Happy New Year!!!!!

I just want to wish everyone a wonderful and happy 2012. It's time to take on new challenges, accomplish new goals, have more laughs, give thanks for more days and believe that anything is truly possible. I hope that the Lord will bless and guide you all on your respective journeys as I am sure he will be with me on mine. I just want you all to remember these few little gems: 

1) Wake up everyday giving thanks because somewhere out there someone else has lost that opportunity

2) Savor all the moments that you have with family and friends because you never know when you won't have another one of those moments

3) Believe in yourself because if you don't no one else will

4) Live like there's no tomorrow, love like it will last forever, sing like no one's listening, dance like no one's watching but most importantly laugh because a smile is too precious to waste

5) The past is gone and cannot be undone, the future is uncertain and plans change but you can control your present. Don't give anyone else that power over you

6) Keep the faith for the Lord knows what he's doing

7) Enjoy every meal because once you finish it is gone

8) Take care of your body, it is the only one you've got

9) Love yourself, love your body, love others! Just remember to LOVE!

10) Lastly, travel the world and learn about all of God's children. You may not be able to afford expensive trips but books, pictures, music, movies, people and art can do wonders in bridging the gap between worlds. I mean we are in the age of the world wide web.

Thank you all for joining me on this journey through my life. My interest varies but my love for you all remains constant. Have a wonderful day and rest of the year.

Much Love,

Nella

Simple Pleasures and Holiday Traffic

Sometimes all you need to remember how blessed you truly are is to enjoy a simple meal! I also added some photos I took while stuck in traffic on my way to Halfway Tree (one of Jamaica's biggest shopping areas). Trust me the traffic was BRUTAL!!!!! But I got through it and was happy that I got all my Christmas shopping done!!!

Much Love,

Nella

For the love of family!

Yesterday, I took my little sister Olivia to the movies. She was so excited her little heart could barely contain ourselves as we watched Alvin and the chipmunks: chipwrecked. This is the kind of bliss I love. Seeing my little sister so happy made me reflect on one of the reasons I love Christmas so much....it brings families together. Not saying families shouldn't always be united but as we get older and our worlds get further divided through school, work, relationships and other events in our lives, it is great to have a special time to enjoy each other's companies once more. Let's appreciate the times we do have together because you never know when someone shall be taken from you.

Much love,

Nella

The Calm before the storm

The night before my last examination is always the hardest for me. It is harder than before to settle my mind and my racing thoughts. It's harder than ever to wither the excitement of knowing that this is my final exam. And it is extremely hard to quell the feelings of unpreparedness that looms through my being. The feeling of 'I need to this! I need to do that! Oh God let me be successful!'

Yet, still there is a calm before the storm. That one brief moment that makes you feel that everything will work out as it is meant to be, even if it dissipates in the twinkling of an eye. The little moment of feeling blessed to have made it this far and that the Lord plans our lives and leads us all to our destinies(my theory on faith and destiny is a bit different and will be covered in another post).

And even as I write this during my calm, I am certain that moments from now as I get closer to tomorrow I will be freaking out like crazy and console myself with the words of well-wishers as I enter this final date. Bracing myself for all that is to come and preparing all I think should be done. This is why it is my calm before the storm.

I hope you all will pray for my success and keep your hearts and prayers open for your own.

Much Love,

Nella

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from LIME.

I'm a winner!!!!

So I had to take time out of my busy studying schedule to tell you guys that I won a prize from Jessiker Bakes this week. Jessiker Bakes is a blog/website for a small business baker right here in Jamaica. Law student by day, baker every other time she somehow manages to maintain both aspects of her life quite well. In any case last week she hosted a contest on her blog where an awesome prize was promised. Unfortunately, I didn't win but since I answered at least 4/5 correct I go a constellation prize. I also entered her twitter contest that I actually won! Woot! So I was a double winner! YAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Above is a picture of me and my prize! :D

Much Love, 

Nella

Article: World Human Rights Day!

Hey guys,

As promised here is the article I wrote about World Human Rights Day! It was an article that unfortunately didn't get published in this weeks Teenage :( wa wa waaaaa!!!! However, I still believe it was a pretty good article so here it is. I hope you enjoy!!!

Some of the most fundamental rights of any human are that of freedom, security, safety and above all the right to be human. Yet, despite the myriad of rights and freedoms that have been laid out by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we still hear stories and reports of humans who are stripped of their rights on a daily basis. We hear of children and the elderly being abused especially because of ageism, we hear of women and girls being abused because of sexism and we hear of the poor being oppressed because of classism. These humans who are unable to fully fight for their own rights or may not even know that they have such rights are continuously facing being tormented, tortured, oppressed and worse yet killed.

The United Nation’s Human Rights Day is an annually event celebrated across the world on December 10^th. The date was chosen to honour and mark the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which was officially done at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France on December 10, 1948. The Declaration of Human Rights was drafted between January 1947 and December 1948. The main goal was to form a basis for human rights all over the world and represented a significant change of direction from events during World War II and the continuing colonialism that was prevalent and prominent in the world at the time.

At a UN meeting on December 4, 1950, all UN member states, governments and other interested organizations were invited to commemorate December 10^th of each year as the Human Rights Day. Its first observance was then held on December 10 of that year and has continually been observed every year on the same date. It is also traditionally on this day that the five-yearly United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights and the Nobel Peace Prize are awarded.

Human Rights Day is an occasion for people worldwide to know and consider the tenets of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is also a time for people to reflect on the meaning, importance and dire need for human rights and the protection of human rights.

And especially with our impending general elections, let us not forget beyond the shirt that an individual wears or the party he/she supports there is a human being. He/she is someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, cousin, or friend. Let us not let the emotional side of our being suppress our logical thinking when making decisions. It is imperative that we be instruments of peace in this season.

Much Love,

Nella

Sources:

www.ohchr.org

www.timeanddate.com

Be a master not of man, but a master of your evil ways

Good evening friends,

Let us not forget the past that led us to the Declaration. The history of slavery, injustice, inequality and ill-treatment that necessitates the need for such a document. However, we also need to look to the future and how we can prevent these heinous acts from recurring in the future. Be the change you wish to see in the world. 

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 3

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Much Love,

Nella 

 

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from LIME.