Author: Simone

Loves to tell and hear untold stories about people, places and experiences!

Staying In Your Lane.

It’s never a good idea to hijack someone else’s dreams…

Simone Grant 2019

The first reaction to the statement is that the idea of staying in your lane is a bad thing. But not when you make one for yourself. Hear me out.

We all have a standard that we live by and often it has been conceived of by someone else and we are just conforming to it. We dress, eat think and play mainly by what is deemed acceptable and right. However, what if by doing so you end up feeling further from your dreams than you want to be. We read self help books, but it’s someone else’s experience; We get advice but often times we don’t like what we hear. we wait to get what we deserve but would rather return it when we do.

Therefore lets not look at the idea of staying in your lane as a bad thing but a necessary thing.

The road is not always for the fastest but those with the confidence to stay the course!

I recently saw the car above. I have no idea what type of car it is nor the year made BUT I know it’s OLD for our modern roads. Maybe older then my grand mother! I had seen this car once before and noticed that everyone it passed turned to look at it long after it had slowly sped by. Some persons even took out their smartphones to take a pic and on the day i got the picture above, I was no different.I thought, “wow, he is so brave, poor thing!” This from a girl who does not even own a car. Yet again we digress…

But, he seemed very confident with his ride, even when motorists tried to pass him quickly to get away from the “slownesss” of it all. He was focused on enjoying the ride as music blared from his radio or stereo or whatever it was coming out of. And I thought, this guy is very comfortable in his lane. Good for him! Some of us try to serve lanes and end up in a ditch, because we do not belong in the lane we are trying to get to or there are too many vehicles already there and we have been pushed, literally, out of the line.

Nothing’s Wrong with staying in your lane.

There is nothing wrong with staying in your lane. Be confident in the plans you have made; I had a plan from grade nine about what I wanted to do but I did not stick to it. I was influenced by the wishes or the supposed wishes of others and made myself powerless to chart my own course. Don’t let others influence where you want to go and how you get there.

Also, by staying in your lane you are staying true to who you are; so the next time someone wonders why you are the way you are, let them know that’s just the way it is.When you stay in your lane, you don’t have time to be watching anyone else because you are about your business and time wasted watching what others are doing can never be regained. A true waste indeed!

Then consider that just because the ride looks less bumpy on the other said it does not mean that it is. We all have problems and switching lanes to hawk on someone else’s dream is not gonna solve yours. Instead focus and remind yourself what the plan was all along and stick with it! It’s easier to think that you have to make drastic changes all the time in order to get ahead because we see people doing it. We forget that we are not like everyone. Further, we don’t all need to be at the same place at the same time.

Before speeding head first take the time to enjoy the ride and get your bearings.

Tribute For a Simply Great Man…



THE MAN
    


an almost forgotten acquaintance
was in town recently
i noticed that it started raining
just as he ambled in

i remember him as a simple man
growing up, we all wanted
to be doctors, lawyers & teachers
so the blood could ebb out of the village

my friend had much more sober dreams
he asked the heavens to grant him
the imposing peace of the blue-gum in his backyard
& that all the poor send him their tears
so he could be humble like the sun
so the red wax of the stars would not drip onto him

i remembered that man today
& all i think of is his unassuming radiance
like that of a blushing angel

as for his dreams
he tells us
whole forests invade his sleep at night
so that there’s only standing room
for the dreams


© 1995/2003, Seitlhamo Motsapi
From: earthstepper/the ocean is very shallow
Publisher: Deep South, South Africa

I went to a funeral today. It’s all part of life, while we are busy trying to find our way, some hop on the exit line.The poem above was read as a tribute, and it made me think. Do we ever consider what type of tribute we are writing for ourselves. I felt the love for this man , who was a brother,husband, father and friend.And he was a great man. His greatness was not based on wealth or titles amassed but on the simply quiet ways he had positively impacted the lives of everyone he met. He leaves as his legacy not measurable wealth but an example of true success. The ability to rise from mistakes, disappointments and seemingly surmountable challenges to bring joy, healing and comfort to those blessed to have known you.

