<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[RSS Feed]]></title><description><![CDATA[RSS Feed]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com</link><image><url>http://direct.ecency.com/logo512.png</url><title>RSS Feed</title><link>http://direct.ecency.com</link></image><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 02:55:35 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="http://direct.ecency.com/@mapens/rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Defeat is not failure; It is the key to progress]]></title><description><![CDATA[If there's a single factor in life that promotes success, it is the ability to benefit from defeat. Every success I know has been achieved because the person was able to learn something from defeat and]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/motivation/@mapens/defeat-is-not-failure-it-is-the-key-to-progress-88704161b67ce</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/motivation/@mapens/defeat-is-not-failure-it-is-the-key-to-progress-88704161b67ce</guid><category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2018 11:17:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSpZWhUgGYc3MngFqoAN4h4f87b2n3VpcTVqVMp?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[STACH short story contest #27: IF YOU MUST LIE, BE BRIEF]]></title><description><![CDATA[This is my entry to the Stach short story contest #27 "He was my very good friend. We never quarreled for once, so what cause do I have to hurt him, talk more of killing him? "We grew up together.]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/stach/@mapens/stach-short-story-contest-27-if-you-must-lie-be-brief-333a1ef21ca7</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/stach/@mapens/stach-short-story-contest-27-if-you-must-lie-be-brief-333a1ef21ca7</guid><category><![CDATA[stach]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 29 Apr 2018 16:45:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSpZWhUgGYc3MngFqoAN5n2moHPdQTiGY1mpFK4?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The hidden death on our roads]]></title><description><![CDATA[The strange thing about him lying there on the stretcher was that he looked so well. He bore hardly a bruise and didn't even look like he'd been involved in am accident. The surgeon said, he didn't look]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@mapens/the-hidden-death-on-our-roads-213da4874bd07</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@mapens/the-hidden-death-on-our-roads-213da4874bd07</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:41:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSpZWhUgGYc3MngFqoAMeSRWSXkhcrj9wExCvrJ?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Some dissapointments are really blessings; A true life experience]]></title><description><![CDATA[Just like I stated in the title, this is a true life event. Yesterday I made a post titled: Is every dissapointment really a blessing? Today, I got my answer. I was prompted to write that post after our]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@mapens/some-dissapointments-are-really-blessings-a-true-life-experience-3cbd2d447f40c</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@mapens/some-dissapointments-are-really-blessings-a-true-life-experience-3cbd2d447f40c</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2018 19:25:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSpZWhUgGYc3MngFqoAMgGwKQdQPnd1YYsvtyk2?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Is every dissapointment really a blessing??]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sometimes I really can't fathom why certain things happen at certain times, especially unpleasant things. Take for instance, you've been job hunting for years, then one day you bump into someone who is]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@mapens/is-every-dissapointment-really-a-blessing-4d015ad5543e</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@mapens/is-every-dissapointment-really-a-blessing-4d015ad5543e</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:22:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSpZWhUgGYc3MngFqoAMypgcpK1FtHJrUzxHnZ4?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Life without music]]></title><description><![CDATA[Many say music is food for the soul, but I actually think it's way more than that. Music is more of a universal lingua. It is a language that doesn't need to be learnt, you key in instantly once the melody]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/music/@mapens/life-without-music</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/music/@mapens/life-without-music</guid><category><![CDATA[music]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2018 15:29:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/3jpR3paJ37V8t3d5gG8YxUrFtTrvhgCDjjN8jFs77kXpEKKrdjSFgJrer66ktRnZy8QuyoCa9Qbwo157jsEny8b5EnTeM6cgZ5iZS49C7Ew4MeFwXnNxdZCSLuCYvRgVS53Cr?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Who is a Miser??]]></title><description><![CDATA[Who is a Miser? You think it's just a stingy person? Think again! Mr Donald was one heck of a man. He traversed from grass to grace, true; but for a man who was worth millions, his miserliness was without]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/fiction/@mapens/who-is-a-miser-0a5e953bd45fe</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/fiction/@mapens/who-is-a-miser-0a5e953bd45fe</guid><category><![CDATA[fiction]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2018 09:43:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSpZWhUgGYc3MngFqoAMfXeLbsv3m2HKShLHkwp?