New Commissioner of Police in the BAHAMAS

I watched history in the making today. The Bahamas received its sixth Commissioner of Police. A young man under 50 and who has over thirty years in the policing field. A young man who has trained in The United States, Canada, United Kingdom and The Bahamas.

Crime in the Bahamas at this time seem to be out of control. In 2009 this small country with less than 500,000 inhabitants had 87 murders! That number is unacceptable.

Most of those murders were committed by young men.

This weekend, one of those young men who though violence was the way will be buried, on the same day a young lady who was killed in a car accident would also be buried. Two young lives who did not live out half of the 70 years promised.

As we reflect on the History made today it is my wish that parents would communicate more with their children especially the young men. That more adults would become mentors to the youth. That the churches will spend more time talking to instead of talking at young people. That adults on the whole become a true example for the youth to follow, instead of portraying double standards, that is saying one thing and practicing the other.

We will see.

What Will 2010 Hold For You?

It's January 1,2010. We made it. Have you made resolutions again? Will you keep them through the year or will you drop them within the month,week?

Let's try another tactic, the things you wan to do write it on your wall [use a sheet of chart paper]. Make sure that wherever they are written you can see them daily. Concentrate on doing one thing at a time, finish it, do it well and then move on. Or consider choosing the one thing that you feel is 'pressing'. Do that, then go down your list in order of priority.

Think of the things you wish to do seriously, is it to lose those nagging 10 pounds? or clean out your closet and pass on those shoes and clothes you have not worn in six months to the Red Cross, The Salvation Army or Good Will; what about that vegetable garden you keep telling yourself you are going to start? and what about that mentoring program you promised to join? There is no time like the present to do yourself that favour and 'do it'.

Have you promised yourself that next year I am going to take a vacation; or go see my grand children in another state or country, this is the year to keep that promise. What about the course you promised to take? What are you going to do about it? Are you going to register on the Net or are you going to do those classes in the evening at the campus?

WE must live in the NOW... we only have this moment in time. If you start now you will finish. If you don't start who know how long it would take to do so?

This 2010 should be the year you go for it and do so in a BIG way. Take the bull by the horns and ride it. No more excuses. No more procrastination. Just go with your gut instinct. You are what you think so think BIG.

Christmas 11 days away, yet who knows who will be here to enjoy it.

We can reflect on the past but the future is unpredictable. Rage, Anger and being unprepared can hamper one from seeing Christmas.
Every day in the 'news' no matter where you are there is tragedy. The young people are most likely to be involved. In the past two days two young men lost their lives in tragic situations. The first murdered in anger by his neighbour. Not everyone can take 'teasing'. The murderer said he had enough and with a screwdriver stabbed and killed the victim. Two families in mourning. One son in prison and the other on a slab of cold metal. One family looking for a lawyer and the other for the undertaker. This 11 days before Christmas.
Less than 24 hours ago another young man lost his life. He decided to hold up a business place and threaten to kill the workers if they did not hand over the money. He met his match, the owner decided, he had worked too hard to just hand over his money and while the gunman held a customer as ransom the owner shot and killed the would be thief. Again, one more family looking for an undertaker instead of 'enjoying' the Christmas.
Why the rage? We cannot blame it on the economy, there are many things that can be done to make money. Why nit ask to clean someone's windows, what about cutting someone's lawn, what about walking the dogs, cleaning a vehicle? And the list can go on.
Yes, Christmas is in the future, yes it is only 11 days away, the question is how many more families would be in grief instead of in celebration?
What advice are you giving your family members? Think about it!

Reading is Fundamental

The ability to read is so important. Today too many children are unable to read. Parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents, and other family members must take a keener interest in children and help them to learn how to read. Take 10 - 15 minutes a day and read them a story and ask them to tell you what it's about. Teach them alphabetical sounds, sight words and show pictures of words to help the children retain what they have learned.
Once a child is able to read, he would be able to do so many other things. Reading gives a child his independence. He knows which bus to take without being a follower. He can choose different topics to read about. He can improve in every other subject area. He can research things that he wants to know by himself. He would no longer have to rely on some one telling him, with the ability to read he can see and know for himself.
If you know of a child who needs help in reading become a mentor and help that child read. Help him to expand his world. If each one teach one or two it would make a big difference and make this world a better place.

What do you think/

It's early October. This month is celebrated for so many 'things'. It is Breast Cure month, Careers Awareness, Teachers' Appreciation, Public Service month, Senior Citizens month and Youth Month. There is so much overlapping and some of the things that should be celebrated is lost in the fray.

Do we need to re think what we emphasize? Or do we need to go to week instead of month? What do you think?

And these all require some funding as each group would like their own celebration by themselves. And even as the financial situation improves slowly, we need to spend thrift.

Let's re think the things we are celebrating where money is needed. Maybe we can pay in time.

Teachers

World Teachers' Day is in a few days.

Take the time to speak to your former teachers, your children's teachers and if you are a teacher take the time to congratulate each other.

Teachers are under appreciated.

Let us remember that no matter where we are in life we passed through the hands of a teacher. Some of us may have listened and others may not have, but we all have something that we can thanks you to a teacher for.

Freshly Grown Food

Today with the high cost of living growing one's own food stuff is necessary.

If we grow our own food we will eat better. When we plant the vegetables, we will plant those we like and can share with family and friends. We know that fresh vegetables and fruits are essential for overall health.

Apart from being a way to produce fresh food stuff, we implement exercise so we have a two fold thing going on. It can also bring together friends and family members, encourage young people to explore the way food crops are grown. It would be more benefitting to pick your own tomatoes, did your own potatoes and pull your own onions.

Not only will you eat healthier you make some money. You can sell your excess produce, start a farmer's mart in your neighbourhood.

Think about this, we will eat straight from the garden, fresh to the table. And when you grow it you can grow organically instead of using pesticides or other chemicals.

Plant a tree to provide food, ornaments are good bit you can't eat them.