Beauty from the Struggle

Since February is Black History month, I thought I would celebrate by showing a beautiful picture of my mother in her pollera.  The clothes worn by Black slave women and wet nurses during the Spanish colonial era inspired La Pollera, which is the Panamanian national costume.

This colorful dress represents so much to me of the beauty, freedom, love, and laughter of Afro-Latin American community.  It is a somewhat unnerving truth that what was once attributed to slaves and the lower class has become a symbol of pride. 

Much could be said regarding the old adage that out of every negative is a positive.  Like a butterfly, the struggle of our people has become the strength of who we are.  Our trials and tribulations have given us the fortitude to survive insurmountable odds. 

Our color has enhanced our beauty and now with time the world recognizes the splendor, richness, and grace of who we are. 

It is not our differences that divide us.  It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.  ~ Audre Lorde

Dreams Really Do Come True!

This past week, I had the honor of being in New York City among elite Latino authors and publishers at the 14^th annual International Latino Book Awards.  I must admit I was a little awe struck by the talent and distinguished presence of those who attended.  And then it happened...My book “In Memory of A Saint Lessons From My Mother I Didn’t Pay Attention to Until She Died” received an Honorable Mention in Best Women’s Book- English.  All I can say is WOW!!!http://tinyurl.com/InMemoryofASaint

The dream to write and publish a book started when I was a child.  As a voracious reader, I would often imagine that if I had written the tale, it would have ended differently.  I would tell people that when I grow up I would write a book.  Out of the mouth of babes... I spoke a dream into reality.  I took action and actually turned my Mañana into Today and accomplished a lifelong goal.

I learned a shocking statistic that 81% of people want to write a book and yet so few accomplish their dream.  So do you have a dream that you are planning on working on tomorrow?  Why not start today.  Every baby step you take will put you that much closer to your dream.  Turn your Someday into Today.  Come on I Dare you!!!

Maximizing Opportunity

I know I have been silent on the blogosphere. I have been very busy. My book “In Memory of A Saint: Lessons from My Mother I Didn’t Pay attention To Until She Died” has been published. http://tinyurl.com/InMemoryofASaint

I was speaking to a friend today, and she reminded me that although I feel as if I have been slow; I have been very busy maximizing my opportunities.

My mother always told me the race is not for the swift nor the strong but for the one who endures. Thus, I have been steadily working on my own goals and dreams, so that I can be a better cheerleader for all of you.

Are you a making the most out of your opportunities today? Better yet, would you take advantage of a new opportunity if one came your way? To work on your goals, you should explore every opportunity for you never know when you will be motivated to take a chance and leap into something new.

“Life's up and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals - Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want” ~ Marsha Sinetar

Wishing On Stars

Early this morning I had a magical experience watching the Leonid Meteor Showers. Breathtakingly beautiful, this meteor show was magical in the early morning hours. I was surrounded by pure peace, and I was able to witness the energetic cosmic bursts of light.

I first gazed upon this spectacular meteor show in 2001, when I had the opportunity to view them with my mother. She has since died and yet in the early quiet of the morn I felt her calming presence among the stars as once again, God put on his fireworks display.

As I watched the stars fall and listened to the quiet I was able to hitch my dreams and goals among those stars. As I lifted my eyes to the heavens, I knew that my dreams were shining as bright in my mind as they were in that pre-dawn sky. I Believe!!!….Do You?

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do

Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true

Pursuing the Dream

I have been off the blogosphere and I miss all of you. I am glad to be back and want to share with you what I have been up to. I finally finished the book that I had been writing about my mother called In Memory Of a Saint: Lessons from My Mother that I Didn't Pay Attention to Until She Died. As you know, I have written many posts about her and as a result, I wanted to capture her spirit in a book.

The journey has been marvelous as I have been able to put into practice what I preach which is to strive for your goal and to go for your dreams no matter what. I also had the opportunity to take part this summer in Jack Canfield's Breakthrough to Success Training and was able to be among others dreamers.

Today, I hope all of you are pursuing your dreams with passion!

In Memory of a Saint-Honoring Mom

In memory of a saint, I honor my mother today. Usually it is customary to use a white flower to honor a deceased mom on Mother’s Day. I choose to pay tribute to my mother today with a red flower because her spirit is alive and well.

Everything that I am is because of the strength of my mother. People have asked me through the years where did I ever get my unwavering belief of self and faith in God. The answer is simple, my mother.

I keep her memory close to my heart and with great admiration for her joie de vivre. She was a great lady who took risks in life, and had a faith that was unshakeable. For someone who was small she was soooo mighty.

I am honored to be her daughter. I hope to one day leave a legacy that is half as great as hers. So with the greatest of love and respect, today I remember my mother, a saint in my eyes and my heart.

