Tag: writer

Soul Mantra

To have a positive mind and a hopeful heart. That is how I am choosing each day to build my life rather than just merely living.

A soul mantra is simply a word or phrase that sets our intention for each day. A soul mantra is a compilation of various components:

  • Knowing Yourself
  • Mind, Body, Spirit
  • Knowing Others

Knowing Yourself

Here is my advice to you: Choose to immerse yourself in your own world and get into your head. Do not live in fear of the future or in the pain of the past. Get comfortable with yourself. Enjoy your own company and solitude. Be confident. Be proud of who you are. Be humble. Understand your strengths and your weaknesses.

When you make the decision to set your dreams and goals in motion you place yourself on the path to becoming the person you most want to be. You allow yourself to seek new experiences as well as good vibes and idiosyncratic thoughts all of which encourage you to grow. When you understand yourself, you learn to better understand others.

In the words of my friend Aaron Patterson, “I’m more comfortable with the fact that the moves I make are bringing me closer to my purpose.”

Mind, Body, Spirit

Life is about making conscious decisions to nourish both your body and soul with the right elements to help you stay strong and healthy. Your heart and soul is the very essence of your being.

Start by stepping back and gaining some perspective. Sometimes when we are too close to something or someone, we are unable to maintain a healthy perspective. Take the time to seek clarity. Many times we know that there are toxic habits or people in our lives and they can be all consuming so we think that they are contributing to our