Celine Elizabeth's Blog, page 2

One of my pieces.

A lot of people asked me if I have written other things. I have! So I'll share one with you all and I'll give a little back story on it. This short piece is one of my favorites. It is also a fairly recent piece. When I looked around at everything going on in this world, I decided to write on it. It was more of a vent on how humans treat their natural environment. So here it is! " Everything we have constructed, all the monuments we have built, have lost the war to the elements, on a foundation we never gave. All the mysteries before us, stay frozen in the thick veils of black ice. As if the stars within the vast heavens, hushed the secrets of the night. The wind changes our courses ever so slightly, each time a bird takes its flight. For when we aim our guns and arrows, its death be a sailor's plight.
There exists the discordant revolution of a tempest trapped within the mind. A tide we cannot control with currents we can't refine. The Earth knows all our secrets if we listen, she shall tell. Of all the blueprints we did draw, we did the best at raising hell. "
~ Celine Elizabeth - Humans in their Element ~ I love nature. I think that God's creations are vast and our minds cannot begin to comprehend its magnificence. When I take a hike, I'm left in awe at His works. Man was given the dominion over the Earth and while some men tried to preserve it, others didn't. I'll just insert some of my favorite pictures here from my adventures.
#trailblazing #TrinidadandTobago #naturelover #hiking Here's a bunch of pictures from some of the adventures I had in Trinidad. Okay so I'm not saying we didn't improve our living and that we should have lived in caves or something but don't you think we push it? How many animals have gone extinct? How many river courses diverted and forests removed?
How many things do we have to destroy for us to realize we are destroying ourselves in the process? This blog is a short one much like the piece itself. This style of writing is not one I was able to pen in my book, "Things That They Don't Tell New Christians", however, it is a style that I hope to release in future books.

Hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you think and if you'd like to see more pieces!

Have a blessed week!

~Celine Elizabeth~ #trinidad #writing #trailblazer

Letter to the Singles on Valentine's Day.

Dear Singles, That time of the year is approaching again. You know, the time where overpriced chocolates and large bouquets of flowers are on sale. The store windows are filled with fluffy teddy bears and floating hearts. The finest, glimmering jewelry have been set out in pocket denting rows and the words 'Valentine's Day' has been pasted over every store in the mall and streets like commercial graffiti. Besides sacrificing your favorite restaurant for that one night because it's been completely booked, it may be a bit tough depending on how you feel as a single person on that day. Valentine's Day has been set aside for those two people who are in love. Friends and family give each other gifts also but you may want a gift from a special person you have your mind on or you may want to give a gift to a crush. You may not have anyone in mind and may just be indifferent to the day or you may feel a bit sad about the day. All these feeling are perfectly valid but let me tell you what's not cool. What's not Cool.... 1. Being jealous/angry at couples who are celebrating Valentine's Day.
Don't discourage them about treating their significant other. I agree the prices on things are ridiculous and I personally find expensive gifts unnecessary in the name of a day but if a person wants to show his/her love by giving their significant other a nice bouquet or treating them for dinner, let them do it and let people enjoy things! Don't be jealous either, your day will come. Be happy for people. As a single person you may be able to observe and learn from the experience of others in a relationship. "Sometimes we only see the surface of relationships and not the whole network beneath it. We crave something based on the outward appearance when the inner part is rotten. Don't wish for other people's relationships, work on making your future relationship something enjoyable and meaningful for both you and your future person." 2. Don't be down on yourself. "Okay so you aren't in a relationship right now BUT it doesn't mean that you'll stay that way forever or that being single is a bad thing. Being single is a celebratory moment and one that tends to be overlooked." You have time to focus on, “You.” You see, when you are in a relationship, inevitably you are deprived of the "You time" you would have once had as the focus is now shifted on your significant other. Enjoy your time of being single. Learn to enjoy your own company. Would you enjoy a date with yourself? That's pretty important. If you can learn to be comfortable with yourself, it will make you truly know your worth. That's important in finding a partner who will appreciate you and treat you well. It also goes both ways. You need to treat them as you would like to be treated. But knowing about yourself will be much more appealing to the other person when you find that someone who falls in love with you. 3. Don't act like you're better than people who are in relationships. Acting like you're better than people on the whole is not a nice thing but boasting about your singleness is equally rude and annoying. Don't be so self-centered. Being single is not superior to being in a relationship, it's really just a phase of life. Respect your friend's state with their relationships as much as you respect your own state of singleness. So Remember this on Valentine's Day! #1 You are loved.
You may not have everyone in your life loving you as you deserved to be loved but thats okay. You may have some friends, some family, some teachers, some common strangers who consider you and love you. Most importantly you have a God who loves you, whether you believe it or not, He still does. Yes, it may be lonely, but someone cares for you, don't forget that and don't forget to share the love back at them. "Often times we overlook the people who show us the most love chasing after someone who doesn't love us back. Humans are like that sometimes....and maybe we got that from our Heavenly Father who came all the way to Earth to save men who didn't love Him the way He loved us." #2 Do show love to everyone Following up on my last blog, 'The Kind Killer' is great to show others kindness. Show people you care. I personally like seeing people surprised and seeing them smile. You never know what people are going through even the ones living right in your home. Show them love. It doesn't have to be an expensive gift but one from the heart. Let them know you care. #3 If you're a single girl Spend time with your friends/family or spend some alone time but don't feel pressured to have a boyfriend. Don't let anyone make you feel less of a girl/woman for not being in a relationship. Do a manicure or pedicure. Do your hair and makeup. Girl, treat yourself! You are beautiful, you are smart, you are royal. Don't let anyone take the crown Christ has given you off your head. One day, God will send the right person and you'll look back on the times you were single and be glad for the things you learned. #4 If you're a single guy Have a bro-night. Play some games. Watch some movies. But don't feel pressured to have a girlfriend. Don't let anyone make you feel less of a boy/man for not being in a relationship. People don't often say this, so I will. You are handsome, you are smart, you are talented, you are strong and you are also royal. Don't let anyone take the crown Christ has given you off your head. Don't let anyone treat you less than that. Don't let your whole mood be affected because of this day. One day, God will send the right person and you'll look back on the times you were single and be glad for the things you learned. So, have fun! Love, Laugh, Treat yourself, Treat your friends/families/teachers/whoever means a lot to you and always remember you are loved. Don't let this day shake you or your pocket too much. Have a Happy Valentine's Day! With much Love, ~Celine Elizabeth~ #ValentinesDay #Singles #Jesuslovesyou #Love

