GIVING ALL OR NOTHING

The world is filled with people who believe they have the answer to all things that are happening around them. They try to be helpful but in the process they get carried away in their goodness. It is time for us to see that while we want to be "good" we can end up hurting those around us.

I had the unfortunate situation at hand yesterday to see a young girl who seemed quite out of place. When I asked her what was the matter tears rolled down her cheeks. To the average person, this is a sign that it is time to move away. To me, it has become as common as a smile and now my reaction is to hug the person. So, I embraced her and continued to speak to her as I gently led her away from where we were to a more comfortable area.

The bottom dollar is she lives with her relatives since her mom has passed away and now in her early teens she is faced with the reality I had a few days ago myself. Life would probably have been different if her mother was alive! The love she recalls recieving from her mom is nolonger there. The affection she now craves is absent. What can she do?

There is very little that she can do. The reality is that if the person who has now become her mother-figure does not offer affection to her, she can do nothing about it. This is a terrible reality because on the long run she may look for love in all the wrong places. This is what we need to understand or we can lose our teens because we are busy doing the best we can without getting too involved in their lives where giving love is concerned.

So while we offer to take care of others let us remember they are only humans and they may require ALL of us not only the part we want to give. If we are not going to give all, then maybe we should consider not offering to be there in the first place.

Remember, we must give because we feel good about giving NOT because we will get in return. Give freely. It may come back to you in another way.

Yours sincerely,
B. Ysaguirre

NINE DAYS TO GO TO GENERAL ELECTIONS IN BELIZE

It is loud and it is clear. The last time I wrote about the upcoming election I was saying that the reds had the town covered in their propaganda. Well, let me make a change today and say the blues have now come along and done their thing! Each lightpost now has a blue where there is a red and the flapping of the flags at night as the breeze blow in from the bay is distracting me indoors.

I am still looking forward to the day when elections will be all over and we can get back to the business of the day - our lives as calmly and happy as we can.

A student told me tonight that he thought there would be some deaths after the election votes were counted. I am sadden by this thought and I hope we can see the elections go by without bloodshed.

While all this is going on and while everyone rushes off to try to get a piece of the campaign pie, I am still worried that we have not understood nor will we ever, that this land we call home is one of the few places in the world were freedom and the power to do just as we please is still alive. I don't expect that to change but I do hope that we are able to appreciate the freedom we have.

So, Belizeans, as you prepare to head off to the polls on Feb 7, remember that this country was built not by blood but by the sweat of many who tolied the land from dawn until dusk. Remember that we were once slaves but now are free. We were once a colony but on we are an independent country. We are BELIZEANS. A PROUD PEOPLE, WITH A PROUD PAST AND THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A PROUD FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS.

At the end of the day we must be able to remember that this land is our home and we MUST work hard to keep it free and safe. We must work hard to make this jewel as priceless as we can.

LET US BUILD A BETTER BELIZE TOGETHER. LET US SEE WHAT THERE IS TO SEE IN LIFE AND IN OUR COUNTRY. WE OWE IT TO OURSELVES. WE OWE IT TO OUR CHILDREN.

COMENTARIOS DE 1955 QUE NOS AFECTAN HOY

(NOTE: ALL PICTURES DOWNLOADED TO THIS PAGE FOR THE PAST WEEK ARE OF SCENES OF COROZAL DISTRICT, BELIZE CENTRAL AMERICA)

Comments made in the year 1955!
That's only 52 years ago!


"I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $20.00."

"Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $2, 000.00 will only buy a used one."

"If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous.

"Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter?"

"If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store."

"When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage."

"Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail hair cuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as the girls."

"I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either HELL of DAMN in it."

"I read the o t her day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas."

"Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the President."

"I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now."

"It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet."

"It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work."

"Marriage doesn't mean a thing any more, those Hollywood stars seem to be getting divorced at the drop of a hat."

"I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business."

"Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to congress."

"The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on."

"There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a weekend, it costs nearly $15.00 a night to stay in a hotel."

" No one can afford to be sick anymore, at $35.00 a day in the hospital it's too rich for my blood."

"If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a hair cut, forget it."

HELPFUL TIPS EVERY WOMAN AND MAN SHOULD KNOW

Peroxide, who knew? (Safer and Healthier than Bleach)

This was written by Becky Ransey of Indiana (a doctor's wife), and I want to share it with you. She was over recently for coffee and smelled the bleach I was using to clean my toilet and countertops. This is what she told me...

I would like to tell you of the benefits of that plain little ole bottle of 3% peroxide you can get for under $1.00 at any drug store. What does bleach cost?

My husband has been in the medical field for over 36 years, and most doctors don't tell you about peroxide. Have you ever smelled bleach in a doctor's office? NO!!! Why? Because it smells, and it is not healthy! Ask the nurses who work in the doctor's offices, and ask them if they use bleach at home. They are wiser and know better!

Did you also know bleach was invented in the late 40's? It's chlorine, Folks! And it was used to kill our troops. Peroxide was invented during WWI in the 20's. It was used to save and help cleanse the needs of our troops and hospitals. Please think about this.

1. Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. (I do it when I bathe.) No more canker sores, and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash.

2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of peroxide to keep them free of germs.

3. Clean your counters and table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.

4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.

