tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86671546695962475532024-03-13T21:27:22.283-04:00...The humble opinion of an old-school musician….Cesco Emmanuel talks about music and the worldCesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.comBlogger286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-56414117057421226922022-09-10T21:34:00.000-04:002022-09-10T21:34:58.384-04:00And the place goes wild by The Sonic Revival Project<p>Recorded between 2011 and 2014, this album is a collection of ideas I had. Some were riffs from a few year prior to recording, others came to me quickly and I just pressed the record button. </p><p>I had no idea what I was going to do with it, so I shelved it for a while. </p><p>I had asked a few friends to play on the recordings but the timing of the collaborations never materialized.</p><p>So, around Christmas 2019, I started adding drum tracks and then I borrowed a friend's bass to complete the recording.</p><p>Again, I shelved it till January 2022, when I finally had it mastered. </p><p>Next was finalizing artwork, which took a few months but finally here we are, a new album. </p><p>As it is heavy stuff, I am releasing it under the Sonic Revival moniker, as a sort of tribute to the late Andrew Moffat. Knowing Muff, he would have found this material a bit too left of center and he might have tweaked a few ideas.</p><p>But, it is what it is - a snapshot in time.</p><p>Hope you like it.</p><p>Cheers.</p><p>Cesco Emmanuel</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPelmxioxbdqYvf0Yh9PWpbSBQagKOTVg5-nJWr3jnUFu-_dd63yfjEwLqLgxPFxmeR08pQmW6EpAFDLR1OUmbG6K1-EZxMZNgiQPQJhlkkYa_x-F7flQm6ednPrBF67EzcNZ6ng_JP0FOMn-LyOxkz9OBt6r2-8LYmClRjE9NuvCN8fOUDfvnHoTO/s3000/Front%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPelmxioxbdqYvf0Yh9PWpbSBQagKOTVg5-nJWr3jnUFu-_dd63yfjEwLqLgxPFxmeR08pQmW6EpAFDLR1OUmbG6K1-EZxMZNgiQPQJhlkkYa_x-F7flQm6ednPrBF67EzcNZ6ng_JP0FOMn-LyOxkz9OBt6r2-8LYmClRjE9NuvCN8fOUDfvnHoTO/s320/Front%20cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-79693035448899641062018-11-11T14:56:00.002-04:002018-11-11T14:56:47.415-04:00For all the musicians who have left us<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Many, many musicians have left us over the last few years, both internationally and at a local level here in Trinidad.<br />
<br />
Some were close, close friends. Some deaths were natural, some were suicides.<br />
<br />
The hardest part about losing someone close to you is that you never have a chance to properly say goodbye, especially when it's sudden. But then again, saying 'last goodbyes' is not something anyone does well.<br />
<br />
And I don't think anyone plans their 'last goodbye speech'.<br />
<br />
Every death, whether of a musician friend or an artist I admire has left a void in my life. And I naively thought that these people were going to be in my life for a long, long time.<br />
<br />
And I know that I have been putting a benefit concert on hold for a long time now, the one for my oldest friend who died suddenly two years ago. And honestly, I know that it must be done, but emotionally, I'm not at that point where I can give it my best.<br />
<br />
When you spend so many years with someone playing music and they're not there anymore, even though you're not in a band, it just feels so strange to continue playing the music you made together. It just brings back too many bittersweet memories.<br />
<br />
Everything comes rushing back, almost as if on memory overload.<br />
<br />
But I know I have to do it sooner or later. I know that I will have to put aside the pain and play the music of my teenage years.<br />
<br />
But in the meantime, I'm brushing up my chops, practicing as often as I can and enjoying music in my own space.<br />
<br />
And for all those who have left this life, thank you so much for your music.<br />
<br />
Safe travels to the next life - Andrew Moffat, George Elias, Justin Lee, Marc Thavenot, Layne Staley, Chris Cornell, Scott Weiland, Colonel Bruce Hampton, Greg Allman, Prince, David Bowie, Dimebag Darrell, Vinnie Paul, Good Downie.<br />
<br />
May each and every one of you rest in peace.</div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-17631090593058209532018-10-12T22:05:00.000-04:002018-11-11T14:57:56.743-04:00Summer is over, back to teaching...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So the summer tour is over. I was away for six weeks playing a handful of shows with Kobo Town, as well as a few jams and recording sessions with Chlorine Dream and my old mates from BOUND. I even did an improv jam with my cousin Zach Kellum in a yoga studio (I was drenched in sweat when it was over).<br />
<br />
It was a great time seeing the wilderness of Canada, the mid-west and Niagara Falls. And as always, it is a true joy to go across the Atlantic to Europe. France is an amazing country - the food, the people, the history and the architecture. Germany is one of the few countries that got the entire concept of design and functionality right.<br />
<br />
There were memorable shows and shows that weren't special in any way, but that's how it goes really. We always tried to do our best and play our hearts out. One show we had to wait for a torrential thunderstorm to pass us by. One show in France saw us take four different trains and spend over eight hours travelling, but the view was amazing in the end.<br />
<br />
We had a few days off after the first gig in France and we stayed in Paris, we walked everywhere and ate like kings, I think I had probably a dessert with every meal (I love you Cafe Gourmand).<br />
<br />
The day before we left for Berlin, we took a train to Montpellier, ate in the town square, took a street car to the beach and jumped in the Mediterranean Sea, the temperature was absolutely perfect, and we all thought out loud, 'Yes! this is the life!'<br />
<br />
The hardest part of the tour was flying out that early morning on the 18th back to Toronto, a connecting flight from Berlin to Zurich, then to Toronto, then drive in traffic to Niagara Falls and play a gig that night. The time difference and jet lag caught up with me while I was on-stage and I could feel myself falling asleep, even though we got through the gig pretty okay we were all tired from flying.<br />
