A Labour of Love

I'm back after what seems like forever. But forever is too long when you're doing what you truly love. 

Can't believe another week has ended. Thank God for life!

I must first say that I am constantly in awe by the talent that abounds all around me. More on this in a minute...

Today was one of my final sessions at the studio as I wrap up the production of my audio book. I feel happy and proud of myself for all of my hard work. I started this journey in December 2012, but had to put the project on hold while I relocated to the sister isle for a year. 

I have since resumed the project on Good Friday of this year and revamped most of the book, adding new energy and passion for perfecting it into a labour of love. 

I'm amazed at how my artform has developed by leaps and bounds. I guess Tobago really did me some good! 

This book has really become something that is very dear and close to my heart since it brings to life the written word.

Time brings us wisdom through reflection and experience. Each year brings me one step closer to coming full circle to realizing my ambitions, my full potential and making a greater difference in the lives of others. 

It is important that we can 'step outside of ourselves' so to speak and see ourselves how others see us. When we do this, I believe that it shows true growth and maturity. We no longer have a myopic view of life, but we can see far beyond the reaches of 'self.' 

It is only then that we can attempt to work on our weaknesses and improve our lives and relationships with others. Of course others must want what you want in order to progress forward in a healthy way.

While I am reminded daily that there are so many superbly talented people everywhere, I am grateful for my own inspiration. Just to give a few examples: my producer played a music video for me the other day, for which he composed the music and wrote the lyrics of a song and I was in awe by this talent...

I learnt just today that there is a playwright living in the street next to mine...I read a script for a local film a few weeks ago in one night and it blew me away by the talent that exists in not only sweet T&T but the world over. And a friend of mine is about to publish her second business book...huge...

The internet is my muse and sometimes I lay awake thinking of all the things I'm missing out on while in bed! lol. I have subscriptions to numerous blogs and newsletters and I'm amazed at how some persons have full time jobs and families, yet find the time to do so much! Write blogs every day, articles every week and a plethora of other things...truly inspiring.

I have since shared clips from my audio book with a few friends and on social media and the reviews have been heart warming. The feeling is indescribable when you know that people appreciate your work and it helps them in some way. Heck when I listen or read some of my own words written in years gone by I can hardly believe that I wrote it..it is truly a gift...I inspire myself (now in my old age)! (joking)

Over the past few weeks and months (and even years), I always share my passion and market my products with whomever I meet. I guess it's part of being an entrepreneur. More recently people have asked me where my inspiration comes from and how I would describe myself. This is a topic I have exhausted in previous blogs, but for the newbies I will just say it is a gift from God. As I type this I do not have to even pause to think of what next to say. I thank the Lord every day for blessing me in spite of my imperfections for I know He is the only judge and always knows best. 

I am a born writer first and foremost...turned author and motivational speaker and finally communications consultant. I have stepped off of my ledge and though it's a process, I am confident that I am on the right path since many wonderous things are working in the background...some seen and some unseen. Some I can talk about openly and others I will wait for the right time.

I don't know what the future holds, but I sure do hope it's taking me to a place where the sky is the limit. I have infinite hope that dreams do come true. You can't lay down, make excuses and procrastinate and expect things to happen magically or feel perturbed that others are progressing. It's a lot of work and determination. Sometimes it is slow in coming but "the race is not to the swift...but he who endures to the end." Ecclesiastes 9:11

You must have the will to succeed and move ahead despite ALL the odds and it's all I know. Even if I fail I know it's not for lack of trying for I would have given it my best shot. But in this world, there are only two kinds of people: the dreamers and the do-ers. Sometimes it's one of the same person, but the difference is that the do-ers don't ever stop till it's done. And they are the ones that seldom fail.

Keep on doing you and Make it Count~

Peace & Love,
Carolyn

Never Too Late

 Here's another sneak peek of my audio book which will be available on compact disc and iTunes:

Never Too Late

Listen here:

                 

You can own your paperback or kindle copy on Amazon: 

http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Out-Loud-Carolyn-Correia/dp/1105184382

46,000 HITS!

