What happened to black pride? What happened to everyone being proud of their black heritage and the flooding of black pride on all social media platforms? The importance of protecting our fellow black men have already died out? We are no longer opposed to police brutality? We are no longer opposed to descrimination?  For me, it was refreshing to long into my social media accounts and see the outrage about acts of brutality towards black people in recent times. However, the outrage has died down and apparently the  hype surrounding it is no more. What changes will we expect to take place if we fall so quickly when distracting issues come our way? Regardless of whatever issues come about we have to ensure that we do our best to push our agenda at the centre and not let awareness about it die now. Black lives shouldn't just matter for a little bit it should be on our lips each and everyday. We as a people need or not become so easily distracted but stand firm amidst whatever dist...

The media is blamed for everything basically. The media is blamed for feeding all bad values to society. However, is the media being blamed for too much? I believe that many of the things that the media is blamed for can simply be prevented if people would decide to do their own research and gain knowledge independently. The media takes advantage of the laziness of so many in society. They can come up with a ridiculous story and it will be eaten up just like that because the thirst to gain further knowledge isn't there. The other issue is that the media is aware of the laziness in society so they often just give the public what they want, should they be blamed for that? What people seem to forget is the media is made up of people just like you and I. Yes, the media is very influential and that can always be an issue to those who are easily influenced . I always advice people to take some time  from the media to clear your mind and come back up again. We need to take charge of our o...

So the relationship has come to an end and you can no longer stand to see his face and you get upset every time you think about him. The story of the bitter baby mother is a very familiar one to us as we see it on social media platforms and in television shows. As like every other issue these days the first place to air grievances is on social media. Bitter baby mother believe they are doing what is best for their child but it's actually the total opposite. The best thing for the child is to have their parent in their lives if of course that parent isn't mentally ill or otherwise dangerous to the safety of the child. A bitter baby mother should never pretend a father from having a relationship with his child because of her hatred for the man. Whatever went wrong between the both of you is between the both of you the child has no part in that. I recently watched a movie where the mother hid from her daughter for years that her father tried to connect with her because of her hatr...

Well, it's Father's Day today and not much is being said on social media platforms in comparison to Mother's Day that was celebrated in May. Where are our Jamaican fathers? When some people think of their fathers they think nothing but hatred. For many, they have never met their father or their father doesn't have a positive impact on their lives. But in the same breath there are those fathers who took up the role from day one and have always placed their children first. We need to not cloud the day with the memories of the disappointing fathers but spread it with thankfulness for those who live up their responsibilities each and every day. Jamaica needs fathers to stand up and be responsible for grooming their children in the right way. I want to rebuke mothers who keep their children from their father because of their own hatred for the father. Mothers, don't be selfish because of your own feelings but remember the needs of your child. Can you imagine how much bet...

Today, while walking in Spanish town with my mother we came upon a high school student arguing with a older man. The man said to her that she had no manners and the high school student said to him that " if him see manners a give weh a shop". I often address females as ladies on my blog but I didn't address this high school student in that manner. Her behaviour does not qualify her to be called a lady. It worries me that this is a very common behaviour among our children here in Jamaica and the rest of the world. Our children show little or no respect for anyone anymore. They say what they feel and they do what they feel around you. I remember going on a coaster bus one evening and seeing students kissing and feeling up each other around adults. When they were confronted they didn't care to hear any of the warnings of the adults. What examples are we setting for the future of our world? Do parents teach children good manners anymore? In many cases the answer is no bec...

We all have these plans for what we want to do next week,the months to come or even in a couple years. The sad thing about it is, we don't even know what will reach us or even if we will live to see the end of the day. We ourselves may have a good heart and would never think to bring harm to another human being but there are others around us who think of evil every single day and have not even an ounce of love within them. We never know when we will come across people like this because most of the times they blend in with society and pretend to be at one with each and everyone of us. What we do have control over is our very own actions and how we react in the face of hatred. With each and everyday we are left to wonder if there is any love really left in this world. Everyone is fighting for a cause but that fight leads to more anger more than love and unity. Is there any hope still left in this world? Our youth have lost the meaning of love and even respect for the spiritu...