<br />
But all in all, it was a great summer!<br />
<br />
Here were a list of Kobo Town tour dates...<br />
<br />
July 10th - Festival Park, (Toronto, ON)<br />
July 21st - Ness Creek Folk Festival (Saskatoon, SK)<br />
July 23rd - Improv Yoga Class with Zach Kellum (Toronto, ON)<br />
July 28th & 29th - Calgary Folk Festival (Calgary, AB)<br />
August 4th - Festival du Bout du Monde with Kobo Town (Crozon, France)<br />
August 10th - No Logo Festival with Kobo Town (Fraisans, France)<br />
August 11th - Festival Les Aeriennes with Kobo Town (Mende, France)<br />
August 17th - House of World Cultures with Kobo Town (Berlin, Germany)<br />
August 18th - Niagara Falls with Kobo Town (Niagara Falls, ON)<br />
<br />
And now that summer is over, it is back to school. I'm preparing all the different classes to sing Christmas carols for the last day of school. What a job! What a life this turning out to be.<br />
<br />
Music teacher during the year, touring musician during summer.<br />
<br />
Thank you God for the miracle of music and being with me on this journey called life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-59023536198652937322018-06-26T20:46:00.000-04:002018-06-26T20:46:28.447-04:00Summer tour 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So.<br />
<br />
My head has been so hot with teaching this past year and a bit that I have only just started back gigging again.<br />
<br />
I'm doing an acoustic guitar duo thing with long-time school mate - John Hussain. We're calling it 'EH!' - Emmanuel & Hussain, get it? Cool huh?!<br />
<br />
I also have a handful of shows with Kobo Town in July and August so that should be fun, as it always is.<br />
<br />
Here's the list of dates…<br />
<br />
<a href="https://bnds.in/ibc60i">https://bnds.in/ibc60i</a><br />
<br />
Hope to see you guys there….<br />
<br />
Cesco</div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-4596139588970761602017-11-09T12:36:00.000-04:002017-11-09T12:36:04.409-04:00The unsung heroes of our lives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You know, we all idolize the wrong people.<br />
<br />
As kids, we plastered posters on our walls and bought magazines of our 'fav' pop or movie star.<br />
<br />
Now as adults, we look at soulless, gutless, mind numbing TV shows and movies. Horrid 'reality' shows about disfunctional housewives, people with way too much money wasting it on nonsense and families that most of us would never emulate in our own home (the Kardashians for example).<br />
<br />
And we spend hours wasting away, wishing our lives could be like this person or that, when we should turn off the TV and spend time with those closest to us - our family and loved ones. These are the people that will stick with you through it all. Not those damn movie stars.<br />
<br />
The people who have helped mould us when we were younger - our teachers, get no credit at all.<br />
<br />
Teachers are the building block of any society. Teachers make the leaders of tomorrow.<br />
<br />
They should be the real heroes, not any 'star', because we try to look up to these people and they don't even know who we are, they know nothing about us and in truth, we don't know anything about them either, only the facade that they put forward on TV, on social media and it really is a very good lie.<br />
<br />
Most of the people we idolize and admire live very messed up lives. Do you want to live a messed up life?<br />
<br />
Start admiring those people who know you and want the best for you.<br />
<br />
They are the real heroes of your life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-34052539058045267422017-10-23T08:56:00.000-04:002017-10-23T08:56:08.763-04:00Gord Downie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I first heard these lyrics 'He said I fabulously rich, c'mon just let's go, she kind of bit her lip, jeez I don't know', I was hooked.<br />
<br />
That was the summer of 1995 and the band was Tragically Hip, a group out of Ontario, Canada.<br />
<br />
The album was 'Day for Night' and I played that tape so much that it warped. I rewound that first track 'Grace, too' over and over until I knew every little bass tweak and vocal nuance that Downie made coming down to the end. There were no lyrics at the end but Downie was sort of, well, it's hard to describe unless you listen to the song. He wasn't saying 'Yea, or Awww' or anything audible for that matter, but somehow the song has so much intensity at the end. Not to mention it was so bloody groovy.<br />
<br />
I just fell in-love with that song, the album and the band after that.<br />
<br />
I bought a few more albums and they unofficially became my summer Canadian fling. There was something gritty and easy-going about them and I loved Downie's lyrics and his way of just saying words almost as if he was having a conversation with me, the listener.<br />
<br />
My one regret is that I never saw them live.<br />
<br />
My heart broke last year when I found out he was diagnosed with cancer, and like so many music lovers, musicians and Canadians all around the world, we all felt a huge sense of loss when Gord passed away on October 17th, 2017.<br />
<br />
So many great musicians have left us over the past few years and while I shudder to think of who we're left with, I know one thing for sure, Gord Downie's musical legacy will forever live on.<br />
<br />
It is a huge loss for the Hip, it is a huge loss for Canada. Gord Downie will forever be one of the great Canadian songwriters. And though it will never ease the pain for your family, I just wanted to say 'thanks so much for the music, Gord, may you rest in peace and may God be with you on your next journey'.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-58567810889532078032017-08-14T22:39:00.001-04:002017-08-14T22:39:48.475-04:00♫ A Spanner in the Works - Cesco. Listen @cdbaby<a href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/cesco#.WZJe7gckcGg.blogger">♫ A Spanner in the Works - Cesco. Listen @cdbaby</a>: Click to listen at CDBabyCesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-79839195407265209772017-07-26T22:50:00.001-04:002017-07-26T22:50:26.756-04:00The will to carry on<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The last few years have been rather unprecedented for me because of the number of personal losses that I have experienced.<br />
