Lux Thinking Aloud An Appeal To My Fellow Bloggers 4:00 AM I started blogging because of my overwhelming thoughts and introverted personality. I've always had a love affair with the written words. It's very therapeutic and calming for me. Fast forward to this day, I never thought I'd be able to reach a wider audience, gain friends in the process and even earn from doing what I love. Such a dream if you'd ask me. And I'm letting you know this because I have an appeal to my fellow bloggers. An Appeal to My Fellow Bloggers While getting paid doing what you love is a bonus, it is not right to accept offers from cheapskates and frauds. I don't mean people starting on their business who can't afford to pay the standard advertising fee. I actually love helping budding entrepreneurs by working around their budgets. I am a dreamer. It feels good to be helping another dreamer. I'm talking about brands who ask you to write about their products and services for less than $10; asking you to add a lot of links and images, and even has the gall to tell you to give them a 5-star rating and review without receiving any product. How can you give a high rating or a good review to something you haven't seen or used? GIFSec I've had offers like this. They first ask you nicely to help give their brands a good image. "Can you please feature us in your blog? Write a review for us and include the (5 to 6) links below. $5 for one article. Also, please leave a good review on our website." "Can you please give us a 5-star rating on (insert reputable review sites' names here) and give us a good review? You don't have to write the review yourself. We will provide it for you. Just create an account with your email and we will send you the review. Just copy and paste. We will pay you a dollar for each review." A dollar. A dollar in exchange for a fake review. A dollar in exchange for a lie. A dollar and a girl searching for a prom dress or a mom searching for a house item for her family would believe that lie and buy purchase. Spending their hard-earned savings on an item I'm supposed to claim is "sooo good I highly recommend it" which in truth I haven't even seen. I myself as a consumer and someone who shops online checks reviews on Trust Pilot and other reputable websites before buying. I check out forums regarding the product I'm going to spend my hard-earned money on---regardless of the price. Why would I make a review about something I've never used? What would be my basis? Don't they get what the review site is for? A dollar in exchange for my word of honor. What are we, my fellow bloggers, if our words are nothing but false advertisements and paid lies? Words are what we've got. Words are our weapon, our bread and butter, our lifeline, our connection to the world. What happens if those very words are not our own anymore and they were made up by someone who wants to manipulate people for profit? What does that make us? And I was left wondering, what if someone grabbed it and agreed? When I finally got an offer to write something in exchange for money, I wouldn't lie to you I was excited beyond words. Imagine just doing what you love and someone offering you money for it. That's like the sweet spot between purpose and passion. I'm thankful that my first offer was reasonable enough for a first timer. And the offers after that. It is inevitable though to receive fishy offers along the way. Sometimes they pretend to be guest bloggers trying to get exposure. They will use a fake photo. I have a soft spot in my heart for bloggers. I'd love to help as many and as much as I can especially those who are still starting. So I would agree. Only to receive a draft that is full of promotion about their products or services. And if I point that out, they will keep on begging and bugging me in the emails. I ask nicely: "Please understand the business side of blogging. As much as I want to help you, this is promotional and it is clearly stated in my guest blogging terms that this is not allowed. I can give you a discount if you want. Gotta keep my page running. Thanks for understanding." And still get a reply saying "I understand but please can you just publish this?" Wut? Giphy If you understand, you will definitely not ask me to do it. I am being respectful and I do hope to get the same respect and understanding in return. As bloggers, we want our page to be appealing to our target audience. We want to give people a good experience when they visit our site. We spend hours planning, writing, proof-reading, searching for and editing images, and trying to perfect our posts. Somehow blogging transcends from being just a hobby to an extension of our lives. It is our online presence. It is who we are. Giphy For someone like me who has very little knowledge about the technicalities of building a blog, I hire someone to remove bugs, fix what's causing the delay in loading time, and change htmls to something better than what I've set up. I pay for my .com. I pay for my internet, electric bills and I bought my own laptop. I have to find a way to pay for my expenses. And I am so glad I get to do that from my blog---into which I'm spending these expenses on in the first place. An appeal to my fellow bloggers, spot the fraud and don't do business with them. It will be good if all bloggers unite and not work with cheapskates and manipulators. Don't give an awesome review of a product you haven't seen or used. Don't allow someone to shortchange you. Don't work with people who don't value and respect what you do. We are not just ranters or ramblers. We are not a waste of space or bandwidth. Bloggers are influencers. People actually read and consider our opinions. We are the media; we report, we share, we inform, we promote. Dare I say it, we touch and change lives. Fellow bloggers, I know you're smart. I know you're not mainly doing this for money. I know because your passion comes first. That's why I'm a blogger too. I appeal to you my fellow bloggers: Let us all say 'no' to frauds and fakes. Let us refuse and decline cheap offers especially those asking us to make false claims. We are better than that. Our words, the time and effort we spend writing them is worth more than just a dollar. What we do matters. For we are bloggers. If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article using the social media buttons below or on the left. Thanks!
