I Come From...

I come from power rangers and sweaty shirts from running with the boys
I come from sunday school and ill fitting dresses
I come from the black and white house in Laterbiokorshie and chicken coops
I come from a crush on the Pastors son and quick hellos to the plantain seller
I come from long hours in the salon, burning my hair and watching Esmeralda
I come from uncompleted buildings and long goodbyes at Kotoka
I come from the smell of grandmas chicken stew and remoteless tv
I come from stealing milo cubes and jumping on ant hills
I come from red clothes from the North K sand
I come from uncompleted school buildings and screaming from merry go rounds
I come from teachers chewing garlic in class and fights with the Liberian girl
I come from big bums and skinny boys with six packs
I come from runs up McCarthy Hill and stunning views
I come from light off and empty Kuffour gallons
I come from missed flights for our day and garlic bread down the toilet
I come from fighting in school and running the CU
I come from thigh length dresses to Lighthouse
I come from broken bottles and broken hearts
I come from grandma's bentua to a drug dealing doctor
I come from flipping burgers and drinking champagne
I come from power rangers and a sweaty shirt from running with the boys

The Power Ranger Complex

Sunday School is over, I'm 6 years old and I'm Pink Ranger - Israel, Padi, Kweku and I are saving the world from big scary 'monsters'. The Mighty Morphing Power Rangers! 

That's my fondest early memory, smells like sun, sweat and home. The same smell that hits me everytime I step out of the plane at Kotoka; 'Akwaaba'. 

Present time - Mid coversation at Tottenham Court Road, I hear; 'The journey is more rewarding than the destination'. Interesting I think, let me marinate on this. Sometimes I find myself in such a hurry that I don't appreciate all the craziness, heartbreaks, dissapointments, sweat, fear, laughter, insanity, love and confusion that comes with life. Too busy chasing paper and digits on the bank statement, too busy to take it all in. I'll be 25 this year, and I've decided to really live. To make memories and tell stories, and if things are not going my way, i'll just stop and yell 'Plot Twist' and move on. 

So, PLOT TWIST! 2016 give me the best you've got, go go Power Ranger! 

Friendship

Some people come into your life for a season, some come to stay. I want to take you on a journey of a friendship I thought was just for a season... Silly me

11 years old. I hate rides, I hate anything that spins you around. I hate merry go rounds. So I scream, I scream his name - He runs down the path towards my tortured screams. Panting he stops, they stop spinning me.

Fast forward 7 years - Summer; July 2010. Accra, Taxi, his head in my lap, our fingers linked... Summer never felt so  good.

Fast forward - October 2010, 'so you dance with other girls when you go out? Are you serious?' Hang up.

November 30th 2010 - 'I'm at a friends place, I'll call you later... I love you'.

50mins later *text message*
'Hephzibah i cant do this anymore*

I HATE YOU [insert expletive]!!

Summer, July 2011 'I cant believe you came to Ghana and didn't even tell me *hes crying*'

'But we haven't spoken for 8 months'

'You dierr its OK, it doesn't matter' *Hangs up*

Somehow we manage to piece together our friendship. This involved a number of apologies and Skype conversations at stupid o'clock. Forming a bond that can never be broken... My best friend

12years... I've had some of my worst days and best days with him. These past few months have been the worst. But one thing he's made me realise though, when your life is a mess, God will show up in the most beautiful way with message.

I'm so proud of the man you've become and I'm so proud of how you treat her. The maturity I've seen, na God oo.

Osei Kwadwo promise me you will never leave...

Oh and I've just decided that on my wedding day, you'll be my 'brides-man' (yes that's a thing, don't laugh) and give a speech - so start preparing.

To Jess, Ceci, Ofoli Kwei and Stella... You guys... Just you guys!!

EVERYTHING!

Love is a class 'A' drug

This is dedicated to a friend, a bother... A kindred spirit. I am rooting for you. xx

Love is beautiful, even more so when its reciprocated.
Love will have you thinking your first is your last,
And your last is your first.
Love brings secret handshakes and early morning waakye dates.
Love is the tiredness you feel in the morning, 
Because you stayed up all night talking
But you will gladly do it again, because...
Love makes all the 'gangster' in you disappear
Like a drug it takes you so high
It knocks the wind out of you
Like gravity has nothing on you
You show the ugly parts of you that are otherwise hidden


Then love leaves
And forces you back to earth
Crashing, breaking, running
Then you relapse
Then OD
Then you rebound, morphine.

