tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20923658540898879342024-03-13T09:01:24.960+00:00Soo Misunderstood....In Every Post I Give A Little Of Myself...
Motivation. Growth. Inspiration. Entertainment.Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-13107817198966295762019-08-27T22:45:00.000+01:002019-08-27T22:45:00.220+01:00When The Going Gets Tough – You’re Gifted with a New Pair of Lenses!<br />
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2019...Still feels like a movie. </div>
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A bad dream and a
nightmare.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It feels like sadness, smells like sorrows and pains like
pain. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s full of lessons, major reflective moments and a constant instant rush of utter disbelief and surrealism.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s been only a couple of months but something tells me
this pain is here to stay, to build a room, an empire and to make a home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The story remains but the lessons…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxrwMU3OPST16YjjpAyyHpizpPLZEInLASKvkZJH92mXm-kFYReEZE0DX8qD5pzysbEXsmWQRUPH-L-_xRWcxl1zqf1FaaXuz2cHBy_EGc1PjzWJArP1HLV_t4CGcfK_NxF752-ZU9VjB/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1219" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxrwMU3OPST16YjjpAyyHpizpPLZEInLASKvkZJH92mXm-kFYReEZE0DX8qD5pzysbEXsmWQRUPH-L-_xRWcxl1zqf1FaaXuz2cHBy_EGc1PjzWJArP1HLV_t4CGcfK_NxF752-ZU9VjB/s400/5.jpg" width="380" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Still Connected By The Heart</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Bereavement, grief and the loss of a loved one
will test everything and everyone around you…family, relationships, friendships,
your faith, your willingness to trust life one more time, your strength in
rising after a fall and your courage to be vulnerable. Your power to heal and
willpower to open up to your new life. Because I tell you, your life will change.
Losing a loved one is Life Changing!</span><br /><br /><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">It will test everything you believe in. But
it will give you a fresh perspective on life and a new pair of lenses to view
life from.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Family is nothing but a title. A neat little ribbon
on a rather somewhat package that you have to give meaning to for yourself.
Family is not always bound by blood. Family is a title you give to your tribe. Don’t
waste precious time on the package you were programmed to believe is family, be
more concerned about who you choose to label as family.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">The party bus gets lit, it is full and everyone is on board </span><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">but when the going gets tough and the tough gets going, the bus gets
empty and you can hear a pin drop.</span><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;"> I</span><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">n
this disparagement, only then you’ll find your true tribe. When you do, don’t take them
for granted.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Good friends are important, they’re like warm
coats on a cold winter’s night, they’re a cosy hug and they’re like the feel of
a comfortable bra – they go on to make a dependable tribe and when you’re
suffering a great loss you need people around you.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">If you can’t cry with them, don’t laugh with
them and don’t dance with them either. I have encountered people who I partied
hard with in the past but couldn’t send through a condolence message.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">‘’Na for bear’’ ‘’It is well’’ aren’t consoling
no matter what you might think. People rush to these two phrases for the lack
of better words, I understand but sometimes the less you say the better.</span><br /><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">A warm hug and kind eyes will suffice.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">The world doesn’t stop just because yours cease
to exist. With tears in your eyes, the world continues to go on, people get
married, give birth, and get promotions, smile, and laugh – even when your
world is crumbling. This will be one of the toughest things to handle, my
advice – disconnect and give your grief your full attention.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">‘’Time heals all’’ Bullshit! What a load of bull
crap. What a convenient escape for someone lacking right words to say to you.
What a dismissive old crooked adage. False hope laced with lies. What does it
heal exactly?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">People can feel when a hug, a kind word or an
act of kindness is genuine. If your intention is simply to find out what killed
my person, you are a wrong one. People will send a message like this ‘’sorry
for your loss but can I just ask what happened to her?’’</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">You curious cats will not get a response from
me. Take your condolences back and allow me to grieve in peace.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">The intensity of the pain will never ease but
the frequency of it will reduce. A piece of advice from a very wise friend. This I
found to be true and somewhat comforting. Thank you Akiwumi!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">There should be a tact to your empathy. Empathy
is looking at how you can make that bereaved person’s life easier at their present
state, it’s being thoughtful. It’s in your action, not your words. Do you know
what I will never forget…?</span></div>
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<br /><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">A friend of mine came to my house the
morning I lost my sister and he immediately went to my cousins and asked what
food he can prepare for us. This wasn’t going to bring back my sister or make
the pain any less but the bite is in the understanding that it’s like 5:30am and
the last thing on our minds was cooking or eating or even preparing any kind of
food. That is something I will never forget. Another friend came and said
nothing but held both my hands and started praying with me. Another brother, brought
Acheke – just to put a smile on my face, knowing I love our local cuisine.</span><br /><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">When you feel stuck in dealing with the
bereaved, less is more. Say less and show your sincere condolences in action. And
this doesn’t have to be expensive, just make it genuine, if you can’t forget
it.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Do not placard news of my bereaved person or
their picture on any social platform without my consent in the frivolities of a best
friend, main man, brother, sister, dancing partner…etc. – it is not your news
to share and if you’re so close to my person as you claim, social media
wouldn’t be your first stop. You’ll check to see how I’m doing, check if it’s
okay to share MY news. Check if the family is Okay. This I find to be an
inconsiderate act, mere selfishness, a tactless and distasteful display of
messy!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Do not try to get into my pants while I have
tears in my eyes. Where is the human in you? Who made you? No….who hurt you?
You...my friend is a beautifully wrapped piece of shit! Taking advantage of the
vulnerable is reckless.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">There is no price for the first person who’s
first to share a piece of bad news. Especially news that is not yours to share. Be human
and for once don’t make it about you. I can assure you no matter how much of a
loss you feel, it is nothing compared to the loss the family feels. So be
respectful.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Your world will stop. Your sun will refuse to
shine. You will be extremely vulnerable. You will cry in uncommon places. You
will ask questions. You will get no answers. Life will become meaningless. You
will cry in uncommon places. You will become depressed. You will cry as a
family until you start crying individually in the hopes that this will speed the
healing process. It won’t. And this is a very small portion of grieving.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">‘’How are you’’ – Oh I’m fantastic, can’t you
see…I’m high on life right now…!!! Just don’t do it. Thinking of you, you and
your family are in my thoughts and prayers - is a better way of conveying your
message.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">I’m okay – this will become your coping
mechanism because explaining yourself gets redundant and exhausting but more so
because you have no label for the emotions locked up inside of you. Emotions
that you get no control over, emotions that get released with or without your
permission.</span></div>
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</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Bad things happen to good people. Shit happens.
Life happens. You can do things by the books and stay within the script but that is still not
a blanket from life’s hailstones.No one is exempted from its hit!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">It is never a competition ‘’oh I lost my great
grandfather and my cat too on holiday a few weeks ago.’’ or ‘’ my friend’s sister
died too’’ Really? Are we comparing deaths and tragedies now? I can gladly do
without the tragic loss of my younger sister and your attempt at ‘’Misery loves
company’’ is terrible and the timing is off. And it is not helping.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">You cannot teach people how to grieve for you
and with you. People handle grief in different ways. They might seem to go on
with life as normal but you’re not there when the shutters are down. You cannot
command people to grieve with you on your terms. You cannot command people to
grief for on-demand. No one owes you their grief and certainly not their
sadness. Let’s all grow up.</span></div>
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</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Moving on is not a betrayal to your deceased person.
In between your grief, you will find moments when you can smile or even share a
laugh. You will learn to live again, without them. Life can be a tough gig.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">What I have learnt so far is the importance of holding on to
the love and the memories shared while they were alive. The pictures, the voice
notes, the videos or their favourite phases.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwHsg-3JfuJJDnJ3-km2hWkT-l5h3aYkvZTxoXJ9zYeOIyQJ4pcwtFmbZNBjDnt_LPzSbvIlvh5Jslqegd9-TtoDAM0K8A2xWQ-N0W-MzZiWRUOOQBo9_Gh7F96IoEFoj1KeOwy7MPeS5/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwHsg-3JfuJJDnJ3-km2hWkT-l5h3aYkvZTxoXJ9zYeOIyQJ4pcwtFmbZNBjDnt_LPzSbvIlvh5Jslqegd9-TtoDAM0K8A2xWQ-N0W-MzZiWRUOOQBo9_Gh7F96IoEFoj1KeOwy7MPeS5/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Never be Too Grown to <br />Make Beautiful Memories</b></i></td></tr>
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<br /><br /><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">It is important to understand that some things cannot be
fixed, made whole again or mended…..once broken. Some pain cannot be cheered
out of or shaken off.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">You can never explain it enough, no matter how articulate you
are. Some things, like grief, can only be carried –</span></div>
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<br /><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">You have to go through it to get to that space of
acceptance.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">But whatever you do, do not allow Grief to hold you hostage.
Because it easily can.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">And that is just the tip of an iceberg of what the loss of a
loved one feels like.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Your pain is valid and the lessons…they stay!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCw1x0KDnGpyOhh48YYh_qGbmKwtq6sD5XGLD0-9PiqCLtanX85WzwvXUzf8tILFJpfMVvzaYM2I0g5akrC7t0LQFYdC57TciOmFW9LWyS4nldBmiW0UN7spuTR_G-Qq2T7RD60jmachA/s1600/27.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="961" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCw1x0KDnGpyOhh48YYh_qGbmKwtq6sD5XGLD0-9PiqCLtanX85WzwvXUzf8tILFJpfMVvzaYM2I0g5akrC7t0LQFYdC57TciOmFW9LWyS4nldBmiW0UN7spuTR_G-Qq2T7RD60jmachA/s640/27.08.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Grief Can Only Be Carried</b></i></td></tr>
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<br />Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-82269830666063876552019-06-18T22:48:00.000+01:002019-06-18T23:29:41.958+01:00The Greatest Lie She’s Ever Had to Tell...<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How did she even get here?!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcMyQ4TAgg3BRI9qZLZp4-9Cpb-X4JlW8udBKfk2cn4NZKOENYiEh7NXVT_rHeOpo70kRvvmQRXyiIiDMjn7vWEGYGyPwUejGF3KOw4hCJTCNEwhfUki1NPBbS4DbnwUXE_mNY7AkU1n7/s1600/thumbnail_exif_temp_image+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="961" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcMyQ4TAgg3BRI9qZLZp4-9Cpb-X4JlW8udBKfk2cn4NZKOENYiEh7NXVT_rHeOpo70kRvvmQRXyiIiDMjn7vWEGYGyPwUejGF3KOw4hCJTCNEwhfUki1NPBbS4DbnwUXE_mNY7AkU1n7/s400/thumbnail_exif_temp_image+%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The first of January 2019 – The night that changed everything.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nights were filled with clouds of sadness and air of
despair.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No sleep!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She loathed sadness but these days, sadness seemed to be the only emotion that keeps lurking.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The days were long and agonising. Filled with fears and uncontrollable tears.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fear? This was uncommon ground for her and this left her
uneasy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Slowly and slowly, in her brokenness, she succumbed. She
embraced all of what pain and sadness had to offer as she learnt that this was
not going away anytime soon.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life took all her options away and Life changed in a twinkle of an eye.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She was offered lemons in exchange for her cherries. They
say when life gives you lemons make lemonade but her lemonade was undrinkable,
indigestible and rancorous.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Waking up was a task, talking about it brings floods of tears
and life itself became a very dark room.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Curtains closed, all curled up in a foetal position, her
mouth trembled trying to string a prayer together as the constant beeping of
the iPhone becomes an irritable sound she lives to despise. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She had questions. She had many unanswered questions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why her, why now, why hers and simply why. She dwelled and
dwelled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She drank subconsciously from a cocktail of emotions and
feelings that she didn’t know how to manage. Because of that, they got the
better of her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything was a trigger. A happy family, her favourite
food, stop crying, a prayer, her bedroom, her racks of collectible trainers, it’ll
get better, happy siblings…every single thing became a trigger.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She wasn’t bitter, she wasn’t jealous…she was just in pain.
A pain that she couldn’t feel but she must endure. A pain that had no antidote
but she must endure. A pain that that comes in flood in the mornings, when she’s
in the middle of something or when she was doing the most mundane tasks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She was a woman in pain. A pain you can’t possibly explain
to another. A pain that requires courage and tenacity but sends hard blows and no matter how much the next person
was feeling for you, they can’t take an ounce of it away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1kpglo_DOD7cwZ0ifVOrGiUxLMr11dwabx2dcg26b_tmPcGj3fRaSLuyoeOx8s1EPKD-obu9dsqzwA9EvM9magKZ0pCcx2GRlk15cdY8K-zuezkyu0Onc2dNWQm_wj6A3hMS6WIIsIQR/s1600/thumbnail_IMG_4201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="960" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1kpglo_DOD7cwZ0ifVOrGiUxLMr11dwabx2dcg26b_tmPcGj3fRaSLuyoeOx8s1EPKD-obu9dsqzwA9EvM9magKZ0pCcx2GRlk15cdY8K-zuezkyu0Onc2dNWQm_wj6A3hMS6WIIsIQR/s400/thumbnail_IMG_4201.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holding on to Memories...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A pain that she must endure. But first, it consumed her. Her
whole being. Her life!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She felt trapped and annihilated. Helpless! Simple tasks
required insurmountable strength.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And when she was asked how you are.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She mustered up strength from where she didn’t know it
existed. She wiped her tears. Bandaged her wounds and put on the mask. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And with a deceitful tongue and a plastic smile.<o:p></o:p></div>
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With a redundant and aptly disguised expression.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And a heavy shoulder and a burdened soul.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Locked in with sad eyes and a well-rehearsed lie,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her lips curve in unison.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As she sinfully says it one more time, like every other time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘‘I’m Okay’’<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>I’m Okay </i></b>was the greatest lie she’s ever had to tell.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And still telling…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was an easy escape….still is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Its fobs people off and it’s easier to explain.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is dismissive and it fends off a helping hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It stops the questions and eases the triggers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It prevented her from talking about her loss and actual
state of being.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It prevented strangers from preying in her untouched
territory. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Grounds that she has yet to explore.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m Okay</i></b> tucks her reality neatly away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was her coping mechanism.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Less preying questions to awaken a hurtful reality. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or discuss something she was fighting so hard to not deal
with.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a very strong fence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>I’m Okay...</i></b> was her
greatest lie. An uncomfortable place to hide.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It used to be a familiar place and a place she once used to
live. But that time, she was Okay and that was her reality. Now… not so much.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this present time in her life, this very moment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the greatest lie she has to tell.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As inquiring minds press on and ask ‘’Are you sure’’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She will steadfastly repeat…<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘’I’m Okay’’</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPQhy6UxTLsguHI0UyY3mmWrMfxYklY-kxJq0gPlgapJh_NNnrXo8gXDblbUKJLb_y8Zr4tKxboJIj91IgHfTU3116iZVNPNtk_e0p0l2S78vWZGmX8AlqdPf55HUJSXmaqvVpirCd-qj/s1600/thumbnail_exif_temp_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPQhy6UxTLsguHI0UyY3mmWrMfxYklY-kxJq0gPlgapJh_NNnrXo8gXDblbUKJLb_y8Zr4tKxboJIj91IgHfTU3116iZVNPNtk_e0p0l2S78vWZGmX8AlqdPf55HUJSXmaqvVpirCd-qj/s400/thumbnail_exif_temp_image.jpg" width="346" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Void...The Void!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In her numbness, she realised that happiness can be faked but
Joy is internal and that she was lacking. She learnt that joy can never be
attained when the soul is not at rest. It can never be experienced when there
is a void within. The void was now occupied with this pain she can’t explain.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But she can fake her happy so she continued to do just that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All this while, she was breaking inside. She was a broken
woman screaming for the pain to go. Praying for someone to wake her up from her
nightmare. Hoping for the pain to go away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That pain built a home in her chest and stole her life. The
same pain pulled her apart in tiny different pieces and tested everything she
believed in.….prayers, family, friends!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That pain was hell-bent on destroying her and combined with
her greatest lie well encompassed, she became a mighty fine candidate for
destruction.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When everything inside her will be screaming, her pain
demanded to be felt. It was going nowhere and demanded to be dealt with but she
was too weak with not a fight left in her. She bandaged some more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She became numb and realised that this pain was here to
stay. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And in this fragile moment, she leant her greatest lesson.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pain demands to be felt in all its intensity and frequency. It demands to be endured. Pain is
here to teach us and it will not go until we’ve learnt. Even after we have
taken the lesson, the pain lingers. With another chance in life, we live and learn
to smile through the storm even with tears in our eyes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s so easy to say <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m okay</i></b> but that does nothing for
the healing we so indirectly seek. The fake smile coupled with all the
disguises make a great concoction of foolery but in the grand scheme of things,
we are just prolonging our pains, telling people what they want to hear while
we have a thunder boiling inside and a volcano waiting to explode.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A melting pot of emotional disaster she became …in a twinkle of an eye.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How quickly life changes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She was tired. And just wanted to come up for a breath of
fresh air.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To her, it wasn’t just a lie. It was more than an untruthful
confession.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was her affirmation to herself that one day, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Without knowing how, when and where…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One day she was going to be ok.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay with this pain.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that greatest lie will cease to be her greatest lie.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her greatest lie will go on to become her truth!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A truth she has fought so hard for.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A truth she worked so hard to uncover and reveal in a shiny
unveiling.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A truth that will become her very own truth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m okay, I’m not where I hoped to be…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m just okay.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And with every passing day, she grew to be okay in her own
Okay!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To make peace with things that were out of her control and
focus on the choices life now offers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And for now, that was enough.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the most intriguing question lingered…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Will she ever be truly OKAY again?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chaos in Her...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes the chaos in her still wonders.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-64228140637229580292018-10-22T23:41:00.000+01:002018-10-22T23:41:39.932+01:00What Africa never prepared me for…As I journeyed to the United Kingdom!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Well, quite a lot actually.<br />
<br />
Thinking about it.<br />
<br />
Natin, absolutely natin!<br />
<br />
Sierra Leone didn't give me the memo to anything London related.<br />
<br />
This was a new life. This was adaption 2.0<br />
<br />
I was in limbo!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Upon arrival, I was lost. </div>
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Sierra Leone was home, still home and my reality.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That was quickly altered or should I say edited.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Landed in the United Kingdom in the dead of winter and as that winter blizzard slapped me across the face, I promised myself that Sierra Leone will forever remain my reality –<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>My unedited reality.</i></div>
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<i><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8H2t0lvAV-Wrzoc88dtmU8omMayOGg5k2AmpwvUyL3rHLU278YT4DHl-NyzDMnAx8-nQu19SrdxwjLIT9K98kuvdD2Uu-fr_G3pKyrLDHpVzfqkkcv2JGMguXlZliJ2Fxw1L2WRbCDkZ/s1600/exif_temp_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8H2t0lvAV-Wrzoc88dtmU8omMayOGg5k2AmpwvUyL3rHLU278YT4DHl-NyzDMnAx8-nQu19SrdxwjLIT9K98kuvdD2Uu-fr_G3pKyrLDHpVzfqkkcv2JGMguXlZliJ2Fxw1L2WRbCDkZ/s400/exif_temp_image.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></i></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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I was a teenager, uprooted from everything I know. Separated from my friends and culture. Divided from everything I have ever known. Detached from my roots and planted into the unknown.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I had no choice but to blossom in the uncertainty in the midst of my formative years.</div>
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The great news was, I was joining my parents which makes the transition a bittersweet ordeal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And it began…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Aeroplane ride was a delight. Loved the ride. I love heights and adventure so that experience which I have only before seen on telly is coming alive for me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was over the moon. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Can you blame an African child who’s never crossed the river? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Does the war count? Well even that I fled by car to Guinea with my brother, few cousins and grandmother, and aeroplane to The Gambia – the experience was non-existent in my memory, partly because I was young and partly due to all the chaos that surrounded it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We landed safely in the United Kingdom. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Welled up with a mixture of fear, anxiety and joy, I didn't know what to expect.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My first real fear was the escalator…who made these moving monsters of a stair I thought to myself. Why so high and mighty…I am talking about the never-ending escalators at Gatwick. </div>
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That’s no beginners’ affair. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was terrified. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My younger teenage brother was more adventurous and before I could wink, he hopped on the escalator and shouted in the most exhilarating and ecstatic voice in our local parlance <o:p></o:p></div>
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‘’Na return ah day return, na ya me day. You na kam you kam’’<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOcuNv9B3NQBd5kkJFa7tpNJDbfdP7i2TFMZ2sbvAJpxmWpFSHOA4LT2gulqGNQr4IA-zzQ5I52moPXqB2GsRO867aQx8KZtpiCAtPXFN6S-ZWH43rEcWEyrOgcV7g7BMSEXr-R3KQwZs/s1600/d565c574-4faf-4e5e-a22c-454f2878463c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOcuNv9B3NQBd5kkJFa7tpNJDbfdP7i2TFMZ2sbvAJpxmWpFSHOA4LT2gulqGNQr4IA-zzQ5I52moPXqB2GsRO867aQx8KZtpiCAtPXFN6S-ZWH43rEcWEyrOgcV7g7BMSEXr-R3KQwZs/s400/d565c574-4faf-4e5e-a22c-454f2878463c.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pekin Noto Yase!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Wow…my first wave of embarrassment in London. This kid was unbelievable and utterly unfiltered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This loud outburst commanded a few weird looks from strangers and onlookers but bless him. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The innocence of a child is bliss!<o:p></o:p></div>
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After his innocent outburst, I couldn’t help but laugh as I adjusted my shoes which now couldn’t fit because I had on my brother’s socks used as a double as my toes were numb and nipples hard as a softball.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I wasn’t doing too well with this transition thing. Don’t think I’ve ever fully adjusted, even as I type this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My brother, of course, landed safely at the other end of the escalator and was waving with so much pride and sense of achievement. I gave him a smile I mustered with all my strength amidst my fear at this point of never making it to the top of the escalator.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bo na so London tan? Take me back bo. Ah beg, I’m sorry!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was finally assisted by one of the guards at the airport…i made it people, I said I made it! <o:p></o:p><br />
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From my easy going life of simplicities and strings of Hakuna Matata to a swirl of what seemed like the Hunger Games.</div>
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Well damn!</div>
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No one told me London was going to be a series of hurdles for me to overcome. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Let’s face it if you have seen me in person I look like I can be blown away by the wind. I can barely walk in a straight line….I was never the sporty type!<o:p></o:p></div>
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And London was like…I got you! Ha!<o:p></o:p></div>
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At this very moment, my thoughts were…Doris, you’ve run out of options. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was doomed! I could cry…<o:p></o:p></div>
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My mum and I locked eye.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When she saw me at first glance she screamed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Not out of fear but disbelief as I looked so …so out of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I tell ya, I was losing it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And it’s only been a couple of hours. Sierra Leone was sounding like a mighty fine option for me at this point.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Take me back...I thought to myself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My mother grabbed me and took me into the bathroom, polished me and I came out looking like a fresh African Londoner. I even smelled like them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This business was automatic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I looked at myself in the mirror and I murmured …Presentable...I nodded to myself as I make my way out of the bathroom.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As we left the airport and happily skipped towards the carpark, I saw a gust of smoke escaped my mouth as I exhaled. I stopped talking and it escaped through my nostrils. I opened my mouth again, a bigger gust of cloud escaped. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This was no Cool Runnings but my oh my…it might as well be!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I had to ask. Why am I breathing smoke, to which my dad replied with the most annoying smirk, condensation but welcome to LONDON!<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was all a bit too much. What is this situation, I pondered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Was it a cloud, steam, fog, vapour, frozen air?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was looking like a winter dragon right about now. Huffing and puffing nuff cold steam.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I thought to myself, humans live in this condition. I had too many questions and was too embarrassed to ask. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I kept them in. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As we embarked on the long drive home from Gatwick airport, I noticed all the shades of greys. It was quiet, dark and gloomy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And cold!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The roads were wider than my usual and cars smaller than my usual. The streets felt abandoned and only littered with car horns and blinding fog lights.<o:p></o:p></div>
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No humans. Just humans in cars. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I wasn’t ready. Na graveyard?<o:p></o:p></div>
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At this point I was thinking who have I offended in this life for me to deserve this? <o:p></o:p></div>
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The houses were like those in my storybook my parents used to send back home, but less colourful - all like miniature sized homes with similar characteristics.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Why are the houses so small? – I thought this was London, I thought hard to myself. Everything was supposed to be big and extravagant. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Bigger and better…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Well that was my perception anyway until my rude awakening.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was baffled! I was swimming in trance…<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was wrong and looking at the sizes of the cars on the carefully paved roads - I knew I was in for the shock of my life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Please take me back! That unpaved road back in my country was all I could think of. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes to koto koto road.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I can endure that. Take me back!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Back at the house, my mum had a rich and delicious spread of the most British palate, including fruits I’ve never seen and certainly didn’t know how to pronounce…whatever in the world was pomegranate? Why does it sound like a disease but looked like an oversized onion? (My hunger was screaming cassava leaves. It was a struggle)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Looking around my parents’ tiny abode, it was filled with so much love and joy. I suddenly realised we have been missing this for some time now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My dad had the widest smile, my cousins intrigued and curious with a nervous anxiety, my grandmother elated, my sister silent in disbelief and I can just tell she was thinking ‘’why do I have to share space now with these two freshies, or maybe she was just pondering on her single child status being taken away…maybe just maybe she was equally intrigued and filled with questions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She was both in shock and in silence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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From 32 degrees plus to minus 0 <o:p></o:p></div>
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This cannot be real. <o:p></o:p><br />
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the only thing is....this was real, a bit too real for my liking.</div>
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I didn’t have nuts but they were definitely frozen by now!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Story continues...</div>
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<o:p>This is just the beginning.</o:p></div>
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Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-75433274104309538922017-06-16T15:29:00.000+01:002017-06-16T15:29:57.691+01:00''If You Want To Be Interesting, Be Interested''<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I see the complaints. The forests
and the shades. I read the hints and I sense the hurt. I hear the grunts and
the moans. You’re fed up that your charm isn’t pulling the world towards you as
it ought to. You’re doing all this because the world isn’t gravitating towards you
as you think it should.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Ha!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">But Guess what? Nothing works
until you start to work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Nothing will change until
you start to make moves.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Nothing …absolutely
nothing will change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">People out here do not owe
you anything and neither does the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">You owe everything to yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3PDP5YYGF_aO8wTdgWDxbVjIcmO2B_cSUseDTtzabNhqnJXVD8hgkt_g4Ax729vCnl7MguC99hub1MaLVRZQaV88-87mWymIC1g9nXC6Qesk7MQgdpJMtPzoBXzgZj4t1RiHi-elim1Y/s1600/7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3PDP5YYGF_aO8wTdgWDxbVjIcmO2B_cSUseDTtzabNhqnJXVD8hgkt_g4Ax729vCnl7MguC99hub1MaLVRZQaV88-87mWymIC1g9nXC6Qesk7MQgdpJMtPzoBXzgZj4t1RiHi-elim1Y/s320/7.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Can I get real …real with
you real quick?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Grow up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One of my favourite quotes
from Dale Carnegie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">‘‘If You Want To Be interesting,</span></i></b></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> Be Interested!’’</span></i></b></span></h3>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">There is nothing you’re
doing that is so special that haven’t been done yet. There is nothing about you
that will pull and gravitate the whole world towards if you’re not pulling your
weight. You have to put in the work. Every single day. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">You have to make a
conscious effort to show up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Yes you’re special but
honey…not that special.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Why would I leave someone
who shows a genuine interest in me for someone who rests on their laurels and expect
everything to come to them? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Why? Just why?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Let’s take this social
media for example. You rant and rant that no one is liking your stuff or
showing interest in your work. You throw tantrums that people pay you no
attention. You throw a hissy fit for all the things you think people are doing
wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">But what are you doing wrong?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">But let me give you a
mirror real quick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Do you pay people
attention at all? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">How’s your level of tolerance
and height of humility?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Do you go out of your way
to give people a listening ear? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Are you always slamming
and shaming people?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">What do you normally talk
about- just yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">How loud is your
negativity?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Do you show interest in
other people at all and their work?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">How’s your level of
activity?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Do you have an open mind or
is it your way or the high way?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Do you lift people up?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Gd6x-vFkTDekWh5SJTH5hqsFNijRw9Fodzk3X7xaLfIcuaHc5ic50DDiF5847bWmwndEEoJJvmeGnmpgsRWfGRhVDh03ikfG3Gt5sgETCyAzsghvLfZspm3A5vgRpVy9ATOuikbO9PSU/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Gd6x-vFkTDekWh5SJTH5hqsFNijRw9Fodzk3X7xaLfIcuaHc5ic50DDiF5847bWmwndEEoJJvmeGnmpgsRWfGRhVDh03ikfG3Gt5sgETCyAzsghvLfZspm3A5vgRpVy9ATOuikbO9PSU/s320/2.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">If you have no time for people, they have no time for you either.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I have seen people take
over timelines with the utmost arrogance and an inconsiderate flare of tactlessness
when they have something new that they need people to pay attention to. They expect
people to drop everything they’re doing and support them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">You post a picture and
expects the whole world to be shook. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Why sir? Why ma’am?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Do you take time to visit
other profiles and show interest? Like a picture or two, throw a comment or
two?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">See, you flooding my
timeline or sending numerous messages asking for attention will never gain you a
genuine and long lasting support. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Such confidence is illegal
my friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbY4_5JcO7FKYfRzls7DQD6s3m8cNGXduvavslRggPsSat3qSzmojyjZ-GjG5V_JnjvUYP-TQkEUC2jVIjtO_ZWlw2OD4GgpPuMwv4mVIcqpSdR7s1uKM8lx_BpX6TPmxCoPwcvV_JejF/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbY4_5JcO7FKYfRzls7DQD6s3m8cNGXduvavslRggPsSat3qSzmojyjZ-GjG5V_JnjvUYP-TQkEUC2jVIjtO_ZWlw2OD4GgpPuMwv4mVIcqpSdR7s1uKM8lx_BpX6TPmxCoPwcvV_JejF/s320/4.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">You cannot force people to
be interested in you, you have to earn it. You have to show them that you’re
worth their time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Where were you when they
needed a like to round it up to a nice 11? Where were you when they needed a
share, a pair of reading eyes or a comment? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">If you want to be interesting,
there’s only one way out…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Focus on being interested
rather than being interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">In life, it’s not always about
you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPo5uuDiKRmb4Htwn7Whm76HGwT_FTfvB2fvi9EZ9QAjkUMFgAOr4uYhphM2N3yHpRLe6IyWvNpKM9aTqfLfOHgPc38GxD3yqWxrbbnihGeCbg-_EeXseTY4FJfvA9cj4crAEcu2DrVWE/s1600/0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPo5uuDiKRmb4Htwn7Whm76HGwT_FTfvB2fvi9EZ9QAjkUMFgAOr4uYhphM2N3yHpRLe6IyWvNpKM9aTqfLfOHgPc38GxD3yqWxrbbnihGeCbg-_EeXseTY4FJfvA9cj4crAEcu2DrVWE/s400/0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Pay attention to people. Listen.
Read. Comment. Ask genuine questions and participate. Go out of your comfort
zone and have an open mind. Wake up early. Show up. Make an effort. Dare to understand.
Be present. Aim to be interesting. Congratulate people. Celebrate others. Check
on them. Be curious. Follow up. Find a common ground. Be committed. Care. Show concern.