Faith To My Enemy 6:00 PM To my enemy, I may be weak and losing. I may look tired and about to surrender. But I am not. I am far from quitting. I am far from getting knocked down. To my enemy who keeps trying to steal my joy and distract me from focusing on the prize, listen up and listen well: You may think you've owned me. Oh, I can hear you laughing now. I may look frail and dying, I may look defeated. You may assume I'm gone, but I assure you I am not. You may feel like you've won, because right now I am lying helplessly on the ground. You have pinned me down and I am too weak to fight back. I have little strength left to get back up again. But the ground is not my home. This is not where I belong. Let me remind you that I'm not alone in this fight. When I am weak, my God is strong. You can assume that the fight is over. I can't blame you. I have retreated in my corner. I've got no more words to say. But that's not because I've ran out of reasons. It's just because I realized you're not worth the time. I don't want to waste my time and energy on something worthless such as yourself. I will never be able to show you reason. For your mind is narrow, and you are arrogant. You'll never accept the truth staring at your face. And you will die trying to convince me I am living a life of lies. You will never win this fight. For even before the fight started, Jesus already conquered the world. Needless to say, He has conquered you. Oh, you may think I have forgotten. But, I have not. You have lost, before you've even started. I may be badly wounded, broken beyond recognition, black and blue all over, bleeding profusely---almost lifeless. But, just you wait. Just you wait. When my Savior comes bringing His game, you will be scattered in your conceit. My God, the Champ, the Big Boss, the Lord of all, will carry me and heal me. He will mend me and wipe away my tears. He will cleanse me, strengthen and nourish me back to life. He will make me brand new. He will stop the bleeding, He will bring me back to my feet, and I'll be ready to kick you goodbye. You can rejoice now, for I may have temporarily stopped fighting back. That's not defeat though. That's just me wising up and choosing my battles. I hope you're ready to face your fate when the Lord is done with me. I'll be back with sweet vengeance for the Lord is my vindicator. For He has prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies. He anoints my head with oil; my cup overflows (Psalm 23:5). You can plan tactics after tactics to bring me down, but you will always fail. You may have succeeded in persecuting me, you may have offended me repeatedly. But pain is temporary, the glory that comes when the truth comes out is forever. No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). You and your lying tongue will soon find its doom. For God's just judgment will still prevail. You will be shamed for assuming you have successfully taken everything away from me. For God will restore everything I've lost; He'll have compassion on me; He'll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where I have been scattered (Deuteronomy 30:3). To my enemy, you have messed with the wrong woman. I am your King's daughter. You have not beaten me to death. You have only made me stronger. On my side is He Whom even death could not hold down. To my enemy, be afraid. Because I have a big God. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. -2 Corinthians 12:10
Lux Thinking Aloud Unbranded Accessories, Branded Life 5:36 PM Child, you are more precious than silver. Child, you are more costly than gold. Child, you are more beautiful than diamonds. And nothing I desire compares with you. I don't mind wearing unbranded clothing or accessories. It's not like the clothes I wear and the accessories I use are tied to my self-worth anyway. My identity is not equal to the price tag of my bags or shoes. We're priceless. I am priceless. I'm worth more than the most expensive jewelry or leather in the world.My worth? No less than the Almighty's sweat, blood, and breath. Bejeweled or not, naked or clothed, I am still who I am.I am the King's daughter. That is my brand. That should be the brand we need to be wearing. Come to think of it, nobody came into this world clothed luxuriously. We were all born naked, with only our mother's fluid wrapping around our bodies. Gooey, yucky stuff is all we've got when we started on earth. So makeup, nice clothes, elegant jewelry of course they all make us look better, more presentable, cooler. I love fashion and I follow a lot of fashion and lifestyle bloggers whose sense of style I adore and admire. But I'd like to quickly reiterate that these are not the be-all and end-all of life. It makes me sad to see people buying stuff they can't afford just so they get the latest and the best according to what society dictates. Just so they feel accepted. Just so they get a sense of belonging. Just so they find their sense of being. It's okay to wear unbranded accessories, as long as your heart is pure, your intentions genuine, and your life is rightly branded. So...just like the common red carpet question goes, "Who are you wearing?"
