Tag: Growth

Keys to Outside.

.Reading time 2 minutes.

Tuscany, Italy. 2017.

Once upon a time, I didn’t understand stillness. The kind that creates a simple balance by blocking out the noise. The noise of faces, words, actions, and ideas. The kind that makes you feel born again, entering the world anew, conscious of your spiritual presence. The kind that is unaware of “ego.”

The way the universe is set up, I know for sure I’m not alone. We are experiencing detachment from self-importance. Since we’ve begun to indulge in moments of stillness, our forever mood is abundant peace. We have become self-less. We have become silent. We have become our own meditation. We’ve had our epiphanies, our awakenings, our moments of reflection, our tastes of fulfillment. Our stillness has opened up the doors of joy, deeply rooted, and growing beyond our wildest dreams. We have become honest and forgiving. We are loyal to our heart’s desires. In any moment of dis-ease, we have grown up onto a level where we remind ourselves to breathe. We know it’s not supposed to be difficult, and when life presents itself to us as the unexpected game of pinball it is, we handle it.

We’ve decided to no longer pay for tickets to get on the emotional roller coaster, when we’re the one in control of the power button. We’ve learned to let the emotion run its course, and we have learned to gracefully move right along! We’ve matured into giving ourselves about a day to feel the feels, and then we get back on our feet, check in with our heart’s greatest desires, and we push through. We’ve been still. We’ve learned lessons. We’ve grown, so much, and we know our best days are ahead of us.

The greatest advice I’ve heard to date is to “Fall upwards into the embrace of the supreme. Stay low in the arrogance of person-hood, and we will taste the suffering. Choose the higher, even not having any firm conception of what it is. Overcome all attachments.”

Be Still. Be Free. Be You. Be True.

With love.

Rise Up

.Reading time 2 minutes.

August 27th blogedit

Isla de Barú, Cartagena, Colombia. 2018

“Ready or not, here I come, you can’t hide.” That’s what the storm says. That’s what time says. That’s what nature says. (That’s what The Fugees say).

Well, we can try to hide, but not well enough. Sometimes it’s better to just stay out in the open, where we find ourselves vulnerable and forced to face the changes. Hiding from these changes will only make us feel small, because we were afraid. Also, because we’d be left with a mountain of “shoulda, coulda, wouldas.” In hiding, especially from the storm, we lose out on the universe’s offer to cleanse us of anything that no longer serves us. All it wants to do is lighten our load. Free us of conscious and subconscious burdens. It wants to condition us to become fearless, and embrace change. The storm; the change in weather is just a metaphor otherwise, of the possibilities in life.

The oceans run deep, and at times they rise up. They become stormy, because there’s a sort of tension that needs to be released. We, as humans, have oceans of emotions. They run deep. They become stormy, because there are sorts of tension that have a need to be released. We have to face those storms to move on, to grow, to become stronger.

It’s all temporary. The weather, our feelings, our circumstances. When we embrace that, it’s likely because we have not forgotten about our sunny days. We have not forgotten the rainbows. We have not forgotten how clean the air has become after the storm. We have not forgotten the pleasure of breathing easy.

We can’t expect the sun to shine on our days, and not have the water rise as well. It’s a responsibility. We all have rhythm, we all move. It’s in how we interpret our experiences, that transform our livelihoods.

We are the ups and downs, the ins and outs, the comings and goings, because we’re alive. We are supposed to dance. We are living art. So, whether the weather is stormy, sunny, or sorta funny, be fearless. Weather, the weather. Rise up.

 

Everything is Everything

.Reading time 4 minutes.

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Cold Spring, NY. 2018

“What is meant to be, will be. After winter, must come spring. Change, it comes eventually.” – Lauryn Hill

I’m so ready for it. I feel ready for a lot of changes. Especially now that I’m sitting still. The fast-paced life I was experiencing, moving from country to country has come to create a greater sense of stillness within.

