A Twisted Tale - Week Twelve

Story One

A Perfect Place                          

 

The story of a girl, unsure of her direction, but the direction she was headed was very sure of her. A future with tens across the board laid out before her. A picture perfect tall tale of strength, life and bliss. All of which was not easily attained but for this girl, very well deserved.  Hard work ethic burst within her claiming everything she knew she needed to do for the life she wanted to capture. A life full of irreplaceable memories, irreplaceable people and irreplaceable moments.  What her visions brought was a life without limits. No, I am not speaking of fancy yachts, lavish clothing or a vault full of precious jewels. Living beyond the walls of humble is not a style this girl could ever wear. What I am referring to is comfort. Enough to know her family will be ok for a long time. Enough to know that her children would not want for anything, but would also know to work hard for what they do want. 

 

To attain this level of comfort, she had an idea. She wrote fearlessly. Her fearless behavior lead to a New York Times Best Seller. This would set her career in motion. That is just one piece of the legend she created for herself. A plan set in stone is clearly not a good plan because obstacles do jump out when you are least expecting them. Security, peace of mind and a steady income were part two to this woman’s plan. A degree. A flexible career to be able to be present for the most superior moments of her children’s life; a key element to a blissful life. The moments, those moments, precious as ever, where an award is given, a piano is played or a smile or even tear crosses one of her child's faces. Those are the moments you cannot get back if missed. Those are the moments where she would be present.

 

And her husband. The one person, after years and years of memories, fights and love, the one person who stuck by her. The one person who still taught her details about herself which she would never realize. The one person who looks at her on the worst of days and tells her she is perfect. He would be there every step of the way.

 

Story Two

The Twist

 

Her perfection was before her. Her life was all she dreamt it could be. Yes, there were ups and downs but generally she was happy and she knew it. She felt it within. Her family was intact. Growing together, learning from each other, creating memories and legacies to be remembered. Until one day, she met a man. A smile lead to a hello, a hello lead to a how are you and a connection took place. Something unstoppable. Something unexpected. Most would call it love at first sight. A friendship grew between the two. Magnetic in nature. Each poured their hearts out to one another daily about thoughts, life, love, happiness and the future. The twist, how could these two be together without hurting everyone they love and in hindsight, how could these two not be together knowing what they both feel. The friendship outgrew into something bigger than they had anticipated. It was pure love. Undeniable in nature. But conflicted love. The choice to be together would be life altering. The choice to leave was irrational. The choice to stay was unreasonable. The decision seemed impossible. She knew what she had to do. She knew she had met her soul mate. A term in which most people never truly understood the meaning of.  She let go of her present life. The life she had worked so hard for. The life she knew and she was accustomed to. She pressed forward and took a leap of faith so big her world spun.

 

Story Three

All or nothing

 

The life she once knew was shredded to pieces. She had success without fail, her children were still hers, but she was remorseful for hurting a man that had been so good to her for so many years. She defended her actions to everyone. She was conflicted in feelings. At times, her thoughts of regret seemed imminent. She took her leap of faith, she made her own choice, she walked barefoot down her own path. She felt at times it was a path covered in shattered glass and streams of tears. She had hurt people only to be selfishly happy and she did not regret it. She knew she made the right choice. She knew this was the person she needed to spend the rest of her life with. She did not expect him. The Universe, clever in its ways, placed him in her life for a reason. A reason in which she would spend the rest of her life trying to figure out.

 

Poem of the Week

Life Map

 



The people I meet

The visions I see

A life without limits

Laid out for me.

 

Embrace the challenge

Explore the new

Remember the old

But continue on through.

 

Be fearless and brave

Release all self doubt

Understand this life

Will not place me without.

 

Accept my path

Learn my way

Forget others' maps

For they are just a display.

 

The map of my life

Will twist and change

I know for the better

My life will rearrange.

.

 

Visions of the Future - Week Eleven

 

 

 

 

My Future....