The day of GSAT results can be a glorious day for some and a day of sorrow for others. Every year we see the smiles of the victorious and the tears of the disappointed. Many worked very hard and sacrificed a lot to ensure that they would be on the smiling side on this day. To the parents who ensured that they not only sent their children to school but they spent time with them to encourage them and help them with their studies I salute you. To the parents who just sent their children to school and expected the teachers to do it all and are now disappointed I encourage you to make changes as your child moves on to the next level. There might be sorrow now but joy can come in the morning. You can bloom anywhere you are planted, you just need to have the right attitude. Over the years we have heard stories of students who attended high schools lower in the academic scale who have come out with great achievements.  Instead of laughing at those who didn't do as well as others in the exa...

Perhaps you never heard of her before but now the whole world knows her name not for the work she did but because of the apparent lie that she told of being of black heritage. The attacks have been thrown her way from all corners but mostly from the black community. My first question however is how many attacks are thrown the way of those blacks who pretend to be white each and everyday? Do we frown upon them? Majority of us just simply ignore them. This lady loved the race so much she pretended to be apart of it to bring across change. Yes she lied, but let me see a show of hands for all the saints who have never lied about anything before? Let me see a show of hands for my fellow black people who don't adapt anything from the white community? This attack on Rachel shows that unity is even more just a dream more than ever. Many of the advocates for our freedom were white people, there were those who forgot about their white skin and helped in the fight would you still attack them ...

Firstly, to all my readers let me ask you how many of you actually remember in details your basic school graduation? It's that time of year when schools and the education ministry are knocking heads as to the expensive graduation packages. I believe that the hypeness associated with basic school graduations is just for parents to have an outlet to show how nicely they themselves can dress and how well they can dress their children. I attended Spanish town infant as a child and I remember having a very small service nothing spectacular. I then went on to St.Catherine primary where we graduated in our uniforms and the very same thing happened when I graduated from Wolmer's Girls. Do I feel any less than those who graduated in gowns at every stage of their academic journey? I sure don't. Parents spending over $10000 for a child who the following week won't even remember half of what took place. If you want to have a big celebration create one at your home and stop pleading...

We have all been there at some point or another even though many of us will never admit it. We have been blown away by how others life appear to be. It may be the money they post, the car they drive, the house they live in or their significant other. What we fail to consider is that there may be a completely different story that is hidden behind closed doors. An image and caption can only tell so much and the rest can be left open for interpretation.  There is a new trend on social media sites where I often see people commenting on couples photographs that the couple is their relationship goal. Meaníng that someday they would love to be in a relationship like the one they see in the picture. Many times these individuals don't even know these couples they are just captivated by images and how they come across in the pictures. Are relationships only about taking good pictures? No they aren't and you should perhaps learn more about a couple before you even consider making...

Everybody is busy doing something or the other these days or so they claim. People always seem to find an excuse for something these days, either they are too tired, busy or they forgot. Is it that people are shouldering too many responsibilities or is time moving by at a very very fast pace. To keep our lives in order, we often make list of things to do, the duties that we have for the day, week, month and year. However, when making these lists, how many of us remember to put our loved ones at the very top of our list? One of the biggest problems facing relationships these days is lack of attention. Some might hear that and think that some people are too needy but attention is a very important component in friendships and relationships. A friend or a partner always wants to feel as if they are a priority in your life they don't want to have to compete every single day for a spot on your list of responsibilities. Not only should we ensure that our loved ones are at the top of our l...

Many of us have actually never revealed the real us to anyone. We may reveal bits and pieces of ourselves to some but we often keep certain things to ourselves. We do this because we are trying to protect ourselves from hurt, we believe that if people know certain things about us they might use it against us and we may not be strong enough to stand up to that ridicule. We get up out of bed sometimes and we feel nothing. We sit for awhile and then we think to ourselves about what mask we will put on today. For some of us we choose a mask based on the group that we want to fit in with and for others we choose a mask to keep people away from us. Our masks show either anger, sadness, contentment or happiness.  We put on these masks before we go to school, to make our teachers and friends feel as if we are happy to be there or that we are pleased with the path that we are on . We put on masks when we go to work so that our boss will feel that we are happy with our job. We put on masks a...

" I want to give my children everything that I wasn't given as a child", how often do we hear these words being said by parents? Very often right? It's a very good concept but parents please don't forget to give them the things that you received as well. The more times have evolved the less time is being spent with those who we care about. Parents are busy working hard to give their children all that they didn't get as a child that they forget to give them the most valuable of things, love. Now more than ever children are suffering from depression and seeking outlets to get attention from because they aren't getting it from their parents. The social media world paints an image that dressing in matching outfits with your child or posting several pictures with your child shows that you are a good parent. A picture is just a picture and it can hide one thousand stories.  I can guarantee you that when your child grows up what they will remember most is the lov...

