Thoughts and Tales…A Lifestyle Blog with a Zing.
“New week, new beginnings! 🌟
Embrace the fresh start, let go of last week’s worries, and step into the unknown with courage and curiosity.
You are stronger than you think, braver than you feel, and smarter than you know. Make this week count and make it yours! 💪🏼✨
Right about now, there could be things in your life that you’re sorely disappointed and unhappy about. Things that are delayed. Things that don’t seem fair. Things that fell apart. Things that hurt. Numerous things…
You have done everything as right as you think you can do them, yet the results are not adding up. You simply don’t understand why things cannot be different for you especially when you look at your contemporaries who appear to have it better.
Listen up, don’t give up hope on your life and yourself. The alternative to giving up hope is too despairing to think about.
Just like time moves forward, keep pushing forward albeit ensure that your race is run with God.
One day for sure, you will look back with understanding and say “now it makes sense.”
Some of these things had to happen. They had to say no; the person had to leave, Judas had to betray Christ, Joseph’s brothers had to throw him nnto the pit; that door needed to be shut; the storm had to pass through etc.
As life is not a linear journey, things often go wrong, before they go right. Even when it doesn’t make sense, God’s hands are ordering your steps, and all things will turn out for your good.
Give it time.
I am a foodie. Definitely so. I also fancy myself an adventurous eater; but I draw the line on creepy and slimy stuff – no thank you.
Countless memories of my childhood are firmly cemented in events involving food, in large quantities. Mum making omelets on her large, well-loved and used skillet, big pots of well-seasoned jollof rice and chicken, beef stew simmering on the kitchen stove on Sunday afternoons, beans porridge with fried plantains, yam and vegetable sauce, bean cakes with pap, muffins, eggs and sausages, a long list of different tasty meals made each day to nourish us with love.
Lest I forget, every pot was prepared with extra to spare just in case a neighbour came visiting, or one of our friends dropped by to play and this practice was common within the community. We all knew what was cooking in our friends’ homes and we chose when to go visiting so that we would partake of those food that we loved. There were no Instagram photos back then, but those well-prepared healthy plates of food are fondly etched on my memory bank.
Festive and celebratory times were simply the best. Women in my extended family buzzed around my grandma’s big kitchen in the village, their laughter mingled in the air whilst they whipped up more than a dozen recipes of wholesome food to cater to different palates – vegetarian dishes, non-vegetarian dishes etc. My least favourite part whilst assisting in the kitchen was to turn the sizzling pot of tomato stew with a large wooden ladle to ensure that it didn’t burn, but of course, I didn’t mind a taste especially when morsels of meat were added to the mix, and I could get a little bite under the pretext of checking whether it’s well done.
The blend of aromas from big crock pots of food was sensational and satisfying that it literally lit up all your senses. We ‘the children’ ate our fill from the labour of love with appreciation in hearts and went to nap with bellies full. Till this day, family get-togethers and sharing delicious meals with loved ones remains one of my favourite sensory experiences that evokes feelings of warmth, love, comfort and connection in me.
As I grew older, I figured out cooking from these experiences shared in my mother and grandmothers’ kitchen. Knowing just the right amount of salt, pepper and spices to add to a pot of food didn’t come from a recipe book, but from keen eyes watching the loving fingers of the women in my family de-seed pepper, slice vegetables, whip up an instant pot of delicious food whilst at the same time telling us folktales that had strong moral lessons tucked within them.
I stumbled across an old photo taken on a holiday trip to Strasbourg in 2000 and did a double take. Me. Younger of course. More energetic and much slimmer without putting in any effort. Twenty plus odd years ago, I never thought I would have to fight middle-age spread with gusto, come to think of it, in my teens and twenties, I truly never gave much thought to what older adulting entailed. I just lived life as it was, somewhat through rose-colored spectacles and very high expectations from life. Oh well!
