Category: Lifestyle

A crisis or a sudden disaster can catch us off guard and feel like it is occurring at any time. Recognizing when you are experiencing one can keep the disbelief away if a situation is to become worse. Although not all crises are easily managed, below are 5 warning signs that let you know you may be experiencing one or heading that way.

Remember that recognizing it early keeps it from turning into the worst disaster possible and seeking to take steps to change where you are heading can make everything all the more bearable.

From sudden feelings of rejection to changes in behavior and strange thoughts, having a crisis can put you in a bind that is hard to cut loose from. Here are some signs to alert you of the potential of the problem and ways to encourage you to be free of future crises and the ones you may be experiencing at the moment whether small or great.

1. Everything Suddenly Feels Like Rejection

Even the simplest sideways glance from someone can feel like a judgment or some sort of rejection when experiencing a crisis. Imagine that even paying attention too much to all the negative energy in the world and not enough to the positive energy can leave us feeling paranoid about even glances. Other instances include being intensely saddened by negative feedback or feeling not incorporated into events and social gatherings.

Have you ever asked someone to help you complete something and they said no? Suddenly you feel like this person doesn’t like you or they want to see you fail. Maybe you have sudden feelings of loss and shame like the world you were trying to carry has suddenly become so much of a burden that you allow it to crush you.

Feelings of rejection or expecting to be rejected and eventually feeling like a failure are a sign that you may be heading directly for a major crisis. Try and remember to not take everything so personal. See rejection as the other person’s loss and move on. Keep confident by remembering that it is not what others say or think about you, it is how you think of yourself and what you do to keep yourself happy and healthy.

2. You Have Stopped Socializing With People You Care About Most

This is a sign to others that care about you that you may be experiencing stress, anxiety, depression or something related to these. A sure indication of a crisis waiting to happen, closing yourself off from the world can be traumatic and torturous. Torturous because isolation can eventually drive one insane!

Although we all need time to ourselves sometimes, isolating others for days especially when you did not tell those you are most close with that you will do so can create a crisis within the family unit as well. Make sure to let those you care most for know when that extra space is needed and you desire time to think and do alone. Otherwise, remember to seek encouragement and support when you need it most.

If you need a change in atmosphere, try doing sometime different that interest you like join a poetry or book club and let your creative spirit flow. Make new friends and open up communication with more people to keep things interesting and perspective diverse. Communication can be positive and eventually change the way you see things in the best way possible.

3. You Are On Your Worst Behavior

There are more than a few songs that reference this sign that you are in a crisis. Being the worst that you can be as a fellow human being and citizen of the world can put you out of focus. Avoid bad energy and recognize when what you are doing now greatly differs in a negative way from what you did then. According to studies, some people tend to deviate towards abnormal behavior when they sense they are going through a life changing event.

Do not let yourself believe that this is just a phase. Instead insist on taking care of the issue before it is too late. Challenge yourself to make a change and have a closer look at your attitude. After all, it is the best behavior that ends up getting the reward.

4. You Watch Motivation Fly Out The Window

Tired of waiting for that chance opportunity or change to come to your life? Feeling tired is perfectly usual. Feelings of demotivation may affect you today but do not drag those feelings along with you tomorrow. The best way to grasp motivation is to remember what keeps you motivated. Losing any sense of enthusiasm or purpose can definitely open the playing field up and allow disaster to take over in the game of life. Although this may seem not so bad, trust me, it can get there fairly swiftly.

5. You Start Wondering Why You Were Even Born

Why question your existence if you are already here to begin with. Focus on what in life has made you happy and feel like life has a meaning and purpose and less on what doesn’t make you feel so. Even the smallest of things can make life meaningful. Ever wonder why the sky was blue or seen something or someone so beautiful life just seemed to pause? These are all things you were meant to experience and enjoy, to question. Wondering so much on why you were even born can eventually lead to more devastating circumstances, deeper thoughts and a sense of sorrow.

Instead be thankful to your parents for having you, embrace that you are here and see life in the present and future. Known that one day you will understand even more with your purpose eventually being fulfilled. Find joy in all things and remember to be grateful.

These 5 signs that a crisis is coming should not be taken lightly. Avoid them when you can to give way to brighter days.

Have you noticed any other signs a crisis is coming? Please share them in the comments section below.

Source: Inspower.co

Getting through the month of Ramadan is hard enough- when you haven’t had food all day, you really don’t feel like watching what you eat or counting calories after sunset! However, as we have learnt, most people actually put on some weight during this time. To help you avoid this, hellofood.rw has gathered tips for healthy food to eat before and after the fasting, which also keeps you full for a long time!