Live your best life to the fullest because, hey you only live once. But be the best you that you can be while doing so. Then instead of telling everyone you are and were the greatest, everyone will say it for you, when you’re no longer here to show it.

Also keep in mind that the self portrait you paint for others to remember you by, can either evoke deep regret and pain or unrestrained fondness and pleasure.

How You Be?

My really, really good friend asked me this question and I told her to ask me next month. I followed that up by letting her know that I was clueless about how I was doing!

Have you ever felt stumped when asked, “How are you?” If so, when does this feeling of being attacked by the question become a real burden for you to answer?

when asked the question there are varied responses that can be given. There is the obviously disingenuous “I’m fine” with a plastic smile.Or there is the terse “fine”, followed by a hasty retreat and my favorite to observe, the monologue of the perfect life, the wonderful things happening now, that have surpassed all previous expectations – but the words ring hallow. Hey, you’re doing too much, trying too hard!

It’s hard to give an honest response when things are not going too great – you don’t want to seem ungrateful for what has been good in the past, in case it happens again. Also, when you sense, in the bottom of your belly (a Jamaican thing), that the person asking the question doesn’t want a genuine response then you reach for the synthetic or superficial responses that everyone expects and will be satisfied with.

However, while you’re there congratulating yourself for following the script and responding as expected, remember that you are not only lying to those persons;you are also lying to yourself. Don’t spend your life being a Pinocchio. Be honest with yourself about your ups and downs, no matter how people expect you to respond.And also be honest when you are asked how you are doing.

P.S. To all those who ask the question, (addressing myself as well) if you don’t like the answer, remember you opened the door for a response; hopefully you can handle an honest one.

You Have No Excuse!

On my way to work this morning I had no idea what this post would be about, I had so many thoughts swirling around in my head. “I’ll figure it out when I get to work”.

Life is full of interesting surprises.

I took the taxi and at in the back, already there was a small boy with a bag. Not just any bag, but what we in Jamaica refer to as a crocus bag. I sat, got comfortable and the taxi drove off – We were on our way. I suddenly saw the boy open the top of the bag and ask, “yuh a’right”. This definitely had my attention. At the same time another passenger was picked up and the boy tried to shift the bag away from the side of that passenger. The taxi man then asked the little boy what was in the bag, he promptly responded that it was a cock fowl and he defended his action, when challenged, by letting the taxi man know he had to protect his money! A cock, no big deal maybe it’s a school project. Don’t ask what kind of school project, I was just as baffled as you.

Long story short. This little boy was taking the cock to school and after school, he would be taking said cock to a cock figh! Now at this point everyone in the taxi were like, “what in the world of tarnation is this?” According to him the cock had never lost a fight and so he, having made quite a bit of money on him already, was taking him to a cock fight after school!

After some questioning we learned that he had come prepared for the day with food and other things that would ensure the comfort of his champion fighter.He spoke with confidence of his cock’s abilities and wining ways and I was left to marvel at the ingenuity and initiative of this child that looked no older than 11!

Granted I got a little squeamish at the thought of a cock fight, and felt a little sorry for him; but hey that’s not the point here.

It was clear that this little fellow had a passion and knew how to pursue it. As children there were things we wanted to do and pursue as adults and it just hasn’t materialized yet. What we need to do it seems is to tap into our passions and pursue them relentlessly.This little fellow spoke with such confidence and fearlessness about his plans and I knew he would not b easily dissuaded from his mission of attending and having his investment participate in that match today after school!

If you have lost your passion, now is the time to rediscover it. You have no excuse not to.

Get a Grip! Don’t Slip!