Empty “Sorries”

Lately the news has been filled with stories about politicians, celebrities, and athletes apologizing for bad behavior or inappropriate comments. It occurred to me that these apologies are empty. The truth is more likely than not, they are sorry they were caught, or sorry that other people didn’t like what they did. These weak apologies are often followed by even weaker excuses for bad behavior. Just once, I would like people to stand behind their bad behavior and not give out an empty sorry.

As a child, I learned this lesson from my mother. She would never accept just sorry as an apology. She would ask the question, “What are you sorry for?” When the question is posed in that manner the truth really comes out. Usually I was sorry that I was caught at whatever I was supposed to be apologizing for but I really wasn’t sorry for what I said or did.

This childhood lesson has really helped me as an adult. A sincere apology comes from the heart. The feeling of remorse and the sense that you caused true emotional pain to another person affects your spirit. When you apologize you should mean it from the core of your being or don’t bother to offer it. Sorry really is the hardest word.

Never ruin an apology with an excuse. ~Kimberly Johnson

In Memory Of a Saint II

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there! This holiday celebrates the spirit of motherhood. As someone who believed that she had the best mom in the world, I honor her memory today. This is my way to say thank you to her even though she is no longer living and to give testimony to her courage and character as my mom.

In my mother’s imperfection lay her perfection, for all that she was and what she instilled in us to be. She never shied away from taking a risk, from going forward, for choosing to fail at something, and she did it with gusto.

You see the greater good was that she showed us by her example to be fearless. To go after what we wanted and if we didn’t succeed to try again. Yes, my mother was amazing and I thank her for her courageous spirit and a life full of joy!

For All the Saints

Today is All Saints Day and tomorrow is All Souls Day in the Catholic Church. No I'm sure the Church wasn’t necessarily thinking of my mother, who is no longer with us as a Saint. But for those of you, who have heard me speak about my parents, behold above the vision of a saint.

In the past month my posts have been on claiming your power, breaking the rules, not complaining and learning to forgive. These life lessons and wisdoms came from the saint pictured above. What… you still don’t see her halo?

Who is the Saint in your life? Who is the person that gave you courage, hope, wisdom, and the strength to be you? If they are alive write or call them today and say thank you. If they are no longer living, light a candle in their honor. Pass on their wisdom to someone else.

My definition of a Saint maybe unorthodox to some, but I can think of no one who deserves the title more in my mind today than my mother.

“May the good Saints protect you and bless you today, and may troubles ignore you each step of the way.” Irish Blessing

In Memory of the Saint

Happy Mother’s Day! On this day, I choose to give praise to the saint, my mother. What you don’t see the halo around her head. ;-)

Granted most of the time, I ignored her advice when she was alive, feeling as if I knew better. But in her death, her wisdom, and love shines through daily. My mother always believed in giving people the benefit of the doubt. My mother loved the underdog. She was a champion to all of us. She constantly told us that we could do anything we put our minds to.

My mother, the saint, also believed that rules should be broken as long as it wasn’t illegal. That you could flirt your way through just about anything, and she could convince the devil himself to give up him evil ways and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Yes my mother was the best influence in my life on learning to take risks. Her go for it attitude was second to none. At her funeral so many people came up to us and told us of what she had done for them. Some of it we knew about but most we did not, because that was her true character. She did for those around her, believing in the spirit of philanthropy, and never spoke of her good deeds.

Yes, my mother the saint, who teased me one day that I wouldn’t know the use of my behind ‘til it was sore. Yes, I miss her insight, her laughter, her wisdom, her joie de vivre, and most of all I miss her. I will end with one of her favorite quotes.

There is so much good in the worst of us
and so much bad in the best of us,
That it doesn’t behoove any of us
To speak about the rest of us.

attributed to many authors

Go Red

Today is "Go Red For Women Day" which is sponsored by the American Heart Association. Heart disease is the number one killer and ailment for the women in my family so this is very personal for me. The average person can not recognize the signs of a heart attack or how to maintain a healthy heart. Visit http://goredforwomen.org/ and

take the heart check up.

Peace

One More Day

I read Mitch Albom’s book "For One More Day" recently. Then I watched Oprah and she had an emotionally charged episode about if we could have just one more day and it got me to thinking. If I could spend just one more day with someone, who would it be? Hmmmm.

When we knew my mother was dying, she had been ill for a while, I said to my sister that I wasn’t ready for her to die yet. My sister said, “When would you be ready,” and I told her that “I would tell God when I was ready.” Well she laughed and said, “So you are trying to micromanage God.” And I said yes!

Isn’t odd that most of us want to micromanage the Universe and to control what will happen and when. I suppose we all want that one more day to say the extra I love you or a heartfelt I’m sorry.

For one more day, I would love to tell all the people that I loved or who touched my spirit for a moment, what a great impact they had in my life and their life on earth mattered.