Be Thankful.
I wanted to share something really quickly.
Something happened to me a few days ago that had me pretty distraught. What happened was unavoidable, so I immediately found myself a little angry, frustrated, confused, and, of course, asking God what I had done to deserve this happening to me. Soon after, I talked to my mother and told her about how frustrated I was, and her advice was that I had to talk to God, let him know how I felt and ask Him for help. So, I took mother’s wise words and took the time to ask God for help.
Exactly a day later things were much better, so much so that I forgot how devastating they were before, when I was complaining. A couple of hours ago, it occurred to me how easy it is to be devastated and/or frustrated and blame God without actually taking the time out to ask him for what you need. But more importantly, after things were better, I was able to think with a clearer head and come to the realisation that compared to the previous times something this devastating had happened to me, it was much better now. Still devastating nonetheless, but a lot better in comparison to the previous times. Obviously, being human, I didn’t immediately take the time to thank God for making it better since then, instead I thought about myself and why I was the person this had to happen to. God had taken the time to address my issue, He had made it a lot better and He continued to. But even in my ungratefulness, He still went a step further and made it that much better the next day.
Needless to say, I felt like a fool when I had forgotten about the issue and it was brought up later. I just thought to my self, “Really? Really though? Was that really something to be that melodramatic about?” I did take the time out to thank God, extensively, for helping me out…and of course letting Him know that I was very aware I was foolish. Which, I’m pretty sure He knew, but sometimes it’s just nice to let someone know anyway.
Essentially, all I’m saying is, sometimes it’s hard to realise how much you’re being helped in a situation you think you can’t be helped in. Then quickly forget how much you have been helped when the help does come and the situation is no longer. So even in your most difficult of times, when you’ve been helped, by God, a friend, siblings, parents, strangers, whoever, be thankful. Maybe not immediately, but if you are thankful, at some point, take the time out to tell them or show them.
Just My Thoughts,
Miss Thompson.
Used Soap for Africa.
It was a sunny day this past Sunday, which is worth mentioning when one lives in Raincouver (vancouver). I was in a good mood, mad that I was awake in the morning, but in a good mood nonetheless… until I got to church.
There’s a group on campus that does a whole bunch of admirable, helpful things for the unfortunate and what not. The head of the group was in church talking about their latest endeavour during Reading Week (Spring Break to most of the rest of the world) and I was all smiles till he started to talk about how he led a group of people and took used soap bars from hotels and cleaned them up and repackaged them. *cue my raised eyebrows and curiosity about why anybody would do that*…..to send them to Africa. AH! I was already perplexed as to why anybody would be repackaging used soap bars, but they decided to send the used soap to Africa BECAUSE?
I was angry. I spent much of the rest of the service praying and asking God to help me stop being so angry. But I think I was justified in my anger for two reasons:
1. Who in the world decides to clean up used soap and give it to someone else to use?
2. This activity was being done in East Hastings, which is usually referred to as the side of town that has a lot of homeless people, needy people, drug addicts among many others. So why wasn’t the used soap being given to them if it needed to be given to anyone at all?
I like to think I’m a pretty logical person so I did think about their perspective. They’re providing sanitary care to people who might need it or they’re doing something good for unfortunate people. But that just goes back to my question of why that soap wasn’t given to people who lived in East Hastings? I mean, Africa is pretty darn far away from Vancouver. Why does everybody feel the need to “help” Africa? (And it’s always “Africa” because, you know, it’s a country….Which it isn’t for those of you who actually think that). I just thought it was pretty demeaning for anyone to decide it would be a smart idea to give anybody else repackaged used soap. Great, someone decided to help some Africans, but why do we always have to be stuck getting the hand-me-downs of the world? Demeaning or insulting people is not the way to help them. And who gives out used soap?!
So I’ve tried, and can’t wrap my head around the idea. If anyone else can, please, feel free to explain…or try to. Used soap sent to Africa. Absolute cow dung.
Just My Thoughts,
Miss Thompson
I’m a fan of the Kony campaign, but I think since we’re making that video go viral, why not make this one too. Watch. Share. We owe it to all the children who can’t fend for themselves.
Raise Hope for Congo.
