YOU NEED MORE THAN TALENT TO SUCCEED

I think everyone is born with at least a talent. If everyone is born with a talent, you shouldn’t think you don’t have what it takes to be rich. All you need to do is discover your talent, have a passion for it and go for training. The secret of success is like a key. It’s only the possessor of the key that can open the lock. To get the key you must first understand your purpose.

Your talent is the skill you are born with. Your aptitude to naturally do something that is hard. Of cos you have talent. There are people that have talents but do not have passions. Therefore, it creates dissatisfaction because they do not love what they do. Although they are talented they do not like it, so they are always dissatisfied.  There are those who know they have their talent and passion, so they get satisfaction. On the other hand, they are those who do not know what to do but love doing it, they have no talent but they have a passion (it is like a person with no musical talent but have passion for music).

Meanwhile, intense fervour or enthusiasm toward your talent gives way for great opportunities and success. Most times, some talented people ignore their talents and pursue what is not meant for them. Sometimes, it could be that they are in an environment where everybody does a particular thing and they want or have to do the same thing too…, you will agree with me that most people live like this. It might just be to please someone or some people. Sometimes, they have a passion for what is not in them. These kinds of people are liable to getting disappointments and dissatisfaction because they left their world to another. Nevertheless, their passion for something could make that thing theirs if there is determination.

Also, experience gives you an edge to knowledge. It is what you’ve done in life and what life has done to you. Experience is when talent and passion meet with reality. It helps you to bring your talent and passion in real life situation and helps perfect yourself. Don’t miss quote me, nobody can be perfect but the convergence of talent, passion, experience and training can give to a step closer to perfection, so, you need training.

Your formal or informal training is what you have learnt to do. Sometimes your formal training may be in line with your passion but most times it may not directly relate to your talent. For instance, you want to be a musician but you have gone to learn to engineer. It doesn’t mean that you acquired knowledge of engineering is a waste. You may not see the benefit of your training to your talent immediately, but over time you find a way to engineer your engineering (training) into your music (talent).

You may not see the immediate connection but subsequently, there will be a convergence because something in you is going to rediscover that talent and when it discovers it, it will make it richer because you have experience and a different training mixing up with your talent and you would create something more profound and greater. It doesn’t necessarily mean that everything in the school has to go in line with your talent but everything you learn will find a way into your talent if you have passion. Be passionate about everything you do and don’t discard your training!

By Patricia Oke

WHERE DO YOU STAND? MARRY NOW OR LATER

It is no wonder that every young and beautiful girl needs a home to call hers, in other words, a shareholder in the business of home with the husband. As such, one would hear statements like “if I marry eh, I can’t tolerate this and that in my husband house, I will enjoy my husband oh, my husband dares not cheats on me” and so it goes on. Such comments start coming out as soon as the girl noticed that her age mate, classmates, colleagues, etc. are getting married, so she begins to compare the already married to how she hopes to make her own.

Are you wondering why all these? Well, the answer is not a mystery, because I am a girl child who aspires to be a great daughter, wonderful sister, adorable wife and a beloved mother to all concerned. As I wake up each day to the reality that there is no one to call mother, I only console myself with the words that same day, I can be a mother to another of God’s creation.

In the line with this as a girl child, I have always made “family a highly placed priority as that is the only institution that is primarily to my happiness”. Most people will ask me, “You are still very young, beautiful, intelligent etc., why would you want to cage yourself into marriage” I don’t see marriage/ family that way. Yes, there are challenges especially the young couples trying to cope up with the fact that they are stuck to each other forever, plans will change, actions to accommodate the other and so on.

Though not old, but enough to realize that relationship between a boy and a girl this era do not go without sex, most often, it happens to be a jolt of compensation from the lady. From a few adventures, all proved the same and I only had to be more rigid in my decision. I should not deceive myself into any relationship with a no-sex before marriage notion because it all has been failing.

