Magazine - Sunday, March 3, 2019

#BalanceforBetter

International Women's Day 2019

Think equal, build smart, innovate for change

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

The 2019 theme “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change” focuses on innovative ways in which we can advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in the areas of social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure.

The achievement of the ambitious Sustainable

dicate a growing gender digital divide and women are under-represented in the field of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and design. It prevents them from developing and influencing gender-responsive innovations to achieve transformative gains for society. From mobile banking to artificial intelligence and the internet of things, it is vital that women’s ideas and experiences equally influence the design and implementation of the innovations that shape our future societies.

Echoing the priority theme of the sixty-third session of the Commission on the Status of Women

responsive social systems, and build services and infrastructure that meet the needs of women and girls.

On 8 March 2019, the world will celebrate a future in which innovation and technology creates unprecedented opportunities for women and girls to play an active role in building more inclusive systems, efficient services and sustainable infrastructure to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs and gender equality.

International Women's Day is also an opportunity to consider how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development

Development Goals (SDGs) requires transformative shifts, integrated approaches and new solutions, particularly when it comes to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

Innovation and technology provide unprecedented opportunities, yet trends in-

(CSW63), in 2019 we look to industry leaders, gamechanging start-ups, social entrepreneurs, gender equality activists, and women innovators to examine the ways in which innovation can remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality, encourage investment in gender-

Goals, especially goal number 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; and number 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.

International Women's Day 2019 campaign theme #BalanceforBetter is aimed as building a gender-bal-

anced world. From grassroots activism to worldwide action, the world is entering an exciting period of history where the world expects balance. Balance drives a better working world. Let's all help create a #BalanceforBetter.

The 2019 #BalanceforBetter campaign runs all year long. It does not end on International Women's Day. The campaign theme provides a unified direction to guide and galvanize continuous collective action, with #BalanceforBetter activity reinforced and amplified all year. Balance is not a women's issue, it's a business issue. The race is on for the gender-balanced boardroom, a gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, a gender-balance of employees, more gender-balance in wealth, gender-balanced sports coverage. Gender balance is essential for economies and communities to thrive.

So put your hands out and STRIKE THE #BalanceforBetter POSE and make International Women's Day YOUR dayand do what you can to truly make a positive difference for women everywhere.

Chronology

1909 The first National Woman's Day was observed in the United States on 28 February. The Socialist Party of America designated this day in honour of the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions.

1910 The Socialist

International, meeting in Copenhagen, established a Women's Day, international in character, to honour the movement for women's rights and to build support for achieving universal suffrage for women. The proposal was greeted with unanimous approval by the conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, which included the first three women elected to the Finnish Parliament. No fixed date was selected for the observance.

1911 As a result of the Copenhagen initiative, International Women's Day was marked for the first time (19 March) in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, where more than one million women and men attended rallies. In addition to the right to vote and to hold public office, they demanded women's rights to work, to vocational training and to an end to discrimination on the job.

1913-1914 International Women's Day also became a mechanism for protesting World War I. As part of the peace movement, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February. Elsewhere in Europe, on or around 8 March of the following year, women held rallies either to protest the war or to express solidarity with other activists.

1917 Against the backdrop of the war, women in Russia again chose to protest and strike for "Bread and Peace" on the last Sunday

in February (which fell on 8 March on the Gregorian calendar). Four days later, the Czar abdicated and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. 1975 During International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women's Day on 8 March.

1995 The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic roadmap signed by 189 governments, focused on 12 critical areas of concern, and envisioned a world where each woman and girl can exercise her choices, such as participating in politics, getting an education, having an income, and living in societies free from violence and discrimination.

2014 The 58th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW58) – the annual gathering of States to address critical issues related to gender equality and women’s rights — focused on “Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls”. UN entities and accredited NGOs from around the world took stock of progress and remaining challenges towards meeting the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs have played an important role in galvanizing attention on and resources for gender equality and women’s empowerment.

International Women's Day 2019

By Lakhram Bhagirat

No matter what struggles come our way or whatever life throws at us, we must always push and push so hard that we break through all the barriers so that we get on the other side and can be proud of what we have overcome. No one knows pushing their limits and breaking barriers while crushing a couple of stereotypes like Amanda Mc Nichol does.

She is fearless, she is without boundaries and she is a trailblazer. She is proud and has every reason to be proud, because she has persevered in not only one but every aspect of her life. She is the epitome of a fearless woman, one without any ego and one with every bit of kindness.

You see, Amanda is not your average woman nor is she ever going to be your average woman because she feels as if she should not be placed in a box of what a woman should be, rather she feels as though it is time the mould of the stereotypical woman be broken and is doing everything in her power to shatter the proverbial glass ceiling.