This is Africa, our Africa.: Biggest and most influential tumblr meet up + KONY 2012 . →
Dear blog readers,
Since last night submissions have been coming in for the Kony 2012 documentary. We have all seen it (http://vimeo.com/37119711). By the time you are reading this, i hope as a people, we have all became aware and updated of the invisible children and their struggle for…
Please take 30 minutes out of your day to watch this. And if so compelled, feel free to help spread and talk about this. Simply sharing it or talking about it can help make a difference. Help support the children who cannot support themselves and are forced into war.
Waa, My Life is Being Threatened!
Gotcha! Just kidding. For those of you who clicked to see how my life would* possibly end, shame on you. H-a-p-p-y shaaame!
Oh! Look who is (kind of, sort of, but not really) back from a very unplanned hiatus!
I have been getting threatening messages, and silly ones too, about blogging. It’s a little flattering, also a little scary, but I’m here to say…
I cannot really “blog” if I have nothing to rant about, people! Lately, there really hasn’t been anything that has urged me to want to rant to no end, which is, if you haven’t already noticed, how many a-post (?) comes about. So, if and when something that is rant worthy comes about, guess what I will be doing! Yep, on here, blogging!
In the main time, if you want to suggest topics, go right ahead. They will be much nicer, and less nerve racking to read than threats of how people plan on making my life a misery…or how they plan on trying. Because it’s really never that serious.
Just My Thoughts,
Miss Thompson.
*Note: Am I the only person who is a little weary of using “would” nowadays (teehee)? Whenever I use it now, I stop and think for about five minutes about whether I’ve used it correctly or not.
I randomly started singing this song and I completely forgot who sang it and what song it was. Then I found it, and I’ve been dancing ever since.
Clubbin’ by Marques Houston
The Ever Popular African Mentality.
A little over a week ago, I read the article You Lazy (Intellectual) Scum and thought it was pretty interesting, thought provoking, all that good stuff. Yesterday, or two days ago, someone had shared yet another similar article on Facebook, Ghana, the Begging Millionaire- Africa, the Begging Trillionaire. I couldn’t help but nod in agreement to the things said in both articles.
(However, I was wondering, aren’t they a little…just a tiny bit…maybe more than a tiny bit, too similar? But that is besides the point.)
Point being, these articles are generating a lot of steam, and rightfully so. I think everything said in both articles is accurate, except for the seemingly factual information in the Ghana one, I can’t vouch for the accuracy of that. See the thing is, there are a bunch of us who are sharing these articles all over the internet, wanting people to read it and be inspired, motivated, moved to do something. Yet, we are the same people who can sit there and look at these situations from the outside and really do nothing but complain about them, because essentially, that’s all we’re doing.
We have to start somewhere, so I suppose, complaining is a good place to start, because at least that way we’re talking about the issue, but doesn’t it run a lot deeper than that? We can all talk, educated as we are, about our governments and their mishaps and not do anything but forget about the issue till yet another article comes up with similar connotations.
It’s easy to look at our political leaders and criticize them for not properly managing our countries, but we put (some of) them into power, they are there because people have gone out and voted them into power. We can’t expect one person to change things completely, the leaders work with ministers, so even if we happen to come across a leader with integrity, he doesn’t run the entire country on his own, so he has to rely on his ministers to do certain things. If the ministers are corrupt, well, then our problems are much bigger than we make them seem. So we can’t just blame the president/leader of the country for all the problems, even though they are supposed to be heading the country. Don’t misunderstand me, I don’t think corruption in any form is right, but if we intend to have the system cleaned up then it needs to be done entirely, wipe the slate clean, that includes all the people who work for and around the president.
We read these articles and can relate to the laziness mentioned in the first one, and the begging in the second one, but we are all a part of this problem. We, the ones who are supposed to be educated and know that we have to work to earn an income and whatever are trying to cut corners just as much as the people in power. The only difference is theirs is done on a grander scale and given more publicity if they are caught. We can’t complain about our system if we’re key players in its dysfunction*. I have never seen or heard of any of the Ghanaians talking about how bad our system or mind-set is on Facebook, myself included, ever do something worthwhile about it. Half of us are driving around without licenses, unregistered cars, and more than willing to bribe policemen for one reason or another. Throwing about our weight and screaming “do you know who I am” or “do you know who I know,” like as useless as we are, our statuses are of any importance. If we’re complaining about these issues, but excluding ourselves from these things happening, then that’s different, but we complain and do the same things we complain about, probably even more than your average Ghanaian. I say Ghanaian because it’s the only country I can talk about, but I’m sure these problems are prominent all over Africa.
