Community – Page 2 – the Conversations 256

08 May

When Mothers Day Looks Different…

Naks11 CommentsLife, Living

Moms are special. On this day, we pause to think about one of the great gifts we have received from God, our moms. This is the person who brought us into the world. But for many, Mother’s Day no longer means the same thing it once did. Feelings of gratitude have turned to grief. Celebration is replaced with isolation. For those who’ve lost a mother, today is difficult. We see you. We stand with you. If you have a friend who has suffered the loss of their own beloved mom, don’t forget about them today. A simple text saying, “I’m…

10 Oct

Adversity Advances Us: by the gifted Ronny Ross.

Naks0 CommentsLife, Pockets of Wisdom

Adversity advances us. It’s a profound statement but hard to comprehend in the moment of adversity. It’s true though, but only if we choose to learn from it. At the moment washing hands seems to be the simplest solution to our biggest problem. Just like the rudder controls the ship, the biggest problems sometimes have the simplest solutions. I won’t dwell on the pain we’re facing at the moment for it’s plain to see. From the land that draws people from far and wide to admire the history, the art, to get a glimpse into the great mind that was…

05 Oct

Dear Self, Beware Of Deadly Friends.

C256 Member0 CommentsLetters To Self

Dear Self, It’s me, the older version of you. I think it’s time for an honest real talk. This letter isn’t about judging, shaming or blaming you. You do too much of that, already. No, this is different. This letter is about caution. At a very young age, you will make some friends, some dangerous, bad friends. Their names are drugs and alcohol. Because of these friends, your life will be become a rollercoaster of bars, vomit, tears and sex. There are nights you will curl up in a little ball of bone and skin because your lifestyle will…

12 Aug

The Youth Have Spoken.

Naks0 CommentsLife

Listen up. It’s international Youth Day and Young Ugandan leaders have a few things to say to their fellow youth: "Uganda holds the 17th position globally for deaths caused by suicide. Let that sink in for a moment. We have so many counselors in different institutions, hospitals and churches but that number keeps going up. Keep that in mind… then figure out how you can help…” Wafula Victoria, Member Of The African Children’s Choir. To the heroes of tomorrow, to the energies that will define the future, the future of a nation depends upon the youth of the country. Best…

30 May

Dear Self, You’re Never Too Old To Cry.

C256 Member0 CommentsLetters To Self

Dear Self, I am proud of you. You’re not yet there, not half where you want to be, but you’re doing great! You have fought a lonely painful battle. It is still so painful; you cry every single time you think about it. It’s still too fresh. I know.... I know you look forward to withdrawing from the party to cry in peace. You tell those silly perverted jokes and make them laugh, just so you can run off alone to cry and wish you could talk to someone. They say you’re a good listener, a natural helper but you’re…

12 Mar

You Are Not Alone; Letters To Our Younger Selves…

C256 Member4 CommentsLetters To Self, Living

You are not alone. You are not the only one who feels this way– not by a long shot. Everyone feels insecure or scared or worried or like they’re not enough at some point. We all just hide it from everyone else. It’s okay to feel that way. Talk about it with someone else or with yourself through a letter. It’s the first step to feeling better. We all have times in our past which are memorable for being painful and difficult (UNLESS YOU'VE LIVED UNDER A ROCK.) But what if you could go back in time and show that…

10 Dec

A Call For Forgiveness…

Naks0 CommentsPockets of Peace

One of the most important lessons I learned this year was the liberating power of forgiveness. The year is ending. A new dawn is upon us and yet our hearts still bears the marks left upon it by people closest to us. Marks we can easily erase, if only we make the decision to forgive. We ask the good Lord everyday to forgive us of our sins and wipe our slate clean. We get up from our knees with such light heartedness because we know in that moment that all is forgiven. Every day we fall back onto our knees in…

01 Dec

What We Need To Remember on World AIDS Day.

Naks0 CommentsLiving

World AIDS day is celebrated on December 1 every year since 1988. There are few things I felt like we should collectively remind ourselves today. First, IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. HIV isn’t some kind of karmic punishment. It is a virus that is communicable and therefore travels between people. Certain types of activities may increase your risks, but these still don’t make you “responsible” for being sick. We wouldn’t blame a diabetic for their diabetes. ITS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS. Being HIV positive today doesn’t look like the horrible AIDS deaths that have been so heavily imprinted in…

05 Nov

Dear Self, Let’s Dive Into The Story…

C256 Member0 CommentsLetters To Self

Self, Has it ever crossed your mind that we are more of what’s inside of us than what we show on the outside? Often times you placed yourself in a position of lacking so that the person that is in need could be happy with you, not because you wanted validation from them but because you thought that their happiness made you complete without realising that it instead, made you feel empty. By empty I do not mean sad, by empty I do not mean needy, by empty I do not mean lacking, But it was like digging a void…

05 Nov

Dear Self…Don’t Poison That Tea.

C256 Member0 CommentsLetters To Self

Dear Self (it sounds as odd to me as it does to you but I very well can’t call you by our name), The other day a friend of mine (he is yet to be yours) told me I’m as secretive as the CIA but I prefer to think of myself as reserved, just as you are but those are tales for another day... What can I tell you? And what can I leave out? We (you and I) have always been the kind to say more in what’s left unsaid. I know you want to ask me if we…

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