POEM: Endurance

Sometimes pressure is a pleasure
but in most times, it's not...
While we treasure
some simple moments
when you have pain
it feels like it's forever constant
and sometimes even violent
to the point that it's potent
and you still can't figure out
the concept
because you are so in depth
it's so heart felt
that even when you wept
you still did not understand
the feelings that you kept
and even as your back is 'down wet'
and you hit the reset
button nothing matters anymore
because you've already
surpassed the score
and what's more
you endured the pain
and still see no gain
but yet you can't contain
the immense joy
in knowing that
you have survived
another day

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POEM: Checking the Score

While you may not always

get the score you desire

it doesn't mean that

you can reach for higher

You don't have to take

the offer from the first buyer

or accept when

anyone calls you a liar

instead you should

count your blessings

and remember

the old time sayings

that your grandparents

shared because they cared

they did not fear

for your life

instead they spoke

positivity despite the strife

so you need to open your sight

and open your ears

to hear what is being said

and give credit

where it's due

cause it's easy to say

you knew

we know it all

and yet can't find the solution

because we prefer to

live in confusion

and don't see that unity

not only brings harmony

but positivity and good energy

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Pet Peeve: Poor Customer Service

Some of the customer service issues in agencies are not the front-line people - it's the processes, management or lack of people or resources. Billing issues, agency line ringing to a voice messaging system which does not announce the agency, weeks for someone to respond to a simple email, sitting waiting for almost an hour before being attended to for a very simple matter. It's not good enough - it's irritating.

People say to complain but around here when you complain or get angry, people label you and ostracize you because they can't take criticism. Today, I let my anger get the best of me. Why should I have to sit in any agency looking at a numbering system (where you pull a number) for almost an hour before a number is called. When the number is called, it is only for you to pass your documents and then you still have to wait for your processing to be completed.

I think in this small community, things like this should be of the past. I don't know what the solutions are but what is in place cannot work. I find that this society thinks it's okay to lose time from living sitting in agencies for hours back and forth. Leave it to me and many services would be able to uploaded via email or online, and appointments set for in-person interview and collection of documents. 

It works for the US so why can't it work here. The front-line people are not the problem because they seem to try and they juggle a lot and take the hard words or attitudes from people like me. Well I couldn't have given anyone an attitude today because I was never served! I had to leave to attend to something else.

My blog is one forum to air my concerns while I build the courage to take it somewhere else. What I will do is work on improving customer service where I work so that people won't complain about my backyard too.

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My 11pm Rooser Call Has Deeper Meanings

A rooster crowing at 11pm is strange in my yard. I don't know who or what bothered it but I prefer the crowing in the morning. Now that's how life's challenges come. We would prefer for certain things not to happen at all or to happen when we think we are ready to deal with such. Everyone knows that is not the case. We all have to deal with failure, grief, misfortune, jealousy, and the breakdown of relationships. Sometimes, all of these happened concurrently leaving you with no room to rest or recover.

Maybe the rooster was disturbed or possibly offset by my blue light on the porch for Autism Awareness. Our neighbors sometimes do things that we don't like but in the spirit of brotherly love, we compromise and try to work along. I've already turned off the blue light and put on the regular one. The yard is quiet once again.

I find that I have been frustrated these past few weeks and I had to work through that to get myself back on track. I guess I'm like the rooster - disturbed for a moment but resettling. The frustrations are still there for me but I have to continue to mange the situations that I can and understand those that I cannot correct.

Life is not easy and most situations are not for the queasy but we have to persevere.



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There is hope....

There is truly a time for everything. I see happiness while I see people struggling. I personally have my struggles too. This is truly not a time to rejoice in another person's downfall. It is seriously today for me and tomorrow for you. Everybody gets a taste - that's what life is about.

It is important that I reiterate that we should not rejoice when we see someone fall. Instead, think about you being in that position. Criticism even when it is constructive can be harsh. I am seeing the struggles at all levels, genders and ages. We have to stand firm and pray for each other. This is not the time for pettiness because we have to love our brothers and sisters. We have to encourage them when they fall short. We have to remember that we also have faults.