The Kind Killer

You know that saying, 'Kill them with kindness.' ? I find it becoming very rare. In fact, I find that the survivor rate is still pretty high. Since when did we become so mean? Proverbs 25: 21-22, states:
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. I'm intrigued by these two statements. It speaks about showing compassion to someone who has wronged you and receiving reward from God for doing so. In showing kindness to that enemy of yours, it will in turn cause them discomfort. This discomfort can maybe lead to them seeking forgiveness from you or just hating you more.....whichever comes first. So....What is it about an act of kindness that can "kill"? It reduces emotional distance between two individuals
Some people are fighting and sometimes losing, a hard battle. You may end up being their target for frustration relief. On some occasions, they need compassion in their life. An act of kindness can actually make the person feel less aggressive towards you. It can make them feel guilty for their actions toward you and build a bond. Not everyone will become your friend, some people will always hate you but at least you aren't stooping to their level. You show them they can't control/defeat you
Some people thrive off of knowing they can have a control over your emotions and set off your day. By showing them kindness, you show them they cannot have control over you. Your smile and your general aura will let them know you aren't going to be defeated by anything they throw at you. You will not shy away and you will not insult them to feed them any more ammunition to destroy you. When they see their antic has no effect on you.....They can become more aggressive in their attacks or they can just give up but who cares? Not you. Kindness attracts more kindness
Kindness attracts more positivity. When you're kind to someone, it makes them smile (generally). They may feel the urge to pass on the act of kindness. Someone who knows the situation of a tyrant coworker or family member, may be inspired by your acts of kindness towards your enemies. People tend to draw more towards you if you are kind. This can make your haters jealous. It makes you feel better
Being kind and compassionate towards others makes you feel good inside. It makes you smile, it lifts your mood. It makes you connect more with God when you realize He showed you compassion when you were against Him once. It improves your life holistically. Less stress. Less headaches. You can actually enjoy life. "But to be a kind killer, your kindness must be genuine." Your kindness won't be true kindness if you go in thinking, "This is soooo going to hurt/irritate my enemy!" In other words, you shouldn't be trying to hurt the same person who's currently hurting you. You shouldn't be trying to strategically shoot them in the foot for kicking you. Your kindness should never have an ulterior motive.
Don't be Passive-aggressive either. Passive-aggressiveness is a tendency to engage in indirect expression of hostility through acts such as subtle insults, sullen behavior, stubbornness, or a deliberate failure to accomplish required tasks. If you're giving someone a gift, don't throw words at them when you do. Don't give them the silent treatment either. That's not kind. Be kind because its the right thing to do. When I was in form 1, my teacher, the late Zennie De Silva, always made us repeat a quote and it stuck with me even to this day. She told us of all her teachings, this should be one that we carry with us for life. It was this. "It doesn't matter who's looking at you, you do the right thing because it's the right thing to do."
~Zennie De Silva~ Showing kindness to someone who has hurt you is a difficult thing but it's not impossible. You'll have situations in life where you get hurt for showing kindness but do it anyway. It's the right thing to do and the best thing to do. It gets easier by the Grace of God. Forgive, be cheerful, smile, go forth and kill them with your kindness. ~Celine Elizabeth~

