Friday, 30 January 2015
Mark Ronson - Uptown Funk ft. Bruno Mars
Just loving this whole funky biz!!! I actually saw the 'Uptown Funk' video for the first time today whilst sitting in the hairdressers. Funny when you think we've been playing it on Buffaloo Radio in the Chill Out Zone since its release last December! It's such a good video- dance, humour, tells a story- Michael Jackson would probably enjoy it! For a long video, it holds its own although over 37K people disagree- check the likes by comparison.
It's a shame there isn't more funky music around- James Brown cornered the market back in the day and Wild Cherry had a smash hit with 'Play that Funky Music'... till you die! There is definitely a great liking for funk as this track reached #1 for 7 weeks. Why do we love Funk? Obvious really, it gets you off your seat and dancing, which is the wonderful thing about great music- so here's to the funk!!
Jaz McKenzie
Be Braap~Be Inspired!!! Real Quotes from Real People!!
Andy-‘ Strong people don’t put others down, they lift them
up.’
This is one of the quotes we discussed recently on Buffaloo
Radio. In the current culture of so called ‘haters’ we see people being put
down and even verbally abused time and again. This is what weak people do when
they become jealous as they need to feed off others to make themselves feel good. It’s
very short sighted and helps ensure that you stay in the same place because
really good people do not like this attitude.
It takes a strong person to want to encourage others; someone who is confident and in full control
of themself. People who constantly give out encouragement understand that the more you give
the more you get. It’s a simple formula, whether we’re speaking money, information,
business connections, time or anything else. Be strong and be kind~ Make a
difference!
You can hear me live on Buffaloo Radio with DJ Freestyle every Sunday from 6-9pm GMT
Jaz McKenzie
Monday, 26 January 2015
Give Thanks~Feel Joyful Wk 4- For being Alive!
I GIVE THANKS FOR BEING ALIVE!
We all have a Birthday. That’s a fact and as we grow up we
take our Birthday’s for-granted; a sense of immortality seems to be the
privilege of youth! We are alive and real joy comes from a deep appreciation of
life itself otherwise we simply subside into existence or worse still,
depression.
Giving thanks for being alive is an acknowledgement that we
are here for a multitude of reasons. We can tune in to the world around, using
our senses to take on board everyday and exotic experiences. Life is purpose- without purpose there
is no point to life.
Thoughts:
· Think about your day
and gives thanks for at least one thing... this usually leads to a string of thankfulness
· What new ideas have
you had today?
· Have you progressed
in any areas?
· What excited you/
brought you joy?
· Take action~ jot your
ideas down and send them prayers & energy!
It can be easy to slip into routines and lose our personal
vision. I remember doing this when the children were young- living a day at a
time and crashing into bed at early O’clock pretty much exhausted. When you
have small children you really need to focus on your own identity and not allow
it to slip away. Me time is alive time!
The fun in life is working out its twists and turns. Plan
for the future and then enjoy the route. Life may follow the course you
imagined, however sometimes it’s far more exciting when it goes off at a
tangent. This is why gut instinct plays such an important role and can
bring experiences to us that we were previously unable to conceive. Most
winners of the X Factor did not expect to win, yet through following their gut
instinct changed their lives in an exciting way. Likewise, you need to take
every opportunity life brings to enhance your sense of ‘being alive.’
To be really alive we need to appreciate our talents. Through using our talents we create opportunities to enrich every single day if we so choose. You
will already know that life may seem at times to be compartmentalised but that
should not be the case. When everything works well together we will feel alive.
Happy, healthy relationships are stimulating and inner peace- invaluable, so we must
create a flow that ripples throughout everything we do.
Sometimes disharmony or even tragedy arrive in our lives to
WAKE US UP! When life runs smoothly for a long time we can lose focus and let
down our spiritual guard. If you find yourself coasting through life for too
long beware! Your mind can become lazy and mentally you dose off. When you
think about it, even if you are subjected to ten years of suffering it is still
a relatively small period were you to reach eighty. After all, consider Nelson Mandela who showed us how to maintain hope in bleak circumstances and emerge triumphant.
My personal opinion is that we are designed to run on low
wattage now and again which dampens creative output physically, mentally and/or
spiritually. The point is that we pick ourselves up when the time is right and
strive to live on all cylinders once again. Nature recognises the need for
hibernation and the Butterfly epitomises all life cycles. From time to time we
need that period in our own chrysalis to reinvent ourselves. We need to digest
information, find solutions, adapt and improve upon our very beings
periodically to maintain tip top performance and enjoyment of life itself.
