We are already in the half part of the year. I would like to think that we are all grateful to God for His exceeding love.
If you cannot think of anything, think of the gift of being alive; more time to seek God and make our paths great with Him.
Are you halfway through your to-accomplish goals for the year 2018?
Is it nearly done? Bravo!
Are you yet to take that giant step on the first goal? Not late at all Dear. So long as that zeal is there. You can act now.
I believe in having a plan and monitoring ones progress. Studies have it that reflection upon one’s activities fosters improvement.
For me, I’ve got a couple of ideas listed for the year. Let’s say I’m just halfway through. I need a boost too. Somehow, I have added to the list.
Globally, this has this year has been filled with all sorts of news; ranging from the Trump-Kim meeting, history-changing-royal -wedding, world-cup joy and tension to the recent tragedy in Nigeria. It’s unbelievable. Let’s in the course of our daily lives, show some love to another. It is indeed a small world, you don’t know what would happen next.
However, I am very grateful for even the tiniest of things I have achieved so far this year, be it in my personal life, career, blog community or social media; which includes you. Thank you🙏🏼
I hope you achieve all and more that you have mapped out for the year. Better still, may God’s will prevail.
Most times when it feels like I need a loading dose of motivation, I remind myself of the saying ” when the going gets tough the tough get going.
My purpose for this post is to encourage someone who truly has motives for potential goals; summon the courage, simply get started and you will see the rest fall into place.
I have been multitasking and juggling a lot in the past couple of days and that in a positive reminded me that one can achieve literally anything they set their mind on.
I do like challenges, especially the ones that bring out the best in me.
If you have plans and seem to be struggling with them, do not be so hard on yourself. It is perfectly normal. All you need to do is to clear your head and stick to the plan, do not give in to setbacks or unnecessary procrastination.
Do not wake up with a vision or dream for a better you and let it die, that thought happened for a reason. You can do it. Have you imagined that better version of you?
All you need to do is to take that first giant step and the rest will fall into place like a puzzle. Do ask for help and opinions; if need be. However, beware of people who give misleading advice.
I see the human brain as a computer; garbage in garbage out. Only when you push yourself you get a result. No action results to nothing. At times we encapsulate our talents; knowingly or unknowingly.
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I have been waiting to fill you all in on my journey to the publication of HAPPINESS AT LAST. If you are an already established author, my great moves might not be surprise to you.
I want to use this opportunity to tell you my story. My fellow beginners will find it very beneficial too. Right from high school, I have known I love literature despite being in Science class. I love to read novels, enjoyed history classes. At a point, I recalled having a great score in History for that school term and my teacher approached me to make sure I still wanted to carry on with my science courses.
I love to write and love essays and good grammar. However, I must admit, my love for grammar has not enriched my vocabulary yet. I’m a work in progress still😄
It happened that when I grab books to read, it’s either I think the writer needed to add a twist to the story or cut off some irrelevant lines. At times, I would want the story to end differently as has been written by the author. Gradually, I harbored the idea of writing in my head. In the year 2014, I came across an aunt who is is same profession as me – nursing– and have written two poem collections, I simply said to my self I can do it.
Within the next two years I began writing. I realised that I kind of know the story but didn’t know how to start, then I decided I need to go back to my favorite novels but this time I approached them differently to understand their writing style. I have fondly enjoyed the works of Danielle Steel, own and have read lots of them. I currently follow her on Amazon to know her new releases. Kudos to this woman that’s writes endlessly.
It happened that in 2015 I browsed about publishing and fortunately, Authorhouse publishers picked me up and wouldn’t stop ringing me. I said to myself maybe that was the push I needed.
I paid for a publishing package even before I had a good draft of my first chapters. For me, knowing I have paid means a book somehow is on its way.
I wrote, then stopped as life, work and everything got busier. I would write once in a month or three months. I kept receiving call and emails from the Publishers. I had poems collections which they wanted me to publish first but I kind of thought I should go with my novel first as I can easily opt for buying a novel when compared to purchasing a poetry book. A sneak view of my poem which I previously posted can be seen here.
I began blogging to experiment my writing. Then came 2017 when I had said to myself this book has to be completed. The truth is, at that time each time when I want to write I struggled to connect with the story. I had a fresh idea for new storylines.
Then, I began seeking opinion for my manuscript and at last was able to conclude the story.
I sent off my manuscript to the Publishers by May 2017 and it took me months to correct and amend covers to my satisfaction. I eventually got published on 8th of February 2018.
That was huge for me. I still can’t believe I managed to publish a book. Huge thanks to my darling husband for his continued support and for sparing time to go through my tons of drafts. I am very grateful to God.
It’s fulfilling to know there are readers out there that have copies of my book in their palms or on their shelves.