<br />
I have lost schoolmates and friends, my father, my longest standing friend as well as a few musician comrades along the way.<br />
<br />
Some have died from natural causes and a couple of friends were murdered. Some were sudden deaths, others like in the case of my father, it was watching him slip away three weeks after his first and only surgery.<br />
<br />
Just recently in May of this year my favourite Grunge singer - Chris Cornell committed suicide, he was only 52 but then on what would have been his 53rd birthday, July 20th, another singer - Chester Bennington committed suicide by hanging as well.<br />
<br />
I can't help but feel that maybe I was naive for so long, thinking that all my friends, family and comrades and people that I admired would always be around me all my life. Or if not around me, perhaps in my life one way or another.<br />
<br />
If anything, what I have learned over these last three years is that life is absolutely impermanent, always changing and nothing can ever be taken for granted, because as the saying goes 'here today, gone tomorrow'.<br />
<br />
I do find that I have a hard time with death, I go through initial periods of shock and grief and then I try to carry on, but then there are days where I sit and think about all who have gone to the other side and I think that life is just not the same and that I don't know how to continue, I don't know how to be happy sometimes.<br />
<br />
Perhaps it never will be the same, and that's the sad part.<br />
<br />
The hard part is getting up everyday and putting my best foot forward, not because I want to, but because those who have gone would want me to 'keep on keeping on', as Al Green would say.<br />
<br />
And that is the hardest part of life, keeping on when you have less and less loved ones to travel that road of life with you.<br />
<br />
But, I'm starting a new chapter in my life soon and I have to think that this is the most important part of my life, and yes life will never be the same, but I have so much more to give and to live for, I have so much to look forward to, that I just can't give up now, I can't stop trying now.<br />
<br />
I remember the line from a very sad movie about a child kidnapping once, the choir sang 'If the song is to be sung, then we must keep on singing'.<br />
<br />
So, in loving memory of Damien So'Brien, Rawle Francis, Paul Emmanuel, Andrew Moffat, Justin Lee and George Elias; I gotta keep doing what I do.<br />
<br />
May you all rest in peace.<br />
<br />
Thank you for being a part of my life.<br />
<br />
God be with you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-9386003722351620142017-05-19T12:14:00.000-04:002017-05-19T12:14:30.253-04:00The problem with music<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You see, the problem with music is this - we musicians want to spend our lives making music, we want to be those people that we grew up listening to, we want to be our idols, our heroes.<br />
<br />
We want to be big rock stars, touring the globe, jet setting all around the world, jumping from stage to stage, tour bus to tour bus. We want to be rich, have a big house with a pool.<br />
<br />
We want it all.<br />
<br />
The problem is, most of us don't have a clue how to get there.<br />
<br />
The problem is, we have no idea, looking in from the outside what it all entails, what is involved in getting to that point - how many years it takes to make it 'big', how many shows need to be played for minimal or no pay at all, we have no idea what's the right combination or formula of fans, shows, merchandise, marketing, record sales, etc needed to make a decent living off of music.<br />
<br />
Then if we get to that point where money starts coming in, how many extra players are involved - publishers, publicists, managers, booking agents, record labels? And what is their cut from our piece of the pie?<br />
<br />
The music biz is not exactly a tried and true formula - if you do x, then y will happen. It's not like that at all.<br />
<br />
It's not like a regular job that you go to school for, if you study chemistry you will get a job in a chemical field. It's not fool-proof at all.<br />
<br />
The music industry is not as well laid out as that. It's a maze, with many paths and the problem is, all us amateur or semi-pro musicians are all trying to get a piece of the pie, but we might not have the right utensils, heck even many pro musicians are struggling financially.<br />
<br />
And how do you continue in a field of work if the income is haphazard and sporadic? Which other professional field do you ever hear of people selling or giving away their services for 'exposure'? Do you ever hear of a newly graduated doctor or lawyer giving away their services cheaply?<br />
<br />
And you think that would discourage everyone to get out of this business, but no, the opposite is happening.<br />
<br />
And the question is 'why'?<br />
<br />
And the only answer is that the love of music, is irrational at best.<br />
<br />
And perhaps all us musicians are irrational at best.<br />
<br />
And maybe that's our problem.<br />
<br />
But how else do we solve it? It's either we get off the boat, or just keep on with it.<br />
<br />
Whether we make it big, or just tinkle away in our rooms, music is such a joy.<br />
<br /></div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-87218148215263107272017-05-19T11:36:00.001-04:002017-05-19T11:36:00.222-04:00Cesco Emmanuel Demo Reel<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/56jIgjVFvyA" width="459"></iframe>Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-64852929686862785022017-05-08T15:30:00.003-04:002017-05-08T15:38:51.603-04:00Disappointment and the Headless Chickens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I remember reading in the bible that if you put your trust in man, you will always be disappointed. Put your trust in God, and he will never fail you. Everyone will disappoint you - family, friends, loved ones. Even the ones you don't expect.<br />
