self development Archives

In self development October 4, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

PH.D STUDENT DOES MATERNITY AND NEWBORN PHOTOSHOOT TO CELEBRATE DISSERTATION

Why didn’t we all think of this?! According to Good Morning America (GMA), Eve Humphrey, a Florida Ph.D. student decided to have a maternity shoot to celebrate the birth of her new — dissertation.

That’s right! After 6 years of labor and delivery, Humphrey finally pushed out her dissertation and anyone who has ever completed a thesis or dissertation can attest to the fact that it’s that serious!

Humphrey would regularly refer to her dissertation as her baby. After 6 years in graduate school working through her doctorate program, she had all the symptoms of pregnancy. Lots of work, no sleep, weight gain from stress eating and back pain from being hunched over her computer all day. And if it acts like a baby and requires attention like a baby, its a baby, even if it is a dissertation.

Once she completed her program and turned in the culmination of 6 years of hard work towards her Ph.D. in Biology, she wanted to do something to commemorate the moment.

“I’m not super celebratory, but I wanted to do something that was fun,” Humphrey told GMA. “Science can be very straightforward and I wanted to do something to commemorate what I did and take a moment to be proud of myself.”

That’s when she decided to do a maternity shoot with her newborn baby, “Stress Response and Coloration as Mediators of Behavioral and Physiological Variation.” The Florida State University student called up her friend Korie Mitchell and the two made doctoral magic happen. The pictures showed Humphrey posing with her paper next to its milestones, in a highchair and with a beautiful picturesque background as she gazes down lovingly. It was typical maternity shoot wonder.

Humphrey posted the pictures to Facebook with a caption that said, “Six years ago, I started on a journey and I didn’t know how hard it would be to finish. I gained weight, I experienced back pain, I cried a lot … was I pregnant? I had many restless nights and sacrificed time with family and friends to birth this crazy little baby of mine called a dissertation. So I would like to introduce you all to my creation, 6 years of pushing and it gave me a new name. Hi, I’m Dr. Eve Humphrey, PhD.”

Before she knew it, the post had been shared over 10,000 times. Humphrey said she was taken aback when the post went viral.

“I was like, ‘What the heck? My husband told me it had a ton of ‘likes’ and then it started being shared by people I didn’t know,” she said. Humphrey said she understands how a lot of people can relate or find humor in it. “I guess I get it, though, because that’s something I would crack up at and share.”

Since the completion of her Ph.D and her new title as Doctor of Biology, Humphrey works at Syracuse University doing disciplined-based education research. She will be returning to Florida State in December to walk the stage at her graduation.

Congratulations Dr. Humphrey!

In self development October 3, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

GENEVIEVE NNAJI’S ‘LIONHEART’ IS NIGERIA’S SELECTION FOR 2020 OSCARS

The Nigerian Oscars Selection Committee (NOSC) has selected Genevieve Nnaji’s ‘Lionheart’ as Nigeria’s submission to the International Feature Film category of the 2020 Oscars.

According to Channels News, the committee announced the selection on Wednesday, following a statutory vetting and subsequent voting of entries received from Nigerian filmmakers at home and abroad.

’Lionheart’ was produced by Chinny Onwugbenu, Chichi Nwoko, Genevieve Nnaji and directed by Genevieve Nnaji, premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and got featured as the first Netflix original film produced in Nigeria.

The movie stars Pete Edochie, Genevieve Nnaji, Nkem Owoh, Onyeka Onwenu, Kanayo .O. Kanayo, Chika Okpala, Kalu Ikeagwu, Sanni Mu’azu, Yakubu Mohammed, Ngozi Ezeonu, Peter Okoye (P-Square) and Chibuzor Azubuike (Phyno).

‘Lionheart’, which is Nnaji’s directorial debut, tells the story of a young woman, Adaeze Obiagu (Genevieve Nnaji), who becomes saddled with the responsibility of running her sick father’s business under the suffocating supervision of an uncle, played by Nkem Owoh.

Adaeze’s competing business instincts and family obligations become a catalyst for drastic change not everyone is ready to embrace.

The 12-man Nigerian Oscars Selection Committee (NOSC), is chaired by Chineze Anyaene with Mahmood Ali-Balogun as vice chairman.

