Better Life

One more day and many ways to make life better more beautiful for ourselves and others. A peaceful frame of mind is important and a good way to move forward into positive places. The world does not feel so hostile and cruel when I can be calm and lean into the spiritual realm. I am armed with elements beyond the limitations of this earthly plain. Internal peace is tucked away in our hearts and souls and accessible as needed. The trick is to pause and remember inward tools available to get a grip on things that seem slippery, out of balance and unreasonable. The world and the haters in it are part of life's obstacles. Peace, Love, Respect are absolutely the solution to the confusion and chaos that seems out of control as leaders forget how to lead with integrity and honor. 

Peace of mind seems easy enough but when stressors pop up and anxiety wants to run amuck it's not so simple to switch gears and pull yourself out of negative frame of mind. To focus on blessings, the things that bring us joy like people who love us, our precious pets and the many resources we have to make life comfortable, well, it's good to recall things that  make us happy. Even better when we can play our blessings forward in prayer, action and intention to make life better. God speed. 🏵️

Freedom

🕊 How sweet it is even if you are not entirely free from the dark side of life like hatred, disrespect, war, greed and arrogance. We are free however, to love, respect, be conduits for peace, generous and humble about what freedom we do enjoy. Indeed; "Shine sweet freedom shine your light on me" 

Stand By

The world spins on it's axis, twirling, gyrating, shaking, sick and tired, in sync with surroundings near and far away. Various energy, matter and the inexplicable do their part according to the grand known and mysterious scheme of things. Earth's inhabitants, yes fragile as a baby, resilient as the mighty sea while completely vulnerable to any number of calamities, infirmities, disabilities, tragedies, challenges and set-backs with broken battered sails, struggling to survive. 

All of humankind aboard the same spacecraft gliding sliding slipping, suspended dangling without a net in a place that is not sure of itself, aware and unaware of the hazards humans have created. The volatile nature of humanity is clear, present and not new, the way life as lives are taken for granted, trampled-on, exploited and disrespected by those who continue to create problems, war, hate, greed reckless, unconcerned about others struggles, wants and needs. People get shaken-up, tossed aside as unimportant, without a prayer, no refuge nor peace, no love. The air is limited, stale with despair, doubt, fear filled with dark matter as evil forces try to sabotage us out of our own light suffocating the simple goodness found in the hearts and souls of earths precious inhabitants. 

Life unfolds with or without our permission, ready or not, things come to a screeching halt out of nowhere life turns to a crying, dying den of carelessness, corrupt with selfish intent to dominate those with little to no voice. In the big picture one hopes for a fair, free, just and simple existence, not asking too much. Curious though how at some point people loose themselves with obsessive wants, needs, must haves at any cost. Happiness in contrast is sought, not always found in plain sight yet constantly waiting in the wings to rise and shine and rise again not far from the surface, priceless and best when everyone experiences happiness and joy. Meanwhile, respect facilitates a good life, peaceful and harmonious. 

To live in a world that is led by love and respect is to be given a chance yet again to exist in a place of peace and send our love out to every single person in the world, to dispatch comfort, peace, respite to the weary, war torn and weather worn and somehow receive the intended powerful prayers, although simple the message is strong and able to lift the downhearted who have been put on hold or standing-by brought into light and love even as the world sometimes seems to spin out of control.

Drive-up Window

It was a brief encounter, it left me feeling sad and hopeful God would bless the kid at the window who took my money and quiet prayers for her peace and comfort. I requested fries and a couple of green chile cheeseburgers. Please do not judge my lunch decision, this story is not about unhealthy food choices.

I drove up to the second window, happy about landing at the correct second window. The girls voice and eyes sounded like a teenager. She repeated my order, I signaled agreeably while feelings of guilt rushed in and out regarding ordering those filthy fries I hate to love. She didn't care what I ordered and waited patiently for me to hand her the money.