<br />
A friend of mine keeps on saying that he is in the fight of his life and nobody seems to care. It's hard to hear when he says that because people do genuinely care, it's just that sometimes they don't know how to help.<br />
<br />
Somedays I myself feel as if I am in the fight of my life. Fight to make ends meet, fight to stay positive and keep on sending out those resumes for that 'perfect job', fight to keep on practicing guitar although most days I keep on hearing those voices in my head saying that I will never get better at certain flaws in my playing - an old high-school friend of mine, another great guitarist told me that we have technically missed the boat, that we should have been wood-shedding in our teens, not in our forties, that it is too late to master the guitar.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's the stubborn side of me, but I'm still trying to perfect the guitar.<br />
<br />
Trying to fail or failing to try?<br />
<br />
But it is hard to keep trying when there's no sign of improvement, when there's no blue skies on the horizon. It's hard when you almost seem to run out of options. When you keep on trying different things but the end result is always the same - failure, no vacancy, no work, nothing.<br />
<br />
I wonder if most people feel like headless chickens? Just going through the day. wishing they could get a better pay or even a decent job but they don't know where to start? Knowing that they have potential but they don't know how to realize it. I wonder if most people are bitter because they too, tried so hard but fell flat on their face many a time. I often wonder if the average person is just going through the motions of life, wishing for something better, but with no real clue of how to get to that better place.<br />
<br />
I know the old saying, 'You only fail when you stop trying'.<br />
<br />
But I tell you my dear reader, it is truly hard to keeping trying after multiple failures, and I do think it's only natural to want to just give up and just be satisfied with just 'existing'.<br />
<br />
Maybe that's whom most people are anyway - just disappointed headless chickens that have lost the fight and are fed up getting back in the ring.<br />
<br />
'The act of a noble warrior, who lost the will to fight' - 'The Pass' by RUSH.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-19810939500437999832017-04-29T22:56:00.000-04:002017-04-29T22:56:35.200-04:00Dancing on the quicksand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sometimes life seems to spiral out of control and no matter what you do, you can't seem to get the hang of it.<br />
<br />
Things just come from all sides - financial woes, job loss, illness and death of family and friends. The minute you recover from one thing you get hit with something else. It's almost as if you're cursed. It's almost as if somebody really big out there hates you and is throwing a shit-storm your way.<br />
<br />
Of course as if to make matters more damning, anything you try seems to only work a little bit, or worse yet, fail outright. And you look around and other people are getting ahead just fine, but you are just seeing hell.<br />
<br />
Oh sure, you can blame the economy, you can blame a number of things on circumstance and mere coincidence. You can blame yourself for not having enough foresight, hindsight, sheer common sense and intuition. But what good is that doing? Can any of that turn back the clock? Save you the painful experience?<br />
<br />
Did you think you were somehow immune to the crappy part of life? Did you think that bad things happened to other people but not you? Did you think about how you could not even imagine any of this nonsense happening but it is indeed in fact, happening?<br />
<br />
Do you think maybe you should leave it in the hands of God and forget about it only for something else to compound matters and bring you right back to the #1 square?<br />
<br />
How much do you blame yourself? How much do you blame others?<br />
<br />
Just how much of this has affected you physically? Mentally? How much of this has been imbedded in your subconscious? How has your sleep been affected?<br />
<br />
Is this a spiritual battle? Are evil spirits lurking around just waiting to devour a weak version of yourself?<br />
<br />
What is really the truth behind the entire situation? And more importantly, when will all of this end?<br />
<br />
So what do you do? Stop trying? Give up? Roll over and play dead and hope that whatever this is, will eventually, somehow, magically pass?<br />
<br />
The question is still waiting to be answered. The script is still being written.<br />
<br />
So far the other side is still winning, confusion reigns supreme.<br />
<br />
But our protagonist is hanging on tooth and nail.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-49090792866706475782017-04-24T21:49:00.000-04:002019-11-06T20:33:45.237-04:00Early on a morning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Early on a morning, a few days a week now, I find myself awake before my 5AM alarm goes off.<br />
<br />
Strange but it's always the same time - 4.45AM.<br />
<br />
I get up, shave, grab a quick shower and head out the door to a place I've seldom gone to before on a weekday.<br />
<br />
In the past, I have woken up early to practice guitar before the sun comes up, or to read, or to cook.<br />
<br />
But then I also go through phases where I cannot get up when my alarm goes off, I figure that's when my mind is too tired to function and I really do need sleep.<br />
<br />
However, nowadays I'm getting up early to head to morning mass.<br />
<br />
Before the dawn breaks is really the best time of day in my opinion. The world is still half asleep and for a brief moment, everything looks peaceful and pristine. The sun comes up over the mountains and the air is cool and smooth.<br />
<br />