Music Music: Earth Song (Michael Jackson) 6:00 PM I'm saying heal the planet, heal the world, save our children, save the forest. There's nothing wrong with that, right? -Michael Jackson We can't turn a blind eye and shrug off what's currently happening in the real world. Tweet The graphic, heart-wrenching images and disturbing news about war, school shootings, and animal cruelty remind me of the Earth Song. If you haven't heard the lyrics or seen the video of Michael Jackson's Earth Song, now is the right time. If after listening to it or watching him belt out his emotions and you're still not moved, I'm not sure if you're human at all. You better have yourself checked. Earth Song is one of, if not the most genius, honest, awakening, emotive songs ever written. It questions and rants about our planet's situation and what we do about it. It will make you stop in your tracks and wonder: "What on earth are we doing to the world and to ourselves?" It will make you ask for maybe the nth time, "What on earth are these wars for anyway?!" Caution: contains some graphic images (all photos from Google images). Earth Song Michael Jackson What about sunrise What about rain What about all the things That you said we were to gain What about killing fields Is there a time What about all the things That you said was yours and mine Did you ever stop to notice All the blood we've shed before Did you ever stop to notice The crying Earth the weeping shores Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh What have we done to the world Look what we've done What about all the peace That you pledge your only son What about flowering fields Is there a time What about all the dreams That you said was yours and mine clip from the Earth Song video Did you ever stop to notice All the children dead from war Did you ever stop to notice The crying Earth the weeping shores Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh I used to dream I used to glance beyond the stars Now I don't know where we are Although I know we've drifted far Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh Hey, what about yesterday (What about us) What about the seas (What about us) The heavens are falling down (What about us) I can't even breathe (What about us) What about apathy (What about us) I need you (What about us) What about nature's worth (Ooo, ooo) It's our planet's womb (What about us) What about animals (What about it) We've turned kingdoms to dust (What about us) What about elephants (What about us) Have we lost their trust (What about us) What about crying whales (What about us) We're ravaging the seas (What about us) What about forest trails (Ooo, ooo) Burnt despite our pleas (What about us) What about the Holy Land (What about it) Torn apart by creed (What about us) What about the common man (What about us) Can't we set him free (What about us) What about children dying (What about us) Can't you hear them cry (What about us) Where did we go wrong (Ooo, ooo) Someone tell me why (What about us) What about babies (What about it) What about the days (What about us) What about all their joy (What about us) What about the man (What about us) What about the crying man (What about us) What about Abraham (What about us) What about death again (Ooo, ooo) Do we give a damn Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh During an Earth Song performance "I respect the secrets and magic of nature. That’s why it makes me so angry when I see these things that are happening, ya know. And every second, I hear the size of a football field is torn down in the Amazon. I mean, that kind of stuff really bothers me. That’s why I write these kind of songs, ya know. Gives them sense of awareness and awakening and hope to people." -Michael Jackson on Earth Song Oh, If we only listen. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Listicle 10 Things You'll Only Understand If You're A Woman 9:00 PM 10 Things You'll Only Understand If You're A Woman I'm a woman of the desert. But above all, I'm a woman.-Paulo Coelho How hard is it to be a woman in this patriarchal society?Are women just making a big fuss out of it because they like drama?Do women really love drama in the first place?Women make it look effortless to be a female in a male-dominated world.But there are things you'll never understand if you're not a woman yourself. 1. The physical transformation from a girl to a grown womanThe shift from a little girl to full-blown womanhood is beautiful but physically painful at the same time. Your breasts become sore and sensitive. You deal with the unfamiliar and torturous pain of dysmenorrhea or menstrual cramps.The physical transformation can make you feel clumsy. The psychological change makes you awkward.Welcome to womanhood! Something you'll never understand if you're not a natural-born woman. Giphy 2. The vulnerability that comes with being a woman No matter how brave you are, a woman's physical strength is no match for men. There are some exemptions, of course, but generally speaking, men are still stronger physically.As a woman, you're an easy target for an assault.If you're not a woman, you won't understand what it's like to be a walking sexual object. You'll only understand the vulnerability of being a woman if you're one. Giphy 3. Dealing with the annoying and scary catcalling Sometimes catcalling can be easily ignored and are harmless. But it can also get abusive, offensive, and scary. Catcalling is not about how you look or how skimpy your dress is. It's because you're a woman, and some men are disrespectful, seeing women as sexual objects more than human beings. You could be all wrapped up and still be catcalled. Because it's not you. It's