The 33-year-old mother of one has been doing what are considered traditional men’s jobs for almost all of her adult life. With a passion for engineering, Amanda has done everything from construction to now driving a taxi. She has been driving a taxi for over five years and is attached to the N2N Taxi Service in Georgetown.

The only way to truly understand

MAmanda’s story is to thread back to where it all began. Growing up, according to her, was a joy in itself, since for her it was everything and a little more. She grew up in the heart of the city among family she adored. Everyone who grew up with their grandparents around knows that there is a certain level of discipline one receives, but there is also the certain level of joy one feels just to be loved by granny. Amanda had that since she lived on Norton Street with her mother, but granny was just next door on Princes Street which served as a good escape.

Education has always been on the fore of her life growing up and after she finished her secondary education at the St Mary’s High School, Amanda started the Computer Science Programme at the Government Technical Institute (GTI) and upon completion, she went on to the Critchlow Labour College for advanced studies in mathematics. However, despite all of that, Amanda felt some thing was lacking. Thirsty for an adventure, at 18, she packed up her belongings and hopped on a straight flight to Barbados to begin a new chapter in her adult life.

home is home,” Amanda, who got pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful girl during her time in Barbados, said.

“I am a bit adventurous and that is how me becoming a taxi driver happened. I like to see different things and meet different people. I was still a teenager and that is how I ended up in Barbados. I like construction and engineering and Barbados is not a sexist place and they allow women to be themselves,” she said.

In Barbados, with no cap placed on her abilities, Amanda began pushing her boundaries. She explains that being in Barbados allowed her to explore, push and shatter boundaries.

“In Barbados, if you wanna turn spade, you can turn spade. You wanna hammer nail, you can hammer nail. That is what

arch 06 will mark the 55th anniversary of the death of the humble housewife, Alice, more famously known as Kowsilla, who met with her demise during a demonstration against the denial of work to labourers at the Leonora Sugar Estate. Tribute was paid to the heroine of the sugar workers, on the West Coast of Demerara.

On March 6, 1964, Kowsilla, along with a group of striking workers, squatted at the factory’s gate in Leonora as they staged a protest against the denial of labour to the estate workers. At the time, they were also rallying for the recognition of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU). The then General Manager of the Estate instructed the driver of a tractor to proceed through the bridge where the demonstration was being staged. The act, which took the protesters for granted, resulted in the death of Kowsilla and 14 persons being injured. Kowsilla, thereafter, became known as the heroine of sugar workers for her sacrificial act against the injustice to estate labourers.

Kowsilla was forty-four years old when she paid the supreme price for her convictions on that fateful Friday morning on March 6th 1964. Along with her fellow workers she stood immovable, unheeding of the scab’s shouts as he continued to drive the tractor directly at them: “You-all ain’t hear what the Boss-man say? Get off the blasted bridge.”

An eyewitness recalled Kowsilla telling the other women “Don’t budge. We can’t let the rich man thief we children-them future.” Of the fourteen who were mown down by the tractor, receiving serious injuries, two of them, Jagdai and Daisee Sookram suffered broken backs and were crippled for life. Another, Kisson Dai, lost one kidney and had broken hips.

Commemorations to honour the heroine, Kowsilla, takes place as usual with scores of participants marching from the Leonora Public School to the Anna Catherina Cemetery where she was interred. A ceremony, during

You gotta eat, ain't no shame in the game because I come from a place where you can do what you wanna do and be what you wanna be. Nobody can’t stop you. You’re in control of that. Nothing is impossible. You are in control of your own destiny, the only person who can break you is you and first of all, you must believe in the Most High, the Father, and you can’t do nothing without Him. Just do you, follow your heart and be what you want to be. Nobody but you can’t say you can’t.

Barbados provides. Women can be what they wanna be, not like they will watch at you. Here (Guyana) is a bit more sexist than there. I did construction. I was a paint foreman for five years and controlled a workshop and made sure everything was perfect.”

Amanda worked in the construction industry with very few objections from the men there. She said that level of comfort allowed her to dominate her field and hone in on all the skills she had. She was allowed to perfect every skill she had and when the tide changed on the island, she knew her time was becoming limited there.

After the Government changed on the island and the arrest of Allen Stanford for fraud, the tourism industry in Barbados took a dip resulting in the loss of contracts and stalled work.