I never really thought about morning mass before, I always saw myself as a devout catholic, but a former girlfriend recommended I try going, to start the day off on a good note. And she was absolutely right.<br />
<br />
I can honestly say that after a few weeks of going to morning mass at 5.45AM, it is the best way to begin a new day. I almost feel as if I'm going to visit an old friend at his place, that thought popped in my head last week - I'm going to see my best friend Jesus at his house, just for a half an hour.<br />
<br />
In all sincerity, my mind does drift sometimes during the mass, but most times I'm either asking/thanking God for something.<br />
<br />
I feel different - more at peace, and I can't describe it, because I don't think I ever felt this way before. Maybe this is the peace that the world cannot give? Maybe that's been missing in my life.<br />
<br />
I know now that whatever comes my way, that God is in charge, and that Jesus is with me and is riding all my storms out with me.<br />
<br />
Thank you my dear friend Jesus.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-56835296229616419402016-09-20T14:23:00.000-04:002016-09-20T14:23:00.154-04:00The Freedom of Rock Music and everyone’s opinion in Trinidad and Tobago.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%;">
I wrote this piece back in 1999 for my second year University class in Interpersonal Communication.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="http://www.cescoemmanuelmusic.com/">Music</a>. Music is
something that all of us take for granted. The time and effort that
goes into painstakingly getting a piece of music from its initial
embryonic stage as just an idea, no words, no melody, no particular
musical pattern of arrangement; to its eventual transformation into
something unique and recognizable as a song is really nothing short
of a miracle.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Even though
there are all types of music that exist in the world today, here in
Trinidad and Tobago there are only few forms of music that are
acknowledged as something worthy of listening to, from the point of
view of the general public. For that matter especially any local
form of ‘Rock” music is seriously discredited. Most people
associate ‘rock or alternative’ as it is called these days with
noisy guitars, screaming vocals and loud drums. While in some cases
this maybe true, it is generally very stereotypical to label all
bands or artists as playing the same thing. There are no two local
original bands in Trinidad that sound alike. Each band has their own
original ideas, some mix reggae with alternative, others mix calypso.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But now
however there is a new movement in Trinidad to only get a particular
type of music heard by everyone. There is a pop-rock movement,
specifically designed to get these ‘pop’ bands to play only a
particular type of material that appeases the masses. This
particular type of music really as the name suggests, ‘popular
songs on the radio,’ these songs are decided for these bands from a
songlist, they are told what choices they have and how to play (e. g.
no swearing etc.). Because these bands play whatever these promoters
want as well as what the crowd wants, there is no room for any band
that is trying to get their own original material heard, both from
the point of view of pubs as well as the listening public.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The public
has turned off its ears when it comes to <a href="http://www.cescoemmanuelmusic.com/">original bands</a>, ‘why are
these bands wasting their time anyway, don’t they know, it’s the
‘pop covers’ that sells anyway’, (covers in the sense that
other foreign artists’ music are copied and played or ‘covered’
by the pop bands) at least that’s what the majority say. While it
is true that a person who has paid to be entertained deserves some
value for money, it is unfair to say that a patron owns a band for a
night based on the door fee anyway. A band should be allowed to
express themselves to an extent because if a band isn’t playing at
least some of their material to please themselves, then really and
truly that band is not living to play music but to please people and
make money, which is such a sad thing.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It is only
when we open our mind to new ideas that we discover new ways of
seeing and doing things. If we only want to satisfy existing needs
then what is to transpire when those needs are satisfied? There will
be nothing left, the crowds will stop coming, the pubs will stop
taking bands and bands will cease to exist. In order to keep things
fresh and new we must continue to be innovative, but bands cannot go
on without support from people and people must understand that a band
does not exist in a bubble. Bands need support and understanding on
behalf of the audience; we need to be more open-minded and not so
closed in that we can’t see the innovation around us. Trinidad
music scene is waiting to happen, and may continue to forever wait
unless we the public gets up and support our <a href="http://www.cescoemmanuelmusic.com/">musical future</a>.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="western">
<br />
</div>
</div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-31194117224006385672016-08-17T08:49:00.000-04:002016-08-17T08:49:28.541-04:00My latest work<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I haven't blogged in a while, reason being, I've been very busy musically and so without further ado.<br />
<br />
May I present to you, my latest album - 'A Spanner in the works'.<br />
<br />
You can have a listen here.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/cescoemmanuel/sets/a-spanner-in-the-works-1">https://soundcloud.com/cescoemmanuel/sets/a-spanner-in-the-works-1</a><br />
<br />
I hope you will like my music and share it around, feel free sign up for my mailing list at <a href="http://www.cescoemmanuelmusic.com/">www.cescoemmanuelmusic.com</a>. That way you can find out about new music and any shows directly from me, you'll get the scoop before the rest of the world does.<br />
<br />