5. I had fungus on my feet for years until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.

6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. My husband has seen gangrene that would not heal with any medicine but was healed by soaking in peroxide.

7. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will.

8. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, plugged sinus. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes, and then blow your nose into a tissue.

9 If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.

10. And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through You will not have the peroxide-burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, faddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually, so it's not a drastic change.

11. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections.

12. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour it directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.

13. I use peroxide to clean my mirrors. There is no smearing, which is why I love it so much for this.

I could go on and on. It is a little brown bottle no home should be without! With prices of most necessities rising, I'm glad there's a way to save tons of money in such a simple, healthy manner!

This information really woke me up. I hope you gain something from it, too.

WORDS OF WISDOM PART II

Life is a dream and living is reality.
It can break you or it can make you.
It will hurt you and it will bring you joy.
Either way life is just that - LIFE!
B. Ysaguirre

The more talking and thinking, the farther from the truth.
Seng Ts'an


What is happening here and now is obstructed by happening itself; it has sprung free from the brains of happening.
Dogen


You will always exist in the universe in one form or another.
Shunryu Suzuki


You must accept the truth from whatever source it comes.
Moise Ben Maimon


To live life you must first know who you are, what you are and how you can make you. better. The Belizean woman has many potentials but first she must know who she is before she can move into life and living. Brenda A Ysaguirre (Belizean)

FIGHTING FOR A PIECE OF THE BELIZEAN PIE

It's a peaceful night in Belize. Most Belizeans are asleep as I sit in front of this computer and decide what I am going to write next. It is actually 2:34am as I begin this page. I guess we are all focused on the political force that is carrying us with it as we near the end of another battle for power. Who knows where it will all end and who really cares? As we fill our pockets( I haven't gotten anything YET) with all the goodies that come with campaigns, I smile. A drive through the town of Corozal where I live is filled with the two major parties propaganda. The reds and the blues have done themselves proud. I must say that the red had gone head over heel in their bid for a chance "to bite into the pie".

What is obvious is that there is a lot of unrest among the masses. I have tried to make Belizeans understand that this is a battle we do for the politicians and not necessarily the right thing to do. Neighbours are fight with each other and the joke of "here flies a red flag or a blue flag "or "now much bigger mine is" or "how many I have out" is all getting to be too much.

So, I am counting the days for it to be all over but in the process I guess I should stop and count the days too that are left for me to go vote! 12 days to go!!

I guess the focus we have learnt to have over the years where politics is concerned has made us gotten a little harder.

EXPECT NOTHING AND YOU WILL BE REWARDED!!!

Smile on the street as campaigners go about their task of attaining votes.

Keep the manifesto of both parties and as the winner of the election accomplishes the things they said they would do place a check mark on it. If at the end of their term of office they have not accomplished at least 50% percent you should know what to do the next time round.

First time voters, especially 18 year older should have nothing to say about the party they are against. You are either too young to know what the hell you are talking about or you are using the thoughts and sentiments of others. You are just a pawn in this politicial garbage. Mnay of you haven't learnt to wash your clothes yet and you want to talk about progress ans jobs. PLEASE! I have been there and done that and the bottom dollar is this is Belize. Land of NOTHING MUCH MORE!!! WE JUST AREN'T A WEATHLY COUNTRY ANS I DOUBT VERY MUCH IF WE EVER WILL BE.

So wake up young Belizeans and listen before you speak. It is idle talk that have caused wars. Listen to the silence. Be the silence.

Yours sincerely,
Brenda A. Ysaguirre

--

FIGHTING WITH YOUR SPOUSE IS GOOD FOR THE RELATIONSHIP

(an article from LifeScience.com - Just imagine the many who have been doing this for years and they did not realize the good they were doing for themselves!!!!)

A good argument with your spouse could be just what the doctor ordered.
Preliminary results from a survey of married couples suggest that disputing husbands and wives who hold in their anger die earlier than expressive couples.
"When couples get together, one of their main jobs is reconciliation about conflict," said researcher Ernest Harburg, professor emeritus with the University of Michigan School of Public Health and Psychology Department. "Usually nobody is trained to do this. If they have good parents, they can imitate, that's fine, but usually the couple is ignorant about the process of resolving conflict."
So while conflict is inevitable, the critical matter is how couples resolve it.
"The key matter is, when the conflict happens, how do you resolve it?" Harburg said. "When you don't, if you bury your anger, and you brood on it and you resent the other person or the attacker, and you don't try to resolve the problem, then you're in trouble."
The findings add to past research showing that the release of anger can be healthy. For instance, one study revealed when people are angry they tend to make better decisions, perhaps because this emotion triggers the brain to ignore irrelevant cues and focus on the meat of the matter. Individuals who express anger might also have a sense of control and optimism over a situation, according to another past study.
Bottled anger adds to stress, which tends to shorten lives, many studies show.
In the current study, the authors suggest a combination of factors to explain the higher mortality for couples who don't express their anger. These include "mutual anger suppression, poor communication (of feelings and issues) and poor problem-solving with medical consequences," they write in the January issue of the Journal of Family Communication.
Over a 17-year period, Harburg and his colleagues studied 192 married couples in which spouses ranged in age from 35 to 69, focusing on aggressive behaviour considered unfair or undeserved by the person being "attacked." Harburg said that if an attack is viewed as fair, the victim doesn't tend to get angry.
Based on the participants' anger-coping responses to hypothetical situations, Harburg placed couples into one of four categories: both partners express their anger; the wife expresses anger; the husband communicates anger while the other suppresses; and both the husband and wife brood and suppress their anger.
The researchers found that 26 couples, meaning 52 individuals, were suppressors in which both partners held in their anger. Twenty-five percent of the suppressors died during the study period compared with about 12 percent for the other remaining couples.
In 27 percent of the suppressor couples, one member of the couple died during the study period, and in 23 percent of those couples, both died during the study period. That's compared to only 6 percent of couples where both spouses died in the remaining three groups combined. Only 19 percent in the remaining three groups combined saw one partner die during the study period.
The results held even when other health factors were accounted for, including age, smoking, weight, blood pressure, bronchial problems, breathing and cardiovascular risk.
Harburg said the results are preliminary, and his team is now collecting 30-year follow-up data. He expects the follow-up to show almost double the death rate compared with the preliminary findings.

