Accra’s Best-Kept Secret: A Store Find
I feel like I found Accra’s best-kept secret and it is a supermarket. I found it quite by accident on a drive-by. The bold sign caught my eye. The store wasn’t public knowledge as far as I knew. The huge, yet simple sign that read The Blue Mall stood out.Perhaps, it was new? I made a mental note to check it out.I did. Best-kept secret. And what a find! I wasn’t disappointed at all. Far from it. I found NutriBullet blenders for smoothies at their store. What! To see that they had the product on the First floor, in large and small sizes, (take your pick) was impressive. Pinch me! I hadn’t found those machines in more popular stores. The city’s best-kept secret unfolds before my eyes! They had quite a variety of goods on display too in a simple setting. Do you like going “off the beaten track” or…
How to be Amazing: The No Shame Uncommon Life
How to be amazing, live an uncommon life, and have no cause to be ashamed, is something isn’t it? Each day presents hopes as well as challenges! A preacher once remarked about a certain widow, who dismissed what she had by saying “I have nothing except this jar of oil.” Well, guess what? That jar of oil multiplied. The best part was the averted shame and disgrace from lack. Want to read the full story here? Indeed, our thoughts and the glass through which we look matter. We can live our best lives in spite of our fears or crippling thoughts. In this post, I share a social worker’s perspective about living an uncommon life. Maybe we can learn to walk or stay on the path to the no BS, fulfilling life that we seek. Well, let’s get to it, shall we? A Fulfilled Life? “You only live once, but…
Choose a Good Name!
A quote by George Carlin in Brain Droppings attests to the fact that a good name is desirable. There are women named Faith, Hope, Joy, and Prudence. Why not Despair, Guilt, Rage, and Grief? George Carlin Indeed, why not? Easy! Names stick and we want to get them right. Why bear the name “Despair” and not “Hope”? “Guilt” sounds depressing already, doesn’t it? SASH-T, sent in this account of a choice she made a few years ago. I imagine that it couldn’t have been an easy one to make. Choosing right in the face of overwhelming situations is often, not convenient. But she was rewarded as we will see. Her story, I hope, encourages someone who might be facing something similar. I share it below. I was following up on my application for a job and this is what the then acting director hesitantly asked me. “Did…
The Kernel That Wouldn’t!
The kernel that pops and becomes popcorn! Pleasure!! The grains that wouldn’t? Well, they risk the trash. The popping sounds, the leaping, and hopping in response to heat are interesting to see. Also, interesting is the fact that the kernels pop at different times and not all at once. Isn’t that sort of like life? We are ready at different times. Some attain goals quicker than others, don’t they? But no matter as long as we all get there, that’s okay. Right? The Kernel Fact! Popcorn kernel can leap up to 3 feet. The heat does get intense. Yikes! You want to keep the pot covered. To everything there is a season,A time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV Heat and pressure are uncomfortable for us humans and just like the grains, we’d rather hop off to where it is cooler and less stressful, yes? Also, notice how…
On the Willows!
“We hung our harps on the willows…” is a quote from the psalmist. Want to read the full verse here? What did they then do after they hung the harps? I know what one thing I would hang up. Actually, three things I’d hang up. On the willows! The first is television. I simply forget every other thing. Hours later, I see what tasks I’d complete if I wasn’t so engrossed in the tube. So, I would much rather read a book or go dancing. The second is clutter. They take up all that space in a room and in one’s head many times. I’d hang up clutter so that I can see my priorities better. It would serve me to pick up DIY, and self-education. Of course! harp Lastly, I’d hang up the “keeping up with the Joneses” game. You know, following the lemming if you will. Watching a…
A Tale of Ten Thousand Euros
A tale of ten thousand euros is about winning. It all started with one child and a woman wishing to learn to read and write. A tale about winning The opportunity of teaching literacy skills, free of cost to learners, was a rewarding experience, and witnessing the transformation and confidence that comes with learning and mastery felt good. Soon, the class grew as girls of varying ages joined. There was a handful of boys, which, I suppose was alright too. The need for more resources to manage the growth was clear at this point. “Achievement is no hocus-pocus. It is focus, focus.” Ana C. Antunes So, we could try to seek out funding. A tale of winning I remember the email notification of a funding opportunity for art, education, and technology-based initiatives. To know that we met the requirements was reassuring. I also remember the excitement of knowing our application…
The Colour of Truth
Consider and look carefully for the colour of truth. For men do give it colour in their stories and perspectives. But the truth just is. And it is no lie! I stumbled upon Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins, recently. And, oh, what a find! An exposé of crime in international circles. While on assignment in Panama, he met this el hombre, who was picnicking with family. His guide was showing him around at the time, and the hombre walked up to chat. They chat about advancements in the country and the man described Omar Torrijos, as a despot and a dangerous man. Dangerous to whom? It is peculiar that he could label Torrijos, in such “colourful” terms. We clearly see in the story, that he is in fact, a respected leader “who will go down fighting for” the Panamanian people. Some positions really just reveal an…