 As I organized the correct amount and went through the ashtray for the exact change, I asked her, how her day was going. She shook her head "Not good", behind her facemask I saw a smart, soulful, sad, brave, kind individual. I could not help but offer platitudes and blessings. "I am so sorry, hita". fighting back tears, glad she couldn't see me getting choked-up from behind my baby blue bandana facemask and sunglasses. I felt her suffering, but not to the depth I could see in her eyes, from having to put-up with disrespectful people. "You are doing great!". "People are very stressed-out these days. It still is not an excuse to be disrespectful, easier said than done, but try not to take the ill-mannered, rude behavior of others, personally". "Sometimes people confuse kindness for weakness and think it is OK to trample on nice people". "It is not OK, do not acquire a taste for it". She looks at me with what I perceive as, gratitude. As I drive forward, friendly whispers from Heaven say; "God Bless you, hita, stay beautiful".

I cannot adequately describe the bitter sweetness of the moment. With all my heart I lift her up and anyone needing blessings, respect, respite, peace and comfort. Yes, God Bless her, her work and presence at the drive-up window. It was a powerful prayerful exchange, rapid fire, full of goodness, God's Grace, a spiritual thing.

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.
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A Year

A little over a year now since you've been gone Mom, it seems like this morning when you knew your time to take your leave had arrived; you said; It's time. No don't go Mariana, Maria said, that Saturday morning, January 30th, 2016. You sang a little song, prayed a little prayer and called it a day ~

I drove-up and went straight to your room and walked calmly toward you. I could not get close enough to tell you that I love you, will always hold you in my heart, thoughts and prayers. We knew this moment would happen at God's speed. Still the sting of realities bite was numbing and knocked the breath out of me. I wanted to express my gratitude for taking care of me, all of your six children, keeping us out of trouble not letting up on your wish to know your kids were clear about the difference between right and wrong and the importance of Respect.

Your voice, your laughter, the voice of disapproval, disappointment, anger, joy, frustration, fear, faith, appreciation, love, affection... it is locked and loaded in my memory bank. You influenced me in so many ways, by your example I learned to be kind and compassionate, thoughtful and generous and grateful for blessings bestowed upon us.

I love you Mom. THANK YOU

It's All Good ~

There is a place where it is all good and calm, clean, healthy of mind, body and spirit, secure, safe and beautiful. It is where love and peace dwell and all is well, where blessings are itemized, the inventory vast, constant miracles abound and whispers from heaven, common. With a keen sense of appreciation for countless blessings received I wrap humble gratitude around my heart like the warm glow of fire underneath the massive hearth.

I pray we access the sacred place of peace in the midst of doubt and despair. I wish the young and old, forgotten and forsaken, the mistreated and traumatized from all walks of life in every part of the world would find the peaceful, perfect powerful place they long for. For light in dark places where suffering and fear are no longer constant companions nor reality so harsh. I pray consolation overthrows what seems hopeless and joy hastens to diminish sorrow.

It's not all good and not quite clear as to why anguish, anger, greed, hate and oppression become main languages spoken. One person lives with chronic mental, emotional or physical pain while another lavishes in the pleasures of life. If only life were fair and provided equal distribution of love, compassion, happiness, where kindness and respect are the first and last order of the day and we realize every moment in between is an opportunity to make it all good.

Chemical Extraction

The chemist who can extract from his heart's elements,

compassion, respect, longing, patience, regret, surprise and forgiveness

and compound them into one can create that atom which is called love.

~ Khalil Gibran

 

Beginnings

The beginning of new life, a new day or year, a relationship, project or career, it starts out at the beginning so hopeful, happy about the possibilities the goodness and potential growth. We wonder which direction the wind will take us. We move forward with good intention to love, to be our best, a blessing and better for the wear and tear.

