MAY

🌷May life be peaceful inside out. May our thoughts be positive with hope and faith in The Sacred, what is beyond words while front and center. May we be mindful that it is one moment at a time, one breath, heart beat, step, sigh, cry, laugh, prayer day and night. May the realization of our own value and preciousness awaken us by the Grace of God, Holy and Great Spirits. 

Onward We Go

One step at a time. How about one thought at a time. To keep ourselves together and usher out the worrisome fretful thoughts fraught with discourse, an unsettlement of thinking that requires attention.

When your brain gets mooshy perhaps due to inactivity, too much sugar, dairy, carbs, meat, the internet or other consumables? Perhaps out of boredom or just looking for something to worry about. I know, I know, lemme just stir-up a problem out of nothing. I will toss my brain and funky thinking read, hard rocks into the blender. Make it a Ninja Blender with industrial strength rpms in an effort to really smash the sh*t out of time-wasting, good for nothing thinking. 

We share the same wavelength the way the world is wired these days and since the beginning of time no doubt but especially today. A commonality and vibration like the migration and mindset and innate navigational skills of birds and other creatures. A similar thread runs through all of us by virtue of our own assigned species. 

We lead and follow each other at any given moment as our perspective is influenced, effected and sometimes infected by news and information on a personal local, state-wide, national and global level. From bizarre goings on in technology and politics plus a government that is losing its vision based on dark motives, to extreme weather and current trends to the way we talk to ourselves. It all works its way into our state of mind. The loco-motion of the times catches up with you and feels like it caves in on you until we reach critical mass. At that point a shift and shedding of negative thinking is required as soon as possible. It is Ok to leak through the eye sockets in fact, recommended to let go of the strain and stress of external stimuli that creates internal turmoil. It is a sad and chaotic place we find ourselves in for a minute but forget at first that we do not need to stay there.

It is not so easy to catch ourselves from falling into negative thinking. We go through growing pains at any age if we want to evolve. It includes hot tears and some sorrowful self-reckoning. The good news is those tears wash and clean the scuffed-up, banged-up and bruised nature of our world for now, as the fears, despair and darkness lurk around in an effort to disturb our peace and joy. It is crossroads, growing opportunity out of obnoxious unreasonable, irrational and illogical scenarios that play out in my head like a bad off-Broadway show. Thankfully, there are simple ways to balance out the imbalance. What we tell ourselves about ourselves plays such a big part of our world view. What I say, think or feel will determine the quality of the moment as it shakes out.  One learns to yell, sweat, walk, talk, pray, love and snuff out the cameo appearances of self-doubt and inter strife. Onward I go like a maniacal Viking whose quest is to conquer unforgiving oppositions and banish the predatory ugly forces of nature and our lives.  

We travel like sojourners hoping that the road ahead is smooth without peril or pain, hopeful that our footsteps lead us toward the next blessing whether we are on the giving or receiving end. To keep our thoughts in check within a frame of mind that lends itself to peace requires effort to "stay in my own lane" in my thinking and not caught-up in what was and what might be rather than to simply stay here and now within the realm of reality. It is on me by all means to stay the course, keep calm and hold-on to the goodness in place in real time. After the internal mental ruckus, turns-out Blessings prevail at the beginning and end of the day after all. Onward we go. 🕊

Go In Peace

Interesting and Blessed are the best descriptions for the year we say goodbye to. The year included heartache, happiness, love lost and found. New lessons always to be learned as life continues to be full of surprises and dissapointments.                           

It has been a good year with life changes for the better. Funny not so funny how life challenges us constantly to keep ourselves together and strive constantly to improve ourselves in the slightest to the grandest way possible. 

To grow in peace with simple approaches to complicated things. I am happier when I take life one peaceful thought at a time, one moment and one day at a time. I am happy to realize it is better for me to not take things personally as people have their own internal challenges to deal with and navigate through life. Peace be with you now and into the future. ☮

My Old Friend

🖋 Bruno de La Roza is like an old friend brought about by the need to publicize my point of view. What the world feels like from my vantage point. Since joining facebook the blog posts have been less frequent. It no doubt stems from the satisfaction I get from a quick comment about a current event or experience, perhaps share a photograph or other image intended to offer a positive jolt, challenge or simply enjoy the image of a full moon or such. 

Coming back to post something here and in MarkIpiotis.com as well as MedicineSky.com, is like getting together with an old friend. The type of long standing freind that you can pick-up with where you left off days, weeks, months or years ago.