I've been working really hard on finishing this album, it's a culmination of five years of recording and 'stockpiling' for want of a better word, ideas I had for a long while. Some songs are older than that, like 'The Battle Within' is an old Brothers Grimm song, one of the first ones I ever wrote, back in 1992.<br />
<br />
'The Illusion of a dream' is a solo acoustic song that I wrote back in 1996, it's being performed in a band format for the first time on this record , so it's good to go back to old material sometimes and see what kind of new feel can be given to it.<br />
<br />
It always amazes me how a song takes on a life of its' own. My <a href="http://www.cescoemmanuelmusic.com/">music</a> can be a bit quirky and unusual at times, but it's totally me and how I write. I guess every musician/singer/songwriter/composer has their own unique way of doing things and it comes out in the songs themselves.<br />
<br />
You may hear an influence or two in my songs, and I guess no man (or musician) is an island, we are all a product of our listening environment.<br />
<br />
So, my dear friend and listener, I do hope you will like <a href="https://soundcloud.com/cescoemmanuel/sets/a-spanner-in-the-works-1">my new album</a> and that would sing up for <a href="http://www.cescoemmanuelmusic.com/">my mailing list</a> to get all the latest news from me.<br />
<br />
Till then, happy listening.<br />
<br /></div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-77496739682440570532016-04-30T15:30:00.002-04:002016-04-30T15:30:22.840-04:00Zeal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
How do you keep the zeal going?<br />
<br />
How do you keep positive when there's no guarantee?<br />
<br />
How do you keep busy, focusing on your dreams?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFHAtMJ_URXWNJ9psodOvCkg-27OdS16rUiTv3itySDGQsBvwWMOjIFBTec-cMAc5iVHh0JjIHPsV1nilhaI0UNeJ2eNblYkUdOq1fKF41SJAjZnDvbULZx_d8Fw1NChZTYjWDrgcHIs/s1600/quote-zeal-is-fit-for-wise-men-but-flourishes-chiefly-among-fools-john-tillotson-185433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFHAtMJ_URXWNJ9psodOvCkg-27OdS16rUiTv3itySDGQsBvwWMOjIFBTec-cMAc5iVHh0JjIHPsV1nilhaI0UNeJ2eNblYkUdOq1fKF41SJAjZnDvbULZx_d8Fw1NChZTYjWDrgcHIs/s400/quote-zeal-is-fit-for-wise-men-but-flourishes-chiefly-among-fools-john-tillotson-185433.jpg" width="400" /></a>How do you avoid burnout?<br />
<br />
Well, it might help to set-up a timetable, open to revisions of course. Set small, attainable goals, take breaks (short-ones to clear your head). Set a huge goal as well. Something to look forward to.<br />
<br />
Revise your goals, talk to friends about your dreams. Talk to other people in the 'industry'.<br />
<br />
Get enough rest.<br />
<br />
Sleep 8 hours.<br />
<br />
Exercise.<br />
<br />
Every year, take a vacation away from your work.<br />
<br />
Plan for the next year. Do a long, medium and short term plan.<br />
<br />
Every day, do a little something for your dream.<br />
<br />
And always hope for the best.<br />
<br />
Yes, hope for the best.</div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-8490429782882194112016-04-29T16:10:00.001-04:002016-04-29T16:10:07.448-04:00Yes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jvgtyZX2YaBduYjqPEUV7n-A193gbut9XoBckTnKIEA_zZYFHt9Qyvr6kvfVdM9OyOR0R8h0Fyelo6ghqBDPuCFgLoMTR9chtQjw-VN6fHSXnn-QxslEHOY1vEGa7WGJloQa_W8KdGs/s1600/vdldmo02qd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jvgtyZX2YaBduYjqPEUV7n-A193gbut9XoBckTnKIEA_zZYFHt9Qyvr6kvfVdM9OyOR0R8h0Fyelo6ghqBDPuCFgLoMTR9chtQjw-VN6fHSXnn-QxslEHOY1vEGa7WGJloQa_W8KdGs/s320/vdldmo02qd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It is hard to say 'no' to someone. We're all guilty of that.<br />
<br />
But it's harder to say 'yes' to our dreams. It's harder to set time aside to do something for yourself. It's easier to kill out ourselves for someone else.<br />
<br />
it's very easy to put off for tomorrow our dreams, it's a trap that can take years to get out of, if ever at all.<br />
<br />
Sometimes we stop doing what we normally do, 'take a break' and next thing you know, decades have gone by and we didn't pick it back up.<br />
<br />
Life has a way of filling the void with other things to keep us busy. That's the trap right there.<br />
<br />
It's ok to say 'no' to something we don't want to do, as long as it means that we're saying 'yes' to ourselves and our goals and dreams.<br />
<br />
Here's a new goal - saying 'Yes' to you.<br />
<br /></div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-64602753900969302272016-04-28T17:52:00.002-04:002016-05-09T22:20:03.540-04:00xerophytic - able to withstand drought<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XO9pQZEFJfz9CYMe1OQDQ_OSnROkDWLUX-VEWODS_9Bi0uF36V1TYV3r8r-eD8Qh8hsIg9h6jMEMQraOm1flniv9hT_njXdiBzeg1l4p35cCpuk76Qeq0rHpQ54aQcczIl8lYiKYDX8/s1600/india_drought-1024x682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XO9pQZEFJfz9CYMe1OQDQ_OSnROkDWLUX-VEWODS_9Bi0uF36V1TYV3r8r-eD8Qh8hsIg9h6jMEMQraOm1flniv9hT_njXdiBzeg1l4p35cCpuk76Qeq0rHpQ54aQcczIl8lYiKYDX8/s400/india_drought-1024x682.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This of course, was the hardest letter to write for, that is until I found a new word.<br />
<br />
Right now, Trinidad is in a drought, California is in drought, many parts of the world are without water.<br />
<br />
Water.<br />
<br />
Such an essential element that we all need.<br />
<br />
There's all sort of the doomsday predictions about global warming, climate change and our loss of water.<br />
<br />
It's enough to make anyone scream and faint.<br />
<br />
But I believe we can turn things around. If we work really hard at it.<br />
<br />
I believe in our ability to solve our own mess, we created it, there must be a way to solve it.<br />
<br />
I believe.<br />
<br />
I hope.<br />
<br />
I believe in conservation, in recycling, in reducing our waste and our carbon footprint.<br />
<br />
I believe in being a responsible citizen of the world.<br />
<br />
We just need to be a little considerate and not waste water as if we have it in abundance.<br />
<br />
That's a first step, and a rather huge step if you think about it.<br />