The future I envision is solely based on happiness. Sure, there will be sad moments. Those are inevitable. But the happy moments are what I hope to keep me going. I hope to finish school. I know with my schedule it will take longer than most, but it is something I know I need to do. I want a house for my future, my castle. And a husband to spend my life with. Being a wife is a very important role I'd like to uphold at some point. Not just with anyone, but with my soul mate. My daughters. I need to teach them to work hard and save. Its a valuable, necessary lesson of life. I also want to travel. My top three destinations are Ireland, Belize and Italy. In addition, a big fear I have is of open water and boats. Therefore, I'd like to learn as much about boats and boating as humanly possible in order to help conquer those fears. I want to stay fit. It is important to be healthy not only for myself, but for my girls. Another part of my future entails helping people as often as possible. Those who cannot help themselves. Not to be greedy here, but a big family is a MUST. I want my children and my children's children to be surrounded by chaotic love forever. And lastly, anyone who knows me knows Red Lipstick will ALWAYS be a part of my future.


Week Eleven Poem
Looking into the Future

Soon To Be

 

 

Eyes piercing future’s wall;

What will be for me?

A light so bright that I am enthralled

In what lay before me.

 

My castle shaded amongst the trees;

The moon light shining through.

My family nestled in my reach;

A man, yet I am not sure who.

 

Success overcomes my worry;

Fear subsides from my mind.

I am in no rush, nor hurry;

What is left is precious time.

 

Time to travel and capture;

A moment; A breathtaking sight.

The warmth of the sun’s rapture;

Calm water reflecting across light.

 

The future holds a place for me;

I see confidence within.

The past I now leave gracefully;

For my tomorrow will soon begin.
 

Passion - Week Ten

pas·sion

paSHən/

noun

1. strong and barely
controllable emotion.

I am a multifaceted person of passion. This goes without saying. To list passions of mine would be a job in itself. Love; Family; Friends; Colors; Music; Clothing; Writing. Passion breathes inside of me with everything I do. Whatever it is that takes hold of me, I am passionately perfecting it.
 

 

One passion of mine that consumes me daily is the consideration of other people. This could be anyone! Someone as close to me as my daughters or a random stranger I walk by. I feel the constant need to protect and help everyone. People less fortunate steal pieces of my heart every single day.  I have this expression I use. (Those closest to me know it.) I find myself observing people and when someone is disabled, homeless or just lost even I say out loud they are "huggable". I often hold back from wanting to hug random strangers because they have touched my heart just by their existence.  To be a part of these peoples lives, to help them in some way, would be a job worth waking up to every day of my own life.

 

 

 

A big part of what I do right now requires passion. Working in a field where I speak daily to sick people and people who have lost loved ones. People who are left with literally nothing. I am brought to tears at least once a week in my job but the most rewarding part is listening to these people and at the end of the conversation, hearing them say "thank you for listening to me". I know I have helped them just by attentively hearing their words.

 

To selflessly help people would be a service worth looking in to. People who are lost in their lives, who need guidance, direction and financial backing. These people feel hopeless that the world has turned against them and some even feel life is not worth living. Motivating these people by just showing you care would tremendously boost hope in a society where the underprivileged are overlooked. Something as simple as drafting a resume, giving hot food, clothing and teaching these people how to interview could set the wheels in motion for a world worth their time and ours as well.

 

 

 

 

Poem of the Week

 

Writing in Stride

 

My heart moves;                            

The pen moves.

 

Stroke by stroke;

New meaning is found.

 

Life,

Breathed into blank pages.

 

Words,

Scribbled to make sense.

 

Creativity from within

Dancing across a line.

 

A voice,

Wanting to be heard.

 

Understood;

Remembered.

 

Feelings and thoughts;

Unleashed into air.

 

Stroke by stroke;

A creation takes place.

 

The pen moves;

My heart moves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Alchemist Review - Week 9

 

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Review

 

“When you really want something, all the Universe conspires in helping to achieve it”. Effortless words spoken have never been more true. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, is a captivating read that challenges you to think beyond your contained realm. This book possesses you to envision  your own personal legend and the possibilities of what your life could be with a little sacrifice, motivation and hope. Coelho’s story focuses on a Shepherd boy, Santiago. Santiago had a recurring dream of a treasure among majestic pyramids in Egypt. This treasure he dreamt of was later brought to his attention by several strangers among a village that he often visited with his sheep. These strangers, a gypsy fortune teller and an ancient King, Melchizedek, would send Santiago on a journey where he would find love, defeat, hope and discover a language without words. Santiago’s faraway journey leads him across a desert encountering all walks of humanity. It is Santiago’s journey and although he had guidance from an Alchemist and people of the desert, it was up to him to complete his journey. He was the deciding factor in his own fate. To turn back to the life that he knew? Or to follow through to the unknown with hopes of finding his treasure.

