Island Girl

I believe that I was born where I was meant to be born. God makes no mistake. I am an island- girl through and through. We do come with a special flavor – a certain je ne sais quoi. Sometimes we come with big personalities or quite calm and cool. Sometimes a mixture of both. Like a ‘silent river ‘, we run deep. We tend to ‘ wear our heart on our sleeve’. Many times what you see is what you get.

My native Island nation of Jamaica is celebrating 60 years of independence. The island gained independence from the United Kingdom on August 6,1962. Our motto is ” ‘Out of Many One People‘, reflecting the country’s multiracial landscape. We embrace our diversity – stronger together than alone.

As an island girl, I am indeed a product of my environment in many ways. Resilient and a fighter by nature. Knowing how to laugh at myself and not taking life too seriously at times. We grew up hearing many proverbs and sayings that grounded us. I’ll share some of those sayings that were ‘staples’ in our homes and community. Believe it or not, many of them are based on sound biblical principles. These sayings helped to mold us; shaping us into well-balanced, unpretentious island girls.

Some common Jamaican sayings:

• You sleep wid dawg, yuh rise up wid flea. [If you sleep with dogs, you’ll rise up with fleas]. Be careful, your relationships will influence you. ‘ Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character.’ [1 Cor 15:33]
• One one coco full basket. [One coco ( a root vegetable- like yam) at a time will eventually fill a basket]. Don’t expect success overnight. Many things in life take time. One step at a time – be patient.
• Dawg nuh business inna puss fight. [ A dog has no business being involved in a cat’s fight]. Mind your business. Don’t get involved in things that don’t concern you. ‘ Aspire to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you…’ [1 Thess 4:11]
• Every hoe have dem tik a bush. [ Every hoe (farming tool😄) has their own stick in the bushes). There’s someone for everyone. Be encouraged❤.
• Yuh cyaan carry two face undah one hat. [ You cannot have two faces under one hat]. Don’t be a hypocrite or two-faced. ‘On the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.’ [Matthew 23:28]
• Walk bout dawg get bruk foot. [ A dog who likes to walk about will get a broken leg]. Don’t visit your neighbors house too often – the end may not be good. ‘Don’t visit your neighbors too often; they may get tired of you and come to hate you.’ [Proverbs 25:17]
• A nuh everyting gud fe hear gud fe talk. [ Not everything that’s good for the ears is good to talk about] Be prudent, cautious or discreet about what you say to others.
• When yuh see yuh neighbor a jump on three foot, walk pon de two that God give you. [When you see your neighbor jumping on three feet, walk on the two that God gave you.] Be content with what you have. Do not be envious. “Do not desire another man’s house… his donkeys, or anything else that he owns.” [Exodus 20:17]
• What a fi yu, cyaan be un fi yu. [What is yours cannot be ‘not yours’.] What is yours will be yours and will always be yours. No need to fight others over things or positions. If it is yours, it will work out. Stop worrying. ‘ Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong….Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.’ [ Psalm 37:1,4]

As island girls ‘ we nuh watch nuh chat’ [ We don’t pay attention to the chatter] Not overly concerned about what others have to say about us. Most of us didn’t grow up with parents or adults who were ‘politically correct’. They told us the unadulterated truth, didn’t allow us to have ‘pity parties’, laughed at us and with us. Things were not sugar coated- a spade was a spade. The result, most of us have strong backbones. We know how to make lemonade when life gives us lemons. I’d like to repeat – we know how to laugh at ourselves and …at you (with you too😂😂) Yes! An island girl can laugh like no one else can. We remain friends for life. That is unless , ‘yuh step pon mi toe too offen’ [You step on my toes too often]. We don’t tolerate constant, continued abuse and disrespect for very long. Enuff is enuff!! I’m sure you can guess that one.😎However, when we love you , we love you.💕 Fi real!!

*** Thanks for reading – Celebrating all island girls….🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲!!