How Do You Know When You've Found Your Purpose?

I've been bad. I haven't blogged in a week. I guess it's just one of those spells. This doesn't mean I haven't been writing. So much going on as I plan for my upcoming workshop and book launch.

photo credit - C.K.Correia All rights reserved 2015

I had my first assignment as a features writer last evening. It was an amazing rush. I really don't know what all the nerves were about since this story exceeded my expectations. 

It was a human interest story and though I can't divulge all the details at the moment, I left inspired. It is my deepest wish that I too motivated the group in some way. 

Fear is a big part of some of our lives. I wrote about this in my second book. I had no doubt that I could write the article, but it was the interview and facing a new situation/group that I was uncertain about. No matter how many times I've conquered similar fears in the past, I am still nervous before I make that step. That was worry wasted since my fear left as soon as I stepped into the room and introduced myself.

Once we condition our minds to overcome our fears, we begin to believe that we can do anything we set out to do. Self-talk is good, visualization is better. This helps to block out the external "noise" and the negative thoughts in our subconscious. Our life can be an example to others. We must try to live our passion daily in all our interactions and this will be reflected in those we meet.

When I returned home last night, I was energized and on fire! I was happy to make a difference and glad to interact with new persons. I felt connected to their mission and drive for improvement. I felt at one with myself and my purpose. I thought that if I could do this everyday for the rest of my life, I would have found eternal joy.

What if I tell you, that you can find this too? Believe in the dream for a better day. Stay tuned to this space for more.

Peace & Love

Character is Everything

Tonight's blog I promise is going to be a short one. This week had it's highs and lows and at

photo credit - C. K. Correia 2015. Al rights reserved
Mason Hall, Tobago

the end of it, I am grateful for the outcome. I've been awash with a sea of emotions since so much is going on simultaneously, but I'm excited about the journey. 

I've been grappling with declaring my faith in the public realm, but today I can't help but shout it from the rooftops that prayer never fails. So many fantastic things happening in my life and I owe it all to my faith. 

Something that's been on my mind for the past year has finally come to pass and it is only short of miraculous. Although I can't declare it publicly as yet, I am amazed at the power of intent. 

I've been even thinking about it on the ferry to Tobago recently and remembered asking a friend for his advice. I returned from my vacation with it still on my mind and as I drove to my destination, I got a call with the good news! A proposal I sent almost a year ago to date was discovered and well the rest is history. The person on the other end of the line declared: "Nothing before it's time." Wow!

As I watch other pieces of this great big puzzle of life fall into place, I stand back and smile. I silently and sometimes literally jump for joy. I can't believe that God is showering me with all these blessings despite my imperfection. I am happy and grateful for another chance to work on my frailties, put the past to bed and let my inner light shine. A couple wise people once told me: "Carolyn, it's all about character. Outward appearances are just that. They don't mean anything. Character is everything."

We are all a work in progress, but the genuine people will always see your true worth.

Peace & Love.

Have a great weekend.

Bring Back the Old Time Days!

I am trying to keep my blogs short from now on based on the reviews over the years. But sometimes you know you have soo much to say! Something happened today that I was debating whether to blog about. It should not even be an afterthought, but it got a second thought despite my intentions. 

photo credit - C.K. Correia All rights reserved 2010
Macqueripe Beach, Trinidad

On my way home from two meetings today I stopped by the mall to exchange a pair of shoes. As I was walking back to my car, some girls and a guy was sitting on a bench. I did not really look up to meet their gaze as I passed, since I was concentrating on navigating around the puddle of water in front of me. 

Still, I ALMOST slipped in my heels. As I passed by, something very derogatory was said by one of the girls. Something to the effect of: if I should fall, they would just laugh because I purposely stepped into the puddle of water!

I thought about this and how nice it would have been to react to this statement. Then I just shook my head and wondered if this is what our society has been reduced to. I spoke about this briefly in my first book - Thinking out Loud. I wondered what happened to the good old days our elders told us about. Then I remembered this is just one person. This is not a representation of the wider society. After my car accident last year, I realized that there are still good people who genuinely care about helping others. 

As my memoir unfolded, I also came to this realization on my own. I discovered this also (as far as) Grenada and Tobago. Though this second book is about my professional journey, I also disclosed some personal sentiments which accounted for my growth. I started off in one of the earlier chapters mentioning that I find that authenticity in many relationships (both platonic and romantic) are lacking, as so many I thought to be close to me have shattered my sense of trust. By chapter 11, I realized that the universe has always been working things out in my favour my whole life, if only I slowed down long enough to take notice. I was either being protected or prepared/strengthened for something greater.

