Viewers' discretion- Height of insanity in domestic violence

This is the height of insanity. This woman was beaten by her hubby & she is currently in a ward in the Teaching hospital in Calabar, where doctors are battling to save her life. To make matters worse, the hubby is asking her to come back home

                            

 

 Some men are animals, any man that beats up his woman is a coward & should face the full hand of the law.. What is happening to marriages lately? is physical abuse another way of expressing love?

5 bad habits that steal your joy

                                      
Everyone has bad habits, but sometimes these habits can be very harmful to your health and steal your joy. Here is a list of five different bad habits and the best way to break them.
1.  Holding on to negative thoughts that are based on fear. This habit is very harmful to your psychological health. Negative thoughts can affect your body and you could start to feel run down or depressed. Living with fear is not a good way to live. If you surround yourself with positive thoughts, your body will reflect it.
2. Another bad habit is continually comparing yourself to others around you. If you compare yourself to others, you will never feel like you are good enough. This could cause depression as well because you will always feel inadequate. To break this habit, work slowly and stop comparing yourself to others. Instead, focus on yourself and the many good aspects of your personality and abilities.
3. Bad habit number three is focusing too much on the past or the future. If you remain hung on bad things that happened in the past, and focus too much on negative things that might happen in the future, you will never be able to fully live in the present time. To break this, make sure that you ground yourself in the present and enjoy what you have at the current time. Don’t worry about the past or the future; learn to stay in the moment.
4.  Next is clinging to expectations. Everyone is different. If you think that you need to meet exceedingly high expectations, you could affect your health and well-being by doing whatever you can to meet these expectations. To break this, set smaller goals and don’t focus on exceeding high expectations.
5. The last bad habit is holding in your feelings. Not allowing yourself to express your feelings or not allowing yourself to feel them will cause them to build up. Inevitably, one day everything will blow up and could lead to psychological problems. To break this habit, allow yourself to feel things. If you are sad, be sad. Don’t pretend to be happy when you are not.

culled from: ynaija

Behold the New Pope

Pope Francis I today began his reign as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, with widespread joy in his native Argentina at the election of the first pontiff from the Americas.

The new Pope opened his first morning as pontiff by praying at Rome's main basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary barely 12 hours after being elected.

However, he has also found himself embroiled in controversy after it emerged that he was a strong supporter of Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands, whose residents this week voted overwhelmingly to continue being ruled by the UK.

The former archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, entered the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica through a side entrance just after 8am and left about 30 minutes later. 

Arrival: Newly elected Pope Francis I, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina waves from the steps of the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome this morning

Blowing in the wind: Pope Francis I is caught up in a gust of wind as he leaves the basilica this morning

Pope Francis, centre, waves as he leaves Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica after a visit in Rome on his first morning as pontiff today

Newly elected Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, waves from the steps of the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome

Warm welcome: Newly elected Pope Francis, Cardinal Santos Abril of Spain, left, and Cardinal Agostino Vallini, Vicar General of Rome, right, wave to the crowds this morning

'He spoke to us cordially like a father,' said Father Ludovico Melo, a priest who prayed with the pope. 'We were given 10 minutes' advance notice that the pope was coming'.

He told cardinals he will also call on retired Pope Benedict XVI tomorrow and celebrate an inaugural Mass in the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals elected him leader of the 1.2 million-strong church in an unusually quick conclave. 

The Roman Catholic faithful in with Latin American were last night jubilant over his election and some even voiced the opinion that he would help the country claim back the Falkland Islands.

 

Drivers honked horns on the streets of Argentina's capital Buenos Aires - where Pope Francis I was born - and television announcers screamed with elation at the news that the cardinal they knew as Jorge Mario Bergoglio had become Pope Francis. 

People jammed the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires for a Mass for the new pope - Latin America's first ever pope and the first pontiff born outside Europe for 1,300 years.

And priests said they hadn't seen such a big crowd in decades. 'Francisco! Francisco!' the faithful screamed. Outside, a thousand people sang and waved Vatican and Argentine flags.

'It's incredible!' said Martha Ruiz, 60, as she wept. She said she had been in many meetings with the cardinal and described him as 'a man who transmits great serenity'.  

Leading the cheers: People celebrate in front of Buenos Aires Cathedral after the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new Pope Francis I

Reaction at home: Catholics at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires celebrate the news

Dancing in the streets: Argentinean Catholics gather to celebrate the election of the new Pope, the Argentinean Jorge Mario Bergoglio, in Buenos Aires

Faithful hold up an Argentine flag with an image of Buenos Aires' Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio that reads in Spanish 'Francisco I' outside the Metropolitan Cathedral

'It's a huge gift for all of Latin America. We waited 20 centuries. It was worth the wait,' said Jose Antonio Cruz, a Franciscan friar at the church of St. Francis of Assisi in the colonial Old San Juan district in Puerto Rico.

