Rice and Peas For The Soul 3: Rice and Peas For The Soul 3: A Collection of 80 Motivational, Inspirational Stories That Empower, Enthuse and Engage

By Delroy Constantine-Simms

Rice and Peas For The Soul 3 is part of an ongoing series of self- help books stories that consists of several motivational, inspirational and moving stories, which have been carefully selected, based on their ability to reassure, empower and engage, while accommodating and satisfying the highly discerning intellectual taste buds of new and esta

• Language: English
• Publisher: Think Doctor Publications
• Release date: Nov 17, 2016
• ISBN: 9781684181575

Delroy Constantine-Simms

Delroy Constantine Simms C. Psychol; MSc Occupational and Organizational Psychology; BA (Hons) Social Sciences; BSc (Hons) Psychology; Constantine-Simms has previously taught sociology, psychology, at the Open University; The University of Stirling; Westminster College; and Barnet College. He is also a freelance print and photo journalist, whose work has been published in The Voice Newspaper, Black Britain, The Post, The Gleaner, Miami Times, The Amsterdam News, Pride Magazine. His photos have been distributed through photo agencies such as Demotix, Corbis and Getty images. He is a regular contributor on several radio and TV stations, including the BBC, Channel Four, BBC Radio 1, Three Counties Radio, and has been featured in the Guardian and cited in the Mirror, The Evening Standard, The Metro, Constantine-Simms has presented academic papers in Germany, South Africa, The USA, Jamaica, Gambia, and Ethiopia on a variety of psychology and sociology related topics.He is also the recipient of the 2001 Lambda Book Award for Best Anthology (The Greatest Taboo: Homosexuality in Black Communities). Mst recently, received two Black Excellence Awards (Middle East) Best Photographer Award (2021), and Best Author Award (2021) after writing and editing two consequential books, #Take A Knee Political Awakening of Colin Kaepernick, and The Brazilian Covid Catastrophe. He currently lives in the United Arab Emirates.See https://www.betterhelp.com/delroy-constantine-simms/

Book preview

ABOUT THE EDITOR

Delroy Constantine-Simms is a UK registered Counselling Psychologist and a qualified Therapeutic Career Coach. Constantine-Simms has previously edited the following books and Co-edited Teachers for the Future (1995) The Greatest Taboo: Homosexuality in Black Communities (2001) Hip Hop Had a Dream: Vol. 1 the Artful Movement (2008) Constantine-Simms is the recipient of the 2001 Lambda Award for Best Anthology for his book: The Greatest Taboo: Homosexuality in Black Communities (2001). He is also as freelance print and photojournalist, whose work is regularly submitted and distributed by photo agencies such as Corbis Images and Demotix. His articles and images have appeared in British and international publications such as the Word (Canada) The Big Issue, The Guardian, The Voice Newspaper, Miami Times, and many other publications. He is currently pursuing part time academic study at the University of Oxford (UK)

http://thinkdoctorcareercoaching.blogspot.co.uk

http://thinkdoctorcareercoaching.blogspot.co.uk

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Rice and Beans for the Soul 3 literary kitchen of personal growth, where the editorial Chef has managed to rustle up a third dish of  50 Motivational, Inspirational  and Moving  stories (MIMS). Judging by the number of email messages and calls, I had no idea how many customer readers, were unaware that previous servings of Rice and Peas for the Soul were merely appetizers. Soon come! The main course is of books are being prepared and will be served very soon. For those who are new to the Rice and Peas books they are best understand through the story of the man who planted a rose, which he faithfully nurtured and watered. During this process he  noticed that the soon to blossom bud, had grown several thorns on the stem. He thought to himself, how can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns? Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and just before it was ready to bloom, it died.  This simple story has so many underlying themes, the main theme being that we are all beautiful roses with the potential to blossom and grow. Nature blessed our seeds with so many positive qualities at birth amid the thorns of our faults and flaw. Sadly, many of us continue to focus our lives on the thorns and defects. We often despair and adopt a mindset that that current obstacles and challenges are so great, that we can no longer water our potential. In some instances, we allow our true potential to wither away and die. Unfortunately, these MIM stories emphasize the point that we do don’t always see the rose within unless someone reveals it. One also accepts that even when we know we are a  stunning beautiful rose there are still some flower rose hating gardeners who take great pleasure, watching  rose buds wither and die, while others gardeners are so heartless, wicked and jealous of any beautiful rose, which they can’t nurture, dominate, subjugate or control, by enthusiastically  trampling  on their roots of the rose before it blossom with their ape size feet or by feeding the soil with the salt water of jealousy and resentment until  your ambitions hopes and aspirations simply dies or just fades away. The MIM stories in Rice and Beans for the Soul 4 reflects how life is a garden full of obstacles and beautiful bed of roses. How we negotiate these obstacles is down to us

Keep Smiling Stay Sweet Stay You!

THE LAST CAB RIDE

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. One time I arrived in the middle of the night for a pick up at a building that was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So I walked to the door and knocked.  .Just a minute, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase.  The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.  Would you carry my bag out to the car? She said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. It‘s nothing,.

I told her. I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated. Oh, you‘re such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, Could you drive through downtown? It‘s not the shortest way,. I answered quickly. Oh, I don‘t mind, she said. I‘m in no hurry, I‘m on my way to a hospice. I looked in the rear view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. I don‘t have any family left, she continued. The doctor says I don‘t have very long. I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. What route would you like me to take? I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighbourhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.  Sometimes she‘d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, I‘m tired. Let‘s go now. We drove in silence to the address she had given me.  It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. How much do I owe you? She asked, reaching into her purse. Nothing, I said. You have to make a living, she answered. There are other passengers. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. You gave an old woman a little moment of joy, she said. Thank you.  I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn‘t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly, lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don‘t think that I have done anything more important in my life. We‘re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware—beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

WHAT KIND OF FRIEND ARE YOU?

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them. After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother of pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, Excuse me, where are we?

This is Heaven, sir, the man answered.

Wow! Would you happen to have some water? the man asked.

Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up. The man gestured,