Among the many issues we have to deal with, I think the most annoying one is the idea of greener pastures outside of our African countries. I understand that not all the universities in our countries have standards that are up to par with (to?) ones outside of our countries, but why are most of us found going outside the country to get an education and then proceeding to live our lives wherever we find ourselves….and then complaining about the system in our countries? WHO do you expect to change these systems if you are going to live abroad and refuse to come back? The system is never going to change if we don’t soon realize that the greener pastures are greener because there are people making the difference and contributing to their countries, which is more than I can say for half of us who complain so much. It’s obviously much more complicated than that, but someone at some point, or a group of people, have to make the sacrifice of not leaving their countries destitute and staying to give back instead of wishing than can just take, take and take some more.
Succinctly, all I’m trying to say is, we’ll complain, we’re human, but we shouldn’t be allowed to if we don’t plan on doing anything about the things we complain about. As interesting as these articles are, complaining or simply having discussions about them are useless if the talk doesn’t yield any action. That’s what we need to be doing, acting, not talking.
To the people who have made a difference, big or small, I take my hat off to you.
Just My Thoughts,
Miss Thompson.
*Why is dysfunction spelt like that?
Unknown.
Waa. I wrote this a while back because a friend, Angel, asked me to for an open-mic. I was initially going to write something empowering women, but didn’t. I’ve been contemplating putting it up for a while, and decided not to (so…why is it here?). Because someone’s been bugging constantly asking me to post, so I’m taking the easy way out. It’s a…what are they called? A piece. Yes, not a poem. I am not a poet. It doesn’t really have a title, hence Unknown. Enjoy.
Unknown.
The strength they come with, the intellect they embody.
The beautiful pigment of their skin.
The love in their eyes.
The comfort in their arms.
The confidence in their walk,
As well as, yes, the talk.
The broadness of their shoulders.
The curves of their torso.
The masculinity of their character.
The soulfulness of their voices will knock you down every time, i’m lost as to whether it’s the calibre of the words, or the assertiveness with which it comes out. The way in which one word can make you stop; “baby”.
The way they wrap their arms around you and refuse to let go. Comfort you in times of despair, provide, and care. It’s almost endearing how they continually renounce the idea of having emotions. They really can’t be blamed, the world has been hard on them. Do this, cater for this person, stand strong, build a family, support yourself, get back up. For some, there’s the help of a higher being, God; their strength and their fortitude. Regardless of the ups and downs, their capabilities are second to none.
Different in each respect, good for one thing if not another. They don’t always have to pound their chests as hard, we see them, acknowledge their efforts. They may not always be spoken off, but their feats never go unrecognized. There are highs and lows, but they always get back up, their perseverance and determination knows no bounds. They are an inspiration to one, to all.
So here is my message to them:
Keep your head up, let your shoulders loose, you don’t have to carry the world alone, nor do you have to bear alone the burden that you may not be able to. It’s alright to fail the world, you never fail us;
Understandably so, we’re confused, excited, angry, subordinated… and bedazzled, by;
The strength you come with, the intellect you embody.
The beautiful pigment of your skin.
The love in your eyes.
The comfort in your arms.
The confidence in your walk,
As well as, yes, your talk.
The broadness of your shoulders.
The curves of your torso.
The masculinity of your character.
But it’s what makes you, you, and the world would not have it any other way.
And this one? This one is for the guys. For the men. For the man. The Black man.
Happy New Year good people. I’m a little late, but better late than never. May God bless you all and give you a great year and many more to come.
Forgive people for what they’ve done to hurt you. Say sorry for hurting someone else. Tell someone about the amazing things God has done, and continues to do in your life. Thank God for all those things. Smile and make someone’s day.
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