'Everyone from Canada down to Patagonia is going to feel blessed,' he said after exchanging high-fives with church secretary Antonia Veloz.

Bergoglio's former spokesman, Guillermo Marco, told Argentina's TN television station that the new 76-year-old pope - who is also the first from the Jesuit order - 'has enormous pastoral experience' with a humble bearing.

'You can count the occasions when he used a car with a chauffeur,' Marco said. 'His choices of life as cardinal have been to have a normal, common life.'

The new pope was known for taking the subway and mingling with the poor of Buenos Aires while archbishop.

That common touch was evident in the new pope's first words to the crowd.

'I couldn't believe what I was seeing, when he started saying, "Good afternoon", just like someone saying hello to a friend,' said Bishop Eugenio Lira, secretary-general of the Mexican Conference of Bishops. 'He will certainly be the pope who is closest to the people of Latin America. He knows the problems of Latin America very well.' 

A first: The 76-year-old, unveiled as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, becomes both the first South American and Jesuit Pope

Sign of the times: The crowd takes pictures of the new Pope using their cellphones and tablet computers

Captivated: People stand in St. Peter's Square listen Pope Francis I's address in the Vatican City

Jubilant crowds: Roman Catholic faithful wave Vatican and Argentine flags as they sing outside the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires

Soledad Loaeza, a political science professor at the Colegio de Mexico who studies the church, said he was a logical choice. 'First, Latin America is the most important region in the world for the church,' but one where evangelical churches have been making inroads. 'So it may also be an attempt to stop the decline in the number of Catholics.'

For church leaders seeking growth, instead of the aging, declining congregations in Europe or the United States, 'there are only two regions,' Loaeza said: Africa and Latin America.

Nearly half of the world's Roman Catholics live in the Americas, north and south, or the Caribbean.

In Cuba, parish priest Gregorio Alvarez said he believes Francis' background could lead the church to focus more on the ills afflicting humanity, and less on internal issues.

'One hopes that the church will be closer to the problems of humankind and not only the problems of the church,' Alvarez said at the Jesus of Miramar Church in a leafy western suburb of Havana, where bells pealed following the announcement.

'Being Latin American gives him an advantage. He understands the problems of poverty, of violence, of manipulation of the masses," Alvarez said. "All that gives him experience for the job. ... He's one of the family.'

Even Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, a sometimes antagonist who once compared Bergoglio's stands on abortion and gay rights to 'medieval times and the Inquisition,' offered congratulations.

'It's our desire that you have ... a fruitful pastoral work, developing such great responsibilities in terms of justice, equality, fraternity and peace for humankind,' she wrote in an open letter.

Latin America has some of the world's sharpest divides between rich and poor, and Marvin Cruz, a Catholic at the Parish of the Miraculous in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, said the pope's 'main challenge will be the fight against economic inequality.' 

Giving thanks: Nuns pose next to an Argentina flag during a mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral in homage to Argentinian cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio after he was elected new Pope

Argentinean Catholics wave flags on the streets of Buenos Aires this morning as Jorge Mario Bergoglio begins his first day as Pope

'His training as a Jesuit will allow him to take it head on,' Cruz said.

He also noted the erosion of church membership in the face of Protestant denominations and secularism. 'I hope he calls those who have left and those without faith to the bosom of the church,' he said.

Monsignor Jose Cummings at the Cathedral of San Juan noted that the new pope "has presented himself as a simple and humble man," and specifically mentioned the word charity in his first remarks.

'He's going to pay particular attention to the people and the people are the church,' Cummings said.

The church secretary at St. Vincent parish in Santiago, Chile, said she had high hopes for Francis' papacy.

'What I have heard is that he is a simple and good man,' Elizabeth Jimenez said. "It is good for Latin America because he knows our reality."

The bishop at the head of Venezuela's church, the Rev. Diego Padron, remarked, 'All of Latin America is dropping to its knees to pray, to thank God for this extraordinary gift that he has given us.' 

Singing praise: An Argentinean Catholic claps his hands in Buenos Aires as the faithful crowd the streets to celebrate

Popular: The new pope was known for using the subway and helping the poor of Buenos Aires

'I am convinced this pope will make extraordinary changes, beginning with his gestures today,' Padron said, referring to Francis' bowing to the crowd at St. Peter's Square, 'asking for a prayer, showing great humility and at the same time displaying a great change.'

For some of the poor, the choice has already brought benefits. Juan Carlos Alarcon, a 58-year-old street vendor, came to the Buenos Aires cathedral with a load of Argentine flags to sell.

'I have to take advantage of this historic moment to feed my family,' he said.

But there was a tinge of regret for some who had been hoping for a Brazilian pope.

