The Girl with Yellow Shoes

I gave two of my classes an activity this week. It was a fillable form with prompts to write about themselves. For example, I am someone who everyone seems to ________, I am someone who nobody seems to __________, I am someone who always _________, I am someone who will never __________.

Of course, there is no right or wrong answer and it was never meant to judge anyone, but y’all a few of those answers made me get dust in my eyes inno. Some were sad because it was a jarring reminder that the things my kids have to deal with on a daily basis can’t be solved with bear hugs, chocolates or pencils with a note for Valentine’s Day.

But other responses remind me that as much as some things change, others remain the same. Regardless of the school, the current trends or the year in which we live, at our core, many of us feel the same:

            Teenage years:            I hate everything. No one likes me. I don’t feel seen.

            Working age:              I tired. Meh back hurting me. Meh arthritis raise. Ah ready to retire.

Now I’m not making fun of our problems, but it made me think. If we experience the same things, then some of the things I learnt might help you too.

Before I begin, a disclaimer is necessary. Some of these lessons are disguised in humour, whilst some may run deeper than the grudges families have coursing through the generations. But a lesson, regardless of the mode through which it is taught, is still a lesson.

Hot gyal nah fight over man, no.

A wise man one said, hot gyal nah fight over man, no (Mr. Vegas, 2007).

Yuh see me; me eh care, me eh able, me eh cater. You want him sis? You take him. Me na run no race with nobody. Not that I don’t think I could win inno, but rather, because I think, in the first place, it wasn’t a race meant for me to participate in.

I not only talking about goodly men here inno. I’ve always thought that something meant for me, like genuinely meant for me, won’t make me feel like it’s a fight down scene. That thought process of, “If it’s worth it, you gotta fight for it,” wasn’t made for lazy people like me. Exams are different eh. Your dreams are different. Winning the lotto is different.

But generally speaking, where most other things are concerned, it should never feel like you’re in a house full of people and it only have one tiny piece of barfi in the sweets bag. Always a fight down thing.

If you choose to support the West Indies cricket team, organize yuh heart medication one time. You’d need it.

A visit to Pothole nation

We complain. We make mountains out of molehills sometimes. Or maybe even molehills out of mountains.

Pay attention to the people you complain to. Yuh know it have some people, who as soon as you start to complain would say something like, “Welllll boy, you still have it good. Hear all what I does have to go through.” Stay away from them oui.

Stay away from the ones who say, “Well yuh knowwwww, yuh should be grateful you have something to complain about in the first place.” Bun way yessss.

Complaining is not a sign of ungratefulness, big man thing. I grateful. But I is human.

And the one thing I think we all need to understand is this. While someone else’s road may have more potholes, the potholes in my road are probably the deepest they’ve ever been. And maybe I feel I out and bad so I have a drop low car too.

So it’s not about how much more difficult some people have it. Nope. If you choose to complain, you should be heard. You shouldn’t be judged. And most importantly, you should feel understood. Because what you’re complaining about is the most difficult thing you’re dealing with at this point. That should be respected.

With that being said, I don’t see anything wrong with offering solutions or suggestions to help you cope. Cuz I really feel that complaints without attempts to make it better is Maths that don’t Maths eh. So think about the suggestions like they are the lil material you would throw in the potholes to make it less ouch-y when you go down in it.

Every wardrobe should have a black pants and a white shirt. And a black dress shoe.

Ah Hundred Dollar Story

Think about this. You have 100 dollars. But you have it in some 20s, some 10s, some 5s and some singles. You might lend someone ah 5 and them ain’t like to pay back. So you hadda consider that dead money. You could go and spend ah 20 and get change but you get ah buss dollar, so that ain’t good no more. Little by little, spending here and there, you’d realise that there’s no way you could ever get back the 100 you started with.

And that’s the life we were given. As time passes, regardless of the way in which choose to spend it, we won’t get it back. So make good with what you have. Plant a tree. Nah. Plant a few trees. Say some prayers. Feed the animals. Love a doggie. In some small way, leave your world a better place than it was before you came. Make kindness and gratitude your legacy.

If you’re getting a button on your face, rub some Vicks on it.

So what if I extra?

I extra. Everybody tells me that. I doh care inno. Being extra is my choice.

I choose to celebrate my half birthday. I choose to make a big deal about everyone I care about. I choose to ‘overdress’ because I know that as long as I am comfortable, I will never be overdressed or overeducated in any room.

So, whoever you are, let it be someone you choose to be. Once you are comfortably you, you’re never over or under, you’re just enough.

Life is like a kurma, hard but sweet.

I refuse to believe that we were put here to live a completely miserable life. Try, each day, to take a moment to do something you enjoy.

And every once in a while, take 3 hours and 8 minutes to enjoy something you love. Yeah, I know it’s oddly specific but that’s the length of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and well yuh done know that’s my favourite. #SRKfanforlife

Use yuh indicator. And while you at it, learn to use a roundabout. Please.

A quick Geography lesson

I love natural disasters. I want to visit a volcano. I ain’t fraid hurricanes. Tsunamis fascinate me. But you see earthquakes. THAT TING SCARY. I fraid that toooooo bad.

Don’t judge me. I respect the power of each. I know the extent of damage all can do. And I feel all the feels when I see the damage they cause. But I love them all the same.

Nah, I not crazy. Each disaster, barring the earthquake, warns you. Volcanoes have different types which tell you the type of eruption you will experience. Yuh could brace for it. Hurricanes have different categories with different wind speed ranges. And then there’s Hurricane Hunter which enters the hurricane and gather’s information. You know it’s projected path and you get time to prepare. Yuh could brace for it. Tsunamis have tell-tale signs like the scattering of animals or the retreat of water leaving the seabed exposed. Yuh could brace for it.

Earthquakes though, duz just happen. Yuh never know how strong it is or how long it will last until it done. And then you still won’t know cuz aftershocks is a real thing.

Doh pray for earthquakes inno. Well actually, pray for plenty small ones, so the pressure would get released often enough so as to avoid a big one.

Prepare for the disasters in your life. Yuh could brace for it.

Evacuate rooms and get up from tables that will trap you when chaos erupts. Board up windows and close doors because not everyone should know your business. Pay attention to the signs and ALWAYS trust your gut instincts.

Don’t let anyone dull your sunshine.