It is familiar at the same time new things to be discovered. This platform is a sign of the 21st century and part of the information highway. The social media connection is real and ripe for those who want to connect from a distance right to own space and place. Blogging is a fun vehicle to take out and drive, go for a cruise, put in a few miles/words to keep the squeaky wheels greased and in good running condition. 

From my heart and head to yours. 💛

DREAMS

Dreams i have dreamnt pop into my head like a gentle wave rushing to the shore than just as quickly the image dissolves. How or why I do not know only that it occurs often enough for me to notice and wonder about those particular non descript flashes of dreamscapes, unknown but familiar. The dots often do not connect and the sequence of events are ambiguous and random. Time and space the intangible appearences seem real at once illusionary. The mysterious rhyme and reason of the order or disorder of things on earth, the rhythm and natural movement of the planet itself spinning on it's axis rotating spinning so elegantly in perfect harmony with the other things that exist way beyond our view in distances to far to fathom, reminescent of dreams. 

Dreams

Sweet dreams, scary, sad, sublime, bad bizarre and inexplicable as they are, pop into my head at seemingly random times and places. The imagery is like a swift gentle wave rushing to the shore then just as quickly dissolves into the vastness of nothing and everything. What to make of it. How or why, I do not know only that it occurs often enough for me to notice and wonder about particular non descript, non threatening yet uncomfortable flashes of life as it is filtered through the labyrinth of thunderously busy neurons, synapsis firing like canons in the fiery fields of experience, memory, this cell or that region of grey matter. Do the dots need to be connected? What about the sequence, order or disorganization of time, space, form relative to the minute and massive activity of brain waves and thought process? 

The lines blur between illusion and reality, the virtual view is there but not in a tangible sense. The mysterious human brain all wired-up, cross wired, hot wired and hay wired amid the networking of dreams and hopes, ones tragedies and triumphs. All perspective based on countless factors determining what is learned, what we live with, love, detest, delight in make us sick and tired or more beautiful than ever for every and no reason whatsoever, other than we are here and there is thinking to be done. At the end of the day it turns out, too much thinking is not a good idea, pun. To be in this moment is the only true moment other than in our minds, magnificent, perplexing, simple, using only a small percentage of it's mental capacity and potential and therefore, remains this laypersons, long standing curiosity. 

Layers

Layers of life stack-up, spread-out and shape one's way. It happens in an instant and over a period of time with the subtlty of a wrecking ball or a whisper. Changes occur without warning and can leave one feeling better or battered and bruised. The laws of peaceful living easily disrupted by a layer of messy consequences or leave one feeling lifted, new and improved. It all depends on the type of layer life is dealing or has dealt. The layers of emotion, thoughts, feelings, forms of communication, natural, supernatural elements that are artificial or authentic, simple and complicated, hard not to take personally and every stunning to stinkin layer, are best handled with care, peace and love.

Layers of love can resemble a beautiful bright moon or amazing sunset spectacular and filled with every single glimmer of light and goodness that it illuminates. Layers of love can be dark and tear one's heart out left in the middle of nowhere. Love's layers abound, sometimes predictable or full of surprises, the duration and quality of it's very presence are ultimately left to it's own conclusions, mysteriously woven into life as miraculously as life itself.

Layers of sight, sound, smell and touch can be as transparent as air, shake you to the core with sorrow or leave you speechless from delight, humbled and in awe and in appreciation of the moment. The sight of something rare and wonderful as a beautiful butterfly floating along it's merry way, creates a layer of euphoria while the sight of someone suffering is heart wrenching and weighs heavy on your mind. The layers of sound like laughter while a loud abrupt noise prompts anger, confusion, annoyance at the very least. To hear the sound of a running stream, birds chirping, leaves rustling in the wind or a great melody just done decorate one's day with fundamental layers of life. To smell freshly roasted green chile or other favorite food being prepared, the familiar scent of a loved one, a flower and the sweetness after a rain are welcome fragrances that linger in your memory.

Search and Rescue

To seek and find, search and rescue as first responders of the planet, of the universe, of your corner of the world, rise! Rise, and shine like the beautiful life savers, you are. The one's on two legs, one or four! Know you are life's knights, mighty and gallant! Your gestures are perfectly timed for the one most in need of your presence like a masterful symphony with wisdom, courage, compassion, light, love, strength, laughter as the principal players of the grandest orchestra. The overcomers of darkness who whether they realize it or not, have put out the littlest campfire to raging out of control full-on fires, helped someone breathe better, somehow put into the position to lift-up another physically, emotionally, spiritually, you freed a captor of something maybe even him or herself. The awesome privilege of making life more livable, lovable and bearable, the greatest gifts known to earthbound inhabitants. OMG! The privilege to be a part of heavens grand scheme of things because of your presence making a minuscule or massive difference when you could. To search for and rescue who, what, when and where you could, you stood-up to the assignment and met and will meet the challenge of risking your own safety or peace, health or happiness. 

