December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Quality of Life Thought

Sherrilene s place of meditation

View from the Meditation Tree

1. Overall, on a scale of 1-10 how important is the Gaia community in your life? What  factors contribute to your scaling?

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Thanks, Amber my love for the beautiful introduction!

I am honoured and almost embarassingly pleased to be featured!

My passion and my cause for living are to my view quite important so the more opportunities I get to express them to the world, the better, absolutely!

My beautiful country celebrated Independence Day yesterday and we will have a Bank Holiday today as well. It will be nice to walk over to my Tree and be peaceful and thankful for the blessings life has afforded me.

I am trying today to meditate on it being World Aids Day and I'm going to get my Christmas cards written up for posting tomorrow to my friends in Europe and the States. Better early than… well, late! I'd like to surprise them since handwritten cards are so rare nowadays. And to get them earlyish in the season will be great, I think!

Of course I have the important job of writing a high level document for the University Entrepreneurial Empowerment Project I am heading, but this has to come after my meditation and my friends love! Then I will be in a better frame of mind for everything else!

Look forward to checking in on GAIA of course, all through the day.

Blessings, always, Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Welcome Sherrilene -I look forward to seeing another of my
friends being the featured member.
December is a special month and I am sure it will be all the
more so, given we all have a chance to get to know you better!

Peace and love,
sandy
http://pods.gaia.com/peacenetwork

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I wish you a warm welcome Sherrilene and look forward to getting to know you this month.  This is a special month celebrating year's end and holiday time and will be fun sharing it with you and Amber as Mod.

Here's to a fun-filled month of wisdom and enlightenment.

With affinity,
~k

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherrilene,

Eight months ago, give or take a day. I informed you about a  on your profile. After a few emails back and forth you sent this to me.


Formality; you're already my friend :D] 

Just thought I might want to shout you out from time to time! Hope you'll make it official. Thanks in advance. Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

lol Lars. Your precision is completely awesome and such a pleasure to be a part of. I appreciate you so greatly. Even a little ducky shout out is a pleasure for me. Thank you so much dear!

Luv S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi Sherri [and Amber, Sandy and Kathy!]

I'm delighted to see the wonderful meditation space you shared with us. Great idea, to send out hand-written cards!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

YAY Sherri !!!   and THANKS Amber, for that glorious introduction !!!

I am already breathing warm air and feeling more relaxed!

This is gonna be another exciting month!!   I am really looking forward !!

“Quality of Life”  is something I too am very passionate about, though we'll probably discover we mean somewhat different things by it, and the differences will synergize.

Lots of people are caught up in a spiritual search that takes them “out of” this world, and lots of people don't realize that Quality of Life is something we are all able to choose for ourselves and affect for others, without any judgments, only preferences, even passionate preferences.

So, Hooray for everyone's Quality of Life, for Gaia-planet's Quality of Life, for Gaia Community's Quality of Life !

I await hearing more from you. BTW the little bit about sending cards early, and handwriting them. That is a Quality of Life improvement 

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi! And thank you for the really kind welcome everyone.

Yes, most definitely your particular 'brand' of Quality of Life is your own. We are each individual and unique and we should take the time to find out what works for us.

The challenge of everyday life is such that to even take a half-day off to ask yourself the question of what your ideal life would look like if there were no limits seems like a major theft of time! But to first envision your ideal life is your first step…

What I would add is that I usually, for simplicity, apply four segments to the Quality of Life spectrum - physical-financial, social-emotional, mental-intellectual and spiritual. [Quick link to our definition of Quality of Life here…]

If we keep this in our awareness and the vision which I referred to above you would see how a depletion or an excess in any one area can disrupt our individual Quality of Life…

Om, the cards are a great example of how I certainly enhance my own and my loved ones' Quality of Life on the social-emotional side. I get a very big high and thrill out of the beautiful responses in love from the people I love. For certain this [and the associated memories] help to sustain me when other areas of my life bring challenges to my wellbeing…

Again, my thanks!

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

What a wonderful surprise to see the spotlight on you, dear sister and friend Sherri! Thank you, Amber, for the perfect intro to a beautiful person and soul!

It seems I know so much about you but of course, I know there will something new every moment of our interactions and even the silence as and when they it comes. I treasure our frienship and know in my heart that this will extend beyond virtual space when the time is ripe.

Enjoy the limelight, shine on and make us all shine through!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Today, as my exercise in Quality of Life, I am going to put down on paper the four areas of focus…

physical-financial, social-emotional, mental-intellectual and spiritual.

As I look at the categories right now I see some serious imbalance… and I am going to explore my possibilities with the help of my counselor, of course! ~grin~

I know that I process everything 'out loud' so in order for me to really get a good picture in my mind of how I'd like my life to look I'll have to talk and talk and talk to somebody about it. (aren't you glad you're not that 'somebody'?!) Then I'll need to sit under Sherri's Meditation Tree for awhile and let it all soak in…

Sherri, do you have a particular way of working thru the categories you described? Do you start out in one particular area each day or do you sort of sense that maybe, for that day, the emotional or maybe physical may be out of balance and you stop everything and correct those areas of imbalance? Can you guide us thru a step by step process you have found works for you?

Smiles!
amber

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

:)

Like you, Amber, I tend to think out loud. It is a good thing I can achieve that through blogging and journaling now. [Yes I write constantly!] That seems to be indicative of a lot of mental energies going around. So I tend to start with emptying my mind… I am a highly literate person, so I'd have to say that my dominant tendency would be to over-think things.

After I've cleared my mind I find that a real sense of calm can come in, and with it answers usually, about what really might be upsetting my balance. And also a whole lot of affirmations that I might have made for myself sometime back! For certain the recollection that I am supposed to be calm; supposed to be joyful and that I can manage what's happening regardless of what it is, slowly comes back… When my mind is wandering, these are the last thoughts.

Certainly, as my calm and relative control reassert themselves, more answers tend to trickle in.

Very critical to this though is my breathing, which I have to consciously think of and regulate.

What's interesting for me is the fact that specific answers, as in, courses of action come in that space. Then maybe afterwards I realise how they connect to that imbalance which I spoke of, as in, yes I needed some exercise! Or yes, I needed to laugh a little, because life had got just too intense or I really needed to change up my routine and stimulate my mind a bit. A general feeling of wellbeing tends to prevail after I have followed that lead I am given in calm mind. That's really nice. :D

Off to get dinner now! I've worked hard all day!

Love, S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Welcome, Sherri.  It's so good to see you as this month's Featured Member.  Your shining light & love on Gaia is precious to see and I'm sure everyone will learn a LOT from everything you have to share. 

Have a fabulous month sharing all about Barbados and all your amazing wisdom and warmth.

Blessings and joy, Kathy

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I am so proud of you Sherri.  You are amazing, and have also inspired me here on Gaia:))
Love you

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Welcome to the spotlight, Sherrilene.

I hope you find it as much an amazing experience as I did.  I look forward to getting to know you better throughout the month and learning more about your beautiful Barbados.

I've been lucky enough to find myself in places alongside you and you have always impacted me as being an incredibly peaceful person.  For our season of Peace here in the US, I can think of no one better to receive such attention, as being chosen to receive this spotlight gives.

Blessings on your month -

Deborah

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Concratulations Sherrilene!
Looking forward to seeing where this month, and this thread will take us!

Many hugs!

Claudia

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Greeting Sherrilene from a land down under.

Looking at your meditation tree and the view brought this to mind…

Not thus had God ordained it; nay, but He
To silent hearts is present silently;
He waits till in thee perish pride and shame,
Sense of thyself, and all thy thoughts of fame;
Then when thy task is over, His begun,
He leads thy soul where all the Arts are one–
Leads to His shrine, and has of old unfurled
To chosen eyes the wonder of the world.

                                                 - F. W. H. Myers

Enjoy!!!

Love and cuddles

- an eccentric Aussie

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Thanks, friends. This is special! Looking forward to the month. Yes.

Best to all. Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

                                  

                                           Barbados Flora



What is the ONE  thing you most enjoy about Gaia? Comments on my blogs… a close second: Grapevine messages!!

Speaking of Sherrilene's blogs I would like to highlight one I felt captured her essence most beautifully!

November 21st

What was the last thing you wondered about?

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Congratulations, Sherri!

may you continue to be blessed with achieveing your deepest dreams
for the benefit of all beings

much love

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

 I see I had posted a comment on your blog already, Sherri. Do I get brownie points for that?  ;)

BUT I also saw that my comment is, embarrassingly longer than your blog. I do apologize; you seem to have started me off down memory lane! I guess blogs can do that, sometimes.

Do you like/dislike it if the comments are about a person's own experience as mine was; and not mainly about what you had written? [don't be shy to tell me; I'd really like to know!]

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

haha Meenakshi, no points to share, I'm sorry! But know that I appreciate your inputs which are always sincere and heartfelt.

