Friday, July 29, 2011

Five Regrets before Dying

Great email from Milton Maragh:

Five Regrets before Dying By Bronnie Wareby
The Wellness Clinic on Thursday, February 3, 2011

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.
People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learned never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal.
Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:
1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way. 
From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard 
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence. By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends 
Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.  It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier 
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, and choose honestly. Choose happiness.
Keep smiling & have a wonderful life.
 


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Senior Citizens Sports Day Winner


AMAZING YVONNE! Jean Lowrie Chin (left) Founder-CEO, Caribbean Community of Retired Persons, (CCRP), takes time out to celebrate with Yvonne Williams, CCRP member, on her victory at the National Senior Citizen Council Sports Day held at the G.C. Foster College track on Thursday July 28. Williams was awarded the gold medal for the 200-metre dash representing the 65-70 age group.

 

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

We need a good dose of 'Fortis'

Let us call unrighteousness by its right name!

Click on headline or link below to this week's column on the Jamaica Observer website

We need a good dose of 'Fortis'

Sunday, July 24, 2011

A very short story

Man driving down road. Woman driving up same road. They pass each other. Woman yells out window, PIG!   
Man yells out window, BITCH!   
Man rounds next curve. Man crashes into a huge PIG in middle of road and dies.  
Thought For the Day: If men would just listen... 

-courtesy of Ruby Martin and Ofe Polack :)
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Saturday, July 23, 2011

Winston Chung Fah on the mend

Message from Neville Hoo in Fort Lauderdale:

Winston is taking a few steps now & is also doing exercises for his hands to gain mobility in them.
Please remember him in your prayers.


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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Jamaican 'moron' twins fight Canada deportation

Total morons - giving their poor Mom a heart attack! - J


Jamaica Observer | Thursday, July 21, 2011

TWO 19-year-old Jamaican-born but Toronto-raised twins face deportation from Canada after robbing a grocery store of CA$30 and 16 packs of cigarettes, reports the Toronto Star.

Keshawn and Dushane Edwards have been in custody in London, Ontario since August last year for robbing the store in Pond Mills with an unnamed young offender, who has been sentenced.

The twins assaulted and also robbed the store manager who described them as "utter morons" and asked that they receive the maximum sentence possible. The prosecution is seeking at least two years.

Meantime, their mother has suffered a heart attack.

They face being immediately deported to Jamaica unless they can raise their immigration bail money in time. They have been granted one final adjournment to August 18.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Jamaican--moron--twins-fight-Canada-deportation#ixzz1SnOV3XIo
Jamaican 'moron' twins fight Canada deportation

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

10 Tactics for Managing Your Career

By Sandra J. Bishop, President, Executive Solutions

Here is my 10 point plan to help you stay ahead of the game:

1. Take Your Career Temperature
- Have you developed any new skills this year, especially computer skills?

- Are you willing to step outside of your comfort zone, take a lateral move in your company and learn a new part of the business?

- Have you become a real problem solver?

- Have you saved your company any money lately?

- Do you read the current literature from your industry and share it with your team?

- Can you or have you discovered an unmet need in your company and volunteered to fill it?

- Do you know what your colleagues and customers think of you?

- Are you aware of who your major competitors are and how they're doing?

- Are you developing your project management skills?

2. Create a Two-Year Vision for Your Career
Make it fluid enough to adapt to today's economic reality. Write down your goals and objectives to clarify it. The thinking and writing processes will help you feel secure about your future.

3. Devise a Plan B
Have a backup plan in anticipation of a possible job loss. Start saving more money. Three to six months of expenses should be your savings goal.

4. Build Your "Personal Brand"
The personal branding process identifies your strengths, skills, expertise, management style and unique characteristics, and packages them into powerful identity, distinguishing you from your competition. The core of your personal brand is based on authenticity. Your personal brand influences how people perceive you, engenders trust, and encourages your company to promote you or your competitors to hire you. It also serves as a foundation for becoming a successful and effective free agent.

5. Build and Nurture a Strong Effective Network of Friends and Professional Business Colleagues
Make a list of names and keep contact information current. Include former colleagues, friends, classmates, neighbors and acquaintances from church, the gym, etc. Contact each person monthly - one contact a day. Keep it simple. A two sentence email or a quick phone message. As you network, give freely of yourself, especially to those who are in a tough spot. It will come back to you in spades when you're in a similar position.

6. Figure Out the Informal Power Base in Your Company
Make every effort to know and build solid relationships with the people who use their informal power - executive assistants, human resource personnel, finance staff - and those who have been in the company many years.

7. Identify Experts in Your Industry and Try to Get to Know Them
Create ways to meet them. Volunteer to participate in one of their more challenging projects, or write a note commenting on an article or book that this national expert has written. Find out which professional organizations these experts belong to and join if possible.

