I Am Tired

What the heck is even wrong with me?  What have I done with my life and how have I carried out with all my many and little plans about what I want to do here on earth?
I am tired and I am sincerely exhausted. At least I know am not daft, dull, lazy or unresourceful. This was exactly my thoughts one day I was seating in a cab with the hot scorching sun giving me the almost hardest time of my life. It’s the end of the year and I’m counting my achievements from my goals this year and I realized I couldn’t even meet up to 35% of my targets, this just makes me feel miserable. But, it’s just the end of a year, life has not ended and it wouldn’t end because I didn’t achieve all I wanted to. 

I thought about you along the line, yes! you. I can't give up because of you. At least if I wouldn't do it for me, I should think of others who think the best of me and believe in me more than I believe in myself. 

You know, most times people who don't tend to push their selves to success despite their challenges are just being selfish. Put yourself in others shoes who expect things from us, think of those children and teenagers that your mere act of pushing can inspire to do better things with their lives, sometimes it's really not just about what you get individually but the amount of lives you've affected, this doesn't mean you should just inspire people and stay where you're at. At the end, your success story makes them believe in you more and gives you the backup you need to talk to others. 

I have snapped out of it, there's no giving up, not now, not ever. I will rather learn from 2017 and make 2018 better than beat myself over what didn’t happen. 
I will be who I aspire to be, I'll get there and I'll live a legacy. I won't give up, you shouldn't either. 

I rest my case. 

My Thoughts 
©Ala O. Wilcox 

I think I finally met my Prince Charming.....

I think I finally met my Prince Charming! As much as I really do not care so much about the physical I also mind about the physical. I'm sure all those guys that have asked me out from far and near will be calling me a hypocrite now. Hahaha! 

So this really cute guy, tall, beautifully shaped red lips with pointed noise that perfectly suits his face structure, well dressed with a Versace cologne that caught my smell sense approached me. Before he came I already like him, obviously for the fact that he looked extremely attractive, at least he caught Ala's attention. We exchanged pleasantries and of course yes, I didn't hesitate to give him my business card. 

A few days to knowing him I had got back to reality of "den no de chop fine o!", I had to remind myself that it wasn't all about the amount of cuteness, cash, beautiful house or car and after about two (2) weeks I got to realize that this package was just a beautiful package without good content and believe me, it wasn't my first.

This is basically our reality in the world now. Everyone is so well packaged on the outside that you can barely know the true content from just a sight of the individual. The funny thing is that some people think they have what it takes to thrive because they learn from what they have seen out there on social media but fail to look deep down and be fair on themselves as to if they are telling their selves the truth or not. We justify our actions even when we know somewhere in us we would have done better. 

It's time to breakout of this whole package without content and make ourselves valuable for our family, society and the generations to come. We need to think value because it's only when we think on it we become conscious to adding value to ourselves and others.

I'll leave you with some questions you should ponder on. 

a) Why am I here? 

b) What can I do to make my being here productive? 

c) How can I make my environment feel my positive impact? 

d) Who can I help? 

People wish to be influential but don't want to add value, that's an error. Add value and you automatically become a person of influence and do start from where you are (your family). 

They say,  practice makes perfect, start now. 

I rest my case. 

My Thoughts. 

Ala .O. Wilcox

#iStandForRightValues

UNLEARN

It all began with the question what do I really need to write about. I searched deep and for days, there were lots of things on my mind but I couldn't zero in on which I really wanted to serve you with. I drafted and deleted a lot but I got little pointers from different people at different intervals but all related to one thing and that is.....wait for it. #widesmile.

So I juggled through the life of a few people I know, people I didn't really know but got to know a few things about because they sought my advice on some matters, myself, a few family members and The Bible to summarize what I've always had as a personal principle in life which is "Learn from everything no matter how irrelevant it may seem, you never know where it might be". I really do not have permission to write about another except the person gives me a go ahead but I can give a little snippet of me.