I learn a lot more from people's own experiences actually. So I really don't mind a more personal take on things. There is so much scientific 'stuff' and big words floating around which distract you completely. I find a real perspective helps clear the fog a bit and leads to true insight.

So please don't ever hesitate to share on my blog. I like it!

Thanks again, S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

My dear Sherri,

I recall you to be the very firstest Zaadz /Gaia buddy who summed up your life exactly the same way as I do… LOVE… nothing but LOVE…

I don't know if you are a Boney M fan… but when I hear them sing Bahama Mama, I think of you… ( I know you are not Bahamian.. but I don't know any of your native songs… wanna share some?)

Hopefully, you smile when you hear that, because if my calculations are wrong, and you are not amused… I really don't want to become and elephant in your eyes… :-)

All in good fun, and congratulations, you clearly deserve to be in the spotlight… during this blessed season.

Love you

Dave

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Quality of Life Thought

Sherrilene, you've spoken in some of your earlier blogs of the difficulty in finding people in your area who are similar in Gaian type beliefs, positive attitude, and love. In other words, it was a relief to find so many people here you resonated with on many levels.

Have you found more people around you in Barbados who share your beliefs and actions in more recent times? Or have you found that people have basically stayed the same. The quote above speaks of standing together during challenging times making the challenges seem less daunting. I can hardly imagine your energy and love not having a huge impact on those around you, especially the younger generation. Can you give us an update?

Smiles!
Amber

{Mod Edit - Amber posting to credit Sherrilene for the design of the Quality of Life Reminders. The still shots are Tamaras, Sherri creates the Reminders!}

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi Amber!

In fact I would say a combination of things occurred. One was my realising that I was part of the 'problem', in terms of looking intentionally for such persons. So in time, with a bit of gradual adjustment of my thinking, these persons began to filter into my space and have stayed close. They are still few in number, but that's quite ok. We have a challenge of being able to spend lots of time together because we are always consumed in our activities working with people, but we all understand the meaning of 'Quality Time' and make the best of any half-hour or 2 minutes we can spend together!

Another thing that occurred was me contributing to an environment where people would let their true, loving selves peek out, by being, well friendly and peaceful in interactions. I'd like to build a culture of authencity [at the very least around me, in my space]. So I make an effort to model that all the time. This is a full time job, when I think of it! People feel comfortable and express themselves more sincerely, so I get a good feedback in general in my interactions.

Where I have had the privilege of working with a whole group, I have found that in that little segment, the free flow of energy is much greater after my interaction. That's fulfilling in itself.

So yes, things are getting better!

I am observing, however, more and more 'freeing up' taking place. It seems like my need to make an effort to warm things up will reduce now and I'll move on to different things.

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Well here's a great downstream/spinoff from your thread, Sherri. I finally wrote my blog about my view of what Quality of Life is, and that is MOST satisfying.

I am hereby encouraging us all to allow you to inspire us to focus on this idea, and what it means to each of us, and for us to share. This focus on the positive, and on the Vision, goes a long way toward co-creating the world we are choosing !!

So, great blessings to you for bringing this blessing to us,
OM Bastet

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherrilene,

I bow to your incredible insight and wisdom! How many of us can say, “One was my realising that I was part of the 'problem', in terms of looking intentionally for such persons.” it's very difficult to see how we are getting in our own way sometimes by what we are chosing to focus on!

It's especially difficult when it is a reality there are more people around us who are carrying a dark cloud attitude then there are people who are walking in the light! You chose to focus on the people who are walking in the light and you found a small but precious group who lift you up…  and you value them once you've found them… a second important step in the process of adding quality to your life! Sometimes we take what we have found for granted, blocking our access to a better quality of life. Tragic but not uncommon for many of us!

You wrote, “I am observing, however, more and more 'freeing up' taking place. It seems like my need to make an effort to warm things up will reduce now and I'll move on to different things.” Do you feel that maybe you've practiced so much being positive and providing a welcoming atmosphere you're doing it without thinking and effort rather then moving on to different things? I like to imagine walking into a room where you are and seeing a natural, effortless smile on your face, a sense of well-being in the air… just like the feeling of well-being the beautiful ocean surrounding you gives the weary traveler.

Smiles!
amber

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Well, actually Amber, there's probably some truth to that. As they say, practice makes excellent - not perfect, not the goal :) [You may notice that my company slogan is 'Living Ever Closer to Excellence' for example :) ]

I've got really good at managing the harmony in my space; in charging my aura, as it were. So to some extent my usual contacts with the world are really smooth, pleasant and enjoyable.

Your comment about coming into my space and feeling my wellbeing has been said to me in different ways and at different times, yes. Quite recently in Groningen, when I went back to my student town for a Facilitators Conference [I haven't really got the chance to write on it yet, but I will link back later on…] there was a session entitled 'How to most effectively use the spirit and energy in a group'. I was actually asked to demonstrate how I achieve this, sine this is a tool of mine for effective communication and facilitation. It was heartening to have the leader of the session say after I had done my little demo [which just involved opening the session by going really calm and quiet and then saying 'Welcome' with a warm smile…!] that she 'got it', and furthermore, she felt like if something 'sacred' was about to happen!

What an absolute compliment I must say!

When I refer to my moving onto different things, I should elaborate to say that I had consciously 'upped' my loving output on detecting the prevalence of a cold, cold world. [Earlier blog on this here…] My detection today is that warmth is slowly creeping into the world around me, warmth in the form of care for others, for life, for quality. So in terms of how I use my intentional energies, I'll consider diverse but equally meaningful ways again…

In any case, I'm satisfied that being peace is definitely the way to go. I'm not gonna stop this path now!

Loving you, dear! Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hello OM!

I read thru your Quality of Life blog and thought, “Wow! I'm not doing half bad in the Quality of Life department!” I'm very blessed to have relative safety, access to food, clothing, shelter, and health care, I am surrounded by caring people who support me, and, while scary pushing outside of my comfort zone to really live a Quality Life, I seem to be surviving the experiment!

I wonder, Sherrilene, if you would have added anything to the list or have a similar list you've blogged about that you could link us to?

Smiles!
amber

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I'll just copy-paste my comments on OM's blog - which was fantastic and inspiring! There's nothing like asking the 'tough' questions!! - as my little but important summary ..

'exercising our free will, our gift of choice in how we live, in our achievement of satisfaction in this life, is so important! Feeling disempowered can be a drain on the spirit, on the will to live and to make a contribution while we're at it!

Taking first actions in our own lives, towards our own wellbeing actually can create the momentum needed to make that difference we so often think and talk about, by energising and inspiring us.'

I absolutely endorse personal leadership and I feel it's not the domain of any special person. We all can lead and lead great! It is the same qualities that we all were born with. Dissatisfaction normally comes from the knowledge [inside] that we could do better, be more, achieve more and contribute more…

I'll have to check around for any more writing I have done on this and come back with it. For now, I ought to get some more rest.

And Amber, you're doing ok! Your determination and will to keep living and your incredible continued smiling are great indicators that you're working towards a really good quality life. Please have a smile, on me and enjoy the feeling of satisfaction with knowing that you try, and you try hard. You are not stagnant!

Blessings and love to OM and everyone. Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Congrats to a most inspiring friend, entrpreneuer and teacher Sherrilene Collymore! Our Barbados beauty! Woohoo…

Becoming friends with Sherri was like finding an old friend along the highway of life…at a rest stop that was peaceful and in right place and time!

Sherri takes her friendship seriously and she offers so much love and generosity in her words and thoughts and ideas.

It is wonderful to see my friends highlighted here and gives me joy to read the words of others posted on this site and know the impact they have on others is similar to the impact they have made on my life.

Congrats Sherri and enjoy your month here in the spotlight…you deserve it and we love you!

Big hugs,
Aley

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Aley, you are very special to me also. You help to make GAIA a very worthwhile place to be! I hope you know how much!!

I'm having a good time, yes, thanks to the wonderful people hosting this pod!

My thanks again for all your blessings and bounty.

Love, Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Thanks for your kind words, Sherri.

Wow, I was right there in the room feeling your demonstration, and I felt it !! No long guided meditations or complex breathing techniques needed. You made it simple and natural and do-able. Fantastic !!!!

Blessings, OM

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I'm glad tp see this theme  this month, Sherri: Quality of Life. It's one that each of us is defining for ourselves as fears and doubts come up on the global sphere.

A great message. Thank you for having it ready to share!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Yes, everything seems so timely presently. I have been researching [i.e. soul searching] on this topic for a few years now and most people at face value get the benefit. But to see it as a major point [vs. running the Race of life] is a big step… a leap even!

