The Art of Life - Authenticity

“Authenticity is the only solid position in hard times”

Natural wood is an art in Belize. Logging was a major trade in the country in the past and as you travel around and see the variety of trees, it’s easy to understand why. A wood carver’s and carpenter’s haven, real wood is a great pleasure and pastime for artisans in Belize. Over time, and facing the elements, real wood gets worn looking, but internally it has a solid strength and feel that make authentic wood a pleasure to have around.

In other parts of the world it is hard to find unique wood like Belize has. You can find a lot of fake wood though. They look nice, often pressed and glossy, over time they never seem to last, often, they crumble from the inside out.

Authenticity is not as easy to find when it comes to people, what is on the surface can be very deceiving. Making good business deals is an art and you need to take time to create solid results. Often times you need to look deeper to find how it’s all going to hold together. When we meet people we can be dazzled by shiny smiles, polished words and the promise of quick results, but like pressed wood that looks good, we need to temper all in the light of scrutiny for some time to see how they really hold up.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel , Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

Art of life: Is it worth it?

By Chris Emmanuel

“Circumstances in the right hands can become a great motivator.” – Emmanuel

We create our own traps in life. We suffer in occupations we don t like, incompatible friendships, places we don’t want to be in. We can suffer in abusive relationships wishing that the abuser will change. “if only he stopped drinking, if only she would do as I say, I will leave once the children grows up, I can’t survive without his money,” and on and on.. The excuses continue. It sometimes takes drastic measures for people to wake up and take charge of their lives. It takes courage to strike out on your own-you might fail, but you can also make a better life for yourself. Either way you will gain new experiences.

When you are not happy with your life, it’s important to take steps to correct the situation. It might not happen quickly but it’s well worth the effort. By just striving we become happier than if we had made no attempt at all. Making changes for a healthier life for ourselves and the ones we care for, is not always easy. But when we are suffering in a household of unhappiness it’s time to ask the question, “Is it worth it?” the days are long but the years are short. Life is happening now. When you plan to make changes now for your happiness you don’t need to count on happiness that is (or isn’t) waiting in your future.

Never overestimate your ability to change people and never underestimate your ability to change yourself for the better.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

Art of Life: Night walk in town

By Christopher Emmanuel

It’s Saturday night in San Pedro Town and the whole world is happening right here. Walking by the park in town the air is alive with the sounds of night pleasure. The carving and jewelry sellers are in full decor as they greet the evening visitors. Streets hustlers saunter past in anticipation. Laughter rises from the swings at the mini playground as children clamor up the slides, racing in the sand. “Stay out of the water,” a mother hollers. Nearby, a young man courting his new love, smile at her in promise under the moonlight.

Past the statue of St. Peter, the doors leading to the Catholic Church spread light on the dark. Filled with the evening mass, the voices swell at passerby as the priest lead the Holly Maries. Stepping past the church, sounds of the reggae band blares from Fido’s Courtyard, calling the party goers, “don’t worry bout’ a thing,” Bob Marley lyrics drown out the house of worship voices.

We can say there’s a lot wrong in the world, but that’s just our opinions. When you travel around after a while you will see that people are basically the same wherever you go. They all have the same dreams and goals when you get right down to it. You can spend your whole life looking for meaning, judging rights and wrong, but over time you will come to see perceptions give way to reality and the truth is somewhere in between. It’s good to look for meaning at times, but no matter where you are, the world is a smorgasbord of experience, better to enjoy than to try and make sense of it all.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

The Art of Life: Success & Maturity

“Make experience the only success and you will never fail.” - Emmanuel

What does failure mean? Something didn’t turn out the way you wanted or expected. Life is an experience that is always perfect when you understand the wisdom behind each action. We all like to win, but always winning doesn’t seem to make us grow. The slowest people to mature seem to be the ones that get everything they want. They appear to mirror the idea of success as having all their endeavors flourish. Sadly though, they become childish because of their expectations, pushing themselves and others to the level of abuse to satisfy their petty demands.