Bruno Scherer, the brother of Brazilian Cardinal Odilo Scherer, sat by himself in a square behind the main Catholic church in the Scherer family's hometown of Toledo in southern Brazil.

'I think Odilo must be happy. He must have the feeling that he was left off the hook,' Bruno Scherer said.

'I think that because of his age - he's still quite young - he wouldn't want to lose his liberty. He wants to keep traveling, taking photos, and doing his thing... Well, let's at least think that.'

Robbers Attack Lagos International Airport

                   

Heavily armed robbers on Wednesday night stormed the International Wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos, killed two policemen and made away with a huge amount of foreign currencies from some bureau-de-change operators at the nation’s premier gateway, officials said.

The robbers who arrived the airport some few minutes to nine, headed for the BDC operators centre near the car park and started shooting sporadically, eyewitnesses said.

The robbers, numbering over 10, engaged policemen attached to the airport in a gun duel for about 30 minutes which resulted in the death of two policemen and one armed robber.

Confirming the robbery, General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said he could only confirm the death of one of the robbers while the level of casualties was being ascertained.

He added, “The situation has since been brought under control by the swift intervention of joint security force. They were apparently attempting to rob a bureau de change operator near the airport. Normal operations and flight have not been affected by the incident.”

The unfortunate incidence has once again exposed the porous security network of the nation’s flagship airport as this is the second attempt on BDC operators at the Lagos airport.

6 common causes of low sex drive in young women

                                 
A low sex drive in women refers to a lack of interest in sexual intercourse. It is not unusual to experience a temporary decline in sexual desire at some point, and many women do. But if it persists, it may become a medical or an emotional problem.
The signs of a low sex drive include:
•Less frequent sexual thoughts and fantasies
•Reduced sexual desire
•Reluctance to initiate sex
•Lack of desire for sex when you’ve gone without sex for days, weeks, or months (depending on what was previously normal for you)
Causes of Low Sex Drive
Sexual abuse: Sexual abuse is a deeply traumatic experience and may lead to fear and avoidance of sexual experiences later in life. Some women who have been victims of past abuse are afraid to trust a man; others respond to these negative experiences by losing sexual desire altogether. Counselling can be extremely valuable in helping women come to terms with the trauma and restore sexual desire
Pain during intercourse: If intercourse is uncomfortable or painful, a woman may tense up in anticipation of pain from sex, or she may avoid sex altogether, below are common causes painful intercourse include; lack of lubrication, vaginal infection most commonly candiasis and trichomoniasis
Pregnancy: When a woman is pregnant, her entire body is affected. Changes in hormone levels can affect her physically and emotionally. As a result, her desire for sex may temporarily change .Sexual interest may vary throughout the stages of pregnancy.
•Some women report lowered desire during the first three months, when morning sickness can be unpleasant and even debilitating.
•Many say their desire increased in the second three months (second trimester), as morning sickness diminished.
•Some say their desire decreased again the final trimester, when the abdomen’s new bulk made sex awkward or uncomfortable
Relationship issues: The quality of a relationship often strongly influences the couple’s sexual satisfaction. In many cases, a lack of communication is at the heart of the problem. The problem may lie both inside and outside the bedroom. Many women are too shy or embarrassed to discuss their sexual desires and needs frankly with their partner. Remember, few men have an innate knowledge of what pleases a woman. But in a healthy relationship, most are willing and eager to learn how to please their partners. Many men may need to be taught where to touch and how to stimulate their partner to the point of arousal
Drugs and alcohol: Many people think that alcohol reduces inhibition and therefore is an effective treatment for low sex drive. This is not true. A small amount of alcohol may lower sexual inhibitions when anxiety or tension is the primary cause for low sex drive, but research has proven that alcohol consumption does not improve either sex drive or performance.
Psychological factors: Stress, fear, and anxiety are all factors that can dampen sexual desire. The demands of juggling work, family and many other daily responsibilities can be overwhelming for many people. Bills may pile up and cause financial worries, and this distress can lead to low sex drive.
Anxiousness and fear over an ability to perform in bed or to satisfy a partner may sometimes lead to “spectating,” in which individuals are so concerned about monitoring the experience that they are unable to enjoy it.
Emotional-medical issues, such as depression, have also been linked to dampened desire. In addition, many medications that are prescribed to combat depression or anxiety may have a negative impact on sex drive.