However many that had passed it by in a cursory way are contacting me with sincerity as themes start to sink in in this economic climate. The whole question of value vs. having money is at hand…

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi, Sherri - welcome as Featured Member of the month - and congratulations!  Reading more about Quality of Life, and your and others' perspectives on it has been fun and fascinating - thank you :-).  It's caused me to reflect quite a bit on mine - one really important aspect for me is sharing whimsy and humor.  In that vein I especially enjoyed your blog about the Jack Russell terrior [g].


May we all continue to be surprised with chuckles and joy -



Sylvia

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

lol Thank you Sylvia. I do love story telling! I think I get as much pleasure in recalling and telling true stories as my audience does! I'm usually cracking up long before I am through with the telling!

Come to think of it, it does enhance the atmosphere around you when you can crack a joke and laugh a bit.

I'm often inspired by nature, especially the animals since I feel they are much closer to their true selves than Man [just an opinion]. And I like to see how they deal with challenges in life and compare how humans do the same. Our little BIG Jack Russell was a great example for all underdogs!

I'll link to the blog here in case anyone wants to read up!

Blessings to you. Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Ah, Sylvia, thanks so much for that addition !!! I'm not willing to universalize that humor is necessary for every human's Quality of Life, perhaps some are quite content without it (hard to believe, but possible) but I sure know that for some of us it is ESSENTIAL or our QoL would be quite impaired/degraded  !!!! (I refrained from using the crude word there. Best to just say I might even go NUTS if humor were somehow denied to me in my experience of life, and I'm not alone in that !!)

LOL !!!

OM

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi Sherrilene!  I'm looking forward to getting to know you!  I tried to stop by and give you some grapes but for some reason I couldn't!  So I will leave them here 0'0'0'0'0
                                               0'0'0'0
                                                 0'0'0
                                                 

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hehe, oops, it looks like I dropped them!!

And I just wanted to agree as well that I need humor to optimize my QoL.  I agree OM, I would lose my marbles.  Especially having kids - no humor.  Ick!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Jackie, you're funny! And yes, I would go nutty if I couldn't and didn't pull off a good ol' belly laugh from time to time! I laugh out loud often. In fact I have friends who complain that I dont have sufficient decorum lol

I always insist I claim no culture, so I wouldn't know what the rules were anyway ;) Convenient, huh!

S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Yes, especially with kids, Jackie !! but then, kids bring humor whether we ask for it or not, eh?

Only official Friends can post on a person's Grapevine, except Ambassadors can post on anyone's.

I thought your grapes looked just fine, very grape-shaped… (note humor….)

Blessings to all,
OM

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi Sherrilene,
First, Christmas for you is also different, being in such a warm climate. I grew up with snow, toboganning, skating and the like. It took me a few years to get used to Christmas on the beach in the southern hemisphere. It's a wonderful time of the year, it just doesn't always feel like Christams as I knew it.

 

Over twenty years ago I had the pleasure of spending considerable quality time as a backpacker in the heart of Bali. I was touched and deeply influenced by the rich social fabric of these simple-living islanders. It seemed they were always celebrating something or preparing for the next celebration. For them life was art.

To a certain extent my family and I have taken those Balinese messages and assembled them into a quality lifestyle that resounds with simple ritual and celebration.

First of all, Christmas in the southern hemisphere feels a little strange as its original date was established based on the pagan festivals of the coming of light. December 25^th is a few days after winter solstice and is the first day that was obvious to our ancestors that the days were getting longer and, hence, the light was returning. It is my understanding that's Jesus' actual birthdate was in January. Here in New Zealand Christmas falls in the heart of summer, creating stress for people as they attempt to finish off activities and shopping in this busy, outward and naturally warm time.

What do we do now? Both daughters make their own Christmas cards. The youngest, who'se almost 16 now, still makes paper snowflakes and festoons the French doors in our living room with them. Soon I will prune several large branches from a cedar hedge to create a ‘Christmas tree'. The girls will decorate it with many, mostly handmade, decorations.

For the past three years the girls and I have sung Christmas carols at homes for the elderly. That is an extremely rewarding pastime. Our family will host an annual summer celebration on December 21^st on the beach below our house. These events are attended by an eclectic crowd who follow a diverse range of religions and beliefs. We share a meal, leap over the fire to strengthen friendships, sing together, swim and relish the spirit of friendship. I usually attend carol singing at a couple of local churches. I sang in the church choir as a boy so it feels great to share these traditions. On Christmas Eve I'll join a few friends for Sanskrit chanting. We have no family nearby, so Christmas day is a quiet family affair followed by a get-together with another immigrant family (from England) who are actually like family for us. All in all, it is a season rich with celebration and low-cost sharing.

Sherrlene, enjoy your featured month and to all of you, have a great holiday season.

Blessings,
John

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

John, so nice to hear from you! It's been a while.

And I so seldom hear stories about countries in the Southern Hemisphere it's exciting to know some more.

Like you, we have our special traditions for Christmas; some are westernised but many, many are carried forward from the time of slavery when the territories were colonised.

I will write about Barbados' Christmas celebrations some more as we draw closer and just bask in learning about New Zealand and your special version of Balinese / NZ Christmas, in the meantime. It is great to see how you and your family create such wellbeing through your special dedication to the community and to your home life.

Quality of Life and Quality Time in general definitely don't get priced in terms of dollars. No, not at all!

You must tell me more about that book! And I encourage everyone to visit John's blog which is so beautifully written…

Thank you so much for coming by. You are blessed!

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

It was so fun to read your blog, John, about Christmas in a warm climate! Thanks for posting it here for us to enjoy! This story is a great example of how to have a Quality Life no matter what your background or location on the globe!

Quality of Life tip from John… Celebrations!

Quality of Life tip from Sylvia… Whimsy and Humor

and a repost from Gaia Networking member Martha in her email to me… how to graciously say, I'm busy but thank you for aking. Below is her post and we can all learn from her how important it is not to overwhelm ourselves by trying to do everything there is out there to do!

Martha said,

“I hope all is well with you.  Thank you for this invitation, and for thinking of me.   I think your discussion is great, and at the same time I'm really so busy that I won't be able to participate.”

Thank you Martha for being so sweet and taking care of you!

Smiles!
amber

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Oh, KES, you sure know how to make me blush with your Mt Everest praises! But I do take them graciously as a compliment from your heart. So please accept my sincere and quality THANK YOU!!!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

WOOHOO Sherrilene YEEHOO Amber!

If I could only escape and recreate to a place, in a warm climate, that's my own world…

Barbados?

…but I think I've found it already, thanks to you two!!!

Woohoo for Gaia-planet's Quality of Life

If you look around you, people everywhere are looking for someone who can deliver QUALITY, be it in a sweetheart, a potential employee, or a new boss.

People are looking for someone who can deliver QUALITY not quantity.

QUALITIes are difficult to find, measure , or test.

QUALITY is understanding what is unique about you-your accomplishments, experience, attitude-and using that to differentiate yourself from others.

The most qualified is rarely the one who wins.

”It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” -CHARLES DARWIN

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

LOU! It's been so busy I'm only now able to tell you, you are just lovely too! This post completely inspires me.

I think that Quality has been shoved below the carpet time and again. It's connected to the scarcity model taking precedence. But Quality endures…

It is built on self mastery and excellence, just like many have been attempting to explore in themselves here at GAIA.

I'd like to refer you to my article entitled Quality vs. Quantity for my full perspectives on this topic…

Thank you so much for enlivening this thread!

Much love, Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Quantity vs. QUALITY

No doubt Sherrilene, we live in age of quantity.

Just about everywhere you look it seems like larger, faster, and more are often the same with better.

We are told that we need to find more time, more things, and more love to be truly happy.

A smaller quantity of anything that is high in quality will almost always be more satisfying.

When you want ICE CREAM, twenty candy bars won’t satisfy you. 

You can never get enough of what you don’t really want.

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Kathy, this is simply the most fantastic post I have seen in soooo long! You have summed up why I stay here, very simply.

I can't say anymore. You are just LOVELY!!

What would any of us do without you being here?

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much.

Love and more love, to you!

Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Kathy, whenever I think of you it is your gentleness, clarity and the humility of one who has greatness shining through her. You showcase each person you meet, and help them to see their own inner beauty; as in your Dreams of Aritists™pod.  You are a true artist!

Sherri, I so enjoy the warm and authentic quality of your intelligence; these are rare qualities together. You hold a special space on Gaia as I see you do in your off-line life as well.

I am enjoying the way you are showing us different blogs areas on Gaia where you have traveled. As indeed you show us different areas on the off-line Gaia as well! I remember reading one of your travel blogs [ if not more] and am impressed by the work you do in different areas of the world.

As  in Off to Kenya at the end of this week

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Greetings again Sherrilene -
this is turning into such lovely warm and friendly thread,
isn't it -thanks to you!
I knew December was going to be a great month.


And speaking of warm -I shall certainly be that this
Christmas -will be visiting all my family in Darwin,
in the Northern Territory of Australia!

I shall be thinking of all of you shivering in the
Northern Hemisphere!