ExperIences

I love to hear stories from people, young and old. Maybe it's the writer in me but I absolutely love it. I love to see the passion people put into relating their experiences especially when they are moved with genuine passion. It makes me connect with them. In their happy moments, frightful moments and even sorrow. Growing up in Trinidad, you hear a lot of interesting stories. Regardless of if you wanted to hear it or not. Trinidadians are natural born storytellers. It runs wild in our blood much like the sound of a steel pan, the strong cravings of curry, and the tolerance for the hot sun. We aren't afraid to use our facial features, our body, the objects around us and the entire space available at that point to tell a story. We are really entertaining. Even if the story is somewhat exaggerated, at the end, you would be wishing you were there to see it unfold. This is one of the things I'm absolutely proud of as a Trinidadian. Our humor and the ability to connect through our unique way of relating an experience. It can happen anywhere, waiting on the bus route for a maxi with strangers, sitting in a doctor's office, a casual conversation with co-workers and even when you are ordering food. Experiences, my experiences and the experience of another, is something that I have come to cherish. As a writer, it helps me to understand people better so I can write effective characters. It opens my eyes to new situations, teaches me things I never learned, helps me not to make the same mistakes that others have and it helps me understand people better. It builds me and in turn I believe the experience of another, has an effect on my experiences, current ones and th ones I'll live through in the future. Make it Personal : Turn Experiences into ExperIences While I have to live my own life, I can learn from the experiences my parents had. In turn whenever I am faced with a decision, I must be able to experience the consequences of my action, whether it be good or bad. Maybe one day, someone will have their own experience and remember mines when they've been faced with a similar situation. I'm not saying go make decisions in reckless abandon just to earn experience so you can tell a bunch of people about the time you swung on a vine over a precipice and nearly plummeted to your death, narrowly missing a piece of bamboo that could have impaled as you slid onto an Ant's nest a few inches away from the tree that prevented you from sliding into the void below (Yes, that was a true story from a relative of mine. See what I meant when Trinidadians have interesting experiences?) I'm saying. Don't be afraid to try new things, talk to new people and learn. Experiences come in all different forms. Learning how to react to a difficult situation at work. Listening to an old war veteran give accounts of his time on the battlefield. Praying with people on their death beds in hospitals. Going to a new place. Trying new food. Listening to a teenager's account of his day and hardships in school. Helping a friend start up their business. Traveling to a new country. Taking a Spa day for your hardworking self. Trailblazing. Telling that someone you love them. We're gonna experience things until we die. Might as well share them and learn from the experiences of others. Gather them and create them. Make your own experIences. Don't only live based on the stories people tell you. Don't live in fear thinking that someone's experience will be the same as yours. Don't think that you'll get brutally rejected by the girl you love because your best friend was embarrassed in front of the whole school by his crush. While it's good to learn and use wisdom in whatever comes your way. Some stories are just that. Stories. Go out. Do things you enjoy doing. Love. Live for Jesus. And don't be afraid to learn. Life won't stop throwing things at you. What you do with it is how you'll tell your story....or how you'll hide it away. Go with God in whatever you do. Make your story count and then share it with others and if you can, share it like a Trini. ~Celine Elizabeth~

Smile!

