The Happiness nest

gethappy — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 07:28:16 +0000

I have been off my blog for more than 6 months. I will be back soon to share with you my happiness or make you happy. I am in Africa and so my post will have a lot related to African context.

Filed under: Uncategorized

THE TRAGEDY OF AN UNSUNG HERO AND HER TWINS

gethappy — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 10:34:25 +0000

“It is our vocation to save life. It involves risk, but when we serve with love, that is when the risk does not matter so much. When we believe our mission is to save lives, we have got to do our work.”

These were the words of Dr. Mathew Lukwiya in the year 2000. He was trying to rally the support of his physicians and nurses whom he had recognized were not willing to work under such dangerous situation of the Ebola epidemic in Gulu, northern Uganda.

Dr. Lukwiya Mathew was the medical superintendent of Lacor hospital. He eventually died of the viral Ebola disease. He is now a national Hero in Uganda. When Dr. Lukwiya died, he didn’t die alone. Listening to his words was a young nurse Ms Olanya Christine. Just like Dr. Lukwiya, Christine listened and sacrificed her life for others to live when nurses kept off to be able to keep a live and bring up their children to realize their dreams. Christine knew the risk she was putting her self in, she loved her twin daughters as much as others loved their children but she placed her people and her country before her own children. She had hopes that her love would be reciprocated by another good Samaritan who would take care of her twins if she didn’t make it. She listened to Dr. Lukwiya and had the courage to face death in saving lives. She was a good servant to her master.

Like fate would have it, she also died in the process. Little did she know that a decade later her twins would be abandoned in a grass-thatched hut at the age of 16 waiting for male predators to take advantage of them. In her love and kindness as a loyal servant to her master, she did not know that her children will also drop out of school just a decade after she is gone. Today these beautiful twins Acen Caroline and Apio Catherine can barely feed themselves or dress up like children to hide their dignity. They have also dropped out like their mother in senior four because its then that she conceived. Will they conceive and loss every dream her patriotic mother had for them? Will they blame their mother for her courage and love for career and country? It’s only their souls and their God who can tell. Today, its Christine’s children, tomorrow it will be one of us. Should this vicious cycle of misfortune follow the African child because we care less?

Every week, I write about happiness. I am not happy. Yet I know doing good for others makes me happy. I have chosen to share with you the plight of two young girls who could have been your daughters or a friend to your daughter. They could have grown to be Doctors like their mother to save your life or the life of your children. I have committed my self to look for where they should stay and have what to eat. I am asking for any good Samaritan or person of good will to support their education. I don’t do this because I have much but I do this because I am a parent. I would have done the same like her mother if I had been called to serve my country and humanity. Only $ 5000 dollars could save their lives and guarantee them a future. By attaining the basic minimum education in a nearby teacher training college. Before Dr. Lukwiya died he said, “ I will continue fighting Ebola alone if necessary until the virus is beaten or until am dead”. They both died but he died with a partner. Please join me to save the life of two African girls by mailing me on mdaliker@gmail.com or call me on 256-701938508. Feel free to share or reblog this post; it could save the lives of these two beautiful daughters of my hero. In Olbert Schweiter’s words, “The only people who are truly happy are those helping others”.

Scientists cure ebola in monkeys – and humans could be next [Biology] (io9.com)
Branswell: Winnipeg lab reports Ebola progress (crofsblogs.typepad.com)
Winnipeg lab reports progress in treatment for Ebola – CTV.ca (ctv.ca)
Scientists Have Found a Possible Cure for Ebola [Science] (gizmodo.com)
Good Samaritan dies trying to save children (thesun.co.uk)

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Ebola, ebola epidemic, Ebola virus disease, Gulu, Lukwiya, Lukwiya Mathew, Northern Region Uganda, Parable of the Good Samaritan, Uganda

HAPPINESS: Clear The Clutter In Your Life (Reblogged)

gethappy — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 21:54:31 +0000

What did your Pastor preach about last Sunday? This is a question many Christians might by now have forgotten.

Either they didn’t pay attention or the message failed to find itself in their long-term memory. I was touched by my Priest’s sermon. He made an analogy of the feast of ascension and boarding your international flight.

