fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
WOMEN IN BUSINESS: AMAL HASSAN
Tags: CEO, Bpo Services, Nigeria, Africa, Outsourcing

Amal Hassan, CEO and Founder

Amal Hassan is a leading Nigerian technopreneur with diverse interests across different technology verticals in 2003. Amal set up the first organized ICT training institute in Kano that provides IT training to young Nigerians especially women. Her passion to unlock Nigeria’s developmental potential through technology-driven innovation and value addition led her to build, capitalize and restructure a series of technology-related businesses that succeed in developing talents and creating employment for young Nigerians.

In 2013, she founded the Outsource Global, a contact centre business process outsourcing that now has offices in Abuja, Lagos, and Kaduna. Under her leadership, Outsource Global has emerged as the leading Nigerian contact centre provider, servicing the international market, turning the company into a truly global BPO giant, creating over 700 jobs and putting Nigeria on the global map for contact centre business process outsourcing.

They have deep vertical expertise and unique understanding of the industry’s specific needs. They are known to put their clients at the heart of everything they do and deliver robust customer support solutions that span every segment of the customer value chain.

As Africa’s leading global contact centre and business/knowledge process outsourcing provider, they are successfully making Africa and International KPO/BPO destination. They are the first IAOP compliant commercial call centre in West Africa, and the first Nigerian international call centre serving the UK and US markets.

Hassan’s entrepreneurial prowess and business acumen continue to set her apart as a highly regarded business leader in Nigeria. Over the years, she has participated in local and international business missions and attended various professional and leadership courses, conferences and seminars both locally and abroad. Widely regarded as a role model for the girl-child and women especially in northern Nigeria, she has continued to mentor young leaders across her industry.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administrations from Bayero University Kano, Nigeria and a Master degree in Business Administration from the same university. Amal is a partner in Bluetag, the holding company for Parkway Projects, HealthStation, Bluetag Technologies, Bluetag Synergy and Outsource Global.

Amal is also an Alumna of Fortune-US Department of State Global Women Mentoring Programme, which links young female leaders to Fortune’s most powerful women.

By Kemi Ajumobi

Culled from https://businessday.ng/women-hub/article/women-in-business-amal-hassan/
Letter from a friend
By: Kelechi Chibuikem
Tags: Nigeria, Unusual, Christmas, Happiness, Love

This is a note from a friend in Nigeria… As you read, calmly understand with clearness of conscience and lightness of heart. Hopefully, this energizes and uplifts you…

His Words

I’ve always condemned those who kill themselves out of “no option again”. I’ve been a preacher of “why would you think the next thing for you to do is put a call through to alumuntu (meaning death in “Yoruba” mythology; Yoruba is a well spoken language in some parts of Nigeria, West Africa).

I never knew the taste nor the saddened aroma of depression until I was hit by a situation that rocketed me into the ocean floor of depression. I thought and all I saw was death staring at me like the statue of liberty. Yet, the irony of the situation is that many people didn’t even perceive what I was going through. Few that cared to listen to me were not ready to help. I cried my eyes out and pitied my widowed Mom.

Yes! I survived after several bashing of the storm through resilience and strength from the Divine. Now, I’m stronger and happier.

Never will I ill-treat those in depression.

You can’t know you’re strong until you are hit by the heavy hurdles of life.

Everyone smiling and wearing happy faces aren't entirely happy, many are deformed anatomically, psychologically and spiritually yet we act so dead within ourselves that we fail to gently pick the dirts of unhappiness around them.

It’s high time we moved closer to people with our arms wide open and activate our emotional receptors for the purpose of sustaining sanity in our world.

Yours Sincerely,

Fikayomi
NIGERIA AWARD SCHOLARSHIP (NA) 2020/2021 TENABLE IN NIGERIA PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITUIONS
By: Valentine Nnanyere
Tags: Nigeria, Awards, Scholarships

The Honourable Minister of Education (HME), Mallam Adamu Adamu, hereby invites interested and qualified Nigerians to participate in the 2020/2021 Nomination Computer Based Test (CBT) for the Federal Government Scholarship Award for:

NIGERIA AWARD SCHOLARSHIP (NA) 2020/2021 TENABLE IN NIGERIA PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITUIONS

THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR NIGERIAN AWARD AS FOLLOWS:

Applicants for Postgraduate studies should possess a minimum of first degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division. Applicant must be registered Full-Time students of Federal or State Universities. All other applicants (UG, HND & NCE) must be registered full-time students in their second year or above in Federal or State Universities, Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Colleges of Education. All undergraduate Scholarship applicants (Physically challenged inclusive) must have at least 4.0 Cumulative Grade Points Aggregate (CGPA) on a five (5) point scale or its equivalents or 5.0 on a 7 point scale.

All NCE and HND applicants must have a CGPA of 3.5 and above on a scale of 4.0 IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

✓ The scholarship is tenable in Nigeria and take effect from the beginning of the academic

session. ✓ It shall not be held at the same time with another Award nor for part-time studies.