“It didn’t make sense that I were there and had to pay rent and the work is coming yes, but not as fast enough…so it didn’t make sense for me to stay there and do all of that, is best that I came home because

When she returned home, there was some amount of confusion before she actually settled in. However, it was not all smooth sailing even then, since Amanda thought she would be afforded the same respect working in a male-dominated field, but little did she know she was in for an unwelcome surprise. Amanda got a hard time getting work in construction since many men frowned upon her wanting to join them, because it was not the stereotypical woman’s job.

“Some would give me chances and trust me when I perform, I perform well and so. Still they see it challenging, because I was better than some and they wanted to pay me less. I value my talent and it is worth every dollar. I don’t do shabby work and it wasn’t working out,” Amanda explained. It was then that a friend told her to put her licence and vehicle to work for her. She began scouting taxi bases and found the N2N Taxi Service where she has been working for over five years now and is now a manager. You gotta eat, ain't no shame in the game because I come from a place where you can do what you wanna do and be what you wanna be. Nobody can’t stop you. You’re in control of that. Nothing is impossible. You are in control of your own destiny, the only person who can break you is you and first of all, you must believe in the Most High, the Father, and you can’t do nothing without Him. Just do you, follow your heart and be what you want to be. Nobody but you can’t say you can’t," she notes.

The passion to be a civil engineer is still burning inside of Amanda and she is ready to follow it. For now, she is focusing on shattering all the ceilings to make Guyana a better place for women with very few boundaries.

#BalanceforBetter International Women's Day 2019

B y L akhram B hagirat

For me, one of the most inspiring things is women cheering on other women despite all the obstacles thrown at them. Throughout our history, women have been dealt the short end of the stick and they are now bringing about change, demanding those changes because equality is the most important thing.

One thing that is embedded in our culture is the habit of attempting to pit women against each other while identifying perceived faults for them to go after each other. So when I see women supporting each other, it makes me beam with joy. Women

supporting each other is exactly what the Mahaica Women’s Group (MWG) has been doing for the past few years.

The group was birthed from a youth group in the community and according to Chairwoman Debbie Argyle, they have been supporting each other. The predominantly farming community has very limited opportunities for women to branch out on their own and create a space for their own development, resulting in the formation of the support group.

The 20-member group is made up of mainly single women who are all in different fields of farming who came together to offer sup-

port that they would not have gotten anywhere else.

“We are all farmers and single women, and it started out as a small group, but as it grew, we had to switch things up a bit. We then moved to the (Hugo Chavez) Venezuelan Institute where they took classes in cookery, cake decoration and pastry. After they would have completed their classes, the group returned to the village and began training other women.

“We gained our certificates and we trained over 154 ladies and we had tutors from Carnegie School of Home Economics helping us. In the moment, we are specialised in scented candles. Most of the women in the group are farmers and we are with NAREI and Food For The Poor so everybody have their

kitchen garden and their produce to sell,” Argyle said.

For now, the group focuses mainly on the scented candles project. The fragrant candles also serve as mosquito repellent. The group receives monthly donations of wax, a key ingredient in their product from the Food For The Poor. Argyle explained that they create the labels and package the candles in recycled glass bottles or cans to reduce production costs.

Apart from the candles, the group does craft items such as dolls, decorative bottles, florals and sewing. Because of the fact

that many of the members are single mothers, there are several challenges associated with gathering. The members would find it hard to buy their craft materials or even travel to classes because of financial hardships and that makes it extremely difficult for the group to function holistically, but it is a challenge they address as it comes.

“We do not have a fixed location to meet so travelling is tough. So when the women are having problems accessing craft items and so on and when that comes up, we have other members who buy the stuff and we help out each other. Supporting each other is what we are here for.”

International Women's Day 2019

By Lakhram Bhagirat

Technology innovator Steve

Jobs once said “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work and the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

Trust me, when I say, I have met a lot of people throughout my life and many are comfortable in their career fields, but never have I ever met someone who talks

as affectionately about what they do as Aretha Meusa does.

Throughout the world, women are pushing boundaries and cementing their place in the world as movers and shakers. They are proving that there is nothing like ‘a man’s job’ and are taking up careers in every possible field.

If you had asked Aretha a few years ago, what she wanted to become, she would not have said that she wanted to be a plumber. She had never planned to go down the plumbing route, since she had her eyes set on entre -

preneurship.

The 31-year-old mother of one is doing everything to ensure that she serves as motivation for her young son as well as letting him know that there is nothing that a woman cannot do. Aretha grew up in the small village of Plantain Walk on the West Bank of Demerara. She attended the Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary School, and immediately joined her mother in handling their small business after she finished school.

