Tag: Reflection

8 Ways to Shine

.Reading time 2 minutes.
DMC Original Art “Underwater Tune” hand painted piano. Hudson Yards Mall, New York City. 2020.

It’s only right to have these moments of reflecting and assessing. We take must take inventory of how we’re feeling. It’s necessary to replay the turn of events from the last set of 365 days. It matters. It feeds our drive as we continue on our journeys. So, what really happened? What was your response? Are you handling it? Have you learned the lessons? What needs to change? How.

Everyday, I am learning so much about myself. It’s a beautiful experience. I know what works for me, and what doesn’t. Here are eight guidelines I’ve created to keep my balance:

  1. Coffee 🙂
  2. Always be your authentic self
  3. Start your day with whatever brings you peace, love, light, and joy
  4. Make a “to-do” list
  5. Seek counsel/guidance – not opinions. You already know what you want
  6. Identify your support system and thank them every chance you get
  7. There is no competition. Stop looking for it. It does not exist. Do you!
  8. Keep creating. Keep imagining. There’s plenty of space for it all

There are some things we just don’t ask permission for. We’re taking breaks when we want one. We’re putting our all into our work. Everything we touch will have our signature by the rich quality of what we’re producing. We’re finding beauty and joy in ALL of the little things. And in this grand world, everything is considered “the little things”.

Shine bright!

Happy 2021.

Make a Wish

.Reading time 2 minutes.

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Photo by Griffin Glaze. Mexico. 2018.

We’re not here long. This physical human machine our souls are trapped inside of will die out one day. The type of death that can’t be recharged. While we’re here, let’s do the best we can to make it worthwhile. Let’s do the best we can to have an energy so strong, that it creates light. To have a light so bright, that we never lose ourselves. Let’s.

What makes you giggle? What makes your heart smile? What gives you that extra boost of energy? Who keeps you honest? Where is your happy place? What do you care most about? Why do you care? Why don’t you care? What do you love about yourself? What do you dislike? Who do you love? Where are you right now? Where are you going? When do you take the necessary breaks? Who are you? Who created you? Do you love them? Do you love yourself? How are you feeling, right now, today, here, in this moment? When is the last time you listened to your heart. When’s the last time you trusted your intuition? When is the last time you listened closely to the silence? Shhh… take a second. Breathe. Were you meditating? Where do you find solace? If you could be anywhere in the world, doing anything in the world…where? What? Why? With whom? What’s the greatest feeling you can remember? It’s nearly 2019, how have you changed since January? Who left your life, who entered? What do you want? How will you get it?

Today is 11:11, make a wish. Love yourself.

 

Rise Up

.Reading time 2 minutes.

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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.”

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. 

 

 

Split Did It.

.Reading time 4 minutes.

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Split, Croatia. 2017.

Right now, in this moment, I am no place other than where I belong. Right now, in this moment, I feel an extreme sense of gratitude. Simply for the now. With worries about no one thing. Love gives me that courage, to move about as though I am floating through, as butterflies do…just being. Not missing an opportunity to simply feel.

The morning wake up, to the orange sun, shining through the glass doors of the balcony, high over the Adriatic, within a blend of light blue sky, and deep blue sea, I am alive, and I am grateful.

Connected to the way the sun and the moon share their light at varying points of the day, and knowing that it doesn’t last forever. Adoring the precious timing of when their light becomes paired with bodies of water, and the revelation of that glistening “path-like” reflection. The sparkling, glittering effect, reminding me of diamonds – it’s that type of experience that has become my best friend.

I’m constantly finding myself so “at home” in places that bring me closer to nature. It is within those times, I’m given hope, inspired to have pleasant thoughts, discovering a sense of purpose, encouraged to have a sense of awareness, paying attention to the when’s and the why’s of life, understanding the questions that go unanswered, the reasons that remain unknown, and the sweet, sweet possibilities.

So, right here, right now, from the lands of the Adriatic Sea, that cool breeze is telling me, to always stay in the moment. Listen to everyone, all the time, with intent to understand. Listen to self, and stay true. I wouldn’t be where I am, if I were living a life of trying to please others. So, during these continued months, of my 30th year, I will cherish the moments, and create news ones, in foreign lands, meeting new people, gathering new outlooks on life, and the world, and spending as much time doing as I please, with a heart of compassion.

I’ll judge less, and embrace more. I’ll keep my heart open. I’ll keep my mind open. I’ll allow my senses to heighten, soar to a new level of life, and take in what is meant just for me. I will not forget, that my experiences, are just that, mine! I can share what I wish, yet the reasons are not for everyone. I’ll keep in mind the boomerangs, the ricochets, the karma gods, the flower bouquets, the aisles chosen to walk down, the patterns, the trends, the smiles, the frowns, the habits, the words, the voices unheard, the activity, the lack-tivity, the signs and symbols in between, I’ll keep them in mind.

Learning lessons every which way, and recently, in the last few days, I am constantly reminded that everyone has something to teach, and everyone has something to learn. Remain humble, and know when it’s your turn. 

In this moment, I know for sure, I am not all that I’ll ever be. The Split, Croatia experience will shape me, reveal me, and maybe even heal me. Like separated puzzle pieces, of the bigger picture, seeking where they fit. At the end of this month, in the ways that I’ll grow, there will be many thanks to Split!

Meditate on Purpose

.Reading time 3 minutes.

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Cartagena, Colombia. 2016

I don’t do it often enough, at least not in any traditional way. I don’t have a special pillow, particular place or time of day. I don’t listen to any distinct songs or sounds, and I don’t try to completely empty my mind. I move at a pace that best fits the moment, my moment. I don’t meditate on purpose, it just happens – and when it does, I meditate on purpose! Who am I? What am I feeling in this moment? What does it mean to sit in silence, trying to connect with God, the universe, myself and reasons for existing? I choose not to allow complaints into these moments. All things and people placed in my life, existing in my life, are all a part of a plan. But why, what is their purpose? They all play some role. It can be as minor as the 13 markers in my bookbag (which actually serves no purpose at all, at this moment), or as major as having a device that allows me a few minutes of FaceTime with my mother. Much of what is in between is up for elimination. Everything existing in my world causes an effect on one another, because they all affect me – I am the common denominator. I am the one who decides to build on something, or break it down and remove it. If I’ve read a book that has greatly encouraged me and has served its purpose by reading it once, then maybe it’s time to pass that book on to someone else – why allow it to sit in one place and be useless. This way of thinking is applied to all things, and people.

In moments when I realize what I want, I act on my wants,  and those actions lead me toward introductions to new people, places, ideas, eventually tangible things or new feelings. All is connected! Seeing life in this light has everything to do with being conscious. I am not only meditating on my purpose, I’m meditating on the purpose of the amount of clothes in my dresser drawers, the purpose of the groceries in the cabinets, the purpose of spending time with people who may or may not add any value to my life, the purpose of exercise (for the mind, body and spirit), the purpose of love, laughter, inspiration, faith and so on. All things I try my best not to take for granted. Everything and everyone has a reason for existing in my world. One thing I know for sure about myself, is that I’m always spring cleaning, because I value “less” as being so much “more”. Meditate on that!