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Quick Reminder on the essence of life]]></title><description><![CDATA[When he's dead, Your tears will flow, But c'mon he won't know; Cry with him now instead! You will send flowers, But c'mon he won't see them; Send them now instead! You'll say words of praise, But c'mon]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/poetry/@mapens/a-quick-reminder-on-the-essence-of-life</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/poetry/@mapens/a-quick-reminder-on-the-essence-of-life</guid><category><![CDATA[poetry]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2018 09:42:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/4i88GgaV8qiGEw1xifwYz2xp7RJEnNpBZq7dn2K5xwnwRUtNuEEZ6sYYu6DmjEcgzeibtEUzpxP5ntdJxHMGXYFQXZXaDwG7gtv9RJRVnHdezS34n65aSKMsUa?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Special thanks to Reachout!]]></title><description><![CDATA[I'm all smiles while writing this! Some weeks ago, I entered a contest organized by @reachout, powered by @eturnex and @prettyjules158. Fortunately, I was one of the winners who went home with a multimedia]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/reachout/@mapens/special-thanks-to-reachout-51658a5fa403f</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/reachout/@mapens/special-thanks-to-reachout-51658a5fa403f</guid><category><![CDATA[reachout]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 02 Apr 2018 22:15:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSpZWhUgGYc3MngFqoAN3E6oB1wRfkrhjWnQ6Mc?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stach short story contest #24; All is not lost ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Life could never be worse than this. You think you've been through hell? Think again! I was just released from prison after serving 3 years for a crime I knew nothing about. The first news I was greeted]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/stach/@mapens/stach-short-story-contest-24-all-is-not-lost</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/stach/@mapens/stach-short-story-contest-24-all-is-not-lost</guid><category><![CDATA[stach]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2018 20:26:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/3HaJVw3AYyXBD5Md5tUD9YKkzGo1eoR2RP1hYxRaFr2K2tns2cp8ckrWNvZGv1eW8z6Jy8pq3RwEqrcRd7WyfNG2BZiqcg5sozxgodE?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[It was all good... While It Lasted]]></title><description><![CDATA[I actually thought I was leaving my dream, I thought I had it all. I had a couple of men who provided me with virtually anything I wanted. I was comfortable. You could say I was rich, even though I didn't]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/fiction/@mapens/it-was-all-good-while-it-lasted-3552d1757db49</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/fiction/@mapens/it-was-all-good-while-it-lasted-3552d1757db49</guid><category><![CDATA[fiction]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2018 19:40:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSpZWhUgGYc3MngFqoAMf9zAMBU3pv4X7MurnUE?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[My Music and I]]></title><description><![CDATA[My love for music is something that can't be overemphasized. It all started from a very young age. I could still remember years ago when I wrote my first set of songs, lol. I should have been 13 or 14]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/music/@mapens/my-music-and-i-d61bd47f4d6fb</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/music/@mapens/my-music-and-i-d61bd47f4d6fb</guid><category><![CDATA[music]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 24 Mar 2018 13:00:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSpZWhUgGYc3MngFqoAN6Xf424j2PFyrBofpE1U?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Down, but not out!]]></title><description><![CDATA[...that moment when you're effing broke, with no hope of something rolling into your wallet. You stroll into the kitchen and realize you can't actually make anything to eat cos your cooking gas got exhausted.]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/motivation/@mapens/down-but-not-out-ec43663df2624</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/motivation/@mapens/down-but-not-out-ec43663df2624</guid><category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 22 Mar 2018 20:20:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSpZWhUgGYc3MngFqoAN5QwYZj4P8GZeLQGD3jk?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Air-clinic writing contest #16; Stress, A quest to make ends meet]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ben was a young, vibrant gentleman who had dreams, goals and aspirations. He graduated with a decent degree from the University. Unlike a lot of his colleagues, he got a job immediately after graduation.]