FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE

Lorde - Team

Lorde - Tennis court

Lorde - Buzzcut season

Zedd ft Hayley Williams - Stay the night

Jessie J - Thunder

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HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR LOVERS... :-) I cannot believe it's been almost two years of breakthrough. Where does time go? I know it's only just January but who feels like we are half way through the year? So much to do, so little time. Who has made resolutions for the new year? Anyone? Well, I haven't made resolutions this year because I want to be able to allow myself to dream into the year. I want to be able to adjust to whatever the year brings without feeling bad about not attaining my set goals. 

'While resolutions are about “shoulds,” dreaming is about hope — and who we may become.' (Whitney Johnson) I am a sucker for hope so I automatically believe in dreaming. I challenge us this year to concentrate our efforts on what we hope for and not on what we shouldn't do. I want you to FIGHT for your life. 

I was listening to mama Joyce podcast and she taught these 6 things we should do on purpose in our lives. You know me, I am not one to sit on great advice especially if it's going to help us live this life to the fullest. I mean, who doesn't want to be happy? I am yet to meet a person who hates happiness. 

Things to do on purpose this year

1. Stay busy blessing anyone and anything you can bless. Wake up in the morning and bless your day, bless your parents, bless your work place, bless yourself while you're at it. If you like to play like I do, you can pretend that you are a blessing machine. (you're welcome for that play tip * wink *) By speaking life into your own life, you're able to overturn the negative confessions made by others on your life.  

2.Be thankful and SAY SO. We need to actually open our mouths and say what we are grateful for. Do not assume that people know how you feel about them. Don't expect telepathy to work all the time. Don't say 'oh God knows I am thankful', sure He knows, but do YOU know that YOU are thankful? Tell people you are thankful for them, tell God you are thankful for His blessings.

3. Edify, encourage and build up other people. We live in a world where discouragement is served like Gru's hot pancakes. Let us say something to someone to cheer them up, to lift discouraged people up. Make that commitment to be that person everyone comes to for encouragement because you can't help but speak excellent things to those around you. 

4. Tell the truth and tell it in love. Check your motive behind telling the truth, if your motive is malicious, I would suggest you check yourself...and check yourself thoroughly. 

5. Speak the word of God to your situation. The year has only began, and we don't know what the months ahead bring. Despite the uncertainty we know we can be prepared for anything. You have ALL the power and authority to overcome so much. Do not be afraid of the unknown, instead rely on God's promises for your life. 

6. Do not talk too much. Be quiet.You do not have to let your opinion known every single time. (oh oh...I so need this one) Be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.

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You know those people who are experts in self depression? Yeah, stay away from them. You know why?  They are the perfect recipe for contagious depression. 

I really want you to ponder on this deeply. How do you talk to yourself about yourself? The way we talk to ourselves is very important and we need to pay attention to that. I don't know how strongly I can emphasize this. Do not say nasty, awful, self deprecating things to yourself because you simply cannot rise above your own confession. You need to completely destroy all rooms occupied by negativity. 

Be very careful almost like applying CIA standards on who you let into your inner circle. I don't mean you can't associate with negative people, you can, but you cannot allow them to "turn you". Let your positivity draw them to desire what you have. You must protect yourself from negativity or you may easily find yourself in the dark rooms of depression. If you are one of those people whose superpower is negativity, I urge you to try out positivity. 

Tell yourself you are beautiful, you are handsome, you're a hard worker, you're favoured, you're kind, you're intelligent, you're a giver, you're great to be around, you're the head not the tail above not beneath. etc. It is amazing what can happen when we say things and do things on purpose. Fight for your life! 

I love Lady Violet Crawley's positivity in Downton Abbey...it really is such an admirable trait, 'I take everything as a compliment, it saves many an awkward moment.' 

