Writing Is…

Writing is…
a place where you can be you
and do your thing
it’s a place that makes you feel safe
and comfortable
a place where you can invite your family, friends
and even strangers to come join you
a place where your work is considered magical
because you’re able to create
something fantastical from nothing
So make time to take time,
to be in that happy place
where you write
to your heart’s content

My Happy Place

When I write,
I’m in my happy place
A place where I’m returning to
the most purest spot in my soul
Everyday I always return
to the place where the best things are
I may not be the most
talented, creative or eloquent writer
but my passion
to get my words out onto paper
just makes
my love for this craft
stronger
Writing elevates
my mind, body and soul
It takes me to another level
of complete joy
I’m able to go to a place
where I create things
not only with my words
but with
my heart,
my soul,
my true inner voice.

Grow Happiness

     Many people wait around for happiness to find them but if you really think about it, it’s really only a positive thought away.  Being happy can be a choice you make.  With all the chaos that life brings into our lives, it’s really difficult to find a way to be carefree.  With so much on our minds, I can see how one can get caught up feeling stressed, angry, confused, frustrated or lost.
     For me, I’m at a point in my life where I’ve come to realize that I have to stop, live in the moment and appreciate everything that I already have and everyone who is around me.  I try to be optimistic even when the deck is stacked against me because there is always something positive to be gained from all the hardships I’ve gone through.
     Everyday that I wake up, I thank God that I get to enjoy another day regardless of how good or bad it is.  I don’t worry about the past or the future…now is what’s important to me.  I look around and enjoy the small things in life that give me joy.  
     Yeah it’s easy to say all this and hard to do, but with enough practice it can be done.  It took me awhile to get this optimistic attitude but I did it.  Enjoy your life, be grateful for your family, friends and pets, be content with what you have and bask in the little things that make life worth living.  You’ve come this far, just imagine what the world can offer you.  
     So don’t wait for happiness to find you, grow it yourself…it’ll do wonders for your life.

Midlife Reflections #9

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With my daughter set to go to college in the next few weeks, I reminisced about my journey into higher education.  I was so young and ready to take on the world with my hopes and dreams.  I took many classes to get exposed to things I never knew about and met a ton of people from all over the world.  I started off with a certain major in mind and then changed it over the course of the four years that I was there.  I had no qualms about making the decisions that I felt did made me happy…and to this day I have not regretted it.  After graduating, I took that vibrant enthusiasm and dove head first into what I can now call my life.  Granted there were some bumps along the way and I made decisions that seemed quite drastic but, in the end, it was what was in my best interest.  However, there was a period where I played it safe and made choices that I did not care for.   Looking back on it now, would I still make the same choices…absolutely not.  I’ve come to learn recently that life is really too short and I need to make the choices that will make me the happiest.  It might not be the most logical one in other people’s eyes but who give a rip.  This is my life and the smart move is to choose what I will like.  We have one life, so why not make it an enjoyable one.  The whole point of this is to stress that if you have a decision to make with your life, always listen to your gut and choose what will make you happy.  That will always be the absolute best move to make.

Midlife Reflections #8

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Time heals all wounds” they say but a lot of us cling to the past which makes it quite difficult to move forward in life.  Memories of the past is like a double edged sword.  Many of the experiences we hold so dearly are often ones of joy, love or laughter that was shared with family, friends and loved ones which can never be replicated.  Others are of fractured memories that bring sadness, pain and loss that we try so hard to forget but to no avail.  Often times when we’re in a different setting, we encounter a similar situation or experience and expect it to follow what had happened in the past.  When it doesn’t live up to the hype, to our expectations, the end feelings leave us disappointed, discouraged and depressed.  Or when it brings about the same feelings of sorrow it just fuels our doomed outlook on life.

It’s truly hard to move past these things and I for one can admit that I find it challenging to do so.  But everything that we experience makes us into who we are and really does help us to become stronger.  Time really doesn’t fix things, it just add more to our already full plate and lessens the degree of our greatest or most horrible past memory.  It really just finds a way of taking us out of our comfort zone and pushing us beyond our limits.  Whether we bend or break is all up to us.  I for one take it by its horn and wrestle it aside.

So if you find it hard to find happiness in life or just trying to make it day by day, take solace in knowing that you’re not alone.   We’re all grinding it out the best way we can.  There’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for all of us, it’s out there waiting for us to discover it.  If things are not going your way or your ready to throw in the towel, take stock in where you are right now in life.  You’ve made it this far, just think how much further you can go.  It hard to stay positive but if you just have a tiny spark, it’s all you need to start that fire in you to go out and take action!

Mid-Life Reflections #8

With my son graduating 8th grade yesterday and my daughter set to graduate from high school this Saturday, I look back with fond memories of them when they were just mere babies to who they are now and what they are becoming.  I am literally amazed at what they can do and what they can accomplish.  Granted my wife and I gave them the tools to navigate their way through life but they managed perfectly using their own sense and sensibilities.  Everything that they’ve achieved so far was due to their unique personality and innate traits; their exterior demeanor belies their true potential.  It is because of this that I cherish being a parent.  My children’s vim and vigor, no holds barred quest to grab a hold of what the world has to offer and run with it, is truly inspiring.  It keeps me on my toes, anxiously waiting to see what unfolds for them and how they’ll astound us.  Reflecting on my children’s journey into adulthood overwhelms me with pride and joy and is one of life’s gifts that I am truly honored to accept.

To Find Oneself

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We learn to value life
and all its gifts
Being truly alive…
every day,
every hour, 
every minute,
every second
is a wondrous blessing
Our appreciation for
God,
loved ones,
family,
and
friends
knows no bounds
That is why…
we live each day
the best we can,
striving for
positivity,
laughter,
happiness,
love,
serenity,
and 
balance
Our light is restored, 
our heart becomes whole,
and 
we regain a sense of ultimate
completion.