Author: #SilentNoises ~knm

This is the third part in the series-My Healthy Lifestyle. These articles have sought through the use of humor and common occurrences to put us on a critical path of thinking to enable us live healthy. It is never too late to start. Most of us shrug off the doctor’s orders and accuse them of being too book long or because we are friends with them we take what they say with a pinch of salt. How sad. If only we knew!

I use the key words ‘Westernized Connection’ for two reasons.
The first reason can be attributed to those of us resident overseas. As soon as we touch on the shore of the foreign land, we begin to adopt the lifestyle prevalent in that community. Though I must admit, the Ghanaian and for that matter the African diet is rich in carbohydrates, the consumption of red meat in huge quantities is equally not good for us. 1+1=2. That is double jeopardy on our health right there. Living overseas, we have developed a knack for the consumption of well done steak and goat meat and veal and venison at the least opportunity. Some have even equated the consumption of such to be a sign of good living. Good living? Today you find grills adorning most backyards or back porches. Almost all grill meat. Few grill fish. Why? How many times did you consume meat back home? Note that our grandfathers and some of our fathers did consume a lot of bushmeat which was also smoked before cooking and consumption. Some of our fathers and grandfathers upon travelling outside decided it was fufu with huge chunks of meat coupled with gallons of beer. Hard liquors was the foundation with multiple sticks of khebab before the main course. That was their version of appetizers. Today, you and I are copying and living same lifestyles which can lead to an early grave or a life burdened with health issues. But then our genes are different.

By dint of this affluent show off, those of us who live overseas, have infected those back home to try to live same in an effort to feel not left out. To me that is absolute crap but then that is the second reason. I have come to realize life is not a competition especially when you have family. You live within your means and do so healthily. Any attempt at following a band wagon might and will only result in an early demise. It is very easy to realize people are easily influenced by the West. After a week in Dubai, you hear one speaking like an American. You see ladies with all sorts of wigs and hairdos all in an attempt to like those Western celebrities so they can look glamorous. The guys with sagging pants irk me so. Even University graduates sport sagging pants and feel confident strutting about like a vulture. Show which part of Africa or Ghana that has sagging pants in their culture. Go on. So now you understand me when I talk about copying blindly even in the consumption of food?

Part of the way to address this canker is to preach healthy lifestyles. Instead of taking people’s money anyhow, I call on the churches to talk about this. I call on you to tell somebody to live healthy. After all, YOU are the Change!

#SILENTNOISES

Now the day is over.
The moon brightens the day.
Mumbo jumbo
The sun shines through torrential rain
The owl flies in the sun
The ant lifts the elephant
The lion runs from the hen
Chaos exits as peace
Hand over heart…

…They started
Handed over to us
You let go of your end
We held onto our end
For we believed in us
But you believed in you
We tried
We have cried
No more fears
Dried up tears
Unkown years
Understand if you are one
Plead no meaning if you are the one
We pray you understand
We have to let you go
For good
And our good.
#SILENTNOISES (C) KwasiNtemMensah2016

Dear Tippa,
I hope this letter finds you in the best of health. Hahahaha. Do you remember that letter you wrote to that chic (lady) when you were in form one? You started by saying “the brightness of this day has stimulated my senses to collaborate with the heavens to write you this missive”.  Anyway that is not the issue.
I just realized something that has been taking place in Opana’s country. It has to do with early morning shows on TV. These days everyone wants to be a TV celebrity. Even the Shaolin Temple occupants. Before I continue, let me ask you “who is an Honorable? who qualifies to be addressed as an honorable? Before you answer that, can you believe the President’s executive secretary was addressed in a letter as H.E? Is it for His Excellency or ….? I remember a lady pastor asked to be addressed as Reverend Father. Address; address; address. Are they envelopes to be addressed?  With which stamp and at which Post Office?
Son of Man, I believe to be called Honorable comes with a lot of respect. I believe it comes with some responsibility and acting with dignity. I dare to say one must have some level of integrity.  Some of these so-called sit on panels on these morning shows and spew garbage. Their utterances leave much to be desired. The language used is setting a bad example for the youth. I am equally appalled at the language used in describing women.  Is it the arrogance of wealth or of title that makes them behave as such? Are they not Homo sapiens ?  Can I call them aliens? It is as though some of them are incubator babies. Why is The Lavender Hill situate in their mouth or abdomen bringing forth trash? I hope the NMC boss will do something to curb this menace to society.  Big brother, please do something.
I am very upset because no one is doing anything to stop it. Not even my clergy. ( Charley you hear the Osofo wey talk the gay people dem issue? Another matter oooo)
Some of them talk with the arrogance of a dead goat eeeiiiii sorry I mean a dying cockroach. But….

