gained by gathering facts together with speculating and later researching more on the subject. We’l not go the research rout for now.

Atleast some personal concerns aren’t that personal but the few issues we’ll point out can be a reference point for solution to any personal concerns. Alot’s  going on in our lives in a very short time too. One problem hasn’t even faded away and another is already staring us in the face! That’s our real world…

But, hey…don’t put on a green face! Problems are there to make us stronger and if there were absolutely no problems in this world, who could know the real taste of happiness? Please friend, smile and then put on a brave face!  You are on your way to victory because that’s why this blog was established-to help you conquer your stress. Am about to suggest ways of dealing with personal matters that cause us stress, anxiety, panic and worry!  

Before we suggest any solutions, what are some of these personal concerns anyway?:-

1. Time- We need much of it but mostly we are short of it. To make the most out of time, we need to be organized by e.g keeping a diary, time table or even work on it without aid if we trust our resolve.

2. Bad habits-Our habits may stress us or still, other’s habits may stress us too! They may be alcoholism, Unfaithfull partner, indiscipline, time wasting etc. Have strong resolve and fight them if you have to reclaim happiness. It’s always good to go for counselling or sharing out your problems to a close confidant to suggest for ways out.

3. Inferiority complex- This is mostly caused by natural forces e.g physical dissabilities, low I.Q. levels, minority groups etc. We’ve got to stand tall and show our strengths to drown our weaknesses. “Dissabilty is not inability,” remember!

Friend, there are many more others and we can only know our personal concerns. So, always take the initiative and solve them the best way possible to avoid life stress!

I’ll leave you with a poem that might encourage you:-

It’s called: WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS!

“What we all need as human beings

is really, just

one single person

to be absolutely on our side.

 

 Some one who has faith in us, 

someone to really love us as we are,

no questions asked,

without reservations

or judgements of any kind;

 

 Just a single person

who will always be there

to help us, protect us;

 

 To inspire us, applaud us

when we have succeded in something,

no matter how insignificant

it may seem to an outsider;

 

 Someone who will encourage us

to strive towards

the best we can possibly be,

and always, always cheer us on;

 

 Someone who cannot ever be tempted away

by youth, beauty, money, bribes

and will always choose us,

everyday, each moment afresh;

someone to stand by us

when everything falls apart,

who will love us no matter what;

 

 Someone who will never let us down,

never give up on us,

never leave us

and who will always, always

be fiercely and actively loving of us

in every way, every day,

until we take our last breath in physicality.

 

 Well, that person is here.

 

 It is you.

 

 And now, finally, we can start 

on the road to be that person

we always new we should have been -

with a little help from our self,

our endlessly loving totality.

                                                                       (Silvia Hartmann 2002)

NB// Next is ‘Personal health and Safety’

Thanks Friend,

Be Happy!

ENJOY YOUR WORLD CUP! SUCCESS…

Abra.

FAMILY AND STRESS!

 

Family is thought to be a ‘source of happiness’ and there’s no way-atleast as far as we know-any social human being can claim to have come into this world without the aid of another human being…Mention even those who came into being as a result of artificial insemination for the lack of a better scientific term! I mean, we were all born into this world by the aid of a mother and a father. We grow up, get married and reproduce. Once again, we are fathers and mothers ourselves. Since the creation of Adam and Eve, it was only naturally human that we mingle, love or hate, and live a communal life. Atleast “NO MAN IS AN ISLAND!”

On the other hand, it can be a pity if things aren’t as rosy as we would like them to be. Friend, don’t be appalled! I have a solution for you on this matter. Just smile first and take the steps i’ll recommend and you’ll be happy! I have experimented it myself and let me assure you; it works like a charm and doesn’t cost an arm!

Ideally, a family should love, protect and care for each other. But the world is not what we’d like it to be; it’s not black and white, its got shades of grey on it! Don’t be surprised buddy if you find a family that despises, mistreats and would even kill each other! I still would blame it on stress, anger, anxiety, panic, worry and co. It doesn’t matter what instigated them. We need to control these issues.