The moment angelic forces move is the moment life defines itself as a living breathing presence, entity, thing, place creature, the whole enchilada, entire pie a place in time and space as mysterious as the miracles that sustain it's sacred, scared, scorched, sad, magnificent, full, aching,round beautiful body. 

From the beginning we are led by traces of sunlight and evenings sweetly-lit by the moon. We come from each other, we are every age we've ever been with the capacity to recall the most fleeting moment, terrifying or fantastic that left us speechless and humble that we lived though something so overwhelming.

The memory bank inherently grateful for certain experiences that can only be described as breath taking miracles. The very fact of our existence and wondrous nature of every blessed thing taking place simultaneously, individually, in sync or out of but still by happenstance or at the precise moment, no one saw coming. Turns out each one of us is part of the Search and Rescue squad. *How cool is that!       Here's to you! XO     

January 30th, 2018

Two years since you've been gone Mom. You remain in my heart and soul, my memory bank withdraws memories very often. Though we exist in different configurations we exist none the less in a place that no one can describe completely, other than to say the feeling of your presence however measured, is real. I do not doubt that every little and large impression you made on me and others, remains alive as thoughts of you sweetens and becomes more cherished with the passing of time.
Your goodness prevails and moves forward with every heartbeat.

It is simple at once spectacular how the physically departed remain with us to the point that the joy, grief, disappointment, and life's daily up's and down's is shared with you even though you are not physically here. It is the order of the day to recall a simple moment and quite something to remember something that moves me to the point of tears filling me with a longing that lingers than evaporates into other recollections that make me happy and grateful that you nurtured me with your love and care and gave me a place in the world forever, to call home sweet home, where my heart and yours merge into a state of peace and comfort eternally.
http://brunodelaroza.com/

Fireflies >< (Part 2)

In the June 14th, 2006 "Fireflies" blog, I lamented about people whose lives hold more challenges than many, the blind, the broken hearted and grieving, the aging, those bent and broken. Now as we acknowledge another holiday season, there is a keen awareness of those who, by their own design or have been dealt an unfair hand, would just as soon forget this time of year when great dreams and wishes have not come true with the probability of them not happening at all.

We see people another type of "Firefly" close to home or far away suffering, lost, wandering aimlessly. What and when will they eat their next meal? Where will they sleep, how will they be protected from the harshness of the elements. The cold air bites as hard as the razor sharp teeth of a hungry shark. Not having shelter or someone to come home to let alone having a place at all to call home. I wonder how so many people end up displaced, without the comfort of a warm bed and roof over their head. What happened? How can a person, a child, a pet, families be out in the cold? In a country with resources such as the United States it seems that it is more like the Divided States of a sad America with the haves and the have not's left to figure things out.  Find a way to survive, thrive, live a comfortable, happy, healthy life free from agonizing worries and fear, scared about the future and what lies ahead. Any attempt to fly away from the scorching oppressive heat of bad decisions, scathing disappointments, displacement, life's cruel conditions and circumstances smolder and feel like hell when the big questions are; "What is the next move and where is a safe place to go?"

If and when we see a "firefly" we must do what we can to lift the burden(s), one person at a time. Whatever it is that we might offer if only a sincere prayer and good thought that they may somehow find their way, find relief from their misery, a way out of the darkness into some manner of comfort. What can I do besides look away into the next thought or place unencumbered by the sorrowful weight of knowing someone is suffering so. What can I do then but be as good and grateful a person as possible. In a world where the scales of justice, peace and prosperity are so unbalanced it would seem the very least I can do is to cast a good light on whomever I encounter. Shed a light of peace and kindness, a compassionate attitude toward others everywhere without judgement and while I'm at it perhaps provide sustenance of some sort to one brought down by hardship. Something to support another being through life, a spark of hope, a gesture of goodness that might shore-up a person who is down. 

It is well within our scope to be a soft and strong landing for another if only for the moment. Whatever it is we do, we do in the name of being humane, soulful and empathetic. To handle one another with care is best as all of us have found ourselves at times, fireflies wandering and wondering where, how, when and who will hear our cry, understand our pain, our quest for peace and longing for a fair and level playing field where hope, peace and joy are truly the order of the day and dreams seem as possible and probable as the best times of our lives and fireflies fly freely, capable of taking good care of themselves and light the way for others lost in the darkness.

