Category: New Woman

  • How to achieve maximum sexual impact

    How to achieve maximum sexual impact

    With Funmi Akingbade

     

    For many months questions have rolled in from various couples asking for what to do to enjoy sex maximally.  So today we will be addressing the technicality for maximum sex. Sexual technicality is simply the act of treating your spouse in a very special way during sex to enhance his or passion.

    Firstly, there must be proper preparation if sex is to be enjoyed. Careful groundwork is essential and preparation begins long before bedtime. Sex starts at breakfast and not by bedtime.

    The first homework is to settle any known or foreseen quarrel as soon as possible. Get ready for sex with a positive mind-set. Many times couples find it difficult to have good sex because of normal life challenges. But I have observed that if couples always wait for a perfect life situation for sex they may not find one. So a positive mind-set for any sexual eventuality is very important.

    At any given time filth, lack of neatness or uncleanliness has ruined many anticipated sexual thoughts. You must be neat and clean, and at the same time be seductively attractive. Oral, armpit, vulva and penis hygiene should be well observed, especially when the penis is uncircumcised.

    The pubic hair should not be shaved in a way that it will produce sharp coarse ends that cause irritation on the skin of your spouse. This, as simple as it appears, has ruined good, passionate sex and made some husbands develop quick ejaculation, while some wives have to apply hot water for healing.

    Neatness is one of the guiding rules for successful lovemaking. Much good sex has turned out to be a nightmare just because of offensive odour from the genitals. Since sometimes sex might be unpredictable, it important to brush the mouth twice daily especially while retiring at night.

    This is very important because if there is a need to use your tongue on each other penis or vulva the mouth must be brushed to prevent infection. Many couples contact some form of toilet disease just from unwashed mouth, because the same bacteria responsible for toilet disease are mostly also found in the mouth.

    The bed should be laid with clean or new bed spread; old, stinking bed sheets turn off all spouses. Get enough privacy, make sure doors are well locked; this prevents the mind roaming on and off about the door.

    At no given time should any spouse disapprovingly take off each other clothes in an offensive, rough manner. It’s important that both husband and wife slowly undress each other; this is an exciting part of the technique. The moment this is in place the best part of the good groundwork has been achieved.

    As a matter of fact these particular habits mostly usher in the love play i.e. building up or arousing each other before the husband actually puts his penis inside the vagina of his wife. This is done by holding each other lovingly, caressing each other tenderly, deep tongue kissing, carefully fondling with each other sexual organs, touching and rubbing in a loving manner.

    At this point couples should lay themselves bare to one another by letting their partners know their sensitive areas and points of trigger. For majority of ladies, it is the clitoris or the breast – especially the nipples. Let him know that it takes time before your sexual organs respond, especially the clitoris. Make him kiss and use his tongue to caress your breast, your nipples, neck, gently and lovingly. As this goes on, the nipples of your breast get erected and the clitoris increases in size. Caressing should not be done in a hurried way. Take enough time to fully enjoy each other!

    It is important to understand timing in lovemaking. There should be a gradual building up and intensifying of emotions and sensations. Do not stop or let up the stimula tion once it begins, but continue in an ever-increasing manner of arousal.

    Basically, the whole body of a loving couple is an erotic zone. For the man, the nape of the neck, the back of the ear, the breast, the armpit, the navel, the inner parts of the thigh, the groin, the pubic hair, the shaft of the penis, the eye of the penis are especially their most sensitive areas. All these should be or kissed tenderly or caressed gently with the hand and tongue of the wife. If the man’s skin is too dry, you can get a bottle of pears baby lotion and seductively rub both bodies; it will send sexual signals to the whole body.

    The female erotic zone include the base of the neck, the base of the hair, the lips, the armpit, the breast especially the nipples, the tummy, the navel, the inner parts of the thigh, the pubic hair, the clitoris, the lips of the vagina and the inner parts of the vagina.

    All these could be tenderly touched and caressed with the man’s hands or the tongue. Caressing various areas of your partner’s body shows an interest in the whole person.

    In foreplay, the husband and the wife should talk freely with themselves. They should tell each other what they want. While caressing one another without a rush, it is advisable for the wife to take a comfortable position with legs apart so that the man will be able to gently play with her genitals. As her husband caresses her, she in turn plays with his nipple, the shaft of his penis, the eye of the penis, the scrotum (some men like it when their scrotum is fondled with).

    I love to conclude by asking if you are worried about your sexual health. Are you experiencing a non-existing libido, or mid-life sexual crisis, or loss of erection, or premature ejaculation, or erectile dysfunction, or weak erection, or you just can’t stay long in sex as desired? Are you experiencing problems with sperm cell, shrinking penis or general penis issues? You are not far from total freedom, just email or give me a call.

     

    QUESTION ONE

    I am 35 years old and I recently started having an active sex life after a long abstinence due to my profession. I am a professional boxer and as a boxer there are times you have to abstain from sex for many months or sometimes a whole year. But my challenge now is it seems that I can’t differentiate between normal erections or prolonged, painful ones. I am not sure if I ejaculate either. How does it take before the average man ejaculates during sexual intercourse? I get so confused; I don’t understand my body at all. I sometimes take lot of alcohol to stay long during sex, but even at that my system seems to break down. I am in a dilemma can you help?

    When one alters a normal body-working- life-system it is possible the mechanism gets abnormally disrupted. It took you years to get into this condition, you have to take things easy and work towards an ideal body-working-pattern so as to gradually get things stabilized again. An erection begins in the brain. Physical and/or mental stimulation causes nerves in the brain to send chemical messages to nerves in the penis telling the penile blood vessels to relax so that blood can flow freely into the penis. Once in the penis, high pressure traps the blood within its tissues. This causes the organ to expand and sustain an erection. When you turn off this process you alter normal erection. Normal ejaculation – which is the release of semen at climax – is triggered when the man reaches a critical level of excitement. This makes sexual stimulation to cause nerves in the penis to send chemical messages, or impulses to the spinal cord and into the brain where other chemical messages are sent back to the penis through the spinal cord causing ejaculation.