I will talk more about book promotion in a different post. I’ve only come to know that’s the main work in the book 📚 writing industry.
Do you have a copy of HAPPINESS AT LAST? It’s available here.
Thanks to you all. Thank you for reading. Thanks for your time here. You are the reason I want to write more and God-willingly, will write more.
This is one of those times I can’t help but share with you all how overjoyed I feel.
I was overwhelmed few days ago to see my book “Happiness At last” next to the works of some great African Writers. Mere looking at that copy sitting next to theirs made me realise we can all dream big.
As though that wasn’t enough, the shop keeper had also put up a copy on display.
I’m doing my best to see this work of mine gets the publicity it can get so, I appreciate even the tiniest of acts.
Happiness At Last is available online via popular online stores like Amazon, Authorhouse, Barnes and Nobles etc and available in bookstores in London and Nigeria. More details can be seen here.
Over the next few weeks, I will be posting about my writing journey. Do look out for it.
On a different note, I hope your weekend goes well.
My message for you today is DO NOT allow yourself to be angered unnecessarily. Anger is a strong feeling of displeasure, annoyance or hostility. Friends, please do control your temperament. I know most of us might think it’s that easy, I must tell you it’s easier said than done but it is definitely achievable.
Do not be angered and feel you must react straight away, instead take a deep breath and look at the situation differently. There are lots of myths about anger and how you must vent, which is not true. There are ways of managing anger.
We are humans and definitely, someone would hurt or provoke us but that shouldn’t be the reason to act irresponsibly. Do not forget that anger and stress trigger certain health conditions.
There are lots of terrible stories that surround us, whether it’s our neighbours, relations or colleagues who have taken a drastic action as a result of being provoked, which they later regretted.
I had an ugly encounter the other day. It happened that a young man had an argument with his girlfriend, he hit her and she fainted. He panicked and hung himself. Minutes later the girlfriend woke up, saw him hanging helplessly and rang the ambulance.
There is so much to that story. I feel so sad and hurt that this actually happened. So many questions ran through my mind:
Why hit someone over something you can talk about?
Hitting your loved one to the point of leaving them unconscious? Seriously?
Why commit suicide when you think you’ve accidentally killed a person?
Was he that caring or an emotional person to actually want to take his own life realizing the consequences of his action?
Anger Management
Source: Positivemed.com
Similarly, there are biblical verses that preach about anger control. I found a link that comprises of biblical passages on how why we all can overcome anger.
One of them says: Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil – Psalm 37. 9. Others can be seen here.
Unfortunately, sad events occur due to anger but we all should be abreast with effective ways of controlling our temper.
Do leave a comment below if you like this post or the story affects you.
Love is one of the commonest words we’ hear. For instance, someone must have said to you, “I love you” or you must had heard people express their love for each other.
I have learnt that we should love another especially for the fact that we are all created in the image of God.
Regardless, lots of people have been deceived by the word Love. I have close friends who have been hurt, deceived or betrayed by someone who they loved simply because they have believed that nothing would go wrong by the mentioning of Love.
This shouldn’t be happening but sadly, it does happen. There are people who in my opinion have either lost their mind or simply have no conscience because of the way they treat their fellow human beings. The rate at which lives have been ruined by the the usage of the word love is appalling.
I am not saying we shouldn’t believe people who profess Love to us but I want us to love sensibly. I know they say when you are in love you don’t think well or reason properly. Guys, it’s just like saying thinking with your head and and not be carried away by emotions.
I know it’s good to be in love and trust me, it’s one of the best feelings in the world. However, I urge you to guide your heart ❣, look after it and make sure that the person you trust with it knows the true value.
Finally, whatever you do, do love sensibly. I hope your love brings you true happiness.
If you have asthma do endeavour to carry your inhaler regardless of the last time you had an attack. Some people say that the attack feels like one being strangulated or suffocated.
What is Asthma
National Institutes of Health (2014) defined asthma as a chronic lung disease which causes the inflammation and narrowing of the airways and presents with recurrent episodes of wheezing sound, chest tightness and coughing (mainly at night and early in the morning).
A popular definition by Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA, 2016) states that “Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation. It is defined by the history of respiratory symptoms such as wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough that vary over time and in intensity, together with variable expiratory airflow limitation”.
There are different definitions of asthma which incorporate other subtle signs and symptoms, therefore it is important that nurses and other health professionals are proficient in their knowledge of asthma and its management.
Pathophysiology
Asthma is marked by characteristic episodes of symptoms and variable obstruction of the airway which can occur spontaneously or triggered by environmental factors. Exposure to allergens or viruses causes increased inflammation and exacerbation of symptoms such as cough, wheezing, chest tightness and dyspnoea (difficulty in breathing).