Peace,
Sandy

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Yayyy! I am so pleased, really! I hope it's truly educational as well; that we all can 'walk away' having been enlightened on very practical and [self] loving ways to enhance our individual and our loved ones' Quality of Life.

I thought my birthday was great! It is NOTHING compared to the month of December so far lol

Thanks again. Always, Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Lou,

That little guy going along on the bicycle is so cute! I love that his 'clothing' is flapping in the wind! We are looking for Quality people in our lives and, Lou, you summed it up beautifully!

Kathy, those were very 'tasty' grapes, Dear! Thank you for picking out the sweetest ones, putting them out on a platter, and letting us all share them like the proverbial loaves and fishes of the bible! We can all enjoy the grapes and no one will go away disappointed!

P.S. I LOVED Jackie's grapes too! Hers were seedless I could tell! ~grin~

Quality of Life

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Amber, before I do that, I just had to cross post from the Economy discussion thread to share a little on my other passion, which is business and economics.

Although the average person often is out of the know where especially economy is concerned, I feel that the individual is hugely important in overall economy… but we can discuss that another time!

In the meantime, I wanted you to familiarise yourselves, if you hadn't heard about it, with Bhutan, which emphasises Quality of Life in their national economic model.

How exciting for me to see this model is being looked at at something to replicate! Take a look: http://pods.gaia.com/z_network/discussions/view/366466#373599

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I do this with a bit of pleasure Amber. I'm getting into a lovely routine which is not quite routine, but seems to handle the incoming stuff increasingly easier…

First thing, I don't keep 'regular' hours. I sleep as long as I feel to; that could be 'cat naps' of a couple hours or a full night [6 hrs or so] of rest. But I usually rise around 4 a.m. It's still dark. I hit the computer almost immediately. I am a net addict! That's when I do lots of my blogging and commenting etc.

In between, I am tidying up my house, doing dishes, laundry, whatever. I am also a homebody quite a bit. I love cleaning up and keeping a lovely home.

When there is sunlight I usually open my back door and invariably nowadays Twitchy will hop in. He has started hanging out on my back staircase till I am available and then he comes in with me. I feed him while doing household duties. At daylight I normally put out food for the birds. I think they now see me as a regular food source! They can get really busy if I don't put anything out for a couple days! Before my fish died, I would feed them.

I like to incorporate some kind of physical activity first thing in the morning as well, like heading over to my cliffs, hiking southwards, yoga, running, lots and lots of stretching [isn't stretching simply wonderful??]  I don't exercise physically everyday but I do try to keep active. My brain work burns a hell of a lot of calories though, so I'm probably balanced lol

Ok, then I'd say I try to assess my actual appointments for the day and what I have to do to prepare for them. You might know I am a Human Capital Development consultant so I have to meet with individuals and groups to do my facilitation work, helping to bring out the best possible creative outputs from them. I work all my errands around my appointments. [I am single so I normally have to pull it off on my own; no complaints tho :D]

I like to drive my new car, especially in the countryside or along the coast, so I make the whole errand experience into a pleasant activity as well. I also like talking to regular people, so I do my bits of shopping often at the small vendors, the fish market nearby or at the bigger but busier market in Bridgetown [our capital]. Being over-intellectual can be such a drain at times [much of my present work is at the University!] that being down to earth can help to release the burden and keep in touch with the simplicity! I really enjoy hanging out a bit with normal, good-intentioned, totally 'unaware' people lol

I have wonderful friends all over, including here on GAIA, so I am always in contact, if only briefly with them through the day and night. I am also dating a wonderful man right now who is as spontaneous as I - moreso actually - and he will often introduce a diversion into my day depending on my and his locations at the time, where we can meet up for a snack or a drink.

I am usually home at nights except for the odd cinema visit [single lady being careful still…] and it's usually computer activity again mixed with cooking, mixed with music playing.

I try to remain flexible though. This has worked really great in keeping things in good order. Flexibility with focus… I try to set my priorities for the day bright and early…

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherri, each time I think of Bhutan with that beautiful goal, it lifts up my spirits. Also, it's in the Himalayas, and I really miss mountains, living in Florida!

And two, because the young King –who we were all enamored by, as teenagers in India, when he became king [he's my age]–coined the term Gross National Happiness in 1972!

Seeing that it shares two [at least] of your passions; when are you likely to visit and share lovely photos of?

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Ooooh, how exciting to imagine! I didn't even think of that for myself [yet!]

I'll have to do some research on that! That's pretty close to where the Dalai Lama lives, isn't it? Just being in that zone must be some sensory experience!

Thank you for the idea. Let's see where I'm guided. ;) [I haven't been anywhere in Asia, by the way…]

Blessings, M. Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

“That's pretty close to where the Dalai Lama lives, isn't it? Just being in that zone must be some sensory experience!”

In a manner of speaking. The Dalai Lama lives in Dharamsala in India [I'm blessed to have been there] and Bhutan is a country in that corner of the world:

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I confess to be ignorant about the lay of the land in Asia. I'm looking forward to remedying that in person :)

I think I will do something special [for myself] to recognise Bhutan's National Day on the 17th.

Is there anybody from Bhutan on GAIA? I would love to make a friend there.

I was led to this link at TED.com by Samme [princesamwise.gaia.com] and I thought it was very interesting . [Samme is my brother from another life, I'm certain of it].

If you scroll through to about 11:15 in the video, you will get to the part about happiness. I encourage everyone to take the time, please. We could learn quite a lot…

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jonathan_harris_collects_stories.html

Unfortunately I can't find Samme's blog [maybe he could link us to it to comment?]

Who would imagine such a small, apparently insignificant place in the world, that could perhaps hold the answer to so many of the world's problems…?

Love, S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherri, serendipitously found that Dec. 17th is Bhutan's national day!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Yay! We were blessed with two great reads! Thank you, Sherrilene, for sharing about Bhutan and Gross National Happiness and what a day of Gross National Happiness looks like! Twitchy is definitely part of Gross National Happiness!

Your day makes me envious of your ability to be a functioning Early Morning Riser… so many of my friends get their day going before the sun comes up and have so much accomplished by the end of their day. It's 8:30 a.m. and I'm going to be hitting Spell Check often during this post as I'm working with a foggy brain! I function my very best from about noon until 2 a.m. so most of my productive hours are dark during the winter.

Sunset in Oistins

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Amber Smilemaker's Top 5 Daily Happiness Indicators

1. To wake up in a warm bed with the knowledge that I will always have a roof over my head and a warm bed to wake up in.

2. To always have adequate food, clothing, and medical attention so I could live my life without the worry of basic needs being met.

3. To have people in my life who love me and who I feel will support me no matter what crazy situation I might get myself into. In other words, security to try new things and possibly fail but the price of failure not be the loss of good friends.

4. To be able to make a contribution to my community, either thru a job that I do well or by simply being pleasant to be around.

5. To have a pet or someone in human form to wrap my arms around when I come in from my day.

Smiles!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

It's freaking me out how much of Amber's list is precisely what I might choose!

Great, now I'll have to think if there's anything I absolutely must add!

I am so enervated to see how little of what Amber highlighted had anything to do with 1. cash or other material in hand 2. status symbols 3. controlling anything or anyone

This brings my heart joy!

Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I am sorry Meenakshi. Nothing too spectacular emerging with me! Seriously, Amber hit it!

What about you?

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Well, I'm glad I made you look at Asia, Sherri. Maybe we'll meet up in India one day!

BTW, now that Amber's taken the plunge, can you tell I'm waiting for your happy list?

And after  you do that [keeping you traveling!]—I wanted to ask you if you've added your Quality of Life thoughts  to Gaia's Quotes library?

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

A very quick response; I want to focus on a few pressing things this morning before I settle in and give a good half hour to GAIA!

I haven't participated in the community Quotes page too much since I noticed there are some exemplary offerings from GAIA members. I have from time to time, documented some of my own thoughts here on GAIA though, inspired but somewhat organised beliefs of mine.

If you feel to walk by, you can see some of them in my Added Quotes. Even I haven't peeked over there recently!

I'm not at all sure if comments come to my notifications. Will try and make some time to check into that.

I will be back!

Have a blessed day, friends.

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Quite the lists !! Really terrrific. Still working on mine !

Displayed above the emailed notification of posts that mention Bhutan, my gmail advertising stuff offers me photo tours of Bhutan in a car. Gotta love those bots ….. Privacy traded for relevancy and opportunity….

Blessings, OM Bastet

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Wow!  This discussion makes me so happy! 

1.  To thank the sun, the stars and the eternal spirit for loving us, and watching over us.

2) To feel the gift of light that illuminates my heart.

3) To share the gift of light, to let you know how much I love you.

4) To receive your gifts of light, to know how much I am loved.

5) To be one in spirit together, that we may be one with the sun, the stars and the eternal spirit.

back to 1.. until the 5 merge into 1.