Open Letter: soaks and cosy nights

Caution: This post is everywhere and that's because my head is everywhere tonight. :-)

School's out, essays submitted, snow is falling, winter is in mid-bloom. I have had a strangely good week. Strange because I actually enjoyed writing my essays, I had one of those 'I set fiiirrreee to the laptop' days but we made it out on top (besides it snowed the entire Saturday so I didn't miss much). Honestly, I thought after undergrad I would have a job that pays me an obscene amount of money, and I would actually beg and plead with my employers to reduce my salary but they would strongly reject my plea. Oh well, one can never have enough education.

Anyhow, today I treated myself to some little shopping. My sister and I are going through this rings phase, you know that whole Phoebe Buffay phase? I picked out a few rings, and a magazine (don't you just love magazines and white towels?) and mentally planned my soak. I haven't had a soak in the longest time, so I really went all out tonight. I scrubbed the tub, mixed deep sleep comforting milk bath with strawberry and jumbo moringer shower gel from body shop, and I let the water run as I read my magazine (bliss...). I am in for some good sleep tonight...woooo!

In other great news, my family is spending Christmas in *drum roll* DISNEY WORLD!!! OML...Right now, there's no difference between my five year old sister and I, except that she packed ALL her stuff two weeks back. No point of return! I have never been to Disney world and I could use some sunshine right now. Honestly, if it were to miraculously snow in Orlando I would be deeply offended, nevertheless, I would be that one person in short shorts. 

What's been on my mind? Well...now that you ask, when people who we love are going through a "hard time" or are emotionally hurting. As much as we may have solutions to their problems, you have to be mindful not to get entangled in their problems. Even the actions of a well meaning person can be wrongfully interpreted. Sometimes we have to step back after offering our help and let people find solutions designed to suit their own problems. Unless our help is asked for, we shouldn't push our advice down someone's throat just SHOW UP (thanks Mellie...hashtag scandal) and be present when they need you to be.

Guys, 2013 has been a great year! Why? Because you and I are ALIVE. We have grown, we have hurt, we have loved, we have lost, we have gained, we have been at the top of the mountain and beneath it. I am so grateful for the lessons learnt and memories created. My prayer for each one of you is 2014 will be your year of success, your year of joy, and of great opportunities. I pray that you will have tears of joy and not of pain. I pray that you understand that when one door shuts, another one will be opened. I pray that you will encounter the supernatural in your natural, I pray for extraordinary days, and I pray that you will have many breakthroughs.  

Merry Christmas and happy holiday :-) see you in 2014 friends.

xxx

https://eveandnicoonline.com/ 

DO YOU KNOW YOUR IDENTITY?

PROMISE ME THAT YOU WILL READ THIS POST TO THE END.

Oh guys, if I didn't share with you this message, I would be such a bad friend. You are so going to love this because everybody around me was hollering and wolf-whistling. I am so excited to pour it all down here. So, Pastor John Gray was in town today, I love when he comes to town because I am guaranteed to have the laugh of my life...but also he is one of those people who isn't afraid to speak the truth and let you deal with it. He doesn't do "frosties" he just speaks TRUTH.

His first message was called DOMINION and his second message was called CHECK THE LABEL. I could have stayed at church the entire day because when you're single there's nothing else to do on a Sunday but stay at church, pray vehemently that your future husband is a billionaire and just stare at people. (just kidding, I ran home to shower and prepare for American Music Awards tonight...oh to be so busy!)

This is for people who are struggling with identity aka identity crisis, people who have conformed to the standards of the world that they fit in so perfectly, people who have made the choice or who are pressured into being someone else's shadow.
Yeah, I told you we were going to be serious today but bear with me because this message is much needed for you and I.

DOMINION
If you don't know who you are, you will do anything and everything because you lack an identity.  What if you are the answer to the questions you've been asking.?(Selah)Here's the thing people, you were created with a purpose only you can fulfil. When you're busy trying to fit in, doing what you really do not want to do, and blaming everyone around you, you are missing out on the greatness within you. You are literally removing yourself from a place of victory and seeking refuge in the shadows created by others. You've got to exercise your choice and be an individual. Get out there and be great, no one wants to be in second position, "even losing teams come out screaming we are NUMBER ONE". You were created to be number 1. 