With a need to further her education, Aretha joined the Computer Science programme at Computer World in Georgetown and after graduating she went on to the Government Technical Institute (GTI) and got certified as a plumb - er. After she gradu - ated from GTI, Aretha took the bold step of venturing out on her own and so came A Meusa and Son Residential Plumbing and General Construction.

“The reason I started my own business is to make sure

In a sport which dates back to the 1950s in Guyana, with the formation of the British Guiana Motor-Cycle Club (BGMCC) that showcased their daredevilry at the No 63 beach, men have dominated motor racing.

that I have everything in order. I fell in love in plumbing and I can’t see myself in anything else other than that. I also did a heavy-duty operator course at GTI,” she said.

Tracking back to her early beginnings, Aretha explains that she grew up with her father who allowed her to join him at work. He was an architect and was also into construction so he allowed her to work with him.

“I have always been doing work with my hands. I grew up with my father in the construction field, he was an architect and he was an artist and from looking at him and being in the field with him and doing the plumbing work, I fell in love with it. I love it and that is when I started to pursue it more. It became my passion and it is something I cannot see myself doing anything else.”

For over five years, Aretha has been blazing the field and making sure that she makes her name a household one and she has been quite successful in doing that. However, it has not been without challenges and those were not easy challenges.

Despite being given the opportunity to join the field by a male, the other men in the field made it even more challenging for her since they doubted her ev-

ery step of the way. She said that the main challenge was the sexism.

“As a woman, it is very challenging to be in the field because of the sexism, but I put all of that behind me and I showed them that it is all about the mind. Once you set the mind to do what you want to do, then you can conquer everything. The body works with the mind and once you put your mind to it, then you will conquer. That is what I did and I conquered all the negatives,” she declared.

For now she continues to blaze the trail, making her one of the most requested plumbers in the country.

“At first, it was hard because men used to say that plumbing is a man’s job and that you can’t do it, because you are a woman, but now everything is better. Now I'm known and my work is respected, the business is growing and exceeding. My advice to the other women who are thinking about being in this field, then they should stay focused and be humble. Put your mind to do what you want to do and the Holy Spirit will guide you that way. Go forth and don’t bother with those people who try to pull you down, because that will make you stronger.”

However, over the past years, there has been the emergence of fiercely competitive female drivers in the Caribbean region and in Guyana, Sharima Khan has acted as the change agent.

per with the men, both young and old, and has managed to drive off with the precious chequered flag, doing something no other female has done for the sport in Guyana to date.

With the racing name of “Speed Queen”, Khan has gone bumper to bum-

Khan firmly believes once behind the wheel, the issue of gender does

not matter since “competition is competition and it is the best driver who crosses the finish in first place”.

Interestingly, the driver said it was not as easy for her to enter the sport as it was for her male compatriots, since she was put under immense pressure to assert her skills as a circuit racer. However, she is hoping that her success encourages more females

to enter the sport, adding that “the hard work is done”.

With the focus returning to her life as a racer, the former Covent Garden Secondary School student recollected her most memorable moment on the track when she and her father, Rafeeq Khan, drove together at her first endurance race meet and won the title.

“It was an amazing feeling.”

Khan has since gotten married at the end of 2018 and currently resides overseas. It is yet to be seen whether she will return to the local racing arena or hang up her helmet. Whichever she chooses, she did leave an indelible mark on the lives of young women throughout Guyana and further afield. She is the epitome of a fearless woman breaking barriers.

By Lakhram Bhagirat

One of the fondest memories of my childhood is my grandmother returning from a hard day at Bourda Market and ever so often surprises us with thin brown biscuits that were crunchy but not too crunchy, sweet but not too sweet and many years later the aroma still lingers in

my nostrils. It is the aroma of the ever so nostalgic coconut biscuits.

As time went by the delight slowly faded away from the market and as I grew older they became almost obsolete.

However, a few years ago I was ever so surprised to see them back on the market but this time it was sophisticatedly packaged but the aroma has reignited the nostalgia.

About a year ago, I was at the Women in Business Expo where I smelled a familiar smell that led me to Simone Peters’ booth. It was then I discovered Country Style Coconut Biscuits. Not only was the smell familiar but also the face, coincidentally I would have taught one of Simone’s daughter during my stint as a teacher at the Vreed en Hoop Secondary School.

Simone resides at Crane on the West Coast of Demerara and has been invested in bettering her products. When most of the village is asleep, Simone is up already preparing her ingredients to have an early start.

Soon, a delicious smell drifts lazily from Simone’s kitchen. Floating lightly on the early morning breeze, the inviting aroma wafts through Simone’s sleepy village, reminding her neighbours that one of their own has made a unique

International Women's Day 2019

and delectable addition to Guyana’s cuisine.