Talk. Network and be sociable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIMgL6cMtUzSwX4xU9FO5_3KbzkIpDKQ1x7Q_hagEtSXd92XcomNKO7fTckBuGuxZdR2jI9_nABW9I1FyRrHF6y3BgsRkeOTV7Qd-q0IQHvdHp1yxVVIM1rXZzm2S2dhZo-A0llVdGZ9j/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="228" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIMgL6cMtUzSwX4xU9FO5_3KbzkIpDKQ1x7Q_hagEtSXd92XcomNKO7fTckBuGuxZdR2jI9_nABW9I1FyRrHF6y3BgsRkeOTV7Qd-q0IQHvdHp1yxVVIM1rXZzm2S2dhZo-A0llVdGZ9j/s320/8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Successful business people
know their audiences and they understand the importance of winning loyalties. Put
more energy into understanding people and building relationships before
polluting them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">No one likes the guy that
pollutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">This applies to everything
in life, in you relationships, academic institutes, family, social life and
daily life – be interested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">You cannot influence
people you haven’t taken the time to know. It’s almost impossible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">If you pay attention,
everyone is interesting. It is a common and shallow mistake to think you’re the
most interesting person in the room when you haven’t heard the stories of
others. You want others to always be stroking your ego and showing up for you
but you make zero effort towards them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">C’mon now…That’s boring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzQyvvpZcfOhK6MU3TznjFRF29-POiDA-aS4AzRIVE_qYdmOwxMsf4SurOQ0z4G7olkiJktvWkhHxOy_iuEPnYTbm4N_-yFIs97uRnV-WKNljrnY7KpnxBRcz0WtaXQGAU23czToT8Y4d/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzQyvvpZcfOhK6MU3TznjFRF29-POiDA-aS4AzRIVE_qYdmOwxMsf4SurOQ0z4G7olkiJktvWkhHxOy_iuEPnYTbm4N_-yFIs97uRnV-WKNljrnY7KpnxBRcz0WtaXQGAU23czToT8Y4d/s320/6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">You cannot be giving people
30% and expect 110% in return. Who are you again?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">You don’t make the effort
to congratulate others but you like to be celebrated. You do not accept others but
you want to be accepted. You’re not respectful and considerate of others but
you want to be respected. You don’t support others but like to be supported. You
don’t talk to people but you want them to ask you questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Hmmm how’s that working
for you?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Look here…no one is scared
of you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Whatever you put out…you
get in folds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOV-ZXylMY4hmqyT5gwZElsLeRY_kRGuSjufz0dsTYGV887FDckIN-bHvzb6qBnqlK7uNm_HqEdvV47MevOMT8yjfO04z8EP_a9ngHBQr0zCddVbPyCdb0kBcrqkQRSg-BuXUIbQXofg3_/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="638" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOV-ZXylMY4hmqyT5gwZElsLeRY_kRGuSjufz0dsTYGV887FDckIN-bHvzb6qBnqlK7uNm_HqEdvV47MevOMT8yjfO04z8EP_a9ngHBQr0zCddVbPyCdb0kBcrqkQRSg-BuXUIbQXofg3_/s320/11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Be genuinely interested in
others, make meaningful contribution and give quality time to others - watch
how you’ll become an interesting personality- a person worth knowing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Life is not always about
you…step out of your comfort zone and burst out of your bubble. You’ll be
surprised at what you will find.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Get out of your own way – don’t
be the reason you struggle in this life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Be voraciously interested
in life and people…you’ll in no time be the person everyone wants to know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">It’s a skill, acquire it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We never stop learning...right?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Till then<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Xoxo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-48211397635122408662017-04-19T23:03:00.001+01:002017-04-19T23:03:17.618+01:00The Almost Lover<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Be mindful of the almost lover!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJZVL0TJt1fJBqoCatTr3c0WOZNw2MOnBj8sjGAZ8BAAaz3pP3IbRjA5N63SFiZUj7sq7nCyed55nualtxyP6FptFXp6dcf8DgpnV4wilKK2GnL0qkG5xi-uI0hLSMurxvPTsZxnjQtDI/s1600/20170419_222425.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJZVL0TJt1fJBqoCatTr3c0WOZNw2MOnBj8sjGAZ8BAAaz3pP3IbRjA5N63SFiZUj7sq7nCyed55nualtxyP6FptFXp6dcf8DgpnV4wilKK2GnL0qkG5xi-uI0hLSMurxvPTsZxnjQtDI/s400/20170419_222425.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He will put a smile on your face because he knows all your favourite things. He will come into your life, read the rules so he can break them and you won’t even know it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He will give you uncontrollable laughter and moments that will have you smiling in public like a Cheshire cat and in your silent moments like a village idiot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">But he’s just an almost lover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He is a dream, the dream. But do not forget nightmares are dreams too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He will say the right things but listen carefully because he will make no promises. His language will be casual just like what he is offering. He will be fluent in almosts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He will be around but never around, pay attention. He will do the right things but just enough for him to keep you around. He likes having you around but never in. He thrives in almosts and his whole vibe is poison. That type our grandmothers warned us against and our mothers prayed against.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He will do just what will have you thinking you have a good one. Sister, you have nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He will get you twisted into giving your all while he gets away with giving back so little. He will be committed but he can never claim you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He enjoys the benefits of a relationship but doesn’t want to be in one. He will play house and play the part well. He is the busy guy that is full of excuses but when he is around, he is full of cloud nine feels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He thinks he is God’s gift to humanity and will make you feel like you’re lucky to have him. He will set the boundaries and he will make the rules. He will want you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">But just because he wants you doesn’t mean he values you. At least not enough to call you his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6KdzYafP-8yBhWOsnhMz3haqc-daRHaHX-ImwmVh25HCMmuRFlpidvu1iXEnfIJQHAWmIXX3NPx1z3XIKwpF09UhwqRZ1PZhze01lplOzsVUwvVjHinWA8b8n76cCwfWUmNXFgMdpWEg/s1600/20170419_222823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6KdzYafP-8yBhWOsnhMz3haqc-daRHaHX-ImwmVh25HCMmuRFlpidvu1iXEnfIJQHAWmIXX3NPx1z3XIKwpF09UhwqRZ1PZhze01lplOzsVUwvVjHinWA8b8n76cCwfWUmNXFgMdpWEg/s400/20170419_222823.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>At least not enough...</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He is the innocent looking guy, the devil in a blue suit, he is the disguise and the exact shade of wrong. He knows God and will have you thinking all sorts. He is a bag of illusion and a seller of dreams. He is Mr tall dark and handsome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He will be everything you’ve ever wished for. He is capable of loving but he will not love you...he is just an almost lover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He will show you that he cares but never enough to show that he loves you. He is crafty and clever, he will say so little with so much and your mind will play tricks on you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">And when you think you’re about to hit the next level, he subtly reminds you of the boundaries of what you are and what you’re not without saying a word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The almost lover is not deceitful and tell no lies, he plays with your emotions and toys with your mind. He gives feels and leaves you in a shitload of assumptions. He is the type to tell you the grass is pink and you won’t even question it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">See… he tells you and you believe because common sense is gone. The ability to question what he offers and what he says is missing. Because he sold you a dream and you were a willing buyer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">We all know the grass is not pink and will never be pink…but you believed. He is not the problem. You are the problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He is just an almost lover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Again, he makes the rules and lays the boundaries. He will act the part but never be the actual. He is Mr almost, the actor who specialises in confusion. If you let him, he’ll leave you confused and discombobulated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Don’t fall for it. Run!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">And if you have to ask him what are we...you’re actually nothing. Don’t wait around for him to decide if he wants you in his life or not. Don’t hang on to every crumb he’s feeding at the dinner table...get up from the table when you have that gut feeling that love is no longer in the menu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Don’t allow fear to hold you back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You might want to be angry and annoyed and disgusted with Mr almost lover but you shouldn’t be. He is not the problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>You Allowed Him...You weren't naive,<br />He was just good at what he does.</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I am going to be really harsh and say be angry and annoyed with yourself. You allowed him. You let him into your life. He overstayed. Took what he shouldn’t be taking and claimed things he wasn’t entitled to. You let him stay for so long. You let him break pieces in your house. You allowed him in and bought all the dreams that he sold so well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">See, he is a seller and will sell to any willing buyer. Unfortunately, you were one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You weren’t naïve. He was just good at what he does which is being Mr Almost Lover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He is the almost lover but you allowed him to be Mr almost lover in YOUR life. Everything he got away with, you let him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You let him…hoping Mr almost lover would change to the one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Ask questions…like heck ask them! Use your outdoor voice and demand what you want. If you’re unhappy about something, speak up. Don’t shrink yourself in the name of love. It is always better to know the truth than to swim in a lake of assumptions and dwell in a fool’s paradise pretending to be happy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He likes you, he likes you a lot and might even be missing you but not enough to call you his woman. He will never choose you and you will never be a priority in his life. When he talks about the things he loves, he will never mention you and when he speaks of his future your name doesn’t come up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">It’s not there, was never there. You can’t make someone meet you at the bridge. You can give him the best directions, you can even hold his hands there but you can’t make him stay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He is full of feels and tastes of what you can get but will never get with him. He is so honest it hurts and that was the problem. If he is honest enough to let you know what it is, why can’t you be good to yourself and honest with him and let him know how you feel instead of building a castle in a fool’s paradise?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Don’t lose yourself in the process of finding someone. You are magnificent and you are enough. You are someone’s answered prayers but the wrong focus can divert you from the right people and the right things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">If he doesn’t choose you, I want you to choose yourself and walk away. It is only the end of the world when you refuse to choose You.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You are worthy, worthy of a love that will stay. You deserve way more than Mr Almost Lover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Life is short so fill it with people that want to stay with you. People that adores you and things that make you happy. Be courageous and start again if you must but at your own pace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He is Mr Almost lover and that is his deficiency. His inability to love you wholly should never taint your crown. Or have you question yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You have a lot of love to give but don’t waste it on the wrong person. You deserve a love that will claim you, want you and choose you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You deserve a love that you don’t have to question. You deserve a love that will say yes to you each day without hesitation. A love that screams yes and not spills maybes. A love that will know what they have when they have you. That God kind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">It’s out there, do not settle for crumbs!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ2s3aWxiotmoPOU8__q7pxtpjMvo8kWp1KPNvCsvsXnlDaQdnnhwpRrVC5-JtzJZqXm3-byKaUjf9IojgwOfNbimHO91Xt-uNKdelUjxzmoM2NUB22O1OqiUqP7vSgbYrBZO-57Ylbqi/s1600/7be633287a6e4c973dffa22abf9ba75f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ2s3aWxiotmoPOU8__q7pxtpjMvo8kWp1KPNvCsvsXnlDaQdnnhwpRrVC5-JtzJZqXm3-byKaUjf9IojgwOfNbimHO91Xt-uNKdelUjxzmoM2NUB22O1OqiUqP7vSgbYrBZO-57Ylbqi/s400/7be633287a6e4c973dffa22abf9ba75f.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Till then <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">xoxo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-76180549010052685352017-03-08T18:50:00.001+00:002017-03-10T04:47:17.206+00:00She Can Be Wild And Holy<div class="MsoNormal">
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She is not yours to fix. She doesn't need fixing!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguSt_Ppm8TBBwiGLTnMpfr7oPXPpgfHCMqQItGFfXOLMys68S8CcCrklThCJEodN7eAR3DLtkZ-DlK6BnwfWPsRnanB58dYaTGn_LQardet2rkXAahjngys_nLWaLp0mHEhRwbSHbdsrM/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguSt_Ppm8TBBwiGLTnMpfr7oPXPpgfHCMqQItGFfXOLMys68S8CcCrklThCJEodN7eAR3DLtkZ-DlK6BnwfWPsRnanB58dYaTGn_LQardet2rkXAahjngys_nLWaLp0mHEhRwbSHbdsrM/s640/9.jpg" width="465" /></a></div>
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She’s a woman…truthfully so.</div>
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She’s a woman... authentically so.</div>
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She’s a woman... cosmically so.</div>
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She could be loud or quiet,</div>
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She might be skinny or fat,</div>
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She may be tall or short.</div>
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That’s the woman she is.</div>
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Embrace her – All of her</div>
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Or keep it moving!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHvXyUR2rpqiD_uRCr5uhvH2ehp4bYPZeNZtMLRDjAmAWhRVMbuK0WueTwRPnlpUS398Xo4vx5rJedI07MerQ6B9elWBkM91JHhI0Mr_5LiXG44fAkZp9TyCKtk6UmRDiH91L9Tyujfkv/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHvXyUR2rpqiD_uRCr5uhvH2ehp4bYPZeNZtMLRDjAmAWhRVMbuK0WueTwRPnlpUS398Xo4vx5rJedI07MerQ6B9elWBkM91JHhI0Mr_5LiXG44fAkZp9TyCKtk6UmRDiH91L9Tyujfkv/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We Come In All Shapes and colours and sizes</b></td></tr>
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Some days she prefers to wear her skirt short and go bra less.</div>
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But that’s the woman she is.</div>
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Some days she like her shorts short,</div>
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Her heels high and her dress tight.</div>
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Other days she likes them loose and long and colourful.</div>
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But that’s who she is!</div>
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She creates and recreates herself daily.</div>
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The things she likes change daily.</div>
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The traits she loves keep changing</div>
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She evolves daily</div>
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She can choose to be a mum or not,</div>
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Married or unmarried.</div>
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She is no less of a woman</div>
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And that’s the woman she is</div>
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She doesn’t have to pick sides.</div>
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She can be holy and wild.</div>
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She can be Lauryn Hill on Monday</div>
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And Sinach on Friday.</div>
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She can dab to I know who I am on Sundays</div>
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And twerk like a pro.</div>
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She can shoki to Run town</div>
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And still be the baddest prayer warrior.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhI6h24ESaEgtL-MKceVZK_4Ovx2ZVb25p_Gv5-diRWpcLRo8c6m-sQmMwvEGx-iE4ZcmQ2DlnE2V6jVGddcUDnr3cxGZav9VXRlFRCE-FyjUYtBjWg-Jhxu0_JY5N5WVEoUIAWc1osre/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhI6h24ESaEgtL-MKceVZK_4Ovx2ZVb25p_Gv5-diRWpcLRo8c6m-sQmMwvEGx-iE4ZcmQ2DlnE2V6jVGddcUDnr3cxGZav9VXRlFRCE-FyjUYtBjWg-Jhxu0_JY5N5WVEoUIAWc1osre/s640/5.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>You don't Know her dark moments...<br />how can you tell her how to be?</b></td></tr>
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She doesn’t have to choose.</div>
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She can be wild and holy</div>
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She can be both</div>
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And that’s the woman she is.</div>
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Whatever or whoever she chooses to be – that’s the woman she is.</div>
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She is not on this earth to conform to your standards.</div>
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She wasn’t born to wait on your validation.</div>
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She does not exist to massage your ego.</div>
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You do not have to understand her.</div>
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And that’s the woman she is!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HcaBJiYY1WG00tEJVyBvxCmMyeS9FFtGTSMiVuuJ1ErOP94aeXmfSu08rtSoRXevxcBggUtAwkSQPXYyEpHW7n0KZQ1px48HcshrMXRSCyLGMRDhAiBHYoBmTr0og42T_BQU1MMWnlu2/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HcaBJiYY1WG00tEJVyBvxCmMyeS9FFtGTSMiVuuJ1ErOP94aeXmfSu08rtSoRXevxcBggUtAwkSQPXYyEpHW7n0KZQ1px48HcshrMXRSCyLGMRDhAiBHYoBmTr0og42T_BQU1MMWnlu2/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>She Doesn't Need Your Stamp Of Validation</b></td></tr>
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She cries. Laughs. Endures.</div>
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Says ‘’I’m Okay’’ even when she’s not.</div>
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She sacrifices. Fails. Triumphs.</div>
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She lives on…</div>
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And you want to tell her how to be?!</div>
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You don’t carry that much authority.</div>
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It’s her life, her body and her struggles.</div>
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Leave her be the woman she is!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxyDexNz6yimU3QkpebsUBP0g83-yjhpY91M46bgy0Ic5Pr1AqOLBd_IBnUM4FAaW7JcDGbj4q9Q67JHYCrZ44Ngti8U7HITlHtOKBgjUsfc2zB6r8-M28Vm4xrYa4iUcw8jOtiEhGmeq/s1600/m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxyDexNz6yimU3QkpebsUBP0g83-yjhpY91M46bgy0Ic5Pr1AqOLBd_IBnUM4FAaW7JcDGbj4q9Q67JHYCrZ44Ngti8U7HITlHtOKBgjUsfc2zB6r8-M28Vm4xrYa4iUcw8jOtiEhGmeq/s400/m.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>She Laughs...</b></td></tr>
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She can be a fierce 9-5</div>
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Or she can be the whole damn 24hours.</div>
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She can be the raging farmer</div>
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She can be the dynamic mother</div>
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She can be a beast in the boardroom</div>
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She can be the quiet storm</div>
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She can be!</div>
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For that’s the woman she is!</div>
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Some days she prefers the longest weave.</div>
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Other days she loves to rock her natural hair.</div>
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Some days she chooses to go colourful</div>
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Other days she wants to wrap it all up – majestically.</div>
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One day she might just choose to apply a whole tub of perming cream on her crown.</div>
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But that’s the woman she is</div>
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And that doesn’t make her no less of her woman.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbylJollY0MofcwKOQHkcA0CJ7EKkPZDgDYMvP-gMuUUPHAzE8vnWsecC1_SX1YpYaRhd5cexljofw_TrkobFcv3CqkQ5Q92nYYfNTy7uJJAeiqaOouwYprzEXsx4IlxsGrOPCR7Elojw/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbylJollY0MofcwKOQHkcA0CJ7EKkPZDgDYMvP-gMuUUPHAzE8vnWsecC1_SX1YpYaRhd5cexljofw_TrkobFcv3CqkQ5Q92nYYfNTy7uJJAeiqaOouwYprzEXsx4IlxsGrOPCR7Elojw/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>She Is What She Prefers...</b></td></tr>
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You don’t get to label her for all the things she is</div>
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And the things she’s not.</div>
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She can be bad and bougie</div>
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She can be wild</div>
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She can be ratchet and bougie</div>
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Heck…</div>
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She doesn’t have to choose.</div>
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She can be anything she wants!</div>
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And that’s the woman she is!</div>
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She is a warrior and a creator</div>
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She is capable</div>
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She is art and a mountain mover</div>
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She is phenomenal</div>
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She is magic and a lightbulb</div>
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She is a home.</div>
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She is authentically that woman!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZspqWWbAkjr-WENWGwayE5KU4PwRZj3ugYBk-aWt5ypnBX8rCGxsSeBbpyTPpsNNDOz2JtljnGgF-kMUz2i3POq91PTh7UJ3GyMtsFl2HydG2h2D0tOy94BGPdtETMUmg9I1s6a8GNzDS/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZspqWWbAkjr-WENWGwayE5KU4PwRZj3ugYBk-aWt5ypnBX8rCGxsSeBbpyTPpsNNDOz2JtljnGgF-kMUz2i3POq91PTh7UJ3GyMtsFl2HydG2h2D0tOy94BGPdtETMUmg9I1s6a8GNzDS/s400/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>In heels Or Trainers...she is no less of a woman!</b></td></tr>
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You don’t get to choose who she is. She decides.</div>
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Society don’t get to choose who she is. She decides.</div>
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Her peers don’t get to choose who she is. She decides.</div>
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Her parents don’t get to choose who she is. She decides.</div>
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The media don’t get to choose who she is.</div>
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She decides…</div>
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And that’s the woman she is!</div>
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She is the woman she is. And that is enough!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0BUg5f3omnAyH5eeQkWn0Vz45ldveyhiQa2yJHLfMZz6HkpwrSNMylmM1ySKC8St4hOJbfg3P_lE9wkREoOsxizylC7wedq4J9YTOPXaaS1QxxFtkjAzN3GnQ-cIFnTSj1JCedqND3H0/s1600/p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0BUg5f3omnAyH5eeQkWn0Vz45ldveyhiQa2yJHLfMZz6HkpwrSNMylmM1ySKC8St4hOJbfg3P_lE9wkREoOsxizylC7wedq4J9YTOPXaaS1QxxFtkjAzN3GnQ-cIFnTSj1JCedqND3H0/s400/p.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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International Women’s Day!</div>
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Till then</div>
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Xoxo</div>
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Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-70808675147063326592017-02-14T00:17:00.000+00:002017-02-16T07:59:57.372+00:00Love is Bigger Than Valentine's Day<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">21 ways to
spend Valentine’s Day this year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After the
joys and excitement of the New Year is the month of February. The ever so
over commercialized day lies in there, the day where the married ones are
overly expectant and the ones in relationship and waiting are even more excited
than those who are legally-bonded. And then there is the single ones…wallowing
in self-pity and thinking they’re not worthy of love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">…thanks to
our generation, the pressures of this age is killing us slowly, destroying
self-esteems and even something so pure and true as love.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYdUXvoEegUu5Ztm_tOTupPfFdlkVZl8sPSTvm4vwOB3aRaUVJvernE54E9n9U1zwHedPNC12Cb0-Xnw5o5VS77BMKSfYp0dsEmz54te6ZN_lAxzpY26MWFhLt5X7JrRuIYT8hVy2vDGv/s1600/love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYdUXvoEegUu5Ztm_tOTupPfFdlkVZl8sPSTvm4vwOB3aRaUVJvernE54E9n9U1zwHedPNC12Cb0-Xnw5o5VS77BMKSfYp0dsEmz54te6ZN_lAxzpY26MWFhLt5X7JrRuIYT8hVy2vDGv/s400/love.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Love...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s almost
too chaotic and exhausting. Love is a beautiful thing and must be celebrated
with no external pressures. If Valentine’s Day stresses you out in your
relationship then you need to re-evaluate your love life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Be so deeply
rooted that Valentine’s Day can’t even unravel you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The day is about
love no doubt but there are different types of love. Because there are
different types of love it means the day can be celebrated by everyone and in
different ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here’s my
list of ways you can feel loved, and spread love and make the day count. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just for the
record, it is not obligatory to celebrate Valentine’s Day, don’t get lost in
the sauce. You’re still dope, still special, still capable of loving and giving
love in return.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here goes…</span></div>
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1. <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Spend the day with people who have
lost their loved ones. People who have suffered a great lost in recent months –
give them hope that there is still enough love to go around.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">2. Be a morning person and catch the
sunrise…</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">be grateful for
all the new opportunities you’re presented with and make sure to catch the
sunset more importantly which is the promise of hope.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwS8YZNI0KbAn2CUEODYmKGzPOuDkigVC4bWDowyRsEpg1ZYVXxoLhCczNbvhrOTykwilWVA-9sk93Gof2U3BH0RrQScXVRPXp-yUsMlVBGN6zQYiaX1I2RS0oBwvGbekgi_yUPiehtbp0/s1600/blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwS8YZNI0KbAn2CUEODYmKGzPOuDkigVC4bWDowyRsEpg1ZYVXxoLhCczNbvhrOTykwilWVA-9sk93Gof2U3BH0RrQScXVRPXp-yUsMlVBGN6zQYiaX1I2RS0oBwvGbekgi_yUPiehtbp0/s400/blog.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Catch The Sunset</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Go on a shopping spree, visit your
favourite coffee shop or spot, eat your favourite food and spend an alone time
with yourself. You’ll learn a thing or two about yourself.</span><br />
<br />
4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Spend the day with the homeless and
less privileged. This will humble you and make you put things into perspective.
You’ll then learn that there are more important things than the pressures of being
single.</span><br />
<br />
5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Visit your grandparents. They are old
and have limited time left so why not visit with their favourite drink and come
bearing some pleasant tales of the past. All they need now is your time and
love.</span><br />
<br />
6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Go to the cinema. Yes alone. Watch
your favourite film and make sure to buy the largest popcorn and largest drink.
Add a hot dog to that with extra mustard and don’t forget to get a good seat.
Self-love.</span><br />
<br />
7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Do what you actually love, all the
things you always wanted to do but never have time for. Sew that loose hem on
your skirt. Cook your favourite meal. Write that poem and type up that article.</span><br />
<br />
8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Wake up early, dress immaculately and
participate in 10 random acts of kindness. Make someone smile. Pay someone a
compliment. Pay for someone’s coffee. Smile to strangers. Some need it more
than you think.</span><br />
<br />
9.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Stay home. Have a well-deserved lie
in. Play your favourite songs at ignorant level. Binge on that TV series you
recorded but never had the time for. Dance around in your pyjamas while you sip
your favourite drink.</span><br />
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10.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Be a tourist in your country. Go to places
you’ve never been before. Take photos of the memorable moments and enjoy the
experience of experiencing something new.</span></div>
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</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wQYAXnPx4OpxuG3Oc5oZP_TLRKIhYHJgGkyWkTKKhp2v5oF9oR01YgRBTi7X6Kmx-Z9NqETCVFYs8R9OLvfl30PMM1hAOTsOVLx-1rCAJe6xl5avVV_csPohxsyQCdUmrb4HvL0k_KqT/s1600/IMG_20151009_204833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wQYAXnPx4OpxuG3Oc5oZP_TLRKIhYHJgGkyWkTKKhp2v5oF9oR01YgRBTi7X6Kmx-Z9NqETCVFYs8R9OLvfl30PMM1hAOTsOVLx-1rCAJe6xl5avVV_csPohxsyQCdUmrb4HvL0k_KqT/s400/IMG_20151009_204833.jpg" width="395" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Be A Tourist in your own City</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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11.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Attend midweek service. Go to your local
church and just thank God for your life and reflect on all the little mercies
you’ve ignored while you were busy finding Mrs Right and Mr Valentine.</span><br />
<br />
12.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Go on a spa day and enjoy a good massage. Have
a manicure and a pedicure. Sometimes life happens and you are left with little
or no time for some self-loving. Don’t neglect your being. You live there after
all.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaYYblqfH_eKVVAy2HGaGq_r_ydqF4NbgwIWNYhzetK0tvR7F1aQHLh2a1CMu2rkvRus2EKO9YmqLbOms7UGct70atXOFD1lVXJ8BMxEm46VgOC0x1NkFKMQlYJMjLwxwO9GSsgKXvgzJ/s1600/loveq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaYYblqfH_eKVVAy2HGaGq_r_ydqF4NbgwIWNYhzetK0tvR7F1aQHLh2a1CMu2rkvRus2EKO9YmqLbOms7UGct70atXOFD1lVXJ8BMxEm46VgOC0x1NkFKMQlYJMjLwxwO9GSsgKXvgzJ/s320/loveq.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Self Love is The Greatest Middle Finger of all Time!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
13.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Pick up that novel you’ve always wanted to
read. You’ll be amazed at how many
pages you can get through when you are really enjoying a good read. These
little things are good for the soul.</span><br />
<br />
14.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Go bowling. Go ice skating. Go swimming or
hiking. Go to the zoo or the water park or amusement pack. Quad biking, horse-riding
and go-karting. In short, go on an adventure and surprise yourself.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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15.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Wake up in the morning and have a full blast
of worship. Oh I love worshiping. Put your favourite gospel on and just
worship lustily. Thank God for where you’re at and thank Him for where He is
about to take you.</span><br />
<br />
16.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Light the candles. Run the bath and have a
long soak with a glass of wine in hand and your favourite music in the
background. Lean back, close your eyes and let your mind drift to a place of
bliss and light and love.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnNn3saOzXalcw2Of7W5bYj1Nc7KMGqWWk4d848YleeCtEoVrPv0f1sPXxiDN_iAeYUq2ufhQOPdgvdJEb_11-n2ItS_MxqZdVQBBdLPKBNT_CBilHWngP1JYTOUYN5u6ky0mPrma6ZPU/s1600/bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnNn3saOzXalcw2Of7W5bYj1Nc7KMGqWWk4d848YleeCtEoVrPv0f1sPXxiDN_iAeYUq2ufhQOPdgvdJEb_11-n2ItS_MxqZdVQBBdLPKBNT_CBilHWngP1JYTOUYN5u6ky0mPrma6ZPU/s320/bath.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Have a Soak...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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17.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Pay a visit to the hospital…the kids ward.
Take a gift with you, a stuffed toy or something that will make them laugh or put
a smile on their little precious faces. They need love more than you think.</span><br />
<br />
18.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">That dress you saved for Mr Valentine, put it
on and grace the dance floor…live a little. That bottle of champagne you saved
for Mrs Right, pop it open and enjoy while you watch your favourite sport…life
is now.</span><br />
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19.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">You’ve been in the gym all year trying to get
that six pack for that chick and you a beach bum for the right man. But the day
is here and they are not here…munch on your favourite fatty food while you’re
at it understand that the right person will love you just the way you are.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4msLlAhr9Bhmn6G_XCNTdDLtumCXum3x8V2GnhP4quMCreZYmpeGoSMGxVRJ4g55kGUrVe1-oYuGk5qtOMnqEcvcFI8bU9cEbj6IyUoMhtF4dDvueNLB_S6U2NdyVXA79_b-p3NTnjyC/s1600/C360_2017-02-11-02-56-35-424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4msLlAhr9Bhmn6G_XCNTdDLtumCXum3x8V2GnhP4quMCreZYmpeGoSMGxVRJ4g55kGUrVe1-oYuGk5qtOMnqEcvcFI8bU9cEbj6IyUoMhtF4dDvueNLB_S6U2NdyVXA79_b-p3NTnjyC/s400/C360_2017-02-11-02-56-35-424.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Go On Life Adventures!<br />Live!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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20.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Disconnect from social media and reconnect
with yourself. Reflect and evaluate your life. Understand that you’re whole all
by yourself and you’re exactly where you need to be.</span><br />
<br />
21.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Say a prayer. Make sure you are praying just
as much as you are wishing for it. Make God service your delight and make Him
your foundation. Understand that in the absence of Valentine’s Day you are
still you. God’s love is unwavering and ever present.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "ar decode"; font-size: 72.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jeremiah
29:11<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t be
troubled by the pressures of this world. Be unshaken by societal pressures.
