Akosua Dardaine Edwards's Blog, page 220

Day 4 in Mercer's Creek

"Be daring, be different, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers..." — Cecil Beaton, photographer




Highlight of my day, the roving rasta man that makes organic smoothies! He came and out and presented a pitch for his business and then returned with a blender fruits and vegetables and handed me one wicked smoothie! Oh man! the thing was heavenly! Don't know what he put in it but beet and carrots were mentioned! Loved his whole vibe! And what made it even better is the story behind it! A second chance in our so called civil society! Like who among us have never made mistakes? Like who among us wouldn't want a second chance when we have atoned and decided to do a positive thing? The judgement and finger pointing, so ego filled and  a waste of time!
So yea, that was my highlight!!
The market was interesting as well but the smoothie and story sealed it for me!
What is it that they say? Who among us can cast the first stone? I know now I have stopped pelting them as of today, thank you JahShowers Punches!
Peace!

Perhaps I will look at it differently

Perhaps today I can find one thing that seems dark and remember to say, "Where I see darkness, I choose to see the light." Perhaps I can remember to look for love instead of condemnation and judgment. Perhaps I can look on something that seems like a curse and learn to count it as a blessing. Let me begin in small increments, and in lessons close to home. ACIM

We are off to the craft market to conduct an all all day exercise today. We are supposed to chat with the entrepreneurs there and find out what works well and what is not working too well! Then turn it into a report!Looking forward to it, meeting new friends and being outside! After that, its time for some sightseeing!

Yesterday was quite inspirational, worked with some juvenile offenders and school"dropouts" who are now running their own business! What I will always remember is the light in their eyes when they spoke about their business. The passion, the love! One young lady spoke about how "society" rejected her and when she is in her garden planting everything makes sense, her hands connect with the dirt and it all falls away and when its harvest time she can see her labour of love manifest itself into something useful , "what more can I ask for?" she says! her laughter, and her joy was medicine! And she was outside jut chilling! Didn't even come inside to introduce herself I stood there chatting with them and boom! Gotta love the Universe! Always right on time

No morning beach today, too much rain!!

Give thanks!
Peace

Day 2 - Mercer Creek

Look at what you are afraid of. Only the anticipation will frighten you ACIM

I woke up really early this morning and ran to the beach! Now, I  was born in the Caribbean, however white sands and blue waters and me alone on it was never part of my history, the island that I grew up on was more on the commercial side as we have oil and gas! So, to run and hit this beach was a new experience! Totally awesome! I was overflowing with gratitude and joy. After that, we drove for about an hour to the GARD center where young aspiring entrepreneurs come for training, mentor-ship, advice or just to hang out and talk! It's quite impressive! Saves a whole lot of lives and improves a whole lot of communities
Roberta the founder has been doing it for 25 years and I'm really proud of her achievements, something for us to aspire to, not perfect but perfection is not a requirement for this, willingness is!
Peace!
Akosua

GARD Centre in Antigua

Today I will let someone give to me. Whether it’s a compliment, an offer to help, or even a gift, I will stand there and take it joyfully. I know that I’m deserving of good things, so I will simply say, “Thank you.” Louise Hay
Finally got online! I am in Mercers Creek in Antigua, the Internet access here is patchy so giving thanks for getting online now! I'm at the GARD Center, a wonderful place that focuses on mentoring and developing youth entrepreneurs! Today I have been meeting them, chatting, seeing what they do, learning and sharing!

So this starts my week, back here tomorrow with the women and youth entrepreneurs!
Giving thanks for the opportunity!

Oh I digress a bit, I woke up to run and the pipes in my room burst and there was literally a waterfall in my room, I was soaked! I ran out the room, the owner of the place was there she ran in screamed and ran out! I was rushing around trying to save all clothes and laptop for the waterfall! After the lady calmed down she apologized and moved me to the best room on the grounds! And  said to me, wow you didn't cuss us out!
Did you bust the pipe? I asked
She laughed!
So I'm in the "honeymoon suite" this week

Peace!!!

