***Confidence is silent. Insecurities are loud.***

Nuggets…

Do Small Acts of Kindness:

I remember reading a statement by a psychiatrist who said that if you ever feel depressed, the best thing to do is to do something for someone else. Why? Because it gets you focussed outward, not inward. It’s hard to be depressed while serving someone else. Ironically, a by-product of helping others is feeling wonderful yourself.

A guy sat in an airport one day, waiting for his flight. He was excited because he had been upgraded to a first-class ticket. And he liked the fact that in first class, the seats are bigger, the food is edible and the flights attendants are actually nice. In fact, he had the best seat on the entire plane. Seat 1A. Before boarding, he noticed a young lady who had several carry-on bags and was holding a crying baby. Having just finished reading a book on doing random acts of kindness, he heard his conscience speak to him ‘You scumbag. Let her have your ticket.’ He fought these promtings for a while, but eventually gave in:
‘Excuse me, but you look like you could use this first-class ticket more than me. I know how hard it can be flying with kids. Why don’t you let me trade you tickets.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Oh yeah. I really don’t mind. I’m just going to be working the whole time anyway.’
‘Well thank you. That’s very kind of you,’ she said as she swapped tickets.
As they boarded the plane, he was surprised at how good it made him feel to watch the lady seat down in seat 1A. In fact, under the circumstances, seat 24B or wherever the heck he was sitting didn’t seem that bad at all. At one point during the flight, he was so curious to see how she was doing that he could hardly stand it. Soo he got out of his seat, walked to the first-class section, and peeked in through the curtains that separates first class from economy. There she was with her baby, both asleep in big and comfortable seat 1A. And he felt like a million pounds.

This sweet story shared by a teenager named Jenny is another example of the joy of service:

There is a girl in our neighbourhood who lives in a flat with her parents, and they don’t have a lot of money. For the past three years, when I grew out of my clothes, me and my mum took them over to her. I’d say something like ‘I thought you might like these’, or ‘I’d like to see you wearing this’.
When she wore something I gave her, I’d think it was really cool. She would say, ‘Thank you for the new shirt’. I’d reply, ‘That colour looks really good on you!’ I tried to be sensitive so that I didn’t make her feel bad or give her the impression that I thought she was poor. It makes me feel good, knowing that I’m helping her have a better life.

Go out of your way to say hello to the most lonely person you know. Write a thank you note to someone who has made a difference in your life like a friend, teacher, or coach. Giving gives life not only to others but also to yourself. I love these lines from ‘The Man Nobody Knows’ by Bruce Barton, which illustrates this point so well:

There are two seas in Palestine. One is fresh, and fish are in it. Splashes of green adorn its bank. Trees spread their branches over it and stretch out their thirsty roots to sip of its healing waters.
…The River Jordan makes this sea with sparkling water from the hills. So it laughs in the sunshine. And men build their houses near to it, and birds their nests; and every kind of life is happier because it is there.
The River Jordan flows on south into another sea.
Here is no splash of fish, no fluttering leaf, no song of birds, no children’s laughter. Travellers choose another route, unless and urgent business. The air hangs heavy above its water, and neither man nor beast nor fowl will drink.
What makes this mighty difference in these neighbour seas? Not the River Jordan. It empties the same good water into both. Not the soil in which they lie; not in the country round about.
This is the difference. The Sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the Jordan. For every drop that flows into it another drop flows out. The giving and receiving go on in equal measure.
The other sea is shrewder, hoarding its income jealously. It will not be tempted into any generous impulse. Every drop it gets, it keeps.
The sea of Galilee gives and lives. This other sea gives nothing. It is named the Dead.
There are two kinds of people in this world. There are two seas in Palestine.

Girls In Herds

Evil. Thats the first thing i thought when my girlfriends betrayed me. Aside from feeling betrayed, i felt overpowered, defeated by my fellow gals. That was highly demeaning.
We’ve all been hurt by our girl friends at some point or another and it is an undeniable fact that girls have that she-devil nature embedded in them. They have the sweet and calm side, the fierce and stormy side, the revolting side, the angry, mad and hateful side, the evil side, and then, the side you never want to see. Girls use words to push buttons that can send you to your roots and back. They are just that powerful. And this they can do alone.