I went hiking on Sunday. Left the city scene, to become engulfed in nature. I needed that. It was a dose of medicine. The feeling I have right now can be metaphorically compared to a caterpillar. I’m in a place where something is happening, I feel a shift coming – but I don’t really know how or in what way things will change. My hike through the trails, up the rocks, walking swiftly pass the trees, I would see caterpillars every few feet. They were symbolic of my stage of life. I am getting ready for a transformation. Some people would confuse a time like this for the end of something; complete darkness and uncertainty. I’m more hopeful. I can feel a beginning of something new about to occur. I feel ready for whatever it is. I can see myself embracing the new experiences and giving my all, doing my best, and showering each moment with an abundance of love and appreciation. I’m in my caterpillar phase, and I don’t feel worried at all. I’m just going through it. I am in the moment. Always. Feeling appreciative. Feeling grateful. When I reached the top of the hill, I felt so free, like a butterfly. Whatever is coming, just know, I’m ready to fly.

“What if that change you’re avoiding is the one that gives you wings?”

“A season of loneliness and isolation is when the caterpillar gets its wings. Remember that, next time you feel alone.”

“Just when the caterpillar thought her life was over, she began to fly.”

“I wonder if the caterpillars know they’re gonna fly some day, or they just start building a cocoon and are like, ‘why am I doing this?’”

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

“There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.”

“Life is a balance of holding on and letting go.”

“Your time as a caterpillar has expired. Your wings are ready.”

“Within you is the power to rise above any situation or struggle, and transform into the brightest, strongest, version of you ever.”

“How does one become a butterfly?” she asked. You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.”

“Trust the process.”

“Like a butterfly, I am growing and changing and finding my true colors in life.”

Change, No Coins.

.Reading time 4 minutes.

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2014.

Inevitability. My hands are up, embracing the one thing I can’t control. Change. Along with it comes opportunity for unlimited growth. As much as I’d like to prepare for growth, it’s not as effective as it is to simply go through the changes. There’s not much power in preparing for it, because I have no idea what it will do to me. All I can do is pay close attention to what evolves and dissolves as it’s happening.

I go with the flow. I don’t try to force anything. It’s a feeling of empowerment to embrace change entirely. The experience of growing as changes naturally occur can be compared to a raw, unfiltered immersion that produces a sometimes painful beauty. It’s all about perspective. Something within myself changes with every experience. Change lies within all of the little tiny intricate things. I love how it’s not always recognizable right away. Change is the planting of seeds.

I’ve changed. I’m not the same person I was last year, last month or even yesterday. There are many things and people I care about, and different levels to which I care. There are levels to everything. I’m all for the significance of balance. If I’m feeling off, then I have some shifting to do. One of the four agreements shared with us by Don Miguel Ruiz tells us to not take anything personally. I’m embracing that. My flow through this world has everything to do with what moves my spirit. If I am not moved, then I will not move. I am my first priority, so I have to pay my attention to what has the potential to affect a change in me. Change is a currency. Change is a reaction. Change can be a choice. Change has inspired me to no longer take anything anyone does personally. There was a time I did, and I’m a greater person for now knowing better. To take things personally is sort of like taking a drug. That feeling would metaphorically place me “under the influence” causing a delusional belief that I could have influential powers over other people’s actions. I do not take what you do personally.

My change is reflected through my actions. My change is expressed through love. My change is presented through words and colors. I love and appreciate the universal law of change; a promise to the living that nothing is forever.

I will practice congratulating others when I notice their growth. It’s worth celebrating. It means we’re awake. Listening and learning. Sometimes when I write, I feel as though I’m rambling. What I appreciate most about my blog posts is the fact that they change over time. My mission to share my opinion about this life on earth doesn’t change, but my delivery does. There’s more value in personal change, than the kind I use to exchange currency for product. If I were to strip naked of material possessions, what do I really have. A woman evolving. Change, no coins.

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2018. 

Bloom.

.Reading time 4 minutes.

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Chiang Mai, Thailand. 2018. 