The thing that makes Simone unique is that she uses coconut in all of her products making her products authentically Guyanese.

“I love to make coconut products because I am from the country as well. Everything I want to keep it at the country level, so people get that taste of home… my products will take persons back to their country roots.”

Simone is a native Essequibian and grew up in a family that was about baking. Her aunt would make pastries and other delicacies which she also learned. In 2015, Peters started her business by selling coconut biscuits as a way of supple-

menting the income.

“In life, we always have ups and downs and we find ourselves in situations that are between a rock and a hard place and we would have to find something to sustain you and take care. I tried my hands at a lot of things that I know to do and I even tried lots of 9-5 and I realized that is not me and I always

want to be doing something that satisfies me and I love working with myself. When I ended up in the rock and a hard place situation I went back to what I know best and that is the baking.”

For Simone, it is about making her mark and taking people back to their childhood and creating more memories for the younger generation. She is the epitome of not giving up making her role models for females across the country.

“I have never known in myself that going back to where we started can bring so much joy and happiness to you and it pushes you forward. I have gained the attention of people in Guyana, the Caribbean and even further afield. We are working now to ship to those markets so that people can

make those things possible,” she said.

Simone is currently doing everything to develop herself and according to her she is going places and it teaches her how to be humble about her success. The mother of three is serving as the ideal role model for her two daughters and one son. She had thought about giving up a lot of times but she credits the constant calls for orders or to offer a word or encouragement as fuel to her drive. Simone is currently working on building her bakery as well as expanding her product line.

“I want to keep it strictly coconut and stay true to the roots. So I am currently developing more new products and improving constantly.”

by Petamber Persaud

International Women's Day 2019

Preserving

She was a font of knowledge especially with regards to Guyanese literary and cultural matters of yesteryear, yes, history matters, history matters more than most of us care to admit, history matters gravely to the future. And most of Guyana paid little heed to that significant fact that she was a font of such information. And now she is gone, another library underutilized, another library that could

Poem

have been employed to inform the present custodians of our literary and cultural patrimony. Oh, why do we waste our human resources so? Oh, unkind old age!

Sheila King was more than a font of knowledge. She wore many hats including the ones with which she won many a hat shows at Easter. King was also an artist cum designer, past member of the Guyana Women Artists’ Association

(GWAA). She was a career Public Servant, poetess, playwright, actress, and prizewinning writer of children stories.

At age 19, a well-spoken and Sheila King entered the Public Service, a move that led to a remarkable career, resulting in a number of firsts. In 1951, she was appointed the first female Probation & Welfare Officer. In 1965, she became the first female Labour Officer.

In 1972, she was made the first Organising Secretary of the newly formed Council on the Affairs and Status of Women in Guyana (CASWIG). In 1975, she was appointed first female Assistant Chief Labour Officer.

Her greatest satisfaction was when in support of Eileen Cox’s letter and on behalf of CASWIG, King was instrumental in getting government to remove a ban on the employment of married women in the Public Service.

The writing career of Sheila King blossomed during the flowering of women writing in Guyana in the 1960s. Numerous women writers surfaced during that period including Evadne D’Oliviera, Cecile Nobrega, Doris HarperWills, Rajkumari Singh, Syble Douglas and others. That group of women writers became a force to be reckoned with, pioneering many aspects of Guyanese Literature. King was part of what may be the first Guyanese anthology of stories. That slim book, ‘Stories From Guyana’, was produced to coincide with Expo ’67 in Canada. Incidentally, coming out from Expo’67, was a humorous poem, ‘Delightful Delinquent Millie’, written by King about the macaw that made history on that occasion. In fact the poem became so popular locally that it was produced on stage in one of the Brink Shows of the 1960s.

Another groundbreaking literary effort King was involved in (with other women writers) was the publication of ‘Guyana Drums’, a collection of poems prepared to coincide with the first Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta) held in Guyana, 1972. That book has gone down in our history as the first anthology of Guyanese women writers.

In 1993, King published a small number of copies of her poems in a slim volume entitled ‘Our Homes Spring Poetry’.

Many of her pieces (poetry, fiction or drama) were penned to celebrate or mark special events, local or international. ‘The Cruellest Test’, an adult short story won the first prize in the Human Rights Year Short Story competition held in 1968. In the same year marking the Human Rights event, her poem, ‘Triumph of the Martyrs’, was included in an anthology of poems, VOICES OF GUYANA, a P. E. N. (Guyana) initiative, edited by Donald Trotman.