Love is love and there are different types of love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">crave and yearn for that John 3.16 love...the kind that gives hope and is unconditional. The one that is not fickle and is built on a rock solid foundation. the love that falters not and will stand through the test of time. That God kind of Love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You might be
single…so what? You’re still a dope human. Don’t be reeled by people’s
relationships…you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. You have no idea
what their relationships are built on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Social media
can get you all confused and envious or people’s lives. It can cause you to
lose focus and send you into a destructive zone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t be that
person. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Take it all with a pinch of salt and understand that social media is
nothing more than the best episodes of our lives….the not so happy ones you’ll never
see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So why be
envious of an illusion?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Be content
and happy. Trust the timing of your life and enjoy the process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was looking
for a sign once because I am a professional thinker and no one criticizes me
more than myself...and I am always looking for answers. This writing on the wall appealed to me. And i knew i had to trust God more and learn to not overthink joy out of this beautiful life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjislAFLr8hRrZOFiq0qUEbgnvSH_Ohq3BRzHVzdEf_gYMBiiWHa9jHYrxiFveJxpnLTvIHnW6WZDd5_ipXPETFjTAxZk8RSp4a383bkC6YDnZL9rBDF1zJepdV2-mffvyUsfx6aIJO1CAj/s1600/blogger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjislAFLr8hRrZOFiq0qUEbgnvSH_Ohq3BRzHVzdEf_gYMBiiWHa9jHYrxiFveJxpnLTvIHnW6WZDd5_ipXPETFjTAxZk8RSp4a383bkC6YDnZL9rBDF1zJepdV2-mffvyUsfx6aIJO1CAj/s640/blogger.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Trust The Process</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am exactly
where I need to be. That was all I needed to know. We all need assurance from
time to time. We all fail. We all have flaws. We all have bloopers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In a relationship or not, don't neglect the duty of loving yourself and don't bow to societal pressures.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My point is,
be encouraged and trust God, trust yourself more, trust your journey and trust
your destiny. What’s for you will never pass you by and you will be who you
were meant to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your purpose
on this earth might not be as you have rehearsed it in your head – meet prince
charming or Mrs Right, fall in love and get married and have beautiful kids. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We all cannot
have the same paths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not all of us
will meet the love of our lives…some of us our purpose is way greater. Embrace
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love is
bigger…way bigger than Valentine’s Day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Till then<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Xoxo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-61491966218236317452016-10-27T18:24:00.000+01:002016-10-27T18:26:37.142+01:00Defining success….on your own terms<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHWvZlooe-g4MpK0594USanBkGHCF0aaqlLyhZ4Xe3owgf3NavJMh9IgSb45kxR6kYC9SCLg2P_3qy_Bt6jyTYdBj9U7L04xF7wl4TsfMDPvijz4GILRdI2WvzPngm0A86qJOa7-fzwEg/s1600/06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHWvZlooe-g4MpK0594USanBkGHCF0aaqlLyhZ4Xe3owgf3NavJMh9IgSb45kxR6kYC9SCLg2P_3qy_Bt6jyTYdBj9U7L04xF7wl4TsfMDPvijz4GILRdI2WvzPngm0A86qJOa7-fzwEg/s400/06.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Create Your Own Wave</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Relax <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You’re doing
fine. You’re doing great and you’re going to be alright.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Its baby steps
till you get to where you’re meant to be. It’s one day at a time till you
achieve that which you set out to achieve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The definition
of success have been shoved and pushed down our throats to the point that we
think success has a universal face. No it doesn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">We’ve sized up
success to be this one size fits all garment. Wear. Just wear, it will suit
you. Perfectly. Take the universal umbrella and run with it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Save your strength
and stop!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Are you going
to allow society to define success for you?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Are you going
to be blinded by society’s standards of success?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Are you going
to be burdened and amputated by the expectations of society?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Are you going
to be lowered, reduced and dragged around by the success you see and read about
daily?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Depressed and
worried that you’re not doing enough. Sick and tired of the pace at which
you’re progressing. Beating yourself up daily because you fail to measure up to
the universal gauge of success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">So we live in
fear and depression of not measuring up to what society deems as success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">It could all
be so easy but we as humans are always looking for a map, some sort of
guidelines, life manual or a list. Stop killing yourself slowly. Were you born
with instructions? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Free your
potential.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKYe8dA6GXYe-n0Rbeqs6CB2ctwMcjyiU1CWSgbo7o9cxxjwxf1CfO1VSPMD8v7GpqGPsOE5b6VFx7N1LwB0YJIQkxLtOdT3pFRspEoNjK_MJUElTjIcoAImrrQ1hJcFRiOqMVUZXKY4F/s1600/05.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKYe8dA6GXYe-n0Rbeqs6CB2ctwMcjyiU1CWSgbo7o9cxxjwxf1CfO1VSPMD8v7GpqGPsOE5b6VFx7N1LwB0YJIQkxLtOdT3pFRspEoNjK_MJUElTjIcoAImrrQ1hJcFRiOqMVUZXKY4F/s320/05.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You must first
understand and identify what is success to you. If you don’t know then you’ll
be easily pushed around by the expectations of everyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Walk in your
own lane. Pave your own path at your own pace. Be prayerful and commit every
move into God’s hands. Be proud of your littlest accomplishments. Celebrate
every little achievement. Recognise your strength. Work on your shortcomings. Do
not champion your weaknesses. Acknowledge your efforts and when you fail do not
stop. Take a rest and try again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Never push
yourself to exhaustion. Amidst all your hard work, make sure you protect your happy.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTA0B1jLFdx_8keeeZ-hgaGlc5xBdRG7gxWS7GKfKgYHIB_ILjIU7uFEZdf2M3eDWi3d-w5TTeB_ITeJpz7lx6a2CvcG369fecbxVisOwYMaL7G12ib0mrPXBhlGX_K9meArAJ6HOG-IS/s1600/01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTA0B1jLFdx_8keeeZ-hgaGlc5xBdRG7gxWS7GKfKgYHIB_ILjIU7uFEZdf2M3eDWi3d-w5TTeB_ITeJpz7lx6a2CvcG369fecbxVisOwYMaL7G12ib0mrPXBhlGX_K9meArAJ6HOG-IS/s320/01.png" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mama has spoken...Major Key!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">If you gain
the world and it can’t even put a smile on your face then you my friend is not succeeding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">If by any
chance the only mountain you were able to move was you getting out of bed, so
be it. Some days everything will go wrong, that doesn’t mean you’re a failure.
Understand that you cannot give more than what is in you so always protect your
well-being. And at the end after you’ve given your 100 and that extra 10%,
sleep with satisfaction for you have done your best and remember your best is
always good enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You fail at a
task so what? Pick yourself up and try again. Most successes today were built on
roadblocks of failures. Today they have a story, a story that inspires.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">I encourage you
to build yours….even if it’s one that everyone laughs at today at least it’s
your story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Don’t be
distracted by the next man’s success. Don’t be jealous. You do not know how
much they’ve prayed. My friend once tweeted that prayer is free…and indeed it
is. So stay prayed up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Avoid
comparison for it is the greatest thief of time. Avoid looking back. Understand
that you are in a competition with no one but the person you were yesterday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Don’t allow
anyone to scare you. Don’t allow fear to inhibit your potential. You have
everything you need to succeed in you. Remember the grace of God will never
take you where the grace of God cannot protect you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Focus!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEV5lp-XOnOvtcgYDU-yZ_4EbscQHEUc5vvGNV511m0NcTeszUSeyeI5MEYZba2g85_95viWnOEa9jkQnU6xo5Ik7-lE1OaYrMarmUezqvoPQwYbMGh9OjF8LIo1V_E7CUHjJMuyIdOUQ/s1600/04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEV5lp-XOnOvtcgYDU-yZ_4EbscQHEUc5vvGNV511m0NcTeszUSeyeI5MEYZba2g85_95viWnOEa9jkQnU6xo5Ik7-lE1OaYrMarmUezqvoPQwYbMGh9OjF8LIo1V_E7CUHjJMuyIdOUQ/s400/04.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>How Many People Have You Helped?</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">There is no
universal definition for success and success does not have a face, tone or
shape. Success does not come in this glamorous package either. Success is not
one size fits all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Success is more an internal affair than external. You find it within first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Personally
money and wealth makes a fine pillow and offers a comfortable ride in this
thing called life but they don’t count as success for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">I know a lot
of wealthy people who are not successful at life. Funny right? Well its
possible and its sad so don’t let that be you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Do you want to
know what success is to me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Here we go…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixFwnGVEb3F9qPaU5InoZhYT7AG9FzqD-7daPKPGnR7nx6AVS4yrfmrE4PpUsUMJZSKbQdsHNSq0s81Spkm8swz8jQZznr8un3ys4U5RioSg-qLolf2PxxtsMpZDy0wROkxy7KTvKXsii/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixFwnGVEb3F9qPaU5InoZhYT7AG9FzqD-7daPKPGnR7nx6AVS4yrfmrE4PpUsUMJZSKbQdsHNSq0s81Spkm8swz8jQZznr8un3ys4U5RioSg-qLolf2PxxtsMpZDy0wROkxy7KTvKXsii/s400/001.jpg" width="225" /></a><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Success in my
life is good health, happiness and love of family. Success is me able to hear
the voice of my grandmother and loved ones. Success in my life is being able to
do the little but significant things for myself. Success is being able to see
the sunrise, watch the sunset and being able to hear the pitter patter of the
rain drops. Success is being able to hear my niece and nephews saying I love
you Aunt Doris. Success is coming home to peace and quiet and the smell of my
dinner from last night. Success is me coiled up on my sofa with my laptop on my
lap and television on my favorite channel. Success is me lying on my bed
listening to my favorite songs. Success is me having the strength to praise
God, my maker. Success is me being able to inspire you by my ordinary, mundane
and rather boring life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">For me it is
my truth, it is raw and unedited and it is genuine. It requires no approval and
I do not need to paint it to make it look like yours. I don’t need to deceive
you into thinking my life is perfect and I succeed in all my endeavors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnuuYytNSxCOawdBl8WaPzKnAI-SrpkZKNRag5QoO8yqEd3x1Y3lb1k7Fm7mysT691NgejnJCPtlBLaKR-cfPChiNwtGCbW5c6IJMSvlbBVh9pH-YbAQbL8xNIMjt-QERpl90ZLt5iJqJ/s1600/02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnuuYytNSxCOawdBl8WaPzKnAI-SrpkZKNRag5QoO8yqEd3x1Y3lb1k7Fm7mysT691NgejnJCPtlBLaKR-cfPChiNwtGCbW5c6IJMSvlbBVh9pH-YbAQbL8xNIMjt-QERpl90ZLt5iJqJ/s400/02.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">I fail
sometimes. I cry too and I have bad days ever so often. Just like everyone
else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Whether you
choose to interpret my idea of success as ordinary, boring or exciting and
crazy that is entirely up to you and I respect it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You know why?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Because your
definition of success does not have to be packaged the same way mine is and
that my friend is the beauty of success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Not all of us
were born to conquer the world and make significant difference in a big, loud
and massive way. </span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Some of us
were put on this earth to make the most significant difference in the most
subtle manner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You can
succeed in farming, you can also be a success in politics, you can succeed in
construction and you can be a success in teaching. You can be a success in
mothering. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Whatever
success is to you, embrace it unapologetically and be that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You have your
definition of success. Stick to it and work on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">No one can
tell you what success is to you but you. Unless they know what your
capabilities, needs, weaknesses and strength are, then they can’t tell you
nothing. Stay away from they and idle chatter and construct your own path
towards success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Define success
on your own terms and package it the way you want to. Wrap it up how you’d like
to see it and appreciate it for what it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">It is your
journey and it is your life. Ride it like its golden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdDQ7m7G1AivajXSDcKsie8LGf1YYGY-9q8qHFOXmj1_tdj3ev4cN3U9dChrJxz8pxqLOU4OvMhUQ7DX1ApOXClvOFzC1zrxe-edP3fJDzek3VZzG-PsPXE0kI4StAKG2Avrs7esWL-Db/s1600/07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdDQ7m7G1AivajXSDcKsie8LGf1YYGY-9q8qHFOXmj1_tdj3ev4cN3U9dChrJxz8pxqLOU4OvMhUQ7DX1ApOXClvOFzC1zrxe-edP3fJDzek3VZzG-PsPXE0kI4StAKG2Avrs7esWL-Db/s400/07.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Remember a
major part of being a success is maintaining your happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Till then<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Xoxo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-49355156883511194692016-10-06T20:06:00.000+01:002016-10-06T20:18:19.625+01:00Single And Building My Empire<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">“Single and
building my empire” but who turned you into a builder?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKX62FT2MfQhP4dFaTZ5CpMT9nblfFGsiRgM_vRWNDp5DO_YwQ-KWGlahNUHA9wIZUtzZonGXjBwFutTIIOq5egQVHOAKdgUy-PPGCXvc9ZHxJ9WE7U4mRi-k57lgIH8CCivRDIRJh1Qa/s1600/BLOG2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKX62FT2MfQhP4dFaTZ5CpMT9nblfFGsiRgM_vRWNDp5DO_YwQ-KWGlahNUHA9wIZUtzZonGXjBwFutTIIOq5egQVHOAKdgUy-PPGCXvc9ZHxJ9WE7U4mRi-k57lgIH8CCivRDIRJh1Qa/s320/BLOG2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are We Really Building An Empire?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">What if I tell
you that you can do both? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Why all the
decorations? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">All the
trimmings and the confetti? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Why all the
background noise and the tambourine?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">It’s all a bit
too noisy up in here …don’t you think?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">So much that
you’re getting lost in all the charade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Most
importantly, are you happy?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You’re sad because
you’re single and I can’t possibly think of anything sadder than that kind of
sad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You’re single
and you’re sad because you think no one wants you. You’re scared that you’re
going to grow old alone and you fear loneliness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You want to
keep up appearances like Ali, sally and Nelly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You want to prove
that you can pull that guy too. Or you can get the girl just like the next man.
Sounds exhausting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You are sad
and you’re withering away in this tedious fight to prove that you’re high in
demand. If you fight so hard to prove that you’re the business, are you really
the business?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Each night you
fight this fight of belonging, the fight to keep up appearance as you cry
yourself to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You’re
treating life like a race. It was never one to begin with, slow down!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You’re at a
stage when you haven’t met that special someone and you think time is running
out so you destroy your happy…one sad thought at a time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwjjRXAQNglToZBjzg4D8aQtIJnKFxjyHwNOiQQeUkMJNhX5pxYal8HHNJnmragPHL33PNVUUIfbKcMJuyKxMqX6WPl-GIgSjG2-8rvc4g1FpcQhNY_F0yX9GDcJ8lrZl2mYGL-YpF8GQ/s1600/blog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwjjRXAQNglToZBjzg4D8aQtIJnKFxjyHwNOiQQeUkMJNhX5pxYal8HHNJnmragPHL33PNVUUIfbKcMJuyKxMqX6WPl-GIgSjG2-8rvc4g1FpcQhNY_F0yX9GDcJ8lrZl2mYGL-YpF8GQ/s320/blog1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>God's Best Is Your Best</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You have
successfully embedded the thoughts in your head that the only way to your happy
is through someone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You haven’t learnt how to appreciate your alone time so you’re sad that you’re single. You
hug your pillow and wet it with tears of wanting and belonging, just because
you’re single.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You’re
struggling with this phase and the world need not know. So you mask it with all
the trimmings and special effects and life’s most deceiving filters. The truth
about those filters and trimming is that they’re like the Cinderella story,
come midnight its back to reality as you lay on your bed, in the dark, feeling
sorry for yourself for no reason as you cry yourself to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Each passing
day leaves you bitter, unfulfilled and sad. So sad that it’s almost hard to
convince the world that you’re still building that empire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Sad is no
place to be…not at any time in your life because when you’re not looking It
eats you up real fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Os2Vne6uVwX4I7cXZillxQKsrSJnIVqO-iRPJbxcbTJsnxkex31oKyLSO0D5XdRo9pEiFSJ0GGQplCwsxuI9HZ9XEkgn4pcdkniTKjFUpdarjUU71swT-vPoTlYsPQ6sbqER4DmGpQo2/s1600/blog6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Os2Vne6uVwX4I7cXZillxQKsrSJnIVqO-iRPJbxcbTJsnxkex31oKyLSO0D5XdRo9pEiFSJ0GGQplCwsxuI9HZ9XEkgn4pcdkniTKjFUpdarjUU71swT-vPoTlYsPQ6sbqER4DmGpQo2/s400/blog6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sadness eats you up real fast</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">See those
filters are not loyal. Those trimmings are not loyal either…so do yourself a
favour and make you your first commitment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You are your
first commitment…don’t play yourself. And don’t ever forget that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Hold on…are we
still building that empire?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Stop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">What empire are you building?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">An empire of self-pity, sadness and tears?!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You aren’t
building no empire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Or if you
were….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">I am here to
ask you to stop building that empire. Just stop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">What is your
story? Who made you a builder? Who taught you that you have to keep busy to
decorate your singleness? Who taught you that it’s wrong to be your own person?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Put down the
shovel and hoe. Take a rest child. Put down your tools and embrace your
singleness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You are whole
all by yourself and darling…being in a relationship doesn’t scream wholeness.
Trust me on this one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">I know you
aren’t building no empire. You’re trying to tell the world you’re too busy for
love when deep down inwardly you crave for a love so deep. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You are
desperate to find that one true love and your patience is running out. But
while you wait you think it’s convenient to tell the wold that you’re building
that empire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Please abort
this operation stay busy of building an empire. From what I can see, it is
easier to decorate our pains than to face them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMMTQNwvrwF62iSQ87_f_sjYdg3uafDAp7RuKI4wrwmmhf-FJ5xA8QiIkSLFDLrTXxxn7bFpQidZX2KlKbN1w7H06DzY2hPf5N9K_kvh6njzMqv6FGNckwNQfyWAoBqhLjn0GkkgMn5eN/s1600/blog5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMMTQNwvrwF62iSQ87_f_sjYdg3uafDAp7RuKI4wrwmmhf-FJ5xA8QiIkSLFDLrTXxxn7bFpQidZX2KlKbN1w7H06DzY2hPf5N9K_kvh6njzMqv6FGNckwNQfyWAoBqhLjn0GkkgMn5eN/s400/blog5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">There’s is no
shame in being single. It is perfectly OK to be single. It is not a taboo to be
single at any age and it is certainly not an offence to be single. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">There is more
to life than being in the couples club. You’re single and that’s OK. Being in a
relationship doesn’t make you whole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Our generation
have skilfully managed to make being single look formidable. We’ve craftily
turned singleness into a taboo… but you are in charge and whatever you believe
and allow is what will happen to you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Don’t be
dragged into the trend of this generation. I say it again, being single is
normal and it is okay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You’re allowed
to be single without making any excuses for your singleness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_I8TerwwqR6hsAIK9arW2MugeFn7QBk-_Xh4wlVvrMdg_MJfKf4dkOBHNIM89H9eknCg7PS7K6ipAWui7Y5w8v9bmGVo2aifrQjib7exxPgSFKhgmZak78C5wWGegA5LsyWNii6jjDwI/s1600/blogg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_I8TerwwqR6hsAIK9arW2MugeFn7QBk-_Xh4wlVvrMdg_MJfKf4dkOBHNIM89H9eknCg7PS7K6ipAWui7Y5w8v9bmGVo2aifrQjib7exxPgSFKhgmZak78C5wWGegA5LsyWNii6jjDwI/s320/blogg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Learn to bask in your ALONE time</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">If single is
what you are now, have no shame in your state of being. There is nothing wrong with
you and you are under no obligation to decorate your singledom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You’re single.
Period. Believe that it a complete statement that requires no validation. It is
a complete sentence that makes perfect sense, no need for the decorative
excuses and add-ons. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Don’t try too
hard to fit in that you start looking like the jester. Don’t try too hard to
fit in the box that you come out damaged and confused. Be your own version of
you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Who knows who
you will inspire…by just being you? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Don’t miss out
on all the fun trying to be a good look. The people you’re putting a show for
do they really care about you? Have you checked that they are checking for you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You might just
be alone in this fight…you might just be both the audience and the entertainer.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Embrace your
state of being and at the right time, you’ll meet that special someone. Be
comfortable in that phase of life that you are now. There is a time for
everything under the sun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Never ever
lose sight of hope because what keeps us going is not even the love you crave
for so desperately or the air you breath, what keeps the engines oiled is HOPE!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Tell people
bold and loud… (Only if you want to)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">You’re single.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">No add-ons. No
trimmings. No decorations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">…a partner
should only enhance your being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Be whole. Stay whole<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">GOD IS LOVE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Till then<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Xoxo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-59374447412393144062016-03-22T19:36:00.000+00:002016-04-07T13:21:24.286+01:00The Girl with the Muted Elegance.<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Girl I see
you. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I see you
struggling with your emotions. I see you behind that pretty I’m-Okay mask and behind
that beautiful smile I see that teary eye. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OV-Vh8q-Xly3-XNsonzs4rBmIyuuHJBKJdFvORS8rxUYbI41N6ajL5iGse3_znn1gd5JbXznNrxyaomnqOkHodm4CuIQS8kwet8uqwnn3U1ezyje0fYy5Da2MLxrY94yZFmQJ5TJODoj/s1600/mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OV-Vh8q-Xly3-XNsonzs4rBmIyuuHJBKJdFvORS8rxUYbI41N6ajL5iGse3_znn1gd5JbXznNrxyaomnqOkHodm4CuIQS8kwet8uqwnn3U1ezyje0fYy5Da2MLxrY94yZFmQJ5TJODoj/s400/mask.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behind The Mask...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From a
distance I sense your pain and your wavering self-esteem. I see you battle to
get through the day and I see you play the happy girl. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I see you
girl…I see you and I respect your strength.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I see you
using social media as your therapist. And leaning on those likes and comments
for validation. Girl I see you. I see you trying to find yourself through people
and but all I really see is you getting lost in them.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I see how you
diligently make Facebook your journal. But again I see a beautiful girl
misplaced looking for answers in all the wrong places… I see a girl with
endless capabilities.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I see your distracting
mechanism. I see you snap at every little thing because you’re at your wits’
end. Take life off girl and rest.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I see you but
I am not here to judge you. Heck I can’t judge you and I will never will be
qualified to Judge you.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Girl I see
you because I have been there. I was once that girl. I was that lost little
girl. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I am here
to tell you that it’s going to be okay. All will be well and all will be well.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was able to
see you because we are one of the same. I like weird and awkward people. I like
the rejects and I like the six fingers and the odd ducks. I like the
misunderstood and I like the lost and broken. I like the loners, the one strand
of grey hair and the underdog. I like the girl with scars and above all I love
the girl with the muted elegance.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You know why?
Because I am all of those. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is
perfectly okay to be vulnerable because vulnerability is transparency. It is
okay to cry. I cry too. It is okay to not have it all together because that is the
beautiful thing about life…none of us have life on a lockdown. We’re all trying
to figure it out. One mistake at a time.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsJNcjZBC32VffMvFQCMdLxZxzwRZbNp7g5BbSfUESqySKiijPppV__zAtVfPInFTY8jkBjxXF58PJo1mCwtICtiH7hHKsbgmUJLrb6FCMNfJatIXgfTwQH9n658YI3iW_exb13lZ1pE3/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsJNcjZBC32VffMvFQCMdLxZxzwRZbNp7g5BbSfUESqySKiijPppV__zAtVfPInFTY8jkBjxXF58PJo1mCwtICtiH7hHKsbgmUJLrb6FCMNfJatIXgfTwQH9n658YI3iW_exb13lZ1pE3/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're All Trying To Figure it Out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stop beating
yourself up. Stop walking on egg shells. Stop wallowing in self-pity and
sadness. Stop. Stop being unkind to yourself. There’s insurmountable power in self-acceptance.
Love yourself a little bit more…just a little bit more. Enough to not doubt
yourself when you slip and fall.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You may never
be enough in the eyes of some people and you may never be that girl but remember
you’re not here to fit into a box. Look in the mirror and when you do, look
into your eyes and there you will see the beauty that lies within.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Forget what you’ve
heard. Forget what they’ve told you but more importantly recognise what you see.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Girl I can see
the beauty. I can see the potential and I can see your greatness but it hurts
me more to watch you whittle away…one Facebook status at a time.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So what… you
failed at your relationship or you failed at being the super girlfriend. Or you
failed at being the doting daughter or maybe those grades didn’t add up? So what?
So what you failed at your job…so what?!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No experience
is wasted. And don’t build a mansion on Regret Street. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Failure is
information. Struggle is redirection. Ride your Journey.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When the
lights go off, speak to that dark moment and ask it what are you here to teach
me? Because believe me…every set back comes with a message. Listen up. Listen up
girl.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Find yourself
in your quiet moment. This can’t be done on Facebook. It can’t be done on
twitter or snapchat. Social media is not your therapist. Believe me when I say
out of the same mouth that releases praises…from there comes the harsh criticisms.
People are trolling on social media looking for entertainment with a handful of
popcorn and cola on the other hand. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Screenshots
flying from one WhatsApp forum to the other. Your struggle becomes their tea and
your life’s fight becomes their bedtime story. The truth is, if you put it out
there for all to see, don’t be mad when you become the tea of the day. Don’t make
yourself a victim. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Are you going to keep running to Facebook when things go wrong? I would love to promise you sunshine all year but that's not going to happen, there are going to be rainy days.. because that is life. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a young
girl I want you to own a journal. Pen down every challenging moment. And when
you feel the urge to update your social media run to your journal…pen it down. When
you feel the urge for validation, pray, pick up that pen and Journal and start
writing.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJrKJeh6bzyA3hL_ZIwOQaUFtNTKhbVPfvsbhd0DtILPseznM4VkEh3x4FXKh70_J9_CQwRCCxubIIHab1sh-3GQOK85Kxukg4IDd2smiOxngT9quJgiJRo5-qQgoifEXuqXKq9GgdiAs/s1600/a+journal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJrKJeh6bzyA3hL_ZIwOQaUFtNTKhbVPfvsbhd0DtILPseznM4VkEh3x4FXKh70_J9_CQwRCCxubIIHab1sh-3GQOK85Kxukg4IDd2smiOxngT9quJgiJRo5-qQgoifEXuqXKq9GgdiAs/s400/a+journal.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<b>Get A Journal</b></div>
<div>
<b>You'll Thank Me Later</b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When it gets
too much, don’t be afraid to cry and above all remember there’s a God waiting
on you to call on him. Man is fickle but God’s love is unwavering.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It works
wonder. I assure you…that pen and journal will never judge you neither will God
because he is not here for the righteous.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To the girl
with the muted elegance…I challenge you to:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Learn to be
alone. Enjoy your own company. Respect yourself and be kind to yourself. Speak positivity
into your being and be true to yourself. Unapologetically ride your wave. Celebrate
yourself. Stay prayed up.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t try to
figure it all in a day. Drink a lot of water. Life happens one day at a time.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVN7l1lc9PfyBygQFG3SWnuiWKmlZ6ASICKiUdlgv_E3IRD_daLVAN2TZ8iK1FB_xuAD9xEj64tF7SnwpcNe17-1GQaOcBradB2GwbeOZO1CcG6wQn25l1u_oT8mf28uDw9fF5d-YjecF/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVN7l1lc9PfyBygQFG3SWnuiWKmlZ6ASICKiUdlgv_E3IRD_daLVAN2TZ8iK1FB_xuAD9xEj64tF7SnwpcNe17-1GQaOcBradB2GwbeOZO1CcG6wQn25l1u_oT8mf28uDw9fF5d-YjecF/s400/3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>You've Got This!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our darkest
moments lead us to a new passion and love for life. Wait on it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And after it
all, I hope you come out screaming. I hope you unmute your elegance. I’m here
waiting…waiting to see you be the girl who will inspire other girls to use
their voice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am waiting…patiently
because I believe you’re going to come out of this stronger and wiser. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I want to see
you be that girl. That Young girl who can do all things.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>You'll Find A Way</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Remember there’s
nothing to prove to anyone. Live with an unmuted elegance and love yourself for
the beautiful ambiguity that you are.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJqiAFolK9HRHPg71LVHPVkNRFbqY5coC087J0zVtJVQo1lWK-69KDbNwD7cJzGLeApjmgLx6FAXyxea6mamE2NsRfRpNzQ2eyBZXPAnx_Ar7rzMnx5MqdgCdlV8YkkZkdhj-D3B4_FF1/s1600/broken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJqiAFolK9HRHPg71LVHPVkNRFbqY5coC087J0zVtJVQo1lWK-69KDbNwD7cJzGLeApjmgLx6FAXyxea6mamE2NsRfRpNzQ2eyBZXPAnx_Ar7rzMnx5MqdgCdlV8YkkZkdhj-D3B4_FF1/s400/broken.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Allow Him</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From the girl
that cares…</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From a
distance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With Love</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Till Then </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Xoxo</span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-25205637393582206282016-01-13T13:22:00.000+00:002016-01-13T13:22:40.421+00:00Chronicles of a Granny Pekin – Growing up African<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">It is my grandmother’s
birthday today. She is 82. I love this woman. She is the Maya to my Angelou.
She is the anchor in my wild sea. She is my conscience to the destructive
voice. She is the reason I want to be a better me. She is the reason I fight.
If there was one person I was scared to let down, that would be my Grandma Ola. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She is the reason…full stop!</span></b></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">She is a huge
part of my life and anyone that knows Doris, knows Grandma Ola. So it is only
right I dig up some sweet memories of the time we spent together back in Sierra
Leone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I grew up
with my grandmother in Sierra Leone where we lived in a traditional
colonial–era board house at Campbell Street. Everything I did was a reflection
of my granny, even up to this day, consequently I was labelled granny
pekin…especially in school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Yup... I am a certified and bonafide granny pekin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grandma Ola
is strict. She has a no nonsense streak about her that is not to be messed
with. (Even our mothers don’t mess with her) She is a true disciplinarian and
will stop at nothing. She is kind, honest and genuine. She is the definition of
what you see is what you get. No hidden layers. Her facial expressions doesn't lie. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Virtuous Woman</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">As stern as
she is, she is the most caring and loving woman I know. She is compassionate
and a mother to all. She is packed with a wealth of wisdom which I admire. My granny is a virtuous woman. How someone so stern can be so loving
and caring at the same time is actually a very powerful thing in my books. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">In my early
childhood, our parents left my brother and I at the mercy of our grandmother who
we got to know too well after we started living with her. We thought it was a
holiday until she took off the Mrs Nice guy cap and wore the captain’s hat. You
know what they say, come stay with me and come visit me are two completely
different things. Too right!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Boakai, my
brother and I never saw what was to come. I was the quiet one and my brother
well … he was more than a handful. To the point that people doubted in school
if we both were related. I was quiet in comparison to my rebellious brother but
I had my own share of stubbornness which wasn’t tolerated or encouraged by my
grandmother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Boakai & I on my 10th Birthday.<br />check my hat out - Granny pekin certified</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">We were
provided with everything we needed but rudeness and disrespect was never
tolerated. I was an ill child but that didn’t stop her from plastering few
slaps across my face when I stepped out of line. The cane for my brother is
normally soaked in water for days in order to increase the elasticity. When
that registers on your skin…Only God can save you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">In that small
board house, we lived comfortably and amicably. Even though it was crowded. I
think the crowdedness got us to appreciate the little holes in the walls which
we referred to as our air conditioner because I tell you…nights were sticky and
hot! But guess what that taught us….contentment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I had friends who were staying
in bigger and better houses but not once did I recall me wanting to live in
their houses. My granny never made us feel like we were missing out on anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Together with
my other cousins, we all lived in this crowded board house where the bath and
toilet were outside. So let me tell you now, if you need to do your business,
you better do it right before the doors were bolted with several padlocks and
blocked with mortar and pestle. (To prevent thieves…apparently) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">When that door
closes, nothing opens it. To this very day I can tell you that I wee before bed
and that’s a must and I never get up during the night. There are various types
of disciplines but that was bladder discipline at its finest!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Have you ever
taken a bath outside, under a running tap? Then you must add that to your
bucket list. Bath time is an event in our household. My granny has zero
tolerance towards bad body odour. Armpits were layered with lime and left to
marinate for few minutes and the teeth is first scrubbed with charcoal before
you can use your toothpaste and brush. There I learnt that my tongue is pink
and not white! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Real MVP on them toes</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">This is done every Saturday as she tends to leave us during the
week to do our little thing we do that we call bathing but in her books it’s
rinsing. You don’t know squeaky clean until she has scrubbed you head to toe
with the strongest scrub ever and your toes brushed with the ever-so-strong
scrubbing brush.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">After that
all there’s left to do is sleep! Now
that was our lesson in cleanliness!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Saturdays are
cleaning Saturday without fail and without questioning. The house must be
swept, dusted, wiped and our little bath outside must be scrubbed and the
gutter cleaned and the bins taken out. No hoovers! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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the cooking chores where we help with the cooking preparations. No blenders or
grinders. We used the mortar and pestle and the grinding stone to get things
done. We had a stove but that was only used as an emergency option therefore
that was a luxury. So Three-stone wood-fired stove it was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Where the magic happened</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">We all
thought this woman liked working for no reason and there were no happy faces
around, just mere frowns and murmurs and when she sees that frown she will ask
you to fix your face before she fixes it for you. Trust me, you do not want her
to fix your face (more like dismantle) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">As for the
murmurs…when asked to repeat what we just said, we lie and say we
weren’t talking to you. Yes you have to lie at this point to save your jawbones
and teeth because they will all go flying and calling for help when that slap
registers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Now that
taught us the importance of hard work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Sundays were
to stew as Saturdays were to foo-foo and Saturday soup, okra and the likes. Now
the only problem is I love my cassava leaves and that Sunday stew was becoming
my nightmare. I hated it but do I dare tell my grandmother? Nope…I swallow it like
it’s my Sunday best. After which we all sit and listen to Bongo, a Sierra Leone
radio comedy show. No TV!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I can tell
you that I am a world class human dishwasher. When asked to wash dishes and
bowls and kitchen utensils they all have to pass my grandma’s approval. If not
then I’m sorry but you’re going to do it until you do it right….cheerfully too.