    This has also been altered in you because you chose not to allow any form of excitement at all. This is now affecting the average ejaculation minutes. All things being equal an average man ejaculates within 9.6 to 15.5 minutes.

    To make matters worse, you consume lots of alcohol. You have to stop this immediately because alcohol doesn’t prolong ejaculation. Rather, it undermines the quality of your ejaculation and staying power. What alcohol does is help you get a quick feel or arousal and shortly after drops your energy and competency.

     

    QUESTION TWO

    I find that I suddenly wet boxers, even my trouser at any slight touch of my genitals. This is not only alarming but humiliating at my age (40). It’s so bad that if I don’t quickly withdraw, I almost pee in my wife’s private. I am healthy with no negative medical condition, but for the past five months I have been experiencing this embarrassing situation. When I drink less it reduces. I am not diabetic. Why should this be?

    This may be a situation of male incontinence that results from some medical conditions like enlarged prostate, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease. Sometimes it can develop for reasons we don’t completely understand, like “overactive bladder.” This is a situation when bending, lifting, or coughing, can puts pressure on the bladder and triggers leaking. Sometimes, it can be caused by the bladder contracting when it shouldn’t. This triggers a sudden and overwhelming need to urinate. Actually, cutting back on fluid intake during the day and a few hours before bedtime, also not drinking caffeine, soda and other carbonated drinks will help a lot – especially staying off alcohol. This is because alcohol is a diuretic; it makes one urinate more.

    There may be need for you to adjust your diet and stay off spicy or acidic food, chocolate and artificial sweeteners. Then it is important to train your bladder. Visit the bathroom every half hour to urinate, whether you feel the urge to or not.

    Try keeping a record of how much you drink and how often you urinate for a few days. Then try and take note of any leaking, along with anything you drink, if you are drinking a lot or heavy lifting that might have triggered it.

    Kegel exercises can help boost the strength of pelvic muscles that help your bladder to hold urine. In spite all these there is need for you to get your prostrate checked by a medical doctor because sometimes the male prostrate starts developing problems from the age of 40.

     

    QUESTION THREE

    My husband thinks I am superstitious, but the fact remains that this thing is happening to me. Whenever we make love I sneeze so profusely – especially when the light is on. For me to enjoy sex we have to put off the light and make sure everywhere is fully ventilated. If this isn’t done, as soon as he penetrates I start sneezing heavily. He says maybe I am an ‘ogbanje’!

    No! You are neither an ‘ogbanje’ nor superstitious. The truth is workout may make some people sneeze and sex is powerful work. It happens more often than we might think. Researchers believe that the stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system fires off signals in some people to not only enjoy the act of sex, but to sneeze when it’s over.

    Besides, exercise can make some people sneeze. This is because we hyperventilate when over-exerted and as a result your nose and mouth start to dry up.

    Sunshine may also make some people sneeze; bright sunlight causes one out of three people to sneeze. Sneezing is an important part of the immune process. It helps keep us healthy, and it protects our body by clearing the nose of bacteria and viruses. But you can stop sneezing by breathing through your mouth and pinching the end of your nose.

     

    QUESTION FOUR

    I am hypertensive but it has been under control. However, each time I add grapefruit to my diet I react and feel funny. Is there a reason for this?

    Yes, it may be surprising, but foods can affect how our medicine works. That’s why it’s always best to ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should avoid some foods. If you take medicine for high blood pressure, anxiety, or insomnia, grapefruit juice may interact with your drugs. But because you still need your vitamin C and potassium you can replace grapefruits with oranges and lime.

  • Running after a wild goose

    Running after a wild goose

    YETUNDE OLADEINDE

     

    YOUNG, restless and beautiful, Eucharia looked like she had the emotional world in pocket.  But behind the façade is a lonely heart, a heart in despair. Her mind suddenly flashed back to a telephone conversation she had with Monday, the father of her only child a few minutes back and it brought instant tears.

    Sadly, the one who stole her heart was an emotional crook. Like a fool she trusted him with her heart and everything only to be abandoned at the climax. At that point, she was already pregnant and she made up her mind to keep the baby against the odds.

    When the baby finally came, Monday was nowhere to be found. Luckily for her the boy looked exactly like Monday and that for her was some consolation for the trauma she had gone through. “His mother came around and apologized saying Monday had three other children from different ladies. She was already saddled with enough burdens and there was no point expecting much the poor old woman.

    Ever since, Eucharia has been struggling to take care of the little tot alone. Unfortunately, she has some financial problems at the moment and her account is in red. That was why she decided to give him a call and see if he would take care of some of his son’s bills. As usual, the cassanova was elusive and it was at that point that she came to the realization that she had been a fool in this game. How could she have fallen for a callous heart? Why did she allow his looks and sweet tongue to deceive? And why did she abandon a kind heart for this emotional devil?

    Now that she appears to have learnt her lesson, it is too late. She was never in charge, all her efforts had been wasted because she had been running after an emotional goose. The problem for a lot of people is that we get carried away with the physical things and forget that the things that offers comfort are usual not seen.

    Life offers many rewards, including learning how to build a healthy relationship with you. However, if you’re ready to share your life with someone and want to build a lasting, worthwhile relationship, there are many challenges.