In this my small twenty something years in life on earth, I've been through a lot you never can imagine I could have. It can never be the worse and I know that everything happens for a reason hence my not being perturbed by them, people have gone through worst but among all has been; disappointment from people I trust, heartbreak from family and friends, betrayal from the supposed people you trust in church, scarcity, shattered dreams, missed opportunities because of our societal pattern of "man-know-man" and so many other reasons.
Truth is, yes, everyone somehow goes through all of this but at different intensities but most people break and give up on life as a result of this thing. Have you ever imagined, if Nelson Mandela gave up, will South Africa be free today? If Oprah Winfrey gave up will she be the worlds second most richest black woman? If Joyce Meyer gave up will she be one of those women who could preach hope to other women? if Steve Jobs gave up would Apple be existing? If Bill Gates gave up will Microsoft exist? If Folorunsho Alakija had given up will she have the amass wealth she has now to the point of being the world's third most richest black woman? etc, I guess not. They all had one thing in common and that was pushing their self to learn from what they were going or had gone through.

I had thought through my short time on earth and realized that despite what we go through we still have the right to make the choice of what to do about/with them. Life is really choice driven both in good and bad situations. I decided at a point in my life to look deeply into the happenings of my life and not sulk on the issue, I tell God to teach me what I need to learn from whatever situation it might be and help me be stronger and ready for whatever comes next. Guess what, it works and it makes you stronger.

Many people have asked me "Ala, how do you manage to keep it together?" This is my secret. I see the happenings of life as SUBJECTS in the school called LIFE and I make sure I LEARN everything I need to pass the EXAM called PURPOSE.
Meanwhile, The Holy Spirit has been a companion and great source of inspiration in those times.

My call to you today is that, you don't just see the negativity in that ordeal that is or looks negative, look at the brighter side of it, learn all you can from it cause you need those lessons learnt to pass the other tests that comes your way.

I rest my case.

My Thoughts.
Ala O. Wilcox

MOVE

I can be better than this, the question is how? This question has been perturbing my mind for a while now and I know it's been same for some of you out there especially as you've not been able to meet up all your goals for the year and it's already coming to an end.

We can do this! Yes we can.

There is no point in pretending it’s going to be easy.
But, we also know we are awesome and amazing at taking on difficult tasks—and we can just go for it!
I know there are things you want to change about yourself and in your life. Some of these feel impossible. “This is just the way I am,” we often say to ourselves and our friends.
But is this true? I don’t think so. None of us are always one way—or we don’t have to be. You are always changing!
Every day you get older and experience new things in your inner and outer-environment. Change is happening constantly. The question is: can you direct this change? Can you participate fully in your life and choose what is being strengthened and what is being weakened?

If we don’t make any attempt to change the parts of our lives we aren’t satisfied with—they simply won’t change.
If you do nothing…you will get nothing.
Nothing changes the first time we try. Persistence is needed. Persistence is necessary. Persistence is self-love being manifested into reality.

Are you ever going to be able to change? Will you ever have the body, love-life, career, business, relationship, family you want? I really don’t know.
But, I know you won’t have them if you don’t try. And, I hope you try. Because what the world needs for its healing is people working toward their own healing.

Yes, it  is hard—but you can do it. You just need to start.
I rest my case.

My Thoughts
Ala O. Wilcox

I never want to end up like my parents

I never want to end up like my mum or dad. Please take away that surprise look from your eyes, thank you. 

I always wanted to be a lawyer as a younger girl. I loved talking reasonably especially for people, asking questions, proving rights and wrongs, standing up for those who can't and many more but that was not the case for me at the end. Why did I bring up what I wanted to be in this write-up? You know as we grow older, we get to realize and be thankful that a lot of things we wished for some years back, we never got them. That's not because it wasn't a good wish but because maturity has made us understand that we never needed them and if we had got them, perhaps, we wouldn't have learnt what we know or we wouldn't have had the experiences that made us better (this might not always be the case though).

I added a year yesterday, yes. I love the show of love and affection from everyone, yes and thank you somuch, but in all this, I try to see the differences or changes that have occurred within the previous year of my life. 

Did I do things better? Did I make the right choices? Did I add value in all or few spheres of my life? How successful am I in the sense that how many lives have I influenced positively? Did I make good friends? Have I put away the acquaintances of mine that I think are not of good influence in my life (not in the judgemental way)? Am I a better lady than I was in the last year? How prepared am I for the man I will be spending the rest of my life with  (do I have as much content as I would love him to have)? Have I derailed from my purpose? etc. This and many more questions are the things I perturb myself with because life "I think" is more than the celebrations, fun and well wishes.