“Life is a journey, not a destination. There are no mistakes, just chances we’ve taken. Lay down your regrets, cause all we have is now. Wake up in the morning, and get out of bed. Start making a mental list in my head of all of the things that I am grateful for…Early in the morning, it’s the dawn of a new day. New hopes, new dreams, new ways. I open up my eyes and I open up my mind and I wonder how life will surprise me today.” -India Arie

The Chiang Mai Flower Festival is hosted every year during the first weekend of February, displaying colorful chrysanthemums, damask roses, and so much more. Just near the city center, the streets are filled with vendors of plants, flowers, orchids and garden decorations. Overall, the city is beautiful, and has the rich vibe that speaks to my soul. The flowers that fill the streets is life’s way of reminding me to laugh, smile, and keep things simple.

Nature in general, always finds a way to gently tap me on the shoulder and whisper how magical it is to carry on organically. In translation, I typically hear a drawn out whimsical tone, with the following words recited, “Just be yourself.” Whenever I hear that, a weight is lifted, and there becomes less pressure in understanding the particular reason of why I’m here. Just a soul aware of the possibility in having a spiritually satisfying human experience. The idea is to gracefully learn from all that enters and exits my life, and see how those things contribute to my wild growth. For that reason, I’m grateful for the variations of my surroundings. With each clarifying day, I’m inspired to remove anything that I  consider “clutter,” by focusing on what is essential to my growth.

“She is like a wildflower, beautiful, fierce and free.”

Often enough, there’s so much that distracts us from keeping life simple, and I find the presence of flowers to be one of many stimulating experiences that gracefully gestures organic beauty.

The next time you stop to smell the roses (when you look at yourself in the mirror), remember:

“Wherever life plants you, bloom with grace.”

“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”

“Happiness blooms from within.”

“She sprouted love like flowers, grew a garden in her mind, and even on the darkest days, from her smile the sun still shined.”

“Like wildflowers, you must allow yourself to grow in all the places people thought you never would.”

“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it, it just blooms.”

“You are not your roots, you are a flower grown from them.”

“May the flowers remind us why the rain was so necessary.”

“Like flowers, we can also choose to bloom.”

“The earth laughs in flowers.”

“Advice from a sunflower: ‘Be bright, sunny and positive. Spread seeds of happiness. Rise, shine, and hold your head high.”

“Live wild, flower child.”

… and most importantly, “Bloom baby, bloom!”

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Grapes to Wine

.Reading time 5 minutes.

 

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Portugal. 2017.

Go outside. Find a wide open space. Imagine there are no people around. Everything in sight is a part of nature. The colors are rich, and beautiful. It’s quiet. Clutter-free. This space you are in, becomes your state of mind.

Listen to your heart, and pay attention to your body. How are you really feeling? Emotionally. How are you really feeling? Physically. What are your thoughts? You’re alone, so it’s okay to be vulnerable with yourself. It’s okay to take out a pen and notebook and write down whatever it is that you need to release. Sometimes, there are feelings that can’t even be expressed or processed in thought, but once the writing flows, surprisingly, words form to help make sense of all that is happening. Sometimes, these feelings are dormant burdens. They’ve been asleep for so long, you forgot about them, but they didn’t forget about you. Figure out what they are, acknowledge them, and drop them off in this space. These are burdens that cannot continue on with you in your life journey. They must evacuate the premises. As these feelings are released into the universe, you are then engulfed by a sense of liberation. Something amazing is about to happen.

Okay, so you’re outside in nature, writing, reflecting, and lightening your load. Now what? Well, what are your desires? You got rid of something, so now what would you like to attain? Write that down. The best part about the things in life that you may want, is that it’s either already lined up for you to have it, or there’s something better waiting. Sometimes, you may not allow yourself to want certain things because you’re too busy looking at all that you already have going on. There’s beauty in that. It’s not that the life you currently have doesn’t matter, it’s changing the perspective and realizing that you, as the sculptor, can shape your peace.

