Hello Girlfriends –

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
Marcel Proust

The eyes are the gateway to the soul is what we hear, but I have to ask myself are eyes sometimes blind?  Then, do we look with our hearts?   So do the eyes and the heart go hand in hand?

To have new eyes to me means to have a spirit of a child.  Watch a child as he/she discovers new things, new surroundings.  They are in awe; their eyes see things bigger than life.  As adults we have the experiences that have affected our perceptions and so we don’t see things like a child sees them.

Do you look into someone’s eyes when you talk to them?  Notice next time when you’re in conversation; does the person you are talking to look at you in the eyes?  Do you look at them in the eyes?  When you connect with your eyes, it brings you closer to the person you are talking to.  For me, when you are conversing, and you notice that person looking away from you it usually means they are distracted from the conversation.  I feel as if that person is not engaged and I feel as if they really don’t feel what you are saying is of any importance.  Am I on the only one that feels this way?  Please feel free to comment and let me know.

Life is all about communication and there are so many ways to communicate.  Our words, our eyes, our hand gestures (Italians are famous for this one), our facial expressions.  But one of the most powerful form of communication in my humble opinion, is the eyes…….. for the eyes are the gateway to our soul.

I often wonder why people turn away from looking at you when they speak.  Are they hiding something?  Do they have low self esteem?  Are they unsure of what they are saying?  Whatever the reasons, I know it’s very important to look one in the eye when you are speaking to them.  It validates them as a person, they feel as if you truly care and it shows respect for that individual.

So next time we meet – let’s look at each other in the eyes!

Remember, may the possibilities of today excite us all!

encouragement, Girlfriends, inspiration, Listening, motivation, Respect hearing, Listening, Respect

Hello Girlfriends – I had the good fortune of being in Negril in Jamaica over Christmas – while most of the country had snow, I was blessed with sunshine.  Not only did I have sunshine but I also had sunshine for the soul.  The Jamaican people are a warm people – maybe the warmth of the sun makes them this way but no less a warm people.  Before I left the states, I was told to be careful, be aware – I have felt safe and secure the whole visit.  I feel as if it’s our attitude that affects this.  If our attitude is indifferent and shielded – we portray this and how can anyone penetrate your soul?  My attitude was open, loving, accepting of another culture and I have never met a stranger.  I have had so many Jamaicans want to help me and befriend me. 

While staying at the Riu Tropical in Negril, I decided 2 days before my time to depart to go back to the states, I felt as if I didn’t have enough of Jamaica and so I asked the front desk for help.  Crystal got me connected to a place where she once worked called The Cherula Inn in Negril which accommodated me.  By the way, it was holiday season, this means slim pickings.  Upon my arrival at the Riu I quickly befriended Marsha and she gave me her phone number when I left the Riu and was going to the new location so I would have a contact while in Jamaica by myself.  Upon leaving, I invited Marsha to come see me at the Inn and we would hang out for a while together; a new “girlfriend” in Jamaica.  We ended up having dinner one night at a truly Jamaican restaurant and she opened up to me about her life and her desire to someday come to the states to raise her 3 year old son Mario.

The Jamaican people are wonderful – they believe in love, peace and pure joy.  They are in this life to help others and to give love.  There’s no mistake that they are an island unto themselves surrounded by water – like the ocean always there, always constant – a spring of continuous unconditional love it flows.  Their colors are red, green and gold; red representing blood, green representing the land and gold for the sun.  They speak Patois – which is a combination of French, Spanish and English.  They have phrases like “don’t worry yourself” – “no problem mon” – “Irie”, “everything cris”.  On Christmas day I treated myself to a gift of chocolate, coconut and coffee scrub and Swedish massage; – I asked Felicie from the Spa Salon – “why does everyone say no problem”?  She said it so nicely – In Jamaica problems are situations and it’s so much easier to handle situations. 

Let’s make our problems into situations in the states and wouldn’t it be nice to hear no problem mon more often?  They also hold their fists out and greet each other by hitting fists and saying, “RESPECT”!

What else could anyone want from life but Peace, Love and Respect! 

Remember, may the possibilities of today excite us all!

love, Respect, Truth love, Respect