I remember I started off with me not wanting to be like my parents and believe me, I am extremely serious about it. 

My mum is my mum and my dad is my dad but there was never a time it was written anywhere that life was about being who our parents are(were) despite their background or achievements. Truth is even if my dad were Aliko Dangote or my mum Folorunso Alakija I would want to be different from them. I would love to do something different that'll make me stand out. They have their purpose and they were used as a tool to bring me (another tool) to earth to fulfill my purpose here. 

This is a wakeup call to all of us who have gotten tied up with so much noise (work, social media, business, church activities, etc) from our generation. You came here for a reason, do not die with it. 

FIND THAT REASON, LIVE THE REASON AND BECOME THE REASON OTHERS HAVE A REASON.

I rest my case. 

My Thoughts.

©Ala O. Wilcox.

People are important

People are really important to us. Go out there, socialize, make worthy friends. Be inspired by Leroy Okoni.

Erotomania -a dilusional disorder-

Erotomania is a type of delusional disorder where the affected person believes that another person is in love with him or her. This belief is usually applied to someone with higher status or a famous person, but can also be applied to a complete stranger.

Edit

The core symptom of the disorder is that the sufferer holds an unshakable belief that another person is secretly in love with them. In some cases, the sufferer may believe several people at once are "secret admirers." The sufferer may also experience other types of delusions concurrently with erotomania, such as delusions of reference, wherein the perceived admirer secretly communicates his or her love by subtle methods such as body posture, arrangement of household objects, and other seemingly innocuous acts (or, if the person is a public figure, through clues in the media). Erotomanic delusions are typically found as the primary symptom of a delusional disorder or in the context of schizophrenia and may be treated with atypical antipsychotics.

Source: www.google.com/wikepedia

Give it your TITLE

It starts like a drop of tear and gradually graduates into lots of tears mixed up with nose fluid that gets all your make over messed up. 

It starts off with a single harmless thought of why, what, when then navigates the thought which was harmless to being harmful. 

The bubbling and joyful me would never be associated with such a devastating thing. No, it ain't possible.

But then, as much as I had this thought about me, I never really knew what was coming.

My story goes like this. I was really hopeful that all my plans will come through. In short, I had it all figured out. The what, why, how and when question was all answered and to the best of my knowledge, with how critical I can be when I'm trying to make a plan or figure something out, my plans should never fail, afterall, I prayed to God about it and I know my ideas come from Him alone. 

In my super excited and glittering mood, I can do almost anything to make another person happy because yes, I was hopeful. The future has a lot to offer. 

Weeks and months went through and it seemed like there was no need to be hopeful. I looked for my faith but couldn't find it. I started looking for it the moment I allowed my thoughts take a better part of me in the sense that at this particular time, my thoughts were more of doubt than the usual hope, faith and trust. 

It lingered on and on and then the unusual with me happened, *DEPRESSION*. 

Can I blame anyone for it? Can I put the blame on government or my leaders? Can I blame the church? Of course No. 

Many times we tend to look for excuses and put our misfortunes on others just to feel good that it's not our fault. Truth is, we are the ones who get ourselves into the fix we usually find ourselves in and we should get ourselves out of it. 

It's not as easy as it sounds but it's POSSIBLE. 

How?

*Realize that you are over reacting to the issue at hand. You weren't the first neither will you be the last to go through this but how you handle it will determine how well this and other things will work for you.

*Depend and abide on God and His Word totally. When you do this in sincerity of heart even with how difficult it can be, you feel less burdened. 

*Remind yourself of His promises and believe in yourself daily. If you were made in His image and He says you are a god, there's certainly nothing you can't achieve. It's just a matter of time.

*Restrategize, have faith, be hopeful, trust in the abilities God has given you, keep on at it, never give up, never give in to doubts cause it only leads to depression.

*Have the right company. People that can encourage you even when you feel like giving up not people who'll discourage you when you're down.

These are just few tips on how I stepped out of it.