The Human Condition

Behold, humankind! Evolving toward the best versions of ourselves at the same time regressing into dark places, places that represents the worst in humankind, cold and cruel. Given the chance to start all over again how long can the human race sustain the beautiful harmonious notes of peace and respect, fairness and justice for all. We become rewired and advance to the point of the inability to think or behave in any negative or destructive way toward ourselves or anybody else. In Buddhism the ultimate goal of a good life is to live a simple existence, giving and receiving compassion, love, and respect, the very basics to enjoy peace of mind and contentment, happy and healthy.

Children, elders, others with little or no voice are only treated kindly and patiently. The world has elevated itself to a place that thrives on everything good, resources are equally distributed and everyone is grateful for every little and big thing. Every color, culture and every nation goes about life in peace. There are no exceptions in a utopia-type world order where humans are now conditioned to cherish and respect every inhabitant of this precious place in the universe.

We want to think positively with a fresh attitude toward our own place in the world, to believe it is a new time in life and a good time to be alive. In the whole scheme of things we experience moments and fragments of perfection. Possibilities and probabilities go their own way in reality. We hope and hold on to better days, better ways to think and be happy and share what we can to cultivate a good life for each other. We pray for peace and hope for miracles and changes that need to be made to create all of the things that transform heartache to happiness and emptiness to fullness, sadness to joy.
Brunodelaroza.com

BABY BOOMERS

Baby Boomers, gotta give 'um credit for hanging in there, through good times and dark times, since there is no choice in the matter, still, credit is due. Time is mostly being kind to aging Baby Boomers who are still active, some working some retired and some still not sure what they want to be when they grow up.

You know you are talking to a Baby Boomer when they start getting sentimental about pay phones, typewriters, encyclopedias, drive-in movies, innocent mischief, fun and games, playing for hours outside and favorite television variety shows like Jack Benny, Ed Sullivan on Sunday nights and Red Skelton. Music was and still is on the forefront and in the background. Music was and is a character in our lives. We could easily recall what we were doing and where we were based on top 40 popular hits being aired on the radio at a given time. The Beatles and Elvis, Jimmy Hendrix and Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Journey, The Dobbie Brothers, Michael Jackson & The Jackson Five jumped out of the boom box and jazzy hipsters like Ray Charles, Tony Benet and Quincy Jones, always seemed to be there.

Ideology and believing in the possibility of world peace was an important part of life and not just an illusion, although many soldiers who went to Vietnam would disagree. The man on the moon seemed about right and righteous and gave Americans something to be proud of and hopeful about. Politics appeared to be a bit more on the up and up and peoples votes counted. Government has always been a strange and curious animal with extra limbs and sharp teeth, a funny and furious freakish-looking creature, desperate for it's survival as the fittest, wealthiest most powerful predator in control of it's own territory.

To be a Baby Boomer or not to be, is out of the question since that is what those of us born during the era we came along in, are referred to. The establishment now is youthful a new livelier funky version of the generation that preceded us. Let us strut with confidence break rules bend the sh!t out of the norm and continue the struggle for equality and justice, peace and love. Let us grow older armed with spunky, youthful attitudes as we sometimes hobble along a bit more than we used to but not as much as the people we thought were so old and still around blessing us with their own brand of tried true and tested wisdom.

Good Luck!

Luck, Goodness, Faith, Hope, Wishes, Prayers, Thoughts, thugs, mugs, Pugs on the rug you want to HUG.  It's a rambling ride more than a stroll, a hard rock, roll and rumble take it in stride. Travel well be prepared with respect and pride in doing right by life. Maintain a sense of awareness for the natural horsepower to run smoother on cleaner fuel and change the lackluster plugs that lose their spark.

We are given the tools to help fix a blown-out tired soul and change run down tread with simple encouraging words, to handle the world with care, kindness, compassion and rebuild with spirit-lifting, heart-healing light-casting lubrication. Restore the weary traveler, whenever possible lift the shroud of despair and doubt from the wounded road warrior in an uneven, unjust world, if only one weary traveler at a time.

To cherish life is to live with passion for love, peace, a place in the heart that makes sense to retreat to, rest, renew and recharge.  The battles, losses, victories, disappointments, life's delights, a good laugh or a good cry... days and nights, years, the lives and loves we experience make us who we are, who we were and who we will be.