Maturity it seems, comes with knowing you won’t always win and accepting losing as winning at times. The idea of failure fuels us and compels movement towards goals. Living a meaningful life requires actions now before we succumb to regrets because we never tried.

We collect our mistakes and push forward. We embrace failure and see the wisdom from our efforts. Finally we are no longer a slave to success, but accept both aspects and see the beauty of doing our best in all situations. Maturity then brings us to duty and responsibility.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black Orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

The Art of Life: Mind Space

By Christopher Emmanuel

“A cluttered mind can’t find focus”

Everything you acquire takes up mental space. I call this “Mind space”, because you hold it in your thoughts. Someone gave me a gift and I was thankful for it. But I thought to myself, “What am I going to do with it.” Have you ever gotten a gift you don’t want? But you kept it anyway because you don’t want to hurt the person - it’s like a gift you take out when they are coming over to visit. You want to be kind but you just don’t have use for it. Hey! Don’t get me wrong, who doesn’t love to get gifts? But only gifts that have value are the ones you can use. But come to think of it I am using the gift because it is the subject of this article.

We are possessed by what we own. For instance, you get a new boat, for the next while all you can think of is how you can enjoy it. Then it becomes something to maintain and the real cost comes into perspective. If you truly enjoy it, then it’s all part of the pleasure, but if you only love it when it works, you feel shackled by the thoughts when it’s not working.

So if you find your mind cluttered with too many thoughts, consider clearing your space. Physically clean out your closets and things at home that you don’t use. If you haven’t used it in six months or a year, trade it, sell it, and give it away. You will find your thoughts start to become clear.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

The Art of Life: End Purpose

“Your greatest legacy is held in the people you leave behind”

Most tourist come to Belize for a break. They want to slow down reassess. “Am I on track?” “Is there a purpose to what I am doing? Walking by the empty beach chairs you can almost hear the residue of leisure thoughts left behind. We slow down either to end a purpose; navigate the one we are in; or get started on a new one. We are all preparing for the final end purpose.

And what is our final end purpose? Some say, “It’s what you make it.” Others, “to go to heaven or hell,” Some don’t believe in either, but look to science reverting back to energy that never stops just become something else. Purpose is a human made concept and we need one to take a step in any direction. Even no purpose is a purpose. As you co-create it’s important to step away to get a bird’s eye view, now and then.

You make the brush strokes daily. Whatever you believe will be there to face you in the end. For me, its love, not that gushy stuff you see on TV though. When I think of love it is an unconditional energy that is inside and all around us. You can say we live inside this essence. This Divine energy communicates and is experienced through our heart-this energy is the same connected to the earth’s magnetic meridian.

Finding this essence everyday is your divine connection to going back to where you came from. After all no one knows when your purpose will truly end, that is why it’s a good idea to practice love in action, everyday.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

The Art of Life: Freedom & Faith

Freedom & Faith

By Christopher Emmanuel

"Freedom & faith is tied to responsibility and consequences"

I saw a boat named “Freedom” in the back by the lagoon. Just the name makes you want to ride in it. I am sure everyone is looking for a ride to freedom. Naming a boat is an important thing for a fisherman. Many times it’s a name of the love in their lives. Other times it’s an endearing quality or nick name they feel connected to. For many the right name provides a sense of protection and faith. Here in San Pedro there is a ceremony for blessing boats with faith for safety at sea. A boat is significant on the water and having a faithful connection can be a life line when travelling at sea.

Does faith and freedom go together? Freedom conjures up wonderful images for us all-we all want to sail free and clear. Finding freedom is not always an easy task. Each person has a concept on what freedom means. But for most it’s like a boat in the wind. Sometimes the wind dies and we are left standing still wondering, other times we need to dock it, tie it down till the storms of confinement pass.

