Nèlšőň Ølîhä Åŕķáñģêłô Ābêļ

If you can't fly, then run.
If you can't run, then walk.
If you can't walk, then crawl.
If you can't crawl, keep moving.

~ Martin Luther King Jr.
You don't need a political suit or power in order for you to served your people.

This year I wanna make my mom proud

First lecture:

🥹

: Why educated girls find it hard to get married in South Sudan?

By Maker Mangol Acien Yuol
Email: [email protected]

Educated girls in South Sudan face numerous difficulties in getting married. Many educated men prefer to marry uneducated girls from their villages, especially those involved in cattle rearing.

In communities like Gok, Agar, Yirol, Warrap's communities, Unity's communities, Bor, Twic, Mundari, Upper Nile's communities, etc., traditional gender roles are deeply ingrained. Education for girls is not always prioritized because girls are believed to get spoiled easily in schools when they are considered one of the family incomes through the dowries paid.

Some men may feel intimidated by educated women or prefer more traditional partners. Additionally, the behaviors seen with some educated ladies disengage men from dating them or breaking some relationships with them. When a girl knows her rights in schools, she will definitely defend her rights, and in the end, she may be violating the norms and values of the community as the norms and values of the communities do not align with school norms and values, leading to some misunderstanding about our educated ladies. The dowry system creates significant financial pressure. Educated girls often have higher dowry expectations, which can deter potential suitors who cannot or do not wish to meet these demands. There is a perception that educated women may prioritize their careers over family life, causing hesitance among men who value traditional household roles. These educated ladies may produce fewer children compared with the uneducated ladies who get married at an early age, and this has given them a hard time to get partners as African cultures center on the number of children a family will have in the end. The educated ladies hardly share with other co-wives. They will hardly allow their men to marry second or more wives, perhaps bringing fear in men. There is a mismatch in the number of educated men and women, with fewer educated men available due to socio-economic factors. This imbalance complicates the search for suitable partners within educational and social circles. Societal norms may discourage women from actively seeking partners, further limiting their opportunities.

Efforts to address these challenges are gradually gaining momentum, with various organizations and community leaders advocating for change. Initiatives that focus on empowering women through education and raising awareness about the benefits of marrying educated women are essential. Community awareness programs are in place to promote the value of women's education and encourage equitable gender roles. By valuing education for both genders and balancing traditional practices with modern perspectives, progress towards inclusive and supportive marriage practices can be achieved. The family members also have to lobby for their daughters in an integrity-driven manner that has some values in it. Moreover, dialogue between different generations within communities can help bridge the gap between traditional beliefs and modern values.
Encouraging open discussions about the importance of education and the role of women in society can foster mutual understanding and respect. As more people recognize the value of educated women, it may lead to a gradual shift in attitudes, reducing the stigma associated with marrying educated women. In addition, creating opportunities for educated women to participate in community leadership roles can showcase their capabilities and challenge stereotypes. When communities witness the positive impact of educated women in leadership positions, it can inspire others to embrace change and reconsider traditional marriage preferences.

Ultimately, fostering an environment where both men and women can pursue education without fear of societal repercussions will contribute to a more equitable society. By promoting gender equality and valuing the contributions of educated women, South Sudan can move towards a future where marriage is based on mutual respect and shared aspirations, rather than societal expectations.

Very inspired story: A Year to Live.

Anthony Burgess was forty when he learned he had a brain tumor that would kill him within a year.
He had no money at the time and nothing to bequeath to his soon-to-be widow, Lynne.

Burgess had never been a professional novelist in the past;
but he was always aware that he had the talent to be a writer in him.

So, just to be able to leave at least the copyrights to his wife,
he put a piece of paper in the typewriter
and began to write his first novel.

It was not even certain that what he had written could be published;
but he couldn’t think of anything else to do.

“It was January 1960,” he said,
“and according to the diagnosis, I had a winter, a spring, and a summer ahead of me.
That year, when the leaves began to fall, I would have died too.”

With that speed and haste,
Burgess had managed to write five and a half novels before the year was out.

E. M. Forster could only write so many in almost an entire lifetime;
J. D. Salinger, one of America’s greatest writers,
managed to write only half of it in his entire life.