Things are always working in the background. Every perceived bad occurrence in your life, is a blessing turned inside out. The cliché: "find a silver lining" holds true. Be still and quiet the internal "noise" and you would suddenly become aware of your disguised blessings. Can you also think of ways where this is happening in your life? Feel free to post a comment below.

Have a great weekend.

Peace & Love

ps I don't think I succeeded in keeping it short!

No More Living in the Past

I just spent the most fabulous 6 days on the sister-isle of Tobago. It was a very impromptu decision which are usually the best ones. What I didn't do, I forgot to...I was having too much fun to remember. I really came to do work, but that notion quickly disappeared. 

photo credit -  © C.K. Correia 2015 - All rights reserved
Englishman's Bay, Tobago

My friends back home told me I needed a brain cooler and almost without effort I found just that. I drove around the countryside villages of Moriah, Englishman's Bay, Castara, Parlatuvier, Bloody Bay, L'Anse Fourmi, Runnymede and exited thru the other end of the island to Roxborough, Belle Garden, Goodwood, Mt. St. George, Scarborough and back to my old home of Mason Hall. 

I went to Harvest (sharing of food and drink) and ate enough curry goat, provisions and buss-up-shut to feed a town:). I got to see my brother again and took in some limbo at Sunday School and caught up with (literally) ten more of my friends at a new liming spot. Still couldn't get to see everyone, but words can't describe how great it was seeing the ones I was able to meet up with. They feel like "home"...like if I've known them a lifetime. I have now returned to reality refreshed, relaxed, rejuvenated and ready to go again! I feel like I have a new lease on life.

Last night I used the ferry ride back home to unwind and today I skipped gym to attend my meditation class all rested to get the full effect. When I returned home, things that bothered me 6 days ago, took longer to take effect. I think I may be on to something. Tobago+Meditation[+Gym] = Recipe for serenity and a healthy body, mind and soul.

On my last trip in September, I thought I got over my Tobago tabanca, but I was wrong. Revealing some of those carefree, liberated awakenings I had when I lived there in 2013 in my memoir made me yearn for more. 

Somewhere along the 6 days, I realized that being back on the island and in my old apartment did not have the same effect. I still absolutely love the feel of the place, but I had a simple yet marked revelation: Time did not stand still! Not for me, nor for everybody else. Things are quite different two years later. 

I LOVED my life then, but I like the one I have now too: renewing old friendships, following my dream and all the new people that have come into my life are priceless joys. I can't recreate those identical moments and emotions 2013 brought just by being back in the same place. It's different. I can't live in the past. I must move on. Life goes on and I can't wait for all the exciting things that are in store. Like my mother always says: "Time waits on no man."

I can always go back when I need to. And I can always re-visit my memories of my Dad of when he was alive and visited me with my sister, as well as all my other adventures whilst there. Maybe I would even return to live one day, but for right now, I must live in the NOW and I have a feeling it's gonna be one heck of a ride. 

What are you waiting for? Are you living in the NOW?!! Feel free to share by posting a comment below.

Peace & Love

Happy March!

photo credit - C.K.Correia 2015

Giving thanks for another great week and an even better month ahead. Last week was fun. I am reminded of how good it is to have great people in your circle. 

Over the last week I reconnected with friends and caught up with a cousin I hadn't seen in a while. I remember my Dad taking me to meet her for the first time when I had just entered university. Those were good times.

Being back at her house over the last few days, I remember the times spent there with my father and all the nice memories we had. I reminisced about playing with her very large imported English 'doggies' as she called them, picking mangoes, grapefruits, pomeracs and drinking coca cola! Those were the days when I was thin and not as health conscious! That was before my wine days:) Now when I go to her house, I have Prosecco and still pick mangoes and talk about the good ole days. I also marvel at her still lovely and beautifully abundant bougainvillea flowers.

Being in a different surrounding with different people does wonders for your psyche. You get different points of view and step outside of your own little "Idaho" just for a minute. You realize that some things you were fussing over seems immaterial in the grand scheme of things and this too shall pass. You also value other people in your life more. 

Church does this too. I am now discovering this as I attended the Lenten Retreat last week. I decided I am going to rekindle my relationship with going to mass. I admit I may have been wrong. It's such a wonderful feeling to listen to the choir sing all those lovely songs I remember from school days. It also helps that my mother is in the choir :) This together with the humorous homily and welcome back hug from my parish priest seems to heal all the areas in my life that needs healing. 

So here's to March: May this month be filled with everything you NEED: peace, joy and love. Stay open to the endless possibilities and allow the right situations and people to find you. Reach for the sky and watch your dreams unfold. Oh and remember to Make it Count!

Peace & Love