But she made contribution to Guyanese literature in other genres of writing. Two of her plays, A MATTER

OF POLICY and HANDS ACROSS THE RIVER were produced for radio. And ‘FOR BETTIN’ OR WORSE was produced on stage at the Theatre Guild Playhouse, Kingston, Georgetown.

King also acted in plays such as N. E. Cameron’s JAMAICA JOE and George Bernard Shaw’s ANDROCLES AND THE LION. She was a codirector for the Cameron’s production of THE TRUMPET.

She was also associated with another great man of let-

ters – Wilson Harris. At a tender age, King was part of an informal literary circle comprising of Harris and Malcolm King, discussing mainly Shakespeare, Milton, and Camus.

Sheila King was a font of knowledge; her memory was awesome as she regurgitates events – dates, venues, attendances with pinpoint accuracy. Her biographies of persons of substance were peppered with spicy anecdotes. Her voice was strong, her delivery impeccable

– tone, diction, pronunciation and enunciation. She did not mince words.

Bits and pieces of her knowledge are now part of my data base on Guyanese Literature, some of which I was able to package and pass on to other interested parties. Thank you, Sheila.

This is not the last of Sheila….

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

Travel & Tourism

International Women's Day 2019

You're likely well aware that your body works like a machine—if one part is off, then, well, the whole damn thing can start having issues.

The best example of this is your thyroid, the small gland in your neck that controls your metabolism and regulates your bodily functions (you know, breathing, temperature, menstrual cycle, and so on).

Most of the time, you don't notice your thyroid gland is working at all (I mean, why would you?). But when it starts misfiring, like not releasing enough thyroid hormone (a.k.a. hypothyroidism) or releasing too much (hyperthyroidism), all hell can break loose. Even more annoying: That hell can break loose anywhere in your body: your eyes, your skin, your hands, you name it.

That's because symptoms of thyroid disease can mirror the symptoms of a ton of other issues. "Symptoms vary from person to person and can come on suddenly or very gradually, so they're hard to detect," as Valentina Rodriguez, M.D., an endocrinologist at NYU Langone Health previously told Women's Health in Do I Need A Thyroid Check?.

That's why it's super important to stay on top of—and quickly act on—any of the symptoms below. (Thyroid disease is much more common in women, BTW. One in eight will develop a thyroid disorder in her lifetime, per the American Thyroid Association.)

1. Your hair is thinning. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), your dermatologist might be the first doctor to notice signs of thyroid disease since many signs and symptoms show up on your skin, hair, and nails. Both conditions—hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism—can cause your hair to thin. Your eyebrows are hit especially hard: Eyebrows that thin along the outer edges can be a sign of hypothyroidism, Eve Feinberg, M.D., assistant professor of re-

productive endocrinology and infertility at Northwestern University School of Medicine previously told Women's Health.

You may also find less hair on your legs, arms, and other areas, or that your hair has become coarse, dully, dry, and breaks easily, per the AAD.

2. YOUR EYES FEEL DRY AND LOOK PUFFY.

While dry, irritated eyes can be a symptom of both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, super-puffy, protruding eyes can be a sign of Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

This happens when the eyelids are pulled back from the eye, per the NIDDK. Along with bulging eyes, Graves' disease can also cause double vision and swelling.

3. YOUR MUSCLES FEEL WEAK.

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause muscles to feel achy, weak, or stiff, according to Rodriguez. But, because thyroid symptoms often develop slowly, many people don't notice the muscle aches or weakness right away, or brush it off as typical pain that comes from aging. Check in with your doctor if something feels off.

4. YOU'RE FEELING LOW.

Hypothyroidism can be associated with difficulty concentrating or depression, while hyperthyroidism can result in anxiety, says Sona Shah, M.D., an endocrinologist at NYU Langone Health.

Both disorders can leave you feeling out of control mentally and emotionally, according to Rodriguez, so it's important to seek mental health treatment, along with medical treatment.

5. YOUR LEGS AND ANKLES LOOK SWOLLEN.

Because hypothyroidism can cause the body's processes to slow down, it can lead to water retention, which will typically show up in your lower body—your hips, knees, ankles, and feet—because of gravity, says Feinberg.

6. YOUR NECK IS SWOLLEN, TOO. If your neck is super swollen, it may be

Women’s HealtH

caused by a goiter, which is basically the term for an abnormally enlarged thy roid gland, according to the American Thyroid Association. See a doc if your neck looks swollen.

7. YOUR WEIGHT DRASTICALLY CHANGED RECENTLY.

With hypothyroid ism, your body slows down, which means that you can gain weight, according to Rodriguez. The opposite can hap pen with hyper thyroidism, she adds.

