You just ended a long term relationship and you are feeling discouraged thinking about the fact that now you have to start all over so you can find your love before the clock stops. This clock isn't the clock of life but the imaginary clock that you have placed to monitor your love life. This clock is set based on society's timing or even your family's timing. We give ourselves a certain amount of years to accomplish certain things such as our education and business endeavors. However, it is foolish to  put a time on how and when you will fall in love. You have no control over when this takes place. You can go through the dating process, you can prepare yourself the most suitable way to meet your perfect partner but you can never determine the time at which this person will walk into your life. The stress comes into place when we start to realize that others have found love long before their set time. You start to wonder what you are doing wrong and whether or not you

The death of the young By:©Saccheen Laing I put on my uniform Armed with books I set out in search of a good education. Streets lined with the blood stains of those who fell on the way  I'm determined to live to see another day But I have no control over those who believe they can have their own way. Armed with guns and knives  They attack me, They assault me, They abuse me , Because they believe they have control over me Because of guns and knives in hand. In my hands I write my plans A singer, an actor, a doctor, a fashion designer or a police man  I clench my fist as my blood runs to join those who fell before  My plans remain in my hands Never to be realized I am young but that means nothing on this land. The blood of the young will replace the ocean that surrounds and beautifies the land How many more shall die before you answer when I ask why? My mother shall cry and bury her son before he becomes a man My brother shall cry a

  Image source: Jamaica Observer Sometimes I sit down and think to myself as to whether or not I would really want to bring a child into this world under these conditions. When watching television here in Jamaica, one of the most popular sentiments you will hear is " We want justice" but how many of these cries are actually heard?  Like many other things here in Jamaica you can get certain needs depending on or only if you are 'Sir Tom or Miss Prudence' living in a mansion. Justice does exist but exist for a selected few and that is the truth of the matter. We can take our eyes to overseas and see the fear that people live in because of a justice system that has failed them but we can keep our eyes right here at home and realize that this system wasn't created for us 'average' Jamaicans.    We have to learn to educate ourselves so that we can use our voice and not accept any and anything that is served on a platter to us because we don't kn

"From as long as I can remember I've always wanted to write. My mother taught me to read and write very well before I started school. My birthday gifts were always books and I was always thrilled to receive them. I didn't grow up watching a lot of television so even today I'm still behind on shows that people my age group grew up watching.  Like others, during my teenage years I wanted to fit in and I wanted to be seen. Looking back at it now I can just smile at it because of the growth that has brought me to the woman I am now. We all have things that we are passionate about and mine happens to be poetry. It isn't the most glamorous nor is it filled with expensive accolades but it is what I want to do. In the darkest of times in my life poetry has always been there and I can honestly say that if I didn't have my poetry I wouldn't be here today. We live in a world where people do just about anything to be noticed but I rather have my words be memorable and

When you log into social media you are taken into a world where everyone seems to be striving for perfection. Filters are applied to cover flaws so we will either feel better about ourselves or others will be accepting of us. Some of us receive the validation that we need that will allow us to feel better when we log off but what happens when we realize that we don't receive that same kind of validation in real life when we can no longer apply filters to our flaws? In order for people to be accepting of the reality of the flaws that we have,we have to start campaigns to encourage us to be proud of how we naturally are. I may come across as if I am fighting out against people expressing themselves but that isn't the case. Why do people continually say that they are proud of who they are and they don't care how people view them yet everyone looks the same as if they are all fresh out of the same factory. The other issue is how people will say love yourself just how

Apparently, people are very preoccupied with hair these days. If you choose to relax your hair you are perceived to be ashamed of your black heritage and if you choose to keep your hair natural you are classified as being unprofessional, I've heard individuals speaking about how we don't like rules and we are turning away from how things were. Not because something was established in the olden days means it is still applicable today or holds any form of merit. In schools, children are being turned back simply because their hair is deemed unsuitable and that is simply a shame. When you send your children to school you send them to get an education and to grow as an individual but as parents you need to remember that schools will try to recondition what you have implemented at home. If a school tells a child that she should straighten her hair because her natural hair makes her look untidy the school is telling your child that her natural state is unsuitable and in order t