Glasses and tumblers must be so clean that the water must not be seen dripping
in layers...it should flow. Plates squeaky clean and bowls no sign of oil or
smell from cooking ingredients. Her face must be seen in the reflection of the
spoons. This taught us lesson on doing something well or don’t do it at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">She instilled
in us the importance of knowing God and being in the house of the Lord. Sundays
were set aside for church. Period! If we couldn’t make it to church we prayed
together and I can recite a lot of psalms in the bible. Psalms 23, 91, 123, 100
and more. As for the songs…don’t try me. Hehe. In everything in life, my
grandmother encouraged us to pray about it first. This taught us to be grateful and
never take things for granted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">My
granny taught us simple courtesies, like serving tea and drinks with a
saucer (I don’t see that these days) and waiting for the glass if need be. The
please and thank you must never go unsaid. She taught us the eye language which
she used anywhere and any day. That eye is your cue to stop whatever rudeness
you’re up to, get your life together and register it in your brain that you’re
about to have the whooping of a lifetime when you get home. That eye really
does spoil your day…it’s like a warning of what is to come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCayKbv229gJQ5PxNFcizLdQwORratFLeLNyRp8qmgfJkp9YnU3lgK8Qtw0fL9JgaCkDWEfN8Sk2seXZ1zx4vI2nwRd-LjZzU9NJfFAHaCn_BLCeDkrdTYoDHhyphenhyphenMAUaWoor58PeNSt1-rp/s1600/please+and+thanks+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCayKbv229gJQ5PxNFcizLdQwORratFLeLNyRp8qmgfJkp9YnU3lgK8Qtw0fL9JgaCkDWEfN8Sk2seXZ1zx4vI2nwRd-LjZzU9NJfFAHaCn_BLCeDkrdTYoDHhyphenhyphenMAUaWoor58PeNSt1-rp/s400/please+and+thanks+you.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Still Magic...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">When you get
home, prepare yourself mentally because the slap or the whooping can happen
anytime, yea even in your sleep. You’ll be there thinking you’re dreaming, no
darling your being whooped for that misbehaviour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">After that
she will then explain to you that it is for your own good and that you’ll thank
her later. (Am I thanking her now…hmm I’m not sure man, I’m not sure. Lool) at
that very moment, those words are not what you want to hear so your anger level
rockets. But you have to sit still, keep a very broad smile on your face and
nod accordingly. Now that was respect!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">At school I
never show up at all the parties. I wasn’t allowed. My friends know this. If I
am invited somewhere and want to go, I must earn it. I mean all my house chores
must be done and everywhere clean and tidy. I must be on my best behaviour all
week and there was no room for errors because one mistake could mean I won’t be
going to any social function and guess what, I can’t fight that decision. It’s
final! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">And I had curfew too...which was 10pm! Imagine when the party starts,
Doris is heading home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Chronicles of
a granny pekin! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Once I was
invited to my friend’s birthday party, I gave my grandmother 3 weeks’ notice
and a daily weekly reminder. I was the nicest grandchild that month. I did all
I was told to do, came back home on time from school and my smile was exceptionally
cheesy and bright. Yes all for an answer to this birthday party. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">So the day
came, I woke up earlier than usual and I did all I had to do. Scrub my mouth
and greeted my grandmother good morning, (yes you weren’t allowed to say good
morning with a smelly overnight mouth.) and she asked why are you up so early,
I replied, no reason with the gummiest smile ever. But my granny is no fool,
she knew what was up. She piled more chores on me and diligently I carried all
out. All for a party. I really wanted to go so I had no choice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">It was
approaching 4pm when I started getting dressed slowly and her reaction nearly
gave me a heart attack. She was like where do you think you’re going? (The eyes
came out too.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">To which I
replied, the party I told you about, my friend’s birthday. I said you promised
I could go if I did all my house chores. (Her head did a U-turn and the eyes
changed again only this time she squinted it as if she was trying to see if I’m
ok in the head, her body did a little vibration) she went quiet and I nearly
peed my pants (yep, an African parent’s promise holds no guarantee.) she did
this thing where her breathing goes with her eyes and she tilted her screw face
at me and I tell ya my eyes started running water (because I wasn’t sure if I
was crying or just fearing for my life at this point) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">She leaned
forward and whispered calmly, take that clothes off, you’re going nowhere. I
nearly collapsed. My heart sunk and now I started shedding real tears like I
lost my dog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Tremulously I
said but you promised! It was after I uttered the words that I wondered where I
summoned that bravery from. I quickly recollected myself and my face flushed with regret.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">She was
walking away when she stopped dead in her tracks and gave me the eye one more
time. That was to say I am finished with you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Few minutes
later after I was done crying, I was in a corner sulking when she walked in on
me with a plate of biscuits and a pint of Vimto (she knew Vimto was my
favourite) and she was like, why would you want to go out? You don’t want to
keep my company? Is it for the food or the drink? Then she offered me the plate
and the Vimto while saying if it is for the food, here you go eat or the drink,
take this cold Vimto and drink. Oh wait the music? She went on and put the
radio on with a smile on her face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I can’t say I
didn’t laugh, I laughed (because that’s what you do) but I was still upset. I
went to school the next day and faced the most dreaded question…why weren’t you
at the party? They all knew the answer so I thought to just say it one more
time. My grandma said I wasn’t allowed and the tales of what I missed started
rolling out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">That was my
life…I wasn’t allowed to show up at every occasion. And to this day I choose
where I go because once upon a time, granny said ‘’you don’t have to show up
everywhere.’’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Boys were
more scared of my grandma than they were of my dogs...and we had lots of dogs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It wasn't easy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">We are such a
large family but my grandmother is the cotton tree. She keeps everyone grounded
and everything centred. No matter how angry or stubborn you are when she
intervenes, she will solve it with her carefully selected words of wisdom, you
tend to see things in different perspective and with a large family, you learn
that it is not always about you. Grandma Ola taught us family values and up to
this day we are a closed knitted family despite everything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Family is all we’ve
got.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">She showed no
favouritism towards anyone. We were all equal in her eyes. We were rewarded for
good behaviour and good grades in school as she always emphasises the
importance of education. Rose Apple was our favourite treat which was divided
into four pieces and shared amongst us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">She taught us
the true meaning of love. My grandmother loves me endlessly. There are things I
question in my life but one thing I will never question is her love for me. She
expresses her love at every given opportunity. She will check that I have
enough to eat and drink at all times. She will make sure my clothes on my back
are clean, hair braided and I smell good. She knows when I am about to fall
ill, she is observant, attentive and always present. She will stand up for us
when need be and never allow anyone to take advantage of us…not even our
mothers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Up to this
day, her love for me still stands strong. She will call up and check on me
regularly, ask if I’m keeping warm, visit me in the hospital and she never
fails to leave half of her sandwich for me from her breakfast every Sunday. She
will always have her scarf ready to hand me when I’m cold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">A love like
that…. Unconditional and incomparable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sGUS2Od8sLEQdiJ8FTVmkUsAPPdyUcfSpg87PSgV2f-do_Gh3daG2MNcsBCqidzHY3sF45xoKwgAw_0mG8cvHVmsMlGDrUvesXHAMnbYW-_195WU1auZnzEgujcwIr5bt6ioKIkLzzvQ/s1600/goo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sGUS2Od8sLEQdiJ8FTVmkUsAPPdyUcfSpg87PSgV2f-do_Gh3daG2MNcsBCqidzHY3sF45xoKwgAw_0mG8cvHVmsMlGDrUvesXHAMnbYW-_195WU1auZnzEgujcwIr5bt6ioKIkLzzvQ/s400/goo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">My grandma taught
me how to bridle my tongue. To this present day, I do not swear at no one. I’m
not saying I am a saint, I do use the words every now and again because I am
rebellious like that but I do not swear at people. Never! In my grandma’s eyes,
that was a no go! No compromise and no excuses. She was a disciplinarian but
she never believed in vulgarity. This taught us the importance of words and the
effect it has on people. The tongue is a powerful weapon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">As a granny
of creole descendant, Grandma Ola communicated mostly in parables and I must
say I learnt because there are few parables I can’t decipher. Yup, chronicles
of a granny pekin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">We later
moved to my grandmother’s newly built three-storey concrete house where we were
living it up large. From oven to washing machine to hoovers and microwave...it
was fully furnished and equipped. No more bath outside…YAY! Yea I was happy
because I was getting to that age where I needed my privacy but my grandmother
didn’t think so though…lol In an African household, you’re forever a
child….regardless!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">We came from
humble beginnings which helped shape and mould our characters. Today I am a
content and happy girl, seen it all. Been there done that and I won’t change a
thing. (Maybe reverse some of the whoopings….yea!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">My childhood
was great and I never felt like I missed anything. All I needed, was provided. Today,
Material things do not move me but a good character in a person entices me and I
do not value material things over people. Yea all thanks to my grandmother. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">My foundation
was solid for that I am grateful. I am implementing all these values in my daily
life and I am ever so grateful for such upbringing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">If this is
what they mean when they labelled me granny pekin…then I gladly claim the
title. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I haven’t
turned out too bad….hehe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And more
importantly, my grandmother approves and that’s all that matters. (She’s only waiting on the great grand kids now)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">And I will
pass these values on to them….by God’s grace!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvfcDwJjSzeBB4sdiMCgV51CzwQuD-70Lp6td6JaGQvIzQVOTdo5BqgbSqr47tqJvVhyphenhyphenDZGU4VdNcfybq1N0_Vw0KVCprc_zHWeWRd1Jnfjd5drVLWoYVYb-roa_6YUrFYn7uyvfYZLSn/s1600/ola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvfcDwJjSzeBB4sdiMCgV51CzwQuD-70Lp6td6JaGQvIzQVOTdo5BqgbSqr47tqJvVhyphenhyphenDZGU4VdNcfybq1N0_Vw0KVCprc_zHWeWRd1Jnfjd5drVLWoYVYb-roa_6YUrFYn7uyvfYZLSn/s640/ola.jpg" width="451" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Unconditional Love</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Grandma Ola I
wish you many more years to come in good health because at this stage in your
life, all you need is more years in good health. I love you and I love you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Till then<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Xoxo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-27501613428445945322015-12-09T17:10:00.000+00:002015-12-09T17:10:46.243+00:0010 Seriously Insane and Ridiculous Trendy Craze in 2015<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Over juicing and over grinding – I think 90% of us own a juicer or a smoothie machine as I am penning this and the rest are just waiting for it to go on sale. We are all about that eat clean and get lean life, which is great, don’t get me wrong. We grind and smash everything in the way. From nuts to kale to spinach, you name it and everything is organic. Can I just confess that I didn't know what kale was till 2015? Well we thank God. The year of enlightenment and the organics!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Year Of The Organics</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now whether it is for health purpose or solely for the sake of joining the charade, I guess we will never find out. Yep 2015, we’re all about that herbal life. How is it going for ya?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And along came the words that do not make sense at all but strangely they somehow do work. On <i>Fleek…</i>which basically refers to the quality of something, the level of perfection and correctness. <i>Yassss </i>which is the emphatic endorsement of something, when you say yassss, that’s you putting your stamp of approval on something. Doll which is a term of endearment used to refer to an attractive female, this is surprising mainly used by girls. So yea…we went all crazy with these slangs<i> </i>and it didn't stop there, there’s <i>litt, Basic, Bae </i>and <i>ratchet. </i>Let's not forget the hash-tag over-usage. I blame the Americans!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Only Bae I Know Is Bacon & eggs</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eyebrows – it’s as if we have just discovered eyebrows. Like what did we do back then when it was just some stray pieces of hair above our eyes? Now we have numerous shapes and sizes, frames and lengths, shades and tones…some are even in High Definition. I must say we’ve all gone through our Nike days where the left eyebrow would be doing the Azonto and the right is doing the Harlem shake. On some days, the eyebrows will be looking like they’re about to take flight. It’s almost like an art now. No shame in our game, brow game too strong!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Power Of Eyebrows!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And this make up madness is slowly taking over our lives… the contour, the highlights, the 50 shades lippies, the blushers, the lash lengthening mascaras, the lashes, the concealers... ayeeee! They’re not even cheap but we will stop at nothing to get close to perfection. Yes that is the problem, perfection. We are obsessed with perfection which is never attainable. Never. Sometimes the transformation almost resembles a miracle. I can confidently say, in 2015 we took our make-up technique to another whole new level. The level of perfection!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>There Are Levels To This Thing...</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Brown coat and the prestige floppy beach hat facade- Now this had me laughing because it’s funny what a brown or fawn coat and a floppy hat can do for one’s esteem. I do not say this lightly when I say girls seriously behave differently when they’re in the above attire. We walk like we inhale flavoured air and you can’t tell us nothing. I knew it was getting extremely mental when we walked into a night club the other night and 80% of the girls were actually in their brown coats, I was confused. So you’re going to boogie the night away in that hot stuff?! So what is it about this floppy hat and waterfront coat that leave girls feeling like a million dollars? I blame Kim Kardashian.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3s8dek8Vw4ffoHdJTu7f4gt_1hqEGxkpyIc4VqkNoI6xUfqg_Y3voxA4ZizZyTlPP3S4RRsL1pVCefaGWL-IqsBpyEF7GlzmwgJJzVIuDIDP5G_XnGpPEYgvURKkxKuRllg6enn6PLxn/s1600/prestige.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3s8dek8Vw4ffoHdJTu7f4gt_1hqEGxkpyIc4VqkNoI6xUfqg_Y3voxA4ZizZyTlPP3S4RRsL1pVCefaGWL-IqsBpyEF7GlzmwgJJzVIuDIDP5G_XnGpPEYgvURKkxKuRllg6enn6PLxn/s400/prestige.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Waist trainers – again this had me bawling with laughter. The video tutorials are pure comedy, not to talk of the pictures. They look like they are about to pass out. It does look super uncomfortable as well and even to crack a smile is a real effort. It resembles pain and I know what pain looks like. I am not bashing the waist trainers all I am saying is there are easier ways. Why take the stairs when there is an elevator. Let’s invest in healthy eating habits as opposed to waiting till the problem becomes a mountain. But 2015 brought out the waist trainers and they are hilarious. Genuine question, do they work? Is it just a temporary fix? Ok bye…</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Compressed to the gods and back!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Beautiful soul - Beautiful in and out. R E A L L Y?! Over usage never sounded so positive! I have a thing now where I count how many ‘’beautiful soul’’ and ‘’beautiful in and out’’ I see for the day on social media….especially on the birthday shout outs. Again I am not bashing the beautiful souls. I’m just here clapping and chewing my popcorn whilst thanking God that we’re all beautiful souls and beautiful in and out in 2015. Please take it into 2016. I need to know how I can be one though. I missed the memo on this one. hehe</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Netflix and chill – Well in layman’s terms, this simply means, drink alcoholic beverage, hangout and have sex. The mildest term ever used to command sex. This is the term we carefully carved in 2015 which informs the other party that there would be sex involved by the end of the night after the consumption of some cheap alcohol and hangout. Netflix and chill….Isn’t it funny that the term that screams everything about movies involves everything but watching a movie? We are a very crafty and creative generation. The movie will probably be on for decoration and background music while the sexual escapades take place. Yes, in 2015 we mastered the art of Netflix and chill. Let’s Marvin Gaye and get it on…</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Beginning Of The End</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Beard Gang– One question though, just like girls discovered eyebrows, have you guys just discovered beards too? Someone must have lied to these guys that all girls love beards. I don’t! I really don’t! And I am a girl. So stop putting glitters on ya beards and acting like I’ll overlook everything else just because you’ve got a beard. It even feels weird writing this. However, some of you guys do serve ferociously and y’all be looking like something edible. We are girls and we are all individuals therefore we are all attracted to different things. Ya heard?! Mr Beard man!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Someone Please Stop Them</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> Finally in 2015, we specialised in gibberish. I can’t. I just can’t. Dead. I'm weak. My heart can’t. I have no words. - Eerrmm excuse me. Are you ok there, cat got your tongue? What happened to your vocabulary? The funniest one is when you hear girls giving senseless compliments and all they’ll say is ‘’babe you look so... I can’t even, like I just can’t babe.’’ I am just here wondering what kind of pointless compliment is that? Why are we so lazy? Can we just get it together? Please and thank you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ok…phew. I must admit this was fun writing and I hope you have as much fun reading it too. Don’t take it personal. I do some of the stuff mentioned above too and for that I am just as weird and crazy as you all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So what now? Do we wave bye to these and create new ones? Or we’re carrying them over to 2016?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am just excited to see the new 2016 trends. They keep getting weird and weirder. Either way, I'm ready.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stay weird. Normal is no fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Till then</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Xoxo</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-10134137680520569142015-11-23T16:47:00.000+00:002015-11-23T16:54:23.034+00:00She is your Once Upon A Time …<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She looked at
you like the sun, the moon and adored you like a priced possession. She spoke
proudly of you but she can hardly say the same for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She saw a
man, a teacher, her prince charming, a motivator and her best friend. She was
enveloped in you and engulfed in all the madness you came with and nothing else
made sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But one thing
was for sure…she had hope and she was a patient woman. Patiently hoping that one
day you’ll change. Hoping one day you’ll be the man that she wants you to be.
Hoping one day you will give her the love that she deserves but little did she
know that you can’t save a man from himself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes you have to walk.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sometimes You Have To Walk</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She saw what
no one ever saw in you. Not that she couldn’t get any man but she chose you day
after day, the only difference was you didn’t choose her. She was constantly
looking for angels in demons and that was her problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All she ever
did was love you, loved you faultlessly and tirelessly but you treated her like
she was ordinary. She was there for you, she was your greatest fan even when
you looked upon her like a groupie. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You gave her
sleepless nights in exchange, tears-filled day dreams, you trampled her trust
and you rained abuses on her, emotional abuses, constant torture and emotional
turmoil. She didn’t deserve none of it, no one does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Day after
day, she gave you her all. Night after night she was there to put a smile on
your face….months after months she held on even tighter even when all you threw
at her was dirt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the
pursuit of being the woman for you, she learnt your language, memorized your
favourite song and learnt your favourite recipe. She danced to your ugly tunes
even when it was hard to find a rhythm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your time was
all she wanted. She never once asked you for the world...yet you deprived her
of everything. In your absence she defended you, People said you were no good
but she grew deaf ears. I guess that’s what happens when you love someone
right? Yet still she never gave up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She did
stupid things to catch your attention and with every passing day, she tried to
make herself better. She tried to be the best she can because you made her feel
like she wasn’t good enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She betrayed
herself so she could be loyal to you, deprived herself so she could be all you
wanted her to be even though she didn’t know how to be the woman you wanted.
She tried, daily she tried!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your indecent
behaviour was like a sharp-edged tool which took a dig at her self-esteem day
after day…one hurt at time. Making her question her self-worth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You are the
kind of man our mothers warned us against.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You pushed
her, my god did you push her. How much can a single soul embody?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFmY6stjx41FVD8SCoulWM3iF0SCjVDMdTGgAtfefjArIV3BMk19Go5OE2_12WptmeW5tErmf5rrMQ2eRv4egPA88YxsvtmQqsVXum40qttm-PhgYv_tnLXEUFeefJW_Y3_6MNhXCbuT5/s1600/sad-woman-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFmY6stjx41FVD8SCoulWM3iF0SCjVDMdTGgAtfefjArIV3BMk19Go5OE2_12WptmeW5tErmf5rrMQ2eRv4egPA88YxsvtmQqsVXum40qttm-PhgYv_tnLXEUFeefJW_Y3_6MNhXCbuT5/s400/sad-woman-09.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>How Much Can A Single Soul Embody?</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She was a
good woman and she deserved way better, and you knew it but the boy in
you couldn’t help but to destroy a good thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A good thing
given to someone who is not ready for it will never serve its purpose. She was
too good for you and that was the problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You just couldn't recognise a gem when you have one in your possession so you treated it
like any invaluable. The boy in you didn’t know that precious stones don’t
always come to people like that. The boy in you was immature to handle it all
and so you crushed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or maybe <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You thought
she’ll be around forever and she will never grow wings to fly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t
underestimate the willpower of a tired woman. She was tired and all the women
in her was tired. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You exhausted
her last fibre of strength. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But one thing
you didn't know was that anything being pushed against the wall so much will
eventually bounce back and when they do they will cease to be the favourite toy
that you loved to toy with so much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Making you
happy was becoming unaffordable to her. She couldn’t afford you any more. You
were costing her, her own happiness. Holding on was doing more harm than good. True
strength is not always about how long you can hold on, she learnt that a greater
strength is found in letting go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So she did <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She collected
her thoughts. Shook off your disrespect and disregard for her. Packed her bags.
Adjusted her crown and wiped her tears. She puts one foot in front of the other
…and away she went and she never looked back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Eventually
the ''fool'' wakes up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She thought
enough is enough and she decide to love herself better. She realised she was
worth more. She realised that love doesn’t have to hurt. She came up for fresh
air and realised she’s been suffocating the whole time. She needed it, more
than ever she needed a breath of fresh air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You still
didn’t realised you've lost a good thing because you were just a boy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But years
later, as we all know you always come back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You started
seeing her with someone else. She has a smile you never gave to her. A spring in
her steps you’ve never seen in her. She looked beautiful now because you’ve
never actually took the time to look at her. She is happy and you’re there
wondering where you went wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlW7ROIr3eVA9cqGwN32MlpXsfUXBAjpsvATxfVh2BFyjkTYGa1gOqZUHM3Hav-kO1PQ8APFpU2j4cX81QcHd0-sSR8F2VRb_P4ul-PvCaolvqy9eZwaIRWQ53ake0pBNRRi6VXF50H3Yx/s1600/happy+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlW7ROIr3eVA9cqGwN32MlpXsfUXBAjpsvATxfVh2BFyjkTYGa1gOqZUHM3Hav-kO1PQ8APFpU2j4cX81QcHd0-sSR8F2VRb_P4ul-PvCaolvqy9eZwaIRWQ53ake0pBNRRi6VXF50H3Yx/s400/happy+woman.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Her Smile Is Brighter...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She makes
someone else really happy now and you started wishing it was you. She wakes up
next to someone who knows what he got when he has it. He treats her like she’s
golden. And you’re there turning green with jealousy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then It
hit you…it hit you hard that this whole time, you loved her but you just didn’t
know how to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "french script mt"; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Why do guys have to wait till they lose something before they
realise its worth?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "french script mt"; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "french script mt"; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now you’re begging
to come back. Nonstop phone calls. Emails and texts. Trying to distract her
from the good.</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Trying hard
to pave your way cunningly with tails between your legs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s a little
too late<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She is
ignoring you. And now it’s easy. It became even easier when flashes of the pain
you caused her came to her in waves and she remembered how she almost drowned
trying to save a man from himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She is in a
better place now. A heaven you never created for her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Moreover she
knows better now. She’s being treated with respect and care and being showered
with the love she deserves. Her mind have been stretched and she’s not going
back. She has no urge to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You’re there
telling people about her. Her love was so great it turned you into a story
teller. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes, the love
of a good woman misplaced will turn you into a story teller. She is now your
once upon a time. She is the love you had but let get away and you just can’t
shut up about her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can’t
finish your favourite beer because thoughts of her flood your mind. You just can’t
stop talking about her. You can hear her laughter and you remembered how she
stood by you even though you never once glanced at her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All the other
women don’t even matter no more, you just want her but she is gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You quiver
and shake and whisper her name in your sleep like a fervent prayer but she’s
gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIEByQVzCpqnWvE7LymRqEgVtaAJOzQmXzJR-yJOHF7J_8211hZcqr35QggqgrCvy7gB6r56Y4uJaFrTI_9MGD2C559IiFdh6Li7JzklMwGuAeZ1f8bbocY5qXdX6yNOePfB06ZtEdxcR/s1600/regret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIEByQVzCpqnWvE7LymRqEgVtaAJOzQmXzJR-yJOHF7J_8211hZcqr35QggqgrCvy7gB6r56Y4uJaFrTI_9MGD2C559IiFdh6Li7JzklMwGuAeZ1f8bbocY5qXdX6yNOePfB06ZtEdxcR/s400/regret.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wallowing In Regrets...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now you
realise you've lost a good thing and you wish you were the one to make her that
happy. This is the moment you realised you messed up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You had your
chance remember? She waited on you to do right by her. But you blew every
single chance she ever gave you. She was right there with you while you looked
at other women. She made you the centre of her world while you held her with a
pinch of salt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Always
looking for the next best thing. Here’s the thing about always looking for the
next best thing, even if you did find it you’ll still never be satisfied
because you’re still searching for the next best thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And all she
ever asked was for you to see her but you gave her bundles of sorrows, wreathe
with endless heart aches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What’s a girl
to do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How I see it,
the only mistake was that she gave you everything she had without making sure
you wanted it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "french script mt"; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 107%;">‘’Why is love intensified by absence?’’<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "french script mt"; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The ever sure
lesson remain that anything we take for granted gets taken away. And she was no
exception.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The worst
thing ever to happen to a man is to drag a good woman in the dirt so much that
she start looking at you like you’re ordinary when once upon a time she looked
at you like you were the sun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVL-wpHY7cp8qxAHsdgaWjmGrQc9F26pD6ySbu4bkkN8n8Ns71CpeJZ62T_S1r1BuGjKoNl_3KaDHwQbQv1kqNze3-dMYFkHXCYOI5xFBzcKQbdLS3OnvkRbcekBtiviZdp5Ngaz1q7bns/s1600/sun+and+moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVL-wpHY7cp8qxAHsdgaWjmGrQc9F26pD6ySbu4bkkN8n8Ns71CpeJZ62T_S1r1BuGjKoNl_3KaDHwQbQv1kqNze3-dMYFkHXCYOI5xFBzcKQbdLS3OnvkRbcekBtiviZdp5Ngaz1q7bns/s400/sun+and+moon.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>She Used To Look At You Like The Galaxy</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #c00000; font-family: "french script mt"; font-size: 27.0pt; line-height: 107%;">‘’The most haunting moment, I believe</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "french script mt"; font-size: 27.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">is when love turns into a memory.’’<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #c00000; font-family: "french script mt"; font-size: 27.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #c00000; font-family: "french script mt"; font-size: 27.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Till next time <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Xoxo</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-13172855649180563972015-10-23T16:28:00.001+01:002015-10-23T16:28:54.326+01:00Complementary Not Completion<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">This one is
for my ladies… </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can we just get it together?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIvTaWJeX6-LAwUDbQjn67b8yu5QyAjdywD69xGAaQjDFwKSTQ9g2lLPsMbyMT2u1vVRACmmoAMQxuT0Ad1s40Qk5_jWzlC91IMrd4jfstNYjwhuVVuV3uX0Vz12nTMDWqiUw6lYn88xF/s1600/Rubik%2527s+Cube+and+Little+Girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIvTaWJeX6-LAwUDbQjn67b8yu5QyAjdywD69xGAaQjDFwKSTQ9g2lLPsMbyMT2u1vVRACmmoAMQxuT0Ad1s40Qk5_jWzlC91IMrd4jfstNYjwhuVVuV3uX0Vz12nTMDWqiUw6lYn88xF/s400/Rubik%2527s+Cube+and+Little+Girl.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Let's Get It Together</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">‘’There are
things I want to do. Places I want to see. Cultures I want to explore. Sunsets
I want to experience and sunrises I want to wallow in but….<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I am going to
wait till the love of my life gets here. I will hold on till Mr right knocks. I
will pause my life till my knight in shining armour appears. My whole being
shall be on recess. I shall not be moved!’’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Just stop
right there…. And I am here to beg you to moooove!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>You Are Not a Rock...MOVE</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How alarming
it is to see young and capable ladies putting their lives on hold for love.
