REFLECTIONS by BiliMaffy

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… pen down, but not completely, just yet! For someone who have studied day and night, online, offline, all year through…yes, all year through. It would be expected that I at least take a break, however short; at least just for today. But I can’t let the day end without putting it into record that, my long journey of obtaining a degree has been concluded today. I should be concerned about seeing the results before I say “finished”, but that’s another phase entirely. So let me take a deep breath for now. A deep sigh of relief …pen down for exams, eyes will rest from flipping through pages, back and forth, and back again. It has been a long journey…Eureka! I wrote my final exam today…(to be continued)

Practical steps -How To Keep Going When All You want To Do Is Quit Excerpts from www.entrepreneurmag.co.za , with additional input from me… Get out of your negative space- Leave where and when that feeling sets in for a place you feel relaxed and un-pressured. Think of somewhere you can go, or someone you can be with to lift your spirit-a good distraction. Keep yourself busy- "An idle hand, they say is the devil's workshop". Get busy with something different. Do activities that you enjoy, and which takes your mind off worries. Develop a hobby, if you do not have one already. You'd be surprised how therapeutic it can be. Don't hide from the people you know- This may be a tough choice, but avoiding the people you know doesn't send your problems away. Rather, face them and let that be the motivation you need to not quit. Don't be invisible. If you want to carry on, your presence must be felt. Not everyone wants to see your downfall, there are still some good...

I can't call it a 'Writer's block' because I haven't really got started. There are a few things I enjoy doing and a few am passionate about. I enjoy hair making, I find it relaxing (when my two girls cooperate, that is). I love to sew (if only I knew how to sew properly) and I've resolved to learn the basics when I can really spare the time. I enjoy crocheting (the story of my crochet is same as the sewing) But don't get me wrong, I've tried my hands on a few things, the simple and uncomplicated ones. I've managed to sew a number of casual wears for everyone in the house, except the newest ten month old addition to the family. From simple gowns to dresses…and I can mend almost anything that can go under the sewing machine. I've always had a skill for stitching and mending clothes by hand needle, for as long as I can recall. If I were not stubborn and in denial of my femininity, I'd have been earning money from sewing. But I think that's a...

16.10.2014 School of H^A^R^D K"N"O"C"K"S>>> We usually blame people under who's care we were trained and modelled, for our troubles or wrong turns in life. But here's the harsh, candid truth- there's an expiry date for blaming anyone for your troubles. You cannot blame your parents for life, if they failed to raise you well. You cannot blame your guardians and or anyone who was supposed to look after you till adulthood and beyond. If you're old enough to comprehend what am saying, then you're old enough to make your own life choices. You can become a better person from how you were born, where you were raised and who raised you-the onus is on YOU!Take responsibility for your decisions and actions.Take charge of your life. Move past your 'past'...Don't stay still,keep moving! -BMF

I multi-task,very much so.But, there are certain things I'd rather not mix together. I consciously would not mix serious studying with anything not so important-such as my hobbies. But,writing makes me break this unwritten rule. Here's my reason-these thoughts are over-ridden by other thoughts if I put off writing when the thoughts are flowing,just like it did today. Sometimes too, I let go if it's one of those thoughts that reoccurs. For obvious reasons, to me at least; I'm not excited about the fact that am writing my final exams. At least, not yet. I have had a huge struggle with my studies this entire session.It hasn't been the easiest of times to stay focused.Like everything else, studying has been demanding,so has playing the role of a mother, a wife,a serious student;amongst other minor yet equally vital roles. The reality is-it can't be easy studying, mixing studies with marital duties,as an open distant learner...One needs to stay focused even though o...

I can't really call it 'bad timing'...it's just a minor distraction,but a good one. I haven't had an inspiration backed by timeous willingness to write in a long time. And so today,in the middle of my revision (am writing my final exams...spell HECTIC!), I got inspired to put down a few thoughts. I've had a few of those "Words that bite" for sometime now, but never got around to putting any of it down until today.So,here are a few of my "Random thoughts,thinking out loud, Words that bite"!!!HAPPY reading...stay inspired! 14-10-2014 YOU DO NOT HAVE TO AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SEE,HEAR OR READ.SIFT THE SHAFTS FROM THE GRAINS AND TAKE YOUR PICK!BMF ~~~~~~~~~~~ My submission on 'dependence' is this: Being human = 'being fallible'. So expect not much from 'anyone'.Willingly or not,disappointments will happen. So rather than HATE that fellow,accept it as one of humans' many flaws.Let your dependence rest alone with y...

One of the things that comes easily to me is admitting to my wrongdoing, within myself even if I do not utter it to anyone. I usually have a retrospect on my actions. And this is why I relate with quotes or any form of writing that resonates with my present situation or in relation to my past. I find that the piece of writing I posted above had an impact on me and I consider it worth sharing for anyone else who might be in need of it. I may not be smiling as I type now, but I sure know I do not own the world’s problems, not to compare my life with that of others, desist from over-thinking (I usually process so many thoughts in my head, almost at the same time),to accept a healing process and stop being hard on myself for choices taken at a time of distress, naivety and make peace with that…well, I hope this helps someone at least!

Africa, my Africa! I love my continent still! Plagued by insurgency in the East, uprising in the North, terror in the West, rebellion in the south, I love my Africa, still! Africa, the land of my birth, but a continent I have grown weary of in my "wisdom years", Was no haven in my tots, but to that I was oblivion, For those years still remain memories to cherish, I hiked to school without worry, Wandered in my innocence without caution, And hopped about playfully with the innocence known only by a child, If I had to be anywhere by road, I longed for such thrill To see places I could not frequent, looking through the windows delightfully Those days,having a loved one afar meant no disaffection You would long for such reunion And in my case as it were It was so much more fun than a child could have wished for A three-day ride from Zaria in Kaduna To the famous Iddo market in Lagos Was a thrill compared to nothing And all these have remained but a memory A reminder of "the ...

Frank talk- I usually do not join the wagon, except I share the view and strongly too. As a matter of principle, I do not like to make blanket judgements. These days, it is common to read the public’s take on the menace caused by a section of Nigerians. If the world tags us ’terrorists’, should we also join them in turning against our own people? Of course we may not be experiencing absolute unity , because that’s an illusion-no country or sphere in the world has absolute unity. There would always be diversities and differences of opinion about governance and even on personal choices we make daily amongst ourselves and family members. So what are we talking about? If you’re from the Eastern part of Nigeria, there’s every possibility that the only faith you grew up knowing and being acquainted with was Christianity. But if you’re from the South, there’s a likelihood that a member of your family, close or distant practice different faith from you. I was born in the North...

Some trickles of guilt almost overtook me logging in a few minutes ago. It's almost as if I felt sorry for my blog, for the abandonment. Ridiculous,right? Well, I don't like that I left my blog un-updated for this long. I wish I could have helped it, but you know what they say-"Life happens". We were blessed by a new addition into the family on the fifteenth of December. An adorable,portable, cute and already 'clever' baby girl. She is simply a joy to watch! She amuses the family like a rehearsed T.V commercial. I haven't seen such an energetic baby, and this started from infancy. She's already three months old now and am certain the entertainment has just begun. I sometimes almost handle her like a toddler, then remind myself that this muscle-flexing baby is just a few months old. She's  got the energy of a toddler that feeds on sugar and I cannot even begin to list the attempts she makes at covering a'milestone' for her age. She's...