Would you re-marry your Ex?

 I got this anonymous piece from a lady based in the US and promised to share it. I have put up a picture of Kobe and Vanessa Bryant, and Nene Leakes and ex-hubby Greg Leakes who have recently decided to re-marry after breaking up. The question is: would you do it? Do you reckon it is a good idea to re-marry an ex? Read below and let me know your thoughts! And please feel free to share!

"I met Tayo* in high school back home in Nigeria. We both had mutual friends and instantly fell in love with each other, spending every little free time we had in each other's company. Our love blossomed and soon everyone including friends and family became aware of our relationship and offered their full support. A few years down the line, Tayo had to travel to the US to study and needless to say I was distraught, but I held on to the hope that we will see again and bid him goodbye. It was to be another 4 years before we would set our eyes on each other.

While Tayo was gone, I focused on trying to secure admission into an American University so that I could join my boyfriend. Eventually I did and joined Tayo, and we both quickly settled down together. We picked a wedding date and married quietly in the presence of few friends and family. However, soon after the wedding, I uncovered heartbreaking proof that while I was still in Nigeria, Tayo had been seeing a girl who went to the same college as he did. The girl had even spent time with Tayo in the home we shared, cooking for him, cleaning and all the works. I was distraught and brought up the issue with Tayo who immediately accepted and apologised. However, all these apologies fell on deaf ears as I wouldn't have none of it, I was intent on getting a divorce and get it I  did; the marriage was annulled almost immediately.

Guys, Is it EVER ok for a man to cry publicly?

Recently I saw a video online of a very emotional President Obama speaking to his campaign team after he got voted in for second term. In the 6 min long video, he is seen thanking his campaign team for their hardwork and excellent support and not so surprisingly tears up! This got me wondering..in Africa where I come from men don't like to cry! If you are a man and you cry, especially in public, you are percieved as being weak. But is this true? Should a man hold back his emotions for the sake of being seen as a man, or is it okay for him to let go of the waterworks as the need arises? BTW, its not the first time I will see Obama cry though, did the same after the Sandy Hook shootings and I totally get him on that one.

Drown out the Negativity!

 

To attain and retain success, one needs to effectively master the art of being immune to negativity. Sometimes we are the ones who have our thoughts running riot and we end up having negative thoughts trying to distract us from our goals. But most times it is the words, actions and declarations of people close to us, sometimes even people we look up to and respect, that threatens to do damage to our aspirations. I have read time and again, success stories of individuals who at one time or the other, and at the very beginning of their success journey, have heard words from friends and family that 'stab as a sword'. It appears then, it is imperative that we all learn how to manage the outcome, watch our reactions and never allow such to hold us down.

If there is a word I have for you today, it will be this; Find your passion, hold on to it and never, ever let it go! Work at it, polish it, prune it, master it, invest in it, make it better and work, work, work on it! Be so busy mastering your craft that you have little or no time to respond to nay-sayers.  Don't be so busy bothering about what So and So said or why it might never happen. Fact is, it must have happened for someone in the past. And if it has, it can happen for you too if only you will believe. Negative criticism is a necessary ingredient to success, get used to it.

Check out these stories if you are in need of more inspiration: Elvis Presley is known as the King of Rock and Roll. But back when he was still unknown, he got fired after just one performance. His manager, Jimmy Denny, told him, “You ain’t goin’ nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin’ a truck.”

Oprah has emerged as one of the top role models for today. She is rich, successful and shows genuine care for the people. But she endured an abusive childhood and numerous challenges to get to where she is now. At one stage, she was fired from her job as a television reporter because she was “unfit for tv”.

I don’t think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good.
- Oprah Winfrey

The original Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was rejected by a dozen publishers; including big houses like Penguin and Harper Collins. Bloomsbury, a small London publisher, only took it because the CEO’s eight-year old daughter begged her father to print the book.

Before she published the Harry Porter series, J.K Rowling was in poverty, severely depressed and a single parent. She went from depending on welfare to being one of the richest women in the world in a span of only five years through hard work and perseverance.

Need I say more? Get off your seat and get on with that dream. Ignore your negative thoughts, and ignore those of others. Believe in God when He says to you "With Me (God), ALL (not some, but all) things are possible.

What other assurance do you need?

Love & Light

A.

Ajoke Writes: Let he who stands....

Lance Armstrong

I am inspired to do better when I see individuals who have or are doing extremely well in their chosen endeavours. I believe we all have our individual strengths and weaknesses, however the ability to triumph and attain success; not just success but resounding success is deserving of a huge, long-lasting applause. The Barack & Michelle Obamas, the Maya Angelous, Oprah Winfreys, Beyonces, etc of this world are people that I greatly respect and admire, and part of my inspiration comes from their stories and the milestones and setbacks they have been able to surmount just to get to where they are. So imagine the feeling you get when someone you admire in this way lets you down and you find out they have lived it mostly as a lie so you were wrong to have emulated them in the first place.

Enter Lance Armstrong.

I am so feeling for cycling fans and anyone who looked up to Lance all around the world right now. I am not a huge cycling fan....let me re-phrase I am NOT a cycling fan but I am an ardent sports lover and if you were to ask me if I know anyone that has done exceedingly well in the cycling world, I would have easily mentioned Armstrong. I know he has won titles and had an amazing career and to hear all that was achieved through performance enhancing drugs was hugely disappointing. Even more disappointing was the way it was revealed, and the way he confessed to doing it. I don't know if it is just me but I am not sure if I heard or percieved a hint of remorse in that whole interview except of course when he made reference to his son which i think was a bit expected. Did you?

Ajoke Writes: Write...or Die!!

Hello out there!!

I am super excited to finally be able to do this!

So finally after much thought, research and procrastinations, I finally take the plunge to start my own blog. To be honest, its been a long time coming but what with studying, a family, little kids and my own fabulous self to look after, it hasn't been an easy decision. But I enjoy writing, live and breathe music, it comes naturally for me and it will be unfair if I did not contribute my own quota to humanity in this way! Entre, therefore ATF, a blog set up to discuss news and events as they come up all around the world especially here in the UK...erm..but really the spotlight will be mostly on Africa *clears throat*   Anyways moving on....

The African entertainment scene keeps moving forward! Everytime I check on the goings-on in my home country, Nigeria, I see progress, desire for excellence and sheer determination. These guys are not playing. ATF is out to portray my beloved country and its people wherever they may be, in a positive light and hopefully light up the spark of inspiration in someone's heart. So i invite you music, movies, sports and showbiz lovers like me to join me on this ride...who knows where it will take us? Look out for my take on music, fashion, movies, sports and events, relationship, marriage and parenting discussion forums and most importantly..have your say!

And please tell a friend to tell a friend.


"If I'm able to keep learning, putting myself in a position to learn something else, and putting myself in positions where I can make it possible for somebody else to learn something, those are the major successes" Toni Morrison

Join me in making a difference.

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