✓ Change of course or Institution is not allowed while enjoying the award. FIELD OF STUDY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE AWARD ARE AS FOLLOWS:

A. Science and Technology B. Medicine and Para-medicals C. Education D. Agriculture E. Liberal Arts/Social/Management Sciences F. Entrepreneural Studies,

G. ICT

H. Environmental Sciences

I. Law

How to Apply for the Scholarship:

Visit the Link: https://jobreaders.org/nigerian-award-scholarship/
Places to see in Lagos, Nigeria
By: Mez Borrow
Tags: Lagos, Nigeria, Lagos State, Travel, Attraction

Freedom Park Lagos

This park is such a fun and reserved place. You won’t find it much crowded, which makes it a fun place to chill or party with friends or family. There are many restaurants nearby because it’s an important part of Lagos. There are 10s of nearby attractions to see in Lagos that can be easily located from the Freedom Park.

Nike Centre For Art And Culture

It is undoubtedly a must-visit place in the entire Lagos city and something that you should not skip if you’re visiting the city for any reason. You can find more than 7,000 different types of African artworks and can also relax at the indoor coffee shop.

Elegushi Beach

I would recommend visiting this beach especially if you’re visiting the Lufasi nature park in the summer heat. There’s a small fee for the entrance; however, it is worth paying since it is a private sort of beach, but you would love the ambiance. It’s a fun place to relax and party.

Tarkwa Bay Beach

This is the second beach in the city and similar to Elegushi beach, it also has a small entrance fee but sure is a fun place for kids and family. The beach is neat and very well maintained despite having a decent amount of crowd all the time.

Lekki Conservation Centre

This conservation center is probably the most popular attraction in Lagos city. You can find a diversity of wild animals from monkeys to snakes and more. The place is quite popular for the kids. It is close to the Nike center of arts and there’s also a nearby market to shop for some souvenirs.

Synagogue Church Of all Nations

It’s a major religious place in Lagos city, so if you’re not into religious places or worshipping, better skip visiting this. Although, you would love the architecture of the building.

Black Heritage Museum

If you’re spending more than a day or two in the city, you would love to visit this place. The place represents the authentic black history, though, the visit can be heartwarming due to it’s direct relation to slavery. The place effectively represents why Lagos was known as the slave export capital of West Africa, and the cruelty of the slavery system.

National Art Theatre

The theatre is the center of Nigerian performing arts, and the building itself is more than 45 years old and one of the most important attractions in Nigeria. The theatre shows the early development of the country very well and considered to be an iconic place in Lagos city. It’s quite a good place to spend some fun time or energize yourself while integrating yourself with the local culture. There are many nearby attractions to see as well and places to eat which makes it easy to access and worth spending both time and money.
It’s end of 2020. If you don’t own a virtual reality headset yet, here’s may be why..
By: Reawake Reality
Tags: Oculus Quest, Virtual Reality, Nigeria, Oculus

THINKING IT’S A TOY OR A VIDEO GAME.

The aircraft was also called a toy at one point. FACEBOOK was also called a video game at one point. The new VR headsets are not toys nor video games, even though they can provide such entertainment similar to the functionalities of computers or phones. Here’s what VR is today…..

2. A PREVIOUS UNEXCITING EXPERIENCE WITH A 3D GLASS OR VR BOX AND YOU THINK NEW VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS ARE THE SAME

Virtual reality today is as real as it promises. Experience real heights, depths, under water, outer space… sweating, swinging, laughing, screaming, talking with new people in real time by the fire side, in the cinema, at the lounge, in the living room, in live events …. connect with like minded people etc

3. THE WEIGHT OF THE OLDER VR HEADSET ON YOUR NECK AND WIRES ALL AROUND YOUR FEET..

Good news is the Oculus quests weigh only 0.5kg, are wireless, have very long battery life and have 6 degrees of freedom — i.e you can move and rotate in ALL directions.

4. YOU THINK A NEW HIGH SPECS COMPUTER IS REQUIRED AND IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO SET IT ALL UP

Nope. A computer is not required. The oculus quests are all in one VR headsets! There are other VR headsets too.

5. YOU DON’T LIKE THE TECHNICALITIES INVOLVED IN SETTING IT UP.

Strap it on and go! The new headsets are very interactive just like setting up a new phone. You are not connecting any wires.

READY FOR A NEW EXPERIENCE? Reach out to us at Re-awake Reality and we can deliver an Oculus Quest virtual reality headset on your request. Email: reawake.reality@gmail.com, Phone: +234 904 6467 585, Facebook:@reawakeReality
A VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSET IS NOT JUST A TOY OR A VIDEO GAME
By: Reawake Reality
Tags: Oculus Quest, Virtual Reality, Nigeria, Oculus

Rebecca met her fiancé, Fred, in BigScreen VR evening hangouts. Remi enjoys hours of dancing, singing and swinging in Beat Saber until she's dripping sweat and trying to catch her breath. Tolu loves to work in totally serene and beautiful ambience in VR; she loves the get away and has lured her team into collaborating in her virtual space. Meanwhile Amaka keeps a strict schedule were she works out with other users online in FIT VR thrice a week!

Just as a Laptop PC is not a toy or a video game, today’s virtual reality headsets are more than toys or games. Here’s what today’s VR headset are…

Calories burner (without being conscious).