WHEN LISTENING TO THE SILENCE IS NOT ENOUGH

This one is dedicated to my students as this week they sit their examinations.

Well, the new year is here and the first semester will be over by the time this weekend is over. At least that is what is happening at CCC Day and Evening Divisions.
It is therefore, time for me to worry because this is the time when we see if the students have applied themselves or not.

A dear friend said just this past weekend that examinations are useless because they do not really measure what the student has learnt and most of what he or she has learnt cannot be used in everyday living either. If the student has not learnt anything in the last four and a half months or is unable to pass the examination who has failed? The student or the teacher?

It grieves me each semester to see that some students seem to care less whether they pass or not. I think back to my secondary school days. We were so into studying and what we were learning was definitely at a higher level than what the student gets today. So what has become the problem? Why is there little regard for learning and making good grades.

Parents will want to say that the teachers have the fault. They believe if their child fails the teacher is to blame. Teachers on the other hand believe that students fail because parents do not dedicate enough time to seeing that their sons and daughters study and do all assigned work.

With all the pointing and blaming going around, no one has taken the time to really study the student. While some students will talk to a teacher or counsellor about what they are feeling or suffering, not every student feels they can do this. So most of the time we are left with no idea as to why the student did not excel in school.

It is time for us to become actively responsible for those under our care whether we are the parents or the teachers. Talk to those students whom you see are failing or whose grades have taken a turn for the worst. Leave no stone unturned. They are our children and as such we owe them that much. Let us take them into our care and show them that with love all is possible.

Students, it is time for you to speak up. Don't leave the teacher to listen to the silence in this case. Tell them what your problem is and ask for help. No man is an island. Don't try to do things on your own. You owe that much to yourself.

Yours for a better future,
Brenda Aurora Ysaguirre

BELIZE LOSES AN ICON - ANDY PALACIO IS GONE

PRESS RELEASE

Belizean Musician Andy Palacio Passes Away After Heart Attack and Stroke

January 19, 2008 - Andy Palacio, an iconic musician and cultural activist in his native Belize and impassioned spokesperson for the Garifuna people of Central America, was declared dead tonight at 9 p.m. Belize time due to a massive and extensive stroke to the brain, a heart attack and respiratory failure due to the previous two conditions.

Palacio, 47, started feeling poorly last week and eventually visited a doctor with complaints of dizziness and blurred vision. On the 16th of January, he began experiencing seizures and was rushed to a hospital in Belmopan , Belize and then on to another hospital in Belize City . At this point, most people were hopeful Palacio would recover.

On January 17th, Palacio’s condition worsened and he began experiencing more seizures. He was placed on an air ambulance to Chicago where he was expected to get treatment at one of the premier neurological facilities in the country. En route to Chicago , the plane stopped in Mobile , Alabama to clear immigration. At that point, Palacio was unconscious and it was determined that he was too ill to continue on the flight to Chicago . He was rushed to a hospital in Mobile , and placed on life support. There, doctors determined that the damage to his brain function was severe, and that his chances of recovery were slim. On January 18th, his family requested that he be flown back to Belize so that he might die in his homeland.

A national hero in Belize for his popular music and advocacy of Garifuna language and culture, news of Palacio’s condition sent shockwaves through the community. At 5 p.m. today, a public service was held in Belize City for Palacio as people prayed for his recovery. Ceremonies were also held by Garifuna spiritual leaders in an effort to help with the situation. Belize is in the midst of a heated election, but the local news was entirely dominated by Palacio’s health crisis.

The reaction has also been strong around the world. Until the recent turn of events, the past year had been one of tremendous accomplishment for Palacio as his album Wátina, which was released at the beginning of 2007, had become one of the most critically acclaimed recordings of the year in any genre. Perhaps the most unanimously revered world music album in recent memory, Wátina appeared on dozens of Best of the Year lists in major media outlets around the globe and was roundly praised in glowing terms.

In 2007, Palacio was named a UNESCO Artist for Peace and won the prestigious WOMEX Award. Wátina was also nominated for the BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards. At home in Belize , the international success of Wátina has sparked a revival of Garifuna music, as young musicians have become inspired by Palacio’s example. Even in the days since Palacio’s health crisis began, the accolades have continued to pour in for his work.