They waste days and nights looking for life partners, months and years yearning
for their soul mates. Only to realise few years down the line when it’s a little
too late that Love finds you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I believe in
self-development, self-care and self-love. Let it be in your make up. Live it
and let it be your truth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Exhibit it so
loud that it’ll separate the sheep from the wolves. So loud that your fears and
insecurities are laid to rest. You know what they say, you set the standard of
how people are meant to treat you. You set the standard of how people are meant
to love you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Ultimately…It
all begins with you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep You!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You want to
eat in that plush restaurant but you want Mr Right to take you there, you want
to go watch that movie but you need a guy to accompany you, basically you want
to get your life together but you’re waiting on Mr Right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Sister…get it
together!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Mr Right will
come but first…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You’ll need
to stop being the devil’s workshop and get busy. You will need to set your house
in order, you've got to develop your inner man and when you've grown to be your
own person, you’ll need to be unapologetically you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You’ll have
to know who you are as a person. Find yourself while you’re single. I am not
saying your life should be perfect for you to get a Mr right but relationship
is hard work so knowing who you are makes the workload a tad easier. If you
don’t know who you are, chances are you will easily get lost in someone else. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Many a times
we want someone to love we for who we are but deep down we do not even know who
we are or what we want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">If you go
into the relationship as a burden, you’ll break its back before it even set off
to the stage of walking. Refuse to be that needy girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnxMHzytxszpc56Ffl7Q4trILKjIEnzHg0aQPMrP5FtAMcOl7kpccnyG1rYpdoTniNuh95wVEgiRHxT2rlp7Z8bRcDvpDkM97C0vGlYAm0jfevHpA4BxZ0L4vIAgItKac7VQe_9BcbqL2/s1600/needy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnxMHzytxszpc56Ffl7Q4trILKjIEnzHg0aQPMrP5FtAMcOl7kpccnyG1rYpdoTniNuh95wVEgiRHxT2rlp7Z8bRcDvpDkM97C0vGlYAm0jfevHpA4BxZ0L4vIAgItKac7VQe_9BcbqL2/s400/needy.jpg" width="395" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Don't Be That Girl</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">So I ask you...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">How are you
going to present yourself to him? How are you going to introduce yourself to
him? You want him to love you for you but who are you again? Do you even know? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The truth is
even if Mr Right comes in all his glory and you’re in the wrong place in your
life, he will still not be your Mr right. This is called a misplaced
opportunity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Don’t be that
person. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Believe it or
not, the woman who’s on her grind, fixing her life, living fully and not
waiting on no validation is more attractive than that bum sitting at home
waiting for Mr right to buy her that red bottoms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Likewise, A
finely built house on the market is often more expensive and more marketable than
an unfinished and tattered house. Simply because it holds more value because
the owner has spent time and energy into making it that way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Your being is
your temple and you are the architect, put in the work. Make it beautiful. Make
it interesting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">A
Relationship involves two people working towards a common goal not one man
financing the needs of a needy and desperate girl. A relationship is not a guy
with a net ready to rescue the other party from unhappiness. A relationship is
not the answer to all your problems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQWOQiI2u0pijnvgbmR4RcJ_56Gni2DHZiItRvZGlZpj4NGGw1uuQ4AlTC3Kv0EVPqv6GF0VhM5bp3vwXi5l16HDemIkQLXEBg2RWvdAnyhSC4D8iEbeG-0iomFinmgw4K-n59l5YGGVz/s1600/two+people+working+together.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQWOQiI2u0pijnvgbmR4RcJ_56Gni2DHZiItRvZGlZpj4NGGw1uuQ4AlTC3Kv0EVPqv6GF0VhM5bp3vwXi5l16HDemIkQLXEBg2RWvdAnyhSC4D8iEbeG-0iomFinmgw4K-n59l5YGGVz/s400/two+people+working+together.png" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Relationship Is Two People Working Together<br />Towards A Common Goal</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">People who
often wait around for Mr Right expect too much. And when those needs are not
met, they say he was a failure but how did you contribute towards that failed
relationship? Why were your expectations so high? Why did you think he will be
your endless supply of happiness while you put in zero efforts? Why did you
think he will be your all time high?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Get real.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Are you
looking for a partner or a saviour? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Again I say
be unapologetically you so much that when that knight in shining armour makes
an appearance even if he loves you less on some days, you’ll still be you and
you won’t be any less of a person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">When a man
finds you in that form, you leave him with no choice but to treat you with the
love and respect you’ve already been showering on yourself. He will stand up to be the man that you need him
to be which is the man that would love, respect and adore you if he doesn’t then
he has no place in your temple, no place in your life and kindly be unafraid to
show him the exit and continue to stay fabulous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He should
meet you in all your elements…doing great things for yourself, enjoying life to
its fullest and relishing each moment of now. He should take off where you left
off. He should complement your being and not complete you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Don’t waste
your time on earth waiting on your full stop. Look within. God has given you
all you need to succeed in this world you just need to recognise and act accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Don’t lose
sight of who you are. You’re packed with greatness and awesomeness. Walk with
your head high and exude all the elements of greatness you were created with
like excellence, grace, elegance, happiness, contentment, confidence and
more. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You’re so
much more. If only you know baby girl.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>No Apologies 'round here.</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">However, it
is not wrong to desire a man, it is not foolish to want someone to share your
life with and it is not settling to wish you had someone to experience certain
things with you but don’t put your life on hold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Remember you
might not have all your shit together but with all your flaws and imperfections
you are still complete. You are the package!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You should be
great all by yourself so when Mr Right comes, you’ll be a force. You’re good
all by yourself but with the right guy you should be better. You’re strong all
by yourself but with the right one you should be stronger. You should be happy
but with the right guy you should be happier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Why?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Because the
right people brings out the best in you...even on bad days and the days you
find it hard to smile. The best people inspire you to do better. Basically
whatever they bring to the table should add to you and not take away from what
you’ve already built. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Don’t stay in
the dumps and expect your prince charming to come rescue you from the debris of
your senselessness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You are your
own person first before you can be someone else’s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">So I say to
you...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Go on that
trip, dine at the finest restaurants, treat yourself, be happy, date yourself,
travel wide and far, keep smiling, be unapologetically you, trust your dopeness,
be alone with your thoughts, dance, buy the shoes, go on that spa date, stay on
your grind, don’t wait on weekends, pay your bills, be unbothered, take up a
hobby, go to the movies and buy your own popcorn, validate yourself, be kind,
laugh at yourself, live, be thoughtful, pray and slay!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Who knows,
during this course, Mr Right might just walk in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZW8oVget-ygODyI6iUrcETq3I7ec7OR1K6kkgt6088hWgveUjtr3X6b216svAG98tBiG0tAFGUCMirCRtXouptkS0kbaLjFUU9Tqp6ad6LSJUmcBpYRCpLmBt7p_cEvMuRMBGgQupNjzZ/s1600/stay+fabulous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZW8oVget-ygODyI6iUrcETq3I7ec7OR1K6kkgt6088hWgveUjtr3X6b216svAG98tBiG0tAFGUCMirCRtXouptkS0kbaLjFUU9Tqp6ad6LSJUmcBpYRCpLmBt7p_cEvMuRMBGgQupNjzZ/s400/stay+fabulous.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Stay Fabulous!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Stay fabulous
my ladies!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Till then…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Xoxo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-43050044213175713692015-10-09T16:32:00.001+01:002015-10-12T12:46:25.134+01:00 Life of a wanderer<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">As the ever true saying goes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">‘’Not all those who wander
are lost’’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I have always had a bucket
list and on that list was the urge to travel, so I made the decision to do just
that. With or without a travelling buddy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I am not trying to escape
from anything, nor am I running away from something. I am not lonely. I am not
on the rebound. I am not running towards something either. I have not been diagnosed
with a fatal disease and given few months to live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I am far from being lost. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I am just a girl that thinks
there’s more to life than just going back home to Sierra Leone for Christmas
and Easter holidays each year. I am a girl who thinks there is more to life
than just work, pay bills and die. I am just a girl that thinks there’s always
something new to learn if we allow ourselves. I am just a girl who is full of
curiosity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Therefore I set out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7UGXkvholMXDHVGt5KvrK8Co0AxnQu0hn4JVF9bbd9WaFtVjEZjm6OdwrXQUMpz4akcakH0gkpIS7HgkL3NPeu9PDeBr-dU69woKZoanv8XlRuuZRzxx7EjUXpyp4fjsAjGTyPBCxNE5/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7UGXkvholMXDHVGt5KvrK8Co0AxnQu0hn4JVF9bbd9WaFtVjEZjm6OdwrXQUMpz4akcakH0gkpIS7HgkL3NPeu9PDeBr-dU69woKZoanv8XlRuuZRzxx7EjUXpyp4fjsAjGTyPBCxNE5/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Don't Judge Me</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">This decision was solidified after
I received a return ticket for my birthday 2 years ago to Dubai. That was an
eye opener. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">It did whet my appetite to
see more of the world and gave me just the zeal I needed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NvqFEzj_VGvt_ZUntDrryfJdO5jfhLQ4YB4QXnHHHSG48f7zoCbgST-t-2Hq15jTfCcz4kzIXJDykCOJmMGbMl2smiOWZzvrQNubDN7Hj3v-hr90GwxMxSjKz3ElmV8MGt5uMxQlkuCe/s1600/Screenshot_2015-10-09-15-59-41-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NvqFEzj_VGvt_ZUntDrryfJdO5jfhLQ4YB4QXnHHHSG48f7zoCbgST-t-2Hq15jTfCcz4kzIXJDykCOJmMGbMl2smiOWZzvrQNubDN7Hj3v-hr90GwxMxSjKz3ElmV8MGt5uMxQlkuCe/s400/Screenshot_2015-10-09-15-59-41-1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Eye Opener - Dubai</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Therefore I set out to see at
least two different countries each year. And since then I have been doing just
that and sometimes I do exceed my limit and I’ll do up to three countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Some of these were done with
travelling partners, others alone. But I’ll concentrate on the lone traveller
for now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I have spoken to so many
people and they are scared to travel alone. They always need someone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I can see why, with all the
crazy news and natural disasters…you really don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">But I say, Trust yourself a
bit more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">First of all I am not saying
I am totally fearless, what </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">I'm</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> saying is that I am just a girl who goes after
what makes me happy. And in the journey of that fear does not play a part. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">My mother fears my
adventurous side. My brother thinks </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">I'm</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> ‘’free spirited’’ My Grandmother thinks i have a death wish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">All of the above makes me
laugh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One thing is for sure and
that is I have never been scared once while on any of my journeys so far. I
have been excited, anxious, and extremely happy but afraid? No! I guess the
excitement takes away the spirit of fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-G4SPPWsuGzKiB3qXGak63_I70ap-zF11CtHE-YVwXMkzVz85-Tk4H0ewR1Wr5ZLKLOL80S2JrTfJdHyr9K61Ki0dRfqtooFPv5_R28cAMUbaxVY635pjDOoxkgKAWsFMy3W0r8jLsOM/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-G4SPPWsuGzKiB3qXGak63_I70ap-zF11CtHE-YVwXMkzVz85-Tk4H0ewR1Wr5ZLKLOL80S2JrTfJdHyr9K61Ki0dRfqtooFPv5_R28cAMUbaxVY635pjDOoxkgKAWsFMy3W0r8jLsOM/s640/2.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Excitement Overpowers the Fear - Malta</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I think the journey of a solo
traveller starts from within. You have to be able to be on your own, be happy
on your own and be able to take the lead in your life. You have to be open,
cautious and accepting. You have to learn how to behave when things do not go
your way and the consequences your decisions have on others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">All of this and more are
things you have to conquer before you can venture out into an unknown land all
by yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">There’s nothing to fear. You
will discover parts of you that you never knew existed. You will understand
hidden parts of you better and you will find out that you’re braver, wiser and
more capable than you thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Are you scared of the journey
or are you scared of the label people will throw your way?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">People are going to think
you’re lost, some will say you’re recovering from something others will say you
need help but what do you care?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Remember it is your life,
labels don’t make you and they certainly can’t break you. If you love
travelling, do it. You have nothing to lose and you will never regret the
decision. Most times the people who have the most trash to say knows little or
nothing about your life. You know yourself better and baby, the world is your
oyster. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">What are you waiting for?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLcgQ1eWZnKAnBHJOCvZXxzq_Ds_BnmhuCkfu1K0ApbStIrDSxbRk8JzdAu27FAQn_e9MjvQ4ngep4NkvmK6k52G3JNv9VUSgutOvuFNYsKc1UUFXs0kGja3Q8TEFbM2OKuzpxWqLYTFf/s1600/101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLcgQ1eWZnKAnBHJOCvZXxzq_Ds_BnmhuCkfu1K0ApbStIrDSxbRk8JzdAu27FAQn_e9MjvQ4ngep4NkvmK6k52G3JNv9VUSgutOvuFNYsKc1UUFXs0kGja3Q8TEFbM2OKuzpxWqLYTFf/s400/101.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>What Are You Waiting For? - Ibiza</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Which brings me to my next
point. Some people’s lives have been put on hold. On hold because they are
waiting for their finance to be right, for them to get their master’s degree,
on hold till they get married or meet their prince charming, or till they land
that million dollar job or maybe they’re just waiting to get it all together
before they can embark on travelling, be it solo or not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">That is the thing, I never
waited for no perfect moments, I made the moments perfect. I </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">didn't</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> wait for no
one, I realised that I have myself. I to solely rely on and sometimes you’ll
find out that…that is enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I understand that the future
is but an illusion so I am making the most of now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">My finances are not doing the
happy dance but I made the sacrifice to forego </span>certain things for the other. I
wanted to travel so I make it happen. I had to go easy on the excessive shoes
and Saturday night take outs in exchange for a plane ticket.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I forgo the extensive
wardrobe in exchange for sunsets in a strange land and the colourful and blazing
cultures of different people. I was intrigued by all the fascinations this
beautiful world has to offer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">So I set off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAYLnlKd1-GBYsYD55Hn5BEQHd-nUpmBxZyGFaofeHHU4oQ6PJDZwRoKALREKrGKhvPIOZaqfzq4YT6HDP966tgTFkK5hy-O1i1DJzk7Ww-e24zLFVd0jD2JfWVbRaxK9_V6c8sjbu4cT/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAYLnlKd1-GBYsYD55Hn5BEQHd-nUpmBxZyGFaofeHHU4oQ6PJDZwRoKALREKrGKhvPIOZaqfzq4YT6HDP966tgTFkK5hy-O1i1DJzk7Ww-e24zLFVd0jD2JfWVbRaxK9_V6c8sjbu4cT/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">And I haven’t looked back, if
anything I wished I had done it sooner. I wished I had made that decision
sooner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">But never late than never. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">People say to me all the
time…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">‘’Oh Doris you have too much money’’
‘’Oh you tourist, touring the world’’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Even my employer once said,
‘’Doris I think we are paying you too much’’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Again I do laugh at some of
these misconceptions. However they do not come at a surprise at all. These are
some of the common misconceptions geared towards those who dared to see the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I am not rich. I do not
travel to show off affluence. I do not travel to be labelled. I do not travel
to prove anything to anyone. I do not travel because my life is put together
all so neatly, in fact I am far from neatly put together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I travel because I love
waking up to the sunrise in different countries. I adore the sunsets in the evenings.
I love culture and I find it very intriguing. I enjoy different palates.
Languages excites me. I love everything that travelling presents. No two
journey is the same, so imagine the excitement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I live for those moments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I am not here to say travelling </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">doesn't</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> cost money because it does but in future posts I shall be highlighting
ways and means to show that you do not have to break the bank to see a
different country ever so often.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Likewise, I am not here to
convince you to take up travelling because we are all so different and we all
have different hobbies and travelling may not be one of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">But I am here to tell you
that travelling is something that has a positive impact and it is everything it
cracks up to be and everyone must venture out, at least once a year into the
unknown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We all need recess and
someone once said that most things will work again if you only unplug it for
few minutes….including you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Take time out and fly away…sometimes
it’s a bus away, other times just few minutes’ drive away. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6V3x4yAgbGT3G5QdBZLMl9QujdHYEE9u9DfxmQOuRjF2ovc4Pn0Ebrw6qm06hOatCBIjofswl1hsFmAVhxf60U3Ve8fEhuJOskSPZaIgQ3t_cfm24bdsRRIe30qkeoCI7bry5DfSBRX3n/s1600/1439050867745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6V3x4yAgbGT3G5QdBZLMl9QujdHYEE9u9DfxmQOuRjF2ovc4Pn0Ebrw6qm06hOatCBIjofswl1hsFmAVhxf60U3Ve8fEhuJOskSPZaIgQ3t_cfm24bdsRRIe30qkeoCI7bry5DfSBRX3n/s640/1439050867745.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sometimes I am A Tourist In My City -<br />St Paul's Cathedral - London</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Where would you go if you
were given a free plane ticket? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Think about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubhv45V0YDVz_xLfqiJgpwwW4U-M2ZpyTu28L3hGbZhAntWMIREu436F8WpIC7v62QzKDv_HP1lWhDL7mfq69yDmeQt49iMFGmx096BLT3dzDbNelsDdFquYCH5bT-afKNGZo_pt9uEyV/s1600/101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubhv45V0YDVz_xLfqiJgpwwW4U-M2ZpyTu28L3hGbZhAntWMIREu436F8WpIC7v62QzKDv_HP1lWhDL7mfq69yDmeQt49iMFGmx096BLT3dzDbNelsDdFquYCH5bT-afKNGZo_pt9uEyV/s400/101.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just Do It</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Till then<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Xoxo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-80097083864904097882015-09-16T16:35:00.001+01:002017-02-16T08:06:54.716+00:0030 Things <div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">So I hit age 30
few months ago. Errmmm…I never experredit!! Where did time flew to? It was just
yesterday I was celebrating my 21<sup>st</sup> birthday and now I’m slowly creeping
towards pensioner's realm.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dirty 30</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">I struggled to
accept it in the beginning, so much that few days leading to the birthday I
tried to keep the birthday and the age on the down low but my cousins were not
having it so by the time it was 6am on the 5<sup>th</sup> of July, the world
knew I was 30. Great!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The World Knew I was 30!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Will I take back
my years of the good, the bad and the ugly?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Naahh… I have
been through too much but likewise I have learned too much to erase those
memories. It has not been smooth sailing but still I wake up every day thankful
to God because it could be worse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Too much light
have come out of my darkness, so with that
I say roll on the next 30 years of my life. I’m not fully equipped but I’m
ready! But then again, who’s ever fully equipped for life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">I have lived
and I have learned. I’ve had first-hand experiences which no one taught me in
school but life did. I have cried, and laughed and sometimes wished it will all
go away, I have given up hope, I have prayed and I have found my strength again
in GOD when I thought I had nothing left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Aye I could go
on and on but I would like to summarise my experiences in 30 Things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"> (It's way
more than that but I wouldn’t like to bore you all) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">So here goes...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Family over everything. You bend, you
bend and you bend but guess what, the ties never break.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUzpaRVdh2WmYPdxbPr4SKKRqGgVtQYxZaRUTQWv5HoKNaPiSBzSYdfSirwL59OgTEh6U0RhExR7R7uXABGTNURojqBSKOPGcyOG4mCEvK_itFSGzlX5SA6hUXVJsHuqVYLDxKcSp5S2d/s1600/11755188_10153134026433002_2546036180817622614_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUzpaRVdh2WmYPdxbPr4SKKRqGgVtQYxZaRUTQWv5HoKNaPiSBzSYdfSirwL59OgTEh6U0RhExR7R7uXABGTNURojqBSKOPGcyOG4mCEvK_itFSGzlX5SA6hUXVJsHuqVYLDxKcSp5S2d/s400/11755188_10153134026433002_2546036180817622614_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My A team</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">People are not against you, at least
not everyone is. People are for themselves. The sooner you understand this, the
better. The world owes you nothing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">If you do not have God, then what do
you have? I’ll tell you….nothing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Whoever carved the phrase ‘’No New
Friends’’ didn’t know the first thing about friendship and sure didn’t know
what they were talking about.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmLmbesIKZg7aEumMAcxePL2J5-FoqT3qVavRScrSZI6hipdUMEdu0zyYpvzAeqbSV_O1lB2lRA9OrrTF2W-Ge7QT_y0ohr4X4tUEXg_bTcoj7pKLS4t44ijvm4oUkvHrEC5vJajXPOgP/s1600/new+friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmLmbesIKZg7aEumMAcxePL2J5-FoqT3qVavRScrSZI6hipdUMEdu0zyYpvzAeqbSV_O1lB2lRA9OrrTF2W-Ge7QT_y0ohr4X4tUEXg_bTcoj7pKLS4t44ijvm4oUkvHrEC5vJajXPOgP/s400/new+friends.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No New Friends? GTFOH</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Treat people better than they treat
you, always. And be nice. Whoever says it pays to be nice, knew exactly what
they were talking about. I get away with murder by being nice. Life is hard
already, stop throwing stones at people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">6.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">It is possible to do all the right
things and still fail. Don’t live your life looking for answers, that is quite unfulfilling but rather live within the questions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">7.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Someone’s idea of you is never your
reality. It’s just that, their idea and opinion. Never allow it to get to you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">8.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">You can’t control everything that
happens to you in this unpredictable life but what you’re in charge of is how
you react to every situation that occurs in your life. My younger brother once
said to me that the only person I can control is myself. So when bad things happen that I can’t change, all I have to do is choose to change my attitude
towards it. This is the way I see obstacles now and it is a damn good
perspective.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Your Attitude has a Lot To Do With Everything<br />Fight till My Last Strength Is Exhausted!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">9.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Before holding grudge, talk to the
person first, sometimes they have no idea what you’re going through or that they've hurt you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">10.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">You
can’t save a man from himself. Now let that resonate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">11.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">If
making you happy is costing me my happiness then I can’t afford you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">12.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Life
is not black and white –there are grey areas. Just because it haven’t happened
for you yet, it doesn't mean you’re failing. It’s just not time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">13.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">God
do not let me forget that I need you in my best days as I did on my worse days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">14.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">It
is okay to cry, doesn't matter if you’re a man or woman. Never suppress an overwhelming feeling. You’re human, don’t you ever forget that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">15.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Don’t
sweat the small stuff. Life is a series of ebb and flow. Most things are not as
bad as we make them to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">16.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">This
too shall pass. This mantra gives me hope in the darkest of time. It gives me a
flashback of the many times that I have been able to pull through in life.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4UNC-npbtlJCRLHzrdBLJ9xPoReo-gyKKCpA1cfP3I6-pT_-TXoSJYyHMe9jtvS1uwPX7ShXtRKHTaa4xkCg7PEPE5O-Wv-MJkcy4XJisAa-gFVEmvA4Q6enWubaS8A0z2PAf4ngf8rC/s1600/11219045_10153134027323002_6386386383676588739_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4UNC-npbtlJCRLHzrdBLJ9xPoReo-gyKKCpA1cfP3I6-pT_-TXoSJYyHMe9jtvS1uwPX7ShXtRKHTaa4xkCg7PEPE5O-Wv-MJkcy4XJisAa-gFVEmvA4Q6enWubaS8A0z2PAf4ngf8rC/s400/11219045_10153134027323002_6386386383676588739_n.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My Harshest Critic And Greatest Supporter<br /> My Mother!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">17.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Be
present in every moment, I cannot stress this enough. Stop looking for the big
things, relish every tiny little happiness in your life. Some people exist only
for the big finale but the secret is to look for the good in every situation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">18.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">They
will love you. They will adore you. And they can still hurt you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">19.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Love
yourself, adore and cherish yourself like you would a loved one. Heck, be
conceited. Be kind to you. Treat yourself, date yourself and be careful how you speak to
yourself, YOU are listening</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL09RRbRS5phnagvSB28FG7u2b6iqQQJhI3acpPK5KUa0tiCNEMhqRKcTPGvLzbNGuSOVLA6LJ3kmi2dzXX4lPW4N-WThPIcpx7na0Y1uAkQ9tniBuwB3Bk-BIgV2RmWJv_mzap6yT7Uk/s1600/11846627_10153163732318002_5671399359381089835_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL09RRbRS5phnagvSB28FG7u2b6iqQQJhI3acpPK5KUa0tiCNEMhqRKcTPGvLzbNGuSOVLA6LJ3kmi2dzXX4lPW4N-WThPIcpx7na0Y1uAkQ9tniBuwB3Bk-BIgV2RmWJv_mzap6yT7Uk/s400/11846627_10153163732318002_5671399359381089835_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Be Conceited And Take Shameless Selfies</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-indent: 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">20.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Jeremiah
29:11 - My ultimate bible verse. I call it hope. If I ever have another tattoo, this would be
it.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">21.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Writing
is good but what is even better is talking. Make sure you have that one
non-judgemental person with a listening ear in your life. Most times, a good
catharsis is what we need.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">22.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">I
used to wait on happiness. Then I realised that happiness doesn’t always come
in grand style. Now a cup of coffee makes me happy, the company of my family,
the smile on my grandmother’s face, my God-children leaving voice notes on
WhatsApp make me really happy. The small things are the moments that matter.
Don’t let them pass you by without noticing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWT8HzzLmo1z-g_ZD0lozkNPOMxWIt0ZTVEXjH685uwQYKe7ZSvUSIkmKdZJLwY95c97hsm7xao7EYGZHDcOiuoNz7wj5DlLXNYzbvLUckyKYystvda3F4atKd5as-uxaXXlzUcaZhOlg/s1600/Snapchat-1106828211298545956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWT8HzzLmo1z-g_ZD0lozkNPOMxWIt0ZTVEXjH685uwQYKe7ZSvUSIkmKdZJLwY95c97hsm7xao7EYGZHDcOiuoNz7wj5DlLXNYzbvLUckyKYystvda3F4atKd5as-uxaXXlzUcaZhOlg/s400/Snapchat-1106828211298545956.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Their VoiceNotes On Whatsaap <br />Always Put A Smile On My Fac</b>e</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">23.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Being
attractive has a lot less to do with how you look. But a whole lot more to do
with how you treat people and handle certain situation. How you react to events
and happenings in your life and how you make people feel about themselves.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">24.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">You
never know how fucked up someone is until you try to love them.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">25.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Love
is a decision. Love is more than a feeling. Love is a decision you make every
passing day.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">26.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Life
is full of unplanned events and sometimes life slaps you across the face. You
will have bad days and you will have days that nothing seems to be going right.
Life will turn you upside now and there’s nothing you can do about it. Hold
tight. God gives his hardest battle to his toughest soldiers. Learn from it.
You will be okay, eventually. Trust me on this one.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">27.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Take
heed to criticism. Sometimes the things that upsets us the most are things we
need to change in ourselves. Criticism can be a great inner mirror. Not
everyone is out to get you, sometimes people are telling you the truth. Listen.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdCr5vQh0MWZccWsJYgHqPoqYyK7b7PY1LmXZTlUbW_ETo76QCJ9_MdbjeXAHeX_ddpaSkJQNb2iHOx7CQNs358Xk2WymrQ-2LiuuZa0XBy8yVs2Ckwp0cYfzXAMXaFzBDldZ7suoHycU/s1600/b+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdCr5vQh0MWZccWsJYgHqPoqYyK7b7PY1LmXZTlUbW_ETo76QCJ9_MdbjeXAHeX_ddpaSkJQNb2iHOx7CQNs358Xk2WymrQ-2LiuuZa0XBy8yVs2Ckwp0cYfzXAMXaFzBDldZ7suoHycU/s400/b+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Have Confidence But Stay Humble</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">28.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Have
confidence in yourself but stay humble. Confidence without fear of what people
may think of you. A confidence that doesn’t waver even when people don’t
approve of you.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: 5px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">29.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Strive
to be a better person. You are not always right. You are not the standard,
judge less. Listen to your intuition and every now and again, stop and do some
inner soul cleaning.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">30.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">You
are magic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">With that i have to say, live with no regrets, it's a waste of time. Learn from mistakes made and remember to live life fully....regardless of all the many curve balls life throws at us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JbBVl-DrLtn6qpcq7eN0ATscly1kv7j2OBOze5KqWVuYXsvJ-HnZ9gJgUf0H2N5BHEjH4B-uTfGrPkVJ0U04AUwDxbTMem9ASkSMtdWF0Cw_ILxWF-Rw0g3CMlZBqx3m5YHEA1JfAzHD/s1600/IMG-20150706-WA0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JbBVl-DrLtn6qpcq7eN0ATscly1kv7j2OBOze5KqWVuYXsvJ-HnZ9gJgUf0H2N5BHEjH4B-uTfGrPkVJ0U04AUwDxbTMem9ASkSMtdWF0Cw_ILxWF-Rw0g3CMlZBqx3m5YHEA1JfAzHD/s400/IMG-20150706-WA0027.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Live Life To The Fullest</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Till next time</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Xoxo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-54428134084522774342015-08-21T15:04:00.001+01:002017-02-16T08:08:35.491+00:00How Long They Choose To Love You Will Never Be Your Decision<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let your
guard down they say. Let’s be vulnerable together they say. Fall in love with
me, I will catch you they proclaimed. Let’s make this last forever they
exclaimed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t we wish
life was that easy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you see
them you light up, butterflies in the stomach, giggling like a well fed baby
and all of a sudden you develop a stutter. Yep that’s your common sense leaving
your being. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Congratulations,
you’re in love. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EuXFPkKvGcybVwHRQgdAIkCLmshNRsKNh8Lzcr6m5feRaqo4xS1HKeRmsm_WMm0sg4JUNq9GNt9iUdz4zmdbX7tMfpHfjEBlcVNAk8ewbvoyQsJKsap9I0C4ut4b2CYG5zVwNvxAESbH/s1600/in+love.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EuXFPkKvGcybVwHRQgdAIkCLmshNRsKNh8Lzcr6m5feRaqo4xS1HKeRmsm_WMm0sg4JUNq9GNt9iUdz4zmdbX7tMfpHfjEBlcVNAk8ewbvoyQsJKsap9I0C4ut4b2CYG5zVwNvxAESbH/s400/in+love.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Congratulations!!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You’re so
attracted to them that seeing them becomes the best part of your day. You smile
like a Cheshire cat and all of a sudden because of them your days become brighter
and life is good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You’re happy.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYmMJkRdcSH_1kCAbZ021NkHKuGrp1Pzj0O64cXkWHFiWgGUHNbWGDRj8Tz86SRjITzrdK0_9qYkj-hcggVOxhPnd9OE7NmExnTK1Uwo5bNQyTaRmshVdM_NN1hmsKv0IiAMTa8RaHiDI/s1600/happy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYmMJkRdcSH_1kCAbZ021NkHKuGrp1Pzj0O64cXkWHFiWgGUHNbWGDRj8Tz86SRjITzrdK0_9qYkj-hcggVOxhPnd9OE7NmExnTK1Uwo5bNQyTaRmshVdM_NN1hmsKv0IiAMTa8RaHiDI/s400/happy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>32s On Fleek</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One day your
days become a nightmare and nights become longer. Your bright and cheerful
world becomes this dimly-lit hell hole. You find it hard to believe, harder to
smile and even harder breathe. Things are not the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You start
wondering….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What happened
to happily ever after? What happen to I’ll catch you when you fall? And
whatever happened to let’s make this last forever?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Every day
becomes a struggle. Appetite is gone. The will to live vanishes right before
your eyes and all of a sudden nothing else matters. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So many
unanswered questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why wasn’t I
enough? Wasn’t I good enough? Were you even mine to begin with? What am I
supposed to do when our song comes on? Combating those feelings will be the
hardest thing you’ve ever done.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QkNRUuqAWIhm7wNHSYZZOxrM1_6hHh7Ii303_JXk-6amp_Uu9J5eZnYaZW1Y1x5_pfMfW6kbYmjn6gMbO0_2D5YloAWz2Pbl-WnCQzknhWo3xUlFOAZrS0djQb3JSH0438gVp7MkgmDA/s1600/what+to+do+when+song.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QkNRUuqAWIhm7wNHSYZZOxrM1_6hHh7Ii303_JXk-6amp_Uu9J5eZnYaZW1Y1x5_pfMfW6kbYmjn6gMbO0_2D5YloAWz2Pbl-WnCQzknhWo3xUlFOAZrS0djQb3JSH0438gVp7MkgmDA/s400/what+to+do+when+song.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>What am i Supposed To Do When Our Song Comes On?</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All the sweet
nothings that they used to whisper in your ears don’t make sense anymore. You
try replaying them in your head and try figuring out where things went wrong. Whenever
you do a clearing out, there’s always a reminder of what you used to
share...silly notes of dreams that turned into a nightmare overnight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You cry your
eye balls out. No phone calls and no contact with the outside world as you go
through pile and piles of tissues.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can’t
even tell your friends because you’re ashamed, you can’t tell your parents
because they had high hopes for you too. Heck you can’t even convince yourself
that the one person you thought belonged to you, the one person you chose to
love, the one person you chose to be vulnerable with, the one person you
thought was your forever is gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then it hits
you…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It hits you
hard that life is a series of unplanned events, a ball of obstacles, a chaotic
mess and a merry go round of shit and giggles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You start
realising that how long they chose to love you will never be your decision.