While many women can see weight loss as a good thing, Rodriguez says it's necessary to get treatment, regardless of what type of weight

fluctuation you're noticing.

untreated, any thyroid condition can be extremely hard

Ingredients

• 1 pack chowmein noodles

• 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs cut into thin strips

• 1 tbsp crushed garlic

• 1 tbsp grated ginger

• 3 tbsp soy sauce

• ½ tsp 5 spice powder

• 1 wiri wiri pepper, finely chopped

• ¾ red bell pepper, thinly sliced

• ¾ green bell pepper, thinly sliced

• 1 carrot, cut into thin strips

• ½ tsp black pepper

• Canola oil

• 5 scallion, finely chopped

• Shredded cabbage for garnish

Instructions

1. Cook chowmein noodles according to directions and set aside.

2. Season chicken with garlic, ginger, 2 tbsp soy sauce and 5 spice powder. Mix well to coat evenly.

3. In a large frying pan or wok, add 1 tbsp canola oil. When oil is hot add chicken and cook on high for 5-7 minutes. Add peppers and onion to the pot and stir fry for an additional 3 minutes.

4. Add remaining 1 tbsp of soy sauce and black pepper to the chowmein and mix using a large fork to coat the chowmein with the soy sauce. Add chicken and vegetable mix to the chowmein and repeat. Mix until well coated then taste to see if additional salt is needed.

5. Add 1 tsp oil to the pan or wok and fry chowmein in 2 batches. Combine, then add scallion. Serve with thinly sliced green cabbage. (Jehan Can Cook)

Ingredients

• 1 bar (9.7oz) dark chocolate chopped

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter

• 3 tbsp water

• 1 cup sugar

Directions

Position rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees. Line 8 inch square pan with aluminum foil. Melt chocolate with butter and water, stirring until smooth. With a spoon beat in sugar, salt and vanilla. Beat in eggs, one at a time until smooth and glossy. Stir in the flour just until combined. Spread batter into prepared pan, bake for 30-35 minutes or until a crust forms on top. The center will still test moist. Do not overbake because the chocolate with solidify as it cools. Cool on rack for 2-3 hrs. These brownies will cut more easily if allowed to cool overnight. Remove from pan by lifting out foil and cut into 25 squares with a long bladed knife that has been warmed by dipping it into hot water. (Jehan Can Cook)

Rose gold, subway tiles and exposed lighting were some of the top home decor trends of 2018. With a new year comes new decorating patterns, stylish, timeless pieces to fresh takes on old styles. 2019 is going to have some fantastic home design trends. Whether you are renovating your home, buying a new one or simply redecorating a room, here is everything you need to know from the designers who set the trends.

ARTISANAL FIXTURES

Like velvet pieces many designers have noticed a shift and that more decorators are partial to fixture from local artist and small businesses, especially lighting. Artisan fixtures personalize your home, and like natural elements, helps shifts homes focus from the tech world to the natural world.

GEOMETRIC PATTERNS

Similar to floral patterns and brass decor, incorporating geometric patterns is no new trend. Yet for the new year geometric patterns are expected to become a dramatic presence. Colors will be bolder with oversized patterns. This is a trend that will help make a bold statement in any room. A chic and easy way to incorporate this pattern into your home decor is adding geometric throws.

FLORAL PATTERNS

This decorating trend has been around for a while, in the upcoming year. However, we will see floral patterns in a new light. Decorators expect to find exaggerated proportions and contrasting colors used for this timeless decor pattern.

KATHLEEN SAXE

or

RULES OF THE

ters. 2.

that

Wet-sneaker sound

Swallowed hard

Moon, in poetry

Golfer -- Ochoa 114 Xanthippe, e.g. 115 Orange Bowl home

Loosened 118 Purple-gray

Quartet member 121 Rabbitt or Murphy 122 Discharge 123 Go back to brunette 125 Juicy gossip 127 Clapton of "Layla" 129 Viking name 133 Mao -tung 135 Almost grads

Bollywood/Hollywood

Remember the young and sassy Poo in Karan Johar’s 2001 hit Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham? Almost 18 years later, that young girl is all grown up and is all

set to make her debut in Bollywood.

Malvika Raaj, who is also the niece of actor Anita Raj, is going to star in action thiller Squad, opposite Danny Denzongpa’s son

Rinzing . She told Mumbai Mirror that her character is a fierce sniper in the film. “She’s very knowledgeable about weapons which is important to the storyline. There’s a lot of action and a little bit of romance with Rinzing,” she said.

Malvika made the announcement on Instagram with a news clipping.