Freedom always require faith, every journey requires faith to reach a destination. We can say then true freedom is really not an all out doing without care, but the ability to make choices and in that, in this part of the world we all have that. Choice is truly freedom, a gift from the Divine

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black Orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

The Art of Life: Your Chemistry

Hangovers- considering the amount of bars in San Pedro, I am sure they are people experiencing this daily. You can’t do anything but wait till the alcohol departs your body. Most often it takes a whole day to recover. Imagine you could see inside yourself-all your organs and the different circulatory systems that make your body work. Now everything you eat or drink that enters into your blood stream is there for you to see. Having the ability to see this we would all think twice before we consume the foods we do. Our bodies are machines that work efficiently with the right chemistry. Food is really just a form of chemistry.

Unfortunately we can’t see our chemistry, but we all have the ability to feel. Seeing inside yourself is listening to what your body is feeling. The language of the body is feeling. Some people are so out of touch with their bodies they never feel what their bodies are telling them. They continue to consume harmful chemistry until it’s too late. I often ask myself does pleasure have to cost so much.

Living your best requires knowing what is best for your body. Each one of us requires a unique chemistry, a balance only you know. No doctor can know you like you. Learning the language of your body is to know the nutrition that creates your personal balance.

Next time you find yourself in pain because of something you ate or drank, ask yourself if the pleasure of the experience was worth it. Then consider other ways to enjoy life without hurting your chemistry.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel , Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

The Art of Life: Carving inside out

“You are a work of art and you are being shaped everyday by the choices you make” - Emmanuel

Woodcarving is one of the great local arts in Belize. “I never pass up a good piece of drift wood,” explained a local carver. “Then I look at it or a few days till the wood talks to me. Seeing the shape it needs to be, I simply remove the unwanted wood around it carving it inside out.” Consider you life to be a sculpture in the making, you work on each day. Some days you progress more than you think. Other days you have setbacks.

On the road to improving your life you cannot stop strengthen yourself and cultivating the power inside you. Some days you will do better than others but if you cease your efforts you will slide back. Discipline is your hammer and chisel. It takes determination to create the greatest works of art. Eventually there is nothing more to achieve but the process and discoveries along the way to becoming the essence you already are.

The supreme master is inside everyone, while you are carving life, he’s’ shaping you, people places and experiences are his tools. You choose what you want to become-whether it is sandstone, limestone or shale, no one or thing can shape you unless you allow it, and that the God inside. And you never know how much you have to carve to find your personal perfection. How you would like to be shaped, hammer or feathers?

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

The Art of Life - Tiny Stories

By Chris Emmanuel

“Words only have the power we choose to give them”

I am having a bad day.

He did it on purpose.

She let me down.

They are wrong.

These are the tiny stories we tell ourselves to justify our actions. When life doesn’t go the way we expect, we need to find a way to satisfy the small self. They are mostly a complaint to assert our behavior to others-designed to render judgment making rights and wrongs. We create unreal boundaries to push others down and build ourselves up. Through these boundaries we create enemies, most often never understanding the truth of a situation.

This is how we create suffering. Through time we block ourselves in, only gathering around us those who fit within the wall of our ego. And if that’s not enough, we tell others these tiny stories and spread poison on each other gathering disciples to justify our position. So many people today have lost the ability to think and not knowingly given their minds over to gossip, media, society and their peers. Brainwashing is always going on.

How nice life would be without these tiny stories that create divisions between people. How nice it would be to get the truth about what really happened. The great thing about a small island is you know everyone. The bad thing is that you know everyone. Suffering starts when we start naming or labeling our situation. Next time you find yourself suffering because of a tiny story, ask yourself: why do I let other people’s words and ideas become so important to me? Then spend your time focusing on what you want to get out of life.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in the Sun breeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

The Art of Life - The Jewel Stand

By Christopher Emmanuel
“We are all diamonds seeking to be polished”

Selling jewelry on the beach all depends on the weather for her. On cloudy days I pass by the makeshift stand-an oil drum with plywood on it empty. Today she is carefully placing her jewels on a cloth. “A wan sell today have to mine me picne.” “Me man done gwane an lef we.” She says as I pass by. She polishes the jewels with a loving touch every day to keep the shine. Later as the sun sets she will pack the jewels taking the table cloth leaving the stand behind.