Matter In Motion

One season to the next as life moves forward with or without us. We want to stay in the game to propel ourselves into the next thing the next experience love, joy, anticipation, excitation, success, moment of complete peace and quiet.  We step into the seasons ready or not with a sense of familiarity and a sense of uncertainty about what you use to be so certain about.  Life and it's surprises, the disappointments and days you wish would last forever.

All our lives sharing the same vibration, gyration, place in time and space like the stars the moon and all matter in motion or suspended motionless to the deepest darkest void and brilliant quasars and cosmos that in humankinds limited scope, will never completely understand.

The year is draped in seasons, various times unfold with landmark days of the calendar like the time of day determines the events and the world turns in perfect sync with the force of gravity, the earths axis, our relation to other celestial entities and their place in the whole scheme of things in addition to many other factors involved with the whole elaborate waltz of the heavens. What a thrilling ride rocking and rolling through it all the galaxies, the ground and planet we inhabit.. what a rush, a mad marvelous magnificent, mind blowing ride.

We hope we are always welcome on this fragile resilient site and ancient dwelling- home sweet home- Earth. The life she bears cries tears of pain for a suffering humanity and all creatures as well as holy sacred tears of joy, grace, peace, compassion,  Creation from the beginning every second of every hour we are here; I am, you are, all lives and all of life- is a miracle and speaks to the preciousness, importance and purpose of our existence among the stars.

Headlght's

How does she run, sound, feel? Like blood and water run though my veins oil and gas run through the lines that lead to the motor, my shoes wear well like good tires. My constitution and health correspond to performance and horsepower under the hood. My eyes are wide open like headlights turned-on, my traditionally built legs carry me to the next place like solid suspension, chassis and axle.

Buckle-up prepare for lift-off and transportation, propel into the next place and space. The need to move, groove, race, keep the pace, rush, wear and tear it up, static, essential to our existence and speaks to positive elements of life. People, machines, time, life pushes on one step and mile at a time moving to the beat of the rhythm in slow motion and above the speed limit, while in Neutral and in Park.

Safe and secure as the spare tire, booster cables the emergency kit in place equal to good thinking and positive perspective preparing the motorist for life's dangerous curves and unforeseen detours. The motor vibrates like a kitten purrs when running well or screams and screeches out of control in the night when vehicles and people collide bodies are strewn scattered like mangled doll's across the field with an on-going search for survivor's.

The heart of the car transposes to the engine of the body, the transmission- the kidney's, the air filter- the lungs, the clothes the upholstery, the paint and body correlates to one's attitude while the hood, roof and trunk outline the human body. It's an obvious metaphor along with the creation, design, build, wear and tear, history, the ending is the same. The life and condition of the old car, of classic caliber and parallels the quality of human life, the reflection, presence or absence of respect and care given and received. Has the car or soul been driven to the ground or treated well and aging gently, full of character with great history and plenty of tread left on the tires?! Yeah, Let's go with that! ========= Let's Motor!

One Day At A Time

How bout one minute at a time? The pace of life quickens and the day is fraught with possibilities, our thoughts constantly filtering various reasons to feel good, bad, disappointed, delighted, up or down. We try to maintain a happy medium and keep it together even though at times it would be so much easier to think, say or do something negative.

Taking life one day at a time keeps it simple when any given day includes moments you kind of feel like dying inside to see anyone suffer or to feel your own pain. We do quite well to think twice about allowing anything or anyone to disturb our own peace, yet we fall prey to ill fitting moments and encounters. How we react if at all, what thoughts and attitude do we naturally harbor to strengthen ourselves or enable to weaken our ability to remain positive.

The past, the future, imagination and mood are not always the best dance partners, the dance floor in my head more often than not recognizes when one or the other is out of step, it is a clumsy thought process, funky notions and fretful concepts emerge in rapid fire succession, I trip over myself as a natural consequence until I simply stop, shift gears, regroup take a deep breath and find my best mental and spiritual stride.  I am once again cleared for take off, going for it (the moment, the day, life) peacefully doing what I can with what I have for whomever I can however it happens, in light, love, respect. Yes one day at a time, here and now ~

¡Viva La Vida!

~  LIFE  ~

Heart wrenching, deliriously happy, humbling, excruciatingly painful, triumphant, spirit crushing, new, old, fantastic, unfathomable and beyond... that is LIFE.  One experience after the other... life squashes, squanders, scornful and full of despair. Alas,  divine forces harken and heal, mend and comfort, bless the discouraged with encouragement, reverence, respect, peace, love and hope.
Emotions run high and deep,
from the best and worst to the most powerful and pitiful.
It all occurs one moment, one day and one night at a time.