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Reclaiming Balance: How Women Can Overcome the Daily Grind and Rebuild Well-Being Modern life demands constant motion. Between work, relationships, family, and digital noise, women often carry overlapping roles that leave little room for rest. The daily grind—emails, commutes, chores, caregiving—can quietly erode energy and joy. Yet balance isn’t a luxury; it’s a survival skill. The Quick Take When everything feels like “too much,” start with structure and compassion, not perfection. Small boundaries and clear priorities rebuild energy faster than grand overhauls. Movement, rest, nutrition, purpose, and community are the foundation stones of sustainable well-being. Common Pressure Points and How to Defuse Them Challenge Why It Drains You A Practical Reset Perfection Loops Trying to excel at everything amplifies stress and guilt. Replace “Do it all” with “Do what matters most today.” Unclear Boundaries Constant availability leads to invisible labor. Schedule “non-negotiable” breaks—trea...
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CULTURAL BEAUTY: The fattening room!

In many countries, the term "fat" is used as a derogatory term. It is also stereotyped to mean "unattractive" and "lazy." However, not every culture is the same. In some African societies being heavier is a symbol of wealth, status, beauty and power. In countries such as Nigeria and Uganda, many young brides are taken into "fat houses" or "huts" in order to prepare their bodies to be bigger before they marry. During this time frame, the woman is generally required to eat until their bodies are at an acceptable heavier weight. The women are shut off from society and are only allowed minimal movement. This can take several months.They are also taught how to be a wife which includes cooking, cleaning and caring for a future family. It is not until the woman is at an acceptable weight that she is taken back out into society and ready to wed. 

This practice is ancient among tribes such as the Annang, Efik and Hima. Currently, this ancient practice has been condemned by some because of the impact on health. Despite all of the health risks that may occur with gaining an excessive amount of weight, many of these tribes believe that being overweight is beautiful. In fact, those who are not as heavy are not respected as much and the husbands can be seen as not caring for his family properly. Being called skinny is believed to be mean and disrespectful.

One woman commented "When you are fat, it makes you look healthy. People respect you. People honor you. Whenever you go, they say, your husband feed you fine. If you go to a village, people can come to look at you because you are healthy." (BBC News, 2012)

The "fattening room"


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Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. — Romans 4:8 (KJV)
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