2016 Word Update Victory Quarterly

What I've learned from Victory this past few months is to be cognizant of the bravery it takes to accept it.

Courage has been whispered to me so much I'm actually wondering if it's actually my word and not Victory.  For now I have conceded to the belief that courage is my words understudy, it is the prop that holds it up. It is the partner that cheers it on from the audience and whispers forgotten lines from the wings.

Victory has introduced me to other words on our journey together. It has had me shaking hands with belief, no not believe, THE belief that I deserve the success for which I have worked. 

It has had me shaking hands with such belief and urged me to accept the right hand of fellowship.

Victory has told me to stand firm on the battle field, though the seas are rough my Victory is already won by my saviour. I need only step into it, believe that I am worthy of the greatness  in store.

I don't know what's in store for the rest of the year but as a Christian 'here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that you're my Lord. ' as that old song goes. 

With a determined will, I lay claim to the Victory for 2016.


How is your word of 2016 going, any surprises? 

Peace. Love. Victory.

Journey to NOAHCon2016 and Why I'm Going to An Albinism Conference

Photo credit: www.albinism.org

Why do I want to go to NOAHCon?

The National Organisation for Albinism and Hyper-pigmentation has been taking on the task of educating the masses and equipping the interested for many years. They have a branch in the UK, Australia and the United States. This year, I endeavour to go to my first conference. I'm not an American but I am a person who lives with the genetic condition known as albinism. This classes me into a group of people who live with low vision and a very high risk of skin cancer due to lack of pigment creation in the eyes, hair and skin.

By attending this conference, I hope to learn:

• To better equip myself and my country, to answer the questions and provide the aid necessary for persons like myself, to lead a regular and healthy life that allows them to contribute to society at their maximum potential in a real and beneficial way. 
• I want to gather more information that will help me break the myths and dispel the stigma, discrimination and street harassment potent in my society surrounding albinism and visual impairment.
• I want to have new experiences with successful people with the condition so that I can continue to inspire confidence and assertion in those who live with the genetic condition and inspire them to believe that their in more to life than their disability, they do not need to be shut ins, they are valuable members of society. 
• What are the latest visual aids, legislation and best practices that might allow me or persons with visual impairments to earn a driver’s license and improve their standard of living? 
• What strategies can I employ as a teacher to maximize my students learning experience in the classroom? 
• What extra steps do I/my students with albinism need to take to protect the skin from the harmful rays of the sun?  (cancer rates are high amongst people with albinism.) This is of vital importance to us in the Caribbean.
• What strategies can I/my students employ to minimize the effect my low vision has in a work environment? 
• How do others cope with the social and emotional issues accompanying with albinism and how can my students use these methods in their own life?

The other day someone asked me if I feel different from everyone else. No, I don't. I feel as different as we all are to each other. I am made to feel so by those who walk the same streets as I and think they have the right to yell things at me. Do I live with it? Yes, Should I have to? No. Many believe that we can no longer change the world, that it is doomed and there is no way to improve it.

Maybe the world is doomed but news flash, it's getting their a lot faster if we sit and do nothing and if you know me well, you know I've never been comfortable with doing nothing.

My journey to know is me doing something about it.

As an educator myself you must know that I believe strongly in the power of education. It is a tool that, if used correctly, can change lives simply by empowering people with the knowledge of choice.

I've been preping for this for a long long time. Will I succeed? Who knows but God! I've been believing and working towards it. It's a lot of money and I'm starting to feel a little daunted if I'm honest... I decided to put pen to paper, or rather, cursor to word document and really talk about this venture because,I'm going, eventually, I'm going. This trip is not up for debate because it's more than me. It's an investment in the future.

Here is a list of all of the NOAH Conference locations in the past. I've chosen to try really hard to go to this one because it is closest to New York city which is finally close enough for me to get to financially.