In self development October 3, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

GHANAIAN SCHOOLS INTRODUCES SEX RIGHTS EDUCATION

Sex education in Ghana has sparked outrage, as it is being described as “demonic” and “satanic.” Churches argue that the move is meant to introduce homosexuality in Ghana

The education sector in Ghana is set to undergo a new phase of comprehensive sexuality education in attempts to conscientize students about their sexual and reproductive health rights. But this new development has been met with hostility from both teachers and churches.

The new sex education program is running under the banner Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and targets primary school children aged 4. The overall objective of the planned sexuality education program is to equip children with full knowledge about their sexuality and reproductive health issues. It is intended to help “nurture positive attitudes, open-mind, respect for self and others, non-judgmental attitudes and a sense of responsibility concerning sexual and reproductive health issues”.

The initiative is being backed by the Ghana government working in conjunction with the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). CSE is also supported by the governments of Sweden and Ireland. This is not only a program peculiar to Ghana as it is being launched in Ghana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Introducing sexual education to children as young as 4 is something that is defended by the government – they argue that “subject content of the CSE would be age-appropriate to enable pre-schoolers to be empowered with values that would protect them from sexual harassment.”

But not everyone in Ghana is in alignment with these proposed plans. Churches and teachers have opposed the move citing moralistic issues. They say that CSE is an evil plan manufactured to make children amenable to the ideas of homosexuality, bisexual and transgender activism.

The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) – a grouping of over 200 denominations in Ghana – has denounced this program, describing it as satanic. The graduate teachers’ umbrella body has also said that they were not consulted on the new development.

Rev Prof Paul Yaw Frimpong-Manso, the GPCC president said, “I call it Comprehensive Sexuality Education it is Comprehensive Satanic Engagement.”

Moses Foh Amoaning, leader of National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values said that CSE is an educational move clothed in ulterior motives, and also posing that the secret move is to introduce homosexuality. The pressure group is vehemently against homosexuality.

The prevailing notion is that introducing sex education to children who are not yet sexually active is simply demonic. And the move is expected to be put in motion next year.

Header image credit – GBC Ghana

In self development October 1, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

THESE 3 ZODIAC SIGNS MAKE THE BEST WIVES

Whether you believe in the power of zodiac signs or not, they are here to stay. At the very least, they’re a fun way to analyze others and talk about our personalities. Here are the top three signs that are supposedly the best matches for marriage. Is your sign on the list?

CANCER

The Cancer woman is a queen. . She is deeply emotional and she rocks it. She will love you unconditionally and she will show it to you every chance she gets. She will make a cozy home for you and she will go an extra mile just to make her family happy. She is real mother material because of her unconditional love. Her children and her family will always come first. Sometimes, they can be drama queens, but that is due to the enormous amount of emotions they’ve got to give. Nevertheless, if you marry a Cancer woman you won’t regret it, ever.

ARIES

She is a real overachiever She will do literally anything to fulfill her goals. She is adventurous and passionate and most importantly, she is not afraid to speak her mind and to stand up for herself or anybody else for that matter. She is a true alpha, and if you’re brave enough to spend the rest of your life with this strong personality, keep in mind that you have to keep the fi-re burning. Remember that she will be there to support you no matter what.If you manage to score an Alpha Aries, you won’t regret it because she will bring out the best inf you. She will make your life fun with the energy she brings to it.She is a very determined and strict but loving mother who will raise winners and leaders.

LEO

She is a warrior She needs her spotlight, but if you’ve found your way to her heart, she will let you in and share her spotlight with you. She will be loyal to you and she will never let you down. She needs someone who is as determined and strong as she is. She will never fall for an ordinary man. She will put her family ahead of everything and she will treat her family as a real ‘mama Leo’. She will give them nothing but pure, selfless, and unconditional love.

This Article Was First Published on “herway.net”

In self development September 30, 2019 By Women of Rubies

MEET LORNA PRENDERGAST WHO COMPLETES MASTER’S DEGREE ON MUSIC AND DEMENTIA AT AGE 90

Dementia affects more than 400,000 people in Australia. Inspired by the powerful effects of music in nursing homes, Lorna Prendergast undertook a Master of Ageing degree at the University of Melbourne. She graduated in July at the age of 90.