Beginnings prepare the way for the rest of the journey and destination the challenge to do it right with respect to those in our orbit. We honor precious life by living on the one day at a time plan, learning lessons we hope, gently, loving in accordance with those we must treasure, cherish and love to infinity as we keep them close to our heart and we grow like beautiful flowers in the garden, as the days go by the tending of our garden becomes second nature and necessary to thrive and stay alive. Life unfolds in mysterious ways we could have never guessed and more than our imagination could have ever dreamed as the left curves and sharp edges and sudden twists and turns leave us bewildered but stronger and wiser, toughened-up and tenderized.

From the beginning we start fresh with any luck on an even playing field with equal opportunities and chances to create a quality of life,  beautiful moments, times that matter, mean the most and are important. We start with an eagerness to make it count, to be excellent for excellence sake, to anticipate the extraordinary in the seemingly ordinary places and people, situations and experiences that will stay with us forever if only in our memory. In the end we want to look back at a good run, the good fight for the betterment of the whole, the love that will linger in our thoughts, forlorn for those heartfelt connections however fleeting or lasting they are. We hope for and hang-on to happiness, peace of mind, finding our way, quiet nights and full days filled with joy and the satisfying fragrance of everyday miracles, blessings, light, love, laughter, encouragement, respect and endings that may or may not happen at all.

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!

Heart & Soul

To say goodbye to someone you have known forever, someone who was a permanent fixture in your life even if there were years you saw each other almost never... it is a time when one reflects on the goodness, the love, respect, admiration and stories about the life that passes on to another realm.  The transition is sad but sacred as faith indicates after life on earth the spirit thrives in a perfectly peaceful place of existence.

The connection transcends time and space as the love is not diminished but remains in tact and in a state of grace, as if the connection is strengthened with the awareness that we now have greater access to the heavenly elements, powerful, unrecognizable to the human eye but felt with the heart and soul, spiritual connections we can not even fathom yet reveal themselves to us by way of abounding quiet and not so quiet blessings.

And so we say our sad goodbyes to prima Marian Romero, good woman, salt of the earth with a big heart and generous nature, funny, sassy and a safe place for me to land when I was bouncing off the wall with youthful exuberance and mom allowed me to hang out with. We were good paleez.

Love you Marian, rest in peace.

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 ~

Happy Mother's Day!

To you dear mother, dear special one of my life. Happy Mother's Day to you for being in my corner of the world, for loving me like no one else in the world could ever do. For teaching me the way to be a good person, by your example. I hope this Mother's Day you realize what a blessing you are and will remain forever.

Happiness and peace of mind is my simple and sincere prayer for you and I am very blessed to know you are still just a phone call away, that I can hug you and talk to you and tell you how much I love you and appreciate you in my life. You lived your life for your family and sacrificed much to ensure your children were loved and cared for and understood the importance of respect for everyone.

How very important you are to me and all your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

You need to be reminded that by any measure and any standard you have accomplished an extraordinary feat in raising your six children, steering us away from careless behavior and nurturing us with your strong faith that God would see us through. You are a rare and resilient human being who did not take the easy road as a single working mother. You dared to take-on motherhood with ferocious intent to do a good job despite the challenges as vast as your prayers were constant. With much love and respect I hope we are an accurate reflection of the important, wise and wonderful things you taught us.

May the Holy Spirit and creator of life continue to bless and keep you.

Rules & Reg's

At what point does one disconnect? The light of the spirit shines brilliantly, flickers and fades with every step of life. Every moment determines the strength or weakness of the glow. The purveyors of peace pray the light never goes completely out. The heart thrives and shrivels as the rules change in the name of love, harmony, order, self preservation or in the name of hate, cold, reckless malevolence. What was once considered cruel, crazy, harmful behavior suddenly becomes acceptable for those whose mind has been emptied of reason and respect for life and the safety of others.

One does not always regulate owns own conscience be it by choice or other influences. The vulnerable fall prey and acquire a taste for hostility and aggression, detachment from a kinder, softer, peace-loving existence to a harsh, bitter, belligerent mentality. It is based on much exposure to malice, anger, frustration and unrest. Fear mongers attempt to choke the goodness out of life and seize the sweetness of the soul.