• Dominion establishes identity. We are not in competition with one another because all our purposes in life are so different. When one wins we all win. Be happy for each other, what does it cost you to wish your friend well? Why hate on people when you know who you are? We do not have to be insecure in other people's blessings because we are aware of what God invested in us, and therefore you can celebrate what He invested in others.

• Dominion establishes boundaries. No one else can occupy your garden (heart,  mind, friendships, relationships) without your permission. It really is up to you to let people in your life or kick them out of your life if they are just wasting space and not helping you be your best version e.g hey mate, here is a knife, wanna go stab someone today? That is a long, suffocating weed friends! I usually hear stories of people who do not like their "friends" yet they are forever hanging out, forever in their selfies and I wonder what games are these people playing? Do not make someone believe that you have a friendship or relationship when you're involved in some side shady gossip. Are you tied to them? or are you glued to each other? Let's endeavour to be real and establish boundaries and have control of what we can control. See, when you know who you are, you establish your boundaries without fear. If you've got some unwanted friends aka weeds you have to take them out! It's okay if someone also takes you out of their life, perhaps you are a weed to them too. You don't have to hate them but you've got to let them let you go and you too have to let the unwanted go. 

• Dominion establishes authority. We are created to sit in heavenly places! We are made to run this world (man or woman). Don't dumb it down or limit yourself because you are fearful that releasing your full potential will sabotage some relationships. Do not make insecure people feel good about themselves by dimming your light! You let it shine and allow others to shine too. THIS IS YOUR TIME to be great. Know who you are!!!

CHECK THE LABEL


Remember this every time you want to pursue something out of loneliness, or when you want to go back to a relationship that was bad but comfortable or you are in a relationship you want to leave but do not have the courage to leave. 

Well there was so much said during this sermon but there's a reason why he emphasised something for the ladies. I felt that this was done because we needed to be reminded of our value and worth as women given that television makes it very okay for man and woman to jump through one bed to another as if it was the bed olympics. 

Boys am not blocking anything and girls am not being dreamy but I do agree with what Pastor John Gray said. Are you tired of giving a piece of yourself every time a relationship ends and a new one begins? A time will come WHEN the right person comes along and you have no more of you to give and you are all dried out, sour and just an ashy woman. Do not believe when people say sex is just sex (a topic for another day). I want you to know your value and worth... This one is for us.

"You are  a daughter of a King, you do not date peasants who have been on the rack and have been tried on too many times and put back on the rack because they did not fit. There is somebody out there designed specifically to fit your frame. Somebody you were also custom made for" and if you just stopped running around chasing after a boy who does not see your worth, and work on adding more value to yourself my darling everything will work out just fine. Here's the secret, be the kind of person you want to date and I can promise you this, you will not attract anyone less than you deserve because they will sense it even before a 'hi' escapes their lips. 

I know we have been a tad serious today, but I love how you are always here to read my posts and I appreciate it so much. I desire great things for you and I believe we are building each other and I am rooting for you all. Have a great week my loves.


xxx


Look in the mirror and shout this out "I RUN THIS."

Open Letter: My November

October went by so fast, how did that happen? It’s like we somehow managed to skip autumn and dived right into winter. How was October for you? Mine was centered on midterms and the not so ideal Friday morning commute sessions, I’m telling you, one is bound to lose their salvation every Friday morning. This morning, it was pouring mad and apparently that’s when everybody finds it convenient to go to work. Like, where were they on the non-rainy Fridays??? (Please forgive my complaints, I am a descendant of Abraham and I am a work-in-progress)