So, the following is theraputic and would solve most if not all of your family stress:-

1. Identify the source of family stress-the major ones are finances, work, and health-Establish whether they have been long term. If so, get into the root of the problem to find a solution.

2. Don’t try to do too much too quickly. Share tasks at home and help your family understand that the task assigned to them, will only benefit them. Help with the task whenever you can.

3. You must communicate openly with your spouse and family. Talk to them in a respectable and effective way. Especially your teenage children. They might pretend they aren’t listening to you but they are atleast hearing.

4. Keep talking; do not relent in your efforts to let them know, what they are or not doing is not healthy. Caution them politely of repeated mistakes.

5. Show love for your family no matter what because, that’s where the secret lies. They might listen to you and take what they previously regarded as ‘crap talk’ seriously.

6. Be a role model yourself; don’t preach water and drink wine!

Lastly, a beautiful poem to cellebrate our families:-

“I love my family with my whole heart, my love is joy to love my family.

Family is sad and happy and love, family is fun and painfull and pretty.

My family is like all families, we have love and we have happiness and tears.

                        -I LOVE MY WHOLE FAMILY-

My family is like angels who fly in sky, i am grateful i have a family that loves me.

My family are kind, nice and fun to be around, my family is painful like all families are and heartbreaking and evil sometimes.

My family is heartbreaking and deadly like everyone else’s, hey

-I CAN’T STOP LOVING MY FAMILY NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS-

By the way, my family just makes me want have a family with someone as good as they are.

But God knows i love my family and our love is great to have in life, and even knows when they leave the world they stll live in my heart!”

                                                                       (Christina Riggs)

Guess what next? ‘Personal Concerns.’

Please, do come back!

Thank you friend,

Be Happy!

Abra.

WORK AND STRESS!

 Hi friends,

Out of work indeed do we earn our living. Man must live! consequenltly, man must work to live!

This is more than a mere theory. If you dig deep, you’ll find out that one who doesn’t work depends on one who works!

Not so funny is the fact that we take work as a matter of life and death. You probably have heard the following line:-

“I work to live!” Wait a minute! Have you heard this?; “I live to work!”

Probably, we rarely say the latter but the same is reflected in our lives…Get me right buddy, work is our life but our life is more important than work! On the other hand, our lives are useless without work! Mhhh…confusing? Not really. Someone ones said, “All work and no play, makes jack a dull boy!”

My friend, work hard. Infact, like your life depends on it. It doesn’t matter what you do; Whether you are a CEO of a reputable company or a social worker; a professor or a pizza boy! Don’t wish you had someone else’s job. Won’t help! Love your job. Be dedicated to it for you can only get better and rise to the top of your profession. Tackle your work hurdles head on. Respect your co-workers and your authorities. Be nice to everybody for the one you look down upon might be your boss tomorrow. Remember, “What goes around, comes back around.” ”Be kind to people on your way up, you might need them on your way down!” Enjoy what you do. Your dedication can only earn you respect, no matter how ‘mean’ your job might look.

William “Bill” Shankly; a Liverpool F.C legend and one of the most respected football managers, was also a fine football player before his career was interrupted by the Second World War. In 1981, Shankly produced arguably most famous (and most often misquoted) quote – “Someone said to me ‘To you football is a matter of life and death!” and I said ‘Listen, it’s more important than that!” But…

On the official Liverpoolfc.tv website, it states that the official quote is “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very dissapointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that!”

In conclusion, we get a message here; Football was his job and he would die for it!…We should do our job BUT unless you are willing to die, Shankly is far from your role model! Get me right buddy. Be dedicated to your work but you also have your social life that needs to be taken care of…NOW, GET TO WORK!

Next, we look at ‘Family’ as another cause of stress, anxiety, panic and worry! Untill then, let me remind you that you are at the right place…

Thank you Friend,

Be Happy!

Abra.