    Finding the right romantic partner is often a difficult journey, for several reasons. Perhaps you grew up in a household where there was no role model of a solid, healthy relationship and you doubt that such a thing even exists. Or maybe your dating history consists only of short, abrupt relationships where you or your partner gets bored too soon, and you don’t know how to make a relationship last.

    Conversely, it could be that you are always attracted to the wrong type of person and keep making the same bad choices over and over, due to an unresolved issue from your past.

    In the emotional context nothing is really permanent. One minute lovebirds are soaring high with their emotions and the next minute you find them falling apart like humpty dumpty, unable to bring back the affectionate pieces together again. So the big question would be why do we crave for love when we know is it not stable, unfair and uncertain.

    The truth of the matter is that true love can be magnetic, it conquers all. A healthy, loving relationship can enhance many aspects of your life, from your emotional and mental well-being to your physical health and overall happiness.

    For many finding a heart that is genuine , someone that we want to share our lives with can be very difficult. That however should not make you give up.

    Experts advise is that you don’t despair, even if you have a history of relationships that don’t last or if you feel burned out by traditional and online dating, you can still learn how to find lasting love.

    Even when you find love, it can be tough maintaining it. There would be times when your emotional vehicle runs out of fuel, needs serving or crashes. The crux of the matter is that , it’s only the rare couple that doesn’t run into a few bumps in the affectionate road. If you recognize ahead of time, though, what those relationship problems might be, you’ll have a much better chance of getting past them.

    Even though every relationship has its ups and downs, successful couples have learned how to manage the bumps and keep their love life going. They hang in there, tackle problems, and learn how to work through the complex issues of everyday life. Many do this by reading self-help books and articles, attending seminars, going to counseling, observing other successful couples, or simply using trial and error.

    Whatever the case is, it’s also important to recognize that relationships are never perfect and always require lots of work, compromise, and a willingness to resolve conflict in a positive way. To find and build any relationship worth keeping, you may need to start by re-assessing some of your misconceptions about dating and relationships that can prevent you from finding lasting love.

  • Good sex great for your physical, psychological health

    Good sex great for your physical, psychological health

    With Funmi Akingbade

    Whenever I am privileged to tell couples that sex not only adds to their lives but enhances their health, both physical and psychological, it seems to be an eye-opener for many people.

    Whenever any of the spouses is in the mood for sex, do you know that such a partner is indirectly boosting his or her immune system or maintaining a healthy weight?

    Yes, good sex offers those health benefits and more because we are vital, sexual creatures. Sex does the body good in a number of ways, the benefits aren’t just subjective or hearsay but backed by scientific scrutiny.

    Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher levels of an antibody which can protect your spouse from getting colds and other infections. While some older couples may worry that the effort expended during sex could cause a stroke, scientists found frequency of sex was not associated with stroke. Instead, sex lowers blood pressure and produces overall stress reduction.

    Having sex twice or more a week reduces the risk of fatal heart attack by half. Having sex and orgasms increases levels of the hormone oxytocin, the love hormone, this helps bond couples and intensifies orgasm. Positioning a pillow or using pillows under your wife’s buttocks before you get going in missionary position makes many wives climax more intensely and faster.

    This is due to the fact that many women after one or two normal virginal delivery lose sensitivity in the vaginal area because of the over stretching of the vaginal muscles. But when pillows are directly under the buttocks for support, the elevated buttocks help the husband to get to thrust in and out effectively.

    This also helps the husband to really know when his wife is climaxing or getting to orgasm. The husband will feel that his wife is squeezing, releasing her PC muscles and simultaneously contracting her vaginal muscles and as this is happening she is actually reaching her climatic level of orgasm. I always encourage that whenever the husband notice this he should gently intensify the thrusting in a gentle but deepening manner – so keep doing it because she loves so much!

    Researchers evaluated few premenopausal women before and after warm contact with their husbands ending with hugs, affections, foreplay and romantic sex. They found that the more contact, the higher the oxytocin levels.

    Sex is also a pain reliever, as the hormone oxytocin surges, endorphins increase, and pain declines. These chemicals calm pain, from a minor headache to arthritis or migraines, and with no secondary effects. So if you are always complaining of headache, arthritis pain, or PMS symptoms a sure natural pill with no side effect and no financial constraint is sex.

    Migraines also disappear because pressure in the brain’s blood vessels is lowered while we have sex. So now we see that actually, a woman’s headache is rather a good reason for having sex, not against it!

    Such symptoms improve after sex, because of higher oxytocin levels. In fact sex helps anyone to sleep better because the oxytocin released during orgasm also promotes sleep, according to research. And getting enough sleep has been linked with a host of other good things, such as maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure.

    Sex strengthens floor muscles for women, doing a few pelvic floor muscle exercises known as Kegels during sex offers lots of benefits. Married lovers will enjoy more pleasure, and the woman will also strengthen the pelvic area and help to minimize the risk of incontinence later in life.

    To do a basic Kegel exercise, all a woman has to do is tighten the muscles of her pelvic floor, as if one is trying to stop the flow of urine. Count to three, then release. Do these frequently and as often as you can.

    Sex reduces prostate cancer risk; frequent ejaculations may reduce the risk of prostate cancer later in life. Boosting self-esteem is one reason people have sex, but overweight men with increased waist line are more likely to have poor semen quality. If you happen to fall within this category remember that sex is a good workout. If you’re looking to burn more calories, have more sex.

    Husband knowing how to suck your wife’s breast can increase her arousal, cause her to orgasm and prevent breast cancer. But scientists say until breast sucking is done in an erotic manner some hormones that fight against cancer may not be released.

    So while starting off, use your hands to lightly outline the outer part of both breasts slowly; this will help her nipples to become erect. Use your lips to kiss around the outskirts of the breasts. Start kissing the outline with your moist lips slowly. Then lightly squeeze those breasts together and kiss down the middle. Making your way close to each nipple, and lightly blow over them.