<br />
Conserve and preserve.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-35910937070293137592016-04-27T17:56:00.003-04:002016-04-27T17:56:34.277-04:00Will and way<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwJTZVx6GXnHbss8c0f-5u6i3aZaxUrDGJvzsoMNrCREnCyuSgAA9tR0wu_E4fhCYB6O14FXbFKhSp2dIgTuuq2PT7B9YNTAMWGQKeBciCdwS9Qg0tBKEAiUIOFTBkGEYiuVBhVCMcyE/s1600/where_theres_will_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwJTZVx6GXnHbss8c0f-5u6i3aZaxUrDGJvzsoMNrCREnCyuSgAA9tR0wu_E4fhCYB6O14FXbFKhSp2dIgTuuq2PT7B9YNTAMWGQKeBciCdwS9Qg0tBKEAiUIOFTBkGEYiuVBhVCMcyE/s400/where_theres_will_web.jpg" width="400" /></a>I wonder if there's a handbook on how to pace yourself when you are working on something.<br />
<br />
Should you kill out yourself till you arrive at your destination? Should you take small steps? Should you try only ten times and then stop after? Should you try twenty times?<br />
<br />
Should you plan for two years, try for another five? Or should you do the reverse? Should you keep on planning and trying?<br />
<br />
Should you seek advice or just go alone?<br />
<br />
Is there one way? Or is it just one will? How many ways are there? Can you go it on just your will alone? Can you borrow someone else's will?<br />
<br />
There's so many questions when you embark on your own journey, trying to do your own thing, your own business, be your own boss. How do you keep motivating yourself when there's no end in sight?<br />
<br />
There's so many traps and missteps. There's so many things that are not certain. It makes even trying seem so daunting.<br />
<br />
But just think. If no one ever tried and kept trying when things fell apart, then we would have no one to admire.<br />
<br />
And wouldn't that be boring?<br />
<br />
Maybe, in some years to come, people will talk about you and the risks you took, the barriers you broke down, and the standards you set.<br />
<br />
Maybe.<br />
<br />
Maybe they will.<br />
<br />
Wouldn't that be something?</div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-22844003674608674632016-04-26T14:10:00.003-04:002016-04-26T14:10:43.767-04:00Veritas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The truth.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3l_BtawSDMzolIyA__PzpFPvkSBccMk1gwDeLsFhNYnfjeBEreI83x3SfYBJFk9zrtzgHiuZkmBA0V2HHmZINLn-wjdE9ZDZFkSJ6W4A1jOdjUBmaTfvqkf2geUCK6TuuMUwSg736QKM/s1600/Veritas_Smallville_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3l_BtawSDMzolIyA__PzpFPvkSBccMk1gwDeLsFhNYnfjeBEreI83x3SfYBJFk9zrtzgHiuZkmBA0V2HHmZINLn-wjdE9ZDZFkSJ6W4A1jOdjUBmaTfvqkf2geUCK6TuuMUwSg736QKM/s1600/Veritas_Smallville_001.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Is not always easy to hear. Sometimes we can miss it and the darn thing was right under our noses. Most times it's unpleasant, sometimes it's reassuring, but seldom is it ever wrong.<br />
<br />
But acceptance of the truth is liberation. Once we are willing to deal with it and acknowledge our part in it.<br />
<br />
There is no escaping the truth.<br />
<br />
Everyone might have their own opinion of you and people might think all sort of things about you, but only you can speak your truth for yourself.<br />
<br />
And your truth is your only hope for a fulfilled, happy, content life.<br />
<br />
Being honest about what you want is your first step to happiness.<br />
<br />
Some people may leave, but others may stay after you speak your truth. Family, friends, colleagues.<br />
<br />
And that's ok.<br />
<br />
It's all ok.<br />
<br />
Your truth is yours and yours alone.</div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-11412937189087812072016-04-25T21:20:00.001-04:002016-04-25T21:20:15.209-04:00Un-usually <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgs9aSbsj2YlchofpXeXwogXoxk7zSw8YoC4e7qjCRarnf0G5CBVCMl3ZKLWbSUSY0uGXF8dKVsA-eAxwzPj8y-r6WVSAlZAcXr3TdLXnoCA6PrD0X2aOrOqcnSBRs38vio3GUnlpI-o/s1600/quote-Alan-Jackson-im-usually-just-enjoying-life-131321.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgs9aSbsj2YlchofpXeXwogXoxk7zSw8YoC4e7qjCRarnf0G5CBVCMl3ZKLWbSUSY0uGXF8dKVsA-eAxwzPj8y-r6WVSAlZAcXr3TdLXnoCA6PrD0X2aOrOqcnSBRs38vio3GUnlpI-o/s320/quote-Alan-Jackson-im-usually-just-enjoying-life-131321.png" width="320" /></a></div>
What is the normal thing to do when someone pays you a compliment? - knock it down right?<br />
<br />
What do you say when you talk about yourself? Negative things I'm sure.<br />
<br />
Why are we always so hard on ourselves? It's almost as if we feel guilty for feeling good about ourselves, either that or we're so pre-programmed to think that we will always be mediocre that we've come to accept that as gospel. We assume that we'll never amount to anything. That greatness is really meant for the other guy.<br />
<br />
Would it be that bad to think the best of ourselves and when someone pays us a compliment, we just say nothing more than 'Gee, Thanks.'<br />
<br />
How hard would that be?<br />
<br />
To do the un-usual thing.</div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-18675171991938839222016-04-23T20:48:00.000-04:002016-04-23T20:48:21.547-04:00Thank you<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyKj19CZMXnjRmSl87baCkORH-lynFa-PrACjmO810ETQBMLs8Nf9-DGHI8lXmZZwqHfbAcuEyxwnqPwzu1FEXnl2hA8fQ6R7_Cppna5E8LXj_lD2PpVAc_rArnRXBsHLmsICU7UcefU/s1600/Thank-you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyKj19CZMXnjRmSl87baCkORH-lynFa-PrACjmO810ETQBMLs8Nf9-DGHI8lXmZZwqHfbAcuEyxwnqPwzu1FEXnl2hA8fQ6R7_Cppna5E8LXj_lD2PpVAc_rArnRXBsHLmsICU7UcefU/s320/Thank-you.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It is so important to be thankful. For everything.<br />
<br />
Things could always be so much worse. Of course things could always be better, but things could always be worse.<br />
<br />
I've been trying to be more thankful, instead of worrying and panicking.<br />
<br />
I start off each day by being thankful for life and everyone in my life..<br />
<br />
I thank God for all the good things to come.<br />
<br />
I make sure and thank people whenever I get a chance.<br />
<br />
Such a simple word. Thank you.<br />
<br />
