Category: Encountering New Experiences

Invictus

As we work hard to get to our goals, let us remember; in life we do not get what we deserve but we almost always get what we expect. Also in every situation, our perception drives our reality. Let fearless faith drive our actions and not terrifying fear.

Invictus 
 
Out of the night that covers me, 

      Black as the pit from pole to pole, 

I thank whatever gods may be 

      For my unconquerable soul. 



In the fell clutch of circumstance 

      I have not winced nor cried aloud. 

Under the bludgeonings of chance 

      My head is bloody, but unbowed. 



Beyond this place of wrath and tears 

      Looms but the Horror of the shade, 

And yet the menace of the years 

      Finds and shall find me unafraid. 



It matters not how strait the gate, 

      How charged with punishments the scroll, 

I am the master of my fate, 

      I am the captain of my soul. 

WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY

Off the Beaten Path

Today I want to take you somewhere you have not been with me before. As you may or may not know, I like to use quotes that keep me motivated. Today I share some Jamaican proverbs that while entertaining to decipher, offer valuable nuggets of wisdom.

So here you are, some Jamaican proverbs to inspire you and keep you going!

All these proverbs, translations and explanations, were taken from the National Library of Jamaica website. Please click on the link to see what else they have to offer…

Proverb: If you get your han’ in a debil mout’ tek it out.

Translation: If you put your hand in the devil’s mouth, take it out carefully.
Explanation: Act cautiously in getting out of difficulty.

Proverb: Ebry dyay debble help teef; wan dyah Gad wi help watchman.

Translation: Every day the devil helps the thief; one day God will help the watchman.
Explanation: We should not despair when it appears to us that unscrupulous persons continue to take advantage of us with no apparent deterrent. God never sleeps, and is fully aware of everything that occurs.  He will one day reward the efforts of the faithful.

Proverb: Big blanket mek man sleep late

Translation: A thick blanket  causes a man to sleep late.
Explanation: An over-abundance of luxuries causes one to become complacent, and to take life’s blessings for granted.

Proverb: No matta how kokkuch junk, im noh waak pass fowl yaad

Translation: No matter how drunk the cockroach becomes, he never makes the mistake of walking past the yard of the fowl.
Explanation: The cockroach is considered to be a delicacy for fowls.  In the interest of self-preservation, cockroach is reluctant to go past any area where he may be easily caught by a fowl.  For humans, he same should apply, self-preservation being the first law of the of the species.

Proverb: Hag nyam wha im myne gi im fah

Translation: The hog/pig eats whatever its mind gives it for [or wants].
Explanation: To each, his own.

Proverb: No mug no bruk, no cawfee no dash weh

Translation: The mug is not broken, therefore the coffee is not thrown away (or wasted).
Explanation: Even in the most difficult of times, if total devastation has not occurred, one should count his/her blessings.  Do not blow simple matters out of proportion.

Proverb: A no ebryting kum fram abuv a blessen

Translation: Not everything that comes from above is a blessing.
Explanation: Enjoy those blessings which come from above, but do not be misled by deceivers who use their superior positions to dispossess the unfortunate.

Proverb: Yu cyaan ketch Quaku (Harry), yu ketch im shut

Translation: If you cannot catch Quaku (Harry), catch his shirt
Explanation: It is not always possible to get everything you want.  Be satisfied with what little you have, until you are able to get all you want.  Having caught Quako’s shirt, you are all the closer to catching him.

Those were just a few for you to enjoy, hope you found at least one that you can relate to and use. Until next time…

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Words To Keep You Going….

Have you ever felt as if you just could not go a another step? When this happens sometimes we need to remind ourselves to keep going. Here are some quotations you can use this week to help you set the pace and keep you ahead of your doubts:

Let’s face it, life is tough! We are either entering, enduring or exiting a battle!

Nicola McFadden, Rebound Faith: CHAYAH!

There is no secret to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.

General Colin Powell

You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.

