While we are celebrating our Independence Day here in T&T, our North
American neighbours are celebrating Labour Day. There’s enough fun to go ‘round
for the long weekend of weekends. We must however remember to pause and reflect
on the meaning behind the celebration.
Really, I was taking a break from blogging, though this week
has revealed many lessons and a myriad of reasons to be grateful. What began as
a tense week, ended with my mind at ease.
At midnight, I broke my routine, tore
myself away from my desktop, dusted off my laptop and watched the rerun of the
MTV Video Music Awards (something I haven’t done in a long time). I did this while
I resurrected and edited my manuscript. The result was that many emotions
emerged…not sure if it was the awards or the manuscript! Lol
But I digress. I was never the preaching type, but these past few years have strengthened my faith soo much…to epic proportions. As usual I can’t disclose at this moment
precisely how amazing and wondrous my God is, but you must know by now that you can
trust my judgment…somethings are a given...He just is!! Wow! There must be a reason
everyone else is sleeping and I am up at 3 am.
I remember reading my psalms nightly last year when dealing
with some challenges and saw an improvement…however when I stopped, after a
while they reoccurred. Alas! I resumed and never stopped and they disappeared altogether!
In fact the situation reversed and completely went in my favour.
This January I
began reading my bible from cover to cover. (I haven’t been as persistent as
before within recent months however and it is gnawing away at the back of my
mind) I have seen even more blessings manifest itself in my life and the lives
of those around me.
This year has taught me about tolerance and patience.
Although I have not mastered it fully as yet…the lessons thus far have been
priceless. While waiting on my insurers to settle my claim after my car was
wrecked in my accident a couple months ago…I learnt more about patience and
faith while I was confined to these four walls of my home.
The lack of mobility
and independence and having to rely on a driver was frustrating to say the
least (and costly). A couple of my friends helped a bit, but having the
convenience of my own vehicle was irreplaceable.
I realized that the longer my claim was delayed; it gave me
more time to pray and plead with God for things to work in my favour. Voila! After
four weeks, my insurance company settled the entire claim with just a small
deductible…that’s nothing short of amazing, since everyone was telling me about their
horror stories. Although I was extremely tense and having a real hard time
coping and recovering emotionally from the accident, I never gave up hope.
This is just one of the many reasons to be thankful. Since
returning home, despite the pitfalls, I have become closer to my family and
spent quality time with my dad as he copes with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s hard
at times to watch since last year he was still very talkative and physically
strong. I try not to focus on the negative, but find solace in the positive.
Last night however a friend of mine was telling me about his
dad who is in his mid-to-late 80’s and still driving and moving around, with all
his sensibilities sharp as a tack. It’s sad…and we should not bemoan our fate
or compare our journey or struggles with others, but this made me think more
about the rapid decline and how much I missed out on last year while residing
on the sister isle.
However those experiences I’ve had whilst there and the people
I’ve met, led me to this moment and the person I am today. I cannot replace or
mistake the lessons I’ve learnt and how much I’ve grown. Although I am
cognizant of the fact that I still have a way to go and many more lessons to
learn in life, my friends and former colleagues have all remarked how I’ve
changed after living away from home for so long. In retrospect it’s
hard giving all that up, but this time too is precious and priceless.
After reading over my manuscript and preparing another book
proposal, I realize that I would have never been able to write from my heart, had I not taken up this job offer in Tobago last year. I am so grateful for all
of my experiences. I have removed my rose-coloured glasses and looked at the
experience thru a different lens.
With the advantage of perspective, as distance
and time separates me from the many scenarios that have played over and over
again in my head, I see the silver lining in all those situations and know
everything happened exactly as it should have for a reason. I have free will to
choose and I chose, learnt and grew. Today and tomorrow I can benefit from my
choices with the wisdom and experience of yesterday.
Earlier tonight I was talking to my mother and realized that
still waters run deep. I have lots to be thankful for this year… though it’s
not done yet. I’ve seen a couple people on social media talking about their
gratitude challenge. I don’t know about challenges, but I do this on my blog (and
in person) every now and then. In 2014, I give thanks for soooo much, which
includes but is not limited to the following:
1.Finding my deeper purpose for coming back home, making my dad smile, watching his improvements and taking my parents on outings…For this I am super happy and grateful.
2. The success of my dental surgery where I removed 4 wisdom teeth (yikes)…very difficult and technical surgery that I have been postponing for years due to sheer fright…With the expertise of a very skilled and experienced surgeon by the name of Dr. Ebenezer Scipio who hails from Tobago, but lived and studied in San Francisco (now living in Trinidad)…I say a GAZILLION THANK YOU’s!! (January)
3. The registration and launch of my business…I am grateful! (February)
4. The successful completion of research and scriptwriting for an environment Documentary! I am grateful (February)
5. Writing for a US based magazine: Elite Daily. This has surpassed my expectations…I am thankful! (February)
6. The successful pilot/launch of my Motivational Speaking Workshops and career (March)
7. The completion of 8 chapters of my new book…I am grateful! (April)
8. Being voted in and appointed to the Executive Board of a non-profit professional association in the capacity of Education/Research Officer and Editor-in-Chief of their annual HR magazine…what an exciting, fun and learning experience…I give thanks! (May)
9. My life being spared in what could have been a tragic and fatal road accident…saved by another Tobagonian who mitigated further catastrophes! For this I am grateful! (June)
10. My insurance settlement and repair of my vehicle like new…I give thanks! My straightener is also Tobagonian!! (July) (Seems I’m inextricably tied to Tobago!)
11. The completion of my Audio Book of Thinking out Loud…it’s been long in coming. I am elated and grateful! (July)
12. Getting over my past! It took a while but for this I am super happy and grateful! (August)
13. Always having ENOUGH of everything I NEED to keep me going! (All the time!!!)
Did not realize there was so much for which to be thankful!!
And there’s many more things in the works and more announcements to make in the
coming weeks and months…for this I am hopeful and filled with immense gratitude!
God is GREAT! I told you I was not kidding around!
I know God is working in your own life…even if you don’t
realize it now…but if you acknowledge Him and surrender all, you would have the
pleasure of watching Him do His work and work miracles in you life! You must be
persistent though…and continue to praise Him daily, hourly, moment by moment!
Infinite thanks as always for joining me on my journey…Please stay
tuned.
It’s now 4:30 am…I can now go to sleep :-)
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| photo credit - Bloody Bay 2013 Carolyn K. Correia All rights reserved |
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