Being grateful is such a simple concept and so many of us miss the point.<br />
<br />
How can we ask for more, if we don't even appreciate what we have right now.<br />
<br />
Then we'll never be happy with what we have.<br />
<br />
We'll always want more, because we're ungrateful and we can't appreciate the little things.<br />
<br />
And we'll never be satisfied.<br />
<br />
At least not until we start appreciating what we have right now.</div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-82799322958094337442016-04-23T20:46:00.002-04:002016-04-23T20:46:36.184-04:00Save your energy for the good stuff<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I sometimes get so worked up that I get a stress headache.<br />
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Sometimes when I'm really stressed out, I feel as if I can't focus and that I'm falling asleep. It's around that time when my brain shuts down and I can't think.<br />
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There's so many things that can ruin our day, so many little small things that are purposely designed to frustrate us.<br />
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That is the trick about life, everything has a purpose. Those little annoying things are meant to steal our joy, our hope, our love.<br />
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If we get stuck in a pattern of always looking on the dark side of things then we will never have time to enjoy the good stuff.<br />
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There will always be chores to do, annoying people on the road, inconsiderate strangers everywhere. They are doing their job - trying to sap our joy away from us.<br />
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If we could reprogram ourselves to stop getting annoyed when things like that happen, if we can detach and just watch our anger rise and fall, then I think we'll be a much calmer and happier person for it.<br />
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And we would save our energy and time for what really matters in life.</div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-6387579801570674632016-04-21T17:25:00.001-04:002016-04-21T17:25:19.465-04:00Respect<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I think a lot of people don't respect themselves or each other.<br />
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Without respect, we will always do things half-heartedly. We should show a certain amount of respect for people, things, situations, processes and time.<br />
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A lot of people don't respect the nature of time.<br />
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A lot of people don't have respect for anything. And having respect is so important, simply because it's the right thing to do. There is no other way. Even if we don't agree with a person, there's no need to disrespect them.<br />
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If we don't agree with a policy or law, then we must do what is best to change that policy in a diplomatic way that is beneficial to all.<br />
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We must aim to do things to the best of our ability, even the small, little things.<br />
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Because if we act and behave as if anything goes, then people will treat us the same way. If we have no standards then we will do anything, anyhow.<br />
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If we respect ourselves, if we respect others, then we will always see the good in everyone.<br />
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If I respect you, I can never hate you, and I wouldn't judge you. I would try to see the good in you. I would believe in the best.<br />
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If we all did that, do you know how much nicer the world would be?<br />
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And we would quicker believe in hope than believe in the worst in someone, because we respected them.</div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667154669596247553.post-62095408327834496762016-04-20T13:43:00.001-04:002016-04-20T13:43:22.750-04:00Quite the opposite<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Contrary to what most people believe, I honestly do think that we were put on this earth to fulfill our dreams.<br />
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That little dream in our heart.<br />
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Everyone has one. At least I'd like to think so.<br />
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But quite the opposite to spending every waking moment trying to find our dreams, most of us prefer to bury our head in the sand and forget about it.<br />
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But dreams are a funny thing. If we don't try to fulfill it, the dream itself becomes like a bitter pill inside us, it makes us sad and angry in the process.<br />
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And so when others come to us with their dreams and their hopes, we can't relate to it with admiration because we're still nursing our pain from our failed attempt.<br />
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So what do we do?<br />
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We admonish them for being so naive and tell them to get a real job.<br />
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We break their hearts and their spirit.<br />
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We tell them the opposite of what they really need to hear.<br />
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We should be telling them, 'Yea, go for it'<br />
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Maybe that's what we wanted to hear and we didn't, but if we had heard just that, maybe we would.<br />
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Go for it.</div>
Cesco Emmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13440627518432022054noreply@blogger.com0