Love you all.

Dave

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

sherri - so happy to see you as december's featured member!!! there is a delay in my getting here to post as i would have normally done so on the 1st day…hum…which also was the 1st:) as you know gaia can be quite addictive - in a very wonderful way. i have found myself having to turn down a few requests to mod different pods and am still trying to add as much as i can to those who email and the pods i'm on:)…this all ties into this thread - you know how? gaia has become part of my quality of life.:) within it i have found people like you whose words i can read and lol or smile and/or be in the trueness of what quality of life is.

i have taken the time to read each entry, hoping not to miss out on any of the blessing that this is. i was going to write my list of five…but am considering that it changes regularly and so when i do, it will be for the moment i'm in:) in the meantime…this is for you…i don't know what it is yet - isn't that cool:)

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

aki, I am so touched by this, you wouldn't imagine. I respect you so much! It makes a difference when complimented by someone you admire yourself!

I continue to aspire to be the person I was created to be and act as God would want me. Thank you for your welcoming of me!

Love you! Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Waycool, all the contributions here. Your day is similar to mine in some ways, Sherri, as I have a lot of flexibility, too, and a lot of time alone, and I love doing errands !!! :)

I wasn't getting anything about my five pillars of happiness, but finally this morning inspiration struck:

1. One of my happinesses is that I have all my basic physical abilities and faculties, and the safety and freedom to use them in ways I choose. My basic needs are met, I have place, finances, food, comfort.

2. Another of my happinesses is that I have the wherewithall — abilities, faculties, time, resources — to express my life purpose and my joys in life, for example, writing to be useful to others in their growth.

3. Another of my happinesses is that I have people to be in mutual loving and caring with, to carry out my Life Purpose with, to enjoy and learn from. Lots of people, all over the world, of which the Gaia Community is a HUGE portion, for me.

4. Another of my happinesses is that I am living on this exquisite jewel of a planet, being madly in love with her and being supported and nourished by her, and being constantly awed by her beauty.

5. Another of my happinesses is that I know who I am on the vastest scale of the Kosmos, in the biggest context of all, and I know what the purpose of my existence is. This is an unimaginable happiness, and I can remember what life was like when I didn't have this peace and serenity, this sense of identity and belonging.
 
6. I can't fit this one into any of the others, but it's crucial for my happiness: That I have found lots of other people who want the best for themselves, for others, and for the world, who are into expansion, growth, development, learning, caring, respect, and cooperation. Without that, none of my other happinesses would go very far.

I think that's gonna be a blog soon……

Blessings
OM Bastet

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

OM, yes, I think that making a contribution which I equate to actualising my purpose, help to make my days worthwhile. Certainly the feeling of satisfaction which comes from perfoming a good thing does wonders for overall wellbeing.

I am inspired more and more everyday also, by interacting with so many other people who desire to live to their highest level and embrace their divinity!

This is a key reason why I have hope!

Thank you for sharing with us here.

Best, Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi, folks - I haven't yet ventured into the discussion of the economy and Bhutan.  I was intrigued enough by what I read of it in this thread to reflect on my own daily happiness indicators:

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sylvia, if I may…

I'd like to just ask if the fact that others [although we're all connected!] are so involved in establishing and maintaining the health of the planet, significantly impacts your feelings of happiness.

It is something I think about quite a bit, and I'd love to have the perspectives of other people, on the same page.

Peace, Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherri, I saw your quotes. Also left a comment. I wonder if you'll get a notification!

I enjoy seeing Gaians share their own quotes there; because in a way, it is showcasing the wisdom of this community.

Sherri, one of your quotes is:”'Living' people don't make excuses for their emotions. They accept that feelings come as part of the human package; they embrace and walk with them on their journey.”

I wonder if you have some thoughts about handling emotions in our interactions?  e.g. in the community work that you do, in different countries, on Gaia and so on?

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Meenakshi..

Sherri, one of your quotes is:”'Living' people don't make excuses for their emotions. They accept that feelings come as part of the human package; they embrace and walk with them on their journey.”

Sherri is really an angel isn't she?  Yup, you are Sherri, and don't argue with me or I will get all emotional.  :-)

I find it literally unbelievable how so many cultures and people are bred to think that emotions are a 'bad thing', or that they show weakness…  and must be kept at bay, especially emotions of love, crying, and from time to time, anger.

Emotions are the voice of the heart… the echo of the soul.. if they do not flow freely, with love.. our spirits are expressing themselves as fully as they are capable.

We can 'be' any emotion we want to be.  We have as much control over the positive and negative use of our emotions as we do the words we choose to speak, or the thoughts we think.  There is nothing about emotions that is not within our concious choices.

The reason people 'lose it' sometimes, is because we hold our emotions in, we twist them, hide them, ignore them… and then sooner or later… boom.. those emotions are going to spill all over the place…

Anyway.. sorry for the interuption.. I am joyfully awaiting Sherri's angelic response. 

Love

D

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

lol

I guess I will give two shots at once [to Meenakshi & Dave together!]

To a great extent I don't try to 'handle' my emotions. Acceptance of my humanity has been a big part of my fully functioning in different and diverse environments. I don't 'play' perfect, or stoic or any of those things. I am a living, breathing, warm, ok, hot blooded, fully grown woman! I truly feel stifled when I have to hold 'me' back.

Having said that, it isn't a case of exploding into situations or in interactions with other people. It's quite the opposite. I actually think about who I engage with and how much of what's going on in the interaction inspires or requires an emotional reaction!

For example, if someone is ranting and raving, do I have to engage them? No, not at all. What's the point of it? We can't in essence come to conclusions that are useful until we're thinking straight, which never occurs while we're shouting! So I'm practising to not react to stimuli such as those and then respond. That 'counting to ten' thing has some usefulness here!

I don't hesitate to show feelings with people that I love or that I truly have care about. The old adage 'life is short' comes to mind for this rationale. I acknowledge that we are limitless with time generally, but the time that we have with the ones we are with now does have some end point and usually is the source of regret for adults who didn't take the time with their children or their parents in earlier life.

I don't want regrets. So I get it all out! It is very freeing as well…

I guess that priorities are the basis for my take on feelings; and like Dave, I want to feel, and feel good! Whatever will contribute to that output I'm in there! Stifling my Self isn't going to do it!

Peace and love,

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I haven't had much time to enjoy Sherri's month, though she and I had the good fortune to discover we had something in common - our sisters live only blocks from one another in El Paso Texas.

This caught my attention and so without a lot of thought, I've put together my -
 

Top 5 Daily Happiness Indicators

[1]   My children wake up well rested, saying “Mom snuggle me”, and I have enough time to do it.

[2]   Knowing all of our basic needs are met - a warm home, plenty of healthy foods to eat, clothes to wear - and that there is plenty to spare for non-essentials as well.

[3]   All family and friends are healthy, in the sense that any health concerns are under good control and not adversely impacting quality of life.

[4]   Our business is running smoothly, neither customers nor vendors have complaints against us, and all orders proceed efficiently.

[5]   There is an hour or two available to spend attending to Gaia community interests - keeping pods active, visiting blogs and responding to emails - and harmony rules our community.

Deborah

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Oh, Sherri, you are the featured member this month, how delightful!

Hugs,

Nicole

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Deb, your presence is a quality presence, so it only needs to present itself in doses! That's quite ok. Thank you for taking the time to share your list with us.

Again I feel inclined to comment that the general components for human satisfaction & quality of life are hardly ever strictly about money, although financial security is important. So much of who we are is built on our socio-emotional [relationships], spiritual [contribution, purpose, meaning] satisfactions. And very often these are badly neglected in pursuit of financial priorities.

I must add that my intellectual enhancement is greatly enhanced by my presence on GAIA, so this community definitely adds to my overall happiness & sense of wellbeing in a substantial way.

Blessings & love,

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherri, your post on communicating and expressing emotions made my heart sing! How's that for expressing emotions?

What I see is, that you attempt to do so appropriately; but have found a happy medium for doing it in such a way, that it seems effortless, and you feel you are not “handling” them. But you're in charge of the chariot! Not those runaway horses!
[whoops–this msg didn't go through when I wrote it. Re-sending 4 hours later!]

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherri, thank you for alerting us about this being the Human Rights Day. I feel that this is something very dear to your heart. It is only fitting that the day dawned on your featured member month!

I'm placing a link to your post in our new discussion on this group, on pods and blogs that link to human rights.

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Aaaaahhhh! GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS at Gaia Networking is Beautiful!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Which got me to thinkin'… Sherrilene, you show no hint of dialect when you are writing and I'm so very curious now that I've been around people from Guyana… do you have everyday phrases such as, “let me hot up a plate for you” that you could share with us from Barbados?!

