Its been 4 years!

This picture turned up in my notifications yesterday. A reminder that I have been in the wordpress community for four years now. I remember when I first started, I Was 18. I didn’t have any plan for the blog, hence it’s unfortunate name “randoms by a random”, and now that I am… (I’ll let you fill in the gap), i’ld like to believe that as I got older, my writings have evolved.

In the past four years, I have come across some phenomenal poets, I have fallen in love with many amazing poems which I try to share on writer’s poem Wednesday. And most importantly, I got to build a connection with so many incredible people.

And what’s more, many of them have gone on to publish their own books: My girl Rosema published (Between my bleeding lines), my Sister released her book “Soul Unraveled”, Jodi wrote a children’s book (Klaus the mouse and other silly animal tales), Colin chappel has published three books and the latest addition and my very good friend Carolyn , just recently releases her book called “The Odessa Chronicles”, which she co-wrote with Colin Chappel.

As writers, we support other writers. Go ahead, contact the writers above, get their books, leave a review and show some love.

To mark my four years here, (even though half the time, I am AWOL),  I would like to host a bloggers Q&A. I can’t believe I’ve never done one before. So, drop me your questions below and and I will be more than happy to answer them in a post.

Thank you for supporting. For reading, for dropping your two cents and for always welcoming me back whenever I go away without notice. ❤️❤️

Drop your questions below in the comment section.

Blogger Q and A

The lovely blogger at Accidentally inked nominated me for an award. I honestly don’t do them anymore, but I loved the questions she put forth. And anyway its been a long time since I did one of these so I thought, I’ll give a shot.

What’s the best thing you like about your blog?

Ohhh lets see. I actually love everything. The fiction because I never thought I could actually do one of those “flash fictions” and now, I look forward to writing them; certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone.
The poetry because writing them have been such comfort and therapy at the same time. And the writer’s quote/poem because it gives me the opportunity to share with all of you, the reason why I fell in love with poetry.

What do you tell yourself to convince yourself so that you stay positive when something bad happens?

Honestly- I try to remember that everything happens for a reason and things could have been worse.

Do you like books? If yes, what did you last read?

I Love books, but then again I am a picky reader. I tend to stick to the same kind of genres. Don’t judge me, I’ve branched out but I just don’t enjoy them and i’ld rather not read what I don’t enjoy.
I’m currently reading a book by David Baldacci- The escape. It is the 3rd book in a John Puller series.

Do you think it’s okay to be scared of cats?

Hahaha, I am one of them. Of course its not okay to be scared of cats but thats why they are called “phobias”. They are irrational fears after all. 

What do you say, lets get to know one another? I am throwing these questions to anyone/everyone who reads this:
1) Coffee or Tea
2) summer or winter
3) Vanilla or chocolate
4) crime novel or Romance novel
5) Documentary or movie

You can answer in the comments below or in a new post. Lets do this 👊🏽

 

#My First Post Revisited

Miss Tikeethat T from a Thomas’ point of view, tagged me yesterday, in a little fun blog tag I’ve been seeing floating around, but had previously positively turned a blind eye to. Why? You may ask. Well this tag is called #MyFirstPostRevised and as I wrote my first post on the 18th of august 2014, I was hoping it would have drowned amongst the multitude of posts I’ve written afterwards.

I don’t know if I have mentioned it before, but when I first began this blog, it wasn’t supposed to be for poetry. I guess it was supposed to be an inspirational blog? (I’m not really sure). Good thing I had figured out soon enough, I was more in need of inspiration than I could inspire. Without further digression, below is my first post: 

EMBRACING OUR AMBITION (August 18, 2014)

We live in a generation where every single thing we do and say, even the littlest detail is scrutinized and criticized. Thus, making it easier for people to wall up and avoid their true calling and way harder to follow the path that they should be taking.

I remember when I first started to write poetry, it was in high school, and where I come from, they don’t get it. Anything that deviates from the traditional “medicine, accounting or engineering” gets a whole lot of resistance. And when you write, you instantly become one with your work, and it hurts when people don’t get it.

But here’s the thing, it shouldn’t matter what they say. I know it does matter, but it shouldn’t. Those people trying to diminish your spirit arent going to live your life for you. It’s your life to live, it’s your mistake to make and it’s your path to choose. If painting is what you love to do, then my dears, paint your hands off. If cooking is your passion, then set the kitchen on fire ( not literally though). The point is, there’s going to be resistance anyway, so just do what you would be happy the rest of your life doing.

It will be ridiculous of me to say it is easy, cause it’s not. There’s going to be people who’d hate what you do along the way, and you just gotta have a thick skin. Words would hurt but you don’t let it show, because the bigger picture is all that matters in the end.