While things may seem dark for a moment, there is hope. Rather than sit and hope -  pray, walk and do with faith. Make something good happen. Let us learn from the things that are happening around us so that we do not repeat the same mistakes.

As Pressure Buss Pipe sang in "Stand Firm": "Stand firm, be wise and open your eyes - it's the signs of the time, don't you be blind and realize".

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Time to Answer Back - in writing

If you have seen my blog, you would realize that I am not afraid to write. Where I get apprehensive is when I am angry and I need to send a correspondence to an agency. I have had to deal with tough and weird issues locally in the BVI, USVI, regionally and in the USA. When you are angry, it is best to calm down before you write or ask a friend to check it over.

There are some instances, like when you have a time limit, where you have to go with your instincts. I am the first to admit when I am wrong and sometimes I take the blame to keep the peace. However, when it is time to fight with words, I can give them to you - diplomatically or blunt but I always try to be thoughtful of the reader's reaction.

It's hard to be in tough situations especially when you have already lost a battle. However, I always feel that it is important to put your comments in writing. Never accept a loss without giving your side. I may not be liked for it but at least the record would reflect that my thoughts (if it is not thrown in the garbage).

I feel that you should stand up for yourself and speak out when there are issues. We never want to hurt a relationship but why should I stay hurt and not let my feelings be known. It's not about revenge but we too many times let people beat us and we do not answer back.

Be thoughtful of your reader but express what you have to say.

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Inside Out: The Message for All of Us

I like the movie Inside Out because it shows how we really act in life. We all want to be happy all the time and that just will not work. Life brings us varying days of anger, fear, disgust, joy and sadness, which were the emotions depicted. In that movie, Joy was the overpowering emotion who wanted to make everything right without looking at the big picture. I applaud her energy but the other emotions are just as important.

We all get angry whether it is with our family, at work or in traffic. The main thing with anger is managing it and channeling it the right way. Sometimes, we just have to show aggression when our views are not heard or when we are taken advantage of. In some cases, we just have to walk away and calm down, and then deal with the issue. You cannot get away from being angry but you do not have to be disrespectful or violent.

Fear is inevitable despite how some people will say that they are fearless. I am scared of tarantulas and just last week, I saw one in my yard. I got goosebumps and ran. Sometimes, I am fearful of speaking in front of crowds but I have worked on that over the years so it is not that bad. I think most people are fearful of failure and this really keeps us from excelling. However, you have to use your inner motivations to help you move forward.

Merriam-Webster defines disgust as a "marked aversion aroused by something highly distasteful". Disgust is one of the emotions that people do not often speak of. However, many of us turn up our noses at others in their situations. Disgust is needed for us to maintain certain ethics and standards such as cleanliness. We can use disgust to help our brothers and sisters when they are in tough situations.

Sadness is something that we cannot avoid. Sometimes you just have to cry to get over things. Frustration, loss of a loved one, problems on the job and other issues can make us sad. No one can live day to day without some level of sadness in their life. The world is in a tumultuous state and this is enough to make you sad. We all lose loved ones and we also get sick. We cannot internalize these feelings and just put on a front. While you may be sad for the moment, feeling and dealing with the emotion is essential to healing and trying to get over the situation. This is what Sadness brought out in the movie.

Joy is something that we all need despite our fears, sadness, anger and disgust. Joy can come from the little things like helping someone in need, remembering a cherished memory of someone who passed away, getting over a tough situation or overcoming a fear. Joy comes when you look for the positive and are thankful for the small blessings which are granted to you every day.

Inside Out was a cool movie that did catch me off guard. It was an animation that took a realistic slant despite it not being real, and I have to commend the writers. Remember to be in touch with your emotions and just try to live being your best. Every day is not going to be the same and if you are angry or sad, find someone to talk to so that you can vent. If you realize that you regularly feel sad, angry or fearful, you may need to speak to a professional.

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