He referred to Jesus seated at the right hand of the father. The priest asserted that even when Jesus had a short ministry, he fulfilled his mission.

Whatever he could not do, he left behind his disciples to complete the task of building his father’s kingdom.

He concluded by calling on Christians to live up to this expectation that Jesus sacrificed his life for our sake.

In comparison, he referred to checking your luggage for an international flight. He said, for successful flight passengers are regulated on the weight and number of carryon bags they can carry along.

If you are not obedient to this regulation, you are denied your flight or else you are forced to damp your belongings until the required weight.

However, if you insist then you are over charged for the extra weight. This implies you have to identify what you want most and leave behind what you can do without.

If you are not to be denied your flight, you then need to be disciplined and follow the instruction to all passengers.

Having said this, just like Jesus’ death and ascension; as Christians, we need to clear the clutter in our lives to appear safe for judgment before the Lord when the time comes.

This means we must have priorities and drop the habits that deny us the happiness of going to heaven.

Every Christian wants to go to heaven but not all want to work hard to go to heaven just like we all want to be happy but not all want to be disciplined to work hard to find happiness in what we do.

Normally heaven and the skies where planes fly reflect happiness. We are either happy to fly in a plane or to believe we will go to heaven. But what we forget is that there is an opportunity cost to achieving this happy reality. CONTINUE

Heaven Tourism (challies.com)
Jesus didn’t command us to “go to heaven” (ptl2010.com)
The Image of Man Has Been Raised Up: On the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord (insightscoop.typepad.com)
Why The Lord’s Ascension is More Important Than We Think (biltrix.com)
Fatherhood: The Core of the Universe (appliedagape.com)

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Ascension of Jesus, Christian, Christianity, Heaven, Jesus, Lord, Religion and Spirituality, Sunday

HAPPINESS: Do You Hate Your Job?

gethappy — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:01:36 +0000

Today I met my student and friend (Mutumba) heading to the University. Mutumba is in his final year of School of Education, Makerere University. Upon our meeting, I asked him: “Why do you love teaching?” Smiling broadly he laughed it off. He knew I was poking him because this is a question he had asked me, as his teacher. Eventually, Mutumba told me he hated every aspect of the profession but he had no choice. His parents could not afford paying for his dream career. My friend Mutumba dreamt of being a lawyer but it’s too expensive compared to a Bachelor’s degree in Education. I told Mutumba, I had failed to run away from teaching. When I left teaching in a high school and worked for a non-for profit (NGO), my job description required that I train teachers on some life skills. When I changed my job, I found myself training orphans and vulnerable youths ICT (web 2.0). Therefore, I have accepted teaching as my vocation. A vocation is a calling that you cannot turn down if you want to be happy with yourself. This is what explains the life of a missionary who leaves the comfort of their homes in Europe to live, work and die in rural Africa. I then shared with him the story of John. John is my American friend who is a qualified Engineer but chose to teach because he loved working with young people and training them basketball. This is what brought him to Africa. He would earn better as an engineer than a teacher but he felt his calling is in teaching. He is a happy teacher. I am sure there are a number of people outside there who are not sure of what career to pursue in life. In the same way there are people who have well paying jobs but are not happy. Having said that, how do you find happiness in your career? CONTINUE

Filed under: Happiness Tagged: dream career, education, makerere university, politics

HAPPINESS: Is Parenting Making You Unhappy?

gethappy — Thu, 31 May 2012 14:46:27 +0000

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A study carried out to examine a group of women’s emotions revealed that marital satisfaction nose-dives after the first child is born and picks up again once the children leave home.

Basing on this theory, some happiness experts argue that although parents insist that children are a major source of happiness, this belief is not true.

So if you are a parent, is parenting making you unhappy? Jane (not real name) was a student of International Relations.

She had a great career until she got a baby. Her husband would not allow her travel for her office foreign trips with their baby.

She became so frustrated and considered whether to separate from her husband and pursue her career or to submit to her husband’s interest and remain home and take care of the baby or find a new job.

