Soulfest

Happy New Year

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NEW YEARI know I haven’t been around much but there is a reason and promise to be my better self in 2014.

Yes, the departure and consequently, the arrival of the New Year, it is always cause for celebration, joy, the moment to thank God for one more year of happiness, headache, love, troubles, good health, tranquility, peace… and all the nine yards. It is an incentive when many lists are made and broken at the same time, the moment we all celebrate, being that young or old, rich or poor, the best way we can, sometimes around our loved ones, friends or most of, alone depending on the circumstances of how life presents itself.

In this last hours and minutes of 2013, I take a minute to ponder what it was, what it has been and how perhaps, 2014 will be.

In the positive, 2013 was beautiful and adventurous. I traveled the world, met new people, visited places, learned and did new and interesting things but behind all that excitement, there was a thunderstorm, a veil, an avalanche of snow cascading at a speed of light, a bottle of rights and wrongs, circumstances of life that I often was unable to stop or control.

They kept coming in masses and I was lost, left at the mercy of the unknown, disabled to fend for myself but among all, there were many angels who came to my rescue, who I can never discard nor forget.

So, 2013 will always be engraved in my memory. Perhaps, I will one day write a book about the mystery, who knows?! Everything is possible but for now, it will never be forgotten as I learned to circumvent the facts of life and the world that surrounds me, us.

I learned that the spiritual world is not a blur, it is there, it does exist and should never be taken for granted. I also learned behind my better judgment that anything that is out there and with a name attached to it, does exist. I no longer ignore or live to ignore a thing.

Things are no longer trivial to me, I don’t take anything for granted, and I no longer go with the flow. I am now more aware, assured, innate, equipped to deal and embrace the craze that is life, and although, I often make a long list of things for the New Year, this year I decided to let it be. I have decided to drop all my accomplishments in a jar to be open at the end of the year and then commiserate or laugh about it.

So, whenever the bell rings and the pointer changes from 11:59 to 00:00, take a minute and meditate about yesterday and tomorrow, though today is also important, the good and the bad and the ugly and smile, be grateful that you are alive, you are here to cherish all life has to offer. I wish you a Happy New Year and hope 2014 will be filled with joy, love, happiness and prosperity surrounded by those you love. May all your wishes come true.

Thank you for 2013. xoxo

Meet Mama Hill!

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I am all about empowerment, inspiration, success, giving back, embodying love and she epitomizes all of that. These stories need to be told, shared. We need a few and perhaps, there a people more like her in the world. She is one amazing lady!

“When you love yourself, you don’t hurt other people. Hurt people hurt other people!”

Tomorrow, You Just Don’t Know!

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IMG_0353Oftentimes, you assume that others’ lives are better then yours that while you struggle,  others are somewhere, honeymooning, indifferent to the oblivious. You fancy the belief that the fight is yours alone, the burden is yours to hug and no one else to bear, the suffering envelope handed over to you and you only. Boo ooh, take that heartbreak; surprise surprise, the ride is not a solo trip!

Not so fast bambinos. Pause that button. Hold that thought.

Interesting but how some see their lives and how they prioritize it, is the key.

They perpetuate this notion that living the good life equates having it all, the world is their oyster and suffering is never a word on their vocabulary as they let jealousy and envy get the best of them.

You may not always understand what is going on as you struggle to understand which fallen fruit had hit you on the head and left you to die but no worries; hit the snooze button, it will come to you later in due time.

When you see someone driving that jaguar, don’t assume they have no issues. When you see someone pulling up at that big ole home, don’t assume they have no issues. When you see someone sashaying that designer handbag or dress, don’t assume they have no issue. When you see someone striding that Pepsodent smile, don’t assume they have no issues. When you see someone dancing to the beat of the drum, don’t assume they have no issues. When you see someone laughing uncontrollably to the wisecracker, don’t assume they have no issues. When you see someone at Walmart store, don’t assume they don’t issues, they are not happy; most likely they are content with themselves.

Struggles don’t take a raincheck. Struggles don’t give you a ticket to a spaceship. Struggles don’t give you a passport to Mars. Struggles don’t discriminate. Struggles don’t give you a pass. Struggles do give you the hoola hoola dance and it can hit you at any moment, any time, anywhere in your face and it says HELLO!

You see, assumption most often leads to distorted believe that just because you are going through hell, someone else shouldn’t be all smiles, and happy; they should feel you, be miserable, sympathetic to your cause… NO!

Living large gives you temporary fixes of insanity but it does not issue you a free passport to life’s hurdles.

No need to share your burdens or your story. No need to think that others are living beyond their means. No need to display your sorrows. No need to parade your miseries on a bowl. No need to loan the key to your Cadillac. No need to have the paparazzi follow you to the loo. No need to make others your partner in crime or is there?!

No need to think a thing, other then things do happen and most often, they are behind your control. So, there; hit the champagne bottle!

The fact of the matter is that you can be on top of the world one minute and down the following second, here today and there tomorrow, just like a flashlight, and anyone and everyone, unless you are not human and from Mars, I have yet to speak to an alien, crosses that desert. Simple, no qualms about it! The desert, the thunder that comes roaring like a lion ready to attack, leaving you to ask yourself what happened, right after you got that big ole slap.

But how you deal with it, is another matter. How you sketch that map is up to you. How you ride that bicycle is a mystery but riding it your will.

In need of a sympathy card? Take a number!

There are no recipes, no doctor notes, no prescription drug on how to cross the desert but just cross it. Cross it slowly as its true aim is hard to understand sometimes but ride that bicycle with gusto, keep your chin up, dust those feathers up and wait. Yes, wait!

You see, time is off the essence. Patience becomes an hilarious tool, a virtue as they say, the game du jour, the most expensive chess game at the store and while the game is being played, grab a chair, sit, cross your legs and watch the train go by.

Just weather that storm!

Yeah, I can just hear the chatter, easier said done, right?! But just like in the Will Smith movie, The Pursuit of Happiness, learn to accept your provisional backpack as much as you can and go about your business with it attach to your hips, back, wherever. Get up, play that funky music, straighten yourself up because tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow is what matters. Tomorrow, you just don’t know!