Imagine a group of girls, coming together for a common purpose. That calls for caution. Together, girls are like a bomb waiting to explode. And they can do and say the most hurtful things.
When a girl is out to get you, she goes all out. Determined and focussed, a girl wouldn’t let anything keep her from reahing her goal and somehow she knows she’ll get whatever she wants.
Girls are dangerous. If there’s one thing you learn, let that be it. Dangerous with a capital D’ thay can be hugging you and tearing you apart at the same time. They have just the right amount of strength and will power to propel them forward.
But underneathe all these, girls are princesses, sweet, loving, caring and pleasant to be around with.
So whenever, you find yourself within the ‘she zone’, try as much as possible to be on the good side of the pack because the tiniest move you make can be the difference between living and dying. 😀

NB: please this is only a stereotype. Not all girls are the same

xx

Divergent Teen

What’s the first word that comes to my mind when asked to describe myself? Quirky? Its gotta have this certain feel to it whenever I say it, so I know its really me. Someone may say ‘unusual’. hmmmm, That’s not to far from the truth, but not too close either.
The truth is, I’m not exactly regular. I love to do things my own way, not at all caring who’s watching. I t usually gets me into trouble; sometimes it doesn’t, but I feel like I cant live any other way. I’m not one who’s crazy about ‘fitting in’. Maybe that’s why most times I’m the odd one out…

Odd. That’s another good word.
Someone can say ‘weird’, but that’s far from it.
These days, people don’t have minds of their own really, They are always looking to ‘belong’ in the crowd. And that’s something different about me.

I love to stand out.
Be different.
Unique.
I love it when someone can pick me out in a crowd. And I cant blend in with the crowd and still stand out. I don’t ever want to be included in a generalised statement like “Oh, she’s just one of those girls…” I’d hate that. I prefer “that girl…”.
So, most times I have to stand alone for something. Because the ones in the group will always stick to themselves and disregard anyone else who isn’t a part of them. But then, I don’t mind.

Anyway, most times I have to suffer for standing alone. For taking a stand most times, I’m crucified. And being the minority, I’m ignored. Totally cut off because I am bold to stand alone. But that doesn’t stop me, I still stand for what is right.

See, the problem today is people are still very much afraid to stand up for what is right. They don’t want to be the minority. They are too caught up in the crowd that they just move along with it, not knowing where exactly they are going.

You don’t have to do much really. You can start today. Don’t follow the crowd, take a separate decision. Make sure its the right decision and move along with it. Stick to it. Dont let anyone or anything stop you.
Stand out.
Stand tall.
Stand proud.
Be different.

-D.T

10 things a desperate teen wants to say to her dad.

1. I’m not a child anymore. Continuing to be treated as a child feels demeaning. I want respect for my status as a maturing young adult.

2. I act like i’m ready to be an adult, but i’m scared to death of becoming one. I’m typically overwhelmed with the impending responsibility. For all the bravery i can muster, there is a significant fear of the unknown. Please be sensitive to my situation while i prepare to take the big step into adulthood.

3. Friends are becoming more important to me. Part of the transition process through which i progress is moving from dependence on parents to independence. Part of that transition process involves a gradual separation from parents to others, including friends. So, dont be too concerned or get hurt feelings when i would rather ‘hang out’ with friends that stay home with you.

4. i question lots of things i never questioned before. I may question your judgement. I may question basic beliefs and values the family has embraced. Please try to stay available to help me through this questioning process if the opportunity presents itself.

5. My hormones are doing weird things to me and i cant say why. I may start feeling uncomfortable around friends of the opposite sex even when we have been friends for years. I may want posters on the wall, of which you do not approve. But mostly, i just feel- i dont necessarily understand why. You’ve been here before, so teach me how to control these.

6. I hate ‘THE LOOK’

7. Sometimes, i just need to be alone.

8. I wish you knew how much i need you. I want to hear your wisdom, feel your love and make you proud. I cant navigate the world without you.

9. I want you to make time for me.

10. I love you daddy. Always have, and always will. No matter what i do, how i act, dont ever doubt or forget that.