In quiet moments where are your thoughts? Do you constantly focus on the things you lack or the things that you are blessed with? I found myself dwelling a lot on the things that I lacked in my quiet moments until I realized that I was draining myself worrying more than being appreciative. We live in a world where we can find inspiration on all corners but some of us choose to walk on the straight path and ignore the turns for inspirations. Don't act as if you are always strong and you've never been weak. Don't act like you've never found yourself in a hopeless situation. One thing I tell myself daily is that I never have all the answers so everyday I wake up I try to grow in my personal and spiritual development. Many of us spend too much of our time trying to explain the concept of love rather than actually showing love. Many of us spend too much time trying to explain why we are good people than actually showing our goodness. We have found ourselves being overly e

Image: Lovestruckcollection So you've been in a couple relationships and despite giving it your all you still end up on the failing end at the end of the day. What keeps going wrong? Why can't you seem to find the perfect partner for you? Are you just simply bad at choosing partners or are you just looking for the right things in the wrong place. You are looking for a woman who will support you and love you for who you are but you continually pursue women who have no depth. You seek out women who are openly obsessed with materialistic things and their looks but somehow you expect those women to be open to loving and investing in you? The truth is many times it isn't that we failed at a relationship it is that we continually give our all to people who don't even understand the meaning of sacrifice. We can't expect someone to appreciate the love we give them if they have no idea of the meaning of love itself because of their self obsession. When a King comes

For years I wanted to visit Negril. I'm a lover of nature and I especially enjoy discovering new sites in my country and learning about the history of my beautiful island. I boarded the Knutsford Express from New Kingston. My journey took me across the North Coast High Way for the very first time. My first stop was in Ocho Rios as the bus stopped to unload and load passengers. Firstly, I must point out that the comfort on the Knutsford Express is simply amazing. My next stop was in the beautiful parish of Trelawny and although it was a short stop I did get to take in some of the spectacular views. The next stop was that of Montego Bay before it was finally time to head on to my final destination in Negril.  The view along the way reminded me of just how naturally beautiful Jamaica is. The calmness of the sea and the lush vegetation brings a peace that can't be found in anything else, I simply rested my head and got lost in the beauty that is Jamaica. I would be staying

Have you ever been to a church service and when the singers are singing you feel nothing? You can hear the words coming out of their mouths but they have no  conviction whatsoever? Music is one of the most important parts of church ministry and if God isn't in it, it shouldn't be called Gospel music to begin with. Some singers in church sing for self! They know they are blessed with beautiful voices so they use the church to showcase it but it isn't about ministry. It is simply to let people know what they have going on. They stand before you and they have blank expressions on their faces, while they sing such powerful lyrics. They aren't moved by it but they somehow expect that the congregation will be. The next issue is that of the modern day Gospel music. Call me old fashion but it isn't my flavour at all. Why should I have to be wondering whether I'm listening to Gospel or I'm at a dancehall event? Why does the church have to change itself to resemb

 I love to hear the stories of elderly couples of how they fell in love and how they manage to stay in love for many years. It's very encouraging to hear stories that lead you to believe that maybe love is really still out there for you. Where is the love? For young people like myself I believe that ego has played a huge role in breaking down relationships. Everybody wants to be right all the time, everybody wants to look perfect to the world, everybody is looking for a partner that they will look good with. When this happens and then it falls apart they feel as if it's best to give up on love. The truth is it was never love to begin with. Love never failed us it was what we believed to be love. Everybody is in a rush to the altar and we don't take things slowly enough so that we can have long lasting connections. Our calls are quick and we text more than we call, we focus too much on sex and less on intimacy. We have let social media dictate what our relationships s

©Saccheen Laing Available at supermarkets and health stores here in Jamaica Eliminates toxins from the body The sulfates in Epsom salt help flush toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances. Your skin is a highly porous membrane and adding the right minerals to your bathwater triggers a process called reverse osmosis, which actually pulls salt out of your body, and harmful toxins along with it. For a detoxifying bath, at least once weekly add two cups of our Ultra Epsom Salt to the water in a bathtub and soak for 10 minutes. Epsom Salt Uses: BEAUTY Exfoliate dead skin:  In the shower or bath, mix a handful of Epsom salt with a tablespoon of bath or olive oil and rub all over your wet skin to exfoliate and soften. Rinse thoroughly. Exfoliating face cleanser:  To clean your face and exfoliate skin at the same time, mix a half-teaspoon of Epsom salt with your regular cleansing cream. Gently massage i