Tippa , this letter should have talked about “them” but this matter was making my stomach very upset.  Anyway my greetings to the family.

My next letter will be on Valentines Day!

Mad love always.

i remain #SILENTNOISES

This is my first letter to Tippa. Tippa is my good friend and brother from another mother. We hardly talk on the phone so I have decided to write to Tippa about issues. These are issues that bother or baffle me. Tippa is older than Major [even if a day older].
Dear Son of Man,

Since you have refused to talk to me, I have found a new way to communicate effectively with you. Brother please do not forget this is not an academic writing but that of a village teacher who was taught under trees and teaches under trees. I am confused hence my missive. There are a few issues I need to brief and seek your advice about. First there is a new government in town. The so called short man is now the president. Charley, the people say they have effected change. Before I come to his issues, let me give you some side filla. The Black Stars  are playing in the Afcon tournament. They are on a one goal project. Will they win the cup?

Charley, back to the president. Have you heard the new song? “Onaapo” is so danceable and, and Onaapo.

So the president has been in office since 7th January 2017. I cannot say if he has settled in or not. There are so many things I do not know and he being my President, I am expecting him to inform me and not me come begging for the necessary information. Tippa,now he has 36 ministers including one senior minister. Senior minister for what?  36 ministers means 36 official residences, 36 cooks, 36 drivers, 72 watchmen [security for night and day]. I am not done. It also means 36 Landcruiser 4×4 cross country vehicles and 36 super luxury saloon cars. I have not added even the Regional Ministers and all the deputies. That is serious economic drain. Those monies could be put to good use. I am confused. Are we preaching virtue and practicing vice? Why? Equally some of the appointments are questionable. What are their duties specifically? Is it jobs for the boys ?

The vetting process is mind boggling. Some of the questions asked and some of the sentences being constructed leaves me in no doubt why certain legislative instruments are passed or why certain things are approved. This is a new set of Shaolin Temple dwellers though.

Son of man, the change has come but what kind of change is this? I hope you have answers for me Tippa. I will be writing to you as soon as something comes up again
Sincerely yours

#SILENTNOISES
PS: Now the people are trying to pick on the number one lady of the land. I will brief you in my next letter.

~to give up something in order to achieve something!

Ponder. Do not wonder. At all. Just ponder.
Have you thought about it for a moment, the sacrifices made by certain people to get you to where you are today?
Some of these people have nothing to do with you whatsoever but you are benefiting from their sacrifices.

A good senior friend from The Grey Citadel of Learning once said ” Nothing good can be achieved without SACRIFICE”. So why is it so hard for you to give up something? Why can’t you give up that small soli? Why can’t you give up your time to help crunch initiatives for others to succeed? Why can’t you give up just a dollar to help out your friend or neighbor? Why can’t you just be like our fathers and their forebears and SACRIFICE for the sake of tomorrow?

I am sacrificing my sleep to write this article. It came to me in a dream. I could choose to continue sleeping and forget or wake up to write and jog your thinking into a state of rewiring. For that is what we need. A rewiring of our attitudinal thinking. A thinking process that is geared towards positive achievements, devoid of nepotism, tribalism, selfish gains, wanton greed, one highway thinking. It is sad, that we have allowed the culture of selfishness to permeate our very skin. The very fabric of which it  is woven, is glued to our skin like a plaster. Painful as it is when being removed, we must remove it.

