Category: Advice

VIOLENCE

The question was asked, “A wha happen dey a PM yesaday?” “Two pickanega dey a fight and one get tab up!” The conversation overheard in the checkout line at a popular supermarket. The follow-up question, “Lawd fada a wumek them tap so?” After hearing the news about school violence, it is very natural for students, parents and teachers to worry. What if something like this happens again? What if it were my closest friend? What if it were my son or daughter? And what if it resulted in a fatality? The most important question, why does school violence happen?

Violence is behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. It is the strength of emotion or of a destructive force. When something like this happens, it is normal to have feelings of sadness and anxiousness and it is normal to want to figure out why the situation ended in this way.

Violence isn’t readily easy to understand and figure out. There is no one reason as to why students become violent at school or in general. Reasons may include repeating behaviors that are seen and frequently done at home, maybe something seen on the streets, in a popular movie, T.V. show or videogame. It may be the result of someone who is suffering from a mental health problem and it may also be the result of bullying. The bullied trying to reassert his/her value and worth by doing to someone what was done to them. It might be that someone was feeling isolated and rejected by their fellow students and it might be that someone was just having a bad day, week, month or year and that was their breaking point. These are just a few reasons why someone might be violent at school and there are still many, many more. There is however one thing we can say about school violence, weapons make it easier for someone to lash out against the things or people they don’t like and because of this school violence is scarier than we expect.

What can we do to help prevent school violence? We can look for the warning signs. Whether it be seeing someone with a weapon in their backpack, noticing the violent games and movies they seem to always talk about. Sometimes it’s as easy as overhearing a conversation about possibly committing a violent act on another student like bullying or making threats in simple non-conflict situations. Cruelty to animals is also a good indicator of a violent person as well. When someone seems to be showing these signs, it’s a good idea to get an adult involved like a teacher, parent, the school’s counselor and or the principal. Students who are violent need the extra help and support and reporting someone like this could be the best thing for them.

Remember, school safety and support is everyone’s responsibility and priority.

Let’s Talk Dirty

Nuggets of Wisdom

Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgement; the quality of being wise. It is the fact of being based on sensible or wise thinking and also the form of knowledge and experience that develops within a specified society or period. Wisdom is acquired through experiences, whether they be your own or someone else’s relayed to you. Having wisdom helps us to make the right choices for our lives and protects us. It equips us to handle difficult situations and relationships, helps us to work smarter, not harder and allows us a life of contentment and happiness. Those who have wisdom will show it in the way that they live and sometimes pass it on.

As we fast approach our Independence Day let us remember the men and women who left us nuggets of wisdom through our patriotic songs, through the cultural activities that we continue to celebrate and most importantly through the physical representations of the advice that they have passed unto us. In keeping with good company here are eight (8) nuggets of wisdom that I would like to pass on to you reader. Maybe it will change a life, yours or another’s.

  • Words are powerful use them wisely.

Sometimes the things we say may come to fruition and so we must remember to only speak positively, it may be the difference between good and bad karma.

  • People come and go, but the right ones stay.

It is okay to make new friends and leave old ones behind. Everyone that comes into your life is there for a reason, whether it be good or bad, enjoy the time and cherish the ones who stick with you.

  • You are doing enough, even if it doesn’t seem or feel like it.

Your pace is indeed your own and although sometimes you may be discouraged, NEVER compare yourself to anyone else. Sometimes, someone else’s progress might just be smoke and mirrors; a deception and delusion they have created to make themselves feel better.

  • Failure is when you don’t try.

People think that failure is when you’re unsuccessful at something you try to do, that is the furthest thing from the truth. It’s all about perspective, if you look at it as a learning experience instead, the next time you attempt another go, you will definitely be successful as you won’t make the same mistakes again.

  • Random acts of kindness make everyone feel better.

Don’t just do it for the “gram”. Actual acts of kindness are done not for self-benefit or praise but to genuinely help someone out. Karma works both ways, a good act comes back to you in abundance.

  • Live for today, not for tomorrow.

What can be done today should be done today. We never know how soon we will leave this earth. Let’s try to make the best of every day and make each one count.

  • Never look back, there is nothing there for you.

Well, nothing but the past and yes, we learn from it. But learn and move on, because living in the past damages your path towards becoming a well adjusted person.

  • Overthinking kills happiness.

An overthinking mind focuses on negative things, sabotaging happy thoughts and keeping your mind in a constant state of negativity. When your happiness decreases, it affects your mental health and productivity.

Until next time…

Let’s Talk Dirty

“Water?”

Dehydration occurs when the body loses too much water and other fluids that it needs to work normally. Dehydration is usually caused by severe diarrhea and vomiting, but it may also be caused by not drinking enough water or other fluids, sweating too much, fever, excessive urination, or taking certain medicines.               

                                                                                                                                                                                -NCI Dictionary

The heat over the past few weeks has been unbearable and annoying. We’ve all been trying our best to survive the sun’s penetrating rays, some of us, better than others.

Are you feeling thirsty, noticing abnormally yellow pee while using the bathroom less? Have you been suffering from dizziness or lightheadedness, tired? Noticing dry mouth, lips and tongue? Bet you’ve been suffering from dry itchy/scratchy eyes? If you or someone you love has been experiencing any of these symptoms, then you’re DEHYDRATED baby! Go jink some watah!!!

Here are a few tips to help with dehydration…

  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Eat foods with high water content like cucumbers and watermelon.
  • Avoid drinking sugary and caffeinated drinks.
  • Drink water.
  • Understand your fluid needs i.e. know how much is too much or not enough.
  • Replenish when you sweat, remember that’s water leaving your body so you have to put it back.
  • Go have a glass of water.
  • Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water.
  • Stay inside or find shade when it’s too hot.
  • Sip some flavored water.
  • Decrease your intake of salty and fried foods.
  • Drink some water.
  • Eight glasses of water during a heat wave might not be enough so increase your water intake.

For the love of God just listen to what I said and GO DRINK SOME WATER!!!