    Take each nipple into your mouth, and suck them if her nipples are standing at erection, you can harden your tongue and flick it back and forth, and slowly take it into your mouth, at which point you will begin to suck and nibble simultaneously. But if her nipples are not hard, you can usually manipulate each one by sucking it and then releasing it from your mouth. If you can’t do both together at the same time suck one nipple, and lightly pinch the other with your thumb and index finger seductively.

    Researchers estimate that a spouse’s healthy sexual fantasy assists the body’s muscular and cardiovascular system to function better. An erotic fantasy is a product of the imagination that arouses a sexual emotion. Fantasies are often summed up as erotic scenes, seen or imagined, which we enjoy replaying in our heads.

    Fantasy can also be an idea, an impression or a feeling. Fantasies are not only sexual; they can be about any topic that awakens human desire and pleasure. But sexual fantasies are in direct contact with our psyche and therefore have such power of arousal. They represent the fulfilment of subconscious sexual desires, through psychic processes.

    Erotic fantasies are created from scenes seen or experienced during adolescence or later in adult years and when channelled in a healthy way enhance the better functioning of the heart muscle and the general body muscular system.

    In fact, it can also aid a pregnant woman in child birth labour to have a faster delivery because it has an indirect effect on the vaginal wall, by allowing the vaginal smooth muscles to relax fast and expand better.

    But there is a note of warning here. Research has found out that pregnant women who want to experience this type of easy virginal delivery should not ‘eat for two’. Pregnant women who eat for two and gain too much weight are at greater risk of having complications than those who stick to a healthy diet, even when they can fantasy well.

    QUESTION ONE

    What can you classify as a healthy sexual life is for couples?

    A healthy sexual relationship is different for every couple because every individual has differing sexual needs. While the activities involved in each sexual relationship can vary widely, in general, “healthy” sex should encompass the following: Both married partners should feel equally pleased with the activities. Neither spouse should feel forced into doing something they don’t want to do. Each spouse should be given the privilege and right to say “no” to sex when there is an understandable genuine reason. Couples should give mutual respect before and after sex to one another. Neither party must suffer a loss of self-esteem. Trust and openness should exist about sexual history and current activities.

    QUESTION TWO

    I was molested by my step-dad as a teenager, shortly after which I developed a smelly discharge that reoccurs in spite of treatments over the years. I notice habitual pains in my clitoris and I have not been sexually active. What can I do?

    Clitoral pain can result from damage or injury to any of the structures of the vulva (external genitalia), including the inner and outer labia, the vaginal opening, and the clitoris. The symptoms may be constant or variable and may improve or worsen with movement or sexual activity. It may be described as a raw sensation or a burning, itching or stinging feeling that ranges in intensity from mild to severe. Sometimes, pain perceived in the clitoris is actually referred pain that originates from injury, disease or infection elsewhere in the vulvar region.

    Pain and discomfort in the vulva (vulvodynia) is a common cause of clitoris pain, as are skin irritations from rashes or household chemicals. Recurring infections or cancer may also cause clitoris pain. In other cases, clitoris pain may be related to a chronic underlying disease that affects other regions of the body. Other causes of clitoris pain include vaginal yeast infections and sexually transmitted diseases. The duration and course of clitoris pain vary widely, depending on the cause. Symptoms caused by injury, such as those following sexual abuse, often have a sudden onset. In other cases, clitoris pain may come from an infection that may develop slowly and persist or worsen over time. Clitoris pain alone is rarely a serious medical condition; however, it may be associated with symptoms of a serious medical condition.

    QUESTION THREE

    Is there anything you can do to change or increase a spouse sex drive? The greatest wish of my husband is for me to have a better sex drive. I have tried all I can but nothing has changed.

    Experts say the answer lies not so much in what a spouse’s sex drive is, but whether or not it has reached its potential. While everyone’s level of desire is individual, it can also differ with each partner, and vary within a relationship, increasing or decreasing over time.

    Age can also alter sex drive, in men and women, and is usually linked to a decline in sex hormones. Moreover, there are a number of emotional and physical conditions, as well as medications, including some sedative or sleeping pills that can put a damper on desire.

    If a physical problem causes sex drive to plummet – such as erection difficulties in men, or painful intercourse in women – and treatment is received, desire usually increases. If emotions are getting in the way, talking to a counsellor or sex therapist can help. And sometimes, sex drive will recharge on its own, as circumstances in couple’s life change — such as the birth of a new child, change of environment, loss of love ones, death of a previous spouse, marriage to a new spouse, change of financial status, change of inspirations and aspirations. But for your case you can use some libido enhancers for women; they are very good.

    QUESTION FOUR

    I have five biological sons and they are all getting married one after the other. Each time they bring their potential wives to visit me in the village, I eavesdrop on their sexual escapades and wish I can still engage in active sex. But my wife has put a hold on that, claiming we are too old to make love. Is one ever “too old” to make love?

    Providing that both you and your wife are in good physical health, experts say both men and women can continue to have sex to any age. However, the aging process itself, along with many health conditions, can make having sex increasingly difficult in later years. However, even if intercourse is not possible, remember that physical intimacy can take many forms, and that sometimes getting older really does mean getting wiser about the many ways in which couples can bring each other pleasure. Tell your wife you secretly still want sex and if she can’t make it available she can give you gentle foreplay. With this you can still recapture the feel of sex.

    QUESTION FIVE

    What is the definition of sex addiction and what does it entail?

    Sex addiction is described as an overwhelming need for sex, the pursuit of which frequently takes precedence over all other things in life, including work and relationships. Sex addicts frequently engage in risky behaviour, including not only vulnerable sex, but also seeking stimulation in dangerous situations. Behaviour is usually self-justified, so most sex addicts don’t view their actions as problematic, though they frequently feel a sense of shame or guilt after indulging their addiction.