them.Only a woman who has had to deal with catcalling, probably since she was 11, will understand how terrible it is to be on the receiving end of jeering. Giphy 4. The pain of menstrual cramps, pregnancy, labor pain, and actual birth-giving.Oh, the excruciating period pain a woman has to deal with. Every. Single. Month.As your uterus contracts, you feel sharp poking pain and tightening around your lower abdomen.But it doesn't end there.No, gentlemen. It's more complex.You also feel soreness in your breast and around your hip and lower back.Your legs feel as though you ran miles for hours and back again.As a bonus, you'll even get a splitting headache sometimes.You're in a constant ruthless circle of pain.Doctors acknowledge period pain can be almost as bad as a heart attack.A heart attack!And the world expects you to keep going like nothing's happening.Because women can.They carry on as if everything's normal.Women make being a woman easy even when many things happen in their bodies simultaneously.Like you're being tortured, you feel murderous, but you have to keep that sweet smile on your face. And let's not forget that giving birth is life-threatening. There's a 50/50 chance that a mother will not survive.Only a natural-born woman can understand the pain and discomfort of menstrual cramps, pregnancy, labor pain, and actual birth-giving.This post contains affiliate links, so we'd get a commission if you purchase through the links at no additional cost. Giphy Here's a fun reaction from Joshua Caldwell-Clarke when he found out about period pain. 5. The crazy hormonal change only a woman goes through. PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) is a heartless bitch. And from what I've heard, so is menopause. Know how postpartum severe depression could get?Some lead to suicide.When a woman experiences hormonal change, the term mood swings don't give it justice.Your hormones are going crazy, and no lessons about the human anatomy can prepare you for the onslaught of irritability, sudden sadness, and sensitivity.Sometimes you just feel like crying for no apparent reason.There's also this weird craving for something so badly, often during the middle of the night, but not knowing what that something is. Giphy 6. The uncanny intuition of a woman. It's been planted in every woman's DNA to sense danger fast for her to protect her child. It comes in handy for other instances too. FBI should hire more female investigators. They can unearth secrets better. According to a study, women generally access their memories faster than males and date them more precisely.A woman can tell something's wrong even without clear evidence. Yet.A woman would remember what you said on March 19, 2001, at exactly 11:27 am. 😏From experience, a woman's intuition has never been wrong. Giphy 7. The stereotyping and labels that are given to women. If a man dates around, he's cool. He's suave. If a woman dates random guys, she's a slut. If a man stays single, he's an eligible bachelor. So he becomes a prize women should compete for. People are excited to know if he'll settle down anytime soon. If a woman is still single in her 30s, she will become a lonely, desperate spinster for the rest of her life. People pity or make fun of her. Where a man is called driven and assertive, a woman is too ambitious and bossy. Where a man is applauded for speaking his mind, a woman is called a bitch and a know-it-all.You'll never understand why women must fight harder to break the stereotype unless you're a woman too.Tenor 8. Gender discrimination and the need to fight for equality Even in our progressive society, some women are still paid less than their male counterparts.This is sad since studies show that female-led companies perform better.Meryl Streep said, "I was offered three witches [roles] when I turned 40 - in one year. And I thought: 'Oh, this is how it's gonna go?'"It seems the world thinks women are less bankable than men, especially as they age, so they deserve lesser pay.Gender discrimination is everywhere and has been around since time immemorial. Women have been underestimated, overruled, pushed aside, and pushed around for a long time.If you're a woman, you'll only understand the struggle and the need to fight for equal rights. 9. The joy and beauty of carrying and giving birth.I think women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men. They are far superior and always have been. Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. - William GoldingFrom conception to childbirth, a woman's body does not stop growing a miracle in her womb---a beautiful baby.According to studies, residual fetal cells stay in the mother's body after giving birth. So her children will always be a part of her. Literally.And you'll never understand childbearing and childbirth unless you have a uterus. Tenor 10. The unique qualities only a real woman is privileged to possess.Are women better than men?Indeed there are many ways where men excel, and they deserve to be celebrated and honored.But women also possess qualities that are unique only to them.Here are 20 things women do more and better than men.If you don't have the xx chromosomes, you don't and can't have them.Giphy All these beautiful and not-so-pleasant things a biological woman goes through and possesses are precisely what makes her what she is. Being a woman is more than what meets the eye. It's more than physical. To become a woman, you need more than a makeover or a sex transplant. Just because you grow breasts, wear a dress, put on some makeup, and identify as a woman, doesn't make you one. You'll never know or understand what being a woman really is unless you were born as one.