The main characteristic of asthma is inflammation of the bronchi and bronchioles which is marked by the release of various cells and chemical mediators which consequently leads to bronchoconstriction, airway oedema, airway hyperresponsiveness and airway remodelling. Airway remodelling leads to hyperplasia of submucosal and goblet cells and cause hypersecretion of mucus. Mucus plugging of the alveoli is a key cause of asthma death.
Majority of deaths from acute asthma takes place outside the hospital. Asthma patients whose symptoms did not improve either at the emergency department or in the ward should be admitted to intensive care unit.
Therefore, it is paramount that the asthmatics are equipped with the necessary knowledge and support to enable them to manage themselves.
Some patients are known to have triggers such as viral infections and cold air.
Diagnosis
A well detailed history taking and good knowledge of differential diagnosis will ensure that asthma is diagnosed appropriately.
In the view of BTS/SIGN (2016), asthma diagnosis is based on the identification of the characteristic pattern of signs and symptoms and the lack of a different explanation for them.
Once asthma is diagnosed, the physician assesses the patient for the level of severity. The presence of intense symptoms indicates an asthma attack.
Management
The significance of treating asthma symptoms once they are detected cannot be overemphasized as it prevents the symptoms from worsening.
Pharmacological management of Asthma:
Inflammation of the airways is central to the pathogenesis of asthma, hence systemic corticosteroid forms part of the first-line treatments for acute asthma.
Intravenous hydrocortisone 200mcg and Prednisone 4g should be given in accordance with BTS/SIGN (2016) guidelines. Other sources advocates the usage of oral and intravenous steroids in the management of severe asthma.
Ipratropium nebulizer 500mcg to be given every 20 minutes for 1 hr and later reduced to Qds. It is a bronchodilator that eases breathing by relaxing the air passages.
Salbutamol nebulizer 5mg Qds. β2-adrenergic agonists are the first-line treatment for smooth-muscle mediated bronchoconstriction and are most reliable for dilating the bronchioles (GINA, 2016).
Iv Magnesium sulphate 2g in cases of hypomagnesia. Studies showed that the administration of 2g of Magnesium sulphate increases the dilation of the bronchioles in patients with severe asthma regardless of normal magnesium levels.
Health education is vital in the management of Asthma as it ensure asthmatics are able to self-manage, monitor symptoms, adhere to written asthma care plan and attend review appointments as recommended by GINA (2016) to avoid hospital admissions.
The BTS/SIGN (2016) reported evidence in which self-management was considered to reduce emergency use of healthcare resources and improve markers of asthma control.
Ideally, there is an asthma care plan for all sufferers which should adhered to. Asthma UK (2016) stressed on the importance of patients adhering to their written asthma care and added that asthma patients are four times less likely to present in the hospital if they utilize their asthma care plan.
Conclusion
It is paramount that asthma patients are supported by healthcare professionals to make sure they confidently self-managed, experience lesser symptom and thus, require less hospital visits.
P.S.
I am a registered volunteer of Asthma UK. Detailed information about asthma, its management and events are on the website.
This post is adapted from an Asthma case study, to access the full study do not hesitate to contact me.
For a very long time, I’ve heard so much about Jehovah withnesses inability to receive blood transfusion based on their religious belief. Other sources have it that they are best known for it.
Recently, I had a genuine encounter. It happened that I was looking after a man in his late sixties who was severely ill and had underwent a bloody surgery. As a result, so much blood was lost.
On going through his theatre paperwork, he had agreed that there will be no blood transfusion of any sort even if it results to death. Mere reading those lines gave me chills. That kind of faith is powerful.
Families were present and made sure the request of their loved one was acted upon regardless of the circumstances. Interesting, one of the children was of different religion but still supported the rest of the family.
It was then I got to know that as a Jehovah withness, you ought to have a passport that clearly states your inability to receive blood transfusion and present it Doctors.
My patient had lost his passport recently and it was a bit of an issue because the consultant I had worked with demanded to see it. As far as he was concerned, the verbal communication and nursing documentations showing the obvious was not just enough to act upon.
“Where’s the passport” He asked.
The situation became more challenging as his haemoglobin (Hb) level dropped further to the lowest level I have ever come across.
As the situation worsened, tension built up. However, almost the time when the Drs had decided to try iron alternatives, one of the relatives coincidentally asked why other alternatives can not be tried. After a multidisciplinary meeting, it was agreed that iron dextran and other supplements will be used instead.
Next time I checked on him, Hb level had slightly gone up; just a little bit.
This makes me wonder how religion significantly affects our health. The look on the relatives faces each time they ask for HB value will always remain with me. It was a difficult situation and extremely challenging as they fought that battle of faith at that very critical time.