Hello my lovelies, 

I just wanted to take the time out to say a heartfelt 

THANK YOU! 

for 

 46,000+ HITS and counting!

It's been a long journey...

I just love me some google analytics: 450+ hits overnight 

and throughout today Sunday...Ah-may-zing!

For the past month or so I've seen a resurgence in page views and I feel honoured and blessed to have so many new and returning visitors to my blog! 

I reckon I must be doing something right :)

Please keep the comments, retweets, shares and ratings coming!

I thank you!

USA, France, Turkey, Russia, Sweden, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Ukraine, Netherlands and more....

You may also follow me on facebook on my author's page: 

https://www.facebook.com/ThinkingoutLoudbyCarolynCorreia?ref_type=bookmark

or on twitter @lyncorr

And if you still want more, you can check out my book Thinking out Loud 

on Amazon here:

http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Out-Loud-Carolyn-Correia/dp/1105184382

or at local bookstores: RIK and Metropolitan Booksellers

Much Peace & Love,

Carolyn xo

A Second Chance at Life

It’s July and so much can change in the blink of an eye. 

I am infinitely grateful to have lived to see another month that is so special to me. This Monday I had a near death experience yet again that helped me to appreciate the value and purpose of me being alive.

photo credit - lerablog.org

Since then I have somewhat lost my zeal to write and continue my projects that I was working on so relentlessly.

Before I divulge the details of my trauma, I will silently acknowledge all the people that have expressed concern and assisted in my time of need. 

This experience has given me a greater appreciation for the people and things that are most important. It also taught me to stop stressing about the irrelevant things that don't matter. 

It is also a warning to curb bothersome behaviours and thought patterns and as my guardian angel (in human form who came to my rescue) said to me: slow down metaphorically. I have since started shutting down my computer at 10pm and limiting the extended hours of work.

In the few seconds of lucidity when I thought that It. Was. All. Over. all I could think about is my family and how hard it would be for them when they found out. But thank God I say my prayers every day and night and I was uninjured despite the gravity of the situation.

I will not divulge the details of my almost fatal experience right here in this blog today, but I needed to vent on some other issues and I feel that this is the best platform to do so as someone else may be able to identify.  It’s strange people who are close to me always marvel at how much I have overcome in my short time on this planet, despite the odds. Most of all I have always had to deal with negativity in my life...all around...always.

I need very little to make me happy and high on the list is a close inner circle of genuine family and friends and my first love: writing. Sometimes the two don’t mesh but I always listen to my heart and do what it tells me to do. 

Over the years and even more recently, I have been discouraged and criticized harshly for my style of writing and the contents (mostly by members of my own family believe it or not)…either for writing too impersonal and later too personal or just for writing and the place it is coming from! 

It’s been very difficult to digest the source of these disparaging and personal attacks, despite numerous attempts to explain how happy and buoyant it makes me feel and how effortless it is to write when it comes from a natural source of inspiration and life experiences/revelations. 

But after I weighed all the factors, I decided to listen to the many good reviews, comments and words of gratitude that I have received over the years by my friends, acquaintances, customers, lecturers even my doctors and other persons with whom I do business. The statistics on my blog and social media accounts from countries all around the world for the past 6 years also act as an impetus to continue doing what I do.

I must come to terms with the fact that not everyone is made up the same way. Not everyone would appreciate your view or like the same things you like. Not everyone is equipped to move beyond their present state and have the ability to rationalize logically and overcome physical and mental obstacles. And not everyone has the willpower to move beyond the limitations that are sometimes just a mental, transient state if you condition your mind correctly and listen to your heart. 