Well, there might still be few out there (I mean the guy) who can at least respect such opinion from their dates, maybe, but rather than playing and fooling around only to be left on the roadside. Please, dear sister, grab the available good vehicle in front of you or you will have to trek or wait for the time in desperation. Be wise Family first!

By Queeneth Nkoro Esseng

PROTECT YOUR CHILD

I was not born with a silver spoon or with a gold spoon. My parents were not rich before I came into this world even after my existence but we didn’t beg for food to eat. Though we were not rich, my parent made sure they gave us (their children) that best care in their capacity equivalent to that given to the rich (children) out there. My father and mother never made us do things that deprived us of education or jeopardize our safety. I never hawked anything on the street. I am not saying these things because I am full of myself nor to criticize anyone but to give my opinion on this menace of child hawking.

There is this pain I feel in my heart when I see a child (minor) hawking, especially when he or she should be in school studying. The problem isn’t hawking but why should a little child be hawking when others are studying? I understand that Nigeria has given most homes, situations that they didn’t bargain for, but I think a parent should safeguard his or her child or children from danger. The dangers that come with child hawking is a whole lot to think about.

First, 90% of children that hawk lacks proper formal intelligence because they have limited time to study (that’s if they attend schools). Second, a child that hawks could be easily kidnapped, raped, killed or even joined a bad gang because he or she will go to places even worse places to make sure his or her market is been sold. So tell me what kind of future awaits such a child. Prostitution, addiction, stealing, lying and so on are probably the answers.

 Children are gifts given to families from God. If your friend gives you a gift on your birthday, I’m sure you will cherish and protect that gift with your strength. So, why can’t you protect that gift (children) given to you by God with your strength?

I am very aware of the fact that times are hard. Will that the little money your child brings from hawking enough to make those times easy? My dear, I think it will make things worse because it will change the beautiful future of your child. Your child could be raped or killed or kidnapped. You child might join bad gang bringing ridicule, disgrace or disappointment to you and your family, which will be blamed on you if such happens. If you really need that money from hawking, please do the hawking yourself. At least you are old enough to know danger when you see one but a child might not. Please don’t only care for your child but protect him.

A PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO (ALMOST) ALL YOUR MONEY PROBLEMS

“Go out in the world and work like money doesn’t matter, sing as if no one is listening, love as if you have never been hurt, and dance as if no one is watching.” —Victor Hugo.

For most of my life, I have had money problems. In fact, I have always lived with a deep sense of personal discontent concerning my use of money. I have always been discontent with the amount of money I was spending. Ever since graduating from college, I have lived paycheck-to-paycheck, never able to get ahead. Despite ever-increasing paychecks, I was never able to build up any substantial savings. My credit card bill seemed to mimic my pay stub. The money came in. The money went out. And as I entered my 30’s, this inability to build savings could no longer be blamed on an entry-level income; it had to be blamed on me.

That was, until Memorial Day when my neighbour introduced me to minimalism and intentionally living with less.

As a result of our short conversation, the solution to my financial discontent became surprisingly clear. It was simple and practical. It was “Buy Less”.

Just to be clear, the resolution of buying less was not a new solution to me. I was not naive enough to have never thought of it before. But the solution had never sounded attractive to me. Buying less sounded like I was taking a step backwards in life, admitting defeat, unable to earn the income necessary to live the American dream. It sounded boring, unfashionable, and destined for ridicule.

But I was wrong. Deciding to intentionally live with less is among the best decisions I have made in my life. As a result of paring down most of our possessions and determining to only buy things that are needed, I have found life greatly improved. I have more time, energy, and money available to me than ever before, I have more opportunity to pursue the greatest passions in life, I spend less time cleaning, organizing, and repairing the “stuff” in my life, I have been forced to intentionally redefine my values, and rather than chasing every new product or fashion line sold at the department store, I am finally able to invest into the things that make my life worthwhile and significant. In this simple solution of buying less, both avenues of financial discontent in my life have been resolved. Every month, I have money left over for savings.