    Behaviours associated with sex addiction include: compulsive masturbation; multiple extramarital affairs; anonymous sex partners or strings of one night stands; consistent use of pornography; consistent need for phone or computer sex; continuous use of prostitutes; sexual exhibitionism (such as “flashing”); voyeurism (watching others have sex); stalking a sex partner, they are actually a perverted way of seeking sexual pleasure.

  • Scrambling for attention

    Scrambling for attention

    Yetunde Oladeinde

     

     

    SINK, sinking and sunk. That aptly describes the state in which Tony’s heart is at the moment. At a glance it looked like he had lost practically everything sown along the emotional corridor. What a mess! He had put in all his energy into a good job (heart), something that he was so passionate about. Flashback to 2012, the whole idea consumed his being and it was something that was on his mind 24 hours a day.

    Kudos everywhere ! A job well done and the passion for this job (love) got better. Then it was time to take stock, count the blessings and his heart was on the plaque (marriage). Instead of recognizing a great performance, he got a sack (jilted) letter.

    Oh dear! What really is the problem here? Nobody was willing to tell him the truth, and then a co-worker (rival) belled the cat. “You have worked (loved too much) too hard”. Doing this he hinted made him looked too desperate for the job (heart).

    In the emotional space, you cannot afford to be slow, too fast or just an Island. It’s about understanding the vibes and keeping in at the right time. Of course, you also have got to abide by the rules and be considerate about the emotions of the other players. Not nice to take the other party granted at all.

    If you are giving 80 and they are giving 20, then you may just be taken for granted with a heart that is likely to suffer from emotional ‘constipation’. The residence of Love Avenue can be highly critical and irrational and it is important to understand how to relate with the heart that you treasure. If you do not learnt to interpret the moods, actions and inactions, then you would continue to step on emotional toes instead of reaping from the sweet nothings whispered the type every woman wants to hear.

    Smart? No, it has nothing to do with having a critical mind to survive. There are times you put in so much, expecting an overdose in terms of affections. Great expectations and you anticipate a bountiful harvest, yet all you get is a stingy heart, a heart that doesn’t match your expectations.

    Life goes on and now that this Buddie has learnt one or two lessons from life (love), it dawns on him that he is bankrupt (no emotions). Emptied! Yes, that is the stark reality and a quick search for leftovers here and there; there is really nothing worth the while. His emotional account was simply in red.

    The crux of the matter here is that a sinking heart drains. A broken heart is blind. You just cannot see anything clearly. No matter how hard you try, the tears simply take over. No matter how hard you try to conceal the pain, reality hits you like a sharp knife trust into your heart and you are back to zero,

    What is he going to do without the right resources to do it right. Unfortunately, if you do not have what it takes, then you may just have to turn to the other alternative, the type that is very common, a bag of tricks (lies). Time to put on his thinking (lovecraft) cap and luckily a bright idea comes to mind. Instead of suffering in silence and bothering about emotional ethics, isn’t it better to just go window shopping.

    It was fun moving from one window to the other. Delicate pieces, colourful and bright combinations, all beckoning for attention. Somewhere simply breathtaking and almost irresistible. Once in a while the sad reality hits our dear; you can only look but cannot take away. It got worse because the items (hearts) starring at him where communicating, ‘take me, please take me with you’.

    They weren’t the only accomplices in the process. As soon the shop owners and attendants sighted this lovebird, the invited (lured) him within to try a shirt, a pair of shoes and more. They were excited about the fact that he was likely to buy (fall in love), they ran in and out in desperation trying to find his choice, stylishly he pretended that he did not like any of the options presented. The truth was that the options were all good but the timing was just wrong.

    There was a lot of excitement in the air and it worsened everything. Why would you raise their hopes, knowing fully well that he wasn’t prepared to buy anything? As he watched the ladies (hearts) scrambling for him attention to buy at least a pair of shoes, he smiled and walked away.

    Wait a minute! The only option here would be to shoplift (rape), after the attendants here are so carried away with him and he could just get away with this, if he chose to do just this. No, that is not a good idea. It is not good to take what (love forcefully) does not belong to you, it comes with a lot of consequences.  He discovered that in the process of trying to make himself happy, he had dashed hopes and complicated the process.

  • Sharp emotional arrows

    Sharp emotional arrows

    YETUNDE OLADEINDE

     

    WHAT happens when you step on emotional toes? Well, that, unfortunately, is Moyo’s predicament at the moment. Slim, tall, with a flawless skin and curves in the right places, she has succeeded in stealing hearts from dusty emotional shelves.

    Why not! An eye (heart) for an eye (heart). Scroll down memory lane and you also find that our dear friend was a victim; valuable hearts had vanished courtesy of some emotional shoplifters.

    Recently, she ran out of luck and was declared ‘wanted’. She took to her heels and tried to find solace in the emotional jungle. The rugged owner of a missing heart did not give up; she staked everything to have her pound of flesh from the hawk-the one that had caused her so much pain. Strategically, she combed the nooks and crannies carefully and finally found the queen of heart, looking remorseful.

    This was not the best time for sermons, and so she was beaten to a state of coma, with memorable scars. Jungle justice! It is the norm and so it is best to tread with caution.

    If you do not want to be an emotional prey, then you must be in charge of the terrain. Don’t also bite more than you can chew. Always make sure that cupid’s arrow is on target, there is no harm trying again and again. Arrows? Yes, they are symbols that we see all the time. From the street signs, road markings and markings on the doors indicating direction to a choice location. This also reminds you of Jeffrey archer’s book, a Quiver full of Arrows. Fortunes are made and squandered, honor betrayed and redeemed and love lost and rediscovered. In this collection of short stories, you find the passion that drive men and women to love and to hate.