The tragedy of life is in what dies inside a man while he lives – the death of genuine feeling, the death of inspired response, the awareness that makes it possible to feel the pain or the glory of other men in yourself.
Read more at:

Norman Cousins

Just a reminder for everyone today, who are trying to avoid ending up back in a dark place. It does matter who your are, where you are from or how successful you are. We can’t ignore that at times, even in the middle of winning we can find ourselves spiraling out of control. Make sure to check with yourself and reset if things have gotten out of your control.

We have opportunities to grow in many ways but just make sure you don’t grow away from something genuine. Instead, especially when we are blessed with plenty, we should be aware that we remain grounded in our thoughts actions and reaction to others.

It’s easy to forget about how you may have struggled to be where you are but don’t do that! Remember the person behind who is about to slip and give them a hand up. It’s easy to celebrate when you are in the spotlight. But don’t forget the persons waiting in the wings, sitting in the audience cheering you the loudest; remember their time is coming too! Celebrate with them when it does and you are in the wings or sitting among the crowd.

It’s easy to get distracted by you, you and you; where it becomes me, myself and I. But in doing so you shut yourself out of truly being a part of something greater than yourself.

If you find yourself slipping, catch yourself before you fall!

Are You Behind schedule?

Good! When you are behind schedule no one will see you coming and when they do, you can say [LOOK AT ME NOW!!!] Your light will shine bright enough to pave the way for others

It’s okay. We all wont get going at the same time. There are many who feel they have been left behind. We are the late bloomers! We need to tell ourselves, it’s okay not to be in line with the achievements of your peers and close friends.

Being a late bloomer may make persons feel bitter and harbor a lot of resentment because of the limiting position they think they are in. While your friend is a brain surgeon at 13 or could drive at 6, you are there trying to figure out how not to injure yourself from your own cluelessness!

Yep you’ve got it; success is sweetest when achieved early. Or so society makes it seem.While everyone is busy collecting those points, you wonder,”what’s the rush?’ Of course this is because you a absolutely clueless!

Maybe you don’t need to be “on schedule”.

But who decides if you are truly behind? If you are looking at what everyone has achieved or have accumulated then you are looking at the wrong clock!There is no time limit on when you can discover what makes you happy and what your passion is in life. It is also true that you don’t have to remain in something you are not happy with because it’s too late.

It’s never late.

If there is something that you have always wanted to do but felt intimidated by the sheer enormity of the task ahead, don’t be.I realize that being late to the party can be a humbling experience. There will be more appreciation for what you have accomplished because of the time it took to accomplish it in. You learn to realize that the world does not need to revolve around you but that you should make meaningful contributions that benefit those around you.

When it rains it pours!

When you do start blooming your beauty will be there to inspire others.So when you time comes make sure to make the most of it and spread your petals as far as you like!

You Tried It!


When you attempt to flatter yourself or make others look foolish but it didn’t work out well for you.

My personal favorite:


when someone tries to check you but it fails!

For persons who try it we just give them a [toast]!!!

There comes a time in life when you have to say enough is enough. I wanted to include some exclamation marks here but As I grow older I try to remain calm – until sufficiently provoked of course. But if it was when I was younger then who knows. Anyways! You have to say enough when you are placed in a position where you have to respectfully correct others about their view of you. When you have to make it clear that they do not have control over your image or your destiny.

It’s great to be nice and be a unifying force and stand for world peace. But when your world is being compromised by the malicious intentions of a few, you need to stand your ground. Among us are some people who think too much of their influence on you and we need to educate them. We need to sit them gently down – or not – and remind them of our own power and stubborn will to thrive in any place; whether an oasis or in the desert.

Just had to put this here!!!

In response to those people my grandmother would say, “not today satan, you tried it but not to-day!

It’s always good to take stock of the moments when you feel you are about to be defeated in your push forward. We cannot give in to those persons or feelings, because we have a plan that needs to come to fruition.

It’s hard sometimes to pick yourself up after others try to tear you down or, when out of the blue you’re hit from behind.

Never stop, never give up, even when your nemesis is waiting in the wings to devour you and your dreams. Stand and defend yourself and your peace of mind and watch everything fall in place!