You are in this world, as one tiny person, out of billons. You can live very simply, and yet still make a major contribution to life on earth. You can make an impact. You can do this by tapping into your personal dreams, goals, and desires. You can become inspired by the peace and beauty found in nature, allow it to seep into your soul, and reap what you sow.

You’re outside, in this wide open space, in the middle of nature, surrounded by a clutter-free and quiet beauty. This has become your state of mind. Therefore, this will become your life. It doesn’t have to remain in this phase, but the transition is necessary for you to gain perspective on what in your life will change. This is the space where you become focused on unity, clarity and manifestation.

Taking time in this space is about the break. It’s the matrix. You’re watching your life play on an imaginary screen, in slow motion. The plot is either thickening or twisting. The shift is coming. In this moment, in this space, during this transition period, you have the power to reach in and change directions, or to simply say, “I am okay with this. I approve. I am ready for what’s next.” Taking time, in this space, is about returning to your roots. It’s about remembering where you’ve come from, where you are now, and where you are going.

The way grapes travel through various stages to become wine, discover your life’s main ingredient and create something special, something only YOU can offer. It can be anything! It can be many things!

While you’re outside, in this open space, embracing all the things you need it to be, pour yourself a glass of wine. Think about the grapes, and the journey they took to get to you. Think about the process; the steps they had to go through to end up in your glass. Think about how the wine makes you feel, the impact it has on your life, in that moment. Reflect on the journey of the grapes. Then transition those thoughts, and reflect on your own journey… It’s not necessarily about the grapes, or the wine, it’s not necessarily about where you were and where you are now, it’s simply about the possibilities.

Cheers.

 

 

 

Hold On, Let Go, Be Free.

.Reading time 6 minutes.

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Porto, Portugal. 2017

It’s December, the month that ends off the year. December is when many of us take a look back at all that has taken place, and we ask ourselves, “what are my goals for next year?” 

Let’s go back to January, a flashback to our “fresh start.” What new things did we get ourselves into, and what bad habits did we work on shaking? Are with you with me, are you reflecting? Okay, remember the things and the people that seemed to have vanished, and the things and the people that have mysteriously and miraculously appeared? What about the ones who have been around forever, but somehow they became more alive, shedding more light on our lives, this year in particular? There are no coincidences. There’s something special about the people who decided to exit stage left, and the ones who, surprisingly, became center stage. People were shifting roles in our lives, and we may not have noticed when it was happening, but now we can see that they created some of the most effective changes, placing us where we are today. Their roles don’t always last long, but hopefully we paid close attention to what they had to say, while they had the stage. 

As we reflect, we read some interesting books. We wrote some interesting things. We watched new shows and movies. Our topics of discussion changed. Our reasons for anger and frustration changed. Our reasons for smiles and laughter changed. When it came to decision making, we seemed to have changed our minds a lot, never being quite sure, but our actions turned out to be bold anyway. We spent more time with ourselves, making sure that we experienced self love. We were more honest. We hustled hard. We decluttered our spaces, and our minds. We shifted our eating habits and our exercise routines, and we were so excited to share our newfound lifestyles with our loved ones. 

As we reflect, we think about how we spent our time, and noticed that not every moment was valuable. We probably didn’t like the work we were doing, and we may have had epiphanies to shift gears and focus more on our passions. This relates quite heavily to how we evaluated our mental health. We had a lot of depressing thoughts, but when we were joyful – everything seemed great! We’re not sure if we’ve earned enough money doing the things we did, but it seems like we certainly spent a lot. We’re remembering some of our “storms” and our “sunny days.” We’re thinking about our stubborn patterns, and more importantly about the lessons we’ve learned.  

Looking back on the last year, we gathered some strength, and decided it was time to take off the bandages. It was our time to focus on dealing with our “wounds,” and seeing them for what they were. We decided to stop referring to the “quick fixes,” and take the time necessary to pay attention to ourselves, and do what was best for us to improve our states of health. Eventually, we’ll take the time to pay attention to the ones around us, making sure they too, are doing okay. 