Then other times plainly and simply, people would not be happy for you for their own personal reasons and that’s their prerogative. Yet at times, it’s very disturbing and hard for me to grasp these things: why persons would want to lash out repeatedly in very ugly ways...for no apparent reason, despite you simply presenting the truth and cold hard facts about a situation. It’s difficult to wrap my head around the reasons why things would get so out of control and arbitrary as if I was not even a part of the discourse! 

I have however devised a mechanism to avoid such toxicity in my life…which I wrote about on Elite Daily a few months ago: http://elitedaily.com/life/4-peaceful-ways-to-rid-your-life-of-toxic-people/. I need to refer to that many times so as to internally deal with troubling issues like this. It's wise to keep my distance and avoid close contact at all costs.

There was an advertisement on television when I was growing up and the slogan was: “Patience is virtue and virtue is grace”…school children of my time, never forgot that…it was the butt of many jokes! I found out it was later attributed to Dick King-Smith.

Yes indeed, I need to distance myself from negativity so as to find my centre and realize my ambitions/purpose which we were all enabled with the power to achieve, if only we tap into that inner strength and learn to put the past behind. 

We are all on a learning curve and I have found that I can use the negativity to improve and push even further to achieve all I was meant to be in life.

As I take this time to heal and unwind, I shut out the external “noise” and continue to work on me. I was given not only a second chance, but a third chance at life. I plan on making the most of it.

Cheers to the weekend and Happy 4^th July to my American friends!

Every Day Can’t Be Sunshine And Daffodils: What To Do When Life Gives You Lemons

First published on Elite Daily. Read it here>>


http://elitedaily.com/life/motivation/everyday-cant-sunshine-daffodils-life-gives-lemons/622339/



With the many feel-good articles circulating on social media (including my own), I thought I’d deviate from the norm and try something new.


To think that every day will always be sunshine and daffodils is to truly live in a bubble. Some of us may think that life owes us something and that we deserve a free ticket to a smooth ride, but this is real life, where things don’t always work out the way we expect them to.


I am also guilty of sometimes expecting everything to always go my way because growing up, it simply did. I often have rude awakenings to sudden unexpected twists and harsh realities of people and life. What do you do when this happens?


When asked why bad things happen growing up, my dad always told me that the world is made up of the positive and negative; there must always be good and bad. Having grown up, I can appreciate this simple, yet profound wisdom. Oftentimes, we don’t realize that the bad things can be good things turned inside out.


There must be bad days for us to appreciate the full splendor of the good ones. If things were always wonderful, we would just take them for granted, as there would be nothing with which to compare them. There is always a silver lining, which we can see if we look carefully behind the grey clouds.


There is always a lesson or something positive to be derived from every situation in life. The (perceived) bad things also happen to save us from making mistakes, bad choices or to prepare us for something better to come.


You may have experienced this when you did not get the job you wanted, only to learn that your friend who was selected for the job, which included bad bosses, long hours and unfair working conditions, left after one month.


When life disappoints you (and it will), it is a wise practice to remind yourself to be thankful for small mercies because things can be a whole lot worse. There are many people who are not as fortunate as us.


Our situation is always relative to someone else’s. When we realize the magnitude of our blessings, we suddenly realize that we are sometimes guilty of making mountains from molehills.


Not to discount the sources of our pain and discomfort, but we must be grateful for what we have because someone else will always be going through something worse.


I believe that we are each born with unique gifts and have the power to change and empower lives. When we “dig deep” within ourselves to realize our worth and find our gifts, the possibilities for achievement are endless.


Yes, there will always be days when we doubt ourselves or question the paths our lives will take, but if you really search within yourself, you will be able to find the strength and willpower to rise beyond your circumstances and state of mind to be able to achieve greatness and prove the naysayers wrong.


Another way to stay afloat in this world of uncertainty and competition is to never compare yourself to anyone else. Every person has his or her own crosses to bear and this journey is completely different.


This perceived success is only relative to our own. No one knows what sacrifices someone else endured to get to where he or she is and what life is really like for someone else when the doors are shut to the outside world.