So my dears, pick up those paint brushes, or the clay pot mix, or a pen and paper- whatever it is, block the world out and just do it. You really never know until you try and embrace it wholeheartedly. And remember, we owe it to ourselves to at least give it our all.

Here’s a little quote to sleep on: Don’t allow the world to define your greatness for most of this world is blind.           The end

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Below are the rules, If you’ve been looking for an excuse to share your first post, or you are like me, and have been turning a blind eye and trying to avoid the challenge, feel free to join now. 

No cheating. (It must be your first post. Not your second post, not one you love…first post only.)
Link back to the person who tagged you (thank them if you feel like it or, if not, curse them with a plague of ladybugs).
Other rules:

Cut and paste your old post into a new post or reblog your own bad self. (Either way is fine but NO editing.)
Put the hashtag #MyFirstPostRevisited in your title.
Tag…um…five (5) other bloggers to take up this challenge.
Notify your tags in the comment section of their blog (don’t just hope they notice a pingback somewhere in their spam).
Feel free to cut and paste the badge to use in your post.
Include “the rules” in your post.

What Not to say to someone going through weight change

I know I speak without filter sometimes, a perk of mine, and as I presume, many others as well. Needless to say, somethings shouldn’t require filter to not be said, common sense should suffice.

If you’ve ever gone through a weight change, either weight loss or weight gain, for whatever reason, then you’ve probably also been a victim of what I’m about to say.

It is so NOT COOL to greet anyone with the statement- you have lost/ gained weight. That is not a greeting; whatever happened to good morning, hi, or even hello. And when you do say it unintentionally (I’m giving the benefit of doubt here), please don’t utter those words as if you’re saying snort or something disgusting.

That being said, now to the main reason I am writing this post. To anyone who knows anyone who is going through a weight change, please (talking from experience here), one of the worst things you can say to them is- “you looked more beautiful before you lost/gained weight“. Because firstly, it is none of your business and secondly, it is none of your business.

You do not get to decide when a person does or does not look beautiful. You have no idea the reason behind the weight change or the effort put towards it. And also because by saying that, you’re endorsing the “ridiculousness” that beauty is measured in scales which is absurd in itself. 

I hope this doesn’t sound as one of those angst rant but rather something tangible. What are some of the worst things you’ve been told or heard, with regards to weight change? 

The above image is courtesy of Cranky fat feminist.

Interview With Ameena K.G.

I have been friends with this amazing lady and writer for two years now, and It was such an honour to be interviewed by her. I couldn’t be happier with the way the interview turned out. She is one of my biggest encourager with her constant support and it’s been such a blessing getting to know her. If you want to know what she asked, go go go check it out. 😄

Mandibelle16

Welcome to another edition of my bi-weekly interview series. I’m excited to share with you a talented and beautiful poet, writer, and interviewee — my friend of many years on WordPress — blogger Ameena K.G. The way her poems flow and the lessons they teach, often amaze me. You can visit Ameena’s blog here: Randoms by a Random.

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Ameena

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1.Please Tell Us About Yourself Ameena:

My name is Ameena and I am from Nigeria, although for the past five-years, Sudan has been my home. I am currently studying there.

I am a medical student in my fifth-year. When I’m not busy studying, I love to write poetry and stories. I enjoy watching videos of poetry read out-loud on YouTube and watching documentaries on YouTube as well. Comedy is one of myfavourite genres to watch. Anything which makes me laugh is…

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A brief Update-

I know I haven’t been active on WP this past week. I haven’t posted and haven’t been able to read your posts as well. It should have been a busy week for me with hospital rotations Monday through Thursday, but I have missed two out of those four days.

Turns out my body needed a break and that’s what I did. I haven’t been on here not because I have been too busy, rather, I just needed to rejuvenate and get back to school and blogging with a fresh state of mind.

I really don’t have the words to describe how amazing it feels to check up after not posting and still see views and likes and comments and even follows. I mean, people actually check out this blog and read it?! It put a smile on my face. That’s actually what I wanted to say, simply, Thank You for still being here after all these time.

I’d be switching off the comment notification on this post because it wouldn’t be fair not to reply immediately and I am already way behind on replying my comments.

The Pokemon Go book tag

Yesterday, I came across a fun Pokemon Go book tag on TheJouskaBlog which was originally created by Read at midnight and thought I’d try it out too. So Here goes:

 

Hands down, To kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee. I’ve read this book multiple times and with every read, I fall more in love with the story and the characters as well.

Six seconds by Rick Mofina. This is the first Rick Mofina book I could not finish reading. 

No book comes to mind at the moment, who knows, maybe I’ll remember later .

This one is easy- All the lights we cannot see by Anthony Doer. It’s been sitting on my shelf for over a year now. 