When they choose to leave there’s nothing you can do to change that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I stopped
believing in forevers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You start to
realise that the forever people so often talk about is nothing if the moments
are not cherished. The forever is somewhere we don’t often make, so I often
tell people. Enjoy the moments because if all else fails, you might not have
reached a forever but you’ve experienced what True love is. And even if it
wasn’t true, once upon a time in a happy place, you’ve experienced love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And that is
something everyone must experience.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4W0dH8EjFKxcDRI20L9gTiWGpJ6XKJf8rifnfZZ9_FxlxADjgriMXVvSZMkFiJwUHBA6HmdecXg5bVQg1HDUS54yXJ_Ark3QVb7HFUbNPH1AayghOqeV7PkoVwj4mlSsJlaZoMFuvvyT/s1600/forever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4W0dH8EjFKxcDRI20L9gTiWGpJ6XKJf8rifnfZZ9_FxlxADjgriMXVvSZMkFiJwUHBA6HmdecXg5bVQg1HDUS54yXJ_Ark3QVb7HFUbNPH1AayghOqeV7PkoVwj4mlSsJlaZoMFuvvyT/s400/forever.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One True Love Experience Outweighs<br /> a Thousand Promised Forevers.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You now know
that love is more than a feeling, it a decision you make every day, and people
change all the time. Nothing is constant, even that I LOVE YOU that they so
often whisper in your ears can falter with time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What’s your
assurance?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You learn
that someone else’s love is not yours to own. Therefore it is never yours to
lose. It is yours for that time, for that moment, for that period. So
experience it and enjoy it when it’s around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">People love
and lost all the time and when that love is over, when that love is not enough
anymore, when that love no longer serves as your happy place you can’t hold
them as prisoners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let it go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You run into
them in the mall, living life like nothing happened while you have to struggle
to get out of bed every day. To give the world the sunshine. To pretend like
everything is ok. And to find the strength to go through each passing day. Now
that is true strength.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I applaud
you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You’re forced
to see them in public living their lives, hugging, laughing and giggling with
their new love. Holding hands and doing all the things you both used to do. Now
that kills you each time. And you can’t help but wonder if they ever cared at
all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No one
understands the magnitude of pain.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDEA_wiaZO5tH374_F2uWwTFMAGw0q9qyamBAVfE7VRmLLsn_Ln4SDP_EZcCDiFg-jZaqY7k-Rl3lukd4D4_-l6aTsz21jsx_dZaJIs8LNJDNjA-blasOZEd6tryhnhVFy0AU0o-Fq-Lg/s1600/pda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDEA_wiaZO5tH374_F2uWwTFMAGw0q9qyamBAVfE7VRmLLsn_Ln4SDP_EZcCDiFg-jZaqY7k-Rl3lukd4D4_-l6aTsz21jsx_dZaJIs8LNJDNjA-blasOZEd6tryhnhVFy0AU0o-Fq-Lg/s400/pda.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Living Life Like Its Golden...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You log on Facebook
and they’re all you see. Plastering pictures everywhere. Happy couple. All
smiles. And in your alone moment you’re wondering why me? Is he going to do the
same thing to her? Will she be the one? What about all the things he said to
me? What happened to the forevers I was promised? What ever happened to the
sparkle in her eyes that used to come alive each time we spoke?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s gone. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8JLfMs8Ol4G0JSsmrS5WXt5C4ZLTnZMuVah8y9jg_ItUK-O23MXJcYTXsJdHHsfjkBrdOc45hBnA2XVeiiXH-nNYQVjIvFlZoHmy7u82mTsoY-G4CmXm6biQt6f4Q6wWqmyH0uCEQA14/s1600/lost+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8JLfMs8Ol4G0JSsmrS5WXt5C4ZLTnZMuVah8y9jg_ItUK-O23MXJcYTXsJdHHsfjkBrdOc45hBnA2XVeiiXH-nNYQVjIvFlZoHmy7u82mTsoY-G4CmXm6biQt6f4Q6wWqmyH0uCEQA14/s400/lost+love.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It Was Never Yours To Own!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And accepting
that is a daily battle. A daily struggle. Sometimes you’ll have to fight a
little harder to make it through the day. But no one knows that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seeing the
person you love, love someone else is the greatest pain of all time. You can’t
explain it but it stings. My god it stings!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lost love
teaches you to be a better human. You can only understand the pain of loss when
you’ve had sleepless nights, soaking tear-wet pillows, and that gut wrenching
feeling like your heart’s been ripped from your chest. And that is an awful awful
feeling. That is pain. That is raw pain. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuMFwspjg1jxB_BdQgr-qLKJzVJLvozTGiIGcLY4ECy-inW9DyEzjuF-kCP7fxaWHAUlEHK3zjtnR0EEGWI6B2H06GQGi6Q68g3DDPcckkDTBZbyibZFBIOV5O-SQ_xHg4FKxY5KET5BA/s1600/heart+ripped+from+your+chest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuMFwspjg1jxB_BdQgr-qLKJzVJLvozTGiIGcLY4ECy-inW9DyEzjuF-kCP7fxaWHAUlEHK3zjtnR0EEGWI6B2H06GQGi6Q68g3DDPcckkDTBZbyibZFBIOV5O-SQ_xHg4FKxY5KET5BA/s640/heart+ripped+from+your+chest.jpg" width="409" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>That Gut -Wrenching Feeling</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That awful
feeling and excruciating pain teaches you a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It teaches
you to be strong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It teaches
you that forever is merely a safe word. Forever is just that…a forever. And it’s
nothing more than a promised place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It helps you
to realise your strength and capabilities. In such an awful unguarded moment,
you learn that you are enough. You learn that the love of another does not
relieve you off the duty of loving yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You treat
people with caution and respect and regards because you know what it feels like
to be hurt, to be in a dark place, to cry all night with no one to wipe your
tears. To hear your own scared quivering voice at night when all the lights are
out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When the only
light you see at that time is the moon through the cracks of your window
curtain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It teaches
you to never hang on to the theory of one day or the promise of forever but
rather seizing each moment because even if it ends one day, you weren’t waiting
around for a promised forever, nor were you striking down the calendar for days
mounting up to that one day. You’ll be sad its ended, you’ll be gutted but not
as much as you would be if all you shared was a promised forever and series of
one day.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aRUa0cblDji1GTELelYlJtJpG58HbJkNdsUTx3Rb6dRiM4aR5JDQOQrS3g3lEdPb1bYGH9SLzjMTbSCLxN2wR_LJCPAiLaNRTnTbF7H6v_rZTxjFTQS0I8s-aCfC3VeqfyPqqcJTXQkU/s1600/infinity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aRUa0cblDji1GTELelYlJtJpG58HbJkNdsUTx3Rb6dRiM4aR5JDQOQrS3g3lEdPb1bYGH9SLzjMTbSCLxN2wR_LJCPAiLaNRTnTbF7H6v_rZTxjFTQS0I8s-aCfC3VeqfyPqqcJTXQkU/s400/infinity.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Little but Great Infinity</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A lost love
teaches you the art of being a moment grabber and that I have learnt is a
beautiful thing. You take each moment and make it beautiful. You learn the hard
fact that life is too short and too long for unhappiness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You learn
that you do not have to break your bones to fit into someone’s idea of love.
You understand that your type of love is not for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And when you
will decide to give love another try, you will understand the essence of being
present in every moment.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIEcmCLluXJTp0trpiEcw3CeBPzl60v2OnS5cpDbVhz4e3Racwm3HdVZ4jeEiAJqDYf8943HmqS6eUzBPb4yP0kCOxRwq3yeOApj_zkGJ_JIqIEU5OVIJDKgkBoKmPg4HTuNV9nFCLUR-/s1600/love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIEcmCLluXJTp0trpiEcw3CeBPzl60v2OnS5cpDbVhz4e3Racwm3HdVZ4jeEiAJqDYf8943HmqS6eUzBPb4yP0kCOxRwq3yeOApj_zkGJ_JIqIEU5OVIJDKgkBoKmPg4HTuNV9nFCLUR-/s400/love.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Relationships Sometimes Can Be a Challenge<br /> But It Should Never Be A Struggle.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And it will
be clear that the heart as little as it is holds a significant amount of
strength as it goes through heartbreak after heartbreak but never loses the
power to feel…..and eventually love again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You will be
guarded. You will be scared. You’ll be unsure. And if they’re worth your time, they will
understand this. They will unbox you carefully, with love and care. They will
love the dustiest part of your soul with all understanding and they will give
you time to heal…heal on your own terms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You are happy
and at peace with the confirmation that the heart that’s meant to love you, will
love you and they won’t have to break a bone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Through all
of this the important and unwavering lesson remain. The lesson to love without
attachment. To understand that all could be gone in a day. To never etch your
whole experience in one day. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You do not have
to promise me a happily ever after. You do not have to promise me a forever.
Heck, don’t sell me dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am content.
I am content with this moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For the
journey, endeavour to always be present, present in the moment. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because once upon
a lonely night sky, a lost love taught me to love what I have while I have it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Till next time</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">XoXo</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-90242362418486994072015-07-30T14:42:00.001+01:002015-07-30T14:42:57.822+01:00Dating My Generation <div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I would like you to have a cup of patience and a
plate of sighs to go with your anti-pissed off tablet today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Why you might wonder, because what I’m about to
say will probably hit a nerve, so get prepared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">My mother is always on my case telling me how
picky I am and my dad is always asking after my bloke, as he calls it. What
they don’t get is how disturbed our generation is when it comes to dating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Maybe it’s just me or maybe I am just stuck in an
unknown era but dating my generation is a conquest on its own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I mean, life is hard already. Dating shouldn’t be
a pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5v3gFCtCTgu8xTnNkQMEZ8B7a60ar8UR4q5Ydoe0micA_2KdLO1zFUKLSzF7fTiBLdjS40Cgw2THqbsCVVlDJBacquE1f-Pd_kPnx8sv2pJqAfH13SoUwxG50UoN_yzHt46_SgKhlwfr/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5v3gFCtCTgu8xTnNkQMEZ8B7a60ar8UR4q5Ydoe0micA_2KdLO1zFUKLSzF7fTiBLdjS40Cgw2THqbsCVVlDJBacquE1f-Pd_kPnx8sv2pJqAfH13SoUwxG50UoN_yzHt46_SgKhlwfr/s400/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<b>We Have Forgotten The Simple Things</b></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">First of all, we all think we’re the best thing since
sliced bread. And don’t get me wrong I am all for self-love and knowing thy worth.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">But my oh my… my generation takes the boat out to
sea!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">When someone shows interest in us we start rolling out the calendar. We start acting like a fool, stringing them along to see how long
the person will keep pursuing our interest and consequently be the fool for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Well here’s the thing about playing hard to get, you need to know when
to stop, but my generation ….ahhh we have no stop sign. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">In dating my generation get ready for the competition of a lifetime. Everything
is a competition and I mean EVERYTHANG. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Who’s going text or call first? Who’s going to make the first move and
how many hours apart must the texts be. Everything is so carefully calculated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you take 5 minutes to reply to my messages best believe we’ll times
that by 5 before we send a response.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Our greatest struggle is the fight in our heads. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">“Should I
text them first? Or should I wait for them to text me?” “How long should I wait
to text them back?” “He took an hour to answer my text, how long should I wait
now?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The struggle is real.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xvA3IO1kJEesE-MxxJxmAIkFSeyBikLWfV1zaPe_0oo5onLMIdIJLx-8NB0EwoGUZhvr5oq9yKhi06xJ3wzbIeWwYcNXVdc4fW1GwLAlYFxS44ZcBvi_eMaOyQ9kVTN8NARWLEeK382I/s1600/text+first.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xvA3IO1kJEesE-MxxJxmAIkFSeyBikLWfV1zaPe_0oo5onLMIdIJLx-8NB0EwoGUZhvr5oq9yKhi06xJ3wzbIeWwYcNXVdc4fW1GwLAlYFxS44ZcBvi_eMaOyQ9kVTN8NARWLEeK382I/s400/text+first.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>To Text Or Not To Text</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Oh let me
use all the fibre in my being to ignore this message even though I want to
respond so bad, I don’t want to look desperate, so let me wait till 6 hours
later because they took 5 hours to get back to me after my last text.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Yea I don’t have a life…my existence is for you and you alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
It could all be so simple but we’ve managed to riddle the dating scene with
manipulative mind games and succeeded in making it complicated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Well done!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">In my generation, we have the Instagram-o-meter and the
Facebook-o-meter by which love is measured. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">No matter how much you love me if you do not validate us by posting a
pic of us on all the social networks then I’m sorry, we’re not a couple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">No show of my picture on your Instagram and Facebook? Then we are not
in love, sorry love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1-UygLC0gYfNl68Z0YFSn0_DSPnwmpjx6UJTioo2Rk4cKV8v0JdPNvbSooUc8CfoNivZ1oXBFEpSoRty7zDEpz1dhU27IEbJpt9SD7vfm7cXdsvtEklNU0Eg-DjDwZnV9js9RTLtTam4/s1600/online+dating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1-UygLC0gYfNl68Z0YFSn0_DSPnwmpjx6UJTioo2Rk4cKV8v0JdPNvbSooUc8CfoNivZ1oXBFEpSoRty7zDEpz1dhU27IEbJpt9SD7vfm7cXdsvtEklNU0Eg-DjDwZnV9js9RTLtTam4/s400/online+dating.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It's Not Valid Till It's Online</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">What will
people think? Oh no, people are going to think we are not a couple. Or maybe
there is someone else. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">What about the fact that I may not want all that attention into what we
share?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">No matter how authentic what we have going on is, we are not official
until you Facebook, Twitter and Instagram it. In my generation the only
validation you need is the likes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Yaay...let do it for the likes! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The ultimate validation lies in the approval of strangers in the form
of 40 comments and 100 likes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Oh the crazy mental sad horror!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ri_mUQow4rbNq4AWg1sldTl0Tghu2jqju-_nMsmp3aPUOGS29YWxiMuqA_5Bd4XzWRvfyZkbHwh4RBopA4kLw22r1R_EOrPaqm6HoWIw9MjilUp_qrvNDsh-R9cd87DTArQr6tYPNrpS/s1600/insta+validation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ri_mUQow4rbNq4AWg1sldTl0Tghu2jqju-_nMsmp3aPUOGS29YWxiMuqA_5Bd4XzWRvfyZkbHwh4RBopA4kLw22r1R_EOrPaqm6HoWIw9MjilUp_qrvNDsh-R9cd87DTArQr6tYPNrpS/s400/insta+validation.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
Do Not Believe The Hype On Social Media</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">And you better remember to change that relationship status on Facebook
because the relationship will end even before it started.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We are a very exhausting generation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Dates have become auditions and job interviews. We go to a date and act
like the other is doing us a huge favour. My friend, am not here to get a
mortgage or get a job. Let’s get it together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiCXjQb8hPzMh3O49xUqxTwhpFJ_ZnKQP3y_M90821m5IU58uxVXNUFhAbWFom2QEa1QcQgActyZgwu5FIqoEP1K6DXWgTd6fdEsZOO1-s_zN_rL4SqdfbROqmRxi_8hlGfRQB9B5R7Di/s1600/3134661_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiCXjQb8hPzMh3O49xUqxTwhpFJ_ZnKQP3y_M90821m5IU58uxVXNUFhAbWFom2QEa1QcQgActyZgwu5FIqoEP1K6DXWgTd6fdEsZOO1-s_zN_rL4SqdfbROqmRxi_8hlGfRQB9B5R7Di/s400/3134661_orig.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Date Or An Audition?</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Ok that’s not all, we won’t ask you out like a normal human being, we
will resort to that Neanderthal lifestyle and chirp like birds and wolf whistle
the life out of you in the streets. Blow car horns and scare the hell out of
you, they will hunt you down with plethora of slangs and derogatory names and
you have to look away and ignore like nothing happened.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIOypuN_b9T7wXw1pTCG0N2qUgM8u88i1f-llctMjI4iaFETfoLcgZfJyeSOLV1Hf6a-AvF_8hZd2zetiGMj7qoXuwhXA8zJup9oy6AoVydM24c-gGUse3pzsmusmm2BYPYM5f0l9VhxA/s1600/whistling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIOypuN_b9T7wXw1pTCG0N2qUgM8u88i1f-llctMjI4iaFETfoLcgZfJyeSOLV1Hf6a-AvF_8hZd2zetiGMj7qoXuwhXA8zJup9oy6AoVydM24c-gGUse3pzsmusmm2BYPYM5f0l9VhxA/s400/whistling.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
That Neanderthal Lifestyle</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We seem to have foul-mouthed and rudeness on a lock down!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">You’re not allowed to say no to an interested party. They will cuss the
daylight out of you. Yes we are a manner less generation with potty mouth and
filthy antics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Trust is a myth and so is loyalty and commitment. Ain’t nobody got time
for that. We will replace you so fast, you’ll doubt your existence. We will
tell you there are many fishes in the sea and we will sing Beyoncé’s
irreplaceable for you because we are always irreplaceable but you are not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We will update our Facebook status so fast and with the speed of light we'll upload an apt quote on
Instagram for you. Yep we know how to air our dirty lining in the public!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Don’t play
with us. We do this!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">My generation is the most confuxed generation. You know that unique
state of being both confused and fucked up at the same time …yea that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We are promiscuous, disrespectful, foul-mouthed and self-centred – backed with a lot of ego to feed a village.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_Oqlp0JC1qOKiv-gMzn-t_-SHsZlRYlkNEBLVFBbHSlweEAahCLgqr4-F1Bb0J9ke9hTmdO6pAJZmK53tDXcx_uSxIrDZk3SNxislCrPH936qVgL7eR-4NlCHcgLlWvuLBgVLhQ8yTU-/s1600/disrespect.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_Oqlp0JC1qOKiv-gMzn-t_-SHsZlRYlkNEBLVFBbHSlweEAahCLgqr4-F1Bb0J9ke9hTmdO6pAJZmK53tDXcx_uSxIrDZk3SNxislCrPH936qVgL7eR-4NlCHcgLlWvuLBgVLhQ8yTU-/s400/disrespect.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<b>The Disrespect And Disregard Is Real</b></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We are an emoji- obsessed generation. Deciphering every Emoji used in a
text message will leave you utterly misplaced and confused, yea we have abandoned the simple ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Why do we insist on making life so hard?! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">It doesn’t end there, we will bombard you with WYD, HRU, and GM wrapped
in excessive LOLs and lmaoo. You will think it’s a typo but no, please
understand that this is us trying to show emotions. This is my generation
telling you they care about you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtnJDZHV1EIccLsMOxH2BUc1q2iKCeKL_ktYr2U6cTZ2_iTLhOIPvC7cjHaBy4VWKYIC6iEDxg-b1ZjE_4SY4J4jQHm62feF337zEuhmp1fTomX0vRZhj7gIk_dAFbmlqPFx6p5tZaaeD/s1600/text+abbre.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtnJDZHV1EIccLsMOxH2BUc1q2iKCeKL_ktYr2U6cTZ2_iTLhOIPvC7cjHaBy4VWKYIC6iEDxg-b1ZjE_4SY4J4jQHm62feF337zEuhmp1fTomX0vRZhj7gIk_dAFbmlqPFx6p5tZaaeD/s400/text+abbre.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<b>How A Simple Message Can Be Lost</b></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">A phone call would have been so much easier but unfortunately we've made phone calls a dying art.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">My generation. We are just a special breed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Our most creative idea of a date is on the couch with the most recent
upload on Netflix with a bottle of Blossom Hill. If you’re lucky we’ll throw in
popcorn as starters and ice cream as dessert. Yep, sorted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeWUAYkcPsGhegNA9YKft8QexWSK4xEhyphenhyphen2xpztLjGaN2PoWcUmAnAOKe9JXcbZLCGL9XvfPMTfslL6B7Y5BuIhMIxLeeFQhXIX-dMJmYzHqce-e2g6392-yo3Eh2dzcSGD93EK22Mj5XU/s1600/netflix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeWUAYkcPsGhegNA9YKft8QexWSK4xEhyphenhyphen2xpztLjGaN2PoWcUmAnAOKe9JXcbZLCGL9XvfPMTfslL6B7Y5BuIhMIxLeeFQhXIX-dMJmYzHqce-e2g6392-yo3Eh2dzcSGD93EK22Mj5XU/s320/netflix.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>CheapSkates OR Nah?!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Are we just cheapskates or we’re just a
lazy-can’t-be-bothered-generation? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">To ease the responsibility of dating, we have managed to coin so many
uncanny terms for our Significant other. The friend zone – when we feel like
you’re nothing but a mate, we have the cuffing season where we claim it’s too
cold to be alone so we cop ourselves another human to shield the winter.
Friends with benefits, this is where we believe you’re nothing but a generous
friend who offers benefits like casual sex and casual hanging out – no emotions
attached.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How convenient!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCpbjQxEvPoL9C4QL6RPGvZ36dnvVAI5wPVwDwRsMP6tSTfBOjO14ZC0Br8qy13_bbZMuYmskkX3TNkdVPUDk-0kuZnZPJh02TJOXF20bc930L6p_4WCLkCO-dHidI-HxOsi3m9pYmRpp/s1600/fwb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCpbjQxEvPoL9C4QL6RPGvZ36dnvVAI5wPVwDwRsMP6tSTfBOjO14ZC0Br8qy13_bbZMuYmskkX3TNkdVPUDk-0kuZnZPJh02TJOXF20bc930L6p_4WCLkCO-dHidI-HxOsi3m9pYmRpp/s400/fwb.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<b>Friends With Benefits - Effortless Dating</b></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We are an emotionless generation. We even break up through a text and we
don’t care about your tears or broken heart or quivering voice or the tubs of ice-creams you
may have squandered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Yea…welcome to my robotic generation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Another thing is choices. Our choices are killing us. We have no time
to put in the effort in anything, even if it’s worth doing. Why would I spend
time trying to make something work when I can get another in a matter of
minutes?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">How luxurious!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5Vr_4Vy9appe1udSngJGQ_MN2xBiPoe-xrc7KdopOuZPAvm_qe2BhnvrSdDq0cuKEBDSo3bgTkW_aDRN7rC1CUxw97ZcZ4BlfyxlT38m4h-SP7qWUzVbAuLf7r7TFX2WIE0QtFy_OGB2/s1600/no+effort.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5Vr_4Vy9appe1udSngJGQ_MN2xBiPoe-xrc7KdopOuZPAvm_qe2BhnvrSdDq0cuKEBDSo3bgTkW_aDRN7rC1CUxw97ZcZ4BlfyxlT38m4h-SP7qWUzVbAuLf7r7TFX2WIE0QtFy_OGB2/s400/no+effort.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<b>Effortless Generation...Why Bother?!</b></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We do everything but date. We chill. We kick it. We hangout. We hook
up. We specialises in one nighters. But if it requires effort, count us out. We
are not about that life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">A label free generation, that’s what we are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">YOLO!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We accept so little and settling for mediocrity is the order of my
generation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Romance is measured in a trivia thing as a good morning text and changing my government name to bae. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">When did
we learn to satisfy and be comfortable with so little?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEN3dR002CrLaaKzcqUbtpO1nR07xVQRHJyMKONfTEdbqRiHxRP-3fYA0hN33xw9QEMJdnaT9QJMTPRyi-ywlr_tjL31ahiCRu84mmpitenWotDoNl9KdNrL9kNQalS4ZrOQGn9s_NTuRF/s1600/good+morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEN3dR002CrLaaKzcqUbtpO1nR07xVQRHJyMKONfTEdbqRiHxRP-3fYA0hN33xw9QEMJdnaT9QJMTPRyi-ywlr_tjL31ahiCRu84mmpitenWotDoNl9KdNrL9kNQalS4ZrOQGn9s_NTuRF/s400/good+morning.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<b>We Need Education...Please Help!</b></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">No good
morning text. Oh no they’ve found someone else. Someone’s taken my place. He
doesn’t love me anymore, she’s cheating on me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">That’s not love, that is attachment!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">A generation of extreme paranoia! That’s what we are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">With my generation, all the chance you get is one night. One night to
show who you are. One night to give it all up. One night to show you have
masters in being a super girlfriend and a degree in being the doting boyfriend.
Bring your A game Or else you’re a write-off. No second chances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Result of endless choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We are a smash-and-pass generation. We have carefully changed the
dating game to a game of smash and pass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Social networks like Tinder, Facebook and Instagram has just managed to
legalise hook-ups. I see your picture and the next hour we’re meeting up for a
drink or more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Easy peasy…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mother’s generation would slowly and carefully take time to create
something meaningful and solid but my generation, we microwave everything. From
our food right down to our relationships. We are a readymade-obsessed
generation.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DB816I4X43eIw2kcNgUCfvwAKIzwQAEboIfY-R_Hy6pRvoM0s0ES5yk2YnFHMD-cNQjL6OnJ87L65V4MkML9SZdk4qBk9cm1HQLOZa7BtxZnWeeDl-yivMVsBRpx9rqBli9aSpi7S0rs/s1600/fix+it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DB816I4X43eIw2kcNgUCfvwAKIzwQAEboIfY-R_Hy6pRvoM0s0ES5yk2YnFHMD-cNQjL6OnJ87L65V4MkML9SZdk4qBk9cm1HQLOZa7BtxZnWeeDl-yivMVsBRpx9rqBli9aSpi7S0rs/s400/fix+it.jpg" width="366" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<b>Our Parents Mend & Fix.</b></h3>
<h3>
<b>We Trash & Burn</b></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Yea as if it’s not bad enough, Tinder, match.com and the likes just
made the game more heated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">And we love it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">When things go sour, our father’s generation would try to sweeten it
again. When the stitches are getting lose on the relationship, they will mend
it together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We do not have time for that. Ride what wave? Die for what? Mend what relationship?
If it ends, so be it…On to the next. And we will tell you that we replace, we
do not chase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Are you convinced that we are special yet? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Imperfections are not tolerated. You have no room to have a crooked
eyebrow or a bit of love handle, nor are you allowed to be human or living with your parents. You must be
perfect and on fleek at all times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We woke up like this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We make a conscious effort to play it cool and pretend we have no blood
running through our veins. We go out of our way to work against all what comes
natural to us. Like loving, caring and giving a damn about someone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We are ridiculously foolish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How i see it, we are nothing but a scared and scarred generation.
Scared of the unknown and scarred by past experiences. So we've built walls and
cemented it with a careless and ruthless approach to love and relationship.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJI-QNV_4RrwYfL8tKBJLooffgW5_W17beaThd-LEzcHsjtHfx1NNQ0-t69KrZdQU4tlkUYr1f-WZl_JUkUjXzjm0NuFJd_ii9JflSlmyabFpesgVTPneO3Z9Fa0h2KUG20HckfbKys0c/s1600/scared.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJI-QNV_4RrwYfL8tKBJLooffgW5_W17beaThd-LEzcHsjtHfx1NNQ0-t69KrZdQU4tlkUYr1f-WZl_JUkUjXzjm0NuFJd_ii9JflSlmyabFpesgVTPneO3Z9Fa0h2KUG20HckfbKys0c/s400/scared.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<b>In Protecting Our Hearts, We Hurt Others</b></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">But…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Love is still love. From the days of our parents’ parents to this very
moment, the definition of love haven’t changed but however the generation’s changed.
And as time changes, love that is so pure and true have been tainted with ego,
pride, laziness and promiscuity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The power to love have been overcome by the need to be cool and be
seemingly uninterested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We are scared to be vulnerable, scared to show emotions and be open,
afraid to be human therefore we succumbed to the robotic lifestyle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Yep can’t
touch this!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">We are cowards. Cowards who do not have the guts and what it takes to
risk loving another wholeheartedly, without doubts and judgement, without fear
and pride. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Today I challenge you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">To lay it all on the table and tell that person how you feel, unleash
the emotions that you have been holding in for so long. Forget what you learnt.
Stop fighting it. Forget what the world have taught you and just love someone. Love
someone with every fibre of your being then and only then you’ll know what love really is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Whatever we give into the world, we get back….in thousand folds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">so give love…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">If you find an old soul that loves like its 1999….hold on to them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzlrCdYVKwKXSwSmaKBZEq-H_Fj5__YShqIvCPoxbgZDlL1J6i_36Nfhayoq_fx6Uo-d7DFcTPjWk5TVC-kMCO1GUq7jJgak8SbD9kj8ZWsxJyPuK8gw0FyKjt7hE8DJhmohuUt5QT4Wi/s1600/let+bring+it+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzlrCdYVKwKXSwSmaKBZEq-H_Fj5__YShqIvCPoxbgZDlL1J6i_36Nfhayoq_fx6Uo-d7DFcTPjWk5TVC-kMCO1GUq7jJgak8SbD9kj8ZWsxJyPuK8gw0FyKjt7hE8DJhmohuUt5QT4Wi/s400/let+bring+it+back.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<b>Let's Bring It Back</b></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Let’s bring it back, let’s bring loving back like its 1999…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Till then <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Xoxo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0London, UK51.5073509 -0.1277582999999822351.1912379 -0.77320529999998222 51.8234639 0.51768870000001777tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-48341056345529852972015-07-20T11:28:00.000+01:002015-07-20T11:28:23.979+01:00The Dare <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">I Dare You</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYM5wF4t42mBSeXRPV8N_D6i5PsJnqqSK4aIu4-RAx7CBOIxcmKXDd7Vctrvefb1-fL0gBhRBWaYXtyFH78pRDQiDb9S6UwoXcFLXDRYhijt6np3zOEhMJ1EEyPOH3w7uywmJubQmv44bO/s1600/i%252Bdare%252Byou.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYM5wF4t42mBSeXRPV8N_D6i5PsJnqqSK4aIu4-RAx7CBOIxcmKXDd7Vctrvefb1-fL0gBhRBWaYXtyFH78pRDQiDb9S6UwoXcFLXDRYhijt6np3zOEhMJ1EEyPOH3w7uywmJubQmv44bO/s320/i%252Bdare%252Byou.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>He says...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I
dare you to tell me how you really feel. Do not just let me assume things. I understand
the fear but I know you better than you think. You are waiting for something.
What? Are you afraid to be the first to say it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUXj3lHD0GLlpI3nTWXZCIYySqX3__yrU99WHA7rGuIFf2xC06z-miuKif13K_TqtBGAdmOAEV_qkaDHO2A4ZEUAXXNpCGz93V9bAePng_HLSFa4suHFikUpXQLVqbMsDrn9-imPpHNxp/s1600/ish+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUXj3lHD0GLlpI3nTWXZCIYySqX3__yrU99WHA7rGuIFf2xC06z-miuKif13K_TqtBGAdmOAEV_qkaDHO2A4ZEUAXXNpCGz93V9bAePng_HLSFa4suHFikUpXQLVqbMsDrn9-imPpHNxp/s400/ish+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">If
you love me, why don’t you just say it? Do you think I’ll go running for the
hills? Are you not convinced that I love you? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">I
dare you to share your pains and fears with me. Let me into your darkest place
and let me hold the torch for you. I challenge you to let me carry more than just
your bag when your hands are full or your shoes after a long night out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">I
dare you to let me take care of you, let me love you even when you don’t feel
like being loved. Do not lock me out in hopes of protecting me when you are at
your weakest. Let me be your strength. Teach me how to soldier on with you. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hKy7dOxru3VzKOHzYxuz3VzFBSOkqjTMV1HSR2_7RplN3XKmn2G1bw2yhYLuBlG7XY8ioiNUZhGC3LaCzCy_fvi6J8f-P1uYVxdrfpC8EfJJDyWH67Ptc4Xakl_2_urWYKsmfubrjsjt/s1600/ish+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hKy7dOxru3VzKOHzYxuz3VzFBSOkqjTMV1HSR2_7RplN3XKmn2G1bw2yhYLuBlG7XY8ioiNUZhGC3LaCzCy_fvi6J8f-P1uYVxdrfpC8EfJJDyWH67Ptc4Xakl_2_urWYKsmfubrjsjt/s400/ish+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I Dare You To Let Me Take Care Of You...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">When
they tell you about me, I dare you to defend me and tell them you chose me. You
chose me knowing I was not perfect. When my past comes knocking, I dare you to
hold my hand as we face it together. I dare you to not judge me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Even
when I say or do things to annoy you, I dare you to sit me down and tell me
exactly what you think of my actions. However, I dare you to never give up on
me. When I feel like I have lost the butterflies, I dare you to stay and remind
me of the first time you touched my heart. When others attack you because of
me, do not run. Let me prove my love to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">When
I make a fool of myself, I challenge you to laugh and remind me not to take
things serious. I dare you to be my home. Let me tell you about the secrets I
kept all these years. Be my safe place. When I cannot discuss work, I dare you
to take my mind off it. Encourage me to share my hopes and dreams with you even
when they may seem ridiculous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>When i Make a Fool Of Myself,<br />i Challenge You To Laugh With Me...</b></td></tr>
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<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">If
you ever feel like I no longer make you happy, I dare you to stay and fight for
us. Tell me you love me as often as you feel it not just when you think I need
to hear it. When you are upset with me, talk to me. Do not shut me out. Tell me
how you always feel without reservations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">When
I am studying for my speech in the morning, I dare you to lay your head on my
lap and critique my every word. If I have to stay late at work, never accept
it. Remind me of where my priorities should be.
When you feel like you’ve got no more fight left in you, let me fight
for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Do
not go gently into that good night, scream, kick, and push as hard as you can.
I will always be there to grab your hand. I cannot promise you the stars or the
world…but I will love you. I will love you with every fibre of my being. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">When
we are being tested, let me be selfish with my love. Let me refuse to take no
for an answer. Let me beg God each hour for you. Do not hide you tears. Let me cry
with you. I dare you to hold on with every ounce of your might. Most
importantly, remind me to always laugh with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Let Me Beg God Each Hour For You...</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Endure
my silly jokes with a smile. Laugh with me when I try to put on a serious face
around people we find funny. Surprise me anyway even though you know I hate
surprises. When I sing in the shower, join me and lets sing our duet. When I am
a mess because I’m sick, call me a big baby and treat me like one. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">I
ask you to show me you trust in what we have. It may not have been what either
of us expected but it is pure and true. So whenever I am angry with you, I want you to
remember that I love you. Do not apologise because you want to make me happy
when I am wrong. Tell me you love me and stand your ground. I will fuss but I
will admit my wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">If
you think another might have won my heart, I dare you to challenge me to prove
you wrong. I promise you that I’ll never betray your love because its value is
immeasurable. You are not always going to love me but love me anyway. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0zeMJ490rQj2I54BW94qjQ07VR9j9tGKFOUbDeBMuPsw2vrawBfg1XjNOLmbCmoqKyvNxh2veWlqcRpHmdl0lD7rWjh_wa-wWjLdmBN4qGcuPOZXY8aqMy-dxzjvaTnrzRceH6mpI06r/s1600/ish+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0zeMJ490rQj2I54BW94qjQ07VR9j9tGKFOUbDeBMuPsw2vrawBfg1XjNOLmbCmoqKyvNxh2veWlqcRpHmdl0lD7rWjh_wa-wWjLdmBN4qGcuPOZXY8aqMy-dxzjvaTnrzRceH6mpI06r/s400/ish+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>You Are Not Always Going To Love Me<br /> But Love Me Anyway...</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Promise
me you will never keep your feelings from me. When the world gives up on me, I
challenge you to not give up on me. Share your dreams with me and let me share
mine with you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">I
dare you to explore the world with me. Get lost with me. When I am down, pick
me up and remind me of the man I am. I dare you to not hide behind your
independence. When I cry, know that I do so without fear of judgement because I
do so in the presence of my love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">I
promise to tell you everything about me. I promise to always be there for you.
