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How to live life to the fullest and benefit from all of stages of life
“New year, new me!” This is the sentence we all hear coming from every corner once the year starts. We all want to become the better versions of ourselves, to turn the next year into an adventure.
But most of the time, all we notice is that our lives are growing duller, and we seem to be going down rather than up. So how do we live life to the fullest and enjoy all four stages of life?
The answer is variety. When you wondering how to live your life to the fullest you don’t just have to think of one way to improve your life. If you feel as if you have reached a standstill, try changing more things in your life. Add some spice.
Take a break from ordinary activities and do something for your life. You don’t want to reach your old days, thinking “I wish I did that.” Do it now to spare the regrets! Here are some ways to make your life a lot better this year and live your life to the fullest.
Equipping yourself with a few enjoyable habits can make every stage of life youthful and smooth. Especially as a millennial person, so well known for delaying the commited aspect of life, you can make the third phase less scary.
1. Watch the sunrise
We know, this isn’t what you may have been expecting when you read the word “fascinating” – but our bodies sure agree to it. Have you noticed how dull you feel the entire day, when you wake up with the sun already up, leaving you in a complete hurry to get to your workplace and – once more – go forward with your dull day? Not to mention the stress that the day brings about.
Even if you aren’t a morning person, try to be one and watch the sunrise. Brew some coffee, go on the balcony, terrace, or whatever place brings you a good view, and watch how a new day begins. Not only is the beauty of it enough to brighten your whole day, but it will also make you start the morning like every human should and make you feel more productive in your tasks.
2. Quit the jobs you hate
Life is short, so why should you be torturing yourself by doing something you hate? Say you graduated with a major in biology, dislike working with kids and have a curious mind. Still, you decided to become a teacher since it seemed like less of a hassle at the time – only you realized it’s more of a struggle than it’s worth. You wish you went for a career in research, where you would continue to learn fascinating things.
Well, what are you waiting for? Sure, it’s risky, and it may take a while to reach success, and you may curse your days when you see your wallet. What do you want to be – broke and happy, or rich and miserable?
3. Get out of your comfort zone
Meet new people. Go to new places. Having a better life doesn’t mean that you only have to improve your current social life – you need to expand it. Sure, it’s crucial to groom your relationship with your close friends, but that doesn’t mean you have to say no to new people. Every person comes with new knowledge, a new adventure. Who knows, maybe that person that has been trying to understand you is someone that will rock your world. Many opportunities for an infinitely better life may come from you simply shaking hands with a new person.
4. Be kind to random people
By performing random kindness acts to people, you’ll not only bring about a positive outlook on your life, but you’ll be lifting their moods as well. Hold the door for someone at your job, treat someone to cake, send a random thank you e-mail or simply give some spare change to a homeless person. It won’t only make you feel good throughout the entire day, but it will extend to the other people as well. Studies have shown that helping others significantly increase your own happiness!
5. Get a gym membership
Going to the gym may seem like a drag that you associate with sessions of torture, but you will be thanking yourself later on. Not only will regular exercising make you look like the Greek god you always wished to be, but it will also improve your productivity by increasing your stamina.
Long story short, you will not get tired as easily, and you can get more things done without feeling like you’ve reached a new level of hell. Plus, this will also improve your immune system, and you will no longer feel weak.
If going to the public gym is not your thing, you can make your own training zone at home. Websites such as garagegymplanner.com could help you choose what equipment you should get.
6. Start saving money
Wouldn’t it be better if you drove a car to work every day instead of taking the overly-crowded bus? Sure, there are still traffic jams to keep in mind…but you will at least be sitting in your own space, maybe sipping a coffee without a bunch of other people breathing down your neck.
Saving some money can help you achieve that. Instead of blasting it on stuff you don’t actually need, start a savings account. Eventually, you will save up enough money to buy whatever you want, such as a decent car that will get you from point A to point B.
7. Travel more
The world is big, full of fascinating stuff that you need to see. We’re not trees, so we don’t need to have our roots stuck in the same place for our entire life. Seeing these places on TV won’t compare with the feeling you get by going there yourself. Once you start seeing what the world has to offer, you won’t get enough and will continuously want to learn about different cultures.
Go to places that don’t share your customs or even language. Dare to do something different. Make memories. What you’ll learn this year by traveling will definitely be something to tell your children when you’re old and gray.