Fast forward to present. I have hit the older lady age and it’s been a struggle to maintain a healthier body weight and lifestyle. Doing so is absolutely important, as it helps to keep many ailments at bay. The quest to lose the excess pounds has been an uphill task for me especially as it appears that just passing the confectionary aisle whilst shopping causes my scale to wince from extra pounds gained just by looking at cakes and cookies, coupled with the fact that some body parts are no longer as efficient as before.
To my surprise, keeping my balance has surreptitiously become a concern. It seems like I have unlocked a new fear; the fear of falling down and breaking something. This phenomenon started after my bout with plantar fasciitis 2 years ago, which thankfully, I’ve defeated through various lifestyle changes and losing over 10kg. However, one of the outcomes of this experience is that nowadays, I always think carefully about footwears that I purchase and how to pair them with my outfit before stepping out of the house.
Although I fancy thinking of myself as a fashionable lady, when it comes to my shoes, I truly have to consider not only what is suitable for the occasion but also its comfortability. At this point in time, as much as I admire those strutting around in heels and would love to do same every given moment, there’s no sense in me perching on stilettos and then hobbling back home with broken toes.
One thing I can say for sure, as a fashion enthusiast, I am never ever going to let myself fall to bits. No matter how old and wrinkly I grow, so long as I have my faculties ticking along, I will always do my best to look well put together. The teens and twenties were surely wonderful, but there’s a whole lot of magical years ahead and I will move with the times, creating my own rhythm and new balance.
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I am on a short break and having a lazy morning. Last night, I had planned on having an early night so that I would wake up with the early bird and go for a walk – getting an early start on my day, but because I was up late nattering away with a friend who had called at night, I went to bed later than planned and my morning didn’t start off as I had wanted.Â
I could have easily ended the convo, but she was in such a chatty and cheerful mood that I chose to extend the chit-chat. When I woke up this morning, the sun’s rays were already licking my windowpanes that the early morning walk was dead on arrival.Â
I reshuffled my itinerary – pushing my walk to the later hours of sundown and sat down to attend to other things and to take a measure of my thoughts. I realized I wasn’t feeling so chipper maybe due to sleeping late and whatever but quickly decided that I didn’t want my mood to go south and get funkier.Â
Instead of mulling over the fact that my itinerary was impacted and a bit askew, I quickly responded to a couple of emails/proposals that if all goes as well as it should, the expected response will definitely put a smile on my face.Â
As I measured my thoughts, I reinforced these perspectives:
My focus throughout this year is to hold the reins of my thoughts in control as much as is humanly possible, to dwell more on the positives and to quit magnifying the negatives.
My focus is to remind myself of and to appreciate the bridges that I’ve crossed and not the paths where I fell.
My focus is to remind myself that sometimes, a late-night chit-chat adds more flavour to life than an early morning rise and that an evening walk might even pan out better today.Â
My focus is to be grateful for friends who find time to spend with you, for moments of gratifying laughter and meaningful chit-chats ‘cos as life’s stress mounts, such moments get further far and few in-between.Â
My focus throughout this year is to keep my energy flow in a high-vibrational frequency so as that my thinking, and feelings are aligned with positivity, love, compassion, and overall well-being. As such, I attract positive experiences and people into my life, and this includes my online experiences.Â
I eschew all forms of negativity that reduces my frequency and will avoid people who harbour such as they only emit negative emotions and energy, which can lower one’s vibrational frequency. They may have a pessimistic outlook on life, engage in negative habits, and spread negativity to others. Their low vibration affects your spiritual energy which is associated with negative emotions such as persistent feeling of sadness or anger, sluggish thinking, constant fatigue, apathy etc.Â
On a closing note, whilst partaking in online interactions, avoid those pages that only offer toxic, negative, distressing, gender-biased, dehumanizing posts. Those people are miserable and looking for company. They have nothing better to offer. Be wise ‘cos bad company corrupts good manners.Â
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How can you go through life postponing being happy and waiting for all the right situations to happen before you can feel happy? Here’s the sad news. The government will always consist of unconscientious and shitty people. Life will never truly balance. Things may never align perfectly at every point in time which therefore means that your wait is wasted effort.