However, Burgess did not die.

His cancer first regressed;
then it disappeared altogether.

In his long and full life as a writer,
he produced more than seventy works,
most famously A Clockwork Orange.

He might not have written even one of these novels
had it not been for the death sentence
that cancer had inflicted on him.

Most of us are like Anthony Burgess;
we hide a great talent
waiting for an emergency
to emerge from within us.

A useful exercise in self-motivation
is to ask yourself what you would do
if you were in Anthony Burgess’s place
and found out that you would die of cancer within a year.

“What would change in my life?”
“How would I live my last year if I had learned
that I would only live one more year?”
“What exactly would I do?”

Considering the brevity of life
is a useful exercise.

Ølîhå Ñëlsöñ

The first day of 2026 creates a numerical pattern often called a “111 day” in numerology. January is the first month, the date is the first day, and the year 2026 reduces to one when its digits are added together.

In numerological systems, a year that reduces to one is viewed as the start of a new nine-year cycle. The last time this happened was in 2017, and the next occurrence after 2026 is expected in 2035.

Because of this, many people see January 1, 2026 as a symbolic reset point, associated with fresh beginnings, intention setting, and starting long-term changes or projects.

Ølîhå Ñëlsöñ

My Simple Reading List for 2026

Every year comes with noise: new trends, loud advice, endless “must-read” lists.

This one is different.

For 2026, I’m choosing books that do three things:
• sharpen how I think
• steady how I act
• deepen how I understand life

Books for clarity, discipline, and quiet growth

No rush.
No reading competitions.
Just slow, honest reading.

If you’re looking for a calm but meaningful reading year, feel free to borrow this list.

1. Meaning, Perspective & Inner Grounding
These books help you understand why you live the way you do.

• Man’s Search for Meaning — Viktor Frankl
A powerful reminder that meaning, not comfort, sustains people through difficulty.

• Meditations — Marcus Aurelius
Short reflections on discipline, responsibility, and inner strength—written by a Roman emperor, yet timeless.

• Stillness Is the Key — Ryan Holiday
About finding clarity in a distracted world and learning when to slow down.

2. Discipline, Focus & Direction
For anyone trying to do less—but do it better.

• Deep Work — Cal Newport
A guide to focus in a world built to interrupt you.

• Essentialism — Greg McKeown
Learning to remove the unnecessary so the important can breathe.

• The War of Art — Steven Pressfield
A short, sharp book about resistance and why starting matters more than waiting.

3. Work, Craft & Value Creation
These books rethink success beyond hustle.

• So Good They Can’t Ignore You — Cal Newport
Why mastery beats passion, and skill beats noise.

• Company of One — Paul Jarvis
A calm argument for building meaningful work without chasing endless growth.

4. Human Nature & Emotional Clarity
Books that help you understand yourself and others more honestly.

• Letters from a Stoic — Seneca
Personal letters about fear, wealth, time, and character.

• The Courage to Be Disliked — Ichiro Kishimi
A dialogue-style book that challenges how we think about approval and freedom.

• The Art of Loving — Erich Fromm
A thoughtful exploration of love as a practice, not just a feeling.

5. Literature That Teaches Quietly
Stories that stay with you long after the last page.

• The Old Man and the Sea — Ernest Hemingway
A simple story about dignity, endurance, and quiet pride.

• Things Fall Apart — Chinua Achebe
A powerful look at culture, change, and identity.

• The Little Prince — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
A gentle book that says serious things in a simple way.

How I plan to read in 2026
• No deadlines
• No pressure to finish fast
• One or two quiet reading sessions per week
• Re-reading passages is allowed
• Dropping a book that doesn’t resonate is allowed too

Reading isn’t a race. It’s a relationship.

If even one book on this list nudges you to think more clearly or live more deliberately, then it’s already done its job.

Happy reading.

Ølîhå Ñëlsöñ

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Mannuh Mannuh, Daniel Mayen Gum, Îsák Îø, Bee Bicak, Rastar Yoyo

💌From: Me
To: Me

Soon, when life invites you to begin again, answer with truth.
Not as a reset, but as a rebirth.

Leave behind what drained you quietly.
Make space in your heart for what lifts you naturally.