 

A part of the story that captivated me was when Santiago put complete faith and trust in a stranger he met in a bar. This stranger was going to help Santiago in pursuing his journey by buying a camel and leading Santiago across the desert. Santiago gave all of the money he had from selling his flock to this boy, this stranger that was going to help him. The stranger lead Santiago out of the bar and lost him in a crowd of merchants in the village’s circle. The stranger took everything and ran. Santiago was left with absolutely nothing but the clothes on his back and his stones Urim and Thummim. The stones that Melchizedek had given him as guidance. Santiago slept on the street and awoke with strength. That was not going to stop him or be the end of him. He was going to continue on with his journey regardless of the strangers actions. He could not let the stranger define who Santiago would be in his own life. He pushed forward with nothing and eventually succeeded. It was inspirational to read.

 

What I loved most about this book was the beauty within the message Coelho was sending. The realization that if we let go of the now that we all live in, we can become our own perfection. Coelho instills that we will get knocked down and we will want to turn back but if we rise to the occasion and pursue whatever it is that will become our personal legend, the end result is the treasure. There was nothing I didn’t like about this story. The underlying messages and words spoken from various characters throughout the book were of wisdom, of strength and courage. Fatima, a woman of the desert that Santiago falls in love with, simply says that she is a woman of the desert and Santiago must continue on with his journey regardless of how much they love each other. She will be waiting for his return. Another hidden message. Let love go and if it is meant to be, it will return to you.

 

After reading The Alchemist several times, I have already recommended this book to a few friends. I believe the story is clever and entertaining but the hidden messages within the book can help anyone who feels stuck in a Ground Hog like effect in their lives.  This book, I feel, would be inspirational and helpful to many of us who wake up wishing we had more.



 

 

 

 

A Story of Life

(The Alchemist)

 

A shepherd lay amongst his sheep.

An old Church shelters above.

A captivating sycamore tree in his sight.

And visions that would give him a shove.

 

A personal legend pursued.

A boy entertaining his dreams.

His path to his own perfection.

Sacrifice was part of the scheme .

 

The journey to his treasure

In which he saw in his sleep

Would test the limits of his character.

From a boy to a man he would leap

 

Befriended by several strangers

With tall tales of the desert’s sound.

A glance from a woman in the oasis

Would compel him to stick around.

 

An Alchemist became his ally,

His mentor and his close friend.

Encouraging the boy to push forward.

Leaving love would not be the boy’s end.

 

The boy pressed on his journey.

Leaving love as the Alchemist advised.

This woman was a woman of the desert.

Her love returning would be her prize.

 

The boy reached the majestic pyramids.

The destination where his treasure lay.

Brutality was all he found.

Much to his dismay.

 

After the beating was over

The thief would solemnly speak.

His dreams of treasures under a Sycamore tree

Lead to disappointment and were only for the weak.

 

The Laws of Gratitude - Week Eight

Taking things for granted is an extremely natural process of the mind. Almost too natural. In the world we live in today, with society, social media, the spot light on all of the hip and trending happenings and also chaotic work schedules, it is so easy to neglect what is really important. What is valueless but valuable. When the alarm sounds at 6am, we jump out of bed and we are in an instant rush. Shower, dress, hair, grab your bag and bam, out the door! Not even remotely considering the fact that you actually, woke up. Not everyone takes the time to sit, console their cup of coffee and look outside at how still the world currently is in that moment. I think with everything that happens on a day to day basis, the thing I take for granted most is time.  

 

Time stops for no one. Before we know it, night rolls in and it’s time unwind from a challenging day. We change, brush our teeth, read a story, watch a movie (sometimes homework) and then bed. Predictably, the 6am alarm sounds again. Eventually we become robotic. A synchronized chain of events Monday through Saturday (with Sunday being the exception to this rule). This week is my daughter’s third birthday and I cannot for the life of me understand, how did we get here?  I remember the day she was born. I remember the sleepless first night. From that first night until now time has driven by me in complete lightning speed. It is a terrifying feeling to think of how quickly life passes us by and how easily we dismiss it.