However, the good news is that every new day we open our eyes presents fresh choices and chances and reasons to be happy. Life can be likened to a busy airport terminal, where happiness arrives and departs around the clock. The likelihood is that the opportunity to be happy has already arrived and probably departed whilst you were so busy fussing over your excess luggage. Most times, joyful, happy moments are right in front of you, but your mindset is unable to shift for you to notice and appreciate it because you are stuck on all the negative things going on around you.
Irrespective of all that may be going on around you, you can truly feel happier, be more productive, attract success, manifest your dreams and enjoy yourself whilst at it. Yes, it is not easy. It requires a lot of intentionality, and purposefulness, but when you shift your focus and the way you think, your perspective changes. When shift happens, your life changes. So, let’s keep getting our shift together.
It is so easy to fall into a rut especially when life becomes monotonous that you can literally function on autopilot without paying much mind to what you are doing.
Consequently, weeks of functioning like that can lead to dissatisfaction which creeps in and we start feeling that life is a tedium and getting stuck in a rut can be frustrating and demotivating.
Life will seem like a tiresome cycle of chore, responsibilities, bills and expectations. Getting out of this sense of drudgery is seriously essential for our total well-being especially as adults who have a lot of burden to bear.
Every single day, I make conscientious effort to engage in wholesome activities that enhance my sense of purpose, peace and harmony.
I listen to music, I dance, I read, I go for walks, I exercise, I watch movies and comedies, I pray, I think good thoughts. I write, I create. I live in a dream world. I try to do things a bit differently.
Often, I wear vibrant clothes and colors as much as possible. I affirm myself every single day and so on and so forth. Practicing some form of self-care peps up one’s spirit and pulls you out of the doldrums.
What works for me, might not be your cup of tea, nevertheless, here are some strategies to help you avoid getting stuck:
Shake Up Your Routine regularly
Try something new: Engage in a new hobby, activity, or class to challenge yourself and discover new interests.
Change your environment: Rearrange your workspace, take a different route, or travel to a new place to stimulate your mind.
Mix up your social circle: Meet new people, attend events, or join a club to expand your social network.
Set Goals and Challenges
Set SMART goals: Create Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals to focus on.
Break tasks into smaller steps: Divide large tasks into manageable chunks to maintain momentum.
Create a challenge for yourself: Set a personal challenge, like running a marathon or learning a new language.
Practice Self-Care
Get enough sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep to help your brain function at its best.
Exercise regularly: Engage in physical activity to boost your mood and energy levels.
Meditate and practice mindfulness: Take time to relax, focus on the present, and reduce stress.
Seek Inspiration and Support
Read inspiring stories: Explore books, articles, or podcasts that share stories of overcoming obstacles.
Find a mentor or accountability partner: Connect with someone who can offer guidance, support, and motivation.
Join a community or group: Participate in online forums, social media groups, or local meetups to connect with like-minded individuals.
Embrace Failure and Learning
View failure as a learning opportunity: Recognize that mistakes are an essential part of growth and development.
Reflect on your experiences: Take time to analyze what went wrong and how you can improve in the future.
Celebrate small wins: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they may seem.
You must remember that life is what we make of it and each day, we owe it to ourselves to make our living worthwhile.
Till next time.
Can anyone tell me why even after all these years in my life, it is still a struggle for me to get any reasonable writing/blogging work done at home, in spite of the fact that I have the space set up to be able to do so.
For some reason, I always find every excuse in the book to lie on the couch, go to the kitchen, open the fridge 500 times to seek something to nibble, go into the bedroom for an unknown reason, go into the bathroom, recollect chores that needs to be done and so on and so forth.
I will end up sitting for 15 minutes and faffing away 5 hours over nothing. I have tried different strategies, and they work for a little bit only for the cycle of parading around the house being busy doing nothing kicks in again.