If you had set up routines or programs in the past e.g to loose weight….and for some reason they didn’t work, welcome to being tricked into weight loss.

Interesting activities with other people such as music and dance, simple sports or social fitness programs will trick you into working out. Rather than having to push yourself, the fact that your activity is interesting and new friends are waiting for you to turn up on those scheduled days will push you.

Platforms for meeting new people and getting together

Meet people from all over the world. Discuss (in real time and real voices) with people on various subjects without revealing your identity initially… and when you’ve met people who you’d like to connect with on the long term, you can always exchange contact and then connect in real life. Meet people via evening hangout discussions, sports, cinemas, live events.

Focus and serenity.

Some days you just want to get out of the house into a new and serene space. Put on the head set and off you go. You’re in a new world, with multiple screens in front of you either working or just surfing the net in a totally different and beautiful ambience. You can also collaborate with my team mates in this space.

Entertainment.

During the 2020 lockdown, the Cinema was a no-go!. The VR headset took us to different cinemas watching different movies with other people from around the world. You could also watch live events. The same applies to gaming. You can play a host of games either alone or with other people. You can also play with a few selected friends. How about the sensation of flying or underwater travel simply offering a great get away while in your room.

Education.

By far VR today offers a very practical learning platform. Learning about various subjects… history, space travel …. or simply doing simulations. Learning is indeed practical as if you were physically in that learning environment.

READY FOR A NEW EXPERIENCE? Reach out to us at Re-awake Reality and we can deliver an Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headset on your request. (Yes, the globally out of stock oculus quest 2). If you are in Naija for the holidays and are interested, we have a few units left. Reach out while stock lasts. Email: reawake.reality@gmail.com, Phone: +234 904 6467 585, Facebook:@reawakeReality
Club Football: Coach Ogbonda Accuses Confluence Queens' Management Of Interference.
By: Oludolapo Adewale
Tags: Confluencequeens, Nwflpremiership, Femalefootball, Nigeria, Football

By

Oludolapo Adewale

The NWFL season just kicked off but the coach of one of the contenders this season, Confluence Queens has accused the management of his club of undue interference.

Speaking with journalists, Coach Whyte Ogbonda revealed that the activities of the Confluence Queens' management is impeding his work as the coach of the female team.

When asked if he wasn't afraid of getting sacked, Ogbonda claimed that he could get a new job within minutes and urged the management to allow him to the work he was employed for.

"I've always said it, the management should stop interfering in my job. If they don't want me to do this job, let them come and take over the job or better still they should ask me to go" The coach lamented.

Confluence Queens played out a draw in their opening game on Wednesday against last year's winners of the NWFL premiership, Rivers Angels.
Alternative Housing: Building on water
By: Harmony Nwibani
Tags: Environmentalism, Innovation, Nigeria, Housing, Environment

A proposed City

Water is one of the most powerful elements in the world. As the popular Nigerian Music legend Fela Kuti would sing “water e no get enemy” but is it true? The earth is covered by over 71% water. It is over 71% now because of climate change that has been very noticeable in the past two decades, glaciers are melting and water is now reclaiming lands that were once filled with soil. Nigeria is bounded by the south with the Atlantic Ocean were most of it Rivers flow into. One of the states in Nigeria that has its city sprawling into the coastline is Lagos and with an elevation of 41m above sea level the city is prone to flooding.

With a population of 16 million (2012 estimate by Lagos State Government) and ranking as the most populous city in Nigeria and Africa. It is seen as the Commercial capital of the Nation. Due to it fast growing nature as a city full of opportunities, housing has become a major problem for the inhabitants of the city also due to the high population dry land has become sparse for building of residential and commercial areas. Also due to lack of housing to cater to its ever growing population. the inhabitants and developers have moved to the places that are 2m — 10m below sea level and they have been welcomed to ever increasing tide of the Atlantic Ocean due to global warming, blockage of canals by debris and other factors.

The prospects of building houses on water and houses close to water has become a big conversation in the architectural, engineering and environmental space in this 21st Century as a means to combat lack of housing and climate change. Several countries have built cities on water and have been living in a symbiotic relationship with the ecosystem.

People have been living on water for as long as some centuries long, let us take for example the people of Makoko in Lagos (an area that consists of people living in shanties on water) which is closer to home. But taking a look at the environment and structures, it is noted that they pose a threat to the environment due to not having sustainable processes in place.

So I come to this place, were this question pops up; Housing on water is it long term or short term? Does it have a future as this article supposes?
The romance of Nigeria and Plastic: An Environmental Concern
By: Harmony Nwibani
Tags: Inflation, Economic Development, Nigeria, Plastic Pollution, Environment

Refuse Dump

There is this toxic relationship going on between Nigeria and plastic but both of them cannot see it, well they say “love is blind”. I cannot really place their relationship as a symbiotic one.

The plastic industry in Nigeria is booming, virtually all household products/items have plastic or are contained in plastic, take for example our ever present friend in most parties.

Our dear friend, Mr. Red

The result of their love is very eminent physically and financially, does it bring money? You might want to ask, yes, is it physically abusive? Yes.