********

We just got into the second part of the year and I'm so sure a lot of us have not had all things work out the way we envisaged when we came into 2017. Never mind, you didn't get it the first half doesn't mean you wouldn't tomorrow. DON'T GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS OR PLANS, IT WILL WORK OUT JUST FINE.

Happy New Month.

I rest my case.

My Thoughts.

©Ala O. Wilcox

Note To Parents Of My Generation 4

You might not have known but I'm here to let you know that in these times many people seem not to have values. If a random appraisal is taken in our society today, you'll find out that people just seem to follow trend and some individuals have set their value system based on what trends at a particular period of time hence people having different plans and ambitions within approximately 6 months.
What then are values? 

I'll simply state and come from the angle that values is usefulness, importance.

Listening to a lot of individuals talk based on how much I ask questions, I realize that most people don't have what they term as most important or priorities in their lives. They go through life as they see it, no plan, no daring anticipations. Most of these persons are people that either have a family or intend having one and I really get scared for the next generation with humans like this all around. 

Our generation has gone a step farther than our parents, yes. Why? For the mere fact that they don't just wait for white collar jobs. 

We've got mind for business but on the other hand, our parents also got involved with businesses and made money from it too. Where they lagged was in thinking of making it bigger than themselves and their children, making it a brand, etc. They saw getting a B.sc and working in a company as the main goal but at this point in our lives the educational system is so wack that we have illiterate graduates so that's not close to the ultimate like it was then.

Back to the main focus, as parents of the next generation, we need to set different values in place and use that as a bedrock for our children to follow and learn the importance and necessity of having values for themselves.

A scenario of a girl child who doesn't know the value of getting money from decent work might be lured by friends to think that sleeping with an elderly man is a norm since its rampant around her environment. 

If as a parent, an elder sister, aunt, uncle, you acted and sounded this all the time as wrong, she probably would not have listened but what she sees going on everywhere is that act so she might as well join the train. You wouldn't blame her if you never told her or corrected any young one even when you saw it happening around you would you?

Have a value system, prioritize right. The future generation needs you to get it together for yourself so that they can for themselves.

I rest my case

My Thoughts 
©Ala O. Wilcox 

Note To Parents Of My Generation 3

When people hear parenting they tell their selves I'm not yet a mother or a father neither am I married. We all are sure going to be parents one day and even if we decide to become priests or sisters in the convent, we will shepherd others who will either be children, teenagers or young youths hence it's important you always note the importance of seeing yourself as a parent.

I really miss the days when a total stranger who sees me doing something wrong, disciplines me immediately and takes me to my mum who says thank you and continues from where the individual stopped. It can be annoying yes, because obviously "e no concern am, I no be em pikin" but on the flip side, it showed how endearing they were then because they all saw theirselves as being responsible to bringing up a child with good morals and manners.

My generation has lost that touch and should take it back on because that's something that would help us a whole lot in future.

I have reasons for saying we should all see ourselves as parents which is, children of the new generation don't just ask their parents why. Their minds are so at play that they could ask you who they really don't know a question they feel they can't ask their parents and at that point in time, the answer you give them can either make them or mar them because it helps them make the wrong or right choices. 

As a result of this, I've tried to be really informed in many areas.

Think of it that, a teenager comes to you and asks you a question, you neither look confused or unstable but you give them an astounding answer with facts that looks or is logical and true. That teenager might just always approach you for questions whenever he or she can't reach out to his/her parents. Hence you're the channel through which the child stays sane in this misleading days.

YOU CAN BE THAT PARENT THE CHILD, TEENAGER OR EVEN YOUTH NEVER HAD. BE INFORMED cause you are your brothers keeper.

I rest my case.

My Thoughts.
©Ala O. Wilcox

Note To Parents Of My Generation 2

So you think a 25 year old is someone old and mature? Why would you even think that in the first place?

Within my short time on earth, I've met a lot of individuals and it is amazing to know that some ladies and gents who were even up to 30 years, don't just have some necessary information. I begin to fear for their wives, husbands or children. Especially their children. 

A typical example was a man I came across and had somany things he wanted to achieve, I then asked this question "what do you really want to do now, which comes first?" and his answer was "I don't know, I'm still praying about it." I asked a young lady who contacted me for Interior Design classes, what do you love to do, why Interior Decor/Design? Guess what, her answer was also "I don't know,I just love beautiful houses" and she's 26. It wasn't even about the age but the way she carried herself like a queen without knowing what she wanted. She couldn't even stand the pressure of the classes. 