8. Determine Which Professional Organization Is the Most Prestigious in Your Industry and Join if Possible
Review the admission requirements. If you can't afford to join, go to your boss and make a case for your membership. Explain how it can help the entire team if you participate in the organization and offer to share what you've learned with your teammates.

9. Compose a Two-Minute Commercial About Yourself
Briefly define who you are, what you do, your work history, successes, professional strengths, skills, unique characteristics and what your objective is. Compose it and rehearse it until you are blue in the face, especially if you are looking for a new position or new client. Be prepared to share it with anyone at anytime. It's a great way to market yourself!

10. Construct a Cutting-Edge Resume and Keep It Current
Whenever possible, a) quantify your accomplishments using a number, dollar amount or percentage, b) cite examples of how you saved the company money, and c) stress your problem-solving abilities. Update the resume with your accomplishments every few months.


Sandra J. Bishop is president and founder of Executive Solutions in Chicago. Bishop is an executive coach, career strategist and outplacement counselor working with individuals, corporations, small businesses and entrepreneurs. She appears regularly on WGN Morning News in Chicago giving coaching advice. Email her or call 312-654-8689.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Khajeel Mais to be buried today - News - Go-Jamaica

Barbara Gloudon wrote that Khajeel was the grand-nephew of the late great Prof Barry Chevannes.

Khajeel Mais to be buried today - News - Go-Jamaica

Dog health tip!

From Karlene Craig:

Wash water and feed bowls every time you use them, do not leave feed down remove all scraps and wash feed bowl...leptospirosis spreads through rat urine on feed bowls also through direct bites. Rats that have been poisoned will come looking for water . Make sure your dogs boosters are up to date and if in doubt go to your vet. Lepto spreads on contact.
This is important information.


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Saturday, July 9, 2011

Is Jamaica really the fifth worst economy in the world? - Poppycock!

BY AL EDWARDS

Caribbean Business Observer | Friday, July 08, 2011

THE country was aghast at the pronouncement by the esteemed and renowned bible of financial journalism, Forbes Magazine, that Jamaica comes in as the fifth worst economy in the world. The local media wasted no time in broadcasting the solemn news with people proclaiming 'It has to be true if it is in Forbes.'

But Forbes is no longer the bastion it once was. In recent times it has become beset by dwindling readership and falling advertising and now takes on a more populist approach in an effort to garner revenues.

THE country was aghast at the pronouncement by the esteemed and renowned bible of financial journalism, Forbes Magazine, that Jamaica comes in as the fifth worst economy in the world. The local media wasted no time in broadcasting the solemn news with people proclaiming 'It has to be true if it is in Forbes.'

But Forbes is no longer the bastion it once was. In recent times it has become beset by dwindling readership and falling advertising and now takes on a more populist approach in an effort to garner revenues.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Is-Jamaica-really-the-fifth-worst-economy-in-the-world--Poppycock-_9162965#ixzz1RfoDn6S4

Jamaica - first and only!

Jamaica is the first and only country to have all 100m sprint titles for all ages and all levels in males at once.

We now have
- the Gold Medal in the World Youth Olympics (Odeen Skeene)
- the World Youth Championships (Odail Todd)
- the World Junior Championships (Dexter Lee)
- the Commonwealth Games (Lerone Clarke),
- the World Championships (Usain Bolt)
- the Olympics (Usain Bolt).

Jamaica is the first and only country to ever achieve this!

To the Worrrrld!

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Monday, July 4, 2011

Missing Margarietta St Juste



Margarietta St Juste collects her prize for the best Jamaican outfit at the 2006 PROComm Party

Missing Margarietta St Juste


I first met Margarietta St Juste at the Tourist Board in the 70s, accompanying Merrick Needham for a Carifesta planning meeting. The scene: a strict Merrick pronouncing instructions, and Margarietta planting little kisses on his head! Her legacy of warmth and good humour is secure in her beloved sons Brian and Francois. We mourn with them even as we give thanks that we shared happy moments with this truly beautiful soul. We miss you, Margarietta.

OMG - CRV drives INTO Lee's!


Happened in Tropical Plaza, HWT at about 11am!

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Sunday, July 3, 2011

Garvey's inscribed photo benefits speculator

— Photograph courtesy of Sotheby's

Sent by Rob Mullally -
San Diego City Lights News

Bidders Check Out Copley's Library

By Jeanne Schinto | Published Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Bidders at the fourth and final auction of the now-defunct James S. Copley Library, held at Sotheby's in New York City on May 20, did what they had done at the previous three sales. They paid big money for a few choice items, underpaid for others, and sat on their hands for far too much of the rest.

... 13 others achieved comparably minimal amounts. Among the lowest priced, at $1250, was a signed and inscribed portrait of Marcus Garvey, the Black Nationalist and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association. Its buyer was a dealer, who quickly doubled his money by selling it to another dealer. But then that dealer consigned it to an auction of African-Americana at Swann Galleries in New York. At that sale, it sold for $31,200 — a gain of $28,700 (minus Swann's commission) for the savvy second dealer.

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