Adjustments and Adventures

So things are looking up, one more exam to go yay! I can say work this semester has been pressure but I have enjoyed almost all the moments of being a University student and as far as first years go, it has been fun.

Biggest thing of all about the first year of university is adjusting to life on your own. I won't say I was cuddled at home, chores and rules played a major role in my life but atleast on the meal front my mom and dad had that covered, and covered excellently I might add :> excellent cooks the both of them and I'm not just saying that, there are others who bare witness to that fact.

It was also the adjusting to life on hall, it can be very exciting, the parties, the comraderie,hanging out and making new friends and all that but it also has some restrictions in that your presence is required at all meetings, people expect you to lead the way by appearing at events and stuff along those lines.

And of course the big one, living with atleast fifty other people in one house, who don't always know how to clean up after themselves in a kitchen. For the first semester I lived off of microwave food because I can't handle cooking in a kitchen where other people mess it up and I'm not taking a plate here or a cup there, I mean a full out mess...EWWWW

Its really good that I had this experience though. I know I can be independent,  Being a twin it was important for me to know this, I haven't been away from my sister for more than a week, before this experience and we still talk regularly, she is still my bestest friend in the whole world. And I also know that I am able to ask for help should I need it.

Well all I can say is, for those who haven't experienced life on your own, take a vacation by yourself for about two weeks, most people leave home to move in directly with a boyfriend or girlfriend but you need the time alone to see how you manage it, and then you can live with someone else easier.

So take a risk in your life at some point, shake up your routine, dye your hair, go meet someone new if you can, just do something adventurous and life your life for one moment and shake it up . To that note, what is the most adventurous thing you have done for the betterment of yourself?

Here's to positive people.

Ups...And Sadly, Downs

I know..its been a while since I've been here so let me just say Happy Easter season to those who acknowledge it and if you don't...hope you had an awesome couple of weeks.

So last time I posted I was missing home...guess what..I still am but not for long yay! Exams begin tomorrow and after that I'm just a bus and plane away from landing in mostly sunny, sometimes rainy Barbados! WHOOHOO!

However, despite my joy this post is about handling disappointments, the post before my last, Time, Time,Time, spoke about the how stressfully filled my time was, running all over the place etc etc. Most of the hard work came from organizing a trip for my classmates to Barbados...I spent all semester trying to organize events and people from here in Jamaica, then running all around Montego Bay, meeting with people and like I said generally stressing myself ( not that I didn't like it, I love being super busy, pushes me to achieve) but what I absolutely can't stand, is wasted time.

So after all of that, the classmates, let me stress that again, THE CLASSMATES AND NOT ME!, did what I never even considered doing...and that is CANCEL THE TRIP.

Sigh, I have never been so disappointed in my life. *moment of silence*

Alas, to this day I am still not clear as to why they did it...but its done.

So how did one handle such a situation of months worth of hard work down the drain...i counted to ten, said a prayer, complained to the persons closest to me and walked away...

Sounds so simple...in fact in my head I invented the dictionary of revolutionary curse words to express what I wanted to say to the class...

Let me back track, the reason I got so upset..I did all the work up to three weeks ago, which means I have been working on it from January, the class started to become involve three weeks ago and then started giving input on things to change etc etc...so basically things where on track....and the tutor was like "Skye you can't do it all yourself" which lead to me taking suggestions and stuff started to go downhill...mainly because plans where in motion then changed.

I'm not saying how I handled my disapointment will work for you, infact, that approach rarely works for me, I usually tell the person they wasted my time..but walking away from it all and complaining about it made it easier to focus on all the other things I had going on... and while I may not like it I will have to work with them again so in the back of my head alienating them did not seem like the best course of action for future contact.

So in short, when you are disappointed asset the situation, wont be easy but try, and handle it in the least harmful way to you first and by extension, the least harmful  way to maintaining the kind of relatioinship you want to have with the person or persons who disappointed you.

And always find some way to vent it out...bottling things inside you makes for a big explosion later in your future.

By the way, how do you handle the big disappointments in your life?

Here's to positive people.

Missing home(a break from the regular posting)

Yay yay yay! The semester is winding down, I went out today and bought my ticket for the four hour long drive from Montego Bay to Kingston so that I can take a three hour flight home at the end of this month...can I get a HALLELUJAH!

I am not saying I don't like Jamaica...it's easy to get that impression especially since I'm the only person to book a ticket for the bus(three weeks in advance) or so the sales person told me...I do like the country and for the most part it's people...but there is NO place like home..and I do mean NO place.