    A good hunter must have a quiver filled with a sharp emotional arrows (strategies). Love birds need different arrows for the different phase(s) in their relationships. Arrows also have their different functions and you must understand the terrain. When you use a wrong arrow for the wrong target, it is not likely to work.

    What are you ‘chasing’ would determine the type of arrows required to achieve your emotional aims and objectives. In the emotional jungle, you run into all kinds of hearts. Hearts that are as gentle as dove, hearts that are alluring as well as romantic. On the other side of the emotional divides are lions crocodiles, hyenas and antelopes.

    Sadly, the emotional wilderness can be a death trap if you are not careful. You are likely to run into trouble when you list expect it to happen. On the prowl are hearts that are as cunning as a fox or hearts that are as wild as the tiger.

    If you are unlucky to fall hopelessly and helplessly with hearts in this category, then you must have your quiver filled with deadly emotional arrows. The arrows you chose would ultimately determine who becomes the prey in the emotional jungle.

    Without the required arrow in your custody, you are likely to be lily-livered and abandon the heart that you have been longing for, lusting after and wishing you had for keeps. Winners are usually wild with emotions and aware of all the tricks (arrows) in the quiver during the emotional hunting expedition.

    Learn the ropes, improvise, as well as update yourself with skills that would give you the sobriquet as hunter of hearts like lions and not just hunting for emotional ants, mosquitoes, cockroaches or rats. The crux of the matter is the hearts in this category are not worth dying for.

    Surprisingly, in the emotional terrain, women are better hunters. They have mastered the skills ultimately used it to capture and get what they want. In the woman’s emotional quiver are tears, smiles, patience, endurance, nagging, as well as intrigues.

    Having the right arrows without making use of them is as good as not having them at all. In addition, a good heart hunter must know how to put the emotional arrow on the bow and draw it back to meet its target. The further you draw the bow (love), the more distance it goes or covers.

    You therefore cover more distance by showing love consistently, sharing your affection and substance dutifully. It is very important to talk nicely to the person you think you love, claim you love or that just makes your heart skip a bit all the time.

    Interestingly, the best emotional arrows aim at trust. It is the arrow that controls all the other arrows in your quiver. You can be sure that once this affectionate arrow is missing in your quiver, then you would miss the target. Love without trust isn’t love. Like a doubting Thomas, you are going to see a dove in the emotional woods and imagine that what you are looking at is a tiger.

    When you see a rabbit whispering sweet nothings into your ears, instead of turning around to caress this cupid-send angel, all you see is a heart luring you to the rabbit hole, to be strangled, cleaned up and adorned with condiments before ending in the pepper soup pot as ‘bush meat’.

  • Tearing up another heart

    Tearing up another heart

    Yetunde Oladehinde

     

    WHO needs a heart, when a heart can be broken. That is the love zone puzzle. If you have gone through an emotional somersault before, you become wary of the antics in the arena. Fantasies? Forget it!  Love, victims would tell you is for only dreamers and hearts fresh from the emotional farm. For old timers, you can take a flashback down memory lane and compare notes.

    It is the time of life when we all imagine that love was this invincible and you just want everything to flow without thinking about the consequence of your action or inaction.

    Just while you are putting up all the emotional defence to make thing work forever, ensuring that what you have can be equated to the bulletproof force that is immune to outside influence, impervious to evil and capable of overcoming all obstacles.

    Unfortunately, many do not stay too long on the emotional island. As soon as they settle down to the beauty of love and the affection that comes with it, they realise that there is competition within. Other hearts are jostling for positions and at the end of the emotional struggle, the winner takes it all. Folarin is a victim and somehow he still has not got himself back. What happened? The poor heart suddenly discovered that his fiancée was sleeping with his best friend. That was not all. The saddest part of the discovery was that she started cheating on him barely three weeks after they met.

    The smart girl was dating both of them simultaneously and his friend knew all along. He was the only one who was in the dark until that bubble was ruptured, never to be restored again.

    Truth of the matter here is that love can be stupid. Many do so many things they do not even understand and remain a fool for love. Many times, the signs are actually there, but we may choose to ignore them because of some genuine or selfish reasons.

    This is a change of attitude, outlook and habits that can point to the fact that something is going on. Of course, there are times when the other person is consistent and there are no clues at all. Another case with young loving heart comes to mind here.

    Dotun is a ladies’ man. They just can’t resist him, and for a while, his friends thought he was never going to settle down with a single babe. “I thought so too and most times, I was always afraid that I may not be able to stick to a particular babe forever.”

    About a year ago, he met Omowunmi at a party and from that moment, he just could not take his eyes and heart away from this beauty. It wasn’t just her beauty alone. There was something magnetic about the way she talked, laughed and just everything about her”.

    Now that he had found love, everything that he did tilted in her favour and direction. To impress the angel of his life, Dotun began to make arrangements for a grand wedding. One of the biggest steps was a new house, but he did not tell Omowunmi because he wanted it to be a surprise. Everything required must be in place before he brings her to the place.

    One Saturday morning, the guy who made the furniture wanted to come and deliver them. Dotun went with them very early in the morning and while they were moving the furniture in, her dear Omowunmi stepped out of the flat downstairs scantily dressed, his neighbour, James, also stepped out in his pyjamas. They talked for a few minutes and in a short while, they started cuddling one another.

    Wait a minute! This is for real. The girl he finally gave his heart to was fooling him, and this bitch was not in love with him.  She didn’t see Dotun and he decided to record the love proceedings. It was all over, but, of course, he would need this evidence to prove that he was not looking for an excuse, just because he wants to ditch her for another babe.