Plastics are non-biodegradable products (cannot decompose), they continue to build up in our environment causing a lot of harm to our health and our environment (plants and animals). Imagine swimming in a river filled with plastics (urggh), that’s how marine organisms feel, trapped.

Plastic waste constitutes 8% of total waste generated each year in Nigeria, though I have my reservations about this number but na wetin dem give us we go take. So just have a mental picture of the amount of plastic waste that is introduced into our environment (don’t get angry like me here (link podcast ranting).

Recycling of plastics in Nigeria is rarely done, the numbers have shown that only 12% are recycled while the about 80% are tossed into landfills and dumpsites aka Burrow pits.

Their marriage vows will soon be renewed according to the federal minister for environment in Nigeria Muhammad Mahmood, he said “in the past, the standard procedure was to produce, use and dispose of it. We cannot continue to do that, knowing plastics are very suitable for recycling to produce blocks, new plastics or pallets for lock production”. I am not comparing their love, the way our Parents do to us but I would have preferred Rwanda’s Approach to their relationship with plastic. A decade and two years ago Rwanda placed a ban on Plastic importation making them one of the 40 countries in the world that have done so and this has paid out by UN Habitat declaring their Capital Kigali as one of the cleanest cities in Africa.

*Puts on relationship counsellor’s cap*

In an economy as delicate as Nigeria, it will be hard to fully regulate the use of plastics because of the inflation and recession as she is now fully in a sachet economy.

I am of the opinion that businesses should move from plastic bags to paper bags and canvas bags.

Taxes on plastic bags should be increased to discourage the use of single use plastics, recycling should be taken serious through segregation of waste before disposing and taxes on recycling companies should be reduced as an incentive to bring more players into the industry. We should embrace incineration (though not 100% advisable due to gases produced) for proper disposal of plastics.

As inhabitants of this nation, I implore we should not be awon womb watchers in this their relationship but be midwives that will birth a positive relationship that will lead to a cleaner nation.
Never Go for Rice When There Is Swallow
By: Olarewaju Blessing
Tags: Nigeria, Nigerian Food, Ofe Oha, Enugu, Nigerian Jollof

So today was harvest Sunday. After offering appreciation to God we all moved to the church hall for the love feast.

I was the first person to enter the hall.

You know I cannot come and be dulling in such kind of dealings.

When I entered the venue, I began to make mental calculations for a strategic location to sit.

Okafor law states that “where and whom you sit with inside party determine the kind of food you will collect.”

At that moment, my inner man told me to sit at the back of the hall.

“Haba, food no fit reach dis side na” I complained.

But anyways, I gat to follow the leading of the spirit so long bad energies don’t come around me.

Two seconds, the hall don full brekete.

The men and women took the VIP table as they got served Jollof rice with a salad to wash down with chilled malt.

“Nothing spoil, one day self me go sit down for VIP.”

My people, forty minutes later, food never even smell of reaching my side except for soft drinks. Na manage we get table water self.

“Na like dis we go dey dey?” I thought as water gather for my eye.

A few minutes later, a woman came to address us to be patient.

“Hmm. Patient for the bottom rice wey I don dey perceive so?” I asked myself.

On to normal level, if dem say make you patient for party, no patient oh. That’s the best time to start making moves oh.

That’s it. I was about taking my leave when I spotted two hefty men carrying coolers into the hall.

“Nna mehn, make I relax small, maybe the patient dog go fit eat something today.”

By this time, dey were no longer sharing fried rice and salad. It was something that actually look like those Chinese rice and sauce that people post on Instagram.

“Wahala be like bicycle for who dem give this one oh. How you want take belleful?”

The girl seated beside me was almost shedding tears. Women like food die.

Not long enough, I began to hear whisper of soup dey, do you want soup?

“Oboy, he fit be say dem arrange soup just like last year. We gat compose.”

Indeed, the God that watched over Israel does not sleep nor slumber.

Na so I see one pretty usher carrying tray searching for who want soup.

Like Otedola, I signaled to her that I’m interested. Please come closer.

I no look wetin I carry but I just carry my bottle water and chair outside since I don’t do swallow indoors.

As I sit down outside look wetin I carry, my head almost burst.

The legendary Oha soup with pounded yam.

Omo I count six correct meats inside the soup oh. Those wey collect rice na only two meat dem see oh.

“Six meat only for me?” E shock me.

Siri play me “You’re a Covenant Keeping God” by Victoria Arinze.

I had wanted to eat two piece of meat and carry the other four home.

But, let it be on record that I ate six pieces of meat on the goal in 2020.

We Move.

Be yourself, no dey form con lose opportunities in life.
Breeze — Money Without Borders!
Tags: Nigeria, Startup, Fintech, Crytpocurrencies, Cross Border Payments

Hello Breeze! 👋🏽

We set out to build a product that solves the problem of slow payments, high transaction fees and unfavourable exchange rates.

Breeze is a peer-to-peer payments network that connects Africa to the world.

Send and receive money in any currency to and from your Breeze wallet, Nigerian, American, British and Canadian bank accounts instantly at the best exchange rate.

A borderless wallet.

Save and earn in multiple currencies. 📈

Hedge against currency devaluation and rising inflation by saving and earn up to 10% interest on your naira, US dollars, pounds and euros, paid out daily.