We fly high on natural energy and the more in control we are
of our lives the more we will enjoy them. Look after yourself and live your
life. That way you will improve your quality of life and everyone else’s. See It's All About The 'I' to understand why we need to put ourselves first.
Jaz McKenzie
Sunday, 18 January 2015
Give Thanks~Feel Joyful Wk 3- Inner Peace
I give thanks for Inner Peace
Life is a bowl of minestrone without any doubt. It can be
amazing and we sail along; alternatively at times we feel as if we’re drowning
in a pool of thick mud. Life is frequently so busy that it can be very hard to
make time for our inner needs however, I am thankful to have learnt the value
of allocating periods of time to nurture my own mental well being.
Inner peace is essential if we are to function well and the
very word peace brings us a comforting feeling. When all is well it is easy to
be joyful- but by the same token we can forget God if we are shallow and no
longer perceive a need for His services. Alternatively, we can feel so badly
about something that we convince ourselves we no longer qualify for His help.
Ultimately we need the realisation that consistency is the answer and then our
lives will flow better or at the very least, feel better.
When we are thankful for even the smallest things, this
generates a spirit of appreciation and gratitude so universal law ensures that
more good will enter our lives. If we always give thanks for inner peace we
will have peace. Small things can include having just enough money- yesterday I
popped an extra 50p in my pocket and used 49p which meant I didn’t need to
return to the shop in the cold! Sometimes the greatest blessing in the world
can be a few kind words at the right moment. Love, encouragement and concern
elevate our spirit by making us feel valued.
This isn’t to say all worries will disappear. What will
happen is that we grow in the knowledge that everything is taken care of and
ultimately will be alright. There are horrors happening constantly around the
world- terrorist shootings in France, Massacres in Nigeria and starvation in
many areas of the world but there is one rule that always applies, love will ultimately conquer. We cannot
possibly understand why evil is allowed to reign except that the law of
opposites also exists and we cannot pick and choose which laws suit us.
Atrocities are a fact of life and we are always touched by them. We can pray,
donate help or money but not cure. We can educate and take preventative steps.
What we do need to remember is: If you wish to help others you need to help
yourself. Love yourself and this will emanate outwards.
So how can we acquire peace of mind? We can try thought displacement. Taking time
each day to be still and talk about your worries leaving them in the care of
God releases these worries and allows other more positive thoughts to enter
your mind. What we frequently do, which is very unhelpful, is return to our
worries, going over them again and again; constantly scrutinising the situation
in the hope of finding a solution. This keeps the worries alive by feeding them
energy. Consider how this differs from discussing a situation and making valid
attempts to find a solution. Practical moves are necessary to progress in life
as nothing can happen without action. Just think- if you pray for improved
finances and a cheque pops through your door you still have to pick it up and
bank it!
Peace of mind can be nurtured by creating focus in the
correct way. The more you practice considering your life calmly and try to be
proactive where possible the easy it becomes to cope. There will always be bad
situations and good situations so we yo-yo around, but if you prioritise peace of
mind and maintain the belief that you are calm and always cope well with every
situation you will maintain a much greater level of stability.
Besides love, peace of mind is possible the best gift you
can ever give yourself and one that will be beneficial to all the people around
you.
Jaz McKenzie
Saturday, 17 January 2015
Be Braap~Be Inspired!!! Real Quotes for Real People! Michael Arkk
Develop to Achieve... you
can’t get there without development because you weren’t born with it! ~ Michael
Arkk
This saying of Michael’s is very
straightforward and a twist on the more usual, ‘believe to achieve.’ Basically,
if we don’t make an effort to develop ourselves we go nowhere- just think for a
second about the learning babies and children go through. With a little
encouragement they make great strides to learn new skills and generally enjoy
doing it. They are also persistent; how many times do babies keep falling over
before they finally learn to walk? And before that they often experience the
frustration of crawling backwards in order to move forwards!
We really
need to go back to our human roots and appreciate that lesson. Life has a habit
of repeating itself so we need to strive to develop and achieve- if we seem to
go nowhere fast, or regress, we must appreciate that it’s just part of the
process and we should give thanks for those little plateaus and regressions
which enable us to mentally re-group before making fresh attempts to push
forwards! So, just keep setting your targets, make the most of new learning
opportunities to stretch yourself and you will achieve whilst benefitting from
a far more satisfying life.