Yet, when I go to the library or a cafe, the reverse is the case. I can sit for 5 hours straight getting stuff done. The challenge is that where I live presently is some distance away from the libraries and the cafes around me are not so conducive; I often end up buying and eating snacks that I could do without eating.
How do you get your blogging, writing work done? Would love to borrow ideas from others.
It seems that I have developed an interest to gain an in-depth understanding of herbs and their functions, though I believe that this interest has always been there but was lying fallow somewhere in the recesses of my mind.
Now and again, the desire to start the journey into the jungle of herbs and its usage briefly bubbles to the surface and I picture myself standing before a steamy cauldron of nose tingling mixture, dishing out timeless wisdom of the ages.
I can still recall the voluminous black and yellow book ‘Where there is no doctor’ that sat on my parents’ bookshelf for ever and by the way, still sits there. As a young girl, I thumbed through that book uncountable times and marveled at how people knew what to do for different ailments etc.
Was that a cue that I should have dabbled into medicine and pharmacology? Not sure, just a side thought. My mother used to prepare many concoctions and what not from plants gathered from her garden and foraged around us and they worked.
Till date, when having a conversation with my mama and I complain of anything, she will say, ‘ah, have you tried turmeric, or ginger, or milk thistle or this and that,’ and her recommendations are always quite helpful.
Incidentally, we have forebears who were medicine men/women who knew both the good, the bad and the ugly sides of plants. I vividly recall the night I was stung by a scorpion on my left foot whilst we played outside, the horrible pain that shot up my leg seared itself into my memory. I can vividly recall the swift manner in which my aunt swung into action to take care of me.
My left thigh was bound tightly with a belt, an action taken to stop the scorpion’s venom from spreading. I was given a fat ball of raw onion to chew on whilst my aunt with the precision of a surgeon made an incision in the area where I was stung with a blade and applied some black poultice to that spot.
I felt the painful extraction of the venom by this marvelous black thingy and after the arduous process of sucking out the venom, she dropped the black mass into a bowl of evaporated milk and a yellowish liquid oozed out of it. By the following morning, I was as right as rain.
Unfortunately, most of these relatives passed on without getting their rich knowledge documented. Now that I think of it, I think it is kind of sad that in the bid to embrace Western ways, it seems like we have left valuable parts of our culture behind.
Anyways, back to my awakened desire to delve into herbalism especially stoked by the fact that as I grow older, my body keeps speaking foreign languages to me. I have been researching and reading lots of articles – it seems overwhelming, and I don’t even know which end of the stick to hold.
I plan to take short, affordable courses to enrich my learning and my life. I wonder where the journey will take me, but I doubt very much if I will be reading tea leaves anytime soon. Will let you know how I progress and maybe share a tincture or two.
Till next time.
Hello there,
Is it still okay to say Happy New Year, given that the barrage of eventful incidents around the world already makes the year feel prematurely hectic?
Nonetheless, I would still like to wish a Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. I hope you had a fairly decent Christmas and New Year holidays?
Personally, I had a good one, and I am thankful for that. The tail-end of December 2024 saw several fatal plane crashes and 2025 began with the mayhem of a terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve.
I am not sure I will ever understand how any human becomes so evil-minded that they construe despicable ways to harm others needlessly. Severe mental ill-health aside, it takes another level of twisted mind and depravity for anyone desire and to meticulously plan on how to carry out certain nefarious acts.
The total disregard for the sanctity of human life in today’s world makes one wonder. What manner of diabolical pleasure drives such people? How did they become like this? So many questions swirl in my head and leaves me feeling sad at times that such people exist alongside those who simply want to live their lives happily and peacefully.
I sincerely pray that the rest of the year brings better tidings and brighter days for every single one of us and that the year 2025 is indeed a happy and prosperous one. My condolences to the families affected by these tragedies and may the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.
a cooking pot and twisted tales 