culled from: Ynaija

10 tips to healthy living

                   
1. Eat wisely: the key to healthy diet is to eat the right number of calories for how active you are, if you eat too much you will put on weight ,if you eat too little you will lose weight ,here are ten ways to have a balanced diet:
Eat lots of fruit and vegetables.
 Eat food that contains fibre.
 Drink lots of water after meals.
 Eat less salt.
 Cut down on saturated fat.
 Don’t skip breakfast.
 Avoid drinks and processed food.
 Stop eating when you feel like.
 Cut down on soda and caffeine.
 Don’t nibble between meals.
2. Exercise properly: Exercising daily has tremendous benefits to your health, it lowers the risk of disease such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, it is necessary to pick up exercise you enjoy so that you naturally want to do them. Exercise is not about suffering and pushing yourself, it is about being healthy and having fun at the same time.
3. Watch your weight: Your weight goes a long way to determine how you look and also be addressed. Everyone loves to fit perfectly well in their favourite outfits and have positive self- esteem. The keys to having that perfect weight/ BMI are eating just enough for the kind of work you do and having a balanced diet
4. Live a life with purpose: Positive health from within, are you living in line with your purpose, are you living a life of meaning. You need to discover your purpose in life and experience the joy that comes from living a purposeful life. I have ever been happier since I started living a purposeful live, you too can experience this.
5. Sleep properly: Getting enough sleep is very important, when you didn’t sleep well your brain works at a suboptimal level; research has shown that sleeping well at night with a good pattern helps improve mental power. Lack of sleep causes premature ageing and skin wrinkling and you wouldn’t want that.
6. Smoking: Smoking has been proven to be detrimental to health, risk of lung cancer, oesophageal cancer, gastric cancer and stroke. If you are a smoker quit for a better health, not just for yourself but for people around you, your family and friends. If you don’t smoke, do not start, get away from people that smoke and avoid gathering with smokers.
7. Proper dental hygiene: Not only does good dental hygiene makes you a lot more desirable, it has been shown to prevent some diseases such as infective endocarditis, dental carries and halitosis. It is advisable you brush your teeth at least twice daily, rinse your mouth after each meal and at night.
8. Forgive your enemies: Nursing negatively in your heart could be detrimental to your heart, studies have shown that people who grudges against others are prone to have peptic ulcer disease and ulcerative colitis. Forgiving your enemies and letting out negativity is essential to having a healthy life. It is best to purge out all hatred and avoid who are critical.
9. Proper skin care: I know it is everyone’s desire to look good and be addressed as handsome/beautiful, the simple key to achieving this is by watching your face at least twice daily so as to get rid of the excess sebum and organisms that accumulate as we go about our day to day activity. For those with oily skin type you could wash with a cleanser and apply a little amount of topical serum. For those with spots and black heads, I recommend you apply topical steroidal agents after washing.
10. Always wear a smile: You would be surprised at how wearing a simple smile and being cautious could go a long way to affecting your health and your personal wellbeing positively till you start doing this. Stay positive and stay Alive

Was it wrong to tell my husband I cheated on him?

Anna has been married to Julius for five years with a baby but she has always been in love with her husband's friend, Elvis who happen to be her first love. Her love for Elvis developed into a full blown affair which later led to the dissolution of her marriage. 

Anna writes. Elvis is my first love and our plan is to get married but because Elvis is not financially buoyant, my family insisted that I get married to Julius who was a multi-millionaire. 
When Elvis found out that I left him in Favour of Julius, he was heart-broken. I was short of words as I stared into his eyes. I could feel his pain and disappointment. I saw how sad he was. I wanted to say something but I couldn’t find the right words. Just at that moment. Elvis pulled me closer. His lip pressed against mine so passionately that I gave in to him; I found myself releasing my body to him, more like, am longing for it. 

The past few week of chatting and talking with Elvis had ignited the fire of love between us. I held unto to him as long as I could, My mind totally blank of all sanity. Afraid to think. He lifted me unto the couch and just then, I felt him unbuttoning my blouse, kissing my neck all the way to my mouth, so engrossed in having all of me. I felt hot tears flowing from my eyes as I gave in to him. After this episode with Elvis. I drove back home in pain and tears. 

My heart pounding faster than usual, my hands shaking and fear all over me. What have I done? I asked myself as tears flowed from my eyes. It was a feeling of fear, anger and betrayal. There was no excuse for what happened and I knew the worst is about to happen. How can I face my husband now, I knew I was in big trouble. When I drove in, I saw my husband’s car parked in the garage. As I Looked through the window of our house; I notice there was no light on. My husband had probably gone to bed I thought. All I want to do is run and have a shower. 

I was grateful that Julius had call in the afternoon and offered to pick up our daughter from day care. On opening the door, I was taken back as I saw; rolls and layers of candle lit on from entrance all the way to the stairs leading to our bed room, seeing pedals of roses on the floor, the house full of scented aroma, I notice that the dinner table was set andscented candle on it , a mixture of fear and betrayal filled me.

I followed the candle to the room and as I suspected, It was filled with pedals of rose as I have never seen before, glowing candle everywhere and here my husband standing there holding a rose for me. As I looked at him, I felt tears running down my face. I was full of guilt and I confessed to him what happened between Elvis and I. He got angry and ask me to leave his house for good. I have since moved out of the house. 

Was it wrong to tell my husband what transpired between I and Elvis?