The Be Braap~Be Inspired feature has been running for a very long time on Its Braap and
since I work as a presenter and more for Buffaloo Radio, I decided
that this would be a great feature to include in The Chill Out Zone- Sunday
nights from 6-8pm GMT.
Michael Arkk, Reggae/Gospel singer, was
a featured artist on Buffaloo Radio last year and is a strong supporter,
updating us with his musical moves which includes planning the Heritage of Ska
Festival- more information to follow at a later date. The above phrase is
Michael’s real quote and if you would like to supply your favourite saying
please call the Buffaloo Radio hotline 07453 826 450
during the show or send to itsbraap@live.co.uk
Jaz
McKenzie
Sunday, 11 January 2015
Give Thanks~Feel Joyful WK2- Give thanks for Gut Instinct
Give thanks for Gut Instinct.
I am so happy that I am now focusing in a pro-active way on
my gut instinct. Gut instinct is something that helps you to accept life
exactly as it and to make the most of opportunities. Through the past year I
have been practising tuning in to myself and the results have been extremely
good. For example, I have met some great people, especially within the Urban
Delight Entertainment team thanks to Macky McPherson and through this
experience have learnt a great deal about myself and ways of coping with
various challenges that would probably have had a smothering affect previously.
In addition, the UDE team enjoyed some great evenings filled with energy and
brilliant vibes- not to mention the singing!
Having mentioned the ups, here’s a down where instinct
kicked in towards the end of the year. Having been ill and exhausted for most
of November & December I had to slow down- there was absolutely no other
choice as my body had zero energy after even the slightest little excersion.
Initially I felt despairing however when studying spiritual teachings was
constantly given the message to tune in to my body and rest. During those
quieter periods I spent more time listening to talks and reading; aspects of
leisure that had previously been squashed into my busy day. The most important
aspect of life I have come to realise, besides the need for relaxation, is the
importance of becoming in-tune with oneself.
Gut instinct is actually quite wide embracing our thoughts,
feelings, opinions, actions. One of the most fundamental elements is creating
greater awareness of your gut instinct ie: the little intuitive voice that
speaks from within. Your gut instinct is your best friend, or would be if
allowed! Very often it appears as a quick thought bursting like a bubble in
your mind, eg: ‘this guy/girl is not going to be good for me.’ That instinctive
reaction will probably prove right but how many times do we start to reason
with ourselves because there is something about that person which attracts us?
The same applies to situations. You may be invited to an event and inside your
head think, ‘that’s not for me,’ however you allow people to talk you into going
along, later wishing you hadn’t. This is not to be confused with your personal
gremlins- areas needing encouragement to be overcome; if you’re too isolated then
going out occasionally may well be a good thing. The general rule to follow is,
‘if your instinct is strongly against something there is a good reason so
listen to it.’ How many times do we repeat mistakes instead of learning from
them? If you have a little warning bell ringing, open your eyes and look for
the signs your subconscious has already tuned in to.
Gut instinct can also be very positive and give you the
let’s do it signal; excitement at the thought of a new project, a feeling
telling you to take a risk that appears ridiculous when you calculate all the
factors. Sometimes we do well to jump in without stopping to think! At the end
of August I suddenly found myself involved in internet Radio. It was the result
of one thing leading to another, so when Buffaloo was discussing his radio
station I became enthusiastic and found myself taking on the role of presenter-
and more besides. We created a show name, ‘The Chill Out Zone’ and have
developed it as we go along! My instinct is telling me to work a daaaaam sight
harder on this project and take it up a few levels by the end of this year.
Gut instinct is your beacon that will guide you through
choppy waters or sail you across calm seas to your own paradise island! Do not
underestimate your instincts as they will serve you well and ultimately prove
that you are your own best friend! When life goes well we are able to be joyful and sometimes are in awe of the wonderful of opportunities that come our way and also we can be happy and proud of personal achievements
Jaz McKenzie
Friday, 9 January 2015
Year In-Year Out~Jaz McKenzie Poem & a few thoughts!
I wrote this poem last week while the New Year was totally
fresh. Barely caught a glimpse of fireworks yet they create the greatest sense
of expectation within us. We feel elated when watching huge firework displays
and we feel a great sense of awe at such beauty that is beyond our remit.
