Stephanie Linus Daily

Category: Features

  • YOU DESERVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE

    Say these words:

    I deserve to be here.

    I will TAKE UP SPACE.

    I will be heard. I will contribute to the growth of my life and my community.

    I bring value to every position. I am respected, loved and understood.

    I am a solution to someone’s problem. I am part of decision-making. I will not waste my life and my time.

    I will serve a greater purpose for mankind, but first I will affirm myself and believe in my abilities.

    My seat at the table is for my tribe – those who may not be represented, I will speak for them.

    The room belongs to us. The table is big enough. This seat belongs to our voice. I will occupy it and make the best use of the opportunity – this seat at the table will bring healing to many.

    I am helping many when I sit at the table. The opportunity to have a seat at the table will bring my purpose to life, and bring happiness to many lives I may never meet.

    I will sit at the table – this table will feed many.

    I deserve to be here.

    xoxo

  • IT’S NATIONAL SIBLINGS DAY!

    Today, April 10, is National Siblings day. We do not get to choose our siblings, they are gifted to us by God, which makes it a very special relationship that should be nurtured with understanding and love.

    This is a special day to let your siblings know how much they mean to you. Shower them with appreciation in any form – whether gifts, kind messages or take them out for a nice lunch, where you can share some of your stories growing up. Bond all over again. Find ways to reconnect, and celebrate your love for each other; re-devout yourself by promising to have each other’s back. Your sisters and brothers are a huge part of your life.

    Here are heartwarming sibling messages:

    *My brother is my strength and even if he is not with me I can feel him heartily.

    *Siblings are made to face any situation of life together.

    *My sister always sees her superhero in me and I’m proud to be her brother.

    *A sister can be your mother, a teacher, a guide, and a friend.

    *Without a sibling-like you, my childhood would be incomplete.

    *I have a sibling and therefore, I have a friend for life!

    *The reason behind my unforgettable and awesome childhood is you, my sibling!

    *Whether we are side by side or apart, we are still siblings and keep on remembering from the heart.

    xoxo

  • Stephanie Linus visits the US Capitol to Advocate for Improved Global Health for Women & Girls

    On Thursday March 30, Stephanie Linus acclaimed actress, filmmaker, and women and girls advocate was the featured speaker at a briefing at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

    The event, which was sponsored by Pathfinder International, Catalyst Global Strategies, What to Expect Project, UN Women, UNFPA, and Stephanie’s nonprofit organization, Extended Hands Foundation, highlighted how U.S. government- supported global health programs improve the lives of women and girls in the developing world in ways that extend beyond improving health outcomes. 

    As a UNFPA Regional Ambassador and founder of Extended Hands Foundation, Stephanie discussed her work with several gender-based awareness and intervention projects across the world.

    Stephanie led a discussion on how lack of health care access and overlapping areas of inequity keep girls out of school, limit educational opportunities, and keep them from living the lives they choose. 

    The briefing also included remarks by Lydia Murithi, Senior Global Technical and Strategy Advisor, Pathfinder International; Crystal Lander, Chief Strategic Engagement Officer, Pathfinder International; Annie Toro, President and CEO, What to Expect Project and Sarah Craven, Chief, Washington Office, UNFPA. The event was coordinated by Algene Sajery, CEO of Catalyst Global Strategies.

    More pictures:

  • VISA-FREE COUNTRIES FOR NIGERIANS

    It’s the second quarter of the year, where have you visited? Life is all about experiences that become memories – memories that make your life full and gives life meaning.

    Travel is such an important part of living. If you are frustrated by the process of getting visas with your Nigerian passport, maybe you should start by exploring countries that do not need exhaustive requirements.