Jamaica is a country that is rich in culture and being here experiencing first hand the way of life, it is ok but with hickups like any country. I enjoy the time I spend here...that doesn't mean I don't miss the 'Gem of the Caribbean.'

Barbados is tiny...only 166sq miles...doesn't take four hours to get anywhere (lol) and it is one of the most relaxing places I know. And I'm not just saying this, I've traveled extensively through out the Caribean, I've been to St. Lucia, Guyana, Dominica, Trinidad, St. Kitts, St. Vincent and of course Jamaica, and there is always a "Caribbean Vibe of friendliness and togetherness" wherever I go, and not being biased, but Barbados always gives a little more 'oomph'... a feeling that everyday should be spent sitting with friends and family just hanging.

Its a tourist island, it is our biggest revenue, but as a tourist you never feel it, we as a people love to make everyone feel at home. Sure people will try to put on an accent and encourage you to spend your vacation money pampering yourself with things from the island, but don't think that's all the country is about, just that the people have to eat too.

 Oh how I miss it so (in case no one caught on yet :->)

Now, I can't write about Barbados and not address all that is happening between my home and the place in which I reside in now, the cases of abuse by immigration officers(if you haven't read the stories click here and here, this will give a look at the situation from the Barbadian and Jamaican media perspectives).

I have no idea what is true or not, I AM NOT PICKING SIDES .


I will say this, DO NOT BLAME THE ACTIONS OF A FEW ON AN ENTIRE COUNTRY.

It is ridiculous the things people are saying, the facebook pages that are created. Living in Jamaica, was/isn't a bad experience but people are threatening to make it so, getting heated whenever the topic is raise and I almost get the sense that I shouldn't say I'm from Barbados, even if I've done nothing wrong.

I implore people not to let stupidity breed stupidty.

Barbados is not the hostile place that people make it out to be, the bad that is being highlighted is not the overall feel of the country, we are a friendly people and if you have not experienced it then wait until you do before you pass judgement.

Barbados, my home, I miss ya!

Time...Time..Time

Hi guys, it has been one wicked last couple of days.

I am one of those people who get off on leading hectic lives. I love to complain to close ones about how my workload is killing me and secretly I get a thrill from knowing that no matter what I have on my plate, it's gonna get done. I'm studying at university and had some exemptions I opted to take from the mass communication degree I had from college. So, even though I'm in my first year of university, I'm doing year 2 work...as well as first year work...confusing I know..on the bring side I graduate in 2 years instead of 3...yay!

Let me break down the last couple of days, the things I have going that all have to be done by the end of the semester..which ends in 5 weeks: (imagine a tv show, with montage music playing and everything in warped speed)

School:
a communitcation auidt- group project
a community development proposal- group project
a communication plan proposal
language argument essay
revision for exams

1st year class activities- trip to Barbados (my beautiful home)
planning for raffle sale
planning for fashion show and after party
organizing all the details in Barbados from Jamaica(where I am now)

Campus activities:
Applied(and running unopposed) for the Public Relations Officer on the Campus Committees

Whew...all of this in addition to attending 5 classes between Monday to Wednesday and a 2 sometimes 4 hour class on Saturday. Different meetings, with different groups...

The trick for the millions of us out there is to manage our time, as hectic as your life becomes and as much as you feel there isn't enough time in the day, never despair, being focused and sticking to your time alloted for each item plays a big part to you not crashing under the pressure.

For the most part, I'm on top of everything. The group projects are my worst enemy when there's so much other stuff to study about because a lot of our public relation group work is dependent on the work other people do. Example: if I'm in charge of designing brochures or flyers and someone else is in charge of research, while I can do some of the research to help that person, ultimately I'm dependent on that person to get their information to me on time. Not always the case, people's time schedules don't always coincide because people may have just that one task to focus on and others have 20 that are more or less running the same time.

So my message today, is be considerate to yourself, manage your time to allow for life's obstacles and no matter how hectic life becomes it's abit easier to cope. WARNING: sleep derivation may still occur.

Here's to positive people!

Who You Be?

What I am vs. what I want to be...oh no...when did what should I be get in there?!

Sounds confusing like that but it's all about knowing yourself. The WHAT you are is easy to figure out. Look at your life. Can you describe yourself in three words...one for your work life, social life and for your relationship life? Example: mine would be 1. persevering 2. outgoing and 3. committed

From those words I know I like to get the job at hand done, hang with my friends and meet new people and I know that I want my  relationship to last.