That Palacio has been struck down at a moment of such international acclaim only increases the sense of shock and tragedy felt at his sudden and untimely death.

Andy Palacio will be honored with an official state funeral. A massive tribute concert is planned in Belize City on Friday, January 25th.

+++++++++++

ANDY PALACIO’S BIOGRAPHY

Andy Palacio was not only the most popular musician in Belize , he was also a serious music and cultural activist with a deep commitment to preserving his unique Garifuna culture. Long a leading proponent of Garifuna popular music and a tireless advocate for the maintenance of the Garifuna language and traditions, Palacio recently achieved international acclaim for his work as a recording and performing artist thanks to the critical success of his early 2007 album Wåtina.

Andy Vivien Palacio was born in the small coastal village of Barranco , Belize on December 2, 1960. Palacio grew up listening to traditional Garifuna music as well as imported sounds coming over the radio from neighboring Honduras , Guatemala , the Caribbean and the United States . “Music was always a part of daily life,” said Palacio, “It was the soundtrack that we lived to.” Along with some of his peers, he joined local bands even while in high school and began developing his own voice, performing covers of popular Caribbean and Top 40 songs.

However, it was while working with a literacy project on Nicaragua 's Atlantic Coast in 1980 and discovering that the Garifuna language and culture was steadily dying in that country, that a strong cultural awareness took hold and his approach to music became more defined. “I saw what had happened to my people in Nicaragua . The cultural erosion I saw there deeply affected my outlook,” he said in late 2006, “and I definitely had to react to that reality.” His reaction took the form of diving deeper into the language and rhythms of the Garifuna, a unique cultural blend of West African and Indigenous Carib and Arawak Indian language and heritage. “It was a conscious strategy. I felt that music was an excellent medium to preserve the culture. I saw it as a way of maintaining cultural pride and self esteem, especially in young people.”

Palacio became a leading figure in a growing renaissance of young Garifuna intellectuals who were writing poetry and songs in their native language. He saw the emergence of an upbeat, popular dance form based on Garifuna rhythms that became known as punta rock and enthusiastically took part in developing the form. Andy began performing his own songs and gained stature as a musician and energetic Garifuna artist. In 1987, he was able to hone his skills after being invited to work in England with Cultural Partnerships Limited, a community arts organization. Returning home to Belize with new skills and a four track recording system, he helped found Sunrise , an organization dedicated to preserving, documenting and distributing Belizean music. While his academic background and self-scholarship allowed for his on-going documentation of Garifuna culture through lyrics and music, it is his exuberance as a performer that has helped earn him worldwide recognition.

Palacio also brought his passion for Garifuna culture into the public sector. In December 2004, Palacio was appointed Cultural Ambassador and Deputy Administrator of the National Institute of Culture and History of Belize.

About five years ago, Belizean producer Ivan Duran, Palacio’s longtime collaborator and founder of the local label Stonetree Records, convinced Palacio that he should focus on less commercial forms of Garifuna music and look more deeply into its soul and roots. Duran and Palacio set out to create an all-star, multi-generational ensemble of some of the best Garifuna musicians from Guatemala , Honduras and Belize . The Garifuna Collective unites elder statesmen such as legendary Garifuna composer Paul Nabor, with up-and-coming voices of the new generation such as Aurelio Martinez from Honduras and Adrien Martinez from Belize . Rather then focusing solely on danceable styles like punta rock, the Collective explores the more soulful side of Garifuna music, such as the Latin-influenced paranda, and the sacred dügü, punta and gunjei rhythms.

Palacio and Duran embarked on the production of Wátina, an album that would come to redefine modern Garifuna music and become one of the most critically-acclaimed world music releases of 2007. The initial recording sessions for this exceptional album took place over a 4-month period in an improvised studio inside a thatch-roofed cabin by the sea in the small village of Hopkins , Belize . It was an informal environment, where the musicians spent many hours playing together late into the night, honing the arrangements of the songs that would eventually end up on this album. While the traditions provided the inspiration, the musicians also added contemporary elements that helped give the songs relevance to their modern context. After the sessions, Ivan Duran worked tirelessly back at his studio to craft what is surely the pinnacle of Garifuna music production to date.

Wátina, which was released at the beginning of 2007, became one of the most critically acclaimed recordings of the year in any genre. Perhaps the most unanimously revered world music album in recent memory, Wátina appeared on dozens of Best of the Year lists in major media outlets around the globe and was roundly praised in glowing terms. These best-of lists put an exclamation point on what had been an incredible year for Andy Palacio and the worldwide recognition of Garifuna music. In November, 2007, Palacio became the first Caribbean and Central American artist to be designated a UNESCO Artist for Peace. He received the prestigious WOMEX Award in October, 2007 which was co-awarded to Ivan Duran. In September, 2007 Palacio was conferred the Order of Meritorious Service by the Prime Minister of Belize. Wátina was also nominated for the influential BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards. At home in Belize , the international success of Wátina has sparked a revival of Garifuna music, as young musicians have become inspired by Palacio’s example.