I was really perplexed and heartbroken by their answers but it got me thinking and asking more questions because this girl wants to be married as soon as possible, she also thinks she's aging then pressure from parents since she's done with school, adding to society based on female friends and family members getting married. The guy on the otherhand says he's engaged to be married and arrangements for the marriage will soon begin. 

If these two persons in my example could not simply answer the question what that one thing they really loved doing was, how can they identify a little child's gift and start training them to be grounded in it from infancy?

The children we would be birthing will need us to understand their gifting from infancy and start giving them necessary training at that stage. They will be thankful and love us for doing that when they grow but we would also be somewhat fulfilled when that our simple act made them become a blessing to us from an early age.

Without the necessary information of discovering yourself, how can you discover another?

BE INFORMED, YOU CERTAINLY WILL BECOME A PARENT TOMORROW.

I rest my case.

My Thoughts

©Ala Wilcox

Note To Parents Of My Generation

I asked a question on facebook  few weeks back "Why do people often get upset when they are asked WHY? Especially when you ask them to enlighten you on what they say you should(n't) do?".

Before I did, I had parents in mind and I'm sure you'll be wondering why? 

Amongst all the comments, the one by Richard Chilee caught my attention because I felt it was almost one of the reasons why the why question was seen as either insulting, challenging or rude and it reads thus; 

"I think it stems from a culture that doesn't allow for questions especially from younger to older. Our culture accepts a hand-me-down approach to issues. We also want people to swallow our suggestions and opinion without asking. Hence asking 'why' is likened to insulting". 

I also liked this Tommy Udoh's answer;

Cover for ignorance - when people don't have answers they feign anger so as to dissuade further probe.

***

It's been a big burden looking back at the reaction of most of our parents when they are asked to please explain the reasons for their telling us to take or not take some actions. It's almost like its a taboo to ask for clarification. I usually remember the old proverb they always told us "what an old man sees sitting down, a young man who climbs an iroko tree cannot see it" and if it's said now, I shake my head because in some cases, yes it's true but in many other scenarios, it's not so much like that.

It's funny but I do not blame them because in their time, that's how it worked. A lot of habits, belief, ideologies, were passed on to our parents with the assertion that they had to do it how they were taught or told because that's how it is supposed to be done or how it is done. It worked for them because they didn't have access to much information and that's why marriages could be easily arranged, courses could easily be selected for children, etc.

In this our time, that almost doesn't work. 

I've seen a lot of people from my generation who had questions that couldn't be answered fall into the wrong things and get associated with wrong people just because they were really inquisitive and their parents weren't knowledgeable enough, were too self righteous or saw being asked those questions as being disrespectful. 

It's a pity some people still suffer as a result of this mindset and some parents still try to control their children's thought process and decisions. Meanwhile by children I don't mean below 25. Truth is even if you are 40, you are still your parents child. 

To avoid a very long write-up, I'll divide this thought process of mine in different articles. 

Now to the crux of the matter, my note is to my generation of parents not our parents. We are one of the luckiest ones being that God blessed us to be the generation that will breakout from that "it's the norm" mindset to "things change plus we have the database of information we can dig into to answer almost anything".

Build your capacity as a parent to answer anything, be well informed because your child would not understand the "it's the norm" answer your parents gave to you. The rate at which the children of these days ask questions that looks irrelevant but looking at it critically, it is important, then you will understand the reason I am bringing it to your notice. 

For this particular article I'll keep the message as BE AN INFORMED PARENT.

I rest my case

My Thoughts.

Ala O. Wilcox

People are important 1

I remember while I was younger how my mum told me not to associate with certain people because she felt they were not a good influence (from her intuition). In most cases, I listened and in some cases I didn't really take heed. Definitely consequences will come from the decision of not listening. I regretted not listening to her for some and was grateful to God I didn't listen in some cases.

I remember how all the "don't go close to" statements made me look people from afar and concluded what they were or were not.

I've always had the thought that people might not just be what they look like or act like at first cause it's either they might just be going through a bad/hard day that could make them send the wrong signal or something might have happened to you before then that impedes your judgement towards them at that particular time.