I promise to always love you. While I might fail you at times, I dare you to
never give up on me. The next time we speak, I dare you to tell me exactly how
you feel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">I
love you.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6666669845581px;"><b><u>Credits</u></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Writer: Mr Ganda</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">You can check more of his work by clicking the link below.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6666669845581px;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="http://www.giclef.com/" target="_blank">Official Site Of The Writer - Mr Ganda</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Till Next Time</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Xoxo</span></span><br />
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Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-43970640594046002202015-05-07T17:14:00.000+01:002015-05-08T15:12:49.555+01:00The Foolish Things i Ever Hoped For<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The most
foolish things I ever hoped for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sadly so...Oh The Irony</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The daily
messages and spontaneous emails. The compliments that make your melanin flush
and your white pearls come out to play, the letters sent and delivered by my
ever reliable post man, the unplanned visits and pleasant </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">surprises.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">These were the
foolish things I hoped for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To trot and conquer
the world with you, to visit our favourites place and make some sweet memories.
The poems and riddles, the well written articles full of life and excitement,
and how can I forget the brilliant brain hacks.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVtmgVwxOSsEBxgZ_d4PxGPARZm9QmJ655DhzsDBem-BeA9cOfhAsmCBqMs8Wit-eJ-RuCjCI09CQV0rbhBiJ-0_j0my2H_LjJ0ZQqvRjyVFPCEkZo0lFwPof9Ooc5zQeigdNP2gUdope/s1600/black-couple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVtmgVwxOSsEBxgZ_d4PxGPARZm9QmJ655DhzsDBem-BeA9cOfhAsmCBqMs8Wit-eJ-RuCjCI09CQV0rbhBiJ-0_j0my2H_LjJ0ZQqvRjyVFPCEkZo0lFwPof9Ooc5zQeigdNP2gUdope/s400/black-couple.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We will experience multiple sunsets in <br />different continents.<br />i Hoped</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The excitement
of waking up to you, the whisper of sweet nothings in my ear and the tight but
yet calming and reassuring hugs to say everything is going to be okay. The
heart-warming smiles that’ll put my soul at ease and the outburst of boisterous
laughter that will forever echo in my ear when you’re not around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdpNhK_eWZ5svBBz7yoiqzfowLFjYyEaIHCQb8G4u7DdPCrgJyVQl_f9XenhBr9sHZOuDw6w6nnmBbX1uMuwqszZ-0qPABntWDT8uC8twGdQbheM6KfKf2W0Gr-zDRnXZz5HAko7NwV5d/s1600/Black-couple+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdpNhK_eWZ5svBBz7yoiqzfowLFjYyEaIHCQb8G4u7DdPCrgJyVQl_f9XenhBr9sHZOuDw6w6nnmBbX1uMuwqszZ-0qPABntWDT8uC8twGdQbheM6KfKf2W0Gr-zDRnXZz5HAko7NwV5d/s400/Black-couple+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Whispers Of Sweet Nothings</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These were the
foolish things I hoped for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A day that you’ll
hang your fears and doubts and fully commit, totally, absolutely and completely. You’ll commit
fully even though you know there are no going backs. We’ll do it together
because there is nothing to fear. And with that we’ll have something divine and sacred to look
forward to, a union that’s just perfect, as flawed as it might be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess that
was just a wandering mind hoping foolishly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me running
back home from work just to see your face, and you rushing back to a home that
smells of my freshly baked bread and smoothie recipes that I’ve carefully
selected from YouTube. The look on your face when you’ll taste the not-so-nice
ones but you’ll smile anyway because you love me like that!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM33P9Fs9b9RdD0qAAo2cf6tHfa1taC_J7sct-0TFzf1Uf9QUdbXeYZ73jSwRjZG79mlzOeXg_AUUJomyIffWo5O4oUkgWMtVq1h5RiyqjvOZ8CNps6qD9eGe8xQBAuWrEnroRz9aLrVQI/s1600/3003-008740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM33P9Fs9b9RdD0qAAo2cf6tHfa1taC_J7sct-0TFzf1Uf9QUdbXeYZ73jSwRjZG79mlzOeXg_AUUJomyIffWo5O4oUkgWMtVq1h5RiyqjvOZ8CNps6qD9eGe8xQBAuWrEnroRz9aLrVQI/s320/3003-008740.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Homely Smell Of Freshly Baked Bread...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To wake up at
2am and chat the rest of the night away. we’ll talk about nothing and
everything with a glass of gin and lime, other nights we’ll laugh about everything
and anything and 2 hot cuppas will do just fine while sitting on our kitchen
counter, Listening to the pitta patter of the raindrops on our window.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55wAbG13poMTeKLyXTabDGUtyx0t56kvaE7tBy0-bL2wtwbrxplvVeGlKS99JOA5EsWPCu9h5p1cm_uKZ6MDPiCPBe8TuVZYgmH-LK8Eq8Hpl06Hou2NjS2gikLYBiji2_AC8XD3Vwirs/s1600/couple-famille-menage-foyer-sexe-amour-desir-impuissant-sexuel-ejaculation-pr%C3%A9coce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55wAbG13poMTeKLyXTabDGUtyx0t56kvaE7tBy0-bL2wtwbrxplvVeGlKS99JOA5EsWPCu9h5p1cm_uKZ6MDPiCPBe8TuVZYgmH-LK8Eq8Hpl06Hou2NjS2gikLYBiji2_AC8XD3Vwirs/s400/couple-famille-menage-foyer-sexe-amour-desir-impuissant-sexuel-ejaculation-pr%C3%A9coce.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>2am Secrets And Confessions</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of All The Things I Ever Hoped For.. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All I hoped
for was to go to bed and calmly and peacefully lie in your arms, basking in the
melody of silence that will never feel awkward. We will listen to our
heartbeats and create happy thoughts...purely happy thoughts will flood our minds
till we fall asleep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those were the
foolish things I hoped for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With the widest
smile, I’ll watch our kids run in the backyard chasing fireflies and running in
endless circles while the dog chase after them foolishly. Foolishly like the
things I hoped for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0SO4RHTwdkAvLQyR_WdpfsTdfaYthKO_s7D2B2eMCflXg4l1js7g-KEEWyM0MTSz8nx3fY30QgTr9y8CkstiBGVuWHH3F2gV5j9r8mFBHIozewvIdbVYnTzqfkmenj9I5X491pFvW5cY/s1600/b4159788a4eb24e216fb92a7585dc0c9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0SO4RHTwdkAvLQyR_WdpfsTdfaYthKO_s7D2B2eMCflXg4l1js7g-KEEWyM0MTSz8nx3fY30QgTr9y8CkstiBGVuWHH3F2gV5j9r8mFBHIozewvIdbVYnTzqfkmenj9I5X491pFvW5cY/s400/b4159788a4eb24e216fb92a7585dc0c9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Playful and Happy Kids <br />- Of All The Foolish Things I Ever Hoped For</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the
smallest couch they will jump on you and scream and shout just to fight for a place
on the couch with daddy. And you wouldn’t mind because that is just what
happiness is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you drop
them to school each morning I’ll plaster a wet kiss on your cheek and that is
just to say I appreciate you and I love you and a promise from me to you that, the
best of our days, are yet to come. But more importantly that I can’t wait for
you to get back to me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But oh… these
were only the foolish things I hoped for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To build
instead of conquer. To be happy instead of win. To love and love some more. To give
more than I received. To be present in all we do and cherish every single
moment, because moments are all we’ll have left when all is said and done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXIwUe7wq71c0u4s4b0QqmXElxB5W7_15Wx0PIMep8oDaTdMvu2zYfmoN_UVHfE-4Hro-o63h6IB2mhABozK_J3OlBfRc-AcLQxVOt804UXHElgzbNYOrLEMhNCzXU4t-5rCMjmva5l5D/s1600/31a2e38a73384660b71fdf27ac647ce5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXIwUe7wq71c0u4s4b0QqmXElxB5W7_15Wx0PIMep8oDaTdMvu2zYfmoN_UVHfE-4Hro-o63h6IB2mhABozK_J3OlBfRc-AcLQxVOt804UXHElgzbNYOrLEMhNCzXU4t-5rCMjmva5l5D/s400/31a2e38a73384660b71fdf27ac647ce5.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>To Build and Nurture...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">To look you
in the face and say yes I made the right choice. And to never be afraid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I hoped to
look you in the face and ask God <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">‘’How did I get
so lucky?’’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">But I guess
it was another, just another foolish thing I hoped for<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I foolishly
hoped for you to be my safe haven, my safety net, where I turn for inspiration
and other times, just your reassuring words that it’ll be okay. I wanted you to
be my rainbow on a bad day, my happy place on a not-to-so-happy day, my melody
when I can’t remember the lyrics. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtGBTgLekHGTGMmiUStcTGbQptrwyOZ8cpxUbbwU-1D8zh0au82eN3WDuF_z0gjcS4n3ICWlxSiPaxVbYzwghzv1RyNafqHc4dEw4lGB2jCP4flzyQCGTuaxKFFvJQWDSZBTpabFBuv9H/s1600/f1e58e3dddd68ba4d54156b0c442d573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtGBTgLekHGTGMmiUStcTGbQptrwyOZ8cpxUbbwU-1D8zh0au82eN3WDuF_z0gjcS4n3ICWlxSiPaxVbYzwghzv1RyNafqHc4dEw4lGB2jCP4flzyQCGTuaxKFFvJQWDSZBTpabFBuv9H/s400/f1e58e3dddd68ba4d54156b0c442d573.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Safe Haven</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">For laughter
that never gets old, for meaningless smiles that can change your day, for
moments that’ll live forever, for good nights that turns into even greater
mornings, for unforgettable times and unpredictable kisses, for all the spontaneous
just because – I hoped and hoped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxzsX22F35WarVwyDH1HSS_7RLoICXVwT3BTowqZtW-TfTDTTtcxyIlsVbJCRJ_e39M3lphDdmfy-xLEAQdYdbxWzr8SJTx56xNg6v8kdCDmnob0C7Gr8TFdpk-3Azc1oTw-fp3fthb_Q/s1600/black-couple-laughing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxzsX22F35WarVwyDH1HSS_7RLoICXVwT3BTowqZtW-TfTDTTtcxyIlsVbJCRJ_e39M3lphDdmfy-xLEAQdYdbxWzr8SJTx56xNg6v8kdCDmnob0C7Gr8TFdpk-3Azc1oTw-fp3fthb_Q/s400/black-couple-laughing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>For Laughter That Never Gets Old</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The foolish
things I hoped for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hoped for you
to wake up to my ruffled afro and sleep stained face with the sun streaming on
my melanin through the curtain lines. And I prayed for you to never get tired
of this look but to always serve as a reminder that as flawed as something can
be, you can still find perfection and beauty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I hoped to be
your go-to thought, a thought that will give you an outburst of laughter in a
crowded room and a smile in the middle of your business meeting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOKVqASnWZIabVA1EV0MvqujtrDQ89cNKSfBCgOtSIyXyKllp2jNidYCX1eYxEEUXD8G7f2phj7LCko3zcBwChm_iVHau5Ippc2bzgk1F0KM6qrfpoW7Po2bIvsGOetxUgnPVc3XkuZtq/s1600/wishful-thinking.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOKVqASnWZIabVA1EV0MvqujtrDQ89cNKSfBCgOtSIyXyKllp2jNidYCX1eYxEEUXD8G7f2phj7LCko3zcBwChm_iVHau5Ippc2bzgk1F0KM6qrfpoW7Po2bIvsGOetxUgnPVc3XkuZtq/s400/wishful-thinking.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">All I have
ever hoped for was to keep you vibrating on high all day, an endless supply of energy
that you can never get enough of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But what do I
know…. These were just foolish thoughts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I had hoped
to create a life with you where I’ll never forget to play and to always remember
that it’s never about winning. I hoped
to build a life with you that is never set to anyone’s rules nor standard. A
life full of randomness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-il_X8A1bmekHQGA4P-r9Up-0snlg67of_ajoCZ1WYjwMBc32tegzhtlTUSc0sZE4TmHFL5I9EC-UpcXOURX0GZHtKt50M_6a8IG1cA1r_lk7xJaJ8r1RYM-_Qh-yp9udisZ5rUXeB0Hf/s1600/black-couple-playing-video-game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-il_X8A1bmekHQGA4P-r9Up-0snlg67of_ajoCZ1WYjwMBc32tegzhtlTUSc0sZE4TmHFL5I9EC-UpcXOURX0GZHtKt50M_6a8IG1cA1r_lk7xJaJ8r1RYM-_Qh-yp9udisZ5rUXeB0Hf/s400/black-couple-playing-video-game.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>To Remember It's Never About winning</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I had wished
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as long as we’re happy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These were amongst the most foolish thing I ever hoped for in my entire lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But as if you were dreaming, you wake up suddenly and all what you've ever believed is but nothing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">All i could gather is, it was all and nothing at the same time</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once upon a
time in a happy place…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I hoped and
hoped but behold all I was doing was foolishly hoping. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">If I ever
dared to hope again…please wake me up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Remind me to Never Hope Again!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remind me not
to ever hope again…at least not foolishly!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Till next
time...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Xoxo <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-62259234329167674442015-04-17T09:29:00.000+01:002015-04-17T09:29:19.860+01:0015 Things Potential Hopefuls Overlook in a Job Interview<div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I happen to
work in an environment where I see people come in their worst and their best to
get the job of their lifetime. I see hopefuls cut their little thread of hope
by being unprepared and I see the non-hopefuls channel their shortcomings to
their advantage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I have seen dreams
shattered and hopes come alive. I have seen the victory dance and the Yes fist
in the air, and I have seen that face of failure hanging on a shoulder of
defeat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>You Create Your Own Luck</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I have seen
the unqualified get hired and the qualified got turned down. This is not luck.
We create our own luck. As the ever true saying goes…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘’If you fail to
prepare then you prepare to fail’’</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I can go on
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>First impression goes a long way</b>. Ladies, this goes all the way right up from your attitude and all the way down to your appearance. Smile and be polite (you have nothing to lose) smell good and look good. Clean and professional hairstyle and no clownish make-up. Ditch the prestige hats and the extra accessories you’re not going for a fashion show. The heels you can barely walk in…please no! You want to look your best and be your best because only the best tends to get employed. Believe it or not, I have seen people get hired just because they’re likeable and approachable. Don’t forget the minty fresh breathe and smile the heck out of your jawbone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1b.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>First impression</b>: Guys, that baggy jeans and the trainers, those rings that look like they’ll knock me into 2017 and that funky attitude, ditch it. Keep it formal. Even if you’re going for a janitor’s position dress immaculately so they won’t forget you easily. And I do not mean wear that yellow Polo t-shirt. Imagine you’re going on a date, a date with success. Dress like you want to leave with the price, dress and look like success. No gangsta movement. Gangstas don’t smile? My little gangsta looking for a job, be prepared to smile like a Cheshire cat!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Be prepared</b>: I cannot stress this enough. We live in an era of smart phones and people get late for interviews with the lamest excuse that they got lost. If it’s going to get you that job and if you really want the job, find the location few days before, or you can leave your house very early. There’s nothing wrong with being early. You can go to the nearest coffee shop and revise your notes to kill time.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It's NOT Magic</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Research the company</b>: One question you can’t escape from is the ‘’tell me what you know about our company’’ In my experience every employer wants to know that you care and want the job that much to spend 15/20 minutes on their website researching and finding out vital information about their company. Research the company’s policy and what they do and what they stand for. Research their recent downfalls and successes, their newest innovations and future plans. Imagine the kick you get when your significant other remembers the tiniest details about you. Yea that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Be polite</b>: From the janitor to the receptionist, they all count in your steps towards success. Just a little secret, sometimes your fate lies in the way you greeted and treated that cleaner and receptionist you thought was ordinary. The same respect you have bagged for your future CEO or interviewer make sure you have the same parcel for anyone you meet along the way. They all count. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Be articulate</b>: Speak like you mean it in a clear and attention-grasping tone. Be audible, concise and avoid mumbling. The essence of communication is to be understood and if I can’t understand you then you’ve defiled the purpose of it all. Do use proper and simple grammar to put your point across. It is not a vocabulary test, and people are hardly ever impressed with big words. Do not shout at your interviewer, that’s rude. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Confidence</b>: See it’s all a chain work. If you’re well prepared, you tend to ooze more confidence than the applicant who is not. Even if you’re boxing above your weight with the job you’re applying for, be confident and do not try to bullshit your interviewer, they’ll know. No one likes to be taken for a fool. Sit uprightly and look them in the eye and keep handshakes very firm, don’t break a finger though. Be confident but not arrogant. Remember they need you as much as you need them and you’ve gotten this far so you must have done something right up to this point so keep your head up. You can do this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Be Honest</b>: If you’ve thrown few lies in your curriculum vitae, be sure to know those lies by heart. In my opinion, avoid the deceit because it always comes back to bite you. Most times we think employers want the qualified and the applicant with the big vocabulary but really they want the person who is willing to learn, honest and reliable and is passionate about the role. After all, they just want their money’s worth and the job done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Ignorance is not Bliss</b>: know the names of your interviewers, the name of the company (yes I have seen people who don’t have a clue as to which company they’re seeing) that is the highest sin in my books. Know what the company does, be aware of the time of your interview and know what department you’re interviewing for. Be in the know and learn how to pronounce the names of your interviewer and that of the company. Don’t chance anything.</span><br />
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<b>Preparation Is Everything!</b></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>While you wait</b>: Don’t make yourself a cup of coffee even if you’re offered because if it spills on your crisp shirt, you do not have a valid excuse for that recklessness. Instead, opt for tiny sips of water to calm your nerves. Revise your notes or better still read magazines and articles from the reception. They might give you few tips and insights on the company.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Ask questions</b>: In life as in anything if you refuse or fail to ask questions, this will indicate that you’re either satisfied or comfortable (it’s not a good place to be during interviews) or employers will think you’re not that passionate about the role. Or maybe you’re not too interested. Ask and ask questions but do it in a polite manner. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">11.<b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Listen</b>: Believe it or not, part of getting the answers right is by listening. Some of us can’t wait to answer, so we listen with the intent to reply and not understand the question. Listen attentively and if by any chance you are not sure, ask for it to be kindly repeated for you. No shame in asking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Tell me about yourself</b>: This is one tricky question. This is the time to sell yourself and channel every damn thing you’re saying to your advantage and make it relatable to that job description. This is not the time to showcase your endless collection of Michael kors watches or explain your love for Paddington your dog. This is time to show the interviewer you’re worth their time. Tell them about your attributes and past achievements not about Nemo your fish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">13. <b>Your strength and weaknesses</b>: Hold on, this is not the time to open your skeletons or start acting like you’re the best thing since slice bread. When you highlight your strengths, make sure it has everything to do with the role you’re applying for. Do not go on about your achievements on call of Duty nor your ability to twerk like you’re spineless. When you speak on your weaknesses, make sure you highlight the fact that you’ve learnt from it and you’re a better person now. Don’t drag yourself in the mud and expect your interviewer to pull you through. That’s not their job. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">14.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Fidgety and nervousness</b>: Sit still. No fidgeting, no wandering eyes. Avoid the extra hand gesticulation, seriously not needed. Keep calm because it is only when you’re calm you can deliver your best. Pace yourself and smile, do not giggle like a village idiot. If you do not know the answer, do not be afraid to say you don’t know. Remember the reason why they’re even interviewing you is because they have seen you as a potential, don’t blow it up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">15.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Negativity, unprofessionalism and etiquettes</b>: No chewing gum, or sweets or mints. That is bad manners but I’m sure you know that already. Do not forget your please and thank yous. Manners maketh man. Don’t pick your nose or eyes or bite your lips and of course phones on silent. Avoid saying err mm and hmmms, if you need time to think a bit, have a sip of water in front of you, that’ll give you few seconds of thinking time. Do not speak ill of your last or present employers to your potential even if they treated you like were Cinderella. That is bad, very bad and unprofessional. They will dig for dirt, it is their job but do not succumb to it. Rise above it. Be a professional.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are no hard and fast rules, these are just guidelines. These are the petty things I have seen hopefuls lose their place over. Do not be that person. Always be prepared, in any situation. Dress for the occasion and be pleasant at all times, no matter how bad you’re feeling. Be a professional. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even if you do not get the job, getting an interview is still a level of success. You learn from it and get ready for the next one. Deep down, understand that you did all you could to the best of your ability. And that’s okay!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you fail to get the job don’t beat yourself up too much, use that energy to fuel your next move. Do not stop because of few setbacks. Be persistent and consistent till you get what you want. Hard work pays!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Always!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If for any reason you’re not going to be offered the job, let it not be because of your unpreparedness and neglect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Again I want you to understand and be okay with the fact that you can do all the right things and still not get the job. It wasn’t yours. It wasn’t your time. As in everything, pray and seek the face of the good Lord. He knows best. But remember God help those who help themselves. So put your back into it!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>...And Never Give Up!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Till Then...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xoxo</span></div>
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Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-84641956117565780812015-03-12T17:57:00.000+00:002015-03-12T17:59:35.510+00:00My True Warriors and Fighters...<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Living with
sickle cell…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">It might not
be labelled cancer. It might not be diabetes but it is a disease. It is
affecting people, young lives and it’s a struggle living with it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">It is Sickle Cell Anaemia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Be Enlightened</b></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Personally I think
you haven’t met with pain till you’ve suffered from sickle cell and you lay
there helplessly with not a drug in sight strong enough to cure or ease your
pain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Have you ever
woken up and your biggest decision of the day is whether you want to continue
living or not because your pain is so unbearable and you do not wish to prolong
your sufferings anymore?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2YMCAie0I3rMCMcl0mM5uOd8f6TLZnpXV5Ur5FYIcXG6rhgskTPOkL1IY1XCtqommXpo6f-8oBhUGfhHUIgcvfic_1Ae50K7ttZcCjuvYQArhlX8QB0_3RYMiPVC86jrBbiNZZM_YoQf/s1600/open-uri20130210-30277-egzn41.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2YMCAie0I3rMCMcl0mM5uOd8f6TLZnpXV5Ur5FYIcXG6rhgskTPOkL1IY1XCtqommXpo6f-8oBhUGfhHUIgcvfic_1Ae50K7ttZcCjuvYQArhlX8QB0_3RYMiPVC86jrBbiNZZM_YoQf/s1600/open-uri20130210-30277-egzn41.jpeg" height="376" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<b>Be In The Know...</b></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you gone
to bed well and healthy only to wake up few hours later with the most
excruciating pain ever throbbing and gnawing at every organs in your being?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">How many
times have you asked God to take your life because your hope and faith ran
short? You light at the end of the tunnel wouldn’t come on? Or you just feel
there’s nothing left to live for? How many times?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Try and Understand</b></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you laid
in hospital bed for weeks, in pain, life at a standstill, crying nonstop as
pain slowly gobbles you away?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Ever made
plans, packed your bag, called your friends, bought your tickets and all but
you couldn’t make it because you went into crisis few hours before your flight
and ended up at the hospital?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Ever woke up
and even to dial an ambulance becomes an impossible task because you’re in so
much pain and you can’t move, not even a finger?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Did You Know...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Jourdan Dunn's Son Riley Battles with Sickle Cell too?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ever seen
tears in your mother’s eye because she can’t ease your pain and the only thing
left for her to do is to sit and blame herself tirelessly as you wail
helplessly in intense aches and pain?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You go
through one blood transfusion after another and the back of your hand is full
of scars from countless needle drills from nurses and doctors trying to find
your veins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You have to
watch the type of activities you participate in constantly, watch what you eat
and you don’t dare miss a day of your penicillin and folic acid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnv4POuN8nZ2WxdGuTHlk1z6DyHYrBqDCXrcFZqGsA65YTWsMBg4pmyrQ6SeyUopyzaeNAFFJ_ky1vr-Mo2dZhjoJNXR3Gtc6bIJmGT1o85CNKExXX0GAz1c7Da4nulsu1anfTXdvocuK/s1600/Larenz+Tate+Sony+Vaio+Windows+Launch+Event+eldokQAPpi6l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnv4POuN8nZ2WxdGuTHlk1z6DyHYrBqDCXrcFZqGsA65YTWsMBg4pmyrQ6SeyUopyzaeNAFFJ_ky1vr-Mo2dZhjoJNXR3Gtc6bIJmGT1o85CNKExXX0GAz1c7Da4nulsu1anfTXdvocuK/s1600/Larenz+Tate+Sony+Vaio+Windows+Launch+Event+eldokQAPpi6l.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Did You Know?<br />Larenz Tate battles With Sickle Cell Too</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your life is
no longer yours, well if you’re brave enough… you screw the odds and dare to
have a life!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">In severe
pain, you crawl to the door because you live alone and you need to let the
paramedics in. Do you understand that level of pain?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You walk into
gathering and you have people asking you why your eyes are yellow? It gets
tiring and exhausting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You’re looked
upon as an invalid and a disabled person to the point where everyone worries
about you standing for a long time or not dressing warm enough in the cold or
even not eating right or simple thing as not drinking enough water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZGMM1yc92ixdzh2O3lRd6lWicfCxG3h0yI4qGb6D2rZrNBlLzYbim8t6A9SgOWfxONm7Ui33V2j6RQlWQ0HmH-X5Vq8dAQngZAus703RMrpXAKIILkIoZTrJyma8UZzppmkFU2aYMt6q/s1600/10888458_10152488348451402_7059137727727083695_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZGMM1yc92ixdzh2O3lRd6lWicfCxG3h0yI4qGb6D2rZrNBlLzYbim8t6A9SgOWfxONm7Ui33V2j6RQlWQ0HmH-X5Vq8dAQngZAus703RMrpXAKIILkIoZTrJyma8UZzppmkFU2aYMt6q/s1600/10888458_10152488348451402_7059137727727083695_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sarah Stevens<br />A Soldier...<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">a Fighter...</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">a Survivor!</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you
tried saying the Lord’s Prayer and you totally forgot how to? A prayer you
learnt since you were 7 but in time of distress and pain you can’t even
remember how to say the first few lines so you ask your teary-eyed mum by your
bedside to do it for you. Yea imagine that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Does the mention
of word spleen scares the shit out of you? Well to me it does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VYw-5j_YjejGhlAK24DOCohCKScIblAqDZAwgvS8d7DqEBsEkvOFwgmzLSR9cH0qleVdUmD6PeHmgQjNOfOsKgrl1ScsMgGwlbTMqjy5EtMaBP1uXUQNMP1tVBxjOWyVydb5HymQiT-9/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VYw-5j_YjejGhlAK24DOCohCKScIblAqDZAwgvS8d7DqEBsEkvOFwgmzLSR9cH0qleVdUmD6PeHmgQjNOfOsKgrl1ScsMgGwlbTMqjy5EtMaBP1uXUQNMP1tVBxjOWyVydb5HymQiT-9/s1600/download.jpg" height="243" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It Sure Does...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Your handbag,
purses and wallets looks and smells like a walking pharmacy because you don’t know
when next that cruel pain will make a comeback. You never really know and there’s
nothing you can do about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Sometimes we
suffer stunted growth, big protruding stomach and constant loss of weight but
you don’t understand and you will want to ask me why am I so skinny or if I’m
pregnant or where does all my food goes. Stop!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You have to
tell your university or work place that you have been admitted….again and again
and again and most of the time no one believes you. You’re on your own. Exhausting!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFx3omUuJtHnsMFetqzs2OAcNy-mUpIJCjT_rSM4EEXBh0p5ckscdlYUIO8x-HM7z3TJydCYylqLQk3SLhX5lrQG-an9bg-ohRyyuOxuIG0Z8BjCMbOu2y7zC94iMJqsxUwZAEvkI2lQm/s1600/171020_498948058623_2042745_o+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFx3omUuJtHnsMFetqzs2OAcNy-mUpIJCjT_rSM4EEXBh0p5ckscdlYUIO8x-HM7z3TJydCYylqLQk3SLhX5lrQG-an9bg-ohRyyuOxuIG0Z8BjCMbOu2y7zC94iMJqsxUwZAEvkI2lQm/s1600/171020_498948058623_2042745_o+(1).jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Manty Marah<br />A Soldier. A Survivor</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some days I
will chose to act like a soldier and drag myself out of bed only for you to see
me and assume I am lazy or I do not have a care in the world. You look at my
life and made your judgements. Walk in my shoes please and tell me how that
feels.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">What do you
know about morphine and painkillers? We know all the names and their after and
side effects. Yes a sickle cell patient lives on painkillers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL13AnEdrzSbKVZ5w6rjBu61aJcbRdqT-JNxzTnnd6V9jQKd_jnzaSzhpYdXvCplOrhMCSBhBGqYWDY0ohFe0I_i2HieaEcbYxFhqAlTSCSfZA0XsgvCW3rTamrqnt5nYDqbUoi1XIUf8F/s1600/1939618_10152985808439276_660409341227576179_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL13AnEdrzSbKVZ5w6rjBu61aJcbRdqT-JNxzTnnd6V9jQKd_jnzaSzhpYdXvCplOrhMCSBhBGqYWDY0ohFe0I_i2HieaEcbYxFhqAlTSCSfZA0XsgvCW3rTamrqnt5nYDqbUoi1XIUf8F/s1600/1939618_10152985808439276_660409341227576179_n.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Francis Davies</b></div>
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">A Fighter. A survivor</b></b></div>
<b>
</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You look in
the mirror sometimes and all you see is sickle cell stealing the melody from
your life and you’re wondering when the music is going to stop. Washing away
your sense of accomplishments… One raging pain at a time.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iDyzjXwkfYoL2MqooF4DyuO4k5uK5Eu6R15W0gYAjAzfDAnlN8N2nogjjC9nZ4vHrSucNhriuC80TzFKo1AQ2lP2LZ2-gmofnueGztP1XWhW-64ZiD7Y3_ra_pPFoYcg3yRkYaZcz8iL/s1600/1011396_10151578188343002_871976625_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iDyzjXwkfYoL2MqooF4DyuO4k5uK5Eu6R15W0gYAjAzfDAnlN8N2nogjjC9nZ4vHrSucNhriuC80TzFKo1AQ2lP2LZ2-gmofnueGztP1XWhW-64ZiD7Y3_ra_pPFoYcg3yRkYaZcz8iL/s1600/1011396_10151578188343002_871976625_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Fighter and a Survivor!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You just have
to be a soldier for yourself. One strong, hopeful soldier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You walk into
your local hospital and the doctors and nurses know you by name, even the
cleaners and chefs know your specialties. Hospital is not home and no one
should be that frequent there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Some days you
wake up and you’re fit for nothing. You’re not ready for the world because your
breathing is not right, or your ankle hurts so bad you can’t walk, or sometimes
you’re tired, just really really tired but you won’t understand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You watch your peers drop dead, one after the other and you’re thinking, am I next?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You can’t
live like everyone else, there is a limit to what you can do, the distance you
can walk and the places you can go and how many kids you can have. Your
existence is practically limited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwr53_Sb0veSKAnR34rL_hajyjNBS41rt-iVcOvAD3mfI3k5OkPmrVfDt8UuMSDwpfBF6uNY07u8aiWUr6jMyfrkCEnAlpenvT99wLQAcffKYDCqH-2onky69rtlSscPQHWOJ2mXFpcVOe/s1600/11016836_832893776747307_5269597833431552053_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwr53_Sb0veSKAnR34rL_hajyjNBS41rt-iVcOvAD3mfI3k5OkPmrVfDt8UuMSDwpfBF6uNY07u8aiWUr6jMyfrkCEnAlpenvT99wLQAcffKYDCqH-2onky69rtlSscPQHWOJ2mXFpcVOe/s1600/11016836_832893776747307_5269597833431552053_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>N'mama Dao<br />A Fighter. A Survivor</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Pray it’s not
the two of you with the disease in the same family because then you have to
watch the other in pain and guess what You can’t do anything to help them and
the worst part is you knowing the severity of the pain she’s going because
you’ve been there. A mother’s tragedy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Woe betide
you fall in love with someone who has sickle cell. Then you have the heart
throbbing decision of whether you chose to be in love and have no kids or break
up and find someone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">It doesn’t
end there, you have to deal with people who do not have a clue what sickle cell
anaemia is so they think it’s contagious. They keep away from you and treat you
different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You have
employers who think Sickle cell anaemia automatically renders you unreliable
therefore you become unemployable…you’re already at a disadvantage in life
because of something that you didn’t chose, something you have no say in,
something that was genetically imposed on you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">But most time
we don’t complain, we go on steadily, fighting every pain and beating every symptoms
because we know that is our life now. We learn to live with it and manage it.