In other “breaking” news, November is here! It is so my favourite month and yes, I am 100% biased and rightfully so. November is exceptional this year because *drum roll* I am going on a date with the love of my life. I honestly feel like such a loose goose some days but this man is phenomenal. The one and only Justin Timberlake (I EXPECT the reader to feel my excitement, but also to feel just the right amount of envy but ultimately to wish me well in my search for love)

You know what’s even more amazing; Justin’s concert coincides with my birthday. Get this, there’s no mortal who can convince me that Justin and I are not soul mates. People, what more evidence would you require? This concert could have been on any other day, but no, he chose mine, he chose me. I know what you’re thinking, and I beg to differ…I am not insane. I have giant butterflies from just the thought of breathing in and out the same air as him. All right, I’ll stop here lest his publicists fall on this post and deter me from enjoying first class entertainment.

The blackball is the next day after Justin’s concert. Seriously next week is going to be the best birthday week ever. I have been in so many stores looking for black dresses that can get the attention of Pharrell Williams. All I want (and like only a million more things) is to be BFFs with Pharrell. In my mind, we are such buddy buddies, and we have like the most chilled fun times. (Oh the life of a dreamer!) Any who, when pragmatic Evelyn stepped in (such a buzz kill that pragmatic me) she gave it to me cold and hard. “Look here missy, this day is NOT about you. You’re there to work and to make sure the guests have a great time supporting such a worthy cause. It’s not your time to shine and you must hide starrstruck away. And in case you missed that, it’s NOT about you”. So I finally found a simple dress yesterday, and I cannot wait to be part of something that’s bigger than me. I know I will be knackered by the end of next week but it will be well worth it.

*This very moment* Oh dear me, I feel the birth of a pimple, that treacherous thing better rethink its strategy because I will go down fighting. It shall not ruin next week for me (all my life I had to fight, a girl child ain’t safe with all these untimely pimples)

What to look forward to this November

Thanksgiving 28^th November

The hunger games: Catching Fire 22^nd November

And of course the many November babies’ social networks timeline invasion.

Happy Happy birthday month to all the Novemebies, and these amazing people Daphny, Duchess, Rachel, Pamellah, Elma, Joan, Mama, Julia, Devon, Nalin.

Tell your story...

Now re-obsessed with - Electric feel- MGMT (Preston Pohl version too)


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I keep a vision book...(wipe off that confusion, I am going to explain what that is). So, a vision book isn't a diary or journal and I honestly don't know the difference between those two. A vision book is a much cooler version of the journary (journal/diary), and it's less suspicious  (no need to check into a cray house) because it's the "middle child" sort of case.  
In my vision book I write down my aspirations, my visions, the heavy prayers, the occasional grocery list, and 'to do' lists.


Yesterday, I had a look at my vision book because I hadn't opened it in what seemed like forever! There I was reading some of my prayers, and I sort of had this cringe-fest for one going on. The prayers were raw and simple. They were mostly desperate prayers. Have you ever made a desperate prayer? If yes, then you know exactly what am talking about. When I made/wrote down those prayers, those were some of my very honest moments. Mostly because I was at the end of myself, vulnerable, almost lost. I do pray for, and write down some of the most impossible things for man and myself. I like that I do that because I am not afraid to ask God. He isn't limited by anything and  I do believe that He is well able to deliver when His timing is right for me. (I just have to master patience...oh dear!) 

Flipping through the pages of my vision book, I found so many 'Thank you God...You did come through' scribbles next to my written prayers. Have you watched that mama Joyce podcast where she reads to us her prayers in her journals and how they were answered? Keeping records is so necessary and I am glad I took on this habit quite early on. 


I thought we could try this thing where I write here a few of the entries in my vision book so we can all have our hope and faith renewed, mine has most certainly been renewed after my little journey to the past. (I just dropped Aaliyah on you, I bet you didn't see that one coming :-) )


Entries

August 2011- sometimes I feel like I am giving you too much of me and that's not your fault because I do indulge you. (do you feel the frustration?)