George Lorimer

You’re time is limited so don’t waste it living someone else’s life

Steve Jobs

When you get to the end of the rope, tie a knot and hang on

Franklin D Roosevelt

To begin is hard but to finish strong is even harder

Simone Grant

Sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the most wonderful things that will happen to us.

Nicole Reed, Ruining You

Don’t be afraid of losing people. Be afraid of losing yourself by trying to please everyone around you.

Live Life Happy

Patience is when you are suppose to be mad but you choose to understand

Via The Minds Journal

I never judge people on their first appearance, because sometimes people who seem sweet can be the biggest snakes and the people who look arrogant ad rude can be the nicest people ever when you actually get to know them

Unknown

Train your mind to stay calm in every situation

Unknown

When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.

Unknown

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope

Martin Luther King Junior

If you haven’t confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life

Marcus Garvey

As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison

Nelson Mandela

Stop Being your Worst Enemy!

We’re our own worst enemy. You doubt yourself more than anybody else ever will. If you can get past that, you can be successful

It is now June and we have said adios to May. We are halfway through the year and in that time we have experienced a lot. Have you accomplished all you set to accomplish within that time or are you like many, still waiting to begin? If you fall in the former and have done what you have to do, congratulations; continue on this path. It’s good to stop and congratulate yourself when you stick to your goals, especially as life throws a lot of curb balls our way. You have recognised your power and have tapped into the source of it. For those who are struggling, it’s not too late to tap into your source and realise all that you want to accomplish by the end of the year. But we must ask ourselves a very important question. Have we become our worst enemies?

How we become our enemy

If you continue to make excuses as to why you cannot do what you have to do in order to get ahead, then you have become your worst enemy. Also, if you still compare yourself to others and find your are lacking in every way imaginable, then sadly you are your worst enemy. This idea leads into the act of being critical, not of others, but of yourself. Have you said yes to things that you really wanted to say no to because you knew it was not for you? Then reconsider doing this, as you will continue to waste time on things that take you further away from your purpose. It maybe painful but sometimes it’s more productive to cut off the unnecessary trimmings that look pretty but hold no value.

Stop and Think

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Stop doing the same things that give you the same result- if you want something new, you won’t get ahead by going in circles. You may also need to hear the bitter truth, that not everyone in your circle mean you well; trust the voice within when you realise this and intentionally cut them off. Stop believing that we all have to march in a band. Instead take your drum and your drum stick and march to the beat of your own drum- you will feel a lot better when you appreciate what you have produced instead of what others have produced for you.It’s okay to trust in yourself because you have the same abilities as the people you put your trust in. After all we all have a unique rhythm. Now, I will pause here and say that I am not suggesting that it’s better to be alone. But it is important to know that there isn’t only one way to get things done. Instead, explore new opportunities and avenues.

Assumptions

Finally, stop making assumptions. Today I heard a fantastic tale of intrigue and suspense on the basis of an unknown woman’s sudden appearance; worse yet she was not dressed to be apart of the scene. As a result, the group I was a part of had judged her as having criminal intent. That tale was a lot more juicy than what was the reality. She was told by someone who ‘belonged’, to come to collect a package. Further, after meeting her we had no choice but to put to rest the wildly delicious tale and embrace the truth. So, stop making assumptions about people and situations when we do not have the full picture. We often get fact and fiction confused; the person who seems to mean us well may not and the one who does not, actually want the best for us. Don’t rely solely on our assumptions about anything or anyone. Most importantly do not assume that because you are not where you want to be, you will never get there. You may get there sooner than you think. It all depends on you.

Collecting the Pieces

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Then you will call on me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. you will seek me and find me when you seek me with your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13

She walked in the dark unsure of where to place her feet. She walked alone. The cold bit into her flesh and the icy cold sliced into her fragile skin. As she swayed from left to right, she recognised this could be the end. Just ahead she knew she would find the answer. She could neither see nor hear. She was lost. A million and one hands,voices and bodies pushed against her advance and threatened to pull her under. She stumbled, buckling under the pressure that she could not see and did not understand. Somehow she had just enough strength to drag herself along. Would she make it? Suddenly she saw a blinding light; she heard the horns just as it became too late. Was it too late?