We could all learn from the lady at the jewel stand. In each of us is a jewel we take with us when we pass on. This is the essence we are without bodies. This essence belongs to the Divine source energy we are. This jewel is all we can take with us. The stand is the body we leave behind to decay back into the dust it came from.

Some people worship the body and its desires so much that they struggle to let go of people, places and things. The now pleasures can be intoxicating and make addicts of us all. School prepared us for life, but preparation for passing on we are not taught. Nature walks, Church songs, your child’s stare, your favorite creative sport or activity, any and everything that connects us to this expanded nature teaches us our essence. Once we know our true essence and work towards polishing it. Death is no longer a bother but just a passage to go home to love.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sun breeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

The Art of Life - The Children's Dilemma

“A human being like its creator is an enigma”

A glimmer of dawn was seeping through the bedroom window, she hadn’t slept last night. She was upset. No Mad! Her best friend Kate had a date with that cute boy in her class and it didn’t sit right with her. She wanted to punch him, shove him to the ground. Her feelings were against everything she knew. She loved Kate, wanted to hold and kiss her since they became friends in standard one. Now teenagers she craved her inside.

Is a girl who she should love? What would her church going Christian parents say? Surly she was bound for hell. Nights she prayed to the God she believed in, asking why? Why she felt the way she did.

All over the world we have holy scriptures that teach us how to conduct our lives-each claiming truth. But truth never stops evolving. Before words are printed experience change. Our children are crying out in change. Can we meet them where they are? Love them and understand who they are becoming?

All the rules in the world can’t match truth and experience. Through the filter of time all precepts become a path overgrown with the weeds of new knowledge. In the end kindness is the only form that love fits into. Evolution cannot be contained in words and rituals.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

The Art of Life - Lovers Nature

Cooking is like making love, you need the right ingredients

Immortal Kiss

Let’s speak of love and so we should

A boy of youth I thought I could

Did take the oath to make a mark

On tender heart stained passion dark

In bold desire we did spend

Brave emotion constant sent

And when the time had come to part

We tried, wept a broken heart

That love can leave one empty so

A turn in time we cannot know

Kissing, touching immortal soul

Once again makes us whole

Making love is part of our human nature. Why should we be ashamed of it? Like nakedness, it’s simply our humanity. In today’s’ world sharing our bodies have become complex. Sex has so many taboos, and meaning attached to it, it has become like eggs in our societies dark closet.
Sex should not be used to control or manipulate, to abuse or for selfish pursuits. I dare say those who have known the painful results for a quick minute pleasure.

Anything hidden and denied becomes a perversion. Some religions confine and control it, advertising glorify it, Obsessive’s perverts it, and spiritual seekers deny it. No wonder it has become a seething undercurrent in our culture. Lovemaking is far more than these ideals. We need to make lovemaking natural and healthy. Make it precious like the food we take time to prepare with the right ingredients. It is a natural need that should be properly respected. It is a gift from the divine, which unites love through physical expression. It is a sacred, profound act between two consenting souls. The result is our legacy and co creates our existence.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

The Art of Life

Friendship with Pain

“It’s never about what happened to you, but what you become through it.” - Emmanuel

You see them when you travel through Belize City; in fact they are in every city. Standing, sitting, lying sometimes barely alive it seems. These are the street people, the homeless. “Spare some change?” He calls out, holding out a hand crusted with grime. He’s got a blank stare in his eyes just behind his pain, his skin is weathered hanging inside old clothes that has seen too many pavements. His smell makes you coil backwards as though being pushed back by an invisible field.

Pain or pleasure-who knows what, put him roaming on the streets. He is part of the human landscape. No one likes to look at pain. No need for details-we want to move on-get to the fun part. Out of fear it might be you, you toss the coin into his palm, you can move on now.