8. Learn how to cook
As a man, you probably think that cooking shouldn’t be in your area of expertise; however, knowing the basics of cooking will save you a lot of time, money, as well as indigestion caused by bad food. Plus, if there’s anything that ladies love to see in a man, it’s the ability to cook. Surprise them with a romantic dinner and homemade pasta, and they’ll be yours forever.
8. Pick up dancing
This one is another thing that men probably don’t associate with themselves, and here’s where they are wrong. Even if you aren’t the king of the dancing ring, learning a few dance moves won’t hurt. It will improve your balance, increase your stamina and boost your self-esteem. Plus, just like with the cooking part, many women find this characteristic extremely sexy – so by showing off your tango skills, you might actually be getting yourself a girlfriend this year.
You should never be afraid to go out of your comfort zone. These exact ways to do so may turn your life around for the better so that you’ll have the best year of your life. Why be miserable? Strive to change your ways: read a book, learn the waltz, or try lifting some weights. No matter how simple it may look, it will definitely be worth it in the long run.
Source: get-a-wingman.com
Today, I focus on the Apostolic Church International in Finland, as I continue with my description of institutions and personalities and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.
The Apostolic Church International, Finland (or, Apostolic International Association Ry) was established in October 9, 2023. The Church in Finland has seen significant strides and accomplishments within the short time that it has been established in Finland, which must be highlighted.
History of the Church in Ghana
The Apostolic Church Ghana originated from the 1904–1905 Welsh revival, officially established in Ghana (then called Gold Coast) in 1935 following connections between a local prayer group in Asamankese (a town in southern Ghana), led by Peter Newman Anim, and the Apostolic Church, UK. There were historical splits in 1939 and 1953, but the Apostolic Church attained autonomy in 1985.
Today, the Church is headquartered in Accra. Last year (2025), it dedicated its new 10-storey headquarters, “The Apostolic Church Tower,” in Frafraha, Adenta West in Accra.
Activities of the Apostolic Church in Finland
The Apostolic Church in Finland conducts church service on Sundays. The service starts at 11a.m. in the morning and closes by 1 p.m. in the afternoon. There are no other activities during other days for now.
The Minister in charge of the church in Finland is also the Area Head of Italy Area. He is Pastor Daniel Kofi Addison who is the new Italy Area Head, and has just been transferred from UK South Area to Italy Area during the just-ended Council Meeting in March this year. Italy Area comprises Italy, which has 13 Assemblies, Germany, one Assembly, and Finland, one Assembly.
Elder Ebenezer Amoaning-Coffie is the Presiding Elder in charge of the Assembly in Finland. A Presiding Elder is responsible for day to day activities of the church (Assembly) and reports to the District Pastor, or in the absence of the District Pastor, reports to the Area Head.
Achievements
The Apostolic Church International, Finland was officially registered under the Finnish Law, guaranteeing freedom of worship and providing legal foundation for future growth. The church service is conducted in both English and Twi.
The church opens its doors to all people of every nation, especially Ghanaians who are in Finland and other African nationals. Now, the membership comprises Ghanaians, Nigerians and Sierra Leoneans.
The Church and the Ghanaian migrant community in Finland
The Apostolic Church in Finland plays a prominent role as a religious group that serves Ghanaian migrants and others in the Finnish society.
Thus, the Apostolic Church is a religious body for Ghanaian migrants in Finland and other nationalities who want to worship with them for diversity and better intercultural and multicultural understanding.
Elder Amoaning-Coffie said that the main and primary aim of the church is to bring people closer to God. “We aim to win souls for Christ. We aim to preach the gospel to the world. By propagating the gospel to the people, we are hopeful that they will turn away from any ungodly ways and be good individuals in the community and in society in general”, he stated.
He said that everything is going well so far. A key challenge, however, is how to get more members especially the youth. As a new Assembly, we are in need of instrumentalists, for example. We pray to God Almighty to help us do His work, the Elder disclosed.
Integration
By its activities, the Apostolic Church is helping to ensure integration of its members well into the Finish society. This is important since social interaction and citizens’ well-being are an important part of the integration process in Finland.
As I mentioned some time ago, the role of migrant associations and groups such as the Apostolic Church acting as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision making process and by acting as a representative voice is highly appreciated in Finland. Thank you!
