Peeling the Onion - the Need to Smile, the Weirdness and Life

I know what I like and I'm guessing that you know what you like. I love to laugh - I'm sorry but I enjoy a good joke. Now, my sense of humor may be a little off but I don't think that it's crass or derogatory. I love comedy and I just enjoy laughing. As you think about the movie, Shrek, Shrek said that "Ogres are like onions" and I guess everyone is that way. We all have our ways and layers.

I think that I have bought into the "laughter helping you age better" trend of thought. Hey, I sometimes consider myself a "Conspiracy Theorist" so I'm technically like the "weird relative". You may wonder why all the quotation marks and you may even consider the words and phrases as cliches. Unfortunately or fortunately, I am the "odd man out". The good thing is that I am cool with that. Life is about loving yourself - not gloating or boasting about your bad ways - but accepting the intricate little parts that make you - YOU! In turn, we work on our bad ways so that others can not only tolerate us - but accept us.


I am the introvert and the extrovert. I love helping people and I am a lover of a "win-win" situation. I want to see people thrive. Yes - call me the "hopeful optimist" and yes I do believe that we all have our good ways that can outweigh our issues. I'm not claiming to be perfect or even pretending to be - I just want to be me. I'm going to get mad and I will show it - sorry, I can't hide emotion. However, I can bounce back - I'll try to!

After facing a Category 5 hurricane which ripped into my house and throughout the territory, I am thankful for the ability to smile and to witness the greatness of God's love. I love the little things - the butterflies although I despise their metamorphosis - as the caterpillars eat my pumpkin and tomato leaves. However, I understand the importance of pollination; so yes I fuss, but nature has to go through its cycle.

So as I go through my life cycle as God grants me time, I remain thankful for my blessings and I will keep smiling...and laughing too because I do love a good joke!

Ribbon 

First Blog Post after Irma and for 2018

This is my first blog post since Hurricane Irma. I published a series of Irma Chronicles on Facebook to provoke thought and bring light moments to my friends. I missed blogging and there is so much to say and share.

However, I want to focus today on just enjoying the simple things. Today was a weird day and I saw happy and sad faces. The voices also reflected the varying emotions. I found that taking a walk with a friend really made a difference. The problems are still there and must be dealt with but a little music, looking at my beautiful tomatoes or hearing some funny story from my children helps a lot.

Taking that walk also brought to mind the devastation that the BVI suffered; however, it also helped me to reflect on what I need to do to get my house in order (literally). I've been gardening but home improvement is next!

Be inspired, be encouraged and look for the positive things!

Ribbon

An Interesting Summer

This summer has been an interesting one - Festival cancelled, devastating flood, community clean-up and entrepreneurship. Those events/phenomenon may all seem far and apart but they are all linked. The flood caused the cancellation of festival which was in the best interest of the territory. I do not feel good for those entrepreneurs who would have suffered because or the rain and cancellation but I support our leaders for making that decision in the best interest of the people. the country and our safety.

It was good seeing the community come together to clean up the rubble and dust. It was not easy task. I was babysitting so I was unable to throw a hand; however, when an opportunity came, I gave a hand to an acquaintance. I look at it as every small shovelful that I lifted eased the task of those who can lift more.

In relation to entrepreneurship, I see enthusiasm in the youth. Those in my circle are trying - I see their passion and realize that guidance and encouragement have to be given. They have bright futures and we have to nurture their ideas while guiding them and teaching them basic business principles.

We have lots to do and a long way to go but working with each other is the way to go. With our youth, we have to treat each one like our child - give them and show them love!

When We are Wrong

It is not easy to admit when we are wrong. I think it's worse to know that we are wrong and still hold our ground. I always try to take correction with the aim of bettering myself and my performance. I don't always agree with the directive given, but unless I have evidence or my conviction is so strong, I follow suit.

I believe it is harder to take correction when you have a leading position. However, there is no shame in it. As you mature, you will know that even your child can tell you that you are wrong. It's funny how easy it is to correct others and yet, we are unable to admit when we are wrong. What's worse is that we are now living in a culture where people are afraid to let us know that we are wrong. So errors become the norm because we are either afraid to speak out or we take joy in seeing the other person looking like a fool.

I've seen situations with utter chaos because people were afraid to lose a friendship/link and because of political affiliations. Correction does not mean reprimand or shame or hurt - it's mean something was not right and needs to be fixed.

As you take your daily journey, look personally at where you can improve and correct issues. Be humble and open to listen so that you can benefit from the advice that you will receive along the way.

Ribbon

The Change in Me

I see a lot of things that concern me and some that bother me too. These are not battles for me to fight or concern myself to much with. I just notice things, behaviors and trends and shake my head. I am only one person, and I stand for what I believe in and I believe in what I stand for. I see an infiltration in what I know to be right and what should be valued and it's quite striking these days.

To stand out in today's world, we have to be strong - not wrong, but strong. It takes a lot not to blend in and not to follow 'fashion'. I don't want to compromise my values or throw my feelings away. I hurt inside when I mess up and I can't afford to mess around with the status quo and get caught up or 'catch feelings'. 

As I watch from the sidelines, I want to stand resilient, hardworking, dedicated and delighted to serve. I want to stand firm with my choices once they are leaning towards the right. I want to be able to take correction and learn from my mistakes. I want to be a better person, more understanding and less likely to complain. I want to make great choices and be a role model for others to follow.

Ribbon

POEM: Who has the Rights?

We share the environ

and this has been so for eons

we balance off of each other

predator, carnivore and herbivore

back then coexistence was obvious

but today, we seem oblivious

because it's a battle

it's a fight

it's a war

and it goes on day and night

struggle for space

quarrel for food

security can't manage it

the government ignores it

and the people are frustrated

this subject is debated

and when you talk

you are hated

or they call you ill-fated

because you can't afford

or they think that you hoard

but it's yours!

who really has the rights?

the laws were written

with one in mind

and up to now - 

no one can find

a solution

I guess because it's not 

big pollution

or won't get anyone a

promotion

no one cares

and if I dare speak

I may be home for a week

in a country where

ruminants have more rights than people

Everybody thinks that Leadership is Easy

Everybody thinks that leadership is easy. We take issue with many things that our leaders do. We have leaders in our homes, in church, at work and in the various organizations that we are a part of. As a leader, you have to plan to win and accept that you will fail sometimes.

It is easy for a leader to get to get an attitude and be defensive when things do not go according plan. If you have an attitude, no one is going to be willing to approach to comment or give you advice. This attitude that we get - does not get us anywhere. Things have to go wrong - that's life. Sometimes you have to admit that you made a bad decision. Everyone is not going to agree or support your initiatives - that's part of the learning process.

It gets very sad when leaders are not open to listening because it means that they cut themselves off from development. We have to be able to listen so that we can grow. We have to be humble, yet firm. There is no need to be on the strong defensive line and have no offensive plays to score. Offensive of course is a funny word in this paragraph because we don't want to be offensive as in insulting; but we want to play some offense - get the ball in motion and score.

In everything, advance with little steps because eventually, you will see the big win.