Some people live with pain all their lives. Others chose to end life hoping for a better place. Living with pain is not easy. Some days are better than others they say. But as they come to accept it, pain becomes a friend that comes and goes teaching when to stand strong and when to let go. Life is filled with opposites but as we step back blurring our vision we transcend the detail and see the whole beauty of the complete picture. Pain is the complement of a joyous life. As we stay strong in the face of suffering, joy eventually becomes the background of all there is. Through time it prepares us for a door we may pass through. After all we can’t take the human landscape where we are going.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

Kind Kids Write 2010 - Essay Writing Contest - Winners Announced

Press Release – Be Kind Belize – December 20th, 2010 – Be Kind Belize, in cooperation with The San Pedro Sun and AmbergrisCaye.com is delighted to announce the winners of the Kind Kids Write 2010 Essay writing contest.

The theme of the essay writing contest was ‘Kindness’ and it was open to all students in Standards 4, 5 & 6 at schools in San Pedro.

All essays were judged blind by our three independent judges, Mary Gonzalez – writer, Chris Emmanuel – writer and Katia Marin – pet expert. None of the judges knew the identity of the writers or the school they represented. The judges were unanimous in saying that the essays were very impressive and even brought some of them to tears. It was a hard decision but here are the winners:
1st Prize Girls – Kendice Armstrong, Holy Cross Anglican School
1st Prize Boys – Ruben Francois, Island Academy
1st Prize for most enthusiastic participation from a school – Holy Cross Anglican School

Runners Up: Allessandra Gutierrez, R. C. School, Jamie Valentin, R. C. School, Deschana Lewis, H. C. School, Aliyah Elliott, H. C. School, Ada Cordova, H. C. School, Joseline Vasquez, H. C. School.
Many thanks to S.P. Hardware for giving us a great discount on the two 1st Prize Awards. Kendice Armstrong and Ruben Francois will both be receiving a bicycle as their first prize. All of the Runners Up will receive prize packs containing scholastic items and other goodies all donated by generous Be Kind Belize supporters. The winning essays will be published in The San Pedro Sun and online with AmbergrisCaye.com. Prize winners may arrange to collect their winner’s certificates and prizes by calling Be Kind Belize at 226-4366 or 624-8251.

Be Kind Belize is a free programme, designed to complement the Belize National Curriculum. It is available to any school that would like to introduce the concept of kindness to their pupils. Volunteers are always welcome. If you would like more information about how you or your school could participate in Be Kind Belize or if you would like to volunteer, please contact Be Kind Belize at 226-4366 or 624-8251.

THE ART OF LIFE - By Christopher Emmanuel

“There is an art to life. Every moment is crafted by you”--Emmanuel

We are all artists of life – whether we accept it or not, take charge or follow. Whatever we choose to believe or do, we are the one who give our lives purpose by using our abilities to form joy and meaning. Artists have many tools and materials to create with; creative beings are constantly looking and learning to improve their craft, creating their lives.

There are many ways we color our world; some experiences generate disturbing purples blackish red moods and others cause golden rays to shoot from our hearts bringing joy to ourselves and others. Like the morning my partner and I observed dolphins dancing near the shoreline in San Pedro. Three Dolphins came close to the docks and we watched in amazement as they looped and danced in the air splashing in the aqua green sea. The joy these happy creatures displayed took us away from planning our strokes for the day to a timeless place of wonder. Who does not love dolphins!! I think dolphins are the true mermaids.

Did you know, there were cases of dolphins which defended shipwrecked people swimming in the water from shark attacks till rescue ships appeared. And real incidents of people saved from drowning by dolphins are known; this behavior is mentioned in many tales, from ancient Greek and Roman stories to the legends of the Polynesians and Maori of New Zealand. Sometimes they carried people more than 20 miles to shore. In other cases, dolphins guided fishermen lost in the mist or shipwrecked, and people lost at sea to the shore. But dolphins do more than save people; they create part of the wonder which transports us beyond to a magical place of hope, adding color to our canvas. Keeping the shoreline free of garbage and debris is a simple way of preserving this wonder for our children’s’ children.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, and Sol Spa.