Wellness

Last Tuesday, Gwynne Dyer headlined his Express column Stupid old men. You could substitute all sorts of adjectives before the words ‘old men’ to describe the characteristics of the cohort that has had the most influence on the world we inhabit. Greedy, self-righteous, racist, arrogant, selfish, a multitude of negative …

“[…] What kind of country are we living in if our trained soldiers are behaving this way in broad daylight? “[…] Someone with this kind of violent temper and lack of respect for civilians has no place in uniform. If this is how he behaves in public, just imagine what …

“[…] In Trinidad and Tobago, non-communicable diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer continue to claim far too many of us men far too early. Mental health struggles often left unspoken, add another layer. “Statistics show that men are far less likely than women to seek timely medical or psychological …

My preoccupation with advocating that we do more to encourage a love for reading stems from a conviction that it is a fundamental aspect of our development as a society. It’s not so much about learning to read, important as that is, but more about finding pleasure in the act. …

Chapter 8: It was an onslaught of information… Reading about breast cancer survivors and their stories quickly shifts from spectator to participant when you yourself have been diagnosed. At that time, I recalled social media stories and went in search of those, just so I’d have a ‘friend’ to share …

“[…] Playing helps children build relationships, overcome trauma and develop problem-solving skills. It also supports the development of the cognitive, physical, creative, social, and emotional skills that children need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. “[…] We must recognise playing as an important medium through which children connect with …

The life that Safiya Sinclair describes in How to Say Babylon bears many similarities with lifestyles throughout our region. I have heard enough stories to convince me. The specific nature of her relationship with the Rastafari culture can easily be transferred to fit the widespread value systems that allocate superior …

I had mentioned in a recent column that I was hesitant to review Safiya Sinclair’s How to Say Babylon, because I was afraid I would gush too much. My friend, Patrick, had quickly messaged me to object. He wanted to read my full response, he said. “Write the thing, in …

“[…] I have tried everything: therapy, school intervention, parenting strategies from every corner of the internet, gentle parenting, tough love, smothering him with affection, strict boundaries, reward systems. “Every time he crossed a line, I forgave him. Over and over. Told him we could start fresh, leave the past behind. …

If you have grown up in an agricultural environment, you have a strong sense of what fruits and vegetables look like in their natural state. You recognise their scents, even when you are not quite aware of it. I recall uncovering a container of shredded cabbage and discovering my late …

“[…] What happens beyond classroom removal matters because the students we expel are still children. Many of them are struggling with challenges far bigger than a ‘bad’ attitude including trauma, broken homes or mental health needs. “Simply moving them from one ministry to another won’t fix the issue if there …

Chapter 7: I had some dark days… Imagine moving from a place of ‘normal’ to being told you have breast cancer and having to process that. Now, imagine being told that the lump can be removed, but not before an MRI is done to get a better image. Next, imagine …