I intend to document my entire trip as well as hold some informative workshops upon my return but to do that I must get there. I've already saved half of what I need to go. If you are interested in making a contribution to my Journey to NOAHCON2016 feel free to email me via shemustbenew@gmail.com

NOAH Conference History:
1st—1985—Minneapolis, Minnesota
2nd—1986—San Jose, California
3rd—1987—Hartford, Connecticut
4th—1990—Anaheim, California
5th—1992—Chicago, Illinois
6th—1994—Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
7th—1998—Schaumburg, Illinois
8th—2000—Boston, Massachusetts
9th—2002—Concord (San Francisco), California—The Albinism Community Coming Together
10th—2004—Atlanta, Georgia—Sharing our Lives Celebrating Our Future
11th—2006—Minneapolis, Minnesota—Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
12th—2008—Las Vegas, Nevada—Imagine Your Luck
13th—2010—Arlington, Virginia (Washington D.C.)—Uniting the Albinism Community
14th—2012—St. Louis, Missouri—Blazing the Trail
15th—2014—San Diego, California—Live Like a Champion
16th—2016—Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania---Building Bridges

More to come soon.

Musing :: Style : Play Time!

Skirt by modcloth

I spent ALL of my weekend at the end of February reading and working hard so I could go to a play. Struggle by Francis U. Peters. It's my idea of BIG fun as a literature enthusiast. I packed so much work into that weekend I honestly barely remember it as days, it just seems like a series of readings to me now.

Balancing work and play is all the more difficult when it takes you longer to work than most. By the time I was through with my assignments, running out the door with my accessories in my hand to be adorned in the car, I began to wonder if it was worth it at all.

It's easy to loose yourself under the weight of responsibility. Growing changes a person and hopefully for the better but sometimes, all the learning makes you forget some of the good parts of yourself too. The parts that are foundational. We have to protect those parts because as you grow they are really fragile. They could be easily broken, lost under books and essays and ways to do them better and before you know it...you might not remember how to do them at all.

I'm really glad I went running to that play.

It's always hard to figure what to wear to a play but my golden rule is better over dressed than under.

The play ran for two days in the capital. I went on the last night, as opposed to the first, which is what I usually do. I'll likely be writing my thoughts on the show a little later, likely next week after it plays on the other side of the island.


Meanwhile, it's back to work for me on the road to graduation!

Peace. Love. Commitment.
I totally had more photos of this event but lost them all due to a phone crash

Musing :: Style : Behind the Scenes of Brand Photoshoot Kalla Lou

 I recently had the opportunity to shoot with local artist and photograph Susan Mains (in the picture above on the left) for the Brand Kalla Lou. Kalla Lou makes beautiful designed jewellery with recyclable material. The owner, Daniela, (in the picture above on the right) hired me for a photo shoot so showcase her her product on her etsy page. I've not any photos that I can showcase yet until the page goes up but I must say it was a beautiful day, spent with beautiful boss ladies that inspired me with every second I spend with them. Also showcased above is my floral dress designed my local designer Cleopatrice Andrews, perfect spring feel yes? What else do you where to a garden? haha

This house, called The Tower has a story in it and I'm fixin' to write it down!

Credit for that photo with the puppy goes to Susan Mains. His name is Mischief and he comes from a long line of mischief. He's so short and cute and wobbly when he walks!

I loved the collaboration and I cant wait to show you the product of our hard work!

Peace. Love. Hard Work.

Musing :: Mind : The Simple Happy Place + World Book Day 2016

There is something about a place that is quite simply happy. It differs according to personality. For some that simple happy is found on a deserted road, in the early hours of the morning when the air is still so chilled it wakes you up more and more with every breath, as you take your morning run. For some it is in the arms of a child learning to read two syllable words before bed as you listen to them read you a story. Book stores are just one of these simple happy occurrences for me.

Why are simple happies so hard to remember?

I sat outside a book store the other day and just breathed. The closest display to where I sat housed the new releases and my heart just swells knowing that humanity still reads and writes and loves literature.

I am glad it is not a lost art form. Inside that store, on those shelves sit characters that have changed my life. Who have taught me to love, to forgive, to be meditative, to be aggressive and to be learned. I'll never forget that but more importantly, I wont forget the impression they've had on my entire life and what that means for me as a writer and a reader and a teacher.

Happy World Book Day!

These photos were taken at the #ArtandSoulBooks store. use that hashtag on instagram to see what I'm reading lately if you'd like or just wait for me to tell you on here ;)

Where is your simple happy place?

Peace. Love. Happy places.