Bethrand Chibuike @betty

I had spent all my time preparing for the most challenging exam of the semester, and my brain was fried. I needed a break from all the stress, a moment of respite.

As I sat at my desk, a sudden craving for hot, good food. The thought of a steaming bowl of soup or a hearty plate of pasta became unbearable to resist. Didn't realize it was almost night and my stomach had been bare with emptiness.

I headed into the kitchen. I rummaged through sack bags, gathering the ingredients for a simple but satisfying dinner. The aroma of spices and herbs filled the air as I imagined the uncooked food out of hunger.

But then disaster struck. I had filled the pot a little too full, and as the water came to a boil, it started overflowing. Panic surged through me as the hot, bubbling liquid spilled onto the stovetop, igniting a fiery blaze. Flames engulfed the pot, and I watched, frozen with shock.

Realizing that I needed to act quickly, I grabbed a wet towel from the sink and rushed to control the flames. The searing heat and smoke filled the room as I fought to extinguish the fire. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the flames went down, leaving behind a charred pot.

Exhausted and shaken, I abandoned any notion of continuing with my cooking. The pungent smoke filled my nostrils and flushed out every desire that I had for making a sumptuous meal earlier.

As I cleaned up the mess and surveyed the damage, I realized how fortunate I was that the situation hadn't escalated further. It was a humbling and same time caused a dismay.

I just flung open my kitchen door, and dived on my bed.
With hunger hitting me up, I had to struggle to sleep as that was the best thing to do then.

My name is Betty, and I have always been the kind of person who strives for excellence. Ever since I started school, my goal has been to secure the first position in my class. I studied hard, completed all my assignments on time, and participated actively in class discussions. But no matter how much effort I put in, I could never seem to rise above the third position in class.

Feeling frustrated, I began to wonder what I was doing wrong. I observed my classmates who consistently outperformed me, and I noticed something they all had in common - they were never distracted. While I tried to study, there was always something pulling my attention away, whether it was my favorite TV show, my friends visiting, and the like.

I started by setting stricter daily routines. I blocked out specific hours for focused studying, ensuring that I was free from any potential distractions. I turned off my phone entirely or put it on silent mode, refusing to let it steal my attention. As for my friends, I kindly explained my goals to them and asked for their support in keeping me accountable.

Furthermore, I chose to make my spare time count. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through social media or watching random videos, I sought out educational content to fill my leisure hours, scrolling through @mindviewers news updates and educative articles. I discovered countless informative websites, read books on various subjects, and explored documentaries that expanded my knowledge. I found myself growing intellectually even during my downtime.

Weeks turned into months, and I soon realized the positive impact of my newfound focus. My grades started improving significantly, and I noticed myself climbing up the leaderboard. I was finally approaching that elusive first position that I had always chased after.

The day arrived when the final rankings were announced. I held my breath as my teacher called out the positions one by one. When I heard my name being announced as the top performer in the class, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with joy. All my hard work and dedication had paid off. I had finally achieved the goal I had been striving for.

I woke up early this morning feeling tired. As I stumbled out of bed, I realized it was going to be another long day filled with endless house chores. The laundry, the dishes, the cleaning. There was a lot for me to do.

Throughout the day, I rushed from one chore to another, barely pausing to catch my breath. The laundry seemed never-ending, the dishes seemed to multiply on their own, and the dust seemed to have a mind of its own, continuously settling on every surface in the house a minute after I wiped.

Each time I thought I had crossed one task off my list, two more would take its place. My stress levels soared as the hours ticked by, and I found myself yearning for a rest.

As night approached, I realized that I had reached the end of my to-do list for the day. The house was clean, the chores were done, and I could finally take a moment for myself.

As I sank into the couch, tiredness and fatigue engulfed me.
I was in deep sleep for close to two hours when I jerked up, I hadn't posted my today's story. A hobby that kept my joy running.

And so, with a heart full of hope and a mind ready for whatever lay ahead, I surrendered to the embrace of sleep, knowing that tomorrow is a blank cardboard paper waiting to be painted on.