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/air-clinic/@mapens/air-clinic-writing-contest-16-stress-a-quest-to-make-ends-meet</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/air-clinic/@mapens/air-clinic-writing-contest-16-stress-a-quest-to-make-ends-meet</guid><category><![CDATA[air-clinic]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 21 Mar 2018 13:13:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/JvFFVmatwWHVQPjDcGkFxELgGtwNAntRtiqDuEyxxAmyV1xNTiSbptShXjNX4F4hqaLbrNvJbHFUTxJMWbnDuVQC2HgbAYMdVaijQdWaW6tXahfFxFyZWjcyyEdeZU1wyRKjDcS3bt?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA['Shary's Writing Prompt Contest #4'; On a fateful day]]></title><description><![CDATA["I woke up that morning in a very high spirit. I was feeling good. There was this spring to my step, but I didn't know why. You know one of those days when you wake up feeling like you don't have]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/fiction/@mapens/shary-s-writing-prompt-contest-4-on-a-fateful-day</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/fiction/@mapens/shary-s-writing-prompt-contest-4-on-a-fateful-day</guid><category><![CDATA[fiction]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 21 Mar 2018 11:37:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/Zskj9C56UondJxcjVaienfhVaNb7LJVWG6e787gZqsJqipUppXpWYDM8wG2DbSN12maBBNHwJpJ8RA6P6sBTkAz1nNERDmRmmE7e2vHXzzVacZqifRTc?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stach short story contest #23; A BLOOD RED SKY]]></title><description><![CDATA[This is my entry to the 23rd edition of the STACH short story contest. Word count = 199 words Happy reading. The terrorists disguised as herdsmen continued their onslaught, leaving human carcasses in their]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/stach/@mapens/stach-short-story-contest-23-a-blood-red-sky-da8e8fffdab04</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/stach/@mapens/stach-short-story-contest-23-a-blood-red-sky-da8e8fffdab04</guid><category><![CDATA[stach]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 21 Mar 2018 08:45:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSpZWhUgGYc3MngFqoAMypnKN1JyssSRKZHPNVk?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[#STEEMGIGS: I will Set up a standard WordPress blog/site with full steemit posting integration]]></title><description><![CDATA[Description WordPress is arguably the leading CMS provider In the world today. A great percentage of the world's websites rests on WordPress.If you'd love to have your own website, be it personal or busines,]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/steemgigs/@mapens/set-up-a-standard-wordpress-blogsite-with-full-steemit-posting-integration</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/steemgigs/@mapens/set-up-a-standard-wordpress-blogsite-with-full-steemit-posting-integration</guid><category><![CDATA[steemgigs]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 17 Mar 2018 09:26:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/JvFFVmatwWHVQPjDcGkFxELgGtwNAntRtiqDuEyxysuF4h1RmdERdLkV3NkKKCfQvvYec4L4GYFnKeBSDRtTFgjcSqKDXyypJHG9PF2CbyjWrX5dAx8DUhc8BS96hDdzSo49S3b7J6?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[My Window To The  Digital World]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gone are the days when mobile phones were just for calls and texts messages. Today, one can do virtually anything with a smartphone. I, for one, have been an avid lover of gadgets, phones particularly.]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/contest/@mapens/my-window-to-the-digital-world-13c17d1c22c38</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/contest/@mapens/my-window-to-the-digital-world-13c17d1c22c38</guid><category><![CDATA[contest]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:54:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSpZWhUgGYc3MngFqoAMxp9VBYktKh7AgKcHZCz?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Midnight encounter]]></title><description><![CDATA[I woke up suddenly from my sleep, with sweat dripping all over me. It's happening again, they're here again! These monsters, these bloodthirsty vampires. I could clearly hear them shrieking as they circled]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/story/@mapens/a-midnight-encounter-a359ee4efc165</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/story/@mapens/a-midnight-encounter-a359ee4efc165</guid><category><![CDATA[story]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2018 10:21:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSpZWhUgGYc3MngFqoAMxRA3xZ4MPFpGRT3iYSS?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[AIR-CLINIC WRITING CONTEST: Poverty, The Elder Cousin Of Diseases!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello steemians and fiction lovers. This is my second attempt at the "Air-clinic writing contest". Am happy to let you all know that I won the last contest which was also my first attempt, so]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/air-clinic/@mapens/air-clinic-writing-contest-poverty-the-elder-cousin-of-diseases-b02a5566d023f</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/air-clinic/@mapens/air-clinic-writing-contest-poverty-the-elder-cousin-of-diseases-b02a5566d023f</guid><category><![CDATA[air-clinic]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[mapens]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 13 Mar 2018 14:36:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSpZWhUgGYc3MngFqoAN2qXiyDsTnXpzBYS3bLJ?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item></channel></rss>