In an emergency

Last month we had a fire at our home. It started when a curtain brushed against a candle and the fire spread very quickly. I am glad that damage was just minimal but in the few minutes of panic and in reflections after it had long gone out, I learned so much.When I told my friend about it , she mentioned to me that she had an 'emergency box' that contained a lot of vital information that she would reach for in an emergency. So I wondered to myself " What are the top 5 things I would try to save

What is your legacy ?

When we are in our teens we are excited about life and are consumed with having fun and getting schoolwork done. As we get older and we begin to consider career options, relationship options and other choices we have to make, we realise that what we select can make a difference in our lives as well as those of our children and other youngsters. When we get to 60 and older, we realise that our time left on the planet is getting shorter. Material things don't have as much priority as they used to

Virtual Clutter. That block to progress !

Many of us are good at clearing our desks and our closets. Maybe we don't do it as often as we would like but we know that it is necessary.We can all remember when we first connected our computers, phones and other devices. There was so much space. It seemed like we could never fill up that space that was available. Gradually, with all the emails coming in, solicited and unsolicited, the advertisements and the phishing scams, our inboxes became cluttered. If we were to check our storage, we wou

One day at a time

The past year has taught us so many lessons about ourselves, about life, about others and about the world.There were things that I used to fuss over and strain myself to get done, but over the last months, when I couldn't, I had to just let them go....and I am still ok.A lot of changes were taking place, some far away and some closer home, and even if they could be challenging, I had to just change my focus away from them.I am grateful that I learned to be calmer, deal with what I can manage, e

That time of year in Jamaica

Yes. It is that time of year when people all over the world get together and celebrate family, religion, cultural practices. It is also the time of year when people review the year that is closing out, analyse the wins and the losses, and make some resolutions for the approaching year.I live on an island called Jamaica. Unlike many persons who are cloaked in sweaters and boots at this time, we are walking around in tees and flip flops. This year the beaches are closed and the Christmas markets

Your answer might just be in a book

Reading has its place and it is an activity that should never be overlooked. I am coming from an age where my sisters and I used to go to the library and enjoy reading time at home.Years ago, when my life was in a spin, and when all the places I thought I could find what I was looking for didn't help, I felt let down. Then one day while walking in a bookstore and saw a book that had almost the exact title of what was bothering me. When I bought the book and took it home, I was shocked to know

Don't you ever forget !

I got out of bed one night, reached for my eye glasses and headed towards the light switch. Before I could get there, the glasses fell from my hand and with all the fumbling around on the ground, I could not find it. The room was pitch dark and suddenly I remembered a blind woman I saw earlier in the day wending her between the commuters, all the way down the street with her white cane.I think we take our eyesight for granted. Can you imagine going through your days not being able to see what c

Why you need to read a book !

When I was growing up, my mom saw to it that there was time set apart for us, children, to read. We went to the library on Saturday mornings and we were free to choose anything we liked. That habit of reading has served me well over the years.Within the many volumes of books are biographies, fiction and non fiction accounts and for every individual there is a discussion that would interest him/her in some book. Some people like those large volumes while some prefer a quick read while travelling

Are you grounded ?

With all the news swirling around, and all the many changes to daily routines, there are some people who absorb it all and get so fearful and stressed out. In the same situation there are others who are affected but seem to be able to cope and stay balanced through it all. It makes sense that we get grounded and stay grounded and take care of ourselves. There are many ways that keep you that way : regular prayer and meditationplay your favourite sportaerobic exercises to remove stress via your

No Multitasking !

We have so many things to get done, and so little time. We have found ourselves in a generation in which everyone wants you to deliver right now, or better still, yesterday. So how do we react ? We try to do five times the amount of work in a short time, doing several things at a time. Parents with young kids know exactly what I am talking about. Wholesalers, retailers who are trying to keep customers happy do this everyday. Then there are the online entrpreneurs who sit in front of that comput