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Smart Living & Happiness
The Same Medicine for Different Diseases: A Reflection on Work, Debt, and Lifestyle
by Chris-Vincent Agyapong

I have two friends. One lives in the United States, the other lives in Ghana. Their circumstances, on paper, could not be more different. Yet, the rhythm of their daily lives tells a strikingly similar story. My friend in the United States has 25 years remaining on his mortgage. Every month, about 60% of his...

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Smart Living & Happiness
Beyond Bricks: The Illiquidity Trap Hiding in Africa’s Property-Heavy Portfolios
by Chris-Vincent Agyapong

A friend of mine recently sold one of his properties in Accra. On the face of it, a straightforward transaction–a well-located house in the capital, priced at approximately $150,000, which by any measure represents a significant asset. What made it remarkable was not the sale itself, but the timeline it demanded: over two and a...

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Smart Living & Happiness
The Art of Ending Well: Reflections on Relationships
by Chris-Vincent Agyapong

As I grow older, I find myself increasingly being drawn into the relationships of friends and family—not as a participant, but as a confidant, a mediator, someone called upon when tension builds, when breakups loom, or when lingering matters refuse to settle. It is a role I did not seek, but one I have come...

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Travel & See
Israel Should Be on Your To-Visit List: My Trip to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
by Chris-Vincent Agyapong

On one front, Israel is portrayed by the news as both peaceful and chaotic. My worldview of Israel before I visited was broadly founded on stories from the Bible, the news, and spy movies. Over the years, I have come to realize that all three sources mentioned above are heavily unreliable, especially the Bible and...

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Smart Living & Happiness
The Passport Bros—An Exodus of Men Seeking Relationships Beyond the Borders
by Chris-Vincent Agyapong

Relationship conversations on social media have recently become almost like a banter. Largely, you will find women congregating at one corner and supporting a position and men clapping together at the other side with similar views but contrary to the positions of the women. And these two genders are supposed to be in relationships together....

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Smart Living & Happiness
How Your Bills Can Stop You From Buying a House in the UK
by Dr Akosua Ofosu-Asiedu

If you pay your own bills, you’ve probably had a falling out with a utility company at one point or another. This was my second dispute with British Gas (BG). The first time I paid all monies off just for peace of mind, but this time I was determined to fight them. I couldn’t keep...

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Smart Living & Happiness, Travel & See
Travel & See: Malta–Life Can Be Both Chaotic and Calm, Just Choose Right
by Chris-Vincent Agyapong

While Malta reminds me of my visits to Morocco, Spain, and Greece, it is unique in its geographical position, history, and ancient architecture. About 80 km south of Sicily, 284 km east of Tunisia, and 333 km north of Libya sits the island country of Malta—in the Mediterranean Sea. The beautiful weather and the...

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Smart Living & Happiness
It’s Highly Dangerous Not to Help Others
by Chris-Vincent Agyapong

My recent readings have been focused on improving oneself and helping to elevate the floor of the people around you. I’ve heard arguments in Ghana that some capable or rich people fail to equip those surrounding them simply because they prefer these people to always “glory” them as their Messiah—as the person who hands out...

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Smart Living & Happiness
Time is the Most Valuable Currency in the World
by Chris-Vincent Agyapong

When I speak to friends and family, I tell them this: if you tell me you make 10,000 dollars a month, the first question I ask is—how many hours do you have to work each day to make this money. I will be 39 years in August. If someone even offers to pay me 100,000...

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Smart Living & Happiness
Your Life Should Be Intentional
by Chris-Vincent Agyapong

Life is exciting when you play to its capriciousness—when you go with the flow. In such a state, life offers added thrill, either bad or good. Many aspects of my life are unplanned because I find routines mundane. However, the most important aspects that determine my long-term happiness is carefully planned—intentionally crafted. I meet a...

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