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
The landscape of the Ghanaian palate is shifting, and not necessarily for the better. In our bustling urban centres, from the streets of Accra to the suburbs of Kumasi, a quiet culinary revolution is taking place; one where the mortar and pestle are being replaced by the pizza oven and the deep fryer. This transition from traditional staple foods like fufu, banku, akple, kenkey, tuo zaafi, and ampesi toward “continental” dishes is more than just a change in appetite; it is a reflection of a deeper social struggle with identity and prestige.
The illusion of modernity
For many, “stepping out” for a meal has become synonymous with consuming foreign cuisine. There is an unspoken social hierarchy where a bowl of Abunuabunu is relegated to the village category, while burgers, pizzas are branded as prestigious choices. We have reached a stage where we equate foreign with modern and local with primitive.
This perception is a dangerous illusion. Our traditional dishes are marvels of culinary engineering complex, nutrient-dense, and deeply rooted in our history. When we choose a processed foreign import over a meal made from local tubers or fermented maize, we are not just changing our lunch; we are eroding the indigenous knowledge attached to our local ingredients and foods.
We need to turn the consumption of indigenous grains and tubers like millet, sorghum, and plantain into a statement of self-worth and national pride.
The cultural and health erosion
Every time a local dish disappears from a restaurant menu to make room for foreign fast food, we lose a piece of our cultural fabric. Traditional Ghanaian cooking is an art that requires patience and skill. By choosing the convenience of foreign fast food, we are raising a generation that may know the taste of a pepperoni pizza but cannot identify the rich, earthy profile of Prekese or the subtle tang of well-fermented dough dishes like corn porridge, banku, etew, abolo, agidi or kamfa, and kenkey.
Furthermore, we are at the crossroads of a nutrition transition. Replacing high-fiber, indigenous crops with calorie-dense but nutrient-poor foreign fast foods is driving a rise in lifestyle diseases such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and liver disease. We are trading our longevity for 15-minutes convenience or unhealthy diet.
A call for culinary patriotism
It is time for us to appreciate, preserve, and promote our indigenous foods and culinary traditions. We need to be proud of our local dishes, ingredients and cooking methods, rather than relying heavily on foreign or imported foods. We must stop viewing our local delicacies as low-class and start treating our culinary heritage as the high-end gastronomy it truly is.
True sophistication does not come from imitating Western fast food; it comes from innovation and adding values to our own resources. We see glimpses of this potential in the rise of branded Sobolo and the creative use of gluten-free plantain flour in modern baking of flour-based dishes such as bread, cakes, biscuits and others. This is the path forward. We must elevate our local dishes, making them as accessible, affordable, presentable and trendy as any foreign alternative.
To the hospitality industry: Innovate or stagnate
Our hotels and high-end restaurants must lead the charge. They must stop relegating local dishes to the “traditional corner” of the buffet, and apply the same culinary finesse given to imported dishes to our Fante Fante, apapransa, aborbi tadi, fetritoto, akple, abolo, yakayeke, fufu, ampesi, kokonte, wasawasa, tubani, apapransa, mpotompoto, kelewele, aliha, brukutu, pito, and other local dishes. The industry must enhance customer experiences making eating local dishes the ultimate luxury experience for both tourists and residents alike. We must elevate the presentation of our foods by using modern plating techniques to show that a bowl of light soup can be as visually stunning as a French consommé. We need to reclaim our Ghanaian plate before it is too late.
To the policy makers: Let us encourage buying of local ingredients to promote the local food industry and economy. There should be educational programmes and talks about the nutritional and cultural benefits of local foods so that people understand their value.
We need to encourage serving traditional dishes at school programmes, parties, and celebrations instead of only fast foods,
To the Youth: Let us value and appreciate our traditional dishes instead of always choosing foreign foods. There must be balance in our choice of local and foreign dishes. Confidence in our culture encourages others to respect it too. Our local dishes can also be promoted by sharing pictures, recipes, and videos on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp to make them attractive and trendy.
Young citizens must learn from their parents and elders how to prepare local meals to keep the knowledge and cultural relevance alive. Local dishes can be modernised to appeal to younger generations and tourists.
Conclusion
We cannot afford to trade our heritage for foreign cuisines which are gaining grounds across the country at an alarming rate. We must disabuse our minds of the perception that anything foreign or imported is better than those locally made. Our health, economy, and identity are tied to the soil. It is time to stop apologising for our local flavours and start celebrating them. It is possible to embrace modernity without losing ourselves and our cultural identity. Let us make the Ghanaian kitchen the heart of our modern identity once again.
By: Marilyn Gadogbe