    For Nigerian passport holders, there are 26 countries you can visit visit visa-free:

    • Barbados
    • Benin
    • Burkina Faso
    • Cameroon
    • Cabo Verde
    • Chad
    • Cook Islands
    • Ivory Coast
    • Dominica
    • Fiji
    • Ghana
    • Guinea
    • Guinea-Bissau
    • Haiti
    • Liberia
    • Mali
    • Micronesia
    • Montserrat
    Coco Ocean Resort, The Gambia
    • Niger
    • Niue
    • Senegal
    • Sierra Leone
    • Saint Kitts and Nevis
    • Gambia
    • Togo
    • Vanuatu

    There also countries you can visit with e-visas: Sao Tome and Principe, Gabon, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Albania, Zambia, Djibouti, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Moldova, South Africa, Bahrain, Iran, Oman, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Bahamas, Malaysia, Australia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Uganda… and more!

    Explore AFRICA! Happy travels! xoxo

  • The benefits of GRATITUDE

    Do you practice GRATITUDE always? Here’s why you should:

    Gratitude improves your sleep, your mood and immunity.

    Gratitude is like medicine that cures different ailments. It decreases depression and anxieties. Life is so much more beautiful and less difficult when you know how to be grateful.

    Gratitude towards people in your life will improve your relationships.

    Gratitude helps your self-esteem. It is a promoter of good mental and physical health.

    When you practice Gratitude, you sleep better because your heart and soul is in a good place.

    Gratitude is the ultimate self-care.

    Never stop being grateful. Approach each day with joy and Gratitude!

    xoxo

  • Birthday Shout-out: INSPIRING QUOTES BY LADY GAGA

    Songwriter, singer and actress, Lady Gaga was born this day – March 28, 1986 in New York. Her real name is: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. From her fashion statement to her can-do spirit, Lady Gaga is an inspiration.

    Here are some of her quotes we consider life-changing:

    “Don’t you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can’t be exactly who you are.”

    “All that ever holds somebody back, I think, is fear. For a minute I had fear. [Then] I went into the room and shot my fear in the face…”

    “Sometimes in life you don’t always feel like a winner, but that doesn’t mean you’re not a winner.”

    “I am my own sanctuary and I can be reborn as many times as I choose throughout my life.”

    “You have to be unique, and different, and shine in your own way.”

    “You define beauty yourself, society doesn’t define your beauty.”

    “Ignore all hatred and criticism. Live for what you create, and die protecting it.”

    “Don’t be insecure if your heart is pure.”

    “Even if the whole world turns their back on you, you’ll always have yourself.”

    “I’ve been searching for ways to heal myself, and I’ve found that kindness is the best way.”

    Happy Birthday, Lady Gaga.

    xoxo

  • WHAT MADE YOU BRAVER?

    We ask three women the experiences that changed their perspective to life and made them braver.

    “I lost my dad at a time I needed him the most. I was going through a very rough relationship that was emotionally and verbally abusive. I had lost every confidence in me. I was no better than a piece of rumpled paper. My father was the only one who knew how to re-affirm me. And just when I was trying to understand how low I had sunk and how important it is to move away from my fiancé and the toxicity that wraps itself as love, my father was gone. It was then I knew how BRAVE I could be. I realized death was the worst that could happen, and if it did, at least I would be with my dad. So with that mindset, I picked myself up from misery, left the relationship for good and paved my own happiness. It hasn’t been easy, but I salute myself for being brave to move away from what tried to destroy me.” – Ejiro

    “Losing weight has been the most traumatizing experience of my life. Anything I put in my mouth makes me fat. I see people eat like gluttons and add zero weight, I get jealous. I know how tough it is to progress in life when you struggle with your weight. I am shy, introverted and unable to put myself out there because people judge harshly. I’ve been on so many diet plan and exercises and nothing really works long term, it was later I decided I would have to love myself and my body regardless. If you have nothing to lose, you stop being afraid of losing anything. I heard that somewhere and I decided to make that my motto. I soaked myself in inspiring stories of plus-size people, and I found my own mojo. I got BRAVER because I decided not to let my weight or people’s unsolicited opinions and judgments stop me from living and enjoying life. I also signed up with a nutritionist because I will never give up on myself. Cheers to being braver than I ever imagined I could be.” – Perpetua