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Stonetree Records
35 Elizabeth Street
Benque Viejo del Carmen
Belize , Central America


t: 501-8232241
f: 501-8232240

www.stonetreerecords.com

www.myspace.com/stonetreerecords

www.youtube.com/stonetreerecords

posted by Nyashazasha at 9:59 AM

THE DANGER OF CHAT ROOMS ON THE INTERNET

When technology took a hype for the introduction of the internet, MAN smiled and said that it was good. Today, however, some of us may be wondering if this modern way of writing and meeting people is really the answer to all our prayers. There may be more than legality to the use of the internet in today's world and if we are not careful we can end up on the cover of some website doing things that we have never done in our lives.

Today's focus however is on the use of the chat room and the effect it has on the lives of many.

First of all let me say that there are a lot of lonely people in this world and some have found ways to meet people and to enjoy health relationships with them via the internet. It there is no third person involved in all this I am all for it. Have fun. Meet people and maybe in the long run you might just end up married to this person. HOWEVER what are we to do when some of these online friendships affect third parties in the relationship? What happens next?

There are a lot of you out there that are on line chatting with women and men and lying your heads off and having the person on the other end believing they have met the person of their dreams. If you are a person who will be online forever with someone in Europe or any other part of the world and you are in a relationship here on this side of the world, I think that you are a very conniving person. What the hell are you thinking? Aren't you satisfied with the life you are living that you need to be on line all night and day with some woman or man who have never touched.

I believe and this is my opinion, that any woman who will get on line and naked herself for a man she does not know anything about except what he tells her, is no good. She is a whore, a slut, and probably writing to a lot of men online. And on the other hand if you are a man and are tell her a lot of bullshit lies, you are a low down skunk. You are not worth a drop of salt and you should be castrated. YES!! I am harsh and I don't care.

What are you doing? Telling the person on the other side of the internet things that they want to hear? You barely sleep as time zones are different and you have to be up at times when you should be alseep. Your eyes are red. You have headaches from looking at the light and glare of the computer. Why spoil a good thing? Why be deceitful? Is your life so boring that you need some form of thrill that an unknown person can instill in you? How sad that you have sank so low.

Ladies,stop sending your photos online to every Tom, Dick and Harry. You are exposing yourself for some serious hurt. Stop being so trusting. There are a lot of male predators out there just waiting for a gullible woman. Chat rooms can become dangerous when you give out too much information about yourself and your "friend" encourages you to do things that are not normal nor healthy. Wake up before it is too late.

Cybersex is as common as the air we breathe. Look for signs of your partner living on the internet too much. Darn progress. If we are to have our partners back we will have to fight a machine and a person they may never meet in the flesh. All these hot, sexy names people give themselves when they get online is just too much.

REMEMBER : CHAT ROOMS CAN BE DAMGEROUS. If you are deceiving your partner by being constantly in one, please stop this awful practice. Your dependence on it is ridiculous. Get a life. There are many healthy things that you can do to enhance your life. There must be more to life.

Have a great day,
Brenda Aurora

PRACTICING WHAT WE PREACH

I have been sitting here for the past ten minutes and I have no clue what to write about. I am drained. I am tired beyond belief. I can't take much more. This page means so much to me and everyday in the world we live in I see a lot of hardship, suffering and blame. What's next? Where do we go from here? What can we expect? Life is terribly mysterious.

I think we should talk today about practicing what we preach.

Everyday we make promises about the things that affect us at the time:
"I won't drink ever again."
" I have told her/him I never want to see her/him again."
"I am not having those type of people in my life again."

The list just goes on and on. The human mind is always working up new reasonings, new suggestions and new challenges. When does it stop? NEVER!
We will always have things that we decide to do but when faced with the situation we will change our minds.

She walks back into your life after you say you will never see her again and what do you do? You take her back as if nothing had happened. He hurts you and you decide to never be around him again. "I will never love him again." But with one phone call you are back. Back in the world you vowed to never return to. Back sometimes to pain and suffering. Back to seeing that some people can't change. Back to the reality that some people leave but they return.

Darn world! What a misery you are! When we are happy too long you send us something to shake us up and make us fall down again. One day happiness can be coated in grey the next by sorrow. Honesty can be changed into deceit. The truth can become a lie.

What does this tell us? That MAN is strength yet weakness. Laughter yet sadness. Bossy yet humble. Demanding yet accepting. On a whole, we cannot practice what we preach more than 50 percent of the time. The other 50 percent we are pawns in the game called LIFE.

So what do we do then? Live today without reproach because tomorrow someone or something can change our lives for better or for worst. That is the reality of life. We may never be totalling happy all the time. We may be happy some of the time. AND if we can do something about our lives when we are sad, good for us. If we can't we will suffer the heart break, the loss or the deception.

Wouldn't it have been better to follow what we vowed? Wouldn't it have been better to focus on our preaching? Apparently not. We can't help but return to the past we enjoyed. The lifestyle and the people we had in our lives.
Hence, practicing what we preach is IMPOSSIBLE!!!!

Sorry if this page marred your day or night.
I just had to write one of the realities of life. We can't have only the positive side of life. This is the REAL WORLD. Hopefully tomorrow's topic will be more cheerful and positive.

Yours,
Brenda Aurora

COURAGE: AN EVERYDAY ACTUALITY

What exactly is courage? Courage is the ability to do what needs to be done, or feel what needs to be felt, in spite of fear. It's the willingness to risk or act even when we are frightened or in pain.