Prendergast enrolled in the degree after watching an ABC science program about music and dementia. She completed the course online from the Victorian town of Bairnsdale, overcoming technological hurdles that would challenge many others.

Music technology provides sound opportunities

Prendergast studied the effects of music therapy in nursing homes, including the delivery of personalised playlists using music technology.

“From my research, I found a number of studies where it was suggested that thirty minutes a day of listening to personal music was very productive. Using an iPod with a headphone has proved very effective both in nursing homes and home care. Recently, a headphone has become available where a memory card containing a personal playlist can be inserted into the headphone and does not need to be connected to an iPod.”

Music technology has changed a lot throughout Prendergast’s life. In an interview with ABC Classic she recalled a time when it was common to make your own music:

“Many family homes had a piano, most men carried a mouth organ in their pocket, the accordion and violin were also popular as was the guitar and the ukulele. In those days people made their own music. It was only when the wireless hit the airwaves that people listened more to music rather than make their own.”

The importance of music therapists

Though music technology helps deliver music therapy, Prendergast stresses the importance of having music therapists in care facilities to select and monitor the effects of music:

“In nursing homes I found that music helped calm patients who may be feeling aggressive and it generally gave them joy. It is exceedingly important that the music played be of their choice, songs that brings back memories and emotions which help them to recall their past. It seems to bring back their identity and gain respect from others which also helps include them in the group around them rather than being left to feel isolated.

“It would be good if more nursing homes employed a music therapist because they know how to get people singing and can also detect if any song gives bad vibes. By that I mean that a song liked by most people could remind someone of a bad episode in their life and cause them distress. Carers nursing dementia patients at home also need guidance on developing playlists as music helps bring couples together and extends their time to reminisce.”

A life with music

Prendergast has nurtured a lifelong love of music and attends musicals whenever she visits the city from her Victorian town of Bairnsdale. She remembers a particularly musical trip to Vienna with her late husband Jim:

“Years ago, when Jim and I flew to Europe, we landed in Vienna where we had a few days of wonderful classical music. Violinists were playing in all of the restaurants where we enjoyed a slice of Sachertorte and delicious coffee. Then we were fortunate to attend two concerts, one was of Mozart’s works and the other one was magnificent at the Sofiensaal where we listened to many of the favourites that Strauss first played in the very room we were seated in. It was a wonderful evening. The conductor’s relaxed style was very engaging and the orchestra demonstrated their talent and enthusiasm for Johann Strauss’s music. The highlight for me was when we waltzed to The Blue Danube Waltz, unforgettable.”

Source: abc.net

In self development September 29, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

HUSBAND DEMANDS DIVORCE IN LETTER TO WIFE, HER BRILLIANT REPLY MAKES HIM REGRET EVERY WORD

In a world that can in turn seem grim, serious or boring, a funny anecdote is always welcome. I don’t know if you’ve read this before, but if not it should give you a chuckle. And if you have, I’m sure it’ll make you laugh again. It has all the ingredients of an entertaining story — drama, retaliation and an unexpected ending… It starts with a letter from a husband asking his wife for a divorce.

But it’s his wife’s brilliant reply that gets all the laughs. . Share it if it also gives you a good chuckle!

Dear wife,

I’m writing you this letter to tell you that I’m leaving you forever. I’ve been a good man to you for 7 years & I have nothing to show for it. These last 2 weeks have been Tophet.

Your boss called to tell me that you quit your job today & that was the last straw.

Last week, you came home & didn’t even notice I had a new haircut, had cooked your favorite meal & even wore a brand new pair of silk boxers. You ate in 2 minutes, & went straight to sleep after watching all of your soaps.

You don’t tell me you love me anymore; you don’t want relationship or anything that connects us as husband & wife. Either you’re escape on me or you don’t love me anymore; whatever! the case, I’m gone.

Your EX-Husband

P.S. don’t try to find me. Your SISTER & I are moving away to West Virginia together!
Have a great life!

Dear Ex-Husband,

Nothing has made my day more than receiving your letter It’s true you & I have been married for 7 years, although a good man is a far cry from what you’ve been.

I watch my soaps so much because they drown out your constant whining & griping. Too bad that doesn’t work.