*Theres no love greater than the love of God*

Romans 8:38 & 39*

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Love

3 pieces on 'Love' through my eyes

A Mothers Love
(7.03.14)

On a train this morning, I met a family I will never forget.
A mother with two toddlers and a newborn baby strapped to her chest
Carrying two scooters and a heavy looking bag
Containing what I imagine was 'supplies' for the newborn baby.
The toddlers (boys) sat on one seat
While mummy and baby sat in the other
Her boys proceeded to ask her questions (very loudly) about the underground travel system
She looked EXHAUSTED!
But never once did her smile falter
She looked at her boys in awe
Stroking their hair while answering their sometimes difficult questions
'Who built the underground?', 'So are we really under the ground mummy?' 'Why are there so many people on the train?' 'What do the different colours on the map mean?'
With the kind of patience and tenderness only a mother of three can muster.

Human

I no longer put him on a pedestal
He's no longer my prince charming
I'm not a damsel in distress
My love no longer belongs in a fairytale
His wrongs and my wrongs fluttered like kisses
And woke me up
But one thing will never change
I adore him
With him I'll experience lasts
I now see his humanity
With imperfections that make him perfect
I'm no longer falling in love, I'm walking in it
I adore him.

The girl with blue hair

Shes the love of my life
Her words of wisdom are a compass
Slightly awkward
A little shy
Hips that sashay as if to music
Nails always filed and painted
Brown eyes
Dark chocolate
Strong
Both in will and in opinion
She's got my back
Even when we both know I'm wrong
And I'm fiercely protective
A lioness
The girl with blue hair
She's the love of my life.

'So I love you, because the universe conspired to help me find you' - The Alchemist | Paulo Coelho

Green Eyes

Wake up
Hopelessly wishing there was an extra day between Saturday and Sunday
Monday Blues
Londoners and the apparent inability to say 'sorry' after budging or scuffing your cool new boots
Miraculously finding a seat on the 8:17 train
Turning to the back of the Metro for the Sudoku
Clapham North
Green eyes sits next to me
Turning to the back of the Metro for the Sudoku
Getting strangely competitive
Green eyes opens full lips and utters the most beautiful words
'You are really good'
French Accent
Pupils dilate
Sudoku wars ensues
I finish first
… 'Are you Ghanaian? I can tell by your nose'
Damn you nose gods!
'I'm from Ivory Coast, I'm here for a photo-shoot... and to meet the man who calls himself my father'
Light even skin tone, symmetry and striking cheek bones haven't gone to waste
A model with daddy issues
Goodge Street
Free coffee
'Skinny Caramel Latte please'
Takes out his phone
Uh Oh!
Turning green eyes down
'Err… I have a 'complicated' situation'
Sad green eyes
Awkward shuffling of feet
If you ever come to Ivory Coast… This is my number.
Kiss on the cheek
Ticklish stubble
Damn!

*Will be posting more strange and beautiful encounters during my train journeys*

Twitter: @hephzisblessed

Blank Stares, Numb Hearts

I try, maybe a bit too much.

I make you my priority, but all you do is look through me.

I'm the last on your to-do list, so important dates are missed.

Fleeting moments, empty kisses

You dont see me, I don't see you.

Connected through words, empty promises

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, mine is just growing numb-er.



Disclaimer: This does not reflect my current state of mind or feelings... but it did.

#givingback

'If you get, give. If you learn, teach.' - Maya Angelou


I have been brought up to give and help others in anyway that i can; and charity and humanitarian work is a very big part of my life. So this blog is dedicated to amazing charities, projects and causes that do great work and need your help to be able to continue.

Global Touch Trust

This is the charity arm of Global Worship Centre; the charity gives clothes and food to children in Ghana who need it the most. The charity is now focusing its efforts into building a library, which will be available to every child across Accra (Ghana). Last year the charity carried out medical missions, where people were given free dental care, blood sugar tests, blood pressure checks among other things. To find out more about the movement or to donate old clothes, toys, shoes, etc visit:

https://www.facebook.com/GlobalWorshipCentre


Fashion Targets Breast Cancer (Breakthrough Breast Cancer)

Every year the fashion initiative, started by Ralph Lauren in 1994, unites the fashion world with leading celebrity faces. This year retailer partners M&S, River Island, Warehouse, Topshop, Coast, Laura Ashley, my-wardrobe.com and Debenhams have designed unique pieces for the collection,  each of which is perfect for one of the many fashion moments afforded by the ‘British Season’. Prices range from £2 to £275 and all pieces carry a minimum 30% donation.

 The UK’s leading charity fashion campaign raises vital funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer through the sale of specially designed products from leading high street retailers.

Visit the campaigns lookbook (http://www.fashiontargetsbreastcancer.org.uk/lookbook/) to view and buy the collection. And visit their website here to learn more about the groundbreaking research being carried out to win the fight against breast cancer!

http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/

Below are my favourite picks.