1 Yogurt

This great source of vitamin B is perfect for a snack on the go. It naturally reduces hunger and is also known for its great effect on the gut flora. And with about 100 calories per serving (170 g) it is absolutely weight-friendly as well.

2 Dates

Dates are amongst the most popular foods consumed during Ramadan season. The sweet fruit also plays a huge role in Middle Eastern cuisine. It’s naturally high in magnesium, potassium and fiber which take a high impact on daily heath. Fiber is essential for boosting both colon and heart health. Dates are also amongst the sweetest fruit which makes them the perfect substitute for sugar.

3 Avocados

Avocados are rich in natural fats which are a core component of a healthy nutrition. Fun fact: they can also be used as a substitute of flour in baking. Plus: the yellow-green fruit is able to lower cholesterol levels which are the main reason for heart diseases if too high.

4 Coconut water

Coconut water is best known for its miraculous effects on body, hair and skin. It also helps you to stay hydrated – drink a glass of coconut water with every meal and you will be surprised by its benefits. It also helps you lose weight the healthy way.

5 Oatmeal

Oatmeal is very high in fiber and helps you control your weight by providing the most essential nutrients such as protein to make you ready for the day. One of the biggest advantages Oatmeal offers is that it can help you fight skin problems – the starchiness of oats helps the skin holding its moisture, while the rougher fibrous husk of the oat acts as a gentle exfoliant.

6 Bananas

Bananas are very high in magnesium. If you do sports regularly, they can even help you reduce cramps. They are also easy to snack on the go and since they are high in (healthy) carbs they are the perfect food to keep you feeling saturated for a longer period of time. Snack-Tip: Spread some peanut butter on a toast bread and put banana pieces on the top – a delicious meal to start the day.

7 Almonds

Almonds are a real power booster! They contain calcium, iron, magnesium and vitamins that keep you fit and are good for your heart. Studies have also proven that almonds are beneficial for weight loss and lowering blood pressure. One small handful a day might just keep the doctor away and make you feel full.

People ask me: “Why do you write about food, eating, and drinking? Why don’t you write about the struggle for power and security, and about love the way others do? The easiest answer is to say that, like most other humans,” I am HUNGRY “.

Most of our friends, acquaintances and colleagues at hellofood.rw feel the same way. That’s why we gathered 10 quotes we picked up all around for your amusement:

1.”If people say eating dessert before dinner will ruin your appetite, won’t eating dinner before dessert ruin your appetite for dessert?”

2.”Dear future husband, when you propose to me, please don’t put the ring in my food because I guarantee I will eat it.”

3. “Food: eat it quick or you will have to share it!”

4. “Eat whatever you want, and if anyone tries to lecture you about your weight, eat them too!”

5.”I won’t be impressed by technology until I can download food.”

6. “What could be more important than a little something to eat?”

7. “It may look I’m having really deep thoughts but 99% of the time, I’m just thinking about what I’m going to eat later.”

8. “Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like.”

9. “Food brings people together on many different levels. It’s nourishment of the soul and body; it’s true love.”

10. “If we’re not supposed to have midnight snacks, then why is there a light in the fridge?”

If you feel hungry after reading these, place your order at hellofood.rw now!

If you’re a football fan, then you know the perfect game needs the perfect venue. Picking an ideal spot can be a challenge, especially when you’re in the mood for something specific. Whether you’re looking for great food, low-key spot or upscale restaurant or bar.

Got limited budget and don’t know where to go? Don’t worry, hellofood.rw has you covered? We have listed 5 of the best sports bars and restaurants in Kigali.

Beirut

Looking for a spot with a variety of drinks, delicious food and activities in case the game gets boring? Then Beirut Bar and restaurant at kiyovu is the place for you. Popularly known as a sports bar, Beirut offers football fans a memorable time with fun and exciting games and prizes offered every football tournament season.

Tiani’s

In the mood for a neighborhood feel, great food and an open bar with several big screens at a reasonable price? Tiani’s (Ex Papyrus) at Kimihurura has you covered with a wide selections of delicious food to choose from. Need a little break from the game, the karaoke will keep you entertained.

Sundowner

At sundowner, you can enjoy watching the thrill of a game with other various fans from Kigali. Sundowner at Kimihurura is popularly known as the busiest sports bar in town with over 100 people on games days. Enjoy live soccer on state of art big screens, never ending delicious food, cocktails and local beer while you enjoy the game.