Are these things I WANT to be(yes)...are you the person you want to be? For me, I think I'm on my way to where I want to be....I have more to achieve to get to where I want to be.

So after evaluating what you are, think of your goals. Is the path you are  on going to help you achieve those goals, to get you where you really want to be? 


Now is the tricky part...what SHOULD you be? This question has no bearing in my opinion...this question is create by people that surround you and who think they should have a say in your life. It can be parents, partners or society.

If you are poor you should be fast food employee( not knocking that profession just going on what the media portrays) if your parents have a business you should carry on the legacy...and so on and so on...

The what should I be question is one that only comes into play if you are comfortable with other people running your life, might as well be a robot.

So what are you?..what do you want to be? if you ever ask yourself what should I be, I believe the answer is "I should be what I want to be!"

It's a cycle of questions that only ends when the question what I am has the same answer as the question what I want to be.

The cycle begins again when you ask yourself 'what am I' and the answer is different to what you want to be.

It is confusing but oh so necessary. Finding yourself is crucial to you being on track to success. It also means that once you have achieved success you wont let it change you.

I think Emienm says it best 'I be what I set out to be without a doubt undoubtedly.'

Here's to positive people!

Are You Glad?

Life is so funny sometimes, things that cause you some sort of discomfort...can sometimes make you laugh. Maybe because if you don't laugh depression can visit your personal space for a while.

It is so easy to let dread take you over, if you end up in a situation you are unfamiliar with, big fights with family members or significant others or just a really bad day at the office. 

Well, I have a remedy to it, and I got it from so long ago when I read the book-was a classic- *Pollyanna* Its a story about an orphan and her adventures. In it she had a game called the 'Glad Game'

When things were at it's lowest, just fill in this blank and say 'I am glad because......' And it helps so much!

When I feel sad... I'm glad that I at sometime I will find a nice, cold soft drink because the bubbles make me smile lol. I'm glad I have people in my life who aren't as annoying as the rest of the world and I am glad that I have a teddybear named Dino who is very,very huggable. (yes I'm 20 not 02...don't ever let go of your childhood completely) :-)

Try it today, when things feel bad...just be glad.

Here's to positive people! (What are you glad about in your life?)

Let's Do the Taboo

 What are you waiting for..it's easy;people do it all the time...what's the worse that can happen.. just open up and do it...

You know..let's COMMUNICATE!

*round of applause* Don't listen to the lies..it's not easy and it's definitely not taboo.

Well, I should say communicating anything of worth, is not easy. So much comes into play..such as your level of comfort with the topic or person you will be communicating with, reasons for wanting or more importantly needing to communicate and or your ability to make yourself clear.

So your comfort... if you are a shy person, talking to your significant other (S.O) about sex, money, our family plans (kids etc) is not an easy conversation to have, but those are three major causes for failing relationships. Either someone isn't receiving their sexual satisfaction or you are not both on the same page in that department, one person has bad judgement with money or you may want children and your S.O doesn't or you may have children already and at logger heads about how to raise them.

If you don't become comfortable, things will never be said or understood and your relationship could very well be on the rocks.

Why would you need or want to communicate with other humans. In the work world and/or personal world, if you NEED to communicate its usually because some problem has arisen and nothing significant is being done to resolve it.

And finally if you talk with someone and they leave the conversation as confused as when they went in, then the message you are trying to convey, just didn't hit the mark.

Communication is such an integral part of people's lives, if you can't effectively execute communication, your world will be riddled by unnecessary problems. Might buy milk, when you were suppose to get juice, just an example of poor communication.

It can be the key to you being successful.  When people can understand your position on issues, time is reduced, instead of running around in circles, you can start working on a solution.

Listening is also a big part of the communication process. There are always atleast two sides to any issue. So, you aren't getting enough physical contact out of your relationship, say so to your partner..then don't close off, LISTEN to the reply,wait for it to be completed before making a reply and you might find solutions.

The solutions process can be tedious, but anything worth achieving should never be too easy. It takes time, when you have communicated and the other person in the conversation as well...replay the important points...its the only way to ensure you are both on the same page...some experts call it...*drumroll* FEEDBACK!

Don't be lost in a daze, it is easy to find the light, communication can be the Energizer batteries you need for the flash light..

Just as that slogan says...Communication can keep  your work and personal relationships going and going and going and....


Here's to positive people!