Apparently there is a deadline out there for every phase of your life. By a certain age you should have your own house, have children and be married. Growing up you aren't aware of this deadline until you start to get up in age and you are approaching that 30+ mark. You start to hear how much you are wasting your life and how much you will end up old and lonely.  I'm now being informed of this deadline at the age of 24 and without even giving it thought it start to plays with your mind. Am I really wasting my life? Then I start to look at these individuals who are reminding me of the deadlines that I'm facing and I realize that many of them have passed these so called deadlines or they aren't happy with the outcome of their lives after meeting these deadlines. We aren't created the same so why are we expected to move at the same speed. What works for someone will not necessarily work for another. Many find the right partner young others have to try a little har

Image source: Google images You have just given birth to your first child and you are excited about all the plans you have for their future. You never got the chance to become a lawyer or a doctor so you proclaim that your child will come a doctor or a lawyer. You put in their minds from a young age that in order to be successful in life they have to choose one of the following paths. They grow up and they do everything in their power to make sure they become a lawyer or a doctor. What next? Everything else in life falls into place? Some never even end up reaching the ending due to the depression they face while trying to accomplish these plans you have made for them. As parents you are given the important task of guiding your child but you are not the one who is expected to make life choices for them as they plan out their future. As young people we have to do what will make us happy and not find ourselves permanently stuck in a job that drains you day in and out. Regardless

People tend to shy away from the topic of depression as if it's something that isn't experienced or as if it isn't as serious as those who experience it make it out to seem. When you are young you are encouraged to live your life to the fullest and when you are young depression should be the furthest thing from your mind. Well wake up people! Young people are suffering and they are feeling forsaken!       What we need to remember is that people deal with things differently. One individual may find it easy to get over heartbreak while another will suffer daily to heal. One individual may find it easy to get over academic failure while another will struggle daily with overcoming. One individual will find it easy to be alone without social interactions while another will fall apart if they have no one to talk to. Young people are constantly faced in these times with pressures from all over especially that of social media. Some of us can find ourselves feeling inadequate

    It is really beautiful to see how much recognition black women are getting now a days for the beauty of their skin and hair. However, I've noticed that when it comes to body types women who are more curvy with big breasts and bottom are the ones who used to represent what a black queen represents. I'm wondering what about the women who aren't so well endowed don't they qualify as queens? Pushing only this type or mostly this type will leave so many of our beautiful queens feeling inadequate. Our women are already left with images of what the perfect female looks like on social media instead of having the support of the black community women are left feeling the same way. We need to remember that just as our black women come in different skin shades they come in different body types. A queen should be known as a queen by the way she speaks, the goodness in her heart, her knowledge of self and the natural beauty she has. Our women can also highlight their natural at

W ell now I am known as Saccheen the poet but there was a time when I would never share my words with anyone. When I was younger I was known as the quiet one and the one who was very reserved and had a very very small circle. The only thing that has changed now really is that I'm not as quiet as I once was but I still have that small circle. For me poetry is my comfort, poetry is my best and most understanding friend. I've always loved nature and discovering new places but I've never been afforded the opportunity to travel much literally but I have done so through my poetry. I have people from Africa to France to even Australia who have stumbled across my work and have fallen in love. So despite not being able to physically travel I can proudly say that a piece of me has been to some very beautiful places. I choose what words I use but I can't control how others interpret them and that's what excites me the most about sharing my poetry, I always enjoy looki

Shea moisture,Castor Oil, Curl enhancing smoothie, Dr. Bronner's soap,Turmeric and lime mask, Activated charcoal scrub and Milk of magnesia Growing up like majority of other young people I didn't care much about eating healthy or using natural products. I haven't taken a pill in over a year and have opted to do everything naturally. I only use natural products on my skin and hair . My skin care and natural products I purchase from Earth Elements located at Shop#3A Savannah Plaza,35-41 Constant Spring Road. When it comes to deodorant I use either Arm & Hammer Baking Soda deodorant or I use milk of magnesia under my arm. I haven't used an Antiperspirant  in years due to its link to breast cancer in women. I will not sit here and claim to have it all together because I still struggle with healthy eating habits on a daily basis but I continue to make an effort to do things healthier. I've suffered with really bad anemia for many years which results in

As a young lady growing up in these times isn't the easiest of things. We are constantly told to be proud of how we look and to always be confident. Often times we are told to be proud of ourselves by people who aren't proud of themselves. What I mean is that you will see an influential individual share an image of flawless skin and beautiful long flowing hair with a caption of love me with all my flaws and all. If you are indeed proud of these flaws why are they hidden? Wher e are the flaws you speak of when you are proudly showing us a touched up image of yourself? For those of us who will never have a huge fan base to validate our looks every couple of seconds how do we become confident? Then there are those who will share an inspirational quote about how what's on the inside matters most yet they are the first to share images of individuals to make fun of them because of how they look. The world gives us app after app to smoothen,lighten, curve and shape our images

