Surviving the African Parent

  Have you ever been in a situation where a new person seems to be cutting into your friend circle- maybe even pushing you out? Or maybe you felt like someone was trying to steal your friend from you- trying to upset the balance of your life.  You want me to be honest? You are right! On some counts at least.  The person IS cutting into your friend circle, The person is upsetting the balance of your life. However, (in most cases) the person is not TRYING to steal your friend from you, or DELIBERATELY  upset the balance of your life.  They are just trying to make new friends. Maybe they just moved in, or all their friends moved away, or they've grown apart from their old group, or maybe they have been shoved out of THEIR life's balance and they are trying to find it again. You should not hold it against them, if you feel like they are doing it on purpose, talk to them. Communication works wonders. If not, try to accommodate them and make them feel welcome ...

 

  Sometimes, I find myself wishing I was in a void. A void with no one but myself. With unlimited, fast WiFi, a fridge that magically produces anything I want to eat, all my devices, an A.C, a comfy bed and a bathtub always filled with fresh water for a bath.  It's my dream world. Just me, myself and I. And  every  single  time  I realize it will never happen.  Why? 'Cause if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.  So, I crash back into reality, once again surrounded by people. Don't get me wrong, I am not introverted. However, I just wish I could get some time off humans because MAN! people are exhausting.   So what do I do to navigate this maze? I analyze. In a new environment, don't barge in guns blazing. Even if you do, be strategic about it. Assess the people around you. It is essential you choose the air you want to give off and that will determine the people who gravitate to you. It will also determine if they will gi...

 

  Tribal marks, facial deformities, scars from native treatments, from normal injuries. Physical or emotional scars, we all have one or more of the above. (Honestly, if I show you all my scars, you would be horrified). What matters is what we do with them. They do not make us weak nor imperfect (I guess technically they do), they show us where we have been & where we have come from.  Scars tell our story and it's not something to be ashamed of. We are Africans- one of the oldest civilizations on the planet, from Egypt to Ethiopia, our scars declare us as surely as our colour announces our heritage. They show us that we have grown, we have moved on & we have survived. Whether it was a paper cut or a life threatening accident.  Be it birth marks, tribal marks, a deformity, a native looking scar, or maybe a strange condition, our scars tell our story- they tell of how we grew from that place of despair and fear, how we now face the world with pride in our hearts...