Caiman Bar

If you’re in the mood for something upscale and a little extra scenery, Caiman Bar at Kibagabaga is just what you’re looking for. Enjoy juicy, delicious burgers, French fries and a nice chicken while you enjoy the game on big screens. You might even run into a celebrity or two.

Kabana club

At Kabana club, you can watch the games at a full bar while you enjoy never-ending Buffalo wings and Pizza. With over a lot of flat screens to choose from and a wide selections of drinks, you can never go wrong with Kabana club.

It’s Game Time! Catch your team, choose your spot, select a beverage and a bite and enjoy the game.

The hit TV show “Empire” not only tugs at our heartstrings and has us on the edge of our seats with every episode, but it’s also got us gagging with all the eleganza and high fashion. These ladies’ dress and bling game is so on point, we just can’t seem to get enough of it.

Now, how does a chance to actually win Naomi Campbell’s epic rhinestone-studded dress, right off the set, sound to you? Sweet? Read on, and you just might be bringing this baby home.

Naomi Campbell plays Camilla Marks, a sexy, fly middle-aged woman with a taste for talent and younger men. She has a relationship with Hakeem Lyon, a rapper many years her junior. Campbell performs with grace and poise and great command, it’s difficult not to fall in love with such a complex character.

The dress in question is a vintage jewelled number, sans fur stole. 100% of the proceeds from the auction of the Marc Bouwer couture dress will go to Fashion For Relief, a nonprofit that is dedicated to supporting global disaster relief efforts. At present, the dress is now fetching the jaw-dropping price of $19,000 and rising.

It’s all going to a good cause, and absolutely worth every penny.

Absolute props for the show’s couture eye candy go to Costume Designer Rita McGhee and her team. They have the eye for the best looks, what makes or breaks each outfit you see on the show, and make it a point to make each character look like a million bucks on a shoestring budget. “We are fashion-finders. It’s like a wardrobe reality show, going out there and . . . getting all the things that we need to make it work,” she shared in an interview with TV Guide.

Will we ever see the day when fan-favorite Cookie’s wardrobe will be on auction? One can only hope.

Source: Social News Daily

As the world marks the third annual International Day of Happiness on Friday, the recent Gallup findings show that Rwanda is among countries where the highest percentages of people are experiencing positive emotions daily.

Rwanda is in the same category with the United States, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Argentina, Bhutan, Chile, Dominican Republic where all racked up scores of 79 per cent.

The Report ranks Rwanda on 23rd position among 143 countries surveyed.

In fact, for the first time in Gallup’s 10-year history of global tracking, all of the top 10 countries with the highest Positive Experience Index scores are in Latin America.

Gallup asked adults in 143 countries in 2014 if they had five positive experiences on the day before the survey. More than 70% of people worldwide said they experienced a lot of enjoyment, smiled or laughed a lot, felt well-rested and felt treated with respect. Additionally, 50% of people said they learned or did something interesting the day before the interview. Gallup compiles the “yes” responses from these five questions into a Positive Experience Index score for each country. The index score for the world in 2014 is 71 and has remained remarkably consistent through the years.

Perhaps the most surprising finding from the countries in the world with the fewest people reporting positive emotions is that a place such as war-torn Afghanistan still has majorities of people saying that they smiled or laughed a lot the day before the interview — perhaps testimony of the resiliency of the human spirit. Conflict-ridden South Sudan and Ukraine and Ebola-stricken Liberia were one to two points from being on this undistinguished bottom 10 list. Syria, the country with the lowest positive emotions ever reported last year, is absent from this list only because this report was issued before those data were finalized.

Gallup’s Positive Experience Index is designed to measure the things GDP was not intended to measure. In addition to quantifying things such as respect, laughing and smiling a lot, and learning or doing something interesting — some of the key drivers of positive emotions are things such as freedom, social capital and charitable giving — all things that make a life worth living. Money also clearly plays an important role in people’s daily emotions. Research in the U.S. finds that money significantly affects these emotions, but only to a point. After an individual makes $75,000 per year, money has much less of an effect on daily emotions.

Money isn’t everything in life. Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 118th in terms of GDP (nominal) per capita, yet when it comes to positive emotions, it ties for second. There is much to be learned from Latin America on this International Day of Happiness because while they aren’t the wealthiest people in the world, they are certainly among the happiest.

*The mean for the Middle East and North Africa region does not include GCC countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.

Survey Methods

Results are based on telephone and face-to-face interviews with approximately 1,000 adults in each country, aged 15 and older, conducted in 2014 in 143 countries and areas. For results based on the total global sample, the margin of sampling error is less than ±1 percentage point at the 95% confidence level. For results based on country-level samples, the margin of error ranges from a low of ±2.1 to a high of ±5.3. The margin of error reflects the influence of data weighting. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Journalism has always been a relatively unsafe profession.