And I'm thinking some more… please forgive my rambling as the jet lag and recycled air in the plane must be effecting my brain cells… how can anyone know they are saying something in a unique way when there is nobody to compare it with?! So my saying, “let me heat up a plate for you”, is dialect to my new friends! You say poe tah toe… I say poe tay toe… ~grin~

As my Guyana friends would say, “That ain't no joke!”

Smiles!
amber

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

How exciting! Again the great connections! I'm trying to think what a West Indian is doing that far over in the North Western U.S. still! lol It's too funny.

My neice and sister in law are both from Guyana actually! So I am exposed to lots of their traditions. We all have our dialects which are incidentally quite similar, but the 'slant' of the language might be stronger for some than others. Barbadians tend to speak more 'full mouthed' as would I if you met me.

And I do speak the dialect at times [yes, when I'm passionate, let it go!!], but since all my work is international I simply stick to English and speaking it in as simple ways as possible to avoid the need to repeat myself again and again.

My people all speak quite good English and do so as required. I personally feel so at home when I hear a good rattle off of some Bajan dialect, cuss words included hahaha

'I gine down de road' means 'I am going down the street' ; 'Nuff' means 'A lot of' and not 'enough' as my poor nephew from the States found out first hand; and a nice proverb that I don't know if it is universal is, 'The Lord don't come but He does send', which simply means, we are always provided for, so have faith.

Yeh, we would think you're quite posh if you said 'let me heat up a plate for you', but we would graciously smile and accept it with a wicked little grin most likely ;)

'Fa real, no joke' lol

S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

                                                ~ Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Beautiful flowers!

Sherri, it's delightful that Amber's question led to you sharing about Bajan dialect. It's so interesting, isn't it, how the different islands in the Caribbean have their very distinct flavours? I love to hear them all though I admit a certain partiality to Trinnie talk from home :)

Hugs,

Nicole

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hehe Now how did I know that, Nicole? lol

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Kathy, thank you. God bless you. They are beautiful flowers, some of my favourite…

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherri–new icon! What is it?

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi folks~

Mila has posted the most interesting blog called 

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Quality of Life Reminder

This Quality of Life Reminder, created by Sherrilene, is a picture pointing out three Happiness Indicators and fits in perfectly with the Game we are playing to see what Happiness looks like for Gaia Networking members!

“Just living isn't enough” indicates to me that food, clothing, and shelter, while neccessary, isn't what humanity needs to feel happy.  We need freedom to feel the sunshine and the beauty of nature to remind us of the miracle that life is… we tend to forget this simple fact.

So Dave's 5 Happiness Indicators, make me think of the part at the end of the quote, “and a little flower” because he speaks of Love…

Aki speaks of Community (specifically the Gaia Community) and I think, “another little flower.”

OM speaks of loving the Earth that sustains us and I think, “yet another little flower.”

Sylvia gives us a huge bouquet of little flowers and Gross World Happiness…

Deb reminds us that a bouquet of little flowers is not complete without the blessings of a loving family… whether it be a biological family or a Gaia family… we all need someone to snuggle!

Our bouquet is blooming with Love, Community, our precious Earth, a dream of Gross World Happiness, Family, I'm adding Smiles to the bouquet… any other additions? The fragrance is wonderful so far!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Congratulations and Happy Holidays to you Sherrilene and thank you for bringing so much Happiness to share.

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Thank you so very much, my dear new friend. I continue to feel inspired by you beautiful people.

Please have a wonderful holiday season as well!

Love to all, Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherri, thanks for telling us about Mila's and Nicole's  blogs. What a generous person you are, bringing in the community and spreading outward.

Hmmm…much like that icon of yours!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherri, I think I know what makes you happy: working for causes dear to you. Or at least, it helps you to know that you are enhancing someone's quality of life.

Here's a nugget I'd recommend to our friends to read: 
A Cause of Dear Interest to me… Children without parents!

Posted on Sep 14th, 2008 by Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Meenakshi, yes, my secret is out! I love to feel like what I put my energy into is something worthwhile. I consider this the Quality use of Time :)

It feels pretty meaningless otherwise.

As I grow as a person, I am finding fresh avenues daily to put my positivity into and am leaning more and more to helping those who really don't have a champion to facilitate things, such as these children, the disabled, the aged…

I am not aiming to make 'causes' out of them, just do things to help welcome them in graciously to the fold… That is my vision of it anyway!

Wish me luck!

And regarding the icon, I woke yesterday morning and remembered why I am how I am… it's gratitude, plain and simple.

Thanks for taking such interest in my life's work. It's really an honour.

Peace and love to all,

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Yay! Found your secret. Couldn't have stayed hidden for long, I guess; because all I had to do, was read a friend's blog.

I have to admit that each time I find a friend's blog that I hadn't read before, I am a little surprised. I feel I keep in touch with them through Blog- Friends' link on the left; but obviously I've not kept up.

I was wondering: are you a blog person or a pod person or a message person or a grapevine person? And can I have you travel over to What's your persuasion style? and give us your take?

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

:) Touched.

S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherrilene,

I think what you wrote here;

“I am not aiming to make 'causes' out of them, just do things to help welcome them in graciously to the fold…”

Meenakshi highlighted your passion for the children without parents and I'm so glad she did because your blog shows just how much doing simple things, without making 'causes out of them', can make a difference.

We can all advocate for the children in our communities, or if your interest is in the disabled or elderly, reach out to them! Last weekend I got to spend some time with an elderly couple and we did simple things like putting in new light bulbs, vaccuming, and my favorite, listening to their stories!

What do you see as the future of the community? God willing, we are going to lead this world into the next dimension! We have got the practice under our belts on how to love and care without expecting 'things' in return. And many of us have been prepared to step out in love and faith which is something that the world and the species truly needs now - evidence and example of quality people. Brian Johnson will be proud of his zaadz!

And I'm proud to be a part of a community with such Quality people as

our Sherrilene! Hugz and Smiles across the miles to you Sherri!

Quality of Life Reminders created by Sherrilene

Pictures courtesy of Tamara Bokuchava

www.flickr.com/photos/bokuchavatamara

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hey Sherri and Amber,

God willing, we are going to lead this world into the next dimension! We have got the practice under our belts on how to love and care without expecting 'things' in return. And many of us have been prepared to step out in love and faith which is something that the world and the species truly needs now - evidence and example of quality people. Brian Johnson will be proud of his zaadz!

I love this statement… but I must admit the last sentence puzzles me.

I was not around for very long before Brian's departure, but I did interact with him for several months.  Perhaps as a relative newby, I have always seen zaadz / Gaia  as the manifestation of the loving friends and members who are here now, giving of their energy, love, pain and passion.

If we are truly a community… why is zaadz 'his'?   I have always been a bit confused… if zaadz is (was) Brian… even if he sold his community to Gaia… why did he leave?  We all seem to live with Gaia as a part of our soul, while we all have other professional and family responsibilities…  so why does zaadz belong to Brian, when he chose to leave it?

I am honestly asking for your understanding… because I do not get it. I certainly hope I do not come across as contrary here… but I honestly do not understand.

Love,

Dave

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hey Dave

I am happy to see OM and Amber's answers. The vision of zaadz is still what certainly drives me and keeps me interested and going here. The community is a bonus, actually. I am stiill more excited by the possibilities of our combined positive and focussed energy to effect change than anything else.

I believe leadership, especially visionary leadership is soooo important and powerful and critically necessary today. I therefore credit Brian Johnson for not only talking about mobilising for change, but taking the initiative to actually do it. That is a big deal in a world where people are ridiculed so often for being 'too good'.

The truth is: GAIA Community without Brian's vision, is a pretty meandering and often confusing place; no essence of a clear, convicted vision… We haven't had that clear a direction, no offence to the GAIA team, since then. And it's basically the 'die hard' that share Brian's vision and passion that are sticking around and sticking in hard! lol

I am 'friends' with Brian outside of GAIA as well and endorse all his initiatives through my network.

I hope this explains a bit more Dave.

Peace and blessings,

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Thank you Sherri,

It explains a great deal, and I appreciate your openness, love and loyalty to the original zaadz / Brian vision.

I for one, did not participate in Brian's vision, nor do I look at Gaia as an extension of him. 

I find it interesting how many motivations flourish within this community, and why.

Love,

Dave

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi Dave, I'd like to jump in on a couple of those points. Zaadz is “his” because he conceived it and gestated it and birthed it. Without him, it wouldn't exist. We play in the space he created; of course, it consists of us and our contributions, but we are writing on the paper he supplied….  Yes, we are a community, but this community didn't just magically appear in the world. He got the idea, he “made it so.”

He (and some others) explained at great length why he sold his enterprise, though I don't have a link, it's probably in his blog. And he didn't “leave,” he is still a member here, and still active here, consistent with his own life responsibilities. He has gone on to create many other venues for people to become inspired and to become more of who they are, and affect positive changes in the world. They are listed on his profile.
 
Why does “it” belong to him though he chose to leave it?  In the same way as a child always “belongs” to its parent, even though the child grows up and away and the parent chooses to change his relationship with the child.