There are quite a few actually. But one of my favourite is Three by Ted Dekker. If you are looking for a psychological thriller, then I recommend this book. You won’t be disappointed. 

So, I had to google “OTP” to find out its meaning. Apparently, it means “one true pairing”. I don’t believ I have one. 

Ohhhh Seige by Simon Kernick. This book is on fire!

Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers and st Clare’s . Also, Regan Reilly Mysteries by Carol Higgins Clark 

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Even though this book was published in 1818, I only read it a few months ago. Needless to say, I Absolutely loved it and would not mind reading it all over again.

That would be none.

Malory towers and st Clare’s by Enid Blyton.

Well, not forever, but I am excited for the realease of the 3rd book in David Baldacci’s Amos Decker series. The first two are- The Last mile and Memory Man and they were simply awesome.

Mary Higgins Clark, I don’t believe any of her books disappoint and also, Simon Kernick.

On a side note, I don’t really have an idea as to what this Pokemon Go game is about?! (Tell me I’m not the only one living under a rock). And, That’s it, my book tag answers. Take up the questions if you’d love to, I’ll be looking forward to reading your answers.

Brave

A beautifully written piece by a dear friend of mine on Bravery. Bravery means so many different things to so many people…. Here’s to wearing our bravery crown and strutting like we know what we’re doing.

Nuggets of Gold

What is being brave? It can be so many different things for different people. Being brave for a 5 year old can be jumping off the diving board! Or can be trying to pull the teacher in with you. Yeah, I kinda didn’t make it through swim lessons! But I did eventually learn how to swim, tho please don’t count on me to save you!

Bravery is the child who stands up for the one  that is being picked on. The teen who chooses to go eat lunch with the lonely teen sitting by themselves in a corner of the cafeteria.

Bravery is standing for the truth, even when others may be against you. Its speaking out against injustice, when the roar of the crowd is deafening against you. It is facing your fears and unveiling things you have held inside. You are stepping out  in order to help yourself…

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Goodbyes and Hellos

I left without a goodbye and this is me, back to the blogging world with a hello. I used to wonder how bloggers would leave their blogs all of a sudden, without any notice, they just up and puff… And then I did it, multiple times actually. Coming back for a post and thinking I’m back for good until the next post takes two weeks to make an appearance. I’d love to put the blame on life and being busy but the truth is, it’s been a matter of priority.

As much as I love writing and reading, a few things come before it, like making the most of the little time I get to spend with my family. Yeah I Know, about 2 months is more than a little time, but then again, when you get to see them once a year, two months is basically little time.

So, this is me saying, I have been an irregular and absentee blogger for the past two months but I am hoping it’s all going to be in the past. Thank you to everyone who still checked out my blog, read and commented on my posts and also, to my new followers, welcome, and I can’t wait for us to connect and have much fun.

Here’s to writing poetry, prose, flash fictions and getting my act together in regards to Mental Health Friday. And to the month of June, I say, please please be good to me. 

                                  Cheers with a Cup of coffee  😉😉

A-Z Challenge: Theme Reveal

Before I reveal my theme for this year’s A-Z challenge, for those of you who Aren’t aware of what its about, here’s a little info. The A-Z challenge begins from the 1st of April to the 30th. Each day except Sunday’s (which is our break for being good and writing all week), we share a post whose title begins with a letter of the alphabet. On April 1st, we write on a topic beginning with A, on the 2nd “B” until the 30th which is rounded up with letter “Z”.

My theme for this year is : Poetry and Prose.

Last year, I participated unofficially (without signing my name to the list) using the “poetry” theme. It was a challenge to write a poem everyday especially when it came to certain alphabets, but it was fun and a learning experience. Got me to push my boundaries and that’s why I am participating again this year.

But this time, I do want to be prepared which is where I need your help. A-Z begins in ten days, during which i’d be writing my finals and immediately afterwards, would be moving out of my Apartment and into a new one, and then traveling. I know, wrong timing. I have a feeling, my inspiration well wouldn’t be too juicy hence I need some push.
I’d really appreciate it if you can recommend words for me, from “A-Z” that I can write about, phrases or even links to posts and pictures that I can use an inspiration.

I want to see if I can schedule some posts before hand. I am not too sure about the Internet connection when I do travel. Now, that being said, so far I know three bloggers who are participating- Yinglan (who’s theme is on quotes), Life as a potpourri , Doc2Poet (his theme is also poetry), Simply Poetry (her theme is forms of poetry around the world) and Ellespeth. If you are participating in the challenge, please let me know so I can include your link here. And that way, it’d be easier to atleast find one another. 

P.S: looking forward to hearing your suggestions.