    Love can be really naughty, but again, you can’t judge a heart based on your criteria for emotion. Who you fall in love with, how you access the heart in question and your rationale for keeping or dumping something you crave for can only be best understood by no one, but you.

    To avoid being in an emotional scam, you must understand your spouse’s feeling and if the attention is for you or for another. If your partner has been making elaborate excuses for not meeting you or spending time with you, then there is great cause for alarm. In addition, if the heart that you really love has been ignoring your calls and messages, then there is fire on the emotional mountain.

    The foundation for a thriving, growing, mutually supportive relationship is being separate, yet connected. In co-dependent relationships, each person sacrifices part of him or herself , compromising the relationship as a whole. The differences between you and your partner are not negatives. You don’t need a relationship with someone who shares all of your interests and views. We may sometimes fear that these differences are incompatibilities, but in fact, they’re often what keep a relationship exciting and full of good fire.

  • For triangle at six, the light is shinning brightly

    For triangle at six, the light is shinning brightly

    Our Reporter

    On October 8, yours truly clocks 40. The road has been rough, but God has seen me through.

    For six years now, Triangle has been a shining light amongst its peers, a reference point among magazines. It’s been a tale of hard work, sacrifice, support, and advice from people we hold in the highest regard, great men, and women whose commitments and contributions cannot overemphasised.

    With the incredible sacrifices of these redoubtable men and women, Triangle has been able to weather the storm. Great men and women offered to help hands to us, their doors were and are still always without inhibitions open to us, and we run to them at will. They are never tired or wearied by the incessant hassles we throw at them. They are the biggest tools God has used for Triangle.

    Our appreciation goes to Senators and ex-Senators of the Federal Republic, Governors, and ex-Governors, Commissioners and ex-Commissioners, journalists, writers; people from different backgrounds, and walks of life who contribute(d) in no small measure to the incredible growth of Triangle. We owe you our sincere debt of gratitude. Words fail us: we
    struggle for the right words to convey our gratitude to you.

    At some point, the BBC took notice of the landmarks of the Triangle and invited us to the UK. We were at their headquarters and gleaned from their world to improve significantly on our standards. We felt honoured by that singular gesture: we felt proud. And yet, in our moment of elation, as we stood on the corridors of dreams that day in the United Kingdom, we did not forget your enormous contributions: your prayers, your impeccable and invaluable advice, and your patronage. They are forever etched in our hearts at Trianglenewsonline.

    When we set out six years ago, we did not lust after tawdry glory. We were just moved by passion, by the need to air our voice and see how we could in our own little way contribute to the history of our dear State and country. We were not seeking self-aggrandizement. But accolades and trophies have attended our efforts. Time and again, we have been honoured and celebrated. We have received countless awards from great men and women moved by our brand of journalism, our responsible reportage.

    At some point, though, we stopped accepting awards. Not because we did not appreciate them or because we resented those who deemed it fit to honour us and fraternize with us, but because we do not intend to rest on our oars.

    Triangle is purely born of altruism, service to God, and unto humanity. And to my wife, Mrs. BIdemi Salako, I will never forget my debt to you. I know that however difficult and rough my journey in life has been, the pains you have gone through and endured are graver. I know it’s not been easy for you to come home after timorous days at the office, only to be greeted by loneliness. I know you have countless times wished I were there with you on the dining table after strenuous days at work.

    Thank you for the many pieces of advice, for your many acts of conscience, for our arguments, and for words laced with optimism. May we live to enjoy more years together in good health and wealth.

    It is worth mentioning that Femi Salako and Trianglenews are two different entities. Femi Salako might be completely political, with biases and sentiments when it comes to political ideas. But Trianglenews is about objectivity and responsible reportage. Little wonder then that it has attained such an enviable height.

    I thank the staff of Triangle. They have been such an incredible team and an inexpendable cistern of support. They have been simply phenomenal.

    On the occasion of the 6th anniversary of Triangle, I mean it when I say: to everyone who has contributed in no small measure to Trianglenews, we will never forget our debt to you. And may God be with you all.

  • Luxury next season: Meet the founder, Penny Karabey

    Luxury next season: Meet the founder, Penny Karabey

    Our Reporter

    Penny Pinar Karabey is the founder of Luxury Next Season. A brand that focuses on providing the most sought after and most exclusive fashion designs.

    She was born on the 3rd of November, 1975 in Istanbul Turkey. She is a New Yorker with a unique taste in fashion and accessories. She believes that her style is “uptown luxury meets downtown edge mixed with European modernity”. She is a beautiful and hardworking woman and believes that fashion can change the world, one person, at a time.

    One thing Penny totally dislikes is the colour black. She never uses it to make a design and it’s because of black casts shadows. Penny loves colors and loves to experiment using different colors. She believes in taking risks and to her, honesty should come before your need to make a sale in any business, especially fashion.

    She is a woman of many experiences having worked on the runway, designed jewelries, worked in IT for 20 years, is a computer engineer and now, has a fashion brand of her own. If you need a little inspiration in the fashion industry, Penny is the one you should look up to.

    Loving fashion as much as she did and wanting to always be unique, Penny found out that at the Upper East Side where she grew, there was a fashion gap. This meant that sought-after and rare fashion pieces were almost never available so, she decided to start a business providing such fashion pieces for people who want them and so far, it has been a wonderful journey.

    She is a member of a kit of fashion groups and communities and she recently founded the #NationalAccesoryDay which is a day for those who love accessories to share their favourites and have time to come together and meet with others who love accessories as much as they do.

    The most satisfying part of her job is when she goes for shows. She loves the atmosphere and how the colors make everywhere alive. Penny’s unique selling point is her ability to find the rarest and often extremely limited fashion pieces. This endears her to her many clients and she’s most grateful for social media.