For years we have heard the saying ' show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are'. Many of us stand by this saying and believe it to be true in all instances. However, I can say to you that this saying isn't always the case because you can be in a situation but not be affected by it. For instance, there are three friends who hang out together for three years, one is a pimp, one is a doctor and one is a happily married teacher. They all maintain their perspective lives and are not influenced by the lives of others. However, there is another group of friends, one is a stripper,one is a stay at home mom and the other is a lawyer. The stay at home mom becomes envious of her lawyer friend because she is making her own money while the lawyer friend is envious of the attention that her stripper friend gets from men while the stripper friend is envious of her lawyer friend because she has a respectable profession. It all comes down to the individual and how easily influe...

Jamaica land we love!! I remember singing the national anthem every morning in primary school and having to stand attention to it during high school. Whenever I visit the movies the anthem is played before the movies begin and people can be heard complaining about having to stand. They sit and eat and talk while the anthem is being played. On the other hand I will see people who migrate from Jamaica to America dressed up in their American colours on their Independence Day and showing their love for their country. Is Jamaican pride something that we no longer embrace? Is the love for our country fading? What worries me is that instead of pride in our country increasing it continues to be on the decline. Once or twice a year we take pride in our country but for the majority of the year we are primarily caught up in the affairs of other countries. Our financial situation as a country can be improved or infrastructure can be improved but without a knowledge of our culture we will never ful...

Growing up many of us were encouraged to either become a doctor or a lawyer. These professions were always placed high on a pedestal and we were told that these are the jobs we should aim for. Firstly, I always wondered why the people who encouraged me to choose one of these paths were not working in any of these capacities. I grew up as a child filled with questions and I would question my parents about everything. From a very young age I loved writing and I knew that I wanted to spend my life doing this. My parents on the other hand never encouraged that dream of mind as I was always encouraged to become a lawyer or a doctor.  When I listen to children on our primary and preparatory quiz competitions the most popular professions are lawyer and doctor. We neèd to encourage our children to look at other paths. Many of us will not be able to become a lawyer or doctor either because of finances or because we don't have the intelligence for it. Parents need to realize that everybody i...

In recent times, our country has been sent into shock waves as it relates to the increases in acts of violence towards our children. It sends pain throughout our bodies as Jamaicans because our future is hurting. Calls from all sectors can be heard about what measures can be taken to ensure that we put a stop to this problem. It starts with each and everyone of us as Jamaicans because at times parents aren't around or even those who are around aren't setting the best examples for their children. Throughout the month of May, I decided to start a challenge called the Saccheen Laing read one book a week campaign. I decided to do this challenge as a means to show our young people that reading can be fun and we as the older ones do enjoy it. I added the element of posting a selfie after the end of the week along with a caption with a lesson that you got from the book. This challenge was an oasis in the midst of the Charlie Charlie challenge and other challenges that add n...

In Jamaica these days calls are coming from call corners for more attention to be placed on our children to ensure that we protect them as best as possible. We should ensure that they get off the streets early, they aren't taken advantage of and that they attend school. However, what about the examples that we set for them? The way we dress, the relationships we keep, the way we talk to each other, shouldn't we be taking a look at that as well? This takes me to our female entertainers and the examples that they set. From a very young age children find a love for music and they easily eat up everything they see and hear. Recently, two of our most popular female entertainers got into an argument on social media for the entire world to see. It wasn't just the fact that they were arguing but it was mostly about the things that they were saying to each other. Everyone has access to the internet and unfortunately children are getting electronic devices at a very young age. The in...

If you take a look at social media sites it appears that men are voicing their opinions about relationships more than women are. Over the years, women are known more to be the sex that openly describe what they are looking for in a partner. Apparently, times have changed and men are letting it be known that it is very hard to find a partner to settle down with. What exactly has changed? Why is that men are finding it hard to find a nice young lady? Women are changing the way they view relationships and have become more dominant over the years. Women are becoming more open about their sexual practices and are not afraid to be as adventurous as their male counterparts. Loyalty, is the most common issue that men are finding when looking for a female to settle down with. Women are starting to flip the switch and playing the game the way men have been doing for years. Women will say from time to time that men are drawn to women who show more skin so they have opted to take that avenue. Yet ...