I realized I was right cause the best of friends I have came from people I usually would have had a wrong impression on and till I gave them the opportunity, I never would have known how beautiful they were inside.

Learn to have a free spirit with people. 

If you feel the person might not be good enough for you, have you thought of how that little time you share with or little talk you have with the person can bring a transformation to that individual?

Life is more than socializing to make connections or to gain something. It should be more about impacting on the next person you have an opportunity to impact on. If the person is not of good character, you can always give the person the striking thought of reasoning to be different for the better.

This doesn't mean you must talk to every and anybody, just think IMPACT more than JUDGING.

To be continued.

I rest my case.

My Thoughts 

©Ala O. Wilcox

#makeadifference

#donotjudge

Dirty Clothes

"Despise" is the right term. Yes, I despise washing clothes with my hands. It hurts my skin and my nails terribly. My skin is just too fragile jor. Lol!
I've tried the mildest of detergents and soap but there has always been a but and with my kind of person, I could rinse 1 cloth 4 times just because I want it sparkling clean.

I'm sure you'll say washing machines are available. Yes they are but if you decide to do your laundry and our Nigeria PHED seize power? Your guess is as good as mine.

Please join me put on your imagination cap for 20seconds. Imagine a heap of dirty clothes you've worn for a month. You used most of this clothes to cook, walk under the scorching sun and the heavy rain amongst others. Think of how untidy it will make your place look, imagine the smell or disgust feel you'll have if you had that in your room or closet. 
That's how it is when we pile up things we need to do but look for excuses not to do them.


There are some tasks we need to carry out, places we need to go to, people we need to meet with etc but for the fact we don't like the task or like the environment or like the people associated with the people we need to meet, we push it for later and this ends up turning it to piles of undone things hence drawing us backward from achieving what we are supposed to achieve.

My point is, let's try to do a little of that thing we don't like to do but we know we need to do to get to where we want to be either daily or weekly as this helps prevent heaps of dirty clothes that would stink at the end.If you can't do it all at once, do it gradually. There's nothing wrong with taking a step at a time, it's part of the process.

I rest my case.

My Thoughts.
©Ala O. Wilcox.

On Learn Me today

stick–to–itiveness
(noun)  stick–to–it·ive·ness \stik-ˈtü-ə-tiv-nəs\

Popularity: Bottom 10% of words


Definition of stick–to–itiveness

:  dogged perseverance :  tenacity

Origin and Etymology of stick–to–itiveness

from the phrase stick to it
First Known Use: 1867

stick–to–itiveness
Synonyms
decidedness, decision, decisiveness, determinedness, firmness, granite, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution, resolve, stick-to-itiveness

Antonyms
hesitation, indecision, indecisiveness, irresoluteness, irresolution, vacillation

Related Words
doggedness, obduracy, obdurateness, obstinacy, obstinateness, perseverance, persistence, persistency, stubbornness, tenaciousness, tenacity; certainty, certitude, confidence, sureness; alacrity, eagerness, gameness, readiness; backbone, fortitude, grit, iron, pluck, sand

Near Antonyms
doubt, incertitude, indetermination, uncertainty; aversion, disinclination, indisposition, reluctance, unwillingness

stick–to–itiveness
(noun)  stick–to–it·ive·ness \stik-ˈtü-ə-tiv-nəs\

Definition of stick–to–itiveness for English Language Learners

: the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult or unpleasant.


Source: www.google.com/meriamwebster

Do Your Part

"Let me go, take off this lock!" Kunle aggressively said to Kehinde. Kehinde who was expressively confused looked at him with his mouth ajar. He was more confused about the fierce look on Kunle's face as much as he was getting offended by the abuses and accusations Kunle was laying on him. Not minding him, he stepped out of the house. Few days later he came back and to his surprise Kunle repeated what he did the last time, ignoring him, he left without saying a word.

A week later, he decided to come back to see if Kunle had gotten over whatever had been eaten him up. He was wowed to see Kunle in the same position he left him the last few times but this time he had had it up to his neck. He had to speak before Kunle would start calling him names. 

