Let's Read

The Alchemist was an excellent choice to read as my first book for the challenge. Not only was it short, it was exciting and resonated well with me.

The second book was selected by someone who  I admire and is an inspiration to me. I met this man a couple of months ago, and from day one his energy has been infectious. The wonderful Sean M. Field suggested Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield.

Oddly enough I know the third book I'm going to read. I wanted to wait until I was finished reading the book I had before I asked the next person, but I came across the Canada Reads 2015 Options and a few of them caught my eye. But the next book to read is from the Best Books of 2014 list - The Back of The Turtle by Thomas King. There's something about the Indigenous American culture especially their worldview that I connect with. I feel like I must read this book. So it will be my next choice.

Happy Holidays and happy reading all!

Different

It's been a very long time since I've typed a blog post. Maybe I will, maybe I won't revive the blog. Regardless, I wanted to put some ponderings down on electronic paper. I don't even know if people, apart from the governments, read this.

I've began a reading challenge that hopefully will not die. At least for 2015, every month I am going to read at least one book. Each month I am going to ask one trusted friend to suggest one book that friend believes I should read. It can be a book on anything. I will try my level best to complete the book. I'm also assuming that if they think I SHOULD READ THIS BOOK then I will have no problem reading the book.

Book #1 for this personal challenge is The Alchemist.

 So far, it's a very lovely book. It definitely makes me happy to start this personal challenge.

Sometimes you have to do something different. Different doesn't have to be extravagant. Different just has to be...different.

Serenity Prayer

by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) 

 

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.

Inspiration In Many Forms

I used to dance. I think back to when I restarted my dance training and how difficult it was for me. Relearning everything I once knew, and knowing that I wasn't as bad as I was overwhelmed me. I danced and became better; learnt new things and grew, and that made me elated.

Unfortunately, I have stopped again. I am scared about dancing but I know for my sanity and health, it's the best thing I can do. I need to take some sort of dance training. The sooner the better.

Although I am sad that I currently don't dance, watching dance videos inspire me to be the best I can be in whatever I do. I don't feel like I am suppose to just drop everything and find a way to dance. Oddly, it makes me think about my desire to be an environmental educator and urges me on to develop myself to enter and soar in that field. The positive energy from the dance in internalized and my mind says this positivity can be applied here, here and here. The motion does awaken a desire to move physically, but it also urges me to follow my dream.

Inspiration comes through in many ways. Let life inspire you to follow your dreams.

I Dream

I dream of love.

As the old time love songs play on (because really this new age "love song" isn't talking about the same type of love as the old age love song) I can't help but think I dream of love. A love that is tried and true, honest and strong. I dream of a love that isn't found perfect but is made perfect through hard work, patience and God's mercy.

Often I wonder if I will ever find such love, or I wonder if the one I am to love and be loved by has been met. My mind is always in overdrive, especially when this topic rolls around. I wonder if I was even raised to be successful in love. Who knows. Who knows.

In the meantime, I dream of love.

The Countdown Begins!

A few weeks ago I was so excited for the new year. I wanted to go out and dance the night away after watching fireworks from my Dad's house of course (I mean the view is literally breath-taking). But in the last 48 hours I've gone from "WOOHOO!! PARTY TIME!" to "frig new years" (my usual new years attitude) to a solemn one should be appropriate.

These last few months have been crazy for me and I think the best thing to do for 2014 to usher in my needed mindset is to do some much needed reflection. The plotting and scheming will be done while walking to work as the feet are lead by autopilot. If I do go out, trust me I ain`t gonna be mad! But before I go out and dance the year into being I want to take some time and ground myself.

I feel like rambling on, but hey, it`s new years eve or as we say in the Caribbean Old Years Night. Thank you for reading. I wish you security, lovingkindess, wholeness and peace in the new year.

Best wishes,
_V

Saving Some Mulaaaaaa!

A friend shared this on Facebook and I thought well this should be interesting!!

I'm even thinking maybe it could be done in reverse as well, start with $52 and work down to $1. But either way let's give it a try!!

_V

A Look Back

It's December and I'd like to pretend I am able to look back all the way from January at my most memorable moments this year...the truth I can't remember that far back on my own. Maybe if I have a conversation with some friends their memories will help to fill in mine and vice versa. I should try to change that in the new year. Oh well.

There are a few moments I remember quite vividly this past year that are worth celebrating:

• I graduated from university! Earlier in the year I would have said "I finally graduated from university" but I think that is a fairly negative statement to make about myself. Instead I am choosing to change the tone of the sentence and be more positive, celebrating the journey as well as the destination. See what I did there. The power is in your hand to be positive or negative about life's situations.
• I was able to celebrate my 26th birthday with family and friends, creating some lovely memories and laughter.
• I participated in a community dance project with a famous Montreal based dancer (so grateful for the opportunity!! Still rather excited about it). To get feedback about my dancing and to even learn about myself as a person, not just a dancer was amazing.
• I had to deliver some very sad news to many loved ones. But even in a time of sorrow, happy memories were made. Went to my first baseball game! Pretty lovely experience. Next goal is a hockey game. Even if I may not be able to see the puck I'm sure I'll have a grand time hahaha.
• This I took a plane and did not shed a tear. Every time I fly I always, always always always cry on the flight especially during take off and landing. One of the hardest flights to take because I had to pack up my life and move unexpectedly and not necessarily to greener pastures or better opportunities, but I did it and shed not one tear. I know the next flight I take I'll be asked to get off the plane because I'll be crying so much hahahaha. Jokes.
• I celebrated my first Saint Lucian Christmas after 5 years of being away from home. What a wonderful experience just being with family and family friends.
• Believe it or not, I had my first bite of black cake in my life this year. Still don't think I'll be eating it like crazy but hey, I tried it.