Use your physical and virtual cards without restrictions. 💳

Paying for things that matter like your school fees, medical bills, that shipment you want to import, or anything you want to spend your money on is almost impossible — $100 monthly limit…imagine that.

Spend your money without restrictions.

Security 🔐

We use bank-level security to encrypt and protect your data following DES and PCI DSS.
If They Ask You
Tags: Money, Nigeria, Security, Banking, Finance

If They Ask You

It’s okay to lock up about some things.

We’ll say this plainly, it’s the time of the year when scams go viral and people get swindled.

But that’s not going to be you because you’re careful and you pay attention.

We previously sent you some red flags and pointers to look out for, but criminals are clever and you must stay several steps ahead of them.

This is a reminder.

If anyone asks you for any or all of these details, they’re up to something:

1. Your Kuda login details.

That’s your password and your login PIN. These two, like everything else we’re about to mention here, are for you to know and for everyone else to be clueless about.

2. Your card PIN and CVV.

Your CVV is the three-digit code on the back of your card. This and the PIN you use to authorise your card transactions at ATMs, on POS terminals and online are not for sharing. Keep the bad guys guessing… forever.

And if your PIN is 1234, 0000, 1111 or any other repetition of a single number, please change it to something more random now.

3. Your Pay ID.

Your Pay ID is a number you generate on your Kuda app to pay on websites that have a ‘Pay With Bank’ option. It allows you to pay online from your Kuda account without using a Kuda Card.

Your Pay ID gives a website permission to debit your account of the amount you want to pay.

No one other than you should ever have your Pay ID, for any reason whatsoever. Don’t risk it.

Please, remember that none of us at Kuda will ever ask you for any of the details we just mentioned.

If they ask you, they’re not our staff, agent or representative. They are your enemy and a potential scammer. Don’t respond.

Other Important Things To Remember

There is only one Kuda Microfinance Bank and these are our official accounts: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

You can reach us through any of those accounts but we prefer that you text us on the app or send a message to help@kudabank.com. These are much safer than social media.

Not your Kuda, not your friend.

Also, never post your bank account number, the email address linked to your bank account or other personal information publicly on the internet. Please.

It’s been a ridiculously stressful year, let’s do our best to end it safely.

Take care. 💜
Dear Zindagi |Movie Review
By: Iqra Malik
Tags: Movies, Depression, Self Worth, Therapy, Review

self-discovery in Dear Zindagi-Movie

In almost every culture religion, nationality, and region people have self-discovery issues. They all go from self-identity crisis, they all make efforts for inner peace.

They all first motivate their selves after something else, and they just know their worth and after that, they discover their selves.

In Gauri Shinde’s “Dear Zindagi” the character “Kaira”, who is a cinematographer, faces problems in her relationships with her parents, with guys. She never allowed anyone for the marriage, she left Raghu, Sid, and Rumi because she had a fear that they will leave her.

This fear to feel safe you have to be fearless, fear of losing someone (Thantophobia), and fear of one can leave us. She rejected many guys and goes through mental trauma and insomnia.

Photo by Myke Simon on Unsplash

After that, she meets a therapist Jug(Dr: Jahangir)who taught her how to live with a free mind. When new patterns or new hobbies seem to become in life then think about it consciously Genius is about knowing when to stop. Just make yourself free and think about what things you have to do to make your relationships stronger, how to overcome your fears.

He said” If we don’t hold our life’s steering than someone else will sit on driving seat “So we are the driver of our life he depends on us where we turn our vehicle, towards negativity (depression, stress anxiety, trauma, confusion)or to positivity (happiness, inner peace satisfaction).

This depends on us, how we can discover ourselves. And one thing to feel happy and satisfying you have to live in the present, don’t blame yourself for any failure because it is one step closer to success.

Hellen Keller said: Don’t think of today's failure but of the success that may come tomorrow.

You have to make your inner strength to bear all the failure because you are getting experience of success, that which things are a hurdle in success, so you can remove it. Jug said: Don’t let your past to blackmail your present, to ruin a beautiful future.

Just know your worth and do yourself what you want to do, just blow a flame of self-discovery in your heart and discover yourself what things that are ruining your inner peace just kick than out” We all are our teachers in the school of life.

Hurdles and Obstacles are part of success, or we can say we have to go through all the suffering because we can’t get even a single bread without moving from our place, so it is a basic thing, hardships will come, and we have to face all these intensely.

Photo by Mason Kimbarovsky on Unsplash

In Dear Zindagi we have seen our protagonist Kaira has motivated herself when she was suffering from her breakup and after she motivated herself to talk to her parents about her childhood miseries which let her discover herself and the relationship was sorted out between them.

Ending

In the closure, we know that people may suffer from an identity crisis but what is the major thing to consider is to know yourself as Kaira discovered herself.
4 Things I Discovered in Therapy, Thanks to Animal Crossing
By: Erika Becerra
Tags: Therapy, Self-awareness, Self, Animal Crossing, Gaming

3) Leaving my social relationships last

I was able to spend time with friends on their own islands. Got together in voice chat and had an amazing time with island and home tours. Happiness was all I experienced. But what I noticed is that I was focusing the conversation on how to get ahead on the game.