In fact, what we have for ourselves may also be pretty wonderful if we really stop to consider it and many others may see it that way, too.


If we concentrate on our own journeys and make the most of what we have to get where we want to go in life, we can transform those lemons and soon see that the sun will shine again, as our daffodils are now in full bloom.

One More Try: Is it Worth It?

Here's a little of what's been keeping me busy....Hope you enjoy this clip from my soon to be launched Audio book of Thinking out Loud...

              

          

Excerpt from Thinking out Loud © 2014 C.K.Correia

All rights reserved.

Paperback available on Amazon >> http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Out-Loud-Carolyn-Correia/dp/1105184382

Locally at RIK and Metropolitan Booksellers.

Coming soon to iTunes

It Was the Best of Times...It Was the Worst of Times

This week was one of revelations and learning. Some were pleasant experiences and a handful not so much.

photocredit-www.angeranddepression.com

I can’t thank God enough for all the amazing people in my life that lighten my mood regardless of the weather and put up with all the various colours, shades and foibles of my personality...

I feel a third publication coming on (maybe under a pen name…any ideas? lol)…but this will take some time and outpouring of new energy…still a distant thought. Need to focus on book #2 and getting that one published. Although I must admit that the most unexpected and unplanned projects sometimes steal the show.

I decided to call it a night an hour ago (early for a change) but here I am because blogging and writing is what I know and love. This fuels my energy and desire to continue. The week ended on a good note with some professional business advice/meeting with an old colleague. The law of attraction is at work: I am thankful that I have people around me that are always willing to offer support when needed. I keep focused and ask God for guidance and He ALWAYS sends the answers without fail and for this I give thanks. This in itself is a blessing to me and I do consider myself lucky.

More about my lessons that I can divulge…I can never wrap my head fully around the human mind, although I wear myself out trying many-a-time. We are somewhat responsible for the negative things that happen to us based on our choices, but a friend of mine said today that sometimes we take a chance on something that seems harmless and authentic by all appearances. At the time, we may never imagine the outcome or impact our decisions can have on our lives in the future.

Even though we are beyond that point, never in our wildest dreams did we expect life to suddenly surprise us with this inexplicable twist of reality, although sometimes it provides the closure we need (or so we hope). Standing here with the wisdom of our past and present day reality, sometimes we realize that our old self was a bit wise and even ‘psychic’… if only we had listened to that inner voice and trust our instincts. But you live…you learn…and hopefully adjust your radar and ability to make wiser more cognitive choices in the future.

It’s easy to let those negative experiences taint us and prevent us from trusting again, but sometimes we have to give thanks for our small blessings and mercies. Things could always be worse and no matter how dismal or painful it seems, there’s always a silver lining. Once you live a certain way, keeping God in the forefront and staying true to yourself, I am convinced that you will be shielded from the harsher ‘blows’ that can prove to be very real realities and tragedies if you did not choose to do this.

That’s as much as I can muster to share at this point in time. Many other things happening simultaneously. Stay tuned to this space as my journey unfolds for updates on the progress of my book and other exciting projects.

Always busy with a thirst to create and share. With a new strategic direction for my business, I have a renewed interest in making it a success…Of course research is a vital component and an ongoing effort for the truly creative entrepreneur who is always seeking to reinvent themselves. Once a week I plan to devote time to just reading and no social media and email...let's see if I can live up to this!

As I throw caution to the wind and search for renewed hope in mankind, I accept the realization that I first revealed in my first book which is that “you cannot change people or the outcome of events in your life no matter how hard you try”…I can however work on me and doing what’s best for myself. Struggle vs Acceptance….

I leave you with the following words of Dwight D. Eisenhower: “Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it." -Dwight D. Eisenhower

Wise man

Cheers

What Would Really Make you Happy?

Monday greetings to all,

Welcome to my new and existing readers...I'm really happy for the growing number of page views over the last few weeks...

