Carpe Diem - Seize The Day!

By Gracie

Many times in life, we are always waiting on some future events, some better times or some perfect set of circumstances before we can find happiness or contentment. We always try to rush things never trying to enjoy the process or stage we are in at any point in life. Life is a process; let’s learn to take things slowly.

Inspiration - Leave it in the Past

Tahiti Scores One Goal in Historic Match Against Nigeria

The Nigerian national football team won an international match yesterday. But this is not about the Super Eagles because sometimes, it's not all about winning. Their competitors were the national side of small island country, Tahiti who were playing their first match at this level, the FIFA confederations.

They were totally outclassed, outgunned and outranked, but they kept their head up, and what do you know, the great super eagles let one of their tries on goal get into the net. Above is their celebration. You should see their bench too, the coaches went crazy.

Life is Not About Destinations But The Journey

Motivation - Do What's Best For You

My Medical Choice - Angelina Jolie On Her Double Mastectomy

I loved Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft, Tomb Raider. Then in Wanted, and her action movies including Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The whole scandal with Brad Pitt kind of muddied the waters, but in my opinion, she pulled through it pretty OK. She has since then gone on to star in, and direct more great movies.

Angelina Jolie is a hands-on philanthropist and humanitarian ambassador, and she's of course a role model for adoption, and I respect her for that. However, after reading this op-ed article she wrote for the New York Times, where she comes out about having both her breasts removed (double mastectomy) to reduce her chances of cancer, my respect for her has doubled if not quadrupled.

I wish her the best with her health and family. Please read and be inspired, and share.

MY MOTHER fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 56. She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms. But my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was.

We often speak of “Mommy’s mommy,” and I find myself trying to explain the illness that took her away from us. They have asked if the same could happen to me. I have always told them not to worry, but the truth is I carry a “faulty” gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman.

A Happy Marriage Is ...

Inspirational Quote For Today

A Breast Cancer Survivor Speaks out about her Experience

‘Layo Olowu is a breast cancer survivor and in this video, she speaks with Kemi Obisesan of Shout Series TV. She takes the listeners through her experience of finding out she had cancer, telling her loved ones, choosing a treatment plan and how her faith saw her through the whole journey. Quite inspirational. For those who cannot watch the video, below is the first post on her surviving cancer blog;

I got to understand that God dishes out to you more than one gift  some quite so visible and others not so visible however they are revealed as you go along in life. My first love is for fashion and makeup.  I am so passionate about beauty and get excited when I get the opportunity to display my makeup artistry skills as well as coming up with a unique design that is later transformed into an outfit. Designers  and makeup artist often collaborate both as it comes with the territory.  I am also passionate about writing and see my skills as a medium to encourage people. I feel particularly drawn towards women because life as a woman can be quite challenging that often you feel as thou the entire world wants a piece of you. However in the midst of it all God brings out the best in you through your situations.

Inspiring Quotes For You

Inspirational Quotes - The Past, Present and Future

Inspirational Quotes - Everything Good Will Come

The Little Things Matter the Most

Have you heard the phrase, ‘dynamites come in small packages?’

How can something so small carry so much power?

I don’t know, but it does.

Coincidentally, there are a lot of things in life that may be classified as little things….but they matter. Some are negative and some are positive.

On the positive side, there are many things that appear little but that go a long way in turning a bad day into a good day.

Your colleague pays you a compliment on your outfit. It's a little thing, but it makes you smile.

Your spouse calls you up at noon to find out how your day is going. It’s such a little thing, but it brightens up the rest of your day.

The note you received in the mail from the friend you have not seen in a long time. It's a little thing, but not really.

Your presentation at work did not go so well. You forgot what you were going to say and stumbled all over yourself. You felt like you did a horrible job. But your boss came to you and said, "Well done. You did a great job! “It’s a little thing, but it restores your confidence.

For some reason, you put in too much salt while making the stew. You know it does not taste so nice. But your husband doesn’t complain.It’s such a little thing, but it makes you want to cry.

You just came in from the scorching sun. While trying to catch your breath, someone offers you a cold glass of water. It’s such a little thing, but you appreciate them more.

I Stand For Change, Do You? By Banky W

I recently celebrated my birthday… I was fortunate enough to go to Dubai to attend my friend Tuface Idibia’s wedding… and I want to start off my speech by showing you a couple of pictures of Dubai, because what I saw there inspired me.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is the same oil that was discovered there in the 1960’s that they used to transform that society. The very same oil that was discovered here. But what have our leaders done with it?

Benjamin Franklin once said “when you’re finished changing, you’re finished”. I’d like to take that a step further by saying “we must be a part of the change we seek, or risk being changed ourselves”.

The question is no longer “will Nigeria change”… but rather, it’s “will it change for the better or worse” and “who will lead that change”.

Women who Motivate #3 - Chimamanda Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was born in Nigeria in 1977. She is the author of the novels Purple Hibiscus (2003) and Half of a Yellow Sun (2006), and of the short story collection The Thing around Your Neck (2009). She has received numerous awards and distinctions, including the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction (2007) and a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (2008).

Women's History Month - Motivational Stories #1

March is Women's History Month here in the US. Last month was the month of love and we celebrated the men who love us, and those we love. I've decided to use this month as an opportunity to showcase some contemporary Nigerian young women doing motivational things. I'll start with a young lady I discovered just some days ago

Ola Orekunrin is a 26 years old medical doctor and founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria, the first air ambulance service in West Africa. Her start-up is a social enterprise providing urgent air ambulances to leading health institutions, insurance companies and private individuals throughout West Africa.

Dr. Ola an exemplary product of England’s Foster care system, was raised in a working class home by foster care parents where she quickly learned the value of hard and smart work. Dr. Ola later applied these skills learnt in her childhood to put herself through school with jobs in retail, modeling and administration. Undeterred by the challenges (financial included) that seemingly blocked her path, Dr. Ola graduated medical school at age twenty one (21), becoming the youngest doctor to graduate in the entire country. With such impressive credentials and brilliance, you would think she would settle for working at England’s prestigious acute care facilities/hospitals. She had a different agenda.