If you want to gain emotional strenght and have more courage, you can. In fact, you already have a great deal of courage. We seldom think much about the courage we exert in simple, "normal" situations: having a baby, going to work day after day, sustaining relationships. It takes courage to fall in love, be honest with ourselves, survive a loss, move away from home, share a fear with a friend, ask for a raise, get a divorce, take on a job that challenges us, grow older, or tell someone when we're angry or hurt. Try writing down a list of things you've done even though you felt afraid. Those were acts of courage. Sometimes just getting up in the morning and proceeding with your life takes tremendous courage.

I hope it is clear by now that we already have courage. Being courageous, and moving towards a fuller realization of our own authentic self, is a natural process. What is it that keeps us from realizing our full, courageous potential? FEAR! What do we fear? We fear the unknown, anything that has been painful for us in the past, or anything that feels different and risky.

(Extracted from THE COURAGE TO BE YOURSELF by Sue Patton Thoele)

So friends, as we have read, we can all be courageous. We just have to get over our fear of the moment. If we want to be stronger people we need to step outside of the box called FEAR and make demands on ourselves to do that which is necessary for us to be whole, strong and courageous beings.

HAVE A GREAT DAY,
Yours sincerely,
Brenda Aurora

THE FATE OF THE COUNTRY ON ELECTION YEAR

As Belize and Mexico prepare for elections in the coming month, the words on the streets in these two countries are probably all about politics. While it is good to be politically involved, I have found that there are a lot of people who are ignorant to many political facts. In short, to analyse which party is best, how possible the promises politicians make when they are campaigning actually are, and most importantly, how necessary it is to exercise your right to vote.

I am not a very political person. I hate politics with a passion and I guess when you get to my age and you still feel that way it means you really do hate elections, the bitter aftertaste it gives when campaigning goes stink, the blatant lies of many in their desire for power and the fact that family comes first, no matter which side of the fence the politician ends up on.

However, we must have an open mind and on election day we should be able to vote for the person or persons we believe will make our country a little better. PLEASE, politicians stop promising more jobs and a better lifestyles. In a country as poor as Belize where there is not the possibility that we will discover gold, silver or where not many more factories will go up, the chances of jobs for the everygrowing population is as probably as you and I will become millionaires by the end of this month. And, voters STOP believing eveything you are told. Try to think for yourselves and try to see that all you need in this world is to work hard. You may never have everything you want but at least you should be able to eat everyday, pay your bills ( if you don't create bills you know you can't afford), and sleep peacefully every night.

Suddenly beautifying Corozal is a must. That just enfuriates me. I hate when we wait until election time to show we can do something for our town. I guess we must be fools because many of us see all the sudden incentives as proof that there is better in a particular party. Damn it people, can't you see, you are pawns in someone's bid for power and the acquisition of money and assets.

I guess being politically influenced is our downfall. The first time voter is the most vunerable. I remember the year I first vote and how enthused I was. That feeling died a long time ago. Now my sense of obligation overrides enthusiasm and confidence in the process. Trust me I WILL VOTE ON ELECTION DAY. I WILL EXERCISE MY RIGHT AND I DO BELIEVE MY CHOICE IS THE RIGHT CHOICE. For 24 hours on Election Day, I will have the power to decide what happens to my country. We all do. I pray that God will help us into deciding what choice to make BECAUSE tomorrow we will have to live with it.

So take a deep breath and dip that finger into the ink on election day.

Sincerely yours,
Brenda Aurora

25 THINGS A WOMAN SHOULD NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR / 25 COSAS POR LO CUAL UNA MUJER NUNCA DEBE PEDIR PERDON

1. Never apologize for pursuing what makes you happy; even if you need to quit your job, transfer schools, or move across country, always do what you really want.

2. Never apologize for using proper English; keeping it real doesn't mean you have to speak Ebonics.

3. Never apologize for giving your best in a relationship; even thought it didn't work out.

4. Never apologize for being successful; only haters want to keep you at their level.

5. Never apologize for crying; crying cleanses the soul so wear waterproof mascara and express yourself.

6. Never apologize for ten pounds you need to lose; people who truly care about you will accept you as you are.

7. Never apologize for being frugal; just because you save your money instead of blowing it on the latest fashion emergency doesn't me you cheap.


8. Don't apologize to anyone for being a single! Always remember just like God is working on you; He is also working on your mate and when the time is right you will meet!

9. Never apologize for treating yourself to something special; sometimes you have to show yourself some appreciation.

10. Never apologize for leaving an abusive relationship; your safety should always be a priority.

11. Never apologize for keeping the ring; even if you did not get married. J

12. Never apologize for setting high standards in a relationship; you know what you can tolerate and what simply gets on your nerves.

13. Never apologize for saying NO.



14. Never apologize for wearing a weave or braids; It’s an accessory, you bought it so it's yours.

15. Never apologize to your new friends about ‘old’ friends; there's a reason she's been your girl from day one.



16. Never apologize to your old friends about ‘new’ friends; God continues to bring His daughters together to uplift each other.

17. Never apologize for ordering dessert; or more than one dessert.

18. Never apologize for dating outside your race; just because you found Mr. Right across the color line doesn't mean you don't love your brothas.