So you've met this really nice guy but he lives so far away and you are wondering if it makes sense to start a relationship knowing that distance would be a really big factor. Then there are those of us who have started a relationship but then had things shaken up due to a partner having to move far away. How do you know that this relationship is worth ignoring the distance for? The truth is, you don't ever know this for sure because nothing is sure in life except death of course. So what do you do?  If you see a spark of potential go ahead and take that risk and ignore the miles that are between you and your love or potential love. The hardest part of a long distance relationship is probably the lack of the psychical touch and sadly there is no substitute for this. However, what long distance relationships offer is a chance to test out and strengthen your communication and emotional skills which are far more important in the long run. The most important thing you have rig

Cancer By:©Saccheen Laing How many more tears shall we shed? How many more prayers must be said ? For how much longer shall we have to say bye to our loved ones smiles? We bury one after the other and keep asking why? From our babies to our grandparents We have to watch them cry because of the pain We sit and look up and wish we could see them smiling again Our hearts are heavy we are tired of writing RIP We hear of a death and the first thought is cancer has sent another to rest Who shall we have to say bye to next? C- controlling has it takes over our lives and we have to continually fight A-aches that it causes our hearts when we see another falls apart N-never ending because it feels like someone is always fighting C-catastrophic because it causes so much damage and suffering E- evil because there is no good in it R- recurrent because no matter how many times it goes away it comes back another way Nothing did our loved ones do to feel the pain that they had to go through Silentl

When a female posts a revealing picture on social media or dresses revealing in public there are two sides to the opinion chart. There are those who believe the female is an attention seeker and doesn't value herself and there is another side that believes she is brave and confident in her own skin. Now there is another side when you flip it over which is the side of the natural community who believes that when a female who doesn't wear her natural hair or 'natural looking protective styles' and dresses revealing she has no self worth and lacks knowledge of self. On the other hand if a female dresses in the same manner but has her natural hair on display and is out in the midst of nature she is an empress and proud of her roots. Maybe I am forgetful but when I was growing up an empress always took pride in how she carried herself. She was always well groomed and always fully clothed in her traditional dress and clothed with knowledge of her roots. Now a days the te

Sometimes it's hard to believe that students are still going to school for the purpose of learning based on the number of violent videos that surface on social media sites. Thankfully, in the midst of these horrific videos we see glimmers of hope of students who continue to excel in school. Believe it or not I have a level of fear when it comes to walking in their midst to get off the streets either before school ends or after majority of the students have gone home. Why am I fearful? Students no longer war with their hands or by throwing words they now walk with knives and other weapons.  Fighting in schools has become such a common practise that I basically expect it once I log on to my social media account. What is alarming from time to time when I do end up viewing these recordings is that so many times adults can be seen watching and even recording. Is it that adults no longer see the need to reprimand children or is that they see it more important to get fame from hav

Have you ever heard the names that are thrown around when a woman is skimpily attired proudly making her way to a dancehall event? Due to the nature of my blog I will not repeat some of the names that I've heard. Now, lets compare that to the names you hear being used when a woman is dressed in her bright coloured and expensive carnival outfits. I'm not here to stomp on anyone's parade or make judgments or choose a side but if you are going to be against the dress code of women in the dancehall you should also be on the same side when it comes to carnival dressing. It's a known fact that carnival is associated with the upper class in society while dancehall is often associated with the lowerclass. So let me get this straight, if you pay more for your skimpy that means you should be viewed in a higher light?   Feel free to share you input on this topic by commenting below!

(Image source:Loop Jamaica) Here I was sitting in front of my television screen watching Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall like I do basically every Saturday. The show was running smoothly and I was fully immersed in the various performances. Just as I got prepared to hear the comments of Miss Kitty like I always do her body language changed and she prepared to release words that in my opinion she will come to regret. After imparting her words in such a knowledgeable fashion I figured that the show would either break or just quickly move to the next segment. Well, no such luck as Yanique the curvy diva made her rebuttal. Immediately, social media went into fourth gear and hasn't slowed down since then with various opinions on the incident. From where I sat I was simply disappointed in the unprofessional behaviour of both ladies. Firstly, Miss Kitty for addressing the issue on the platform that she did. The issues that she may or may not have with Yanique is not the conc