Stephanie Linus Daily

Author: stephanielinusdaily

  • A Viewer’s Touching Letter About ‘DRY’ – Addo Vanes

    My biggest testimony about the movie ‘DRY’ is the way it encourages people to be the change they want in their society. I recently got this email from someone in Ghana who watched DRY recently and was deeply touched by the honest feedback which I’d love to share with you today.

    Here it is:

    My name is Addo Vanes. I am 24 years old and a graduate of University of Ghana, Legon. I studied Political Science and Information Studies. I love community service, fashion, old African songs and choreography.

    Since I went to college in 2012 to date, I hardly watch television because I was schooling and working. So I hardly have time just to sit and watch TV for an hour. I just want to do a good job, work well and cause no harm.

    On the 1st of January this year, I was writing another 365-journey story with God’s help. I stayed in my house all day and moved to my mum’s house at about 4pm. I left with my aunt to her house after I left mum’s. So we were chatting and she put on her TV as usual. There was a Mexican telenovela being shown and they were watching while I was chatting on the phone. Right after the telenovela, she changed the TV station to GTV where was a movie being shown. Right when I saw a little girl crying I told her not to change the station. Lo and behold, it was DRY. But since I didn’t see the beginning of the movie I didn’t see the title. So I googled ‘STEPHANIE OKEREKE’S FISTULA MOVIE’. And I saw it as DRY.  

    I have not been stricken this much in my life like the time I watched that movie. I even prayed for people in such situation the next day. I googled the entire cast and I didn’t find most of them on social media except you. God bless you immeasurably. There are so many injustices targeted to the rural communities in African countries. Early childhood marriages, female genital mutilation, and in Ghana we have Trokosi where girls are married off to gods. It’s horrible. Thank you for using your stardom and voice to bring our knowledge to this. I cried on my way from my aunt’s place to my house because I was posted to a town outside the city after University for my service but I declined the offer and changed it to Accra. The movie made me know that God wanted to use me to help the community or even just one child. So I have made a conscious effort to help my community one day. Right after watching the movie I have joined several Fistula Organizations worldwide which I use my social media handles, especially Twitter, to raise awareness about it. Because I could not find one in Ghana, I choose to join the online ones to help spread the message to save our girls from early marriages and the shame and deprivation that comes with fistula. SO THIS LETTER OF MINE IS TO SAY THANK YOU MRS LINUS FOR THIS DRY MOVIE WHICH TOOK OVER MY ENTIRE MOOD. MORE GRACE TO DO MORE.
    GOD BLESS MRS STEPHANIE OKEREKE LINUS!!! GOD BLESS NEXT PAGE PRODUCTIONS!!!
    GOD BLESS DRY!!!! GOD BLESS AFRICA!!!!!

    Have you watched DRY? What did you learn from it?

    Want to see it? Order now from Jumia or Konga or check your nearest stores. To buy DRY on Jumia, CLICK HERE. To buy DRY on Konga, CLICK HERE.

    To join my (DRY)movie club: email info@stephaniedaily.com and share your story on DRY.

    Thank you so much Addo for the kind words. I’m glad you were inspired by the movie.

    SL

  • Stephanie’s Poll: Language vs Music

    Hey Lovelies,

    I was listening to the radio yesterday when I heard this interesting question which I’d like us to discuss today.

    If God offered you super powers to do just one of these two, what would it be:

    Speak every language in the world or Play every musical instrument in the world?

    It’s a tough one for me because both are very relevant.

    Language helps you connect with people in different societies across the world. Language can literally break barriers and help you achieve more with your social connections. Music is also very refreshing for the soul. For instance, I love love listening to Jazz music, especially the instrumentals. It relaxes me and makes me smile. I also have it on sometimes when I’m working and it keeps me alert and helps my creativity.

    So for me, I think I’d go with the musical instruments.

    How about you? What’s your choice?

  • 6 Ways To Rock A Classic White Shirt

    A white shirt can never go out of fashion. Almost every lady knows this. Whether it’s for a business meeting, a date or an informal outing with friends, there are several ways to rock the classic white button down shirt and look great all the time. 