Sacrifice. What will you sacrifice? Will you sacrifice your unlimited dancing with a sweet damsel to a long drive to meet with fraternal brother’s to discuss the future?

Would you sacrifice your friendship on the altar of naivety?

Would you sacrifice your family on the altar of jealousy? Of hatred?

Sacrifice. A sacrifice was made. A sacrifice is being made.  Will a sacrifice be made? Today you smile. A sacrifice was made. Today you are you. A sacrifice was made in the blood and sweat and toil of others. Continue the chain. Give up something for something to work. Do not destroy what took years to build.

Remember the change is YOU!!

Caution to me
Careful what I say
Truth no Longer Holds,
The underdog will be an
Underdog.
The rich will be richer
the poor will crawl
Some will sell their soul
that they might live long
Is there a GOD? A Supreme Being?
A Creator who sees yet bids HIS time?
I trust in HIM
so I will wait.
As for the TRUTH, I will always Proclaim.
Blessings Always

#SILENTNOISES

(C) 1182017KwasiNtemMensah

So it came to pass that though it was time for festivities, some wailed and moaned. Investments had bankrupted. How would debtors be paid?
And it also came to pass that they who occupied the Shaolin Temple decided amongst themselves to leave the treasury empty for they know not when they would return.
With a sigh of relief she locked herself in her room, and with a loud voice proclaimed in a language akin to Yoruba “Thank you God Thank you God.Eeeiiiii this is not like The NCCE! She had survived the biggest scare of her life. Will she stay or leave?
“Commissioning” replaced “Incompetent” which had replaced “Gargantuan”. The first gentleman could not be in the same place at once so he commissioned his pictures on souvenirs and asked that his pictures commission in his physical absence. Ghanaians are not of short memory.
One of he named Ken called her by her first name Charlotte and purpoted she was a Harlot. Why? Ghanaians rose as one people and defended womanhood. It was beautiful. It was easy for the media to stand on their feet and speak Truth to power. Dubai came to Ghana at night. Beautiful sight to behold. Glamour at its best. Polish on dirt. For what prevailed at night was not same during the day. All this and more and yet people claimed him to be the annointed one. Sam the George whom is known as the lion nudged out ET the Barber.  Keep that in mind always.

How can I forget ManAmidu? Singlehandedly, he took on ManWoyo. ManWoyo is being asked by the SC to return some monies that found its way into his wallet and he in turn distributed. Like a Good Distribution Center. Under the Umbrella, he was shielded but now that the Elephant has returned from the bush, will it trample Woyo?

I nearly forgot this one. Montie 3. Fantastic 3. Trinity 3. They who insulted the SC, were incarcerated and subsequently pardoned under special circumstances by The President. (I hear he even commissioned their release)

This is a year in review.

And of one of ours decided to bleach for he had been boxed in the head and believed he could be nation’s ambassador to German. He believed the criteria to being made an ambassador was to change the color of one’s skin.

‘Onaapo’ a song for a candidate found its way into praises and worship at church. And they danced. And they are still dancing.

Finally, after going through the mill of God, he is president. They said he was too short and did not have the personality to be a president.

Meanwhile on the 6th of January, 2017 one would write on the walls of the Flagstaff House ” me too I was here some”.

I wish you all seasons greetings and most especially a Happy New Year. The Change starts with You!

#SILENTNOISES

We are going
Heaven knows where we are going
We know within
We will get there
Heaven knows we will get there
We know we will
Heaven knows we will get there
It will be hard we know
And the road muddy and rough
But we will get there