There is a strange and dark tolerance for disrespect. At times it feels like the whole world has gone mad. I don't remember it always being like this or are there simply more people which makes it more pronounce? Haters look for trouble, someone to disturb, instill worry, doubt and despair. As the sting and scars of disrespect become the order of the day this precious planet must feel every ache and pain. The collective pulse and heartbeat of mother earth longs for Love, Respect, Kindness and Compassion and in the end, must prevail.

A Blessing

It hurts to know there is so much suffering going on in the world, when does it stop, when did people start treating each other so poorly? Children and animals seem to have to absorb much of humanities harshness, of course through no fault of their own. On the one hand you have people who understand the value of life and treat the innocent with respect and kindness. On the other hand you have individuals who themselves were mistreated or who are now enduring abuse, negligence, cruelty.  Consequently the hostility perpetuates. It must matter to send love, prayer, good thoughts to those who have no voice, whose cries go unheard with no one to advocate for them.

Dear God, if all we can do to help the lost and forgotten, is keep the suffering in mind with reverence, then let our spirits connect and comfort who we can. To stop our selfishness when we complain about inconveniences, let us be reminded to be grateful for our own place in the world, where we are comfortable, safe, enjoy freedom, countless resources and things many, only imagine.

To somehow be a blessing to the tiniest soul in the most remote corner of the world to the one's we live with and see regularly. Let us be some one's light in their darkness, comfort in their confusion, joy in their sadness... let us be a blessing with every speck of possibility in peace and with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit ascending upon those most in need of respite and relief.

 

Champions

Champions are made of extraordinary things that separate them from those who dare not reach for the gold, nor aim for the highest, sharpest or most accurate mark, nor train, live and breathe to claim the fastest time, the furthest throw, the strongest lift, highest jump or most challenging personal best or world record.

It takes a courageous, bold and daring spirit, strong mind and body and true heart of a champion to reach the heights and depths known only to the one's who dare to think of themselves as capable of earning the spoils of the victor, the one who is driven, who strives, works, lives and dies by their own efforts, to achieve what rightly belongs to the champion.
~

Congratulations! to all of the competitors who;
win, place or draw- 

deserve all due respect and honor for showing the world how it's done!

☺♥

Peace and Love ~ my prayer, wish, hope and dream for you and me & all of humankind, the animals, every bit of this precious planet.  God Bless us now & eternally. ~ When I think of the morning of September 11, 2001 my heart aches for this world. This minuscule & at once magnificent tiny ball of one miracle after the other, that also includes hate, madness and cruelty. How to go about our existence peacefully and with respect at the forefront. Political and religious discourse seems to define history and can forecast the future. A host of factors determine one's quality of life no matter where on earth it is. That is when it is important to reflect on a little pearl of wisdom that goes; "There but for the grace of God go I".
One endures pain, suffering, injustice in one part of a village, city, state, country while only yards,  streets, rivers and bridges away- people live extravagantly, daily living as lush and luxurious as most can only imagine. Somewhere in the middle is where most want to be, in a comfortable, safe place. That is not asking too much, yet presents huge challenges and is not as simple as one would like it to be. At the end of the day it is a peaceful, quiet existence that people hope and work for but may or may not be equipped with the tools, skills, support, opportunities and resources to manage a descent way of life.
On September 11th, 2001,   I recall the confusion, disbelief, shock of watching breaking news reports and listening to radio broadcasts at work, describing, analyzing the horrific events that would knock the wind out of America and those who love the United States.
~ I think of the softer side of people, that dark day evoked. People seemed to appreciate one another more, to display a little more kindness and respect. An air of mystery lingered for several days as a humbler people emerged in neighborhoods, rural areas, metropolis' and inner city life. The trauma, all the tragedy incurred upon a nation once considered invincible, indestructible, the most powerful of all- blindsided by hostile, maniacal forces. A shift occurred, people left to discern what it's all about with more gratitude, less attitude, more humility, honor and compassion for one another.

¡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.