Many times we find ourselves in this conflicting loyalty but how do we find happiness in Parenting?Continue

5 Things NOT to Say to the Childfree (blogher.com)
R Baby Foundation Twitter Party (resourcefulmommy.com)
The Power of StumbleUpon [Infographic] (webpronews.com)
StumbleUpon (lizbethsgarden.wordpress.com)
Will StumbleUpon Slide Under FTC Advertising Disclosure Changes? (socialnewswatch.com)

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: blogging, breastfeed, Digg, Home, motherhood, Parent, StumbleUpon, Twitter

Man City Vs QPR: Your Pot Can Break By The Door Way

gethappy — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:57:06 +0000

“What does it mean to be the best? It means you have to be better than the number two guy. But what gratification is there in that? He’s a loser–that’s why he’s number two.” –Jarod Kintz,

The old African adage “The pot breaks by the doorway” could not be more meaningful than this weekend’s game between Man City and Queens Park Rangers (QPR).

Man City won the English Premier League title for the first time in 44 years. This win (3-2) snatched the trophy from defending Champions Manchester United on goal difference in the last two minutes of extra time.

This was one of most dramatic finals in the premier league history. But what do we learn from this experience? Continue

Manchester City 3-2 QPR: Premier League Highlights (Video) (caughtoffside.com)
Ferguson: It will take Man City a century to match United’s history (talksport.co.uk)
Kompany revels in Man City glory (bbc.co.uk)
Win a Pair of Premier League Tickets Just By Watching the Crucial Man City Match Against QPR (caughtoffside.com)
Mancini: It’s Man City v QPR, not me v Mark Hughes (talksport.co.uk)

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: english premier league, goal difference, Manchester City FC, Manchester United F.C., Premier League, premier league history, queens park rangers, Queens Park Rangers FC, soccer, sports

Big Brother Star Game: Opportunity Picks The Prepared

gethappy — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:05:25 +0000

“It is not often that a man can make opportunities for himself. But he can put himself in such shape that when or if the opportunities come he is ready.” –Theodore Roosevelt

On Sunday night, Big Brother Star Game season seven of the famed M-Net Reality show was launched in South Africa. Journalist Kyle Duncan Kushaba and Jannatte, a Kampala dancer, are representing Uganda.

Kyle and Jannatte were introduced and subjected to some simple and easy to anticipate questions.

Their response left many Ugandans worried and they took to social media to express their disappointment. Both Kyle and Jannatte seemed unprepared for these simple questions.

Just like in the reality show, we all develop butterflies in our stomachs whenever subjected to an interview. This could be a job interview or a press interview. continue

Big Brother StarGame celebrity housemates unveiled (ghanabusinessnews.com)
J. Cole To Perform At Big Brother ‘Star Game’ Launch (itsajcoleworld.wordpress.com)
Big Brother Opening Night (akinoluwaoyedele.wordpress.com)
Big Brother star says boobs are getting bigger (mya.co.uk)
Big Brother star considering boob job (mya.co.uk)

Filed under: Happiness Tagged: Big Brother, Big Brother Africa, Job interview, Kampala, M-Net, South Africa, Theodore Roosevelt, Uganda

HAPPINESS: Over come the Fear of Failure in Life

gethappy — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:47:03 +0000

I have come to believe that all my past failures and frustrations were actually laying the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living I now enjoy. -Tony Robins

I have just completed reading Pat Groce’s book, I feel great and you will too! In 1996 Pat bought the NBA team Philadelphia 76ers. Pat’s story is about the courage to face failure over and over again but still hold the passion to persist. He is a pioneer in the sports physical therapy industry. As a therapist, Pat kept asking to be employed as a Physical therapist for NBA clubs but he was always denied. Pat went from being in the training room to the boardroom in one of the most unlikely stories in sports history. His book reminded me of a high school friend. My friend Messiah (not real name) had a humble beginning in life. In the early years of high school he fell in love with one of the most beautiful girls in a neighboring school. His proposal was clearly and completely rejected. While in A’ level (last two years before college), by coincidence they shared the same school, Messiah was fortunate to meet his childhood girl of his dreams at University. Messiah again made her know he would stop at nothing to ask for her hands in marriage. Messiah’s persistence paid off. Meghan (not real name) finally accepted to marry Messiah. Most of Messiah’s high school friends broke the hearts of their high school girl friends. CONTINUE