I DID notice when you got a hair cut last week, but the 1st thing that came to mind was ‘You look just like a girl!’ Since my mother raised me not to say anything if you can’t say something nice, I didn’t comment.

And when you cooked my favorite meal, you must have gotten me confused with MY SISTER, because I stopped eating pork 7 years ago.

About those new silk boxers: I turned away from you because the $49.99 price tag was still on them, & ; I prayed it was a coincidence that my sister had just borrowed $50 from me that morning.

After all of this, I still loved you & felt we could work it out. So when I the lotto for 10 million dollars, I quit my job & bought us 2 tickets to Jamaica But when I got home you were gone.

Everything happens for a reason, I guess. I hope you have the fulfilling life you always wanted. My lawyer said that the letter you wrote ensures you won’t get a dime from me. So take care.

Signed,
Your Ex-Wife, Rich As worship & Free!

This Story Was Originally Published On newsner.com

In self development September 29, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

MOTHER GETS A KIDNEY FROM ADOPTED SON

Foster mother Ingeborg McIntosh describes the first time she held Jordan in her arms as “love at first sight” and fought tirelessly to adopt him. Little did she know, he would return that love with equal fervor when she needed it most. When you hear about stories in which someone “pays it forward,” the kind gesture is usually something small, such as buying a meal for a stranger. The size of the deed doesn’t necessarily dictate how meaningful it is, but in this case, paying it forward literally saved a life.

The McIntosh family had cared for 125 foster kids over the years, but no one stole their heart like Jordan.

Jordan was raised in Ingeborg’s home, but his biological mother didn’t want the family to adopt himShe preferred that her child be adopted by Black parents.

But it was impossible to find a home for Jordan, so when the boy was 4, he was adopted by Ingeborg.

“He was a part of the family, no matter what.”

Two decades later, Ingeborg received difficult news: her doctors informed her that she had polycystic kidney disease and needed a kidney transplantation. Jordan decided he couldn’t stand by and watch his mother suffer. He decided to act, without his mother even being aware of his plans.

He booked an appointment to see if he was a match for transplantation. He was.

“I feel like this was my calling in life, I guess,” Jordan says.

“Hopefully I can do more for her as I get older, but for the moment, it’s the least I could do.”

Ingeborg insisted that he not go through with his plans, but Jordan’s mind was made up.

When Jordan talks about his mother, his love and devotion are clear: He can barely talk about her kindness without crying.

“Everything she’s done for me since I was a kid, I just wanted to give it back to her, and show her how much I appreciate her,” he says

Despite all the struggles and tough times, this story ends happily. All because of the strong bond between a mother and her son.

This article was originally published on boreddaddy.com

In self development September 28, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

23 YEAR OLD KATIE DAVIS ADOPTS 13 DAUGHTERS

At the young age of 18, no one would think a homecoming queen and senior class president would trade her life for something so extraordinary. Her name is Katie Davis, the girl who chose to follow God’s calling on her life more than following, what the world calls, “greater opportunities” for her. God wrote these desires on her heart during December of her senior year of high school when she went on a mission trip to Uganda.

It was the moment where God opened her eyes and she responded through prayer and seeking God, asking His guidance for her next steps after graduation. That’s when she decided to forgo university and commit to one year to teaching kindergarten in an orphanage in Uganda. Faith led her to that decision because she wanted to obey God even though she didn’t know what was ahead of her. Eventually, in 2008, Katie made Uganda her permanent home and launched Amazima Ministries, named after the native Ugandan word for “truth.”

The organization seeks to transform lives, restore relationships and radically change communities through the truth of Jesus Christ 5 years later, at the age of 23-years-old, Katie became a mother to 13 young girls whom she adopted and raised as her own children. Katie tells TODAY that she learned what true love really means through taking care of her adopted children – the most valuable lesson she has ever learned in life. “In those early days of laying sleepy heads on pillows and training tiny hearts to know Jesus, I had no comprehension of the wild, uncontainable love I would feel for them.

I didn’t know that they would somehow become extensions of me, that when they hurt I would hurt more deeply than I ever had before, and that when they showed delight over a success or an excitement for God’s Word, my heart would swell within me and I would be unable to contain tears of joy I didn’t know that sometimes I would look at them and feel so much love that my heart would physically ache within my chest.” That understanding of unconditional love would one day influence Katie not just as a mother, but also a wife.