Osibisa

Each day we make an effort at something. We seek to accomplish something. We set a goal or goals. We know not how we will do it but we aim to do it. There are obstacles in our way. A million of them but we aim to forge ahead. Do you prepare before embarking on a project? How long does it take you to prepare? Do you rush through your preparations or do you take your time? Are you patient? Do you think about how you will accomplish it?
Jesus the Christ was lost to society between the ages of seven and thirty or so years. Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Samini, name them did not end being who they are overnight. It took and takes hard work to get there. They knew it will be hard. I am telling you it will be hard but in your heart, do it. Persevere.
Even thieves, murderers and common criminals plan. It is sad that they use their talent for such. But then, yes they plan.
If you plan and really plan well, then you have confidence in yourself. That is Very important. If you plan and really plan well, then let me assure you the road will be muddy and rough. Where the road is muddy and rough, it is not easy to traverse. You have to be careful. If you are walking or running, you could slip and fall. Don’t stay down; get up because in your heart you know must get there. You will get there. That is Determination of Purpose.
If you are in a vehicle of sorts, prepare for the worst. Don’t let the breakdown of that vehicle bog you down. Move on. The road is not smooth. It is muddy and rough. Persevere. You will get there. Heaven knows you will. Heaven is your guide. Only YOU can do it. BLESSINGS ALWAYS

Happy New Year my readers.

Soon the new year will be here. Many are those writing and coming up with resolutions. Many are those who will swear to carry them out. Even as you begin to plan how to go on about your resolutions, let me remind you: Valentine’s Day, April fool’s day and Christmas will soon be here again. 

What you failed to do this year, please do next year. Share love with somebody. Be of good cheer. Set attainable goals. Encourage and motivate yourself. Be a positive Change. A change that will be a beacon in the gloom surrounding you. A change  that is based on well meaning and makes sense. A change that has an impact on society and will encourage someone to also do likewise for posterity.

You need to be the change through a healthy lifestyle. Be what you preach. Love life. I love change. I am an agent of change. Be one too.!

I simply love it when at the end of November people begin to take stock of their lives. They are able to identify the areas where they lacked and then on 31st night, pray asking God to assist them overcome those burdensome areas.
The women who are unmarried will pray for men to walk into their lives. They will ask for well to do men who can afford to give them a Range Rover Evogue. They will ask for men who would not mind keeping them as concubine or 2nd and 3rd wives. They will ask to be housewives to these men. Men who will take them Shopping in Dubai and attend Samini or Shattawale concerts with them. They will dance to the tunes “where my baby dey” and “megye wo boy”. They forget there is something about them that drives the men away. Either it is personal hygiene or they simply cannot cook jollof.
The second set of women will ask for fruit of the womb. Babies. They will ask that whoever impregnates them does not matter. Even if they do not accept the pregnancy, on their own they are willing to take care of that child. Some of these women forget that The children in their wombs have been dropped like coconuts. Now they Cry at the beginning of each new year bothering The Creator.
The third category of women pray asking to be successful in their endeavors especially academically. They rely on God or their faith to guide them.
Now the men. Men will always be like he goats. Sleeping with anything curvaceous. They will not pray for a suitable woman to marry. Neither will they pray for anything. They will be in church stealing looks at heaped boobs and inflated hips. They will make eye contact and pray (then) that she falls for them. It is called ‘natural mystic’ or ‘chemistry’.
Some of the men will also pray against the spirit of womanizing. They are no longer able to combine feeding their wives and kids with feeding, clothing and providing for their concubines and families too. They pray asking for help to get rid of the excess baggage.
Others will pray seeking help in their chilling sprees. They simply enjoy life too much to the detriment of their families. If you sit by them in church on 31st night, their breathe can cause you to be in a charismatic stupor throughout the night (alcoholic fumes).
It is a market.
The auctioneer is the pastor. He resolved last year and has been praying through out this year to make enough to buy that SUV so that under the guise of the holy spirit he can give his old car to his girlfriend. (Holy spirit told him to do so.)
This year the prayer contention will be between the politicians and armed robbers. Both would be praying for protection as they loot. They would pray they are not caught. They would pray that if and if they are caught, may the Holy Spirit blind their captors and assuage the heart of the judges (with goats, guinea fowls, yam, sweet damsels) for them to be set free.
I am not making any resolution. I am only praying to God to continue to send people my way as I travel on this weight loss journey. But I will Speak Out against anything not good for humanity.
You need to be pragmatic. Look at yourself in the mirror. Resolution or not will you raise your leg or SPEAK OUT?

Mary Christmas and a Joseph New Year

http://www.kntemmensah.wordpress.com.