Team this with an aztec bandeu for that boho chick/ festival look.

This will look amazing with simple black pumps, perfect for a barbecue.

Team with wedges for a relaxed 'night out'  with the girls.

Hold-a-Hand

Hold-a-hand is a mentoring platform based in Ghana, where adults engage young persons in order to nourish their thoughts and aspirations. The engagement allows the adults to provide the younger generation with insights about values, about careers and life as a whole. They  aspire to 'lift-a-soul' by getting as many adults as possible to be involved in inspiring hope and revealing the boundless opportunities out there to the young persons of our nation. 

Recently they have decided to design and make african print sneakers, to put up for sale; each pair bought will go towards buying supplies for schools. They believe that children are the future, thus they are setting up a scholarship fund to help children get an education, for those who normally would not be able to afford it.

To find out more, or to donate please visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/hold-a-hand/

Giving back is very important part of life, please help any of these charities if you can! They deserve it! If you know of any charities you would like me to blog about, please comment below of tweet me; https://twitter.com/HephzIsBlessed

Panic Attack

So last week I had a slight panic attack... Crying, hyperventilating, sniffling, hiccups all of it. Why? I find myself at the verge of real life and that scared me; I found myself starting to doubt my future, talent and this 'light' inside of me. 

Since I was eight I have always known without a shadow of doubt that I wanted to do something in media. Let me give you a quick timeline...

8yrs Old - TV Presenter

10yrs Old - Oprah (After reading her autobiography) 

14yrs Old - Actress

17yrs Old - Producer/Director

20yrs Old (till present) - PR/Advertising 

After about an hour of panic, and words from my wonderful mother, I realised what I was really scared of. I was scared of my potential; that I might actually be worth more than I actually believe I am. In my head I always wonder why and if people will hire me or pay me to write or have these big ideas, then I realised, I can hire myself. My greatest fear is that I am or could be greater than my mind can envision. 

I will no longer doubt myself; I will no longer box myself up and accept mediocrity. With hard work, and God's help, I can achieve the things I dare to dream... 

'A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps' (Proverbs 16:9).

Twitter: @HephzIsBlessed

My Father

Its my fathers 50th birthday today, and he's got so much SWAG for an OLD MAN! No you wont see it in his nose and ear hairs or his humourless jokes; but you see it in the wisdom in his words, the experience that has coloured his (mostly bald) greying head, in the kindness of his eyes and the love in his heart. 

They say the first man a girl should fall in love with is her father, and i agree with that. Most people unfortunately did not have their father around when they were growing up, and i am very blessed to have had mine as a constant. The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother, and my father illustrates that everyday. Like his mother before him, He has taught me to love like my life depended on it, to give and not expect anything in return. 

The confidence i possess is because he and my mum have both pushed me to believe in myself, they tell me that i can achieve anything i put my mind to. He is like my publicist, he tells everyone i'm amazing at everything even when i know that im not. He pushes me to face my fears and face them head on.

I write this because sometimes i believe we waste our words and we waste our moments, and we dont take the time to say the things that are in our hearts when we have the chance; so i take this time, this moment and this space to say all of this, and i know that one day i will look back and be glad i said this. 

To conclude, Happy Half a Century old man! I love you like my life depends on it - To the moon and back!

P.S The next man that intends to claim my heart has great competition.

The Preacher's Kid

I used to think that being a pastor's child is very difficult, but i soon realised it is the expectations of people when they find out the choice of one or in my position both your parents.

Going through my weekly reading of the weird and wonderful things that have happened this week (a naked homeless man who ate 75% of another guy's face) i see a link saying Creflo Dollar has been arrested; now for those of you who do not know who he is, let me explain. He is an African - American (senior) pastor and founder of World Changers Church in College Park, Atlanta. The church has nearly 30,000 members and includes satellite campuses in 10 cities.
Read more: http://globalgrind.com/news/creflo-dollar-arrested-battery-details#ixzz1xPhaQmH3

Allegedly all this happened because he tried to stop his teenage daughter from going to a party...

Every teenager rebel's at some point but with being a pastors daughter/son, who has been expected to live and behave in a particular way, the rebellion hits harder; you do all you can do to shed that image. I went through that stage, got into fights every other day, went out almost every night getting into all kinds of trouble.

Whenever i talk to people (especially guys) and they find out I'm a preachers kid, they always ask the same question; 'so you're a bad girl?' to which I respond; 'i was', unfortunately i have no tattoos or scars to prove it, just bad memories...

Now when i see most preachers kids going through the same thing, i just want to tell them; its all going to be alright. We are not what people think we are, we are what God thinks we are, its not about being a preachers kid, its about being who you are.