 

With the upcoming holidays approaching, we are trained to reflect (especially on Thanksgiving) on what it is we are grateful for. But why just Thanksgiving? Why not every day we wake up? If you think about it, and I mean routinely think about what it is that you are blessed to have in your life. Whether this be a person, a thing, a job. If you realize the impact that this gratitude can have, it will bring you to a place of good. A place of positive. A place of ……happiness. When I sit back, I think of all of the small things I am truly grateful for. Just waking up and seeing the ocean at my window. Hearing my daughters cries in the morning and the love of that first sip of coffee. Without stopping to think, I would never even realize how grateful I am for all of this. My mother (God love this woman) is my rock. Without her help with my children, I’d be completely lost. I find myself needing her opinion on everything and I don’t take the time to realize this every day. My sisters are my lifeline. (I have one biological sister but I am blessed with the heart, mind and soul of several women whom I refer to as my sister). These women are amazing, strong, independent, beautiful women. Without knowing that they are a phone call away, life would be unimaginable.

 

People often tend to take the fast lane on a highway to get to where they are going as quickly as possible. But what’s the rush? Your destination will be there whether you get there in one hour or ten.  It’s the people in the far right lane that have the right idea. Those people take their time. As annoying as those people are to drive behind, they do not notice the negativity coming from behind them (which is probably you cursing or beeping your horn). What they are noticing are life’s gorgeous moments. I think we should all put the blinker on and get in the right lane at some point in our lives.

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

(Sight)

To see is to know.

Revealing beauty around.

Forgetting sorrow.

 

(Him)

He is me. One soul.

Divided into two halves.

One soul. I am him.

 

(Air)

The air I breath in.

Reminds me I am alive.

Soothes my soul calmly.

 

(Rain)

Shattered against glass.

My reason to stop and rest.

My time to reflect.

 

(Coffee)

Consoling my cup.

All sound is dispersed in time.

Still asleep. Awake.

 

 

 

 

Fear - Week Seven

Fear. The word inevitably has impact the moment it is spoken. Upon hearing this notorious word, thoughts and images generate in my own mind reflecting on my own common apprehensions and anxieties. Insecurities fly through my head in a torrential domino effect. Will I a fail? Did I offend this person by speaking my mind? Will I ever find that unattainable, blissful, happily ever after that you only read about in romance novels? And then there is my biggest fear of all, what will people think?
 

 

All of these misgivings become a tidal wave to a path of obstacles and destruction. These fears take residence in our potentially perfect future, blocking our eyes from the light of achievement. Each fear is given strength with every negative thought that provokingly comes with it. The longer we feed into this timidity, the more difficult it is to overcome. What I have come to realize is working toward acknowledging these fears will help us to succeed. However, by eliminating these fears altogether, we can succeed beautifully.

 

A major part of overcoming my dominating fears is the realization of my own self-worth. Realizing who I am, what I have to offer in life, to the people in my life, and more importantly, to myself. Being independently strong-willed is one of my biggest assets. Self-motivation and being annoyingly relentless go hand in hand with my strong will. This combination gives me the capability to persevere and prevail. With that being said, I do not always put these qualities to good use.

 

Most commonly, we all get lost in our own angst. We can all be sidetracked from our path to our own personal “Perfect”. I often find myself being sidetracked with self-doubt. Constantly questioning myself and letting my fears take over. When that does happen, I acknowledge my fear, address what it is I am actually afraid of, and dive in head first. I feel as though addressing your fears with a clear mind is the main key to destroying them. I have also discovered that overthinking your fear is trouble. If you spend time wallowing in your own anxieties, you will succumb to them. Diving in head first with a sink or swim approach, I almost always come out on top. If I dive into my fear and I actually fail, then I will have failed graciously. I will have failed graciously because at the very least, I tried. And then, I will dust myself off and try again to conquer that fear.

 

F E A R

 

Take a back seat,

I’m tired of your lies.

I refuse to listen to you.

And no, I won’t compromise.

 

Your presence is unwanted.

Your full of straight doubt.

My life will overcome you.

It's time you know what I’m about.

 

You haunt people’s dreams

With your nasty scheming ways.

I’m done with being shaded.

Its time  for brighter days.

 

You feed off insecurities.

You compel me to hold back.

It’s the hate in me I have for you

That makes me want to attack.

 

When you take hold of me

That's my problem, I know.

Real talk, this relationship is over,

And it’s time for you to go.