What if we woke up everyday expecting the best and not the worst? Many persons are too afraid to think this way, because for them life has shown them that expecting the best all the time is a fantasy. And whether we like it or not, we live in the real world, with real problems. However, do we have to focus so heavily on all the things that could or have gone wrong? How have we contributed to our hopeless state? Many of us are unwilling to admit that we are complicit in our own situation. When we choose to focus on our problems and wallow in them we are not acknowledging that even in our difficulties God has a plan for us. We see opportunities to get out of bad situations and we are too afraid to take them, because everything else has failed so far. So we say, “why bother”. Like the girl above we do not get off the road we are on until we have a sense of direction. Instead we continue without a purpose and expect to get results.

The Small Pieces Matter

There will always be situations that threaten our happiness but we do not have to allow them to reek havoc in our lives. When you see the overcast skies, do you complain about the possible negative conditions it will bring or do you express gratitude at the experiences you will have because of the rain. Far too often we take the little things for granted. But think about the fact that those small, seemingly insignificant things end up creating the bigger picture. We don’t have to continue our aimlessly sojourn, but can find some measure of direction and insight in the word of God. What you need to do sometimes is to stop and think about what you want to seek out in your quest to live your purpose. Will you continue to walk down a dark road with a fear filled outcome or in confidence at the little blessings waiting around you to be collected and used for your good?

MEMOIRS OF A PRINCESS

by Shelly-Ann Daley (contributor)

She needed a hero, so that’s what she became…

Sometimes childhood memories escape from its box and you can’t help but long for a time when things were simpler, and you found pleasure in the simplest of things. In a land some time ago there was a princess. She attended Vacation Bible School at a church near her home and was given corned beef sandwiches and ice-cold lemonade, a lime green crown and a yellow kite that could be inflated like a balloon. She loved that crown. She however loved her yellow kite more and wanted to take that kite everywhere. That summer she and her sister travelled to the magical kingdom called the Sunshine City to spend their summer vacation with the King, the Queen and the Prince. Of course, the kite had to make the trip too!

When she got there, she longed to go to the beach where the winds were strong so that she could hoist her yellow kite and bask in the sun… she didn’t care much for the water. They got to the beach and the king showed her how to fly the kite… when it was her turn the wind proved to be too mighty for her and fought with her for the yellow kite… it won. She watched as it took her yellow kite with it and she started to cry. The King immediately jumped in the car and followed the yellow kite until the wind let it go. She didn’t know how far he went to get it but she was grateful that he did. When they got home, she deflated her yellow kite and put it away in a draw so as never to lose it again. She kept it until she outgrew it. On that day she saw the King as her hero, the person who saved something she loved.

 The princess grew older and went to live in the kingdom and over the years that perception changed, just as she outgrew the yellow kite. She outgrew the idea that she should be dependent on someone else to be her hero. She watched as the person she saw as her hero metamorphosed into a villain. He reduced himself to someone she would never want her son, brother, husband to emulate.  Someone who she once saw as strong and heroic was reduced to someone who she thought she now needed a hero to defeat. She then asked herself the question… What made him a villain? He must have had a reason for becoming the “bad” person he is now? She realized that he was enabled, made to feel entitled, made to feel that he was to be “served” and taken care of and the rules of the Kingdom made by him had to be followed. “Thou shalt not eat this” “Thou shalt not do this” “Thou shalt not do that” “My Prince shall not do this”. Some may say that should not have skewed her perception. But it did because she was made to feel as if she was the “servant”.  As if that was her sole purpose. She then realized that she also looked to other people in the kingdom to be her hero. She hoped the Queen would have stood up for, but she didn’t. She supported her King and helped to enforce the rules of the kingdom though some of those rules bothered her.