Often times in life we are faced with circumstances that steal our smiles. This past week, I was faced with some difficult situations in work and home that had my smile fading. I found myself sitting at my desk, feeling very detached from reality. Very out of it. I'm usually a very cheerful person so experiencing an emotion out of my usual personality makes me squirm in my own skin. But I'm human. It qualifies me even more to be a Christian. We often tell ourselves we shouldn't be down or angry or frustrated or even tired because Christ is our strength. While I agree Christ is our strength in times of darkness, we can't be ashamed of our feelings and neglect them either. Just because we are Christians doesn't mean we aren't allowed to feel....To be discouraged sometimes or upset over injustice. The difference is knowing that in all your feeling, you shouldn't be hurting yourself or the people around you. It's easy to fall into that place of coming down hard on yourself. When the world feels likes it's crumbling, it's easy to feel like you should crumble to. Don't stay in that place. You need to remind yourself that Christ crumbled so you can be rebuilt. Made into a new creature. So that even when you are down, He will help you build yourself back up. I had to remind myself of that when I got the gift you see in the picture above. God created me as a masterpiece to be beautiful in all circumstances. His joy can only be my strength when I allow myself to realize that God has a plan. Life doesn't bring favorable results all the time but even in these times a smile can make that moment more beautiful. The cup was a nice gift I got from a pleasant lady who comes by work ever so often to visit. It meant the world to me when I read it. I told myself, I need to smile again because life is more than the problems I face. There are things that I can find everyday, worth smiling for. When you smile, others can't help but smile as well and that may be the smile that makes their day. It was as though God placed it within our being, deep inside our human code, to process a stranger's smile and output the same. Why should I break the loop? So today's.......No......This year's challenge is to smile. Find things in each day to smile for. I recently started writing down the good things that happened in my day and I plan to re-read it at the end of each month. I catch myself smiling more and more as I do. Try it and Smile! ~Celine Elizabeth~

Finding inspiration while on vacation

You can't write if you aren't inspired. “For me, inspiration comes in different forms. Listening to stories, visiting new places, trying new foods and ultimately experiencing new adventures.” When I was writing, Things That They Don't Tell New Christians, I often found myself becoming exhausted. I was locked in my room for hours, researching and writing. Between the "Aha!" moments and the occasional writer's blocks, I would feel like there was something more that had to be done. Eventually, I realized that I needed to take a different approach. I needed a
different kind of inspiration in addition to the one that had me writing in the first place. Inspiration that's all around...... Comes from above. The reason I had started writing was because I had witnessed both the highs and the lows of ministry. At that point, I was still trying to come to terms with a couple of my friends who had walked away from Christ. As a Christian, I often wondered why people left the church. I would say, "If Christ is the answer then why are people walking away?" My motive was driven by God's Grace and the hope of educating young Christians in a way that the church may have failed to so do. Though God's love had inspired me, I felt like maybe I didn't show my friends enough love. Maybe the church didn't help them enough. Maybe that's why they choose to move on. As my thoughts raced, I began to think, am I even Christian enough to write this book? Am I even qualified to do this? I thought that maybe I needed a break from writing. I decided to travel to the countryside and relax a bit with my family. I could gather my thoughts and really sort out what I wanted to do. I only had my experiences as a young Christian, I didn't even have a job or a degree yet I was venturing in the realm of literature. Christian literature at that. I was terrified. It was there that I realized even when I wasn't even looking for inspiration. Inspiration was already around me. It found me in the way that the wind blew, the way that the birds chirped, the way that the trees shook. Everything I could see, hear and feel was indescribable and God had made it. And God had made me. The God who qualifies the unqualified, made me. He was the reason I was doing this in the first place. When I least expected it, inspiration had found me and I decided to get back to writing. What's the point? “Take a breath and use it to say a prayer.” I wrote all that to say: For me as a writer, it's easy to get involved in the what ifs and the alternative paths that may arise from decisions we encounter. It's easy to over-analyze and get lost in what we are doing (and lose some pounds at it). We just need to take a breath and use it to say a prayer. We need to go on an adventure once in a while and use it to gain new experiences and new perspectives. We need to stop blaming ourselves and others and just go for what we set out to do. Push pass the fears, push past the stress and just allow ourselves to be inspired. So Get Inspired It is a process and it doesn't happen overnight but if writing is your passion, then do what you love! Vacationing helps! The change in scenery is a good thing. Sometimes vacationing allows us to get past our fears and comfort zones. Experience is a great teacher especially if you got God carrying you through it. So go for it!

~Celine Elizabeth~