Surprise Teen Founds ‘Project Messiah’ (myfoxphoenix.com)
Get Familiar (thatkelliegirl.com)
Listening to the Scriptures and Breaking of the Bread (Eucharist) (junjunfaithbook.com)
Blogg 01/04/2012 Pancakes, Messiah, wardrobe malfunction, futbol… (j5uliana.wordpress.com)
[My Journey Series Part 4] The Importance of Messianic Jewish Ministry in the body of Messiah (paradoxparables.justparadox.com)
Ron Paul the Failed Messiah | Turns Miracle Oil Salesman (theageofblasphemy.wordpress.com)
Pat Robertson: ‘The Poor Jews Don’t Understand’ Anti-Semitism (1oneday.wordpress.com)
The Socialist Messiahs and Their Followers (conservativesonfire.wordpress.com)
Philadelphia 76ers versus New Jersey Nets Pick Prediction Point Spread Over Under Money Line Betting Odds Preview (tonyspicks.com)
Bleu to be Broadway messiah (variety.com)

Filed under: Happiness Tagged: High school, Messiah, myfoxphoenix com, National Basketball Association, NBA, Philadelphia, Philadelphia 76ers, Physical therapy, religion, soccer, sports, tennis, United States

What Happiness Looks Like Naked

gethappy — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:24:10 +0000

Reblogged from GYA today:

“Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities.” ~Aldous Huxley

(This post is re-blogged from one of my favorite blogs,
"Meant to be Happy," written by Ken Wert)

What is Happiness?

We talk a lot about happiness all dressed up and pretty. But what does it look like when it’s standing in nothing but its birthday suit?

HAPPINESS:Why Butterflies Fly and Humans Drive

gethappy — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:18:42 +0000

“As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness.” — Henry David Thoreau

Just like any adolescent, I always treasured a complex life until I got my first job. My job excitement influenced me to buy the most expensive shoes I could afford.

As I received compliments from colleagues, my boss cautioned: “simplicity shows the magnanimity of the soul.”

I later would never forget these words as life threw punches at me. My boss was the richest educationist yet the simplest teacher ever in Uganda. This was the awakening of my simplicity consciousness.

Last night, a friend told me a story of a young American who visited one of the rural village fishing sites in Africa.

He was astonished by the lifestyle of the fishing community. The Africans used sticks and strings tied to a hook to fish.

Most of them used local boats that could barely move deeper into the lake while others remained on the shores of the lake.

They spent the whole day fishing and holding conversations by the lake side. In the evening, they enjoyed the walk back home to prepare their meal.

The young American got inspired to help. He asked his parents for money to set up a fish factory.

He bought motorboats, refrigerators and sophisticated fishing tools worth millions of shillings. He anticipated that he would sell the fish and save the Africans from wasting more time.

Unfortunately, the project failed to take off after completion. The American then consulted the village elders, why the fishing community had turned down the project.

An elder told him: “Welcome to the roots of wisdom.” It’s all about the simplicity of our life style. Your project will make our lifestyle complex. The elder continued: “Your project will make the fish extinct for our grandchildren. We don’t know how to operate the machines you have brought but even if we learnt, the fish would cost us much more than we have always paid.”

The young American responded: “But I will save you a lot of time to do other things and you will have enough fish to eat whenever you need it.”

In response, another elder said: “Look, my son, the time our children spend at the fishing sites is for dating, that’s how they identify partners. Besides, we don’t practice agriculture here. If our children get more time to do nothing, they will use it to do wrong things.” CONTINUE

Inspiration: Happiness Is Like A Butterfly… (mycreativevoice.com)
Inspiration: Happiness Is Like A Butterfly… (milenanik3.wordpress.com)
High Winds and Butterflies (therousedbear.wordpress.com)
What is… (michaelbaldelli.wordpress.com)
Perfect Palawan part 1 (thelifeofpy.wordpress.com)

Filed under: Happiness Tagged: Africa, Fishing, fishing community, Henry David Thoreau, Human, roots of wisdom, San Diego, Simplicity, Uganda, United States, village elders

The Happiness nest

THE TRAGEDY OF AN UNSUNG HERO AND HER TWINS

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Man City Vs QPR: Your Pot Can Break By The Door Way

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