    She says that one of her most effective advertising media is YouTube saying that a lot of Youtubers who buy outfits from her end up giving them great reviews and from those amazing reviews, she gets new people who want to buy an item or two.

    She’s also Instagram savvy as she uses her page to teach people style hacks and how to choose the best outfits. She’s a mother and a lover of family. What else? Did I tell you that her style icon is Anna Della Rosso? Now I have.

  • Music label managers should be honored, says Ilabe Doro

    Music label managers should be honored, says Ilabe Doro

    Our Reporter

    Doro-music group director, Yusuf Abdou Reny, popularly known as Ilabe Doro has said that music label managers around the world should be honored by award bodies for their immense contribution to the music business.

    The music executive made this known in a recent interview, he said “Music label managers play a key role in the music industry, the structure plan and pinpoint how works should be carried out in the company. It’s either they Influence it positively or they make the investors back out. Few occasions I have met the good ones and seen a lot of looters, very few of them want the growth of the label or artiste others are there to extort the company.

    The doro-music gang has had a couple of label managers both good and bad but that’s left for another day. A lot of responsibilities and division of labor are structured around the chain of music content and artiste branding most of this work is overseen by the label manager I think it’s high time this award bodies begin to also congratulate and honor the managers and other hands of the chain to encourage and motivate their works with that we can have diligent hands that would put in more efforts to actualize this aim”, said Doro.

    READ ALSO: Record label owner urges growth in Nigerian music space

    He however noted that the music business is growing in Africa currently adding that all hands must be on deck to keep up the good work.

    Doro-Music label has managed several artist in the Nigerian music industry including popular singer, Lyta.

  • Things that makes us cry…

    Things that makes us cry…

    By Yetunde Oladeinde

    Anyone can do anything with a million dollars. But it takes more than money to make something out of nothing”. This quote naturally tells us that we can do some much and execute lots of ideas when we have money. Dreams and ideas naturally translate to reality when we have money and resources to carry them out.

    Money, companionship, opportunities are usually possible when the mega bucks abounds. Without this then we are talking about a life being compared to that of the rag. Poor, ragged, empty and worthless condition. But in the midst of physical and emotional poverty you can metamorphose to another state.

    From experience many would tell you that nothing good comes easy. You really need to be put great effort into the love nest to make it work. This brings to mind the rags to riches phrase and it takes you from obscurity and emptiness to your heart’s desire.

    Yes, we all agree that money is indeed a mean to certain ends but there are so many other factors that must blend together to achieve a successful outcome. If this is not done then the resources that should matter would obviously go down the drain.

    The crux of the matter here is that money on its own cannot move mountains whether for physical, emotional and other ends.

    In Dolly Partons song, ‘Coat of many colours the lyrics talks about a box rags in the season of her youth. A box of rags naturally suggests a collection of something useless, old, garbage, something awful and obviously something many would love to dissociate with.

    Instead of looking at the odds the young girl and her mother decided to make the best out of nothing. Parton’s mother put the rags of many colours to use. Even though every piece was small, her mother sewed the rags together with passion and love. There was no money and her little girl needed something to keep her warm. This naturally would be a time when issues of love and romance would be at the peak.

    This led to the creation of a coat of many colours. Of course, a coat is for comfort, protection and warmth .This basically are the things required in a relationship which can make or mar the relationship.

    Even though the material used was weak and worthless, the maker of the coat reproduced something worthwhile with love. To support this show of motherly love her mother related this to the biblical Joseph’s coat of many colours. Her dream was for the coat to bring her daughter good luck and happiness and she blessed it with a kiss. On her part Little Dolly just couldn’t wait to wear it.

    Even though her friends laughed at her rags, she wore it with great pride.

    “Although we had no money

    I was rich as I could be

    In my coat of many colors

    So with patches on my britches

    Holes in both my shoes

    In my coat of many colors

    I hurried off to school

    Just to find the others laughing

    I couldn’t understand it

    For I felt I was rich

    And I told them of the love

    My momma sewed in every stitch

    But they didn’t understand it

    And I tried to make them see

    That one is only poor

    Only if they choose to be”

    Interestingly, this applies to our emotions too. Most times what we are left with are emotional rags. Things that make us cry each time we look back from here we are coming from and where we finally find ourselves. Instead of having our emotions lined with rich fabrics like lace, silk, cotton, velvet or linen that is sweet to behold, you are overwhelmed with rags that are no longer attractive. Interestingly, the most important thing you need to forge ahead is not the rags or the lace of emotions. The crucial thing that is going to see you through the affectionate lane is your attitude. You have to develop the right attitude all the time, it would be the only tonic required to make it a successful emotional journey.

    There are different steps to take in order to make your relationship wax stronger no matter the odds that comes your way. First you have to be sure that the feeling you are experiencing is love and that this feelings are mutual. Once this is ascertained then you can move on to the next stage which entails showing love to each other.

    This will help to maintain and increase the loving feelings that you have for one another. Unfortunately, it is not everyone who knows how to express such feelings properly. Sometimes, what you think is going to help project your love may just turn out to be a turn off for the person that you are desperately trying to impress.

    Conversely not expressing love can also hurt the bond you share with your partner in a terrible way. So if you are trying to work out a successful relationship, then you must be committed to your partner’s emotional well-being, even when it isn’t easy. This means sharing affection with your partner, through good times and bad, when it’s most needed and when it’s least expected.

    This task is usually easy when you are the romantic type. Romance is essential to have at least some of the time. Candles, candlelight, compliments, romantic bubble baths, and romantic dinners are good ideas. So it is wise to try to inject a romance into some of the things you do and how you relate with the one you love.