The point about our lives is that we are born with great
potential and ideally should be creating the life we want to reach fulfilment.
This involves constantly using and extending our skills; having a flow of ideas
to help us achieve objectives including those that may appear far-fetched.
Important: make time to
prepare well defined planned with fixed goals and objectives and take baby
steps or huge leaps as we move through the year a month at a time. There are
always people around who have the skills you need and if your focus and expectations
are clear they will appear like magic!
Year In- Year Out
The New Year beginning
with chimes and fireworks
Staggered global
celebration welcoming change
Time to renew hope in
the face of adversity
For human kind is and
was and ever will be
And whilst we ring the
changes spare a thought
For the person you are
and who you could be.
The key to success is
an internal key
Grasp it and turn
using integrity
Take time to reflect
on your annual journey
Embracing equally highs
and the lows
Joy and laughter a
true celebration
Challenges, catalysts
for motivation
And tears a release to
soothe the soul
Anticipation now
racing through our veins
Land of opportunity
where all hope reigns
Leave behind your
loses and strive for gains
Year in Year Out is
here again!
Jaz McKenzie © 2015
This poem is written in a specific format- the lines decreasing
systematically from 7 to 1. For some reason I haven’t really identified this is
important because it came to me as I was writing- I’ll leave that one with you
but here’s a thought; 7 is my birth number so when speaking of beginnings it
could be relevant & maybe 1 is the universe we return to, our lives becoming
more focused as less cluttered as we age- who knows!
Note for those who are struggling with loss
We wish to feel energised and happy at the beginning of the
year, ideally every day, but sadly it’s impossible for everyone to feel that
way. If you are exhausted, mentally or emotionally off-key the best you can do
is focus on whatever makes you feel better. The New Year can be particularly
challenging and upsetting for people who have experienced bereavement and for
the first time are starting a year without someone who may have played an
enormous role in their lives. Confidence may dwindle and fear, raise its head.
Your attitude helps determines how well you cope. Time helps you to adjust as
do good friends, possibly counselling or even listening to people like Louise
Hay, whose words comfort and inspire. Having others to relate to who are empathetic
will probably help you to find coping strategies. Faith in God or the universe
is especially good, remember, we all have a Guardian angel watching over us who
we can communicate with. If you are of a mind you can ask for help every day,
especially with regard to acceptance of your loss and any specific challenges.
It is a strange feeling when our circumstances change but we are never truly
alone and that is a comfort in itself.~ Sending you love, blessings and encouragement- everything will be good with time~ Jaz
Wednesday, 7 January 2015
Love Dancehall~Love MACINI- You Know He's BRAAP!
Dancehall artist Macini blazed his way through 2014 and is set to create an even bigger stir this year. No exclamations, just plain facts. Having worked hard on his music and brought us great tunes including, 'Wen Mi Step Out,' featured on this blog, the year soon gathered pace.
Macini came along to Buffaloo Radio last September and joined our show The Chill Out Zone- Sunday Nights 6-8pm. DJ Freestyle and I had a great time interviewing Macini and finding out about his journey so far- equally importantly his ambitious nature shone through and we were thrilled when he was invited to Gambia. Once there, Macini showed his talents to the full and was invited to make a special guest appearance at the National Stadium to entertain an audience of 40K and was a guest on many radio shows.
Macini returned to the UK after Christmas and spoke 'live on air' with Buffaloo Radio last week. His tour was a roaring success and the Gambians are in love with his latest release, 'Man A General.' I believe this title sums Macini up beautifully as he has created a stylized image and knows exactly how to work his trade. The above logo speaks clearly of his intent and determination. Macini will be performing overseas again this year, already booked for shows in Germany and Jamaica. - at this rate it will soon be time for me to update his bio!
Jaz McKenzie
Sunday, 4 January 2015
Give Thanks~Feel Joyful Week 1: Intro to our 2015 Blogathon
For the first time, last year I didn’t complete the
Blogathon. I could have considered this a poor effort however have learned not
to criticise myself, and instead practice taking a reasoned approach. I have
arrived at the conclusion that 2014 was a challenging year for the majority of
us and we have all learned many valuable lessons. Perhaps the most important
lesson I learnt is to, ‘go with the flow.’ I will speak more about this in the first
article of the new Blogathon.