Restart with a soul that has learned its worth.
With dreams that refuse to fade.
With a softer grip and a braver pulse.
With a deep desire for joy that finally stays.

You don’t rebuild to return to who you were.
You rebuild to rise into who you were always becoming.

Because the most beautiful transformations
are not loud, not rushed…
they are lived, noticed, and felt.

You deserve a happiness that grows roots,
not a peace that begs to stay.

And when you restart,
may you feel the shift in the air…
the kind that whispers:
this time, it’s yours.

Ølîhå Ñëlsöñ

📌 TEN THINGS EVERY TEACHER MUST AVOID IN 2026

Because your peace, your dignity, and your growth matter.

Teaching in 2026 isn’t just about lesson plans—it’s emotional labor, psychological pressure, and constant demands. But as you enter a new year, remind yourself of this:

👉 You can care, without carrying the whole school on your back.
👉 You can give your best, without sacrificing your mental health.
👉 You can be dedicated, without being destroyed.

If you want a healthier, happier year, here are 10 things every teacher must avoid:

🚫 1. Saying “Yes” to Everything

Boundaries are not disrespect—they’re self-respect. Learn to say no without guilt.

🚫 2. Doing Work That Isn’t Yours

Stop absorbing responsibilities others are paid to do. You’re a teacher, not the entire system.

🚫 3. Taking Work Issues Home

Your home is your sanctuary, not an extension of the faculty room.

🚫 4. Competing With Other Teachers

Insecurity drains energy. Collaboration builds power.

🚫 5. Neglecting Your Health

A tired teacher can still teach…
but a broken teacher can’t even breathe.

🚫 6. Allowing Disrespect From Anyone

Students, parents, co-workers, or admin. Respect is non-negotiable.

🚫 7. Apologizing for Resting

Rest is not laziness. Rest is maintenance.

🚫 8. Carrying School Problems Alone

You’re a teacher, not a rescue mission.

🚫 9. Prioritizing Work Over Family

Kids grow fast. Moments don’t repeat. Don’t miss life while trying to build a career.

🚫 10. Forgetting Who You Are

Before you were a teacher, you were a person—with dreams, talent, purpose. Don’t lose that identity.

💛 Words of Encouragement

2026 is not the year you break.
It’s the year you set boundaries, protect your peace, and teach with dignity.
Stand firm. Speak kindly. Rest intentionally. Teach with joy—but not at the cost of yourself.

You deserve respect.
You deserve rest.
You deserve a life outside the classroom.

Be the teacher who grows, not the one who burns out.

🤍 “If we get together… we can make the change.” — Dr. Jane Goodall shared this message throughout her life, always reminding us that while the challenges we face are great, we all have the power to make a difference — and we can make an even bigger impact when we act as one. Let’s carry Jane’s message forward. Let’s get together. And let’s make the change. 🌍 Learn more about the Jane Goodall Institute and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots to discover how you can be part of the global community carrying Jane’s work forward. Link in our bio or JaneGoodall.org Video by Meridian Hall via Jane Goodall Institute of Canada

Life is complex, mysterious, and often difficult to understand—a dark conundrum shaped by laughter, tears, hope, faith, fear, pain, and love. Each emotion carries the power to wound or heal, to break or build us. Hope may fade, but we can learn to reignite it. Faith roots us, fear tests us, and pain strengthens us in ways we don’t expect.

Though life can be cruel and unpredictable, love weaves meaning through every experience. And perhaps that is the truth of it all: love is what makes life’s conundrum worth living.

~ Ølîhå Ñëlsöñ

To every child born in the quiet corners of our villages, where poverty often speaks louder than hope, remember this: your circumstances do not define your destiny. Being poor does not mean being powerless, and coming from a rural home does not limit the size of your dreams.

Believe in yourself, even when no one else does. Education, discipline, and hard work can carry you beyond the boundaries others try to place around you. Many before you started with nothing but courage and faith, and they became everything they once only imagined.

Never be ashamed of where you come from. Let it give you strength. Your dreams are valid, your future is possible, and your story is still being written. If you dare to believe in yourself, there is no height you cannot reach.

I believe in you!

Yours Truly

Ølîhå Ñëlsöñ