Talk Crate

 2020: The year that was! T his year was something taken straight out of a comic book to the point where you wonder if we are all waking up from a dream... But, even with all the pitfalls, there has been some good moments to cherish. Though the outlook has been bleak, we also, at the end of the day have to acknowledge that there has been moments when we have laughed and felt at ease. I am not disregarding what has transpired or what is transpiring around us. What l am saying is, where there’s been pain you are not alone. We have felt the pain together and where there is joy, we have laughed and rejoiced together.  W e have to rise out the slumber and use wisdom to be the best that we can be, in a loving manner and at the same time supporting and bearing each other’s burdens. This is no longer about me and me only but its about us - all of us coming together, being supportive of one another and being compassionate in the best way that we can. Sometimes, just a phone call or a text to ch

I think we can all relate when I say that there are certain days where you just do not know what to cook.  l was reminded of a dish my gran used to make. It has a texture similar to that of creamed spinach but in this case, pumpkin leaves are used. It's such a versatile and simple dish that's tasty and nutritious.  * Before starting, make sure you peel off the strings found on the stems of the pumpkin leaves *  Ingredients   [ ] One cup of water [ ] Half a grated tomato  [ ] Half a chilli [ ] A pinch of bicarbonate of sode [ ] A pinch of salt to taste [ ] 2 to 3 Tablespoons of peanut butter Steps 1. Roughly chop the pumpkin leaves 2. Mix the water, bicarbonate of soda, tomatoes and salt in a saucepan. Allow to simmer for 3 to 5 minutes  3. Add the pumpkin leaves. It should take them about 10 minutes to fully cook. 4. Add the peanut butter to the pumpkin leaves and stir.  5. Allow to simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes then it will be ready to eat!  Tips! • You can enjoy thi

 T he pandemic has put a lot of things into perspective for me and many other people - it has given me a lot of time to think about my struggles (both past and present). I hope that this can give bring comfort to someone and show them that they are not alone. Life can throw you into the deepest and darkest of pits and it might seem like there is no light and the end of the tunnel. But, there is always a way, as cliche as that might sound. R ecently, l went through a rough patch, financially. A tough time financially can take a huge emotional toil on a person - speaking from experience. When all the bills pile up, it is very difficult not to feel isolated. I tried my hardest to find a job and find ways of earning extra income. The debilitating part was the continuous rejection. Imagine, religiously sending out your resume every single day but absolutely no response besides the usual , " We will keep your resume on file." One of my attempts was to sell the furniture in the hous

 Having a new addition to the family is an exciting time for the new parents and let’s not forget the grand-parents as well. Though exciting, it can also be a stressful time for those involved especially where family is concerned. I am sure you must be raising your eyebrows and wondering what l mean by this... We cannot beat about the bush here! Your sisters want to be involved, your parents and in-laws also want to be part of the process but how do you keep everyone happy without disappointing or hurting those close to you?  I remember this so well but sometimes it’s important to remember to ‘do you’ without stepping on anyone’s toes. You must keep in mind the fact that, in life, there will always be the ‘extra grace’ people but remember this is your pregnancy and this is your time to get to bond with your pregnant-self. If you feel overwhelmed and feel that the family is too much, be open and honest with everyone involved. Be assertive but don’t be offensive. An example is to say, “

If you are working on your self improvement, these 7 great tips should be added to your list. These aren’t the typical tips you get. Are you ready?  1. Reduce how much time you spend on chat programs. Chat programs result in tons of wasted time, which you can spend on better activities. Disable the auto start feature in chat programs and only launch them when you have spare time or you really need to chat. 2. Get yourself a coach. If you want to improve the fastest way to do so is to have a coach work with you to create your goals. Your coach can help to guide you; however, ultimately it is up to you to make your own decisions.  3. Turn off the television. It is a very liberating experience to stop watching television. You’ll free up time that you can use for more constructive purposes like spending time with your good friends, getting fit or working on your business plan. There is very little that TV actually has to offer that will stimulate your brain. 4. Learn how to play chess. Che

  Too much of a good thing isn’t good for you. Sometimes there’s just too much ‘happy’ ‘warm and fuzzies’ and ‘positive thinking.’ Other times there’s just too much negativity. Let’s look at some self improvement clichés that can help you during those tough times.  #1 Get out of your comfort zone  This might be true, but it’s easier said than done. You get why someone might back out of something because suddenly they realize they don’t feel like they are ready. Instead, look at things from a different point of view. If you are feeling anxious or scared those are signs you need to do this. Ease your self doubt.  #2 Follow your dreams You’ve probably been told more than once to just ‘follow your dreams.’ The problem is it’s easy to say follow your dreams, but to actually do it takes a lot of work. To make matters worse, the self-help industry overvalue the idea of following your dreams, so much that we feel like if we aren’t following our dreams we are doing something wrong – not true. V