    “Standing up to my very close-knit clique was the BRAVEST thing I have ever done, and once I was able to do it and the sky did not fall, I realized I was willingly part of a delusional group for so long because I was too afraid to speak up. I  just couldn’t take the hypocrisy anymore – the constant mockery of others, and the pretentious relationship we all shared. One day, they were gossiping about someone we know and it was so horrible, I decided it was time to distance myself from them, but before I did I made them realize how incurably ridiculous they are to attempt to remove the speck in someone else’s eye while they all go blind. I am better off without such people in my life, and I really should have done that sooner.” – Oluchi

    xoxo

  • FIVE SKINCARE ROUTINE EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW.

    Are you as frustrated as we are when you open Instagram and you see skincare experts applying a million products to their skin? You want the deets on their routine, but the messages fly off the videos too quickly and you are left with nothing. Don’t sweat it (literally), here’s 5 basic skincare routine everyone should know:

    CLEANSE: Wash your face with the right cleanser for your skin type. It gets rid of dirt, impurities and oil you gather on your face during your active hours. Be consistent. Cleansing should be a part of your daily skincare routine. No excuses. It takes care of breakouts, clogged skin and premature aging.

    EXFOLIATE: You should exfoliate twice a week. It’s a game changer. Exfoliating improves skin and makes it more radiant. It helps your skin absorb all other skin products because it gets rid of hardened dead cells blocking penetration.

    TONE: Toning balances the PH level of your skin. It helps get rid of bacteria with its active ingredients. You can glide through your face with cotton pad, or in some cases you spritz all over the face.

    MOISTURISE: Your skin loses its moisture when you cleanse and exfoliate, regain that moisture with the right product for your skin type.  Hydrating moisturizer for dry skin; a non-comedogenic and lightweight cream for oily and acne-prone and a soothing one for sensitive skin. Moisturise daily. Very important!

    PROTECT: Applying sunscreen is the most important skincare basics! Sunscreen saves your skin from harmful UV rays which can cause premature signs of ageing, sunburn and pigmentation. It also helps protect your skin from skin cancer. Ger a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30. Apply on face and neck. and repeat every three hours to protect you from sun damage.

    Stay healthy! xoxo

  • TODAY IN HISTORY: THE FIRST TWEET!

    On March 21, 2006: Twitter co-founder, Jack Dorsey, sent the first public Tweet ever! He wrote: “Just setting up my twttr“.

    Other important evets to note on this day:

    *Brazilian footballer, Ronaldinho Gaúcho was born on this day in 1980.

    *One of the central figures of modern African literature, Chinua Achebe died on this day in 2013.

  • SIX THINGS WE KNOW FOR SURE!

    It seems like a season of uncertainty. Nigeria always makes you feel this way. You feel helpless. You feel hopeless. You do what is required, but you never get the result you want. It is paralyzing, and a frustrating way to live when you don’t know anything for sure.

    Regardless of these shortcomings, you must protect your happiness and peace, and the best way is to control what you can. The best way is to hold on to the things you know for sure!

    What do you know for sure? Let’s help you with SIX things you should know:

    We know that God will not forsake you. If you call on him from a place of sincerity, He will come through for you. Build a relationship with God. Nurture faith.

    We know that even in the midst of uncertainty, there are people in your life you can count on. Keep them close, they are your rewards in life.

    We know that time waits for no one. So leave your worries aside and make the best use of your hours – they become the moments you will cherish. Time is one of the most priceless gifts on earth, don’t waste it.

    We know that exercise and diet contribute to your total health and happiness in life. Be disciplined and watch what and how you eat. It’s in your power.

    We know that money can set you free AND it can also imprison you. Build a healthy understanding about money. Have a wholesome relationship with money. Let it serve you, not the other way round, and you will live a prosperous life.

    Protect your mental health above all else. Do not let life get in the way of living well.

    These are the things we know for sure! xoxo