Most people do not understand what it takes for a sickle cell patient to go
through each day. Most people do not
understand and frankly I do not blame them. Much attention is not given to
sickle cell patients, neither is much sensitization given.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfHG23TWO4sl8avf7ibnyl4Aw3exvI8vYKPyRUeTAHtIlgiqRvQubElo93s-MmChlGPKmFwtmAHcv0vOb67ZmHZcIvFPu_18RR-5OsRU6s9SF4ZHooRqHD5XaINEoUZNkv_RUt9U7h9oN/s1600/8f487ca9fa6961db26f485a7e0e2c4b5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfHG23TWO4sl8avf7ibnyl4Aw3exvI8vYKPyRUeTAHtIlgiqRvQubElo93s-MmChlGPKmFwtmAHcv0vOb67ZmHZcIvFPu_18RR-5OsRU6s9SF4ZHooRqHD5XaINEoUZNkv_RUt9U7h9oN/s1600/8f487ca9fa6961db26f485a7e0e2c4b5.jpg" height="320" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Disease Known Is Half Cured</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You fight for
each day and each hour of your life because you never know when the next crisis
(sickle cell pain) will hit you. But no one understands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">This is not a
pity party. We are not crying for help. We do not want you to feel sorry for
us. We are not asking for your tears. We want you to understand, we want you to
be considerate. We want you to be enlightened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Be nice. Play
nice. Life is hard already, we do not need anyone to make it harder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Personally I
have the utmost respect for every sickle cell patient out there. You’re a
soldier. You’re fighter. I know what it means to get up and find meaning in
each passing day. Keep going and screw the odds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Inonu Khyne-Sam</b><b><br /></b><b>A Living Testimony. </b><b style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">A Survivor. A Fighter</b></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Even if we
have to do this daily, we will because it is our life and we have accepted it.
No cure but with the help of God, we are managing just fine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">We are going
to be just fine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">And when you
feel the storms of life assails remember, God never gives you a load that you can’t
bear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Again I
say…this is not a pity party!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-2OLU9F0NVvT5l9HNrhWTmlJjz7BeO_D1u4b9G_x_NgHFmEGgattZm_mVIAd2ixLuWjv3DE59ajxaVmBskc3l1j3KaFh0mMnd9oAJ_OpUypMgtDlw1rEVndnO5N8jYy3gQnIyAmrVMjV/s1600/strongest+among+us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-2OLU9F0NVvT5l9HNrhWTmlJjz7BeO_D1u4b9G_x_NgHFmEGgattZm_mVIAd2ixLuWjv3DE59ajxaVmBskc3l1j3KaFh0mMnd9oAJ_OpUypMgtDlw1rEVndnO5N8jYy3gQnIyAmrVMjV/s1600/strongest+among+us.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With this, i'll like to say thanks and express gratitude to all the people helping us, from the doctors to the hospital chefs, from our parents to relatives, to our friends and to every passing stranger who have rendered help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We say thank you and we do not take you for granted.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgId77pLE4RGYi6gy3MOI-sfpRkGxFvOZjDS_MSzx6A9oJrKQjPjt3x13Y3WqyyYMd9BhEEULvkxCcBq4CzuMrN1jSj-wHRxw1Y3iOE0t2zYkN7jIZ6YNqw1SS_lSRYlOxTM6CAG9znco9g/s1600/SICKLE-CELL-WARRIOR-LOGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgId77pLE4RGYi6gy3MOI-sfpRkGxFvOZjDS_MSzx6A9oJrKQjPjt3x13Y3WqyyYMd9BhEEULvkxCcBq4CzuMrN1jSj-wHRxw1Y3iOE0t2zYkN7jIZ6YNqw1SS_lSRYlOxTM6CAG9znco9g/s1600/SICKLE-CELL-WARRIOR-LOGO.jpg" height="400" width="393" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">I Salute Each And Everyone Of You Warriors.</b></div>
<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Continue The Good Fight Of Faith!</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: red;">... and to the beautiful souls we've lost, May your gentle souls rest in perfect peace. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Till then <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Xoxo</span></div>
Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-76990895750634052032015-02-13T17:21:00.001+00:002015-02-13T17:21:35.694+00:00I Dare You...<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I dare you to send that text first and not play the hide and
seek behind the keyboard, to let yourself be vulnerable and be human. To not be
afraid to translate your feelings into words and actions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJe5rDVr4iJ7T094RXqU2qf15iQbQgj79QdC_VIhhC6-JY5zlluI7BZqVm4uE_dPbWOpG-qavpWbqpALd9b1-HrorSwOFfSfpW21csIXhhQ_82y0w9XBRuUgIEUatDCO4m0MCt8XP4eLn/s1600/119943622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJe5rDVr4iJ7T094RXqU2qf15iQbQgj79QdC_VIhhC6-JY5zlluI7BZqVm4uE_dPbWOpG-qavpWbqpALd9b1-HrorSwOFfSfpW21csIXhhQ_82y0w9XBRuUgIEUatDCO4m0MCt8XP4eLn/s1600/119943622.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I Dare you...</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I challenge you to tell me exactly how you’re feeling, good or
bad, in love or out of love. I challenge you to always endeavour to let me
know!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want you to make that phone call when you want to speak to me,
trash the pride and ego and tell me how bad you were aching to talk to me…how
bad you want to see me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I want to see you be a man, in the midst of your boys, no
fronting. Have the guts to show me off…even when your boys think you’re
whipped. Hold my bag when my hands are full, carry my shoes when I can no
longer carry myself on my heels after a long night out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I dare you to not string me along when I no longer give you
butterflies or make your heart smile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I’m no longer a source of inspiration and happiness, I want
you to turn the lights off but first I dare you to let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWZ71RrXCn0OTK1ZI33_UboBYAlkDsar90TgDZ0BXYeszyisbWLd9ptG2Dk8k_ThD4G7w_E7RTpupKBZS9j6P-JxEq5ZI-DFefykKf9FaZTetJ_FeHKG766IeJ2zc3uIOXedNUax2Ja7F/s1600/1151135.1.high.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWZ71RrXCn0OTK1ZI33_UboBYAlkDsar90TgDZ0BXYeszyisbWLd9ptG2Dk8k_ThD4G7w_E7RTpupKBZS9j6P-JxEq5ZI-DFefykKf9FaZTetJ_FeHKG766IeJ2zc3uIOXedNUax2Ja7F/s1600/1151135.1.high.jpg" height="153" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>When i'm No Longer A Source Of Happiness....<br />Please Let Me Know</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Against the odds, I want you to stand up for me, when people say
I’m no good for you, when the crowd wails that you’re too good for me, when the
hearsay gets too much and when the noise of the market tries to overcome what
we have, I want you to be a rock for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be a shoulder to cry on, a solace where I can channel my inner
cry baby and not be ashamed. A place where I just know everything is going to
be okay…eventually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I challenge you to never keep me around for convenience. When
you feel your heart beats for me only out of pity, I implore you to blow the
candle out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want you to be my vault, the one I can tell my darkest twisted
secrets. I dare you to be my place of no judgement. Someone I can tell about my
most embarrassing moments and the fall I had on the staircase when no one was
watching. The time I pronounced a word wrongly in public and that time my bank
card got declined with a queue of people behind me. Oh the horror!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When other temptations are flaunted at you, I dare you to say no.
To display a true strength of character and integrity and maturity - to let the
world know that what you already have is enough!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But when I’m no longer enough for you, when your heart is full
and exhausted and can no longer go on… I dare you to let me know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I dare you to be my goofy funny and silly best mate. Laugh with
me and laugh at me. Let’s do it uncontrollably till our belly ache. Laugh at my
stupid jokes and be stupid with me. Whenever I feel like taking myself too
seriously, remind me how stupid I look.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyef7BOWQBmlOvsxVxNHHY2kln-hkvRdpitS7NDuBHs7XvNOIP19jp-r7syobyNzsaaoGJHA_ZgC_gX6CiJa_Ch3erfbdCd8Q82iP9wrCaAjTwGeAfBeLw2zwTrG-eeu-hvDlec1VaRx9/s1600/dating1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyef7BOWQBmlOvsxVxNHHY2kln-hkvRdpitS7NDuBHs7XvNOIP19jp-r7syobyNzsaaoGJHA_ZgC_gX6CiJa_Ch3erfbdCd8Q82iP9wrCaAjTwGeAfBeLw2zwTrG-eeu-hvDlec1VaRx9/s1600/dating1.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Can We Make Laughing Our Tradition?</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Promise me that we will never forget to laugh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But when I step out of line, I dare you to put me back in line.
When I act out of character have the balls to tell me where I went wrong, not
with any resentment but in love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When the going gets tough, and the tough gets going, pray with
me and pray for me. Remind me of God’s love when I don’t feel too loved, when I
feel like calling quits, remind me why I started in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know it’s not always going to be all stars and giggles but
remind me to smile when troubles try to tie a knot in my soul. When the storm
comes to play, remind me and never forget to tell me that no storm can take the
sunshine away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I challenge you to have confidence in what we share, that no
matter what happens in the future we will know that what we had was real and
true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we go a day without talking, I want you to remember the good
times. The days that brought so much laughter and happiness and I want you to use
that memory to put a smile on your face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some nights, I’ll be human and fart in my sleep. Can we laugh
about it in the morning?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know there are going to be days when you’ll hate me but
…..Love me, love me even when you hate me. Love me even when I am hard to love.
Love me even when I am unbearable and a handful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Love Me...Even When You Hate Me</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are going to disagree but let’s never forget to be respectful
and considerate to each other. We are going to be angry with each other but
promise me we will fight through it with love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And never make me look stupid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let’s not forget the bad days are there to make us appreciate
the good days more. Sometimes the only way up is down and we must never forget
this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes I might just need a tight hug and a warm cuddle, be my
baby pooh bear and hold me tight and assure me of your love for me because no
matter how independent and sure I always look, there are going to be days when
I’ll need you. Be there… I dare you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ll miss my steps and stumble, other days I might fall, be
there to pick me up and cure my bruises. I’ll be crushed and not fit for
anything on some days, I challenge you to be my ace. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I dare you…I challenge you!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqw__XzjCIGFYH0I_H7wAD8xK1q70_nRpCn7we8ntCrqAAUyuri9Q7o-D-JnxOqtLjuNiaZMYbp5iGGxtgZJM8_Xc6RB8yX3jKMsIHXWGWQLjeWnQHukMdaXi5MYL73vvFk5j590aj9Qv3/s1600/The-perils-of-modern-day-dating-237x237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqw__XzjCIGFYH0I_H7wAD8xK1q70_nRpCn7we8ntCrqAAUyuri9Q7o-D-JnxOqtLjuNiaZMYbp5iGGxtgZJM8_Xc6RB8yX3jKMsIHXWGWQLjeWnQHukMdaXi5MYL73vvFk5j590aj9Qv3/s1600/The-perils-of-modern-day-dating-237x237.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2>
<b><span style="color: #660000;">Happy Valentines Day Lovers</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the long haul - you can count on me to be your…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to be contd.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Till next time</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Xoxo</span></div>
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Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-1990469325327049062015-01-30T13:16:00.000+00:002015-01-30T13:30:47.325+00:00Let’s Do It For The Gram...<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Hold on a sec, I am just going to push up this left boob a bit more , yes that’s it, and this right one a bit to the centre, that’s it. This is guaranteed a smooth 101 likes and maybe a few compliments on the comment box.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Bingo!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTL06FyP5JsnimI4Kcvnk_1IysHdZf2I8NWpwr40e9oANWypFBp06nxRf8EgAmD0KkknqO-PD4P3btuBDb6Pt5lgnVEovpueOSjmFm9QC0qKmSuXXbfgvCryDzAw0-POOyrSxHXIUb2i5w/s1600/f6f33a06a76777d8d1ba24b350e80b4990c4cd365366a06f5af55af97559f052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTL06FyP5JsnimI4Kcvnk_1IysHdZf2I8NWpwr40e9oANWypFBp06nxRf8EgAmD0KkknqO-PD4P3btuBDb6Pt5lgnVEovpueOSjmFm9QC0qKmSuXXbfgvCryDzAw0-POOyrSxHXIUb2i5w/s1600/f6f33a06a76777d8d1ba24b350e80b4990c4cd365366a06f5af55af97559f052.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Aite aite …these chicks love muscles and a bit of beard, let me take this vest off and take a selfie real quick. Yea that’s it, and another nice angle of the packs...yup. This should send a little chaos towards my inbox. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>When guys Show off!! </b><br />
<b>I see you!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I smell chaos, I see an attention seeker, and I can sense loneliness. I hear a desperate scream for validation, I prescribe a reality check. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Grown women. Grown men. Underage kids. No one is exempted from this ‘’let’s do it for the gram syndrome’’<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Our generation is breaking and so is my heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The thirst for likes, the hunger for compliments and the ever-growing craving for shares is taking over. But really brethren it’s not that serious.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">We are humans who love a free show, discounted stuff, better still free stuff. And you’re there offering on a platter of course we’re going to go crazy. I myself have been known to love a bargain and a buffet…yea I’m shameless but can you blame me though?!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You’re all cleavage-up, in your thong, naked washboard of twelve packs on display… They will like the hell out of your pictures and make you think you’re the best thing since slice bread, they will share till the share button declines their shares, they will give you compliments that will make you feel like you can walk on water but if you can’t swim like me, don’t try it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">But that’s why you posted that naked pic though isn’t? that’s why you posted that pic of you in your sitting room in a bikini, (are you okay girl) the same reason why you posted that pic of your boobs and all the while claiming you’ve got a new hair style, yea I see you. The same reason why you strategically posed so your ass can look fuller and more enticing…all for the gram, the likes and the shares.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU5Bf3ZYye8x99SIHyru8PX4yRgPS_CmytHx-HpSvMumqor2sHYm26ALY14eypoc4rOGeXlh2rMPw6ETt4eq6fG8ufL5ByCVOjyBQcQwKpd1G-WKMiZhFmcZ8aZL6RHD956fn6_vkYLkz/s1600/likes_980.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU5Bf3ZYye8x99SIHyru8PX4yRgPS_CmytHx-HpSvMumqor2sHYm26ALY14eypoc4rOGeXlh2rMPw6ETt4eq6fG8ufL5ByCVOjyBQcQwKpd1G-WKMiZhFmcZ8aZL6RHD956fn6_vkYLkz/s1600/likes_980.gif" height="203" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Anything For The Likes huh?</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You claim you’re getting it in the gym but all I can see is you flexing those muscles and squinting the living daylight out of your eyes…brother can you see though? You’re there struggling to grow that beard too, can I just state that not all girls love beards because this latest obsession with beards is spiralling out of control and we need to make it stop. Beard doesn’t make you automatically attractive neither does the muscles but anything that floats your boat buddy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">101 smooth likes, couple of overly sugar-coated compliments and 50 shares... mission accomplished. But how are these contributing to your life? What purpose do they serve because whatever it is, let me just tell you that it Is going to be temporary and unless you’re a model or getting paid to some extent ( I wouldn’t want to judge your hustle you see) then you have no business posting such provocative and suggestive pictures. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Has it ever occurred to you that some of these compliments are full of lies and these likes have nothing to do with you being beautiful or handsome, it has to do with how your picture made me feel, that very moment in time? If it’s a nude pic, they will like it and if there is a love button they will love it. It’ll be very damaging for you to think that all those likes, over shares and compliments are because you’re actually handsome or beautiful. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">What happens when you’re fully clothed and you post that pic of you in your church attire? You get few likes, no compliments and no shares. Are you going to drop dead? Or will you run to the stores and purchase the latest push up bra or run to the ever faithful mirror and strip to show off that twelve pack? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The do it for the gram syndrome is ruining lives!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Banksy captured my thoughts in this art!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Don’t get me wrong now, I love my shorts and all things short, so you’ll always catch me in such attires but there’s is suggestive and provocative and then there is you just doing your calm and innocent thing. Trust me, there is a difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You’re on the beach or on holiday, of course I would expect to see you in your bikini and shorts and sexy sundress. I would expect to see you in all your glorious and fabulous self, but when I start seeing you in your bedroom with little or nothing on, then I start questioning your sanity. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Leave something for the imagination. Did mama not teach you that?!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">None of that it’s my life and I can do what I want BS….nope! It is your life no doubt but you have to take complete responsibility for your actions. Your actions affect and influence more people than you think… I can hear you saying (I’m living my life for no one) agreed but to every right there is a responsibility and your responsible for a lot more than you think. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You are a responsible for your image and reputation and whether you like it or not, that is something you have to protect. That is your brand. That is who you are. Few years down the line you’ll be glad you did. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Let This Be Your Motto For Social Media</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You’re a teacher, whether you agree or not. You do not have to be on the pulpit or in the classroom, old and young will look at you and change their lives, they will make life changing decisions and all the while you don’t even have a clue. You influence people daily, good or bad that is up to you. They might not always tell you but more people look up to you than you think. Is nudity the message you want to be sending across?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You’re responsible for you. How do you feel after all the likes and compliments you so desperately desire? How do you sleep at night? Do they keep you warm? The likes, are they sending money straight into your bank account. That feel good feeling, how long does it last for? Ask yourself honestly, is it worth it? Is that beard keeping you warm?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I am not being preachy here but you’re being very mean to yourself. You’re making yourself vulnerable and open to the crazy paedophiles and sex-crazed humans of this world. Sometimes we create our own storms and complain when we get wet. Don’t be that person.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You guys flaunt money and six packs and then complain when you attract the wrong people in your life. You’re always closing circles, deleting friends and glorifying haters (really anytime you complain about haters you’re glorifying them) but what you really should be doing is taking care of self. That’s number one, that is bae and that is home. When the house (your being) is in order, where does the wrong people seat?! No chance mate!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Where lies your self-respect, self-esteem and self-love. I mean, don’t you love yourself? Why are you so violent towards your being? Why are you so cruel and evil to yourself? Who hurt you when you were young?!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You’re out there showing your goodies to people who don’t give two rats about you. They don’t even know you and you’re throwing a party for them. Free entry, food and drink (your body). Girl you’re worth more. Boy get it together. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This Sums Everything Up!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">You’re a representation of every woman and man on this earth and if you’re selling cheap (yup men can be deemed cheap too) where does that leave the rest of us? How can we even begin to give value to the market again? In order for us to win the fight, we need to fight as a team. We need to be on the same boat and send the same message across. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Love yourself enough to know that every good thing comes from within. You are not a drop in the ocean, you are the ocean! If only you knew! You have all the love in you and God has given you all the validation you need. Man is fickle and temporary. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Work on yourself. Read books, spend time alone without feeling lonely, and be happy about little things. Don’t compare yourself to no one. And remember beauty lies within. Go to the gym if it makes you feel better, run, jog, and eat healthy (or whatever the heck you want if you’re anything like me). Take 100 selfies, and admire yourself. Find your best features and accentuate them with your favourite makeup, write down one thing you love about yourself every day, it could be your personality, or the way you talk passionately about things you love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Fill that void in you with the things you love. Find a hobby, do things that you love. Listen to music, watch your favourite movies 50 times over, cook and cleaning can be an awesome therapy too. Learn something new, it could be baking or playing an instrument. A new language. Or a new craft. Understand that you are whole without the likes and someone else’s validation. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After all this, you can boast of it on social media and the likes you get wouldn’t matter because you’ve already gained that inner satisfaction that no man can take that away from you. The likes and compliments are just a bonus. You start to notice that you’re not dependent on them anymore, you realise you don’t need them but a few compliments here and there wouldn’t hurt no one.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Signed & Sealed - God Did That!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">God is love and He has enough to shower you till your cup runneth over. God signed and sealed the deal with you since you were in your mother’s tummy, what else do you need?! concentrate on things that matter and create the best version of yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I used to gram for the likes and the followers till I did my 100 happy days of Happiness. This was however not out of low self-esteem, this was me following trends of having lots of followers and subconsciously joining in the charade for likes. Unnecessary competition that I don’t even need to be part of. 100 happy days challenge kind of put things into perspective for me. That really taught me something. I highly recommend it. Maybe you should try it.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whenever you feel like joining the bandwagon, remember and Understand that social media is a monster, it’ll build you up and have you for breakfast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Now let that resonate!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJI1X3rX-zMGWOhfF_litlbFeWc4amjFApplogxLU0FE8z_MscIcBIzXzjzzJbhsOz7W_MSa3edn6ZyH-CdgYnGORxVqDeXCLgT7dBnbeaXNzGqtzJh4WILpbPOC0X-DYZqoy-H26CFia/s1600/ebcf2c3486c552f5b17ddf66c989b8c6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJI1X3rX-zMGWOhfF_litlbFeWc4amjFApplogxLU0FE8z_MscIcBIzXzjzzJbhsOz7W_MSa3edn6ZyH-CdgYnGORxVqDeXCLgT7dBnbeaXNzGqtzJh4WILpbPOC0X-DYZqoy-H26CFia/s1600/ebcf2c3486c552f5b17ddf66c989b8c6.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Till then<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Xoxo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092365854089887934.post-46599539199336657942015-01-23T17:00:00.000+00:002015-01-26T09:45:55.545+00:0050 Shades Of Grey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To some people grey is just a dull colour, to some, they're actually living in the grey...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but how and why?</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>But love is...</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Black is always black…its almost undeniable and so is white, very prominent. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The thing about grey…if you look at it too long you’ll start to see traces of white and other days traces of black. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Basically that is the confusion zone. Aka the side chick zone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eurgh I hate that word! Side chick!! It oozes so much disrespect. Why would anyone want to be that?! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most often we tell ourselves that love is black and white. Well at least that’s how it’s supposed to be. The white means you’re bae. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Relationship on fleek! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whoohoo</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The black means, well you might have worked that out. Sorry yeh</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey however is the most often denied and ignored position. It is where you stand when you don’t know if you’re black or white, if the sun is going to shine or if the storm will win, if they’ll look for you or if they will never turn back. The grey area, where you don’t know if you’re coming or going. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area - where we stand and fight (shout out to all the soldiers) – But know when to let go and when to stay and fight. Are they giving you something to fight for? Are they giving you reasons to stay? Do they even want you to fight for them? This might just be a war with yourself!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area – the home of unanswered questions – the chances are we know the answer to these questions but our delusional self won’t permit us to think right so we cultivate lies and deceit, wrap it with a ribbon and call it a bouquet. You’ll learn soon enough!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey are - where we see red and call it green. Red as we all know means to stop or possibly danger. Stop being a damn fool. Stop deceiving yourself. Stop lowering your self-esteem. Stop taking jewels off your crown. Stop breaking your bones in pieces to fit in. stop giving everything to people who have no plans for you. Stop discounting your valuables. Stop making excuses for boneless spines. Stop being a grave yard to dead bones. Stop. Stop. Just stop!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>They're Just Not That Into You..</b>.<br />
<b>Even a shorter dress doesn't do the magic...sorry yeh</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area - where we put flowers on an asshole (excuse my French) and call it a vase – Stop it. Even if you stuff the hole in an ass, they will still remain an ass. You know what they say, if it looks, walks and quack like a duck…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area- where you build a castle, crown yourself the village idiot. Cooking and cleaning your way into oblivion. Showering their hearts with luxurious gifts. Praying and fasting steadily like the world is about to end. Even your loyalty is unmatched. Loyalty to a heart that doesn’t acknowledge your mere being. (This is serious) Sorry … all that won’t make you ‘’The One’’. Have you tried that thing where we put one foot in front of the other and walk away, better still run? Maybe you should.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area – where we believe their silence is them making up their minds and their no replies is them being too busy building their empire. All the while you’re forgetting that indecisiveness is an answer. Why must someone struggle to love you? Silence is an answer too. Take it and run. Find the exit and never look back! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area - where you think they’re giving you mixed signals – No love, no one is mixing anything. Chances are you’re the only one experiencing mixed signals. They have couple of your kinds and they are reaping the benefits steadily. Why buy the cow?! Free milk never felt so good huh?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area - where one person is catching feelings and building castles in the air and the other is sipping on earl grey like the boss that is Kermit! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area - where the baboon works its behind off and the monkey is sitting high and mighty, eating all the harvest. It really doesn’t have to be that way! When the feeling is mutual the effort would be equal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area – where one person is gloriously swimming in pride and ego thinking they’re too good and the other is shredding and losing self, one heart beat at a time. Dead soul is no good to no man, not even yourself. Stop it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area - where Sleepless nights, headache, frustration, anger and tears are the kings of the castle. They rule your heart and they have succeeded in driving happiness away. Bravo…I hope it’s worth it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area- where you’ve grasped onto the quote ‘’Patience is golden’’ and ‘’the patient dog eats the fattest bone’’ Patience in this case is not that golden and the only thing you’ll be eating is air, warm or cold you get to choose! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area - The lukewarm zone where you’re not even sure if your tea tastes nice because it’s actually a perfect cuppa or because you’re just thirsty and you’re not even sure if your sandwich is 3 days old or freshly made because the sense of being has left you…totally. You rolled from living to existing mode real quick!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area- where you become the convenience corner store. When they need that quick fix at 2am or that feel good feeling, you’re there, holding on like a true champ! (Clap for yourself) All the while hoping and praying that one day you’ll graduate from a corner store to the main supermarket. That's not hope, that is a disaster!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area- where you’ve successfully and forcefully convinced yourself that ignorance is bliss, that everything is black and white. The problem is you can’t see the grey because you’re sitting on it. Get up, have a look…ahhhh there’s the grey mass. Now buddy go fix yourself! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grey area is where they keep you when they’re weighing their options. The grey area is where you allow yourself to stay while someone decides if they want to take on all your awesomeness. You have no business in that corner, you have so much to give to the right person, why wait for someone to struggle to choose between you and someone else?! That my friend, is your cue to fly!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What you must know is that some people even if a good thing whack them across the face and call them daddy or mummy they still won’t recognise it. And that’s nothing to do with you. Be okay with that. You don’t have to win all your battles but be okay with the fact that you fought! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t try to squeeze your feet into shoe sizes that are too small. You know what you’ll end up with? A feet like mine, full of corns and calluses because I force my poor feet (Your heart) into ill fitted shoes ( that guy or lady) just because they look nice (Your target)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why would you fight so hard to prove your awesomeness to someone? Why have sleepless nights over someone who doesn’t even think about your existence? Think about it, if they can’t see your awesomeness then maybe they don’t deserve you in the first place. You can show someone something good but what you can’t do is force them to appreciate it. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2HZ4C3HhIF7_c3vJAUm14rVydNc4_wyLP_vm4T4cKPPbI8PXstC0biDZiIC5WkdzpYguadPL9tf1ZDYq7dnpjP5WfSjdnhS2GdaXATtFf-kSPYfifLBHf0jukar4rft90jZOwz2Pxu9W/s1600/nothing-takes-the-taste-out-of-peanut-butter-quite-like-unrequited-love3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2HZ4C3HhIF7_c3vJAUm14rVydNc4_wyLP_vm4T4cKPPbI8PXstC0biDZiIC5WkdzpYguadPL9tf1ZDYq7dnpjP5WfSjdnhS2GdaXATtFf-kSPYfifLBHf0jukar4rft90jZOwz2Pxu9W/s1600/nothing-takes-the-taste-out-of-peanut-butter-quite-like-unrequited-love3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>You haven't known pain till you've loved someone <br />who doesn't love you back!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If they’re not excited as I am to be in that relationship and doing the skelewu then it’s not happening. Why? Because sleepless nights and heart attack is not my portion nor am I trying to build a river with my tears. Above all I love myself better to know that people go hard for what they really care about and if they’re not going hard for me then maybe, just maybe I am not their cup of tea and I am okay with that.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbrkFxzuTutoXS6y7ENTQtJ_lb3CYLYtzmCJEZtr5qOnLmdfLFnfaOPNgipMN0kmfEMjeWQOkKwSZ6022h-i3-ki03Amwt4KpgURBQqjGgKaGtbmntZAoTuBAvhH-erZSGHBTPehw_q2W/s1600/a79d3593e1f389ab4b1a6c1e5b0e0184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbrkFxzuTutoXS6y7ENTQtJ_lb3CYLYtzmCJEZtr5qOnLmdfLFnfaOPNgipMN0kmfEMjeWQOkKwSZ6022h-i3-ki03Amwt4KpgURBQqjGgKaGtbmntZAoTuBAvhH-erZSGHBTPehw_q2W/s1600/a79d3593e1f389ab4b1a6c1e5b0e0184.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Skelewu, azonto...the full works. <br />Unapologetic!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mate…Move away from the grey area, nothing good grows on that piece of land. Don’t you feel lost? Is the confusion not too much for you? The maybes and what ifs, are they not killing you? </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyr7ylRdgmQ2iXtjMlGCaJGWQPOaMRIcbKhWqe8Tuu8czeBy8FjoZjlmz7B7wylthjmPn2f6HYoAi7LZIBIyGhIwvF4aflze8rmOr4swdp5eoN08Yl3mALdNbGKOcptIiOkfAyyAd1N4b/s1600/images+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyr7ylRdgmQ2iXtjMlGCaJGWQPOaMRIcbKhWqe8Tuu8czeBy8FjoZjlmz7B7wylthjmPn2f6HYoAi7LZIBIyGhIwvF4aflze8rmOr4swdp5eoN08Yl3mALdNbGKOcptIiOkfAyyAd1N4b/s1600/images+(1).jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Grey Area - Looks pretty lonely to me...</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t allow someone to poison your meaning of love because when it hurts that bad, it kills your zeal to fully trust your heart to someone else again in the future. Your happiness matters, be kind to yourself. All that love you’re pouring into perforated hearts that don’t know how to love, massage some into yourself so when the right one comes along you will be able to love again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Women as well as men play this game, so don't rest on your laurels, be watchful. See a friendship for what it is. Take your sanity very seriously, no one is worth that much. The moment you start questioning that’s when you should start getting your acts together. Love is not hard. People who do not know how to love makes love hard! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There comes a time where one should grab a no and walk away with it…bruh everything doesn’t have to be something. Be at peace with that.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WASTING TIME IS A <b>DANGEROUS</b> GAME.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I dare you to live a purpose driven life!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9-xqoVv1sXjsEWWmupF5h1FR9sR1_pJ2VxwGoEuUaVHrMhBri-3mD44D7YI2UTeZV0OODlI9ZCweBBtECGMVfEEMrctgQTyUseUyFdFfGDdw0CnHR89UNp4Eb7rEg51lXatbMKVWpuF3/s1600/blacknwhite.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9-xqoVv1sXjsEWWmupF5h1FR9sR1_pJ2VxwGoEuUaVHrMhBri-3mD44D7YI2UTeZV0OODlI9ZCweBBtECGMVfEEMrctgQTyUseUyFdFfGDdw0CnHR89UNp4Eb7rEg51lXatbMKVWpuF3/s1600/blacknwhite.jpeg" height="257" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Remember ...Love Is Black And White!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Till then</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Xoxo</span><br />
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Doris Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262490206531512732noreply@blogger.com0