Kehinde simply told Kunle to put his hands out the protector and take off the padlock holding the gate against him cause it was opened. Kunle, trying out what Kehinde said to his utmost surprise realized all this while he had been free but he caged himself without knowing. He foolishly stayed there blaming Kunle without even trying to reach out to the lock on the gate. He was ignorant of the fact that the gate was open.

Kunle feeling discomfited, apologised to Kehinde and thanked him for opening his eyes to the truth.

******************

The message is simple. 

Most of us are like Kunle, always putting the blame of what is not working for us on people, things, witches from our village, government, economy, the system, church, etc not knowing that we are the ones who chose to be ignorant on taking those steps to release us.

Our problem usually is us. 

Get your hands out there and unlock those fears keeping you from moving forward. When you have God, you need not fear. 

Do your part and He will do the rest.

I rest my case.

My Thoughts.

©Ala O. Wilcox

#doyourpart

Old but new story...

Did you know that the OED is updated four times a year? Every March, June, September and December.
Yeah! Yeah! I know this is not totally new but it is for some individuals.

The material added to the dictionary includes revised versions of existing entries (which replace the older versions), and new words and senses both within the alphabetical sequence of revised entries and also across the whole A to Z range.

Published quarterly since 2000, the updates make up the Third Edition of the OED.

March 2017 update

More than 500 new words, phrases, and senses have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary this quarter, including hate-watch, pogonophobia, sticky-outy, and things aren’t what they used to be.




 hate-watch,

a 21st-century verb meaning ‘to watch (a television programme, etc.) in a spirit of mockery, as a form of entertainment’.

pogonophobia,

a jocular term for a strong dislike of beards that was coined in 1857 but may be more relevant than ever given the current proliferation of barbigerous hipsters; and heliopause, the astronomical term for the very outer edge of the solar system beyond which the solar wind is undetectable, a boundary traversed by the touch of humanity for the first time in 2012, when the Voyager 1 spacecraft crossed it to enter interstellar space.


Sticky-outy, adjective

The charmingly colloquial adjective sticky-outy means ‘that protrudes or sticks out’, elaborating upon the form of the synonymous earlier word sticky-out by adding an additional –y. The OED’s first citation comes from a letter written by the Australian composer and pianist Percy Grainger to his mother in 1921, lamenting ‘My hair has taken a wild fit, all sticky-outy in ends.’ Indeed, Grainger’s hair was notable for its sticky-outiness, as photographs of him from this period attest.


Things aren’t what they used to be,

English-speakers have been lamenting that things aren’t what they used to be, expressing the idea that circumstances or standards have deteriorated over time, since at least 1847, but the phrase enters the OED for the first time today. The entry’s quotation evidence reveals the term’s contradictory connotations. In literature, this statement of nostalgia for a better time in one’s youth is often put in the mouth of an old-timer depicted as speaking regional or colloquial varieties of English, so the quotation paragraph for OED’s entry includes nonstandard versions of the phrase, such as ‘things ain’t now as they used to was’ and ‘fings ain’t wot they used T’be,’ as well as formal versions like ‘things weren’t what they had once been’.  However it was uttered, by 1926 the wistful expression of attachment to bygone days had become such a well-established trope that it began to be used to critique nostalgia rather than express it: ‘Things aren’t what they were!.. They never were!’


That's it for now. In further posts, I'll enlist the new words added to the Oxford English Dictionary.

Happy New Month to you.

Source: www.google.com/public.oed

Did You Know?

Did you know that a 60-minute nap can improve alertness for up to 10 hours? The most widely accepted record for going without a nap—or any sleep whatsoever—is 264 hours (11 days).

Now you know😊.
Please endeavour to nap when you can inorder to stay healthy.


Source: Google

On This Day In History

1789 -First U.S. House of Representatives elects speaker.

1952 -Big Bang theory proposed in Physical Review by Alpher, Bethe & Gamow.

1970 -Nixon signs legislation banning cigarette ads on TV and radio.

1976 -Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs found Apple Computer in the garage of Jobs' parents house in Cupertino, California.


It's 41years already for Apple.
I was just wondering what it would have being like if Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak didn't take the bull by the horn and start from where they were.
Start from where you are..👍👍

Culled by Ala O. Wilcox
Source: Google.