    Let’s get right to it.

    1. With a blazer

    A white shirt can go with just about any colour of blazer. You can either choose to rock it with a skirt or a pair of trousers.

    2. With a pair of distressed jeans

    Distressed jeans are in vogue now. Add this to a crisp white shirt and the right pair of heels and your look can be transformed from casual to semi-formal within seconds!

    3. With shorts

    For a casual day out with friends or hanging out at the beach, this look will be very comfortable.

    4. With Jeans
    Of course, I couldn’t miss this one out. The classic white shirt with the classic blue jeans. Don’t forget to add a great pair of shoes to the look.

    5. With a skirt

    I love this girly and fun look. You can also opt for a straight skirt if you want something more formal.

    6. With a Cape

    I decided to rock this look on a particularly windy day. The detachable cape can be rocked in different styles and colours to spice up the look.

    Are you the proud owner of a white button-down shirt? How do you prefer to style yours? I’d love to read your comments!

    Photo Credit: Glamour | Pinterest | Style Pantry | TheEveryGirl

  • 7 Bible Verses To Restore Your Faith In The New Year

    We are already two weeks into 2017! Thank God for His amazing kindness.

    It has been an interesting year so far and I’m grateful for everything God has helped me accomplish so far.

    As we look forward to the rest of the year and think about our expectations and goals, I’d like us to encourage ourselves in the word of God with these Bible Verses. I hope your faith is renewed with these promises from God:

    Romans 8:28
    And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.

    Jeremiah 29:11
    “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

    Matthew 6:34
    Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own.

    Jeremiah 32:27
    Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

    Joel 2:25
    And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

    John 14:13
    And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

    Isaiah 41:10
    Do not fear for I am with you: do not anxiously look about, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous hand.

     

  • Caption This!

    Happy Weekend SL Fabz! 

    While enjoying a relaxing Saturday, I came across this online.

    This is one of the funniest pictures I’ve seen in a while. Deodorants now branded with names of Phones, Apps, Social Media platforms! I’m speechless.

    So, what did they miss? Well I can’t see Instagram here. How about you?

    Also, how will you caption this photo?

     

  • Everyday Is A Fresh Start

    It does not have to be January 1st to give yourself a chance to make the most out of your day and your life. Today is the beginning of the rest of your life.

    Don’t start your day with the broken pieces of yesterday. Everyday is a fresh start. Each day is a new beginning. Every morning we wake up is the first day of our new life.

    Today you have a blank slate, a moment for you to create a life you love and that loves you back in return.

    Don’t dwell on old news, and things you can no longer change. It is never too late to change things that are not working in your life and switch gears, instead of thinking in the same old ways, hoping for a different outcome.

    It is a new day, a new start. The beginning of a new life awaits you.

    I wish you the very best in everything you do. ❤️

  • 5 Questions All Single Men Should Ask When Dating

    Yesterday, we discussed 5 Questions All Single Women Should Ask When Dating and I was encouraged by your responses. It’s good to know that we are taking our relationships more seriously and that we know the importance of asking questions before making assumptions about our partners.

    Now, let’s talk to the men today. Here are 5 questions I think every man should ask in a relationship before things get quite serious.

    1. What are you expecting from this relationship?
    It is crucial to find out what point she is in life. Women are very sensitive about this. Her answer may also be dependent on her age, for instance, the answer you get from a 30 year-old woman would be different from what you get from a 20 year-old. Don’t just assume that she is looking for the same things as you are in a relationship. Ask.

    2. Tell me about your family/ best friend.
    Women tend to be very attached to their family and friends. It’s best you know the extent of her commitment to them at the beginning. If she has a very close friend that she is attached to, that friend might be the subject of an argument later on if you are not comfortable with it. Also, her relationship with her parents might directly or indirectly affect her relationship with you in future.