19. Never apologize for demanding respect; you are to always be treated as a Queen.

20. Never apologize for not knowing how to cook; even if you can't burn like Grandma or your Mama - you know how to order good take out!

21. Never apologize for your taste in clothes; own your style.

22. Never apologize for changing your mind, it is your prerogative.

23. Never apologize for making a decision from your heart; even if others don't agree - you have to live with the consequences not them.



24. Never apologize for making more money than your man; you work hard and you deserve to get paid.

25. Never apologize for being you!
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT GOD LOVES YOU AND HE ALWAYS HAS YOUR BACK

When There Is No Word From You

Eight days to go,
And what do you know?
There’s no word from you.

So much you had said,
It all went to my head,
Now, there’s no word from you.

For three years to this date,
You’ve increased my heart rate,
And now, there is no word from you.

Guess what I’m going to do?
When I accept that I am blue,
And when there’s no word from you,

I’m going on ahead,
There’s no way I’ll be dead,
Just because there’s no word from you.

Maybe we’ve both dead,
And you’ve gone ahead,
That’s why there’s no word from you.

When you see God don’t tell Him any lies,
Because there is no telling how much He
buys,
It would be better if He hears no words
from you.

So from now on,
Can you please stay gone,
I’m getting use to no words from you.

I’ve a life to live,
I’ve a lot to give,
Even when there is no words from you.

So farewell my friend,
This must be the end,
With no more words from you.

Brenda Ysaguirre
November 11, 2004

ELECTIONS- WHAT A PAIN! ...ELECCIONES - QUE DOLOR!!

Once again elections are on the way. Which ever party you chose to vote for, do so with dignity and pride. Don't pick fights with your opponents or members of the other party. This is a democracy and as such we are free to chose the party we feel safe with.

I for one, hate election time. It does not make my job any easier and so I loathe it. All I am allowed to deal with in the work place is the talk of politics. Which party do you think will win? How do you see the elections? Do you think this one or that one has a chance?

I tell you I am so looking forward to the end of February when hopefully we can all put this political provocation behind us and move forward to building Belize.

To those of you who make your lives the focus of any political event, I applaud you. You have the strength and stamina that can only be admired. Chins up and a smile on your face is the way to go.

To all the members of the different political parties that will contest the elections, I extend my admiration. You are very strong and brave people indeed.
Hats off to you all.

Belzeans, we are at the dawn of a new era in a leap year. Remember that great things happen when you are asleep so in this case you must be awake. Awake and smiling at the dawn.

Cheers for BELIZE. CHEERS FOR THE BLUE, WHITE AND RED.
GOD BLESS MY HOMELAND, BELIZE

God Bless Belize - land of the free and home of the brave.

Thank you.
Brenda Aurora

Palabras de la Sabiduría ZEN

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM ZEN

If you want to understand ZEN easily, just be mindless, wherever you are, twenty-four hours a day, until you spontaneously merge with the WAY. This is what an ancient worthy called " The mind not touching things, the step placed anywhere."
Yiag-An


Thw world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning.
George Baker



God made the senses turn outwards, man therefore looks outwards, not into himself. But occasionally a daring soul, desiring immortality, has looked back and found himself.
The Upanishads


Take long walks in stormy weather or through deep snows in the fields and woods, if you would keep your spirits up. Deal with brute nature. Be cold and hungry and weary.

Henry David Thoreau



A nameless bird
looks cold
in the wintry blast.
Sampu


My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.
Albert Einstein


Seriousness is the only refuge of the shallow.
Oscar Wilde

ENTENDIENDO AL HOMBRE

FREEDOM AND THE NEED TO BE FREE

The relationship between a man and a woman is one of the unexplained wonders of life. They meet, there is eye contact, untold words send messages that only they can understand and bam! the explosion that can have many kinds of end results comes into motion. Time passes and the couple get to know each other better. Changes occur and very soon they start to find out things about each other that were not apparent at the beginning of the relationship. Some of these revelations are good and some will be not so good. However, love can overcome everything.

A friend once said that she read somewhere, and she added it was really true, that when you first meet someone and he wants to win your affection he will bring you roses, chocolates and lots of other little presents. Once you get married and he knows he has you "for better or for worst" the gifts stop coming.

Most men have the tendency to want to get to know you but when they see the relationship is heading deeper into a state of no return, will bolt as soon as they can or will do something drastic to get you to move away. Why do they do this? I DON'T KNOW. I really wish I did. What I can say is they are going to eventually do things that will hurt you, things that will make you want to hurt them in return and things that only they can fathom.

So why do we sweat about these new and challenging declarations. Because we are human and realize they are important to our sanity. So while the man runs, the woman usually has time to recap and decide what her next step should be.

A strong woman will compile with the wishes of her partner and give him the space he asks for. Beware of strong women, gentlemen, you ask them to ease off and in so doing you give them time to think, to nuture and to grow. You give them time to plan the rest of their lives. Forget the pain your pushing them aside has caused. You have given the woman time to regenerate, to recharge that "self" that she may have hidden away when she settled into YOUR lifestyle.

So while you cry for freedom and space, watch out! You might just get a little bit more. We may never understand you completely, but we can love you totalling and that love can make you get more than you can chew.