In the last 11 months, some of us struggled with holding onto “things” that were old. We knew that if some of those “things” had legs, they would have left us a long time ago. And, some of us were really good at letting go. We became eager to create space for new things, new thoughts, new people, and new memories, because we understood and respected change. We were the ones who welcomed change, because we wanted growth. We were the ones who took risks. We didn’t all have it figured out, but because we had people we could count on, that gave us balance. 

It’s December, the time of year when many of us look back on all that has taken place, and we ask ourselves, “what are my goals for next year?” 

I have one goal of obtaining great health. If the main states of health are in great condition, I feel confident in knowing that I can reach any other goal, because:

Physically, I’ll be able to “get there, and hold on”

Mentally, I’ll be able to “comfortably let go”

Emotionally, I’ll be able to feel a sense of harmony

Spiritually, I’ll know that anything is possible. 

 

 

Live a Lot

.Reading time 5 minutes.

Slow down. Everyday will not be the same, no matter how strict we are with our routines. That’s the beauty in life, the unexpected. The sharp turns, and whether or not we are prepared to make them, even when we’re used to going straight. We’re supposed to be living flexible lives, taking the good with the bad. I’m no robot, so forgive me if I’m late, if I need a break, if I messed something up, if I forgot, if I didn’t respond, if I said “no,” if I didn’t stop to say hello, if I did something without telling you, if I didn’t apologize, if I was too blunt, if I disregarded your feelings, if I didn’t have pity for you, if I didn’t tell you what you wanted to hear, if I wasn’t honest, if I put myself first – please, oops, my bad, forgive me.

My true core self always speaks, as a doer. As doers, we simply say less. We are addicted to taking it all in, and getting things done. Who has time to talk about it! We are too busy manifesting. We’re quietly planning, observing, strategizing, and making moves to bring about all that we want in our lives. Everyone else may only see the results of that hard work, and then questions how it gets done. That there is the problem, too much talking. It’s great to ask questions, but there comes a point where you should actually begin to apply the information shared!

We are not perfect. It’s so interesting, because as much as we know this is impossible, we still strive for perfection. Why is that? Why does everything have to be so “perfect?” Let’s just live simply, and do all things with love. Let’s just follow the four agreements presented so clearly by Don Miguel Ruiz: Be Impeccable with Your Word, Don’t Make Assumptions, Always Do Your Best, and my favorite Don’t Take Anything Personally. Yes, let’s do that! Let’s be filled with the same positive energy, so that we eventually become in sync, and on a frequency that will actually help make this world a better place. Stop striving for perfection, stop comparing, stop judging, stop criticizing, stop hating, stop hurting others, stop killing others, just stop! Be still, and feel the shift. We actually have the power to change things, not to make them perfect, just to shift gears, and make them better!

I want my children to grow up in a world with people who are compassionate. Women need to step up, take their place, know their power and worth, stop trying to please others, and live in truth! Get back to nature, that’s where all the answers are placed, right before our natural eyes!

Slow down, and let’s stop saying we don’t have time for this or that. We don’t know how much time we have! That’s plain and simple. If your mom wants you to give her a call, pick up the phone. Your kids want to play hide and seek with you, get to hiding! Your passion is burning a hole through your heart because you keep ignoring it, you just may kill yourself before you actually die. Time is of the essence, so take breaks when necessary, take action when necessary, stop striving for perfection, stop the comparison, do your best, live in the moment, spread the love, and embrace it all!

Oh yeah, and go on that trip you’ve been talking about for so long! What are you waiting for? Take some control, place fear in the trash, get the credit card, book the flight (with or without a travel buddy), pack your carry-on bag (less is more), and when you get there, smile, because you actually made it happen! In this life, we’re to make new mistakes, have new experiences, and not live so much in routine or fear. Ride the bike, take the fall, get back up, and get back to it! Do just that. Live, a lot.