Meet Benji Majors

Benji and Katie grew up in the same town of Franklin, Tennessee, but only met for the first time when Benji arrived in Uganda to serve as a missionary“We shared a hometown with only a few hilltops to keep our adolescent lives from ever intersecting,” Katie writes on her blog.

“My husband’s love is just another way God has chosen to pour [out] His extravagant love on me, another constant reminder that He rejoices over me, and over each one of our daughters. I watch them come alive under the loving gaze of their new father, I hear the delight and the certainty in their voices as they call ‘Dad.’”

The couple got married in 2015 and during that time she didn’t have her friends or sisters around as bridesmaids, instead, she had her 13 beautiful daughters who continue to be living proof of God’s faithfulness, redemption, and love Katie explained that just because she lives in Uganda and shares the love of Jesus with people she meets doesn’t mean she’s a “missionary” greater than anyone else

“I live in Uganda with my husband and my children. The people here, they are my neighbors, my friends, my family.

These are the streets on which we live, the community we pray with, the friends we eat with, the people I wave to on the street

This is my home. What I do here, you can do there, right where you are.” Amazima Ministries is simply one of the many ways you can join the revival movement and empower a young generation with education and Jesus Christ. But as Katie said, “You don’t have to be in Uganda to be a missionary. You don’t have to adopt 13 children to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”

This Article Was First Published On godtv.com

In self development September 28, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

MISSY ELLIOTT ON DEPRESSION, BURNOUT AND HOW A 14-YEAR HIATUS GAVE HER “PEACE OF MIND’ – VIDEO

Missy Elliott is one of the hardest working entertainers in the game, but there was a time when it seemed more like the game was working on her, both mentally, physically, and emotionally. On a recent episode of Sway in the Morning, the 48 year-old-artist opened up about why she ultimately had to step away from the industry to continue to effectively walk in her purpose.

To Missy, her time away from the music game acted as a catalyst for self-care in her personal life, and she recommends that no matter what line of work you’re in, you take time to take care of you, first, sis: The entertainer, who just came off of a 14-year hiatus with the release of her EP, Iconology, said that in the past, her struggle with Graves’ disease affected her career in a major way, even most recently during her recent performance at the VMAs

The singer recently told Angie Martinez that only hours before her show, she was rushed to the hospital because she couldn’t breathe. Despite her condition, Missy says she took some cough syrup and did the damn thing: Missy, who’s been open about her health struggles in the past, said that it was for this reason that she decided to bring her music career to a halt in the first place. The Virginia-born star first revealed her diagnosis with Graves’ in 2011 after she almost crashed a car due to muscle spasms.

She explained that at one point, her disease got so severe that she couldn’t even pick up a pen to do what she loved anymore:Despite Missy’s absence from the game, she’s back like she never left, but that didn’t come without some well-needed time for self, proving that it pays to take care of you, the world can wait.

Source: Hzeppfeed

In self development September 28, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

IYANLA VANZANT SPEAKS ON LEARNING TO FORGIVE HER EX HUSBAND

When we take a look around us, we find many instances of separated relationships around us at random. It could be a father or a son, two friends, a boy or a girl, two cousins, and very often a husband or a wife who have strangled the relationship between them for one reason or the other. This separated relationship between a married couple is a very common instance of separated relationship.

It is not that after the relationship is separated then the life becomes smooth for either of the husband or the wife but it has been noticed in majority of the cases. Life turns out to be a fearful nightmare.

It is a very common thought that we will be very happy once we get rid of a particular person but no, this is not the case at least in the married couplesThey are completely heavy hearted after the separation from each other and are left in the life like a rudderless boat in a storm.

For the initial few years you do not understand me what to do until and unless you have a proper plan in advance for the future In this story of LyanlaVanzant, it is very sad to note that not only did her husband leave her for good but he did so, so that someone else could come in her life and use her.

Now when you come to know that your life partner has left you for someone else, you feel very heavy-hearted and you are left with nowhere to goAnd over and above that you are sure about your innocence in this case. You get thoughts that why in the first place you did fall into a relationship with this type of a person.