    3. How do you manage money?
    Money matters are very important in every relationship. It could make or mar your relationship or marriage if that’s a plan for both of you. So be sure she can at least manage to keep a budget and not spend all of your money. On the other hand, she may be very prudent and be a better money manager than you so you can let her handle that aspect.

    4. What happened in your last relationship?
    This question applies to both men and women. Everyone needs to know this. Find out what led to the end of her past relationship and if she admits what her own faults were. This will help you both avoid making the same mistakes again.

    5. Can you cook?
    I know this is very important to most (not all) Nigerian men. If you are very particular about who cooks your meals, then you should find out if she can conveniently handle preparing you breakfast, lunch and dinner always. If you are OK with having a cook or a maid handling that, then it shouldn’t be an issue. But please don’t say you don’t mind whether she can cook or not now, and then make it an issue later on in the relationship/marriage. It also helps to ask what she loves to cook and if she is willing to learn how to prepare meals you like that she probably cannot handle.

    So, what do you think? What other question(s) should a man ask a woman whom he wants to have a serious relationship with?

  • 5 Questions All Single Women Should Ask When Dating

    It’s a new year and just like lots of people, you might be planning to start a new relationship this year. This is a good thing, but ladies, before you get too attached to that man and find out he is not the one for you, there are some important questions you need to ask at the start of a relationship.

    Here are 5 questions I think are truly important to ask:

    1. Why do you choose me?
    You might think that any lady asking this question is insecure about herself, but in this context, it is a question a confident woman should ask. This is not a question that is asked because you don’t feel you deserve to be chosen, but a question you should ask to know his reason. Why do you like me? Why are you attracted to me? What is it about me that made you ask me out? His answer to this question will tell you whether he want you just for a shallow reason or if his feelings run deep.

    2. What are you looking for in a relationship?
    Next, you should want to know what he really wants from you. This may strike some as too pointed but many ladies make the mistake of assuming a guy wants something serious when he doesn’t or that he just wants a fling when he is in for the long term. He might respond, “Fun and companionship. I’m not interested in anything serious right now” , or “I’m looking for someone who shares my values and wants to explore a future together.” This prepares you for the future.

    3. What exactly happened in your last relationship?
    Everybody has things they don’t want to talk about and that’s fine. Your last relationship is not one of those things that you can really hold onto yourself because it really affects your next relationship. That’s why you have to have this conversation at some point. You need to know if they were cheated on or cheated in their last relationship, which may be an indication of trust issues that may have developed. You need to know if they dated someone who was abusive or too submissive, or if perhaps this is their first ever relationship. Ask questions to avoid unpleasant surprises later on.

    4. What kind of relationship do you have with God?
    It is very important to know what type of person you are dealing with. He might seem to be the love of your life but he may be an atheist. You need to know where his spiritual life resides. You need to be sure that you both share some common ground and can build each other up spiritually.

    5. What are your long-term goals?
    Every man needs to have a plan and those plans should be different from the short-term goals. If they’re not different, then he’s not really planning. You need this information to decide whether you want to attach yourself to his plan and take the relationship to the next level. It’s very possible that you’ll like a man and his short term goals, but he doesn’t have a good vision for his future in the long term. This might not be the kind of person you want to attach yourself with for a long period of time.

    This list doesn’t contain every single important question so I’d like you to help me out with some more. What important question(s) should a lady ask a man at the start of a relationship?

    Tomorrow, we’ll discuss questions a single guy should ask a lady so watch out for that 💜

  • Happy New Year 2017!!!

    It’s a brand new year!

    Welcome to 2017…. our year to shine. I’m so glad we all made it to this beautiful year of expectations. 

    A new year brings new hopes and a resolve to give life our very best.

    God has so many wonderful things in store for us this year and it’s my prayer that we all find it.

    I’m grateful to you all for an amazing  2016. Through the ups and downs, God led us through and your support and encouragement meant a lot to me.

    It is my prayer that we shall have more reasons to rejoice this year. Believe in yourself and never doubt that you are enough.

    Have a lovely 2017!!!