There was this friend that had every single picture of their villagers, she sent me a friendship guide and felt a bit of a challenge, not from her, but to have an accumulation of the pictures of every villager. My point of a relationship with a villager came more to meet a need of collecting something than actual friendship.

Yes, they aren’t real, but it still got me thinking of my defensiveness towards the NPCs and how I interpreted social reactions wrongly in the game. What if I also reacted similarly towards my friends IRL?

Self-awareness time

4) Unable to settle into an action decision

Feelings of not having enough things, to do what I would decide in the future for my island was an on-going thought.

One friend gave away so much money I paid out all my home renovations and made house rearrangements.

Terraforming was available and everything I saw on Pinterest was so beautiful, but I didn’t want to copy stuff.

I accumulated all my things in one place, never placing them. The island was a mess of stuff dropped all over the place.

I couldn’t finish the road. I couldn’t finish a designed part of the island.
A letter from your therapist
Tags: Holidays, Depression, Christmasblues, Therapy, Mental Health

We had prepared each other for the holidays. We shared our plans to protect our energy. Some of us finding a way to sleep for the holidays, others to pretend everything is okay for the kids. We challenged each-other to try new things, like breathing (seemed to be the most popular one). We lit candles, nature walks, guided meditations, prayer, and some of us invited the energy of those who we deeply love but their bodies have left this earth. Some of these things seemed so mechanical and empty yet we tried them anyways…more than once.

There was a shared feeling that the holidays would come as a sharp knife faster than we are able to find ways to protect ourselves from the intolerable loneliness, anger, fear and worry that may come with the holidays.

The young minds with such vulnerable souls, being dragged to religious ceremonies that have shamed them over and over for their choice of clothing, expression of their sexuality, or the pronouns they choose.

The father who has been laid off due to debilitating anxiety attacks and is unable fulfill the role set by a highly consumerist society.

The mother that brings home a cheap box of Christmas cookies because she is financially and emotionally drowning with a medical bill.

The nurse, who has covered her house with holiday lights and jolly carols to hide his exhaustion and pain.

I am not just thinking of you. I am carrying you in body. I am exhausted, heavy hearted, and keep catching myself trying to make this feeling go away.

This is when I remember the greatest gift that I received in 2020:

Your courage to share your story with me.

This year I had the honor of holding space for your pain, your body aches, your hopelessness and your anger.

I hope the moments we shared in zoom, social media and text, phone call, etc. are sustaining you the way they are sustaining me. I hope you find that soft compassionate voice, tenderly and lovely guiding you to nurture all the parts of you that are hurting. I hope that voice guides you to draw, write, move, breath, cry, scream. And when you spend a little longer with that voice, may you realize that voice is you.

May you honor all the parts of you.

The part of you that so desperately needs community.

The part of you that has been hurt so many times that wants nothing but to be alone.

The part of you that wants to give up.

And the part of you that wont let you just be.

The part of you that wants to heal.

The part of you that hopes others may see how broken you are.

May each part of you teach you how to suffer.

As Tick Nhat Hanh reminds us, ‘When you learn how to suffer, you suffer much less’ -Thick Nhat Nanh.

Thank you for teaching me how you suffer by sharing how you tend for your pain.

May these holidays remind you that it is you who tends the garden. It is you who waters the plants, you who takes you on a walk to salute the sun. It is you who makes you a cup of tea, and rocks you to sleep.

May these holidays be a chance to love yourself until full,

Nabi De Angulo
The 12 Days of Christmas Therapy Binge Eating
By: Susan Sassi
Tags: Therapy, Christmas, Christmas Music, Christmas Carols, Lifestyle

Humor

The 12 Days of Christmas Therapy Binge Eating

Eat along, sing along.

Photo by Sheri Hooley on Unsplash

On the first day of Christmas, my therapeutic gift to me:

A sheet cake in the shape of a tree.

On the second day of Christmas, my therapeutic gift to me:

2 deep-fried doves and a sheet cake in the shape of a tree.

On the third day of Christmas, my therapeutic gift to me:

3 french hams 2 deep-fried doves and a sheet cake in the shape of a tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my therapeutic gift to me:

4 cheesy curls 3 french hams 2 deep-fried doves and a sheet cake in the shape of a tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my therapeutic gift to me:

5 onion rings! 4 cheesy curls 3 french hams 2 deep-fried doves and a sheet cake in the shape of a tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas, my therapeutic gift to me:

6 fish filleting 5 onion rings! 4 cheesy curls 3 french hams 2 deep-fried doves and a sheet cake in the shape of a tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas, my therapeutic gift to me:

7 buns a baking 6 fish filleting 5 onion rings! 4 cheesy curls 3 french hams 2 deep-fried doves and a sheet cake in the shape of a tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my therapeutic gift to me:

8 spuds a frying 7 buns a baking 6 fish filleting 5 onion rings! 4 cheesy curls 3 french hams 2 deep-fried doves and a sheet cake in the shape of a tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my therapeutic gift to me:

9 eggnogs for chugging 8 spuds a frying 7 buns a baking 6 fish filleting 5 onion rings! 4 cheesy curls 3 french hams 2 deep-fried doves and a sheet cake in the shape of a tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my therapeutic gift to me:

10 stews a steaming, 9 eggnogs for chugging 8 spuds a frying 7 buns a baking 6 fish filleting 5 onion rings! 4 cheesy curls 3 french hams 2 deep-fried doves and a sheet cake in the shape of a tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my therapeutic gift to me:

11 pies a piping 10 stews a steaming 9 eggnogs for chugging 8 spuds a frying 7 buns a baking 6 fish filleting 5 onion rings! 4 cheesy curls 3 french hams 2 deep-fried doves and a sheet cake in the shape of a tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my therapeutic gift to me:
Two blank canvases hang on my wall.
By: Kevin Costa
Tags: Ramblings, Things, Memories, Therapy, Hemolo

Two blank canvases hang on my wall. Like most of the stuff in my room, I don’t pay them much mind. They’re just things after all. Stuff. But every now and then they remind me of the paint night that we never had.

For my birthday you threw together a bag of stuff. Some face masks, a blender, some raisins and fruit snacks. You took some bright green tissue paper, taped on a bow and stuffed it in a bag. The tissue paper found a home on my dresser. I was going to use it to wrap some gifts or stuff some bags this Christmas, but I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. On my dresser it lives on.

A bottle sits on my dresser. You gave it to me the last day I saw you. It was right after you got back form your trip and I was about to go away on mine. There it sits. A reminder. I miss those days. If only I knew that day would be the last time I saw you before things changed. I could go on with these toxic thoughts. I keep telling myself to stop. My head tells my heart to stop cannibalizing itself. My heart doesn’t listen. There’s a civil war going on in my body. The only casualty is myself.

There’s a blue and purple bracelet on my windowsill. I remember the night you gave it to me. I should put it away. But for some strange reason I feel like you’d know if I did. It’d be a signal that I’ve moved on. Which I totally haven’t. I don’t want to yet. I want to stop hurting but that’s not the way to do it. I don’t know much about that bracelet. You made it I think. Along with a bunch of others. This cute lamb named Lawrence I think that’s your mascot. We never really unpacked that hobby or project of yours. It’s still a mystery to me.

I don’t turn on my purple lights anymore. They’re just lights, it’s stupid. But I don’t.

This wooden board of France hangs on my wall. I found it on the street when I was walking with you. You remember. We both remember that night — it’s when we started to diverge. When the idea of being with you began to take root and you (mis)understood that wouldn’t want to be with you.

Next to the bracelet, my pumpkin’s still there. I don’t know if you still have yours. I gave one to you and my 2 best friends. They still have them. The pumpkin lasted longer than we did.

Countless things in my room, countless memories that I made with you. They’re just stuff. The things themselves don’t have any meaning.

👀

Also I’m crying
Saying Goodbye
By: Nika Paradis
Tags: 2020, Letters, Life, Therapy, Self

It helps to write down how we feel and to share our feelings with others. It’s therapeutic for us and helpful to others.

Sharing our thoughts and feelings makes everyone see things from others’ various perspectives and it helps people realize they’re not alone in battling and overcoming the challenges life throws at them.

As the year is coming to an end, I’m reflecting on what I’ve been through in 2020 and on what this year has taught me.

So… I’m writing a letter to 2020.

A few months ago, I contributed to an anthology about gratitude, and, in addition to getting published, my participation opened my eyes and taught me so much. I benefited a great deal from it.

I just learned an anthology of “letters to 2020” is being created. I’ve decided to submit a piece.

If you would like to contribute to this anthology and share your letters to 2020, please submit your letters by January 10th to Chris Palmore:

https://www.gratitudespace.com/lettersto2020/

Thanks for reading.
I Have To Become My Own Parent
By: Chitara Smith
Tags: Healing, Healing From Trauma, Therapy, Parenting, Love

I Have To Become My Own Parent

Photo by Couleur from Pexels

Many people go to therapy to heal from childhood trauma. I am one of those people. A tumultuous upbringing has left deep wounds that I have to address now as an adult. The relationship between mother and child is sacred, which makes the pain they inflict twice as sharp.

Reparenting is the act of giving yourself what you didn’t receive as a child. — The Holistic Psychologist.

My childhood was unique in the fact that I had one present parent, my mother, and another who was trying desperately to be in my life but was forcefully kept away. Her emotional volatility leads to instability. The most important thing a child needs is stability. The constant fluctuations in her mood made me walk on eggshells. The roller coaster ride of her finances had us going from steaks to ramen and back constantly. It was a lot to be in the middle of. It was difficult to wake up wondering which mom you would get that day. The loving, caring, driven mom or the angry, vicious, irresponsible mom.

When I moved out at 17 I realized I had to do two important things; start therapy and give myself everything I didn’t have as a kid. I knew I had a very hurt child still inside of me. I was still a hurt child at the time, given that I was 17 but I knew I needed healing. That's where the hard part began.

Reparenting yourself is difficult. It required me to learn how to be a mother and learn how to console a hurting child all at once. The only person who can make things better is me so I have to do this but how? How can I be hurt and heal at the same time? Now I have to unlearn negative beliefs and teach myself new habits.