People This World Was Not Ready For Michael Jackson 7:00 PM I'm feeling like God brought him here, gave him to us, and God took him back. This world was not ready for it. -Jermaine Jackson A Michael Jackson fan thinking out loud: This World Was Not Ready For Michael Jackson We are all put on earth for a purpose, for a mission. Some of us spend our whole lives looking for it, some don't even care what their mission is. They don't search their soul. Content on living day after day on autopilot, walking around like zombies. Some people are blessed enough to have the clarity and vision of what they are here for at an early age. Michael Jackson is one of those blessed few who has always known his purpose. That is, to share to the world the union with the divine which he claims he gets in his music, to share his talent, to spread happiness and love to everyone, especially to those who need it the most. It's a shame that those who couldn't figure out what their lives are about or what their purpose in life is, made him the target of their empty lives. They tried to suck out all the energy he had. They tried to steal from him the light that he saw which they couldn't have. I think more than anything else, it's envy. They couldn't handle the thought of someone as great as Michael Jackson walking on earth with them while they go around figuring things out, frustrated. They didn't know how to deal with this phenomenal being with clarity and passion, with a quiet powerful force in him. They couldn't handle it. They hated that Michael Jackson reminded them of their emptiness and mediocrity. And I'm sorry that an innocent man like Michael Jackson had to suffer their uncontrollable, senseless, childish, miserable act of envy; despite him giving the world his all, his best, his life. Sad. See also: Ramblings Of A Neophyte Michael Jackson Fan 5 Reasons To Love Michael Jackson Photos from Google images. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Lux Thinking Aloud #Blessed And Not Bragging 6:00 PM You don't see the world as it is; you see it as you are.-Krishna Saagar They say #blessed is the new way to brag. Humble bragging, they call it. I don't get it. Since when did knowing, believing, claiming, and declaring that you are blessed become bragging? Here's my take on the #blessed. Believe and declare At The Feast, we are encouraged to dream big. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). Because we are blessed. We learn to focus on the good things in life and see them as blessings.We practice declaring we are blessed every day, no matter what the situation is. We are reminded to always have a grateful heart. Part of the Feast's Declaration of Abundance says: Today, I proclaim that I'm God's Beloved, I'm God's Servant, I'm God's powerful champion. And because I am blessed, I am blessing the world. In Jesus' Name, Amen. I don't see anything wrong with declaring that beautiful truth. If you believe you are blessed and want to use that blessing to bless others, that's a winner's mindset. Everyone will benefit from it. "Faith Words aren't just mere positive affirmations; they open your life up to the supernatural power of God." (Bo Sanchez). Giphy Crab mentalityThe term "crab mentality" refers to a mindset that can be summarized as "if I'm not able to have it, then neither are you." Can't we be genuinely happy for others and allow their story to inspire us instead? Envy kills. Giphy Choose what you propagate. If you can spread rumors, trash-talk the government, cancel a celebrity or someone you hate, or share disturbing viral photos and videos, why can't you spread positivity? In the world today, when you feel crappy or angry, you can vent out so easily. People like it when you air your dirty laundry. But when you post feel-good words or photos, you are a hypocrite, a liar, or a bragger. Sharing motivational quotes or heartwarming stories can make another person's day. Sharing your blessings has always been a good thing. I don't see any reason why we should stop now. Tenor There's no pleasing everybody.There will always be those who are quick to find fault in everything. If there is none, they will make something up. Not everyone will be happy for you. Not everyone will celebrate with you. And that's okay. Unsubscribe From Other People's Drama. Giphy Sad reality It's sad when you think about it. That the world does not believe in blessings anymore. For many, the concept of being blessed seems hard to process, accept and understand. That to be blessed looks too good to be true. Are we really that far from believing the truth? Giphy Sharing the good is false and prideful, while rumors, scandals, and bad news spread like wildfire and amuse and entertain the public. The truth that you are blessed is implied and written throughout the Bible. Regardless of your religion, is it really that hard to believe that it is possible to live a blessed life? What's your take on #blessed? Do you think that people who use that hashtag are merely bragging?