7/03/12- I am so sad


13/03/12- I need patience for life, patience for school, patience for people, patience for our resident cards


25/03/12- Jesus, it's been three months now and nothing from Nairobi. I know you will deliver because You never fail us Jesus. I thank You for our victory.  


October 2012- I feel like I am about to lose hope


Vision- 10/12- the success of Eve and Nico business (and now as a company we are looking into Home Decor...literally blows my mind) 


19/11/12- HELP ME PLEASE...people look at me like I have it ALL figured out but we both know I do not...it's hard now but it won't be hard soon. (Falling apart on the inside but the outside looks pretty stunning, who's been there?)


07/12/12- "sometimes you have to walk into things by faith and sometimes you have to walk away from things by faith" 


December/08/12- "we pay a high cost for a cheap thrill" (If you're into that sort of instantaneous YOLO, please put your clothes back Miley but we like her practise foresightedness)


December 2012- Resident cards are here! Thank You God

New year

9/04/13- "it's not what we do once that brings victory in our lives, it's what we do over and over and over and over again."


June 2013- apply for graduate assistantship job (one long story including filling in the wrong application)


04/september/2013- thank You God, We got the assistantship 


21/september/2013- twenty things I am grateful for (pastor Carl Lentz advised me to make a list)
1. Graduate assistantship
2. Internship with my fave NGO
3. Tuition paid
4. My new friend Genesis
5. Blog
... And 15 more things I am not going to write down.

All these are just sentences and quotes removed from their whole original context but here's what I am trying to put across. I look back at the moments I was sad and had no idea if I was going to be happy and when I was to meet this happiness, the moments where I was waiting for something to happen, the moments of uncertainty, and these moments exist every other day for us all.What kept and keeps me going is HOPE, and when I document these things for myself, I want to be able to look back and have palpable evidence that everything and I mean EVERYTHING is going to be more than just fine even when the skies are grey. That every situation is temporary and MY GHOSH! our attitudes can make things better or worse. 
I had the choice to let what I was feeling on the inside dictate my actions because quite frankly I had all the rights to throwing a mad pity party, but I chose to focus on someone bigger than me and bigger than my situations. You too have a CHOICE, a choice to break free or to remain in the cages of burden.

In March, I told my sister that I wanted to blog about my peace and my happiness but I expressed my concerns to her that I didn't want to rub my happiness in people's faces. I felt like it would be selfish of me. And it's safe to say that I am glad I didn't blog about happiness because that too is a fleeting emotion. Joy is the ultimate goal, because joy is unwavering. I make it a daily choice to wake up every day and tell myself that whatever the day brings, joy will cushion the blow. Now, that doesn't mean I am going to spend the entire day laughing out loud like a hyena. It means that I have pre-decided to be joyful. I don't want to be grey, and bitter. I don't want my presence to be heavy on people. Our days are numbered and you really want to make sure you live a life YOU would be proud of. 


I know we are all of different faiths and we might not agree about many things but you can agree with me that hope and faith are so essential to us while we do this life! 
Live above all the sorrow, all the negativity, all the hurts, the hopelessness...live above it...let's not just survive and be content with just having our heads above the water, let's CONQUER. 
Ps. Every day is THE day to have a good day...LIVE your life even in the storm so you can TELL your story on the other side.

Bed time thoughts and Swollen red eyes : open letter

I feel so tired tonight, I have come to the end of my physical strength. I am sore, I have these unexplainable little bruises all over my hands, and my hair could honestly use a wash, but above all that, I am content.  I sit in my bed thinking about how much we have changed. Do you feel yourself changing? Changing into somebody that you actually like or love? (Maybe we will discuss this another day) yeah?