Daydreaming

In the dew of dawn,

The sprinkles of the morning mist,

the quirking and cooing of the birds with the atmosphere of silence accompanying the hushing sound of the wind, 

whistles through my ears.

The change of cloud,

darkness turns gradually to light.

A long stare into the sky, 

clarity overclouds my mind,

giving room to a much more brighter sky.

The clouds forming into clogs and separating into bits,

The heavens revealing.

Suddenly,

Tap!

On the rusty sheets,

The old rusty roofing sheets,

Tap! tap!

The clarity begins to seize,

Tap! tap! tap! tap! tap!....

The silence breaks.

The firmament with various shapes of clogged up clouds,

Somuch sound,

Revealing the durability and tenacity,

The wind blows more,

The open eyes gets weak,

Turbulence and uncertainty.

But,

Deep inside, 

in the midst of it all, 

the soothing and relaxing feeling overwhelming.

Hhaaaaaaauuuu!!

Stretching arms,

Yawning mouth,

Sleepy eyes,

Tired body,

The sound of three blades sitting above me,

The warmth of the quilt, 

the sound of the turbulence

being like sweet sound

all come in unison

forgetting everything 

I'm tucked into day dreaming....

******************************

In times of peace

Storms arise 

Don't try to be the solution 

Let God take care of it 

And the storm will be like a lullaby.

MY THOUGHTS
Ala O. Wilcox

Unexpected Kiss

He quickly gave me an unexpected warm and breathtaking peck with his hands on his lips then onto my lips while he was getting off the taxi. At that moment, I felt like I had turned pink but thank God he wasn't there to see me blushing. 

While my journey home was still on, I was wondering and asked myself "Ala are you in love?"

He did it again but I didn't expect it 'cause the few times we had gone home together after that day he first did it, he never attempted it. Believe me, it was like my heart flew out of my chest and came back after some seconds. 

On a very good Saturday, I was doing my laundry with my untidy hair then my mum called and said I had a visitor. I couldn't even imagine who my visitor was but I quickly washed my hands, wore shorts and a top then found my way to the Living Room. Lo and behold, the beloved 'He' was just sitted, smiling and talking with my mum and at that moment I felt like the ground should open up and swallow me. I just braced up my confidence and acted like I was the cleanest girl at that moment. Hahahaha!!!

Okay! That very dirty me Saturday, while walking him out, I got my first unexpected french kiss and Oh!! how I blushed and wanted more plus I lifted my right leg up. Lol! Immediately that happened it was true love for me based on the American movies and books I had seen and read. #Laughing hard

Growing up in one of the worst environments which was called *COLOMBIA* and remaining disciplined as a teenager was quite a big one. An environment where prostitution, hard drugs, brutality, fighting and killings was the order of the day. It was as bad as if you didn't see them break someone's head in a day, you've had a boring day. Or is it the part where guys are pricing prostitutes 300 Naira when you go to buy something from aboki? Smh

He knew I liked him somuch and wanted a relationship with me but my answer was a "NO" not because I didn't think I loved him but because I told myself I wouldn't try dating till 18. It was hard fighting those emotions mostly when your peers are all in relationships but my word was my bond. To me, kissing him, loving to kiss him, fantasizing on how

we could spend our lives together, my right leg coming up while kissing him, etc was the signs of my love for him. How foolish I thought.

Love is not a fairytale, love is not lifting your right legs up while kissing a guy/girl, love is not thinking of just that one person, love is not buying or getting gifts from or for a guy/girl, love is not enjoying the time you spend with the person, love is not enjoying having sex with him/her, love is not enjoying the romance sessions you have with each other neither is love just a word you say to feel good.

Love is deep, sensible, truthful, patient, selfless, kind, not boastful, not rude, not violent, not sensual, never gives up, never threatens, never loses faith, always hopeful, above all, LOVE is SACRIFICE. 

God is a perfect example of a lover that He sacrificed He's only son for us because of the unfailing love He has for us that we might be redeemed. 

Show love not just to your spouse, spouse to be or family but to every single person you come across on this planet even the destitute. Love is beyond one individual.

Change your mindset about love.

As for the 'He', you need not know his name. *winks*

I rest my case.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Ala O. Wilcox