The plights of being a preachers kid have even been made into movies, its slippery ground, but all that is needed is patience. I turned out alright.... right?

Thanks for reading
Follow me on twitter @hephzisblessed

Mothers... Love and Inspiration

So this post was meant to be done by mothers day... but life kinda got in the way. So here it is, the two women that changed my life!

Usually when my mum tells me off or gives me advice on something or other, she finishes off with '... because one day I wont be here to tell you what to do'; honestly this breaks my heart every time she say's it, because I literally cannot imagine a world where my mother does not exist.

She is the most emotional (i mean the woman cries at X Factor!),compassionate, hardworking, caring and loving person I know, and she and my father are the best things that ever happened to me. She works so hard to give me and my siblings the life we so often take for granted.

I remember a time when i used to dislike her because she took me from the country I love; from family and friends to a strange cold and wet place eight years ago, but she wanted to give me the opportunities and life she longed for when she was my age. She wants me to see the world in a way she didn't; and for that and more; I love her!

She recently threw a surprise 21st birthday party for me where she got most of my friends and family together just so she can see me smile! Now mum is not the richest person on earth but I'm content because she gives me what I need; values, worth and a whole lot of LOVE! I LOVE YOU MUMMY!

My Grandmother; Juliana Anyan, was my mother, when my mum was not around. As i write this blog, i can barely help the tears streaming down my face because I lost her way too early. This woman made it hard to miss my mum because she was everything I needed; strict but kind, tough but loving, and most of all she was always there.

She died 4 years ago (May 24th, 2008) when she suddenly got ill (she had type 1 diabetes), and at that moment my life changed forever. I decided the world would not lose someone so precious, so being named after her I decided to become the person she taught me to be. And if i become half the woman she was, I will be content. One thing I know is that, God only takes the very best, and i promise to carry on in her legacy.

'What is more important, who we become or how we become?'
I believe the answer is both, and how I became the person I am today; is because of these two women. I am still a working progress though. :)

Thank you for reading
Follow me of twitter: @hephzisblessed

I'm 21! (THANK YOU LORD)

Peering through blurry sleep drenched eyes at what looks like a silhoeutte of four at the foot of my very comfotable bed; our family tradition of waking the birthday person with singing, warmth and love is what my half awake self is telling me is about to happen.

My littlel sister jumps in my bed and hugs me; 'jump in David (little bro) you may never get this chance again'- a reference to my lack of response when it comes to family hugs (they're chessy).

My dad then jumps in too, unable to stop himself from harmonising the birthday song in my ear while my mum rubs my cheek, I guess to her i'll always be her little girl; which I do not mind one bit!!
 21st Birthday Resolutions: .
.Learn how to cook like my mum ( my Jollof Rice just doesnt cut it)

.Wearing my hair naturally!

 .More organized and time conscious (im never gonna be late people... REJOICE!)  .

.Most importantly, learn to drive and buy a car! :)

 PS: Today is the first time in 8 years it hast rained on my birthday! And the Sun is shining! :) BRITISH WEATHER!

Before you leave please support this cause! And #stopkony!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc


Follow me on twitter: @hephzisblessed

Pressure

So ever since i turned the ripe old (ish) age of 20, a lot of people have started to ask about my relationship status and have started to ask when I will be getting married and my plans for the future.

Now as I am quickly drawing towards the dreaded age of 21, friends have started to ask this same question; now I didn't mind when my African parents and family friends asked because that is expected but surely not my educated and insightful twenty first century friends.

Because unlike the dinosaur ages my parents emerged from, my friends and i live in a world where a woman doesn't need a man, she can have her own business, have kids and live a full happy life!

Now I haven't had great luck with guys (of which i will go into some other time), and as a rule i do not tell my parents i'm in one so as not to start drama and a lecture! So how they imagine i will get married without first having a boyfriend is very complicated concept to me.

After saying all this, i would lastly like to add that i do not hate men, and when the time is right it will happen; but i'm 20 for God's sake! I would love to get married ONE DAY in the future, with my 2.4 kids and an ever loving and caring husband, driving a Cadillac Escalade; but for now i'm content being a single girl concentrating on uni but has a weird fixation with POWER RANGERS!!

I do not wish to sound ungrateful, because I know i am very blessed to be alive and well, and i thank God everyday for that. Unlike some of my peers who couldn't have grown up fast enough, i have always wanted to stay young and responsibility free! So please do not take this the wrong way, i feel blessed every morning!

I'll leave you with an inspirational piece by the poet Janette-ikz; 'I WILL WAIT FOR YOU'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igCj3jsbcqs