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San Francisco, California. 2014

The Root is Only the Beginning…

.Reading time 3 minutes.

fullsizerender-10Brooklyn, NY. 2016

Thank God for the morning sun.

It’s gotten me through many days. Shoved its way through my blinds. The rays reaching…touching my heart and my mind. Bringing me to my feet, to defeat, yet another day. Rise up. Make a way. Make a mark. A new start, toward making yet another difference. The part where I’m in yet, another instance of something so indifferent – and turn it into gold. I don’t always agree, but it’s not up to me, because when God speaks… I listen. I rise to my feet, and walk the walk. And the talk, oh, the talk. A woman of little words. Find more secrets in what’s written than what’s heard. I’ve learned to flow. Ain’t no shame in this way I choose to grow. I AM LIGHT. Walking the path where trees line up. Tall. What a greeting. What a meeting. What a way to treat a woman who’s Queening. I am reminded of the reasons for the seasons. People leave. Gravity. Growth is inevitable; steady changing. Rearrangements. Life calls upon. Shaping my character. Bringing to life, my purpose. Change, you’re welcome here. Just as much as a root is only the beginning, we need the nurturing. Love of all kinds – from a mother, from a partner, from an offspring. They all ring, a different bell. Let’s talk circle of life. Let’s walk, a mile, together. Noticing the leaves, changing. The leaves that have fallen to the ground, to create opportunity for new ones to grow from the branch, with permission from the root. Let’s take a moment. Extend your understanding. Nothing lasts forever. Not you, not me. I trust this…the road traveled. I trust the obstacles faced. Lessons unraveled. I am all for the journey, with my backpack filled of no expectations, just a space to collect memories. I remember you. My heart is an unlimited safe haven with open doors and cracked windows. I have so much love flowing throughout, plenty to share. It floods my soul. As the rain pours to nurture trees, flourishing from a root that didn’t give birth to itself, yet it grows. Acknowledging what is, never forgetting what used to be…

Thank God for the morning sun.

It’s gotten me through many days. Shoved its way through my blinds, touching my heart, and my mind. Bringing me to my feet, to defeat, yet another day…

Light.

.Reading time 3 minutes.

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New York City, 2016.

When our nighttime thoughts are opposite from our daytime thoughts, let’s acknowledge there being no coincidence that darkness changes the energy of our minds. We’re dependent on light, because it serves as an advantage of being able to see. If in the daytime, when the sun shines and we can see down the street – we feel confident in knowing what lies ahead. That confidence then reflects on the way we view ourselves. During the day, we know who we are, and where we are going. We find time to laugh and smile. Then the sun sets. Our energies change, and we are faced with a reminder that we can’t see as clearly in the night. The universe emphatically impacts our behavior. At night, we ask ourselves different questions. “Who am I?” “Where am I going?” We spend time feeling sad; having pity on ourselves. There is a bit of an identity crisis. These moments can be intense. In some cases, depression is fed. If we view ourselves as icebergs, we may finally realize that we all have more commonalities, than differences. We are growing in various directions. Some of us choose to develop rapidly, on a narrow and erect path; quick to abandon disliked portions of ourselves. Some of us are growing deep and widespread; genuinely focused on understanding thyself and connecting the dots between where we’ve been and where we’re going. Some are ignorant, and the others are conscious, many are a mixture of both. If we don’t acknowledge every piece of ourselves, we will forever deceive, be deceived and live in delusion. If we know that we have the power to manipulate our surface, then let’s take that to the next level. Instead of falsely attracting unwanted energies and becoming the unwanted energies – change the energy! Icebergs have hidden portions. It’s unhealthy to leave reality in the dark. During the night, we are forced to find our own light. The light of the soul. The only light that could ever shine brighter than the sun. When our nighttime thoughts begin to resemble our daytime thoughts, let’s acknowledge there being no coincidence that we, in fact, have the power to change the energy of our minds. We, in fact, are light.