“SQUAD! #squad #malvikaraaj Thank u so much @ theonlynylosahay and @jkdbombay @rinzingd time to roll,” she captioned the post. (Hindustan Times)

Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit Nene, who was recently seen in Total Dhamaal alongside Anil Kapoor and Ajay Devgn, has expressed hope that working women will not be asked about their ‘comeback’, adding that only women are asked the question, not the heroes of our movies.

“When a hero is away from a screen for a long time, no one asks him when he would be making a comeback, but actresses have to face this question, ‘When are you coming back in films?’ every single time. If actresses are not doing films for sometime, it’s their personal choice. Don’t constantly ask them about their return to showbiz or films. Like other people, our priorities also differ from time to time,” Madhuri said.

Be it during the time of her marriage with Shriram Madhav Nene in 1999 or after the birth of her sons Arin (2003) and Raayan (2005), Madhuri took a break from movies to devote time to her personal life. She said, “I have been asked about my comeback so many times... I didn’t work for years and there was one mandatory comeback question always asked to me. I don’t know what to say about it, but now I hope this thing will change in future and there will be no more ‘comeback’ questions being imposed to working women.”

The 51-year-old took a break of five years

after starring in 2002’s Devdas. In 2007, she came back on-screen with Aaja Nachle and then was away from films for seven years before featuring in Gulaab Gang in 2014. She has just featured in the comedy entertainer Total Dhamaal and will soon be seen in Karan Johar’s period drama, Kalank.

Having started her career in Bollywood with film Abodh in 1984, the ‘Dhak dhak’ girl owns a huge body of work despite her sporadic appearances on-screen post-2000. Not only films, she has featured in several reality TV shows as a judge. She was a part of shows like Dance Deewane and Jhalak Dikhhla Ja, owing to her flawless dancing skills. (Hindustan Times)

Actor Priyanka Chopra and husband Nick Jonas have been having the time of their lives ever since they tied the knot in December. After a series of receptions and parties, Priyanka is back into work mode and has been promoting her new Hollywood movie Isn’t It Romantic. Even Nick is getting busy with work and recently revealed the cover of his new single, Sucker. The single will mark the reunion of Nick’s boy band, the Jonas Brothers –Nick, Kevin and Joe.

Welcoming the band back to the music scene, Priyanka shared a picture of the song cover and captioned it, “And yes they’re back… and may I say… hotter than ever. So proud of the family #Sucker#JonasBrothers #MidnightET.” Priyanka had commented on Nick’s original post, “Yesss baby! It’s time! So proud.”

Nick also shared a promo video of their appearance on The Late Late Show. The promo shows host James Corden driving his car through Los Angeles and picking up Joe Jonas on the way.

The two are later joined by Nick and then Kevin Jonas and that’s when Corden asks if this means something. The Jonas Brothers finally announce that they’re back. The talk show will mark their return in a series of episodes throughout the week and will also show a glimpse of their Carpool Karaoke. Nick and Priyanka recently visited Delhi to attend the roka ceremony of her brother Siddharth Chopra.

The latter got engaged to his girlfriend Ishita Kumar in the capital. Priyanka was later spotted arriving at the Mumbai airport.

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

(June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

PISCES

(Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Consider what makes the most sense and is sustainable, and proceed to incorporate your findings into your everyday routine. Exercise willpower to achieve your goal. Romance is highlighted.

Take better care of your physical health and emotional well-being. Anger promotes chaos and will not solve anything. Look for a diplomatic way to engage touchy situations.

Consider what's true and what's false. Put greater emphasis on physical changes that you can make to gain strength and emotional stability.

Pick up the pace and see what transpires. Discipline and precision will help you reach your goal. A partnership should be based on equality and mutual understanding.

Consider your options and choose the one that encourages you to be yourself. Don't let anyone talk you into something you don't want to do or that may be detrimental to your health.

Make a move, attend an event, travel and learn all you can by listening and comparing notes with someone who has valuable information. Don't fold under pressure. Make your own decisions.

Live life your way. Refuse to let someone dictate terms or take charge. It's up to you to stand up and be counted. Protect your rights.

Avoid a senseless debate. Know when to walk away from a situation that is holding you back. Let the past go and make lifestyle changes that suit your needs.

Stick to the truth and don't put up with people who don't do so. Separate yourself from situations that aren't conducive to your success or happiness. Focus on being your best.

Take the time and make the effort to improve your surroundings. The changes you make will help you relax and enjoy yourself.

Emotions will surface, and arguments are likely if you don't maintain control. Take a moment to consider how to best handle whatever situation you face before you say something you'll regret.

Think before you act. Emotional matters will escalate quickly if you are too quick to judge. Be cognizant of what others are going through. Listen and offer suggestions.