  • 10 Things I’ve Learned In 2016

    Every year brings lessons – some good, some bad, and I wanted to share some of the main ones I’ve learned so far. I’m quite sure you’ve heard of some of these lessons, but sometimes you just need some one to remind you of certain things and hopefully I can do that here today.

    It’s important to be grateful for each and every year that teaches you something new. Here are the 10 things I’ve learned in 2016…

    1. You Have To Put In The Work
    Nothing worth having comes easy and nothing will come without putting in the work. It’s really as simple as that. If you want something, you’re going to have to work for it. No excuses.

    2. People Change
    People will always come to your life to teach you something, but they may not always be there. People will surprise you with their capacity to change. People will surprise you with their capacity to change you. Just learn from them and let go, never feel attached. Sometimes, the best support system you can have is yourself and your ability to find strength from within.

    3. Be Creative
    I think it became clearer to me this year, that it’s a beautiful part of who we are to create in some way. We are created in God’s image and just look at His creation! Creating and making are built into us, it energizes and refreshes us. Something as simple as cooking can be so fulfilling. Find your thing. Try new things! Whether it’s music or designing. God delights in our creativity and gives us ideas when we exercise it.

    4. Children Change Our Lives

    Celebrating Maxwell's First Birthday
    Celebrating Maxwell’s First Birthday

    When you have a baby you’re absolutely and wholly consumed by it. Starting the year as a new mum totally changed me. Now, I must think about my son before making any major decision. I’ve learnt what it really means to put a person’s needs above my own. 

    5. The Storm Will Pass
    Sometimes, we get so consumed by the tough times we are facing, but just at the right time, God sends help our way. I’ve learnt in no little way this year that the darkest hour is just before the dawn. 

    6. The Little Things Matter
    How much money you have, what you weigh, how many followers you have on Social Media… that’s not the real value of happiness. A simple hello, a warm smile, a family moment… that is truly priceless! What really matters is the number of hours in the day and what you choose do with those hours. You’ll always be able to find value in other things but the true value comes from making the most of all the things that you are, right now.

    7. You Deserve To Be Proud Of Your Achievements
    I think that’s one thing that I neglected to do. I was so busy on other things: Reviews, Festivals, Awards, Lists… I forgot the simple fact that I directed and produced a socially relevant movie that is touching lives around the world. People have watched my movies. They’re still watching my movies. That’s something. And no matter how good or bad it does, no one will ever take away the memories of working with my amazing team, or my husband hugging me, telling me how proud he is.

    8. I Am A Speaker

    Speaking at ‘#NotTheCost: Stopping Violence Against Women In Politics’ Conference in New York - March 2016
    Speaking at ‘#NotTheCost: Stopping Violence Against Women In Politics’ Conference in New York – March 2016

    This year, I’ve had several opportunities to speak in front of world leaders, governors, first ladies, social influencers, couples, youth, students and many more like never before. For years I’ve described myself as “a filmmaker who sometimes speaks.” I still see myself as a creative person first, but this year I’ve come to accept being a speaker doesn’t have to look just one way. It doesn’t have to mean I speak in stadiums to crowds of thousands and it doesn’t have to mean I have to be super polished. From speaking to small audiences to high profile international platforms, my voice has been amplified like never before.

    9. Open Your Heart
    The good and thing about living and loving with an open heart is that you’re open to receiving everything. You’re open and raw and vulnerable. But here’s the catch: you’re not open and raw and vulnerable so that people around you have power. You’re open and raw and vulnerable so that you can step into your own power.

    10. Health Is Wealth
    You’ve definitely heard this one before. The problem is, few of us act on this information. This year I have been proactive in taking care of my health. By simply improving on my diet and choosing healthier food, I’ve seen a significant improvement in my health. Compare that with spending thousands in hospital bills and it’s worth it! Feeling healthy is awesome, and it’s cheaper than being sick. 

    These are my lessons, I’d love to read yours. What important lessons have you learnt this year? Let’s reflect on 2016 and share our experiences.