Mangoose Seh If Yu Nuh Tek Chance Yu A Nuh Man

SNOWSHOEING ACROSS SUSPENSION BRIDGE - SCENIC CAVES

"Mangoose she if yu nuh tek chance yu a nuh man."


Translation:  Mongoose say if you do not take chances you are not a man.

What does this mean?  This proverb is about taking risk.  In my own experience, people used it to justify taking a risk, make excuses for haven taken an over-aggressive risk or trump up the courage to take a chance with something. 

The proverb came out observation of the need for the Mongoose to cross the road from one cane field to another.  The risk here is that the Mongoose might get killed by a vehicle while crossing the road, yet, to get to the other field it is necessary to cross the road.  It can be applied to just about any situation that involves taking a chance, like deciding to pull up stake and relocate in another town, city or even another country.  By taking a chance you show what you are made of - big and tough, or small and weak!

The thing is, without taking risks, you accomplish nothing.  Like the Mongoose, muster up the courage and cross that road!

Look what this Mongoose goes up against!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdg9gkmWsEA


Happy day dreaming today.

MissSam

March 30,2014

Pick Yu Breed Before Yu Breed

Pick yu breed before yu breed.

Translation:  Pick (or choose) your breed before you breed (procreate)!

What does this mean?  I give +Sonia Mundle-Smith, my Facebook friend & high school alumnus,  for this one.  She posted a picture of a scene where the roads some place in the U.S.A. were under lockdown after a bank robery, and made the statement that her grandmother used to say "pick you breed before yu breed".  Oh, those grandmothers!  Most of these incredibly wise Jamaican proverbs originated from these witty grandmothers, stated with humour in the language they knew.  The caution of this proverb is if you want to avoid scenes like the one pictured on her post happening with a member your family being the bank robber, know the family you are getting involved with. 

This is nothing new of course, families have been "picking thir breed" from bible days.  The Royal Families around the world do it and even my father said he picked the prettiest girl in the district to marry.  Turns out she was not only pretty, she was smart, ambitious, forward thinking and hard working too.  With industrialization where masses of people moved to cities and peoples identities and background are hard to verify the art of "picking your breed" has lost it's importance somehow and yet, in my opinion, it is still very relevant if you want to - as +Bob Proctor would say "improve the breed".  Bob Proctor is a motivational speaker who was ahead of the curve in self development.

If you are single and dating, be conscious of this proverb.  If you have children, impart this gem to them early!

Enjoy your Saturday & walk good,


MissSam

Saturdy Mar 15, 2014

Yu A Mek Pavement Fi Monkey Skip

"Yu a mek payvement fi monkey skip".

Translation:  You are making pavement for monkey to skip.

What does this mean?  I nearly fell off my chair when my friend, upon enquiring why a certain friend and her child's father broke up she blurted out "her aunt didnt like him, she thought Mabel (not the real name) was too good for John (not his real name) and she used to say - heh, Mabel a mek payvement fi monkey skip"!  Mabel was a hard working woman, working two jobs, John was somewhat of a playboy, so the aunt thought Mabel was working so hard to make life easy for John. 

That was the very first time I was hearing this proverb, I had to ask my friend to repeat it sevaral times - and of course, I couldnt stop laughing.  How these old folks come up with some of these proverbs is beyond my imagination!

Enjoy, and remember, dont do all the work by yourself, it will be appreciated more when those you are working for have skin in the game.

Blessings,

MissSam
March 8, 2014