Initially I was going to continue with ‘Have Questions?~Have Answers!!!’ however, I was given a new topic this morning and will run
with that as it is a New Year filled with inspiration. Importantly, 'HQHA' can be added to gradually
until all 52 instalments are complete- or simply be cut short!
Our 2015 Blogathon, ‘Give Thanks~Feel Joyful’ is focused
around a very important subject, gratitude. When we give thanks we raise our
mood, our vibration, and the more things we can be thankful for the better we
feel. Our ideal goal is to attain a continually joyful state therefore we should do our best to avoid
negativity, worry and seriously stressful situations. Obviously
life is designed to challenge every emotion and puts us in places of discomfort
and pain, encouraging our ability to find solutions and grow. Let’s just
consider the major blessing of all severely challenging situations including
the evil in this world- Through
experiencing such things we come to know and appreciate the good things in life
including our values, hopes and dreams. We need highs to appreciate lows
otherwise life would be like a long stretch of motorway- YAWN! So to start you
off, just think- if you are reading this you have access to a computer and
that’s a blessing!
A point for
consideration: We are born with a right to love and happiness with the
majority of us in a position to create our own futures. Yes, some people are
born into severe hardship and we don’t have all the answers, but if the ‘haves’
used their mental powers for good the lives of the ‘have-nots’ could be
significantly improved. So why focus on being thankful? Before you can change
anything in this world you need the right mindset, and gratitude is the
foundation for change.
Jaz McKenzie
Thursday, 1 January 2015
Time isn't the master~ YOU ARE!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH & EVERY ONE OF YOU!!
I decided we'd have a change from writing about New Year's resolutions; partly because we have covered the subject before and partly because I started mine in December simply because it seemed the right thing to do; although I may add a few as time goes by.
So here we are once again facing a blank or even partly filled canvas referred to as the New Year, and for most of us it is a refreshingly exciting time. Time is a word that we use relentlessly throughout our lives and often we are under the illusion that time is limited and we have no control over it. Agreed we cannot control time but we are in a position to make the most of it. This does not mean that we need to be working 24/7, what we need is to make time work for us and when you get your focus right time seems to increase rather than decrease.
There are many ways to improve your life which require focus not time. One of the hardest yet most beneficial changes you can make is to focus on your personal character weaknesses, very often regarding our attitude towards others, and start to work on that. Thinking before we speak can save a great deal of time because good communication is effective communication whether in business or on a personal level. We can be kinder people by considering how we speak, and very often what we do not say can help us avoid sorry situations. No one can avoid making the occasional unwelcome remark about others but if you know people who constantly knock people or are general negative you would be well advised to stay away and definitely avoid being drawn into unpleasant conversations. On a similar note, maintain an attitude of understanding and forgiveness towards others as it uses too much energy harbouring grudges, anger, guilt and blame; in fact, you may need to forgive yourself first so that you can get on with living your life.
Another way to master your time is by prioritising and planning- yes we do need goals and deadlines if we wish to achieve our aims, and try putting effort into the things you dislike doing- it's very rewarding. Review as you go and make sure you have a support network even if it's only one or two people who are willing to encourage you and help you when you're feeling discouraged.
How much of your time is your own? I'm not referring to every day tasks but do you make sure you reserve a little time for yourself just to read, relax or chill out? Some people spend huge amounts of time doing things for others at their own expense. Yes we need to 'give back' but not indiscriminately. It is good to donate your time to helping the less fortunate and applying your skills where they are genuinely needed but if you're always' just doing things' for others how can you apply yourself properly to your own commitments? And if you are doing things out of the goodness of your heart ask yourself, why? What are you gaining by helping, could these people pay you or are they simply taking advantage and would they be prepared to go the extra mile for you or is it a one-way street? Whatever you do in life you should ask yourself why you're doing it. That is a great method of ensuring you use your time well and don't drizzle it away. You do need to rest and relax, laugh, have fun and take time to appreciate life.
This is a New Year and we always start out with great plans and good intentions yet we do not know what challenges or changes will come. We do not know who will travel the year with us and who may be taken from us through natural means, presumably to a better existence, who will simply drift away or who might make a dramatic exit. Whatever is in-store, live one day at a time, stick to the plan as far as possible and make time to give thanks, pray, meditate and do what you enjoy. Life is meant to be fun and how boring life would be without challenges, so make the most of every experience and step out in faith.
Jaz McKenzie
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