For my financial discontent, the practical solution to buying less was perfect. Today, my only regret is that I hadn’t started sooner. But what about other money problems, would the mind practice of intentionally buying less solve them too? In most cases, it would. Consider some of these all-too-common money problems and how their solution is found in simply buying less.

By Joshua Becker

DO YOU KNOW YOU NEED SUGAR IN YOUR BODY?

Every cell in your body needs sugar (glucose) to function. When your blood sugar levels drop too low, your cells become starved for energy. Initially, that can cause minor symptoms, but if you don’t get your blood sugar levels up soon, you’re at risk of serious complications. When your blood sugar (glucose) levels fall below the normal range, it’s called hypoglycemia, or insulin shock.

Low blood sugar can happen when you skip a meal. It can also happen if your pancreas releases more insulin than it should after you’ve eaten.

The most common reason for low blood sugar is diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas can no longer produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t make enough, or your body can’t use it properly. To keep blood sugar levels from rising too much (hyperglycemia), you need the right amount of insulin. With insufficient insulin, your blood sugar levels rise too much, and your blood sugar levels can plummet.

Another possible cause of low blood sugar is drinking too much alcohol, especially on an empty stomach. This can interfere with the liver’s ability to release stored glucose into your bloodstream. Hepatitis and other problems with your liver can also lead to low blood sugar. Other causes include kidney disorders, anorexia nervosa, a pancreatic tumour, or adrenal gland disorders.

There are a variety of symptoms of low blood sugar, but the only way to be sure what your blood glucose levels are is by taking a blood glucose test.

Generally, blood sugar levels below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are considered too low, according to the American Diabetes Association. If you have diabetes, it’s important to monitor your blood sugar levels often.

Low blood sugar can come on quickly, but it can usually be treated easily. However, if you don’t take care of it, it can lead to severe complications and even death.

How Digestive, Endocrine, and Circulatory Systems Work

After you eat, your digestive system breaks down carbohydrates and turns them into glucose to fuel your body. As your sugar levels rise, your pancreas releases a hormone called insulin. The insulin helps glucose travel within your bloodstream to cells throughout your body. If you have insulin-dependent diabetes, you must take the right about of insulin to get the job done. Any excess glucose goes to your liver for storage.

When you go a few hours without eating, blood sugar levels go down. If you have a healthy pancreas, it releases a hormone called glucagon. That tells your liver to process the stored sugars and release them into your bloodstream. If everything works as it should, your blood sugar levels should remain in the normal range until your next meal.

Insufficient blood sugar levels can cause a rapid heartbeat and heart palpitations.

However, even if you have diabetes, you may not always have obvious symptoms of low blood sugar. It’s a condition called “hypoglycemia unawareness.” This happens when you experience low blood sugar so often that it changes your body’s response to it. Normally, low blood sugar causes your body to release stress hormones, such as epinephrine. Epinephrine is responsible for those early warning signs, like hunger and shakiness. When low blood sugar happens too frequently, your body may stop releasing stress hormones (hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure, or HAAF). That’s why it’s so important to check your blood sugar levels often.

Symptoms of Low Sugar

Every cell in your body needs sugar to work properly. It’s your body’s main source of energy. Low blood sugar levels can cause a variety of problems within your central nervous system. Early symptoms include weakness, lightheadedness, and dizziness. You may feel nervous, anxious, or irritable, and you’ll probably be hungry. Lack of coordination, chills, clammy skin, and sweating are common. Tingling or numbness of the mouth may be a sign of low blood sugar.

Other symptoms include blurred vision, headache, and confusion. You may have difficulty performing simple tasks. When blood sugar levels drop during the night, you may have nightmares; cry out during sleep, or other unusual behaviors.

Severe low blood sugar is sometimes called insulin shock. Untreated, it can be very dangerous, resulting in seizures, loss of consciousness, or death.

By Healthline