Journalists travel to dangerous countries, expose ugly truths and often speak out against the powers that be.

But why does the world target female journalists specifically? According to Dunja Mijatovic, representative on Freedom of the Media for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), online abuse against female journalists is “a global phenomenon growing at a very rapid pace.”

Several female journalists have spoken out about the attacks they have received, all of which were unwarranted. Some even reported receiving serious death threats.

Jenny Alversjo, anchor for TV4 Sweden, says, “When someone threatens to kill you . . . the world stops. The first real threat was horrifying. The person who wanted me dead said I had two weeks left to live. It’s hard to describe the fear I felt.” A female Turkish journalist, Amberin Zaman, notes, “

”I received hundreds of tweets, using the most obscene language, threatening to kill me, threatening to rape me . . . it’s like a public lynching.” Unfortunately, these online attacks do not concern the content of articles or their quality. As Ms. Mijatovic said, they “degrade the journalist as a woman.” The OSCE says that threats of sexual violence have become the norm for most female journalists.

Others face “severe sexual harassment and intimidation.” According to Ms. Mijatovic, “In some countries like the UK, the US and in Scandinavia, the problem is acknowledged . . . in other countries [it] remains a non-issue.” Female journalists have faced this kind of trial since the beginning.

According to the American Journalism Review, “For decades women . . . [have faced] intimidation and harassment from male athletes, coaches and even colleagues.” Women have always had to fight for their rights, like the right to vote, the right to not be considered as property, and even the right to their own bodies.

Throughout history, women have been marginalized. For female journalists, the marginalization of women, their “conventional” role as housekeepers and subordinates has contributed to this culture of telling women to “shut up and look pretty.”

All this has serious implications for freedom of speech. If female journalists are threatened, this might become another career field in which women are under-represented. If one group in society is prevented from expressing itself or telling the truth, that is oppression. This is not progress. As Ms. Mijatovic says, the abuse is unacceptable and is a “dangerous new trend, which needs to be addressed now.”

Thankfully, the female journalists who have been threatened are unlikely to stop talking. Alversjo says, “First you’re scared, but soon the fear turns into anger. No one has the right do this to me. No one can keep me from doing my job.” It seems like the battle for women in journalism still has a long way to go.

Sources: bbc.com, ajr.org

A group exercise class is a physical exercise class for multiple participants led by an instructor or personal trainer. Group exercises classes can focus on different types of physical exercise including cardio or strength exercises, yoga or dance.

In the exclusive interview with IGIHE, the Managing Director of Waka Fitness has revealed the Benefits of Group exercise Class and below are excerpts of the Interview:

IGIHE: How many people made up the Group and what do they do?

Waka Fitness: The sizes of group exercise classes can vary depending on the size of the facility and the type of exercise. Participants usually follow the exercises or movements demonstrated by the instructor, who provides ongoing guidance to each member of the class.

IGIHE: What types of exercise do you offer to Participants?

At WAKA Fitness we offer a diverse range of classes including aerobics, tae bo, step aerobics, Zumba, bootcamp (a high-intensity cardio exercise class), yoga and traditional Rwandan dance.

We also now feature a 10-class punch card for just RWF 40,000 which will allow you to join any of our classes.

IGIHE: What are the requirements to join the group?

Waka Fitness: All of the classes at WAKA are open to those in the beginning of their fitness journey or those more experienced in exercise and fitness. Instructors are able to modify routines to make certain movements more difficult or easier to perform, depending on the experience of the participant.

IGIHE: How do people benefit from it and how long does it take to see impacts?

Waka Fitness: Group exercise classes are a great way to make working out more enjoyable and to try new challenges. Depending on the activity, participants may increase their cardiovascular endurance, strength and flexibility. We would estimate that participants who attend a class 3-4 times a week consistently would start to see results. However, after a few months it is important to either change the type of class you attend or ask the instructor to make the movements more difficult for you as your body will get used to the movements and you will see less results.

IGIHE: Do all people allowed to join the group like children, aged persons etc?

Waka Fitness: We allow adults of all ages to join our group exercise classes and we would also like to introduce kids classes like hip-hop and Kinyarwanda dance as physical activity is also essential for children.

IGIHE: Tell us where you are located to help interested people to join you?

Waka Fitness: We are located on the first floor of the Papyrus building in Kimihurura (next to Flamingo restaurant). Our class schedule can be found at: http://www.wakafitness.com/services.html.

tombola@igihe.com