I have to be a mother to myself to heal the incredibly hurt child within. To admit what happens hurt me exposes raw fleshy parts of myself. My womb is barren. Empty. Filled with nothing but potential. I never wanted children now I realized that might be because I had to be my own parent all along. There is this weird paradox of being a mother and child. The range of self is great.

The power within ourselves is great. I don’t have to hurt forever because the power to heal is within me. It’s within each one of us. That’s what drives me forward.
Resources for when the holidays feel hard. — Evergreen Counseling
By: Evergreen Counseling
Tags: Holidays, Depression, Anxiety, Therapy, Adulting

​As we slide into the last month of 2020, how are you feeling?

How does it feel to be in the thick of the holiday season amidst this ongoing global pandemic?

If you feel fine and good, that’s wonderful.

But, for many of us, we may still feel tired, stressed, and overwhelmed.

We’ve been in some version of quarantine for nearly nine months now, COVID cases continue to skyrocket in this cold and flu season, we’re spending the holidays in ways that might look quite different than years past, and daylight hours shortening and the cold quickening.

With all of this at play, it’s normal and natural to feel stressed. To feel overwhelmed. To feel tired, anxious, or sad. However you feel these days, please, let that be okay.

And if you feel challenged in any way, the resources listed below — chock full of tools, tips, and advice to navigate a panoply of holiday-induced stressors — are designed to meet you where you’re at, and provide just a little more support.

1. Quick Tips: Coping With A Variety of Holiday Stressors

The holidays are nearly upon us and, if you’re like most people, you may feel stressed out by them for a variety of reasons. In this post, we want to share some quick tips to combat holiday-related anxiety, particularly if your anxiety revolves around family, travel, financial strain, or time strain.

2. 5 Practical But Effective Tips For Managing Social Anxiety

Social anxiety is something many of us deal with. Here we share 5 practical but effective tips to help you manage any social anxiety you may experience, particularly around social events as we head into the holiday season.

3. Why a Therapist May Be Helpful When You Want to Stop Yo-Yo Dieting

When trying to begin Intuitive Eating, there may be deeper emotional needs that need to be addressed. In this post, Charis Stiles, LCSW discusses different ways to know if therapy could support you in this journey.

4. How to Not Diet This Holiday Season

The holiday season can be a source of stress when it comes to our body image. If you feel compelled to diet, if you’re struggling with your body image, this post is for you.

5. 7 Important Things To Remember If The Holidays Are Rough For You

If you’re currently experiencing a subtle but steady sense of dread here in the midst of the holiday season, here are 7 important points that may help steady you through this time.

If you or someone you love needs more tailored and rigorous mental health care support, as always, our team at Evergreen Counseling is here to support you, seven days a week.

Just reach out. We’re always here for you.

Medical Disclaimer
Who are you and what have you done with my friend?
By: Kevin Costa
Tags: Ramblings, Therapy, Hemolo, Poem, Writing

Who are you and what have you done with my friend?

Suddenly the man who talking,

Doesn’t sound like the friend I’ve come to know and love.

Who are you?

What have you done with my old friend?

Is this the new you, here to stay?

The friend I know, never would be saying these things.

I’ve never seen you quite like this.

Just a short time ago you wouldn’t be talking like this.

I’ve never seen you like this…

Vulnerable, romantic, and with your heart wide open.

If this new man is here to stay,

I could get used to him.

This new you, might be a better man.

Who are you, and what have you done with my friend?
Take a minute to take in some good
Tags: Mobile App Development, Emotional Wellbeing, Therapy, Mental Health, Happiness

by Josh Metz, LCSW

Did you know that we humans are designed to remember negative experiences that we have better, faster and stronger than positive experiences? It’s one of our hardwired survival skills, since it’s much more important to remember exactly where you saw that snake skin along the wooded path than the bright red cardinal perched in the tree.

But remembering only the negative can create an imbalance in our autobiographical memory (that’s the type of memory that tells the story of where we’ve been and what we’ve experienced). Too many bad memories and not enough good memories can lead to stress, depression and even catastrophizing (“Nothing goes right for me because I can only recall the bad things”).

We can find balance by taking the time to install positive experiences into our autobiographical memory.

In his book, Hardwiring Happiness, Dr. Rick Hanson came up with a simple method to help us remember more of the good things that happen in our life. It’s Called H — E — A — L (or HEAL), it only takes about a minute, and this is how it works:

HEAL from Hardwiring Happiness by Dr. Rick Hanson

Step 1: HAVE a positive or beneficial experience, either in the moment or by recalling something good that happened to you recently.

Step 2: ENRICH the experience by noting where you were, who you were with, and what was going on. Tap your senses to note what you saw, heard, felt, smelled or even tasted.

Step 3: ABSORB the experience by allowing everything in Step 2 to wash over you and really sink in.

Step 4: LINK this new strong memory to other memories, good or bad, and let yourself know that this is now a good memory that you can recall as easily as a bad memory.

So, the next time something good is happening in your life or you’re in need of a little balance, take a minute to take in some good.

Joshua Metz is a licensed clinical social worker and one of the lead architects of the app, Emotionary.