I think about how much we all don't communicate as often as we used to. It doesn't mean that the love has grown cold. Sometimes we are just trying to keep our heads above the water and the chaos. Personally, I have never really had a problem being in my own company, and I do love that I am comfortable being my every waking moment companion and that in itself might be a slight problem for me. My communication skills are progressively becoming worse and I do feel awful that I cannot be constantly on phone like the old days (definition of old days: four days back). I don't want to be caught up in the busy world and forget who truly matters.
Tonight when I close my eyes, I will have mind conversations with my people, and in my mind, we will laugh up a storm, and tell each other how much we miss us. I may not be able to finish my mind conversations because sleep will take over but I will have that Mona Lisa kind of smile tattooed on my lips.

I think about how gracious God is to us. I think about how He is enough if we let Him be, and I think about how He has been constant through the trials and the victory dances. Next week is hillsong conference, and boy-oh-boy I am ecstatic. I cannot wait for Friday to get here and pull out TGIF (rightfully so). My heart is wide open, I am so expectant, my voice is ready, I think am going to pack a leotard for the dance numbers...I must get it right people. So, I am looking forward to that and to sharing that experience with my friends. I know without a doubt, it's going to be the beginning of a whole new better chapter in my life...do you feel it for yourself too? No?yes?maybe? Well, I hope it's a YES.
Thanking GOD that He is always overwhelming (present continuous) my heart with HIS love.

Ps. Pray for Kenya, pray for Syria, we really could use a better world.

Good bye summer time...fare thee well

Post 1: Randomness overload

I am insanely obsessed with breakfast television programs. Live with Kelly and Michael is the kind of show that could easily Lift your mood from zero to five! Who loves The Wendy Williams show? Here's the thing I love about The Wendy show, Wendy is such a good gossip broadcaster. She tells these Hollywood stories with the right amount of  zest, everyone is leaning in like it's the most important news...and get this, this gossip isn't about you (which makes it even more exciting), this gossip does absolutely nothing for your life, matter of fact it does nothing for you except waste your one hour of life but she knows how to get one hooked! I like her that Wendy, I like her a lot! She's just so entertaining.

On another random note, this morning your home girl was in Brooklyn. Hmm...I know I shouldn't be saying this because Blue Ivy Carter lives in Brooklyn BUT I really am afraid of walking in Brooklyn by myself. I do blame the movies, the stories I've heard, and the daily news for the poor depiction. Anyway, while in BK town, I successfully hailed a taxi and as I got in, I handed the driver my destination address. Still feeling like Carrie Bradshaw, minus the exquisite wardrobe, the driver indifferently asked me to "GET OUT" of his taxi. Yeah, I was as confused and shocked as you are because he hadn't started the car. We were still in the same spot where he had stopped to pick me up!!! WHAT? That is no way to treat a lady! It's tough in these streets I tell you. I actually had a 'laugh out loud' moment in my head and I immediately left his car lest violence ensued. Other than that, Brooklyn isn't as bad as it's made out to be.

Post 2: My end of summer bloggables

On the finale of The Office, Andy Bernard said, “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” *selah* 
Let's resolve to make everyday extraordinary so that we don't t have to be stuck in the past by trying to relive those moments. Create more of those good ol' days by simply being present in the now.
Summer is drawing to a close...booooo-  But am expectant for us all that the next season of our lives is going to be even better. God only has great plans for us, believe with me that our very best is yet to come.

I thought this would be a fun exercise for us to partake in;
September
* Buy something good for yourself. Why? Because you are worth it and you deserve it.
October
* Read a book. There's so much life in books, they temporarily give you a great escape from reality.
November
Birthday month...it's all about me...okay am kidding (maybe).
* Take a friend out for cocktails or a meal and handle the bill business. Remember this, it is better to give than to receive... 
December
* Cause happiness to occur to a stranger. Someone out there is waiting for something extraordinary to happen to them. There's no limit to what you can do, even a smile suffices. Let something good happen through you.
Feel free to let me know what books you'll read or what you find helpful or unhelpful with this "exercise".
xxx

Ps. I have made a few adjustments to the blog such as google translation so these posts can be translated into any language. I think that's mad cool.