Hope that addresses some of your questions.

Blissings, OM Bastet

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Thanks OM,

Yes, you have done a wonderful job sharing your thoughts on Brian's paper.

Thank you,  you have illuminated much that until now, I did not understand.

Love,

Dave

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hey OM!

That was a perfect explanation! Thanks for writing it… I didn't know Brian at all (still don't but Thanks Brian for birthing this space I play in almost every day!) but I am very glad for people like him who invent things that make our days easier, richer, and immensely satisfying.

Dave, your writing is 'yours' even though we get to read it, quote it, brag about knowing the author, you created it for all of us to enjoy and to use as a tool to better our lives. That's what Brian did too! So thank you for 'inventing' The Loving Star a creation to better our world and one that adds quality to our lives and again let's thank Brian for doing the same!

Sherrilene creates the Quality of Life Reminders and while they are 'hers' she generously shares them with all of us… today's reminder;

Quality of Life Reminder by Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Thank you Amber,

Your words amplify my heart here at Gaia.  Our community belongs to everyone… equally.  While I honor what Brian created… creation alone did not make Gaia what it is today… it is the heart, the love, the sweat, the tears and the pain of EVERY member of this community. 

While Brian is the creator, the Gaia Team has held the vision, without trying to recreate… there is great humility in that… and I honor the Team for its quiet, unassuming role in continuing to grow Gaia both in depth and breadth, just as all of the long standing members of zaadz / Gaia have done.

I will always thank Brian for his conception, but in no way is any other member of this community any lesser.  I am sorry if others feel differently… but Gaia would not be what it is, without the thousands of members that we are.

I feel this way, quite simply… because of what is going on in our world… with the failure of our banks, and its leaders, the failure of the economy… and the auto industry, and pretty much every other industry right now.

We hold onto honoring select individuals for their roles in creating greatness… when that greatness exists because of the love, commitment and efforts of those who live their entire lives without recognition.

I am sure I have said enough… and all that I ask is that you do not react to this email as a sign of disrespect for Brian… but instead see it as an enormous love for everyone else in our community.

Love,

Dave

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherri, I've been reading your blog:  Happiness Lessons from around the world..

I wonder whether you found your own version of happiness in the countries you've visited?

And even more, whether you get a feeling for how much importance people you meet, give to happiness?

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Meenakshi,

In my travels I have sensed a great desire for happiness everywhere. In some places, this is given a priority more than in others. I have found it more in the developing world than the developed. It is one reason that I got interested so greatly in Quality of Life because of an observation that so many people with cash wealth were unhealthy and didn't enjoy life that much. I missed that perspective from home… but I didn't realise how important this was, myself, till I had travelled. Travelling certainly opens up minds!

I have found happiness in different places I have visited. A big part of it is contentment with the place I am at. I could find satisfaction any place, as long as I am of a mind to do so.

So now, I exercise my choice to live in the place which moves me most and where I feel most joyful… which is right at home where I was born.

Peace, Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I know there are posts in between, and Meenakshi's latest question pending, but I am responding to one of Dave's responses about my posting about Brian:

Dave, you asked about Brian and I answered about Brian. You then seemed to imply I was selecting him out to honor ABOVE those who have contributed since then, all the members and the team. That's not correct. Just because one does not mention something does not mean it is unimportant to the writer. It might simply be not so relevant to the topic. That's one of those common mis-interpretations that plagues us in communities that communicate via posts……

Yet, I do believe that the ones who conceive (in both sense of the term) and birth something do have a special role wrt that something. One can rightly rave about the beneficial influence of friends, teachers, relatives, even parents, on a maturing child, but the fact is that they are merely influences, not creators, the conceivers and the birther brought into EXISTENCE what others then improved upon, and shaped.

So in my own mind, I do a special honoring of the creators. those who don't just improve on something, they bring it into existence out of nothing. While I also fully honor all the influencers, each is important and of monumental value. Both functions: creating and nurturing/improving, are necessary, and to be honored and treasured, in this world.

Does that perspective make sense?

Blessings, OM Bastet

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

http://pods.gaia.com/z_network/discussions/view/371239#377491

I would like to emphasize, Dave, that I deeply and passionately resonate with what you said. It is indeed so many who have made Gaia Community what it is today.
 
You said
We hold onto honoring select individuals for their roles in creating greatness… when that greatness exists because of the love, commitment and efforts of those who live their entire lives without recognition.

I don't see this as an either-or. I see it as a both-and.  But I do see a difference in roles, and I don't regard that as “holding on” to honoring select individuals at the expense of due honor to all the others' love, commitment and efforts.

Not either-or, at least not in my psyche !! I am in great joy at your eloquence and the honoring and recognitions in your post.

Blessings, OM Bastet

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

OM,

I apologize to you, and everyone, for my question was not in any way intended as a slight on Brian, or the recognition that he is due.  I am also sorry for taking up space on Sherri's stage, which also was not my intention.

love to all,

D

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi, Dave - I appreciate deeply your comment about singling people out.  As a woman, I often feel unrecognized in my efforts - particularly in Christian and larger religious circles - where women tend to form the majority of the membership while men tend to hold most of the leadership roles, particularly the most visible ones.  I feel on Gaia especially - and in life in general - all of us are co-creators with one another.  If creating/birthing is a special role - then where is the recognition of the mothers involved?


I also wish to honor Sherrilene's thread - perhaps the moderators could make this a separate discussion?


love and light -


Sylvia

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sylvia, your wish is my command.

Gaia Community: where is the leadership?

We can take this rich discussion there; and continue with the feature on Sherri here.
Thanks for planting the seed of this discussion, Sherri!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I'm enjoying this party.
Very precious sharing and loads of integrity
much love

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Happiness lessons from around the world…..thank you for this and other happiness lessons that you have given me, Sherri…..
I am really enjoying this latest gift! Thanks for sharing it.

blessings and wonder,
CG

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Always a pleasure, CG. Be blessed! S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

At home with friends

Sherri, I believe you told me someone in the above picture is related to you? Could you tell us the story behind this picture?

Pictures courtesy of  Tamara Bokuchava

www.flickr.com/photos/bokuchavatamara

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi friends. From left to right in the top picture are Cheryl, me, Tamara - who you all know, and Julia. Cheryl is a beautiful lady who I met through work 8 years ago and whose beauty and spirit I connected with instantly. We remain very good friends although we hardly ever get to see each other now that I've changed work places.

Tamara came to visit for a couple weeks back in February 2006 and we did a Caribbean tour on student budgets! We had such a great time. Whenever I have visitors over I try to have a gathering of some sort to celebrate and let them meet some of my local friends. This was the occasion here.

Julia is a friend from secondary school. We literally met 25 years ago!! Her family is like my family; we've been through a lot together.

The two beach pictures are very special to me. They are my vision of the world some day soon… happy, multicultural children playing together everywhere! 'Children in the sand' is a lovely reminder of what is possible. The child on the left is my friend Marina's son; Marina I also met at secondary school. We had such different backgrounds but yet we resonate so much when it is a matter of children and the future and love and humanity in general. Tamara fell in love with the children prior to knowing that I even knew them. I thought that was sweet :)

As for the pictures of my people, just say that I am so so proud to be Barbadian. Loving this verrrry much!

Always, Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Interesting observation about cash wealth; and perhaps also when it goes along with being upwardly mobile, ambition for outward gains, prestige, power etc; one is so outwardly focused, that the idea is that something outside of one gives happiness; not something within, as you have found.

Because we can have people who are very cash wealthy, but don't define themselves by that; and who don't need to show it or live according to it. They seem to have more contentment and perhaps even happiness.

Have you come across the feeling that people who work for bettering society, feel they have no right to be happy? Till they have done all they would like to do? I admit that it has taken me ages to even accept happiness as a goal, and the feeling that each of us has every right to be happy, even if others are not, while still working to serve them.

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Meenakshi, correct on both points.

I think it was striking to me personally, the matter of cash wealth, mainly because this was not part of my upbringing at all. We didn't have excess of anything, but I assure you, I cannot say we ever were without. I never felt 'poor' in my lifetime. However, just about everybody else around me was seeing the dollar as their eventual saviour. [I've since dramatically changed my circle!] But I know many MANY cash wealthy persons who are such sincere, developed human beings that it doesn't factor into my analysis anymore…

On moving fully into public service I felt my capacity for happiness shift considerably. I felt really guilty about joy! It has taken much solitude and meditation and communion with the Father to accept that:

1. joy is natural and part of our existence
2. the chronic way things are, are not my fault, so I don't have to feel guilty about enjoyment of what ever else I encounter positively
3. everyone has their part to play, not only the sensitive and the intuitive, and many haven't been doing anything more than the minimum, effort-wise to aid society
4. it is possible to take on far more responsibility on your shoulders than you're supposed to, essentially taking the burden of responsibility for action off other people that aren't taking up the mantle and responding to their part of the bargain for this life, which is essentially service

Acting out of that space [the acceptance one] has helped to free me to take action in the areas that I have the natural gift to influence. I have made so much progress - even by my own standards lol - in that space, that I'd have to say my sense of satisfaction is the highest it has ever been professionally and personally in my life.