Going Global

You’re always on your way somewhere. The key is: find a way to be happy wherever you now are on your way to where you really want to be. (We’re speaking of the state of being you want.) It does not matter where you are; where you are is shifting constantly—but you must turn your attention to where you want to go. And that’s the difference between making the best of something and making the worst of something.
Excerpted from the workshop in Detroit, MI on Saturday, September 27th, 2003

What a pleasant surprise! The Grenada gig did a really nice video, take a look! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSfXo...


Getting ready for my flight to Antigua, will touch base when I am on the other side!

Peace!!

Expect the unexpected and handle it!

“Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields…Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness.” ~ Mary Oliver

I wake up in the morning and say to myself, after giving thanks of course, life is delighted to bring me the unexpected, and I am delighted to receive it! Every day, I say ok let me plan the day and what happens? The unexpected! And I am now loving it! Every day its an adventure, the good, the not so good, the twists and turns! This week brought me a load of unexpected events, some good, some not so good but saying to myself there is value in this, I am able to chill out from the meltdown a lot faster!

Tonight I am the feature speaker at an event at the Graduate School of Business and that was one of my unexpected events this week, I am really looking forward to it, it is called An evening with HR Professionals (Human Resources), wish me luck!

Expect the unexpected and handle it!
Peace!

Growing and pains

You have to go through the labor pains to give birth to the life you want... Iyanla Vanzant

It's part of growth and change! and things may be uncomfortable! Why fight it? Here's a bit of advice, don't fight it, you will get beat, it will bear you up! Get your mind in gear that changes, growth and differences will involve some sort of discomfort! That's just the way it is!
Peace!!!

Radio Interview with Andrea Garrison Feedback and Comments!

The interview was a lot of fun yesterday!
Check it out, let me know what you think


http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onlinewi...


Comments so far include

" Very uplifting and empowering interview. Just as honesty and simplicity are woven throughout the book, those characteristics also rang through in this interview. Go on ADE! Keep inspiring!"

Radio Interview on Today at 7.20 pm Eastern Time, tune in..

. Learn to center yourself in your true being - Deepak Chopra (he's a boss!!)

Andrea, the radio host, called me this week to chat! She wanted to chat with me before we went on air today! What a wonderful conversation! We chatted like ole buddies! I told her if this is what your show will be like I am stoked!! excited as ever! She said " You promote authenticity, so that's how I came to you" What an absolutely wonderful thing to say!

Show up as yourself, every single time! The fakeness nope, no no no, it is too much work let me tell you I have been down that road! People see through you anyways! there is nothing that you can hide, nothing!
And when you encounter people who know! they just know!
Now, I can smell in-authenticity a mile away, I just smile and pray for them to realise how awesome it is to just be you!
Just be you boo!
Peace!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onlinewi...

Open mind... Willing Spirit

Your story can't begin until you begin it...it's in your hands and it has been for quite some time.... Elizabeth Gilbert, author


I went to a Buddhist meeting yesterday, first time I have ever been! I didn't even know that there was a following in Port of Spain, by now I know things always happen when they are supposed to!
A few years ago I went to India and a lady told me about the principles and how it helped her in her life's journey and at that time I was really interested because I thought the principles were really universal and incorporated people living a better conscious life, here I am now minding my own business having lunch alone one day last month who should walk into the place but the lady I met in India! We sat chatting and catching up and she invited me to the meeting this Sunday! I am so happy that I went, to share in their expression of love and making the world a better place, it really reminded me that there is really only one of us here and if we all live by that people will be treated with more respect, dignity and compassion! So I want to thank her for the invitation and I want to say I am proud of me for keeping an open mind by attending! You just never know where and when the lessons appear!

Look out for me on Online Radio with Andrea tomorrow at 7.20pm
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onlinewi...