Those are just some of the many awesome and difficult things I had to deal with this year. I am thankful for all that happened and pray that 2013 closes peacefully. I also pray that 2014 opens with a grand celebration even if only mentally, for I know it is going to be a fabulous year for me!

Cheers

_V

Be Careful. Be Wise

One of the other thoughts that have been rolling around my head while typing my comeback post was that of receiving and seeking advice.


I recently tweeted that as a single woman I have decided to no longer give my friends in relationships advice. It makes perfect sense to me though. A friend who was/is (I really don't know his status to be honest) was the one who posted something similar on Facebook.

Why would you take relationship advice from a single person. After all look at their situation/circumstance.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that persons in relationships are to judge persons who are single (don't be judging me now!) but let's be logical. It's true you love your girl friend and she gets you but she gets single you, the you you were possibly before you got into the relationship. When you're in relationship true you're suppose to be yourself, but you also should compromise and all that other jazzy stuff. Try to work things out. Be respectful. You know what I'm trying to say. A single person easily says bleep it, I'm gone. Why are you trying to control me. I just wanna be freeeeeeeee!!! Okay, maybe not all single people, but you catch my drift.

The reason why I decided to shut my mouth and hold my corner was because I love my friends and want the best for them. If a friend comes to me and asks for my advice about relationship related things I tend to ask a lot of questions before I answer. And even when I answer I usually have my disclaimer "This is coming from a single woman who has spent that vast majority of her entire LIFE single."

I recently was in a situation and needed relationship advice (I'm still single for the record). When it came down to it, based on what I wanted I decided to ask a male friend who has been in a relationship for a few years for his advice. The advice he gave may have come from a single friend, but it may not have.

Think about where you want to be and seek advice from those who are where you want to be. If you aspire to be dentist, you won't ask a tattoo artist how to get there. Food for thought.

_V

Dusting off the cobwebs

It has been a long time since I used this blog. As new technologies and apps come out good ol' faithfuls get pushed to the side I must admit. A friend of mine is responsible for this post actually (big up yourself Nikita hahaha). She said she missed reading my posts so I thought hmm maybe I should write again. Then came the big question - what do I write about?

I sat with my laptop and typed then cleared the screen then typed and cleared multiple times. Ideas that seemed great popped into my head and by the time I got home or got to the laptop to start typing they didn't seem that hot again. So I wrote nothing. What's different this time? Well, I don't know to be honest. Even as I'm typing I'm wondering if when I stop I'll just erase it all again or not. A waste of time? Not really. Gets the cobwebs out and the machine oiled up again. Or so I think.

There are quite a few things on my mind right now and as I babble on as per usual I'm trying to decide what to start with. Hmmmmmmmmm...I think I'll choose this:


December is a month of celebration. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, eating, drinking and being merry or as close to merry as possible. As December comes to a close we begin to prepare for our fresh start, the big New Year! where we believe we get to wipe our board clean and start again. I think I may have said it here before but I generally loathe New Years. I always hear Celine Dion singing in my ears a new year is dawning and what have you done? Oh hush up Celine! I know I haven't really done anything. I know I'm not where I want or should be in life. I never understand why people always feel so excited for the new year. Maybe it's because in my reflection of where I want to go I look at where I have been and realised I haven't moved much. But every so often (at least once until now) I actually feel excited and happy about the new year. I feel that buzz inside of me where I think what am I doing for new years? I want to go out or I just want to celebrate! This coming year maybe it's the heavens saying I told you I got a plan for you! It's going to come into action, but I'm excited. I am looking forward to the celebration.

I don't do resolutions. I believe that if you want to change something do it the moment you think of it. I wanna eat better and get fit. Do it now! Waiting until January 1st to start eating more salad with less dressing, less starchy foods and more fiber won't work. If you think of it June 29th do it then. Each day is a new year. I do however, believe in plans! I think the reason why I am so excited for the new year is because of the plans I have in store for myself. Taking my fitness training to another level excites me. I'm not waiting for January 1st to start saving for my course. No. The moment I heard about the course and decided yes this is for me I started saving towards it. By the time the new year arrives I'll be well on my way to achieving my goal and that makes it even better. By using this head start I achieve a goal sooner and it almost seems easier. This keeps me motivated and moving forward.

There are a few other things on my mind, but I think I'll save them for another post or two. But leave a comment and let me know if you do resolutions. What are your goals for 2014? And are you looking forward to the new year?

Till you read again,
Au revoir!

_V