Over the years the Queen grew weary and realized that her King was lacking, and it frustrated her. She cursed, spat insults and lashed out with her fiery tongue. She also took out her anger on the prince and princess of the kingdom and that bothered them. The princess felt overwhelmed and felt as if she was not loved and that she was the least favourite of all the other princesses and princes. The princess knew that she was not perfect, but she also knew she didn’t deserve to be treated as such. Her heroes failed her. As such she decided that there was none better to save her than herself. She had to be her own hero.

  All this reminiscing brought to mind another simple truth that is so important to remember, and it is this — no matter what you are going through, sometimes you have to be your own hero. And you know what? There is nothing wrong with that ideal if that is what it takes to keep you going forward.

What’s the Truth?

Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love

Fyodor Dostoevsky

What is Your Truth Anyway?

I have noticed that there is an emphasis in many societies concerning selfcare, self-awareness and self-love. However, when you or someone says, “live your truth”, do we really know what this means? One crucial component of living your truth many will say is to be yourself. Yes we can say be ourselves but many people do not know who they are . I am sure that there are some who are reading this who have to pause and consider. Who am I? Some of you may use the labels of wife, , father, manager, doctor ect that society has bestowed on you but that is not where I am trying to go here. When I say, my name is Simone, Who am I really saying I am? Leta Stevens, a wellness coach says, to live your truth, means following your heart. But what if what’s in your heart is unacceptable to many, how brave will you be to do it anyway? The point I’m trying to make here is that living your truth may not be as easy as saying it and doing it.

Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

Have you ever lied by telling the truth? confused? consider this then: someone is asked are you doing what you need to and the response, ” well I have started”. It could be they have, but what they have started may have nothing to do with what they need to do. Therefore, another thing that may be preventing us from living our truth is that we are dishonest. We wake up everyday, live our lives and lie to ourselves. We focus so much sometimes on being in the right, being recognised for doing what is good, but we do not acknowledge that half the things we do are to impress others. One of the things I heard recently is the notion that in giving we are selfish. We do good sometimes because at the end of it all we hope to gain recognition or an award. We hope to be validated and it is a battle for us to do and not expect a reward; even a thank you. We often are painted the picture that in living your truth, there will be a drastic change for the better. And we learn the hard way that taking that direction may bring many challenges and defeats; even betrayals from those closest to us ( 1 Peter 4:4 Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you ). All that is drastic yes but initially or ever, do we see these as better than what was. We do not acknowledge that the world may see our truth as lies maybe because they are or because it does not align with the script on this worldly stage we were handed at birth. There are also many people we admire for having done wonderful things and gaining international recognition while living their truth. However, we may be surprised at how many minor fictitious roles having been buried beneath those polished images. Sometimes the truth for many is stranger than fiction (Lord Byron Don Juan 1823)and therefore while we feel we are operating in our truth, the truth is we may not be doing so. In order to live your truth you have to know your truth -not someone else’s – and embrace the good and the bad as being a part of you.

There is Freedom in the Truth

It’s so much easier to lie about the truth than it is to be honest. And let’s be honest, some people cannot handle the truth, no matter how much they tell you they can. It takes a lot of courage to live your truth because not all of who we are will be pleasing to others or even ourselves. We will constantly be faced with the need to revisit what our truth is because it will be challenged. The truth is that we will be uncertain many times about the direction we should follow, because we do not know. We may not know who we are and for the reminder of our lives we have to reaffirm this. But where is our source? I suggest that we try to be like that Samaritan woman at the well (St. John 4:5-42). Let us be truthful, open and honest about all aspects of who we are; the good, the bad and the ugly, but do not dwell in it. Take the opportunity given to you by God to be honest and grab your truth from the jaws of lives many defeats that have only slowed you down, but will never destroy you.

The only rule is that truth must empower you, make you better in every way possible

― Kamal Ravikant, Live Your Truth