In short, understanding why some men tend to run away from love is an unsolved mystery. We can only try to make then into better people of this planet.

Remember the words to the song: ALL THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE....IS LOVE.... LOVE IS ALL IT NEEDS.

AND THAT IS FOOD FOR THOUGHT. HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!
Yours truly,
Brenda Aurora Ysaguirre

VOTE FOR MY POEM

Dear Readers,
As you are aware there are some poems on this blogspot that I have written. Quite a number of my poems are on poetry.com as I am a member of the International Society of Poets. I would like you, my readers to vote for my poem Stolen Heart which has won me the Editor's Award for 2007 and which will be published in a book later this year. Please click on the link below and cast your votes:


http://www.poetry.com/voteforme/poemvote1.asp?PID=11708246


Thank you,
Brenda

Another Day in the Life of a Belizean Woman

You wake up one morning and your entire world has changed. What do you do? First, you want to cry if it was a change that brings sorrow to your heart. Then you go over the process and situations that created the pain you have began to experience. You start to analyze it all and you go over the "I should have...", and " I could have...". For many of us there will never be enough thoughts to enter our minds has to what we should have or could have done to prevent the situation that now mars our lives. THAT IS HUMAN. No need to build unnecessary sweat over it BUT has life would have it, we do give it too much importance. There is nothing that will change how the mind reacts in most situations of hurt and suffering. A betrayal of trust has that same effect and for those who have not learnt to move on and live life without the least bit of worry over the past and the lost caused by that betrayal, life will be grim. Please be aware that if you choose to continue suffering over the situation you are heading for a serious health breakdown. YOU DO NOT NEED THIS. Why should your health deteriorate because of actions that you have not directly created or against which you have fought? Think for a moment. Can you live forever with the hurt? Should you live forever with the pain? NO, you should not! How can you move on? You will say easy for someone to tell you to move on when it is not their pain and suffering. I agree, but only to an extend. While I may not and do not claim to have all the answers you are looking for, I have lived through some trails and tribulations myself and I am still learning from this great world of ours that our emotions need to be controlled if we are to survive the cruel event that we sometimes have to face.

So how do we do this?? There are many ways we can overcome the pain and suffering of everyday stabbing. First of all, accept what or who has created your pain and suffering. Secondly, you MUST decide how to counteract. Things that will bring you negativity in your life MUST AT ALL COST be eliminated from your life. Only a fool will continue to have that thing or person around who creates pain and suffering to him or her. Say goodbye. Move on. Find new things to occupy your time and mind. Read some books, go for walks, learn to cook new and interesting recipes, do something tht you know has always brought you joy and peace and most importantly MAKE NEW FRIENDS. It is not hard to do these things but you must have the will power. Will power can help you overcome anything.

Now, on the other hand if you wake up happy and pleased with the world you are a very fortunate person indeed. What should you do next? Say thank you to your God or that being to whom you pray or to the belief for which you stand. You are a fortunate person and you must acknowledge that you are lucky. You must accept that there are a lot of persons who have not had that luck and are suffering while you are happy. Try to help a few unfortunate persons either with kind words or actions if you are financially unable to assist. Offer a smile, a few kind words, an embrace, a little gift, a meal or some clothes. Whatever it is that you offer will be happily accepted. It is the human thing to do and it will make you feel even more better than you already were feeling.
Life is GREAT. Peace and happiness is WONDERFUL. Be a giver when possible. Don't expect to recieve but when you do, be thankful for however small or big that which you recieve is. Be contented. If we give freely and recieve freely surely we can live with ourselves in harmony.

BE HAPPY. GIVE SELFLESSLY AND LOVE WITH PASSION. OUR TIME ON THIS EARTH IS ONLY SO MUCH. LOVE YOURSELF AND GIVE LOVE.

SE FELIZ. DAR SIN EXPECTAR Y AMAR CON PASSION. NUESTRO TIEMPO EN EL MUNDO ESTA NUMERADO. SER AMOR Y DAR AMOR.

Yours sincerely,
Brenda A. Ysaguirre

Welcome to the New Year 2008

Well, it is finally here. January, 2008. As we joined with millions around the world in different time zones, we experienced that awesome feeling that we have been allowed to see the dawn of yet another year. We have survived the time and age of yesteryear and are now allowed to celebrate a new and appealing era.
Some people claim to have new years resolutions. Many make them only to break them. I believe that we should NOT make new year's resolution but should live by a set of principles that we can easily use as a guide to a better life. We must have goals set for us that will meet the needs of our lifestyle. We must be willing to go the extra mile to achieving a better life. When we have these, and only then, can we say that the new year will be one in which the challenges we will face will be met with strong resolved actions.

Face the challenges of this new year like you have never faced any other challenge in your life. Be firm. Be happy. Do what makes you feel at peace. Do what gives you that inner glow of serene, mystic joy. Face each day with a smile. Keep away from negative energies, be they friends or be they foes.

We have come this far. Let us try to make this new year one of extreme and pure peacefulness. Relax, take a deep breath, and open your heart to all the possibilities. Life is what we make of it. Live well, and you will be blessed.

A Happy New Year to one and all. May all your dreams and aspirations come true. May you experience life to its fullest.