You're not a good girl
you are not nice
today
you made mistakes
today
you're not a good girl.
You did not smile
most days
say hello
with a smile on your face
you got nothing done
you are not good.
you have done
nothing right
for a good while
no good
you are not good.
you told a lie
last night
today -
you caused offense -
disrepected
disappointed
you are not good.
Can I be human?
Tag: peace
Snake Plant!
Yes, the snake plant. With a name like this, you would think this plant has some venomous poison or in some other way detrimental to your health. I certainly would not expect it to have as many benefits as I discovered it has. Certainly, the other name, Mother-in-Law’s tongue, sounds no better. Many a wife has complained about their mother-in-law being “infuriating”, “Judgemental” “overbearing” and other wonderfully evocative adjectives. Though, I must concede that I have heard about some wonderful mother-in-laws so the bad ones may be in the minority. Who knows! The point is the names associated with this plant would not immediately endear you to it. That is until you do some more digging to find out there are many benefits to this unlikely plant.
In Jamaica, I have always noticed these plants, because they are everywhere, but did not really consider them worth my time. They seemed to grow wildly, with little attention and certainly little encouragement given. They did not seem as useful as many other plants around and certainly not as beautiful – in my estimation at least. So imagine my surprise, when someone at church told me that they had some use! I had to find out more. What I found out, made me a lover of this plant instantly, and even here, in this cold far-flung Isle, I never stopped looking until one day with little effort on my part (not surprisingly), God produced one for me!
These green and yellow spiked hair-raising plants had some serious mojo. Known as “Sansevieria trifasciata“, they are “native to Asia and Africa” and have several health benefits. Who knew that plants could affect your physical and mental health like this plant! Not me. According to Common Sense Gardening, they require little care (though may God help the one I have because I have already killed a cactus, taking care of it!) and therefore a great plant for the most amateur of plant lovers. However, this is not the secret to their magic. No, it is not!. What makes them miraculous? Well, they can filter the air, and remove toxic pollutants, imagine them supplying oxygen for your personal top-up, while absorbing CO2 at night, benzine, Formaldehyde (CH2O) and more. They may be able to boost your mental health, help with minor ailments, and be effective against allergies, among other things. Now, maybe this sounds too good to be true but I have had them in Jamaica and they certainly did not hurt me. As a matter of fact, I slept better and felt more revitalised in the mornings! Added to this is the fact that there are several sources, which list similar benefits of the plant, so it’s a win-win situation. God is truly amazing right?!
So why am I rambling on and on about snake plants? Well, get one and see what it can do for your mental and physical well-being. Why not, what do you have to lose?
Peace is Priceless
After many years of wrestling with this, I have finally concluded that peace is priceless. No amount of money, accolades or accomplishments can beat having peace. To get up each day knowing that the smallest thing will bring you joy is peace. A job you love may be hard and you may make mistakes but each day you want to work, you want to challenge yourself to do your best for that day. That is peace. To feel the freedom to be yourself, your true authentic self that is peace. No one has predetermined your worth or has decided they know who you are but are willing to concede that there are layers to you, that is peace. When you can sleep a deep deep sleep and wake up knowing you are ready for the day, that is peace.
It seems that finding peace is harder than it seems. Many of us can only grudgingly sing: “When peace like a river attendeth my way when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, “It is well, it is well with my soul”. No, it is not well with my soul, because people have a way of imposing themselves and their expectations on you and making your life a living hell. In hell, let me remind you there is no peace, joy or contentment. So earth becomes hell because when you try to reach beyond your means and the expectations of others the chains imposed seem to strangle you, rip the breath from you and smack you to your knees. But you look around and people still expect you to function and not malfunction but they are your malware.
We are too hard on ourselves and too hard on each other. But society tells us this is okay and so we have vampirous leeches in the form of each other, who suck and tug the air breathe. So, going back to peace; it can only be achieved when we say no to unfounded expectations and the violations from the expectations we seek from questionable sources. Peace is necessary but elusive in a world that glorifies wars. We feel alive when we wage war, how ironic because war means certain death. We are not satisfied with the mundane, where peace resides. No, we have to reach past the safe and choose violence instead. Do you see how hard it is for peace to permeate? I spent all paragraphs on violence, conflict and oppression.
Peace is priceless. It is better to have peace than riches but society says to get it at any cost, even your peace of mind. Society is not satisfied with letting you be, it tries to fix you until your insides become your outside and your outside disappears. Again, I have digressed from extolling the virtues of peace. Even in these few words is little evidence of peace. But best believe, peace is priceless.
Peace
Peace Like an avenging angel from the east, bright blue light streaks across the evening sky. It comes unanounced unforseen and discreet to spread a blanket of comforting signs. No place is too far, deep, high or wide that it cannot reach, it must tear down diseased despair, Peace: my peace I give to you. So no fear can reach from anxieties you are released, just believe that you have received this gift so precious so vital to your increase.
Smile Through Them Tears
Smile Through Them Tears Yes, I know it hurts, I know you are raw from being beaten too long and too much. I know you are stiff already set in the grave your lips refuse to move when you are at the edge of the cliff. I know the rain has left you to gallivant somewhere else to bless and bring success to somebody else. I know you can't stop them anymore. So cry if you want to let it flow down and cover your view of possibilities. Get it all out, who knows, it may stop the drought and the doubts. Then maybe you can go about the business you came here to do.
Shame of Pride
Shame of Pride
I hang my head in shame
a shame milady.
Beaten by the truth.
Pride.
The deadlest of all sins.
Hubris leads me to my nemesis.
No it's not a good thing
I now fear looking within
my very soul is in the balance
waiting at the gallows.
I must pull it back
and cage this monster that sits atop my head.
Who is greater than God?
No man!
Today I will learn
that i am not.
To think otherwise
will set you down low.
Instead I must cling to my shipwrecked raft
drifting
praying to be saved.
I must be saved from drowining.
I have not choice
with Pride I carry the shame of Icarus.
Grant Us Peace
Grant Us Peace I know how it feels when the arrow pierces your skin hits bone and goes deeper within piercing the very soul. I have cried out in anguish throat raw with blood choking in the blood from remember what has been. I have died a little each time I realise life doesn't get easier because you will it so or because you think you know the heart of your most loved brethren. I have woken many nights with blood shot-eyes after seeing the mangled bodies of innocent lambs slaughtered just because of man and man. I know of bone chilling things that languishes without and within of a trauma filled void growing wider and deeper it seems. I have tasted the petrifingly dark taste of putrid flesh as it melts away from the wasted. So in this hour, another dark moment a constant threat that will be filled with many regret. Grant us Peace!
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