Happiness is most definitely a by-product of doing what your heart calls you to do, guilt-free.

Does this help?

Love, Sherri
 

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherrilene,

Thank you for sharing 30 years of friendship with us and your vision of all cultures playing together at the beach! I'm so glad we grown ups are still capable of playing together in the sand if we so choose… a meeting of world leaders on a beach with shovels, buckets, and a good supply of wet sand would make for a much friendlier meeting, and many beautiful sandcastles built, I would believe!

You posted something I really enjoyed on the Economy thread that I wanted to bring over here and highlight called, “Happiness Lessons from Around the World” from a site called Beliefnet.com.

The Happiness Lessons are linked to more information about the individual country's beliefs on happiness. Click on the word 'Happiness' for more info!

From Iceland;

Happiness Is Taking Pride In Who You Are

Happiness Is Knowing Where You Come From

Happiness Is Spreading the Wealth to Everyone

Happiness Is Taking Care of Yourself and Others

Happiness Is Getting to Know You

Happiness Is Other People

Happiness Is Realizing All Things Are Connected

Happiness Is In Your Backyard

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherri,

I know you have a great international perspective, and wondered what you, and others here in this group, are thinking about the attacks in Mumbai and the aftermath. Eli blogged some very sobering pictures from it.

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Nicole

My thoughts around violence and the like are not very enlightened! So I don't really know if I can give you much perspective on this. These scenes are a part of life, in many MANY parts of the world. They have been for centuries.

To pick out any single event honestly feels kind of futile, and I have said repeatedly, these particular ones get discussed a lot because they've impacted some Western countries. Frankly these numbers - though tragic - are minimal compared to the huge numbers that die in civil wars, from AIDS, from floods and train derailments and tsunamis and otherwise named terrorist acts like invading sovereign territories… and I could keep going!

I'm as concerned with the people in those tragedies as I am for those impacted here. I am no longer shocked with it; I've accepted the terrible system of authority in this world at present places human life at a low and no significant effort has been put in, for like, forever, to give it priority!

I can only pray that the emerging set of leaders will think and act differently and such events and their necessity - which is a call for attention from all that I can see - will somehow reduce in due time… preferably in my lifetime. I'm off to pray on that… I'm upset now…

Love, S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Happiness Lessons from Barbados

Amber, I'm finally back to share my perspectives on happiness as I have picked up from living on my island of Barbados. I do believe a great deal of wisdom resides here, grounded in our people's love of God, dignity and pride in ourselves.

The best way of identifying what I learned and continue to learn here is by matching it against what I observed abroad and also what I drew on while I was away on my various travels around the world. So here goes:

Happiness is:

Being open - to give, to receive, to new experiences
Being helpful and willing to serve - we all need a hand sometime, and it just feels good…!
Being industrious [hardworking] - putting in your all and best for your personal satisfaction, if nobody else's…

These traits resonate with me from my upbringing and serve me at home and everywhere that I go. We are happiest when we freely give of our best to help those along our way…

Thank you again for all of your interest in my beautiful country!

Loads of love, Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Beautiful, beautiful Sherri!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

sherri - just wanted to jump in quickly on living guilt free and being at your most joyous - as i see this is about to go to another subject:)…

when we allow ourselves to feel guilty, even for something as wonderful as being happy! - we contribute to the overall flow of guilt that is within our world. that is another sacred reason to live your life to the fullest and enjoy every moment you can - for when doing so, you contribute to the overall flow of joy in our world.

since mumbai has just been mentioned…

when i was younger the glass was half full. as i got older the glass was full. more time passed (wisdom, knowledge, joy, etc.:) and the glass was overflowing. then it managed to flow continuously from heaven and earth. now - there is no glass.

all is and all is abundantly flowing. if we choose it, we could see the highest in all things - we prefer not to for we feel that being upset about something will cause us to action. but what if…

life is most appreciated when the threat of losing life has occurred? what if people express their loving selves more (to those who remain) when they loose a loved one? what if attention, affection, light, prayer, positive energy needs to be sent to one particular city in a certain country at a precise moment of time? and what if all of those thing were achieved even within the horrors of mumbai?

when we reach our highest consciousness we will shed the concept of having to engage in war to produce peace. or loose life to appreciate life - or situations like these - the key word here is not highest or consciousness…it is we. unfortunately and yet fortunately? i witnessed the largest out-pouring of love that i'd seen during 9/11 here in the u.s. and throughout the world as everyone prayed with us. candles were lit, moments of silence, church services…all over the world. they even interupted television programs for us to pray together.

but…the world is changing!!!! i know it is because i witnessed world wide celebration, joy, light, focus, love out-pouring…at the outcome of the u.s. election:) oh how divine it is when we send love and joy for events that are loving and joyous:) and yet…when we say we are on the road to enlightenment, see beyond eye sight, walk and work in the light - we should know first hand when we witness those who are in old energy, who are still focused on life paths that are no longer in demand, who believe they are here to cause havoc, that it is their role to play. they are following an old map…we should love them! for how can we not love them…if we are the ones seeing clearly?

sherri - when the conversation comes back around to your homeland…might i ask something…could you tell me all the places you would take me and things we would do, what you might even ask of me?… if i came there and had time to spare…and so did you? - not the places that you would take anyone…but…from what you know of me and of whom i am - specifically what is it that we might be meant to accomplish?…it comes to me to ask…i'd love to know your answer for i am suppose to learn something in particular that your response will bring. - you can of course email it to me:)…but i have a feeling the words are meant for a few others in addition to me.

thanking you for all that this is.

we are one
aki

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

aki, I so appreciate this post from you. You couldn't imagine how much…

It's so often I get asked to consolidate on such subjects and they drive me out of my most productive place; it just isn't constructive, to me. However, I accept this as part of my path at this time.

If I might add to my previous comments, I am linking to the Quality of Life quotes and the blog that probably express best what my views are on these subjects:

Anne Frank 'Remains'

All is well

NOW! Onto my beautiful country! I will continue in the next thread.

Love you SO much dear,

Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Thank you, Sherri and Aki, for your open hearted responses,

With much love,

Nicole

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Where to begin? The beach of course…

Here on the south coast has some beautiful beaches with waves… On mornings at Miami Beach nearby, the elders come out from as early as 5:00 a.m. to have their exercise, walking, beach aerobics, wading, swimming. I often hear them laughing from my house, while they are out in the water. I've learned a lot from the elders…

Then there is the food! We eat well here lol We have high-end [4 & 5 Diamond] hotels and restaurants - not something I do that often… and more homely places, like Oistins Fish Fry. Such outstanding food. A must on a Friday night! If you'd like to, you can take in some karaoke while you're at it hahah

I'd recommend going dancing in St. Lawrence Gap. We could go see one of the great 'live' bands and dance to reggae, calypso, or even some rock & alternative! Definitely a 'back in time' gig is necessary lol

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherrilene,

St.Lawrence Gap… sounds like a good time!

(Sherrilene wrote:)   I'd recommend going dancing in St. Lawrence Gap. We could go see one of the great 'live' bands and dance to reggae, calypso, or even some rock & alternative! Definitely a 'back in time' gig is necessary lol

Are Barbadians paying attention to Barack Obama in St. Lawrence Gap?

In Ghana, anticipating a win in the Ghanain presidential elections, thousands of NDC supporters are chanting “CHANGE, CHANGE” in the capital, Accra.

Somehow,  I hear Barack Obama's voice already on the streets of Accra, even 20 days before his inauguration Sherrilene!

Isn't that wild?

There's a new hit song in Ghana.  Calypso or Reggae?

They say in the news that you hear it everywhere: in bars, restaurants, shops and taxicabs. It has a catchy rhythm, a melodic chorus, and a loud note of praise for our new president.

The song is entitled simply ”Barack Obama.” Recorded by the Ghanaian reggae-rapper Blakk Rasta, it celebrates Obama's ascendance as a ”great sign” for black people everywhere.

Check it out Sherrilene here's the link to Blakk Rasta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L85YF0pyPH0

From Jamaica and Trinidad to Cameroon and Kenya. Wherever you go, it would seem, people of African descent are grooving to the beat of Obamania.

If you are Grooving to Calypso and Reggae tonight in St.Lawrence's gap Sherrilene, Groove all you want into the New Year 2009 because
“Change is coming!”

Happy New Year

Lou

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

hmmmm…..very beautiful coastline, Sherri!!!
I love the rockiness….and the color of the water….
yes, quite divine….
blessings and continued joy,
CG