Thank you, Thank you...THANK YOU!

This is a long one but read to the end, you will be 'happy' you did.

photo credit - thebeafyblogs.com

Today I logged on to Forbes magazine to do some research on another topic (not blog related) and the following quote appeared on the top left corner of my screen:

“Life is long to the miserable, but short to the happy. ” — Publilius Syrus

I stared at my screen for a few minutes and pondered the seemingly straightforward thought. I quickly proceeded to the website and forgot about it. 

Then tonight after connecting with an old friend on whatsapp whom I haven't spoken to in quite some time, I came back to my computer and searched for the same quotation. 

What prompted this? I have no clue...something deep in my subconscious probably needed to be resolved and the inspiration appeared.

What makes a life really worth living? What constitutes a so-called "good life"...I believe I blogged about this a few months ago but not in depth. What makes some folks seem to lead a happy life and then others feel like they get the short end of the stick? Why do some aspects of your life go so great and other parts seem to not get the sunshine and rain needed to activate genuine, sustained, happiness and longevity that others seemingly enjoy! 

Ahh yes...the answers to these questions some of us ask at some point in our lives is lost on me. I wish I could quench my thirst and yours for a quick solution and ready answer, but I will attempt to offer my knowledge and understanding on the topic. I am being guided by my inspiration....so this is gonna be a long one!

There are many happiness theories based on scientific research (skip this excerpt if you're not into the science). One such theory suggests that: Apart from exceptionally adverse situations, life circumstances such as wealth, education and employment only account for roughly 10% of your overall happiness. Genes account for 50% and the remaining 40% is under our control and based on how we conduct our life to make ourselves happy. (I expound more on this in my book Thinking out Loud in the article: Finding Your Peace....you can check it out on Amazon or RIK!) 

Putting science aside for the moment, my experience provides the following revelations:

Happiness is in the eyes of the Beholder 

Your idea of happiness and mine may be two totally different things. What you may appreciate and value in life, may mean very little to me and vice versa. If you are happy with YOUR life no matter how different it is from your neighbour or friend or family...you need NOT compare or caste aspersions or allow anyone to make you feel that you have accomplished less by way of your happiness and somehow not entitled to feel the way you feel. 

Know what you want in life and Go after it

Many people get bogged down with everyone else's opinion but their own. You are the sole contributor to your happiness. Stop listening to other people including the media! I've stopped doing this when it comes to my writing and career goals. If you want something badly enough, don't stop till you get it...unless it is illegal, immoral or poses some danger to you or someone else. 

If you think the achievement of this end will make you happy, then by all means. However it is important to bear in mind that happiness comes from within and you can't expect to fill your life with material, transient things or people to make you happy. 

Things are fleeting...People come and go and what's left is US. Which brings me to my next point. However, before I go on, it is fair to acknowledge that these things do add to our enjoyment of life...but they are not permanent fixes or a magic elixir to our lasting happiness. 

If we are not happy inside; the world of riches, a drop dead gorgeous spouse or fabulous career won't make you happy for long. We may also be disappointed by the things that people do or our inability to attain certain things at a certain point in time, but sometimes the answers to these questions don't come right away...

We must find that closure and inner strength which tells us that everything that happens in your life is JUST as it SHOULD BE and everyone would get what's theirs in time...good or bad...the latter is karma...if you don't believe in karma...maybe you can relate to the biblical adaptation: you reap what you sow (Gal. 6:7).

Enjoy your own company 

A few people said to me that they don't like living on their own, but I briefly lived on my own and it was one of the happiest and most peaceful times of my life. Sometimes I wish I still was. I enjoyed it immensely. When I was totally by myself in my apartment, I felt empowered and at peace (despite being surrounded by many trees and pitch black night!). 

When I went out or had guests over I also had fun, but if I had stayed home the entire time I would also be totally okay with that too, because I thoroughly enjoy my own company. There was a time long ago when I always needed people around me, but I'm so glad that I have evolved into the person I am today for I am better for it. When you learn to be happy with yourself, external circumstances don't matter and you learn to make others happy. And if they do leave...hopefully the pain won't be that great. Time heals all wounds.

Do what you were Created for

I can never say this enough, but now I have the proof I need! Although I always admit that I am not an avid church-goer, I do pray a lot...many times a day in fact...and a prayer doesn't have to be long in order to be meaningful. I meditate and reflect deeply on my thoughts for many years and this year I finally heeded the advice to start reading my bible from cover to cover...I have now reached the book of Numbers. 

In this way, I get the answers I'm seeking...sometimes I turn to my friends for support in my trials (which we all have) and I must pay tribute to them...I have the BEST friends all across the globe! You know who you are...even if I don't talk to all of them often, when I do, it's like no time has passed. The ones whom I speak to daily are my rock and I couldn't ask for more! 

Anyway, I digress: last weekend my mother gave me this newsletter that my parish priest Father John wrote (bless his heart) and he quoted the scripture I needed to support my claims and writing all these years and it says: "Each one has received a special gift; use it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold Grace of God." (1 Peter 4:10) Wow! I memorized it in less than a minute!

When you acknowledge and find your special gifts/talents and do what you were truly created for...you will find fulfilment and happiness by helping others. Your talent can be manifested in several different shapes and forms. This is my happiness right here...it's not meant to be bottled up and taken to the grave...to me that's an abomination to the Lord who has so blessed you for a purpose. 

The only route to true happiness is to share what you have been given and you will receive ten fold...the rewards are endless. You would be bursting with energy and joy. Of course you are human and you may fall short along the way, but once something is done for the right reasons and it is coming from a good place, you will evolve into a better person in time. And no one can dispute your gift.

I guess there's soo much more to say...as my mind is now in overdrive...but I will leave you with this:

• Follow your heart for it will never lead you wrong. 

• Do good and good will follow you. 

• Don't harbour ill-feelings, get to the bottom of a story if you can...there's always two sides, whichever way...just release and let go. 

• Forgive...as hard as it may be sometimes...keep your distance if you have to, but just release in your mind and heart and MOVE ON! It's the healthiest thing to do.

• Don't live in the past and compare your life to someone else...concentrate on transforming your own life into what you want it to be. You have the power to do it. Everyone has their own struggles and crosses to bear...Like my mother always says...you don't know what that other person did to get what they have.

I will add...you don't know what their journey is about...and how they really feel inside and what goes on when the doors are shut to the outside world. All that glitters is not gold and everything is not as it seems!

DO YOU and MAKE IT COUNT!

As always, if you can relate, please do post a comment and rating! Writers value these things you know! It lets us know that our work is not in vain and there are actually real life people out there who share a similar story and can appreciate the message. 

My friends always send me lovely comments which mean the world to me and provide the impetus to continue writing, but every now and then, I get a comment from someone I don't know that just makes my day and allows me to appreciate my gifts even more. 

I am far, far from perfect but I continue to work on me and graciously receive.

Peace & Love,

Carolyn

If you enjoyed this you may "like" me on facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ThinkingoutLoudbyCarolynCorreia?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmark

Happy Father's Day!

Tribute to all Dads especially my Dad

He…

Gives you the best advice without even asking what the problem is

Taught you how to ride a bike and drive

Believes in you even if no one else does

Is the best storyteller and comedian of all time

Knows when you need a hug or a good laugh

Knows how to fix most things around the house and taught you what you know about positive and negative in a battery pole

Can be counted on to find a solution to any problem

Taught you the value of a dollar and the importance of saving for a rainy day

Makes the best sugar cake and punches in the world

Knows how to keep the peace

Dad we love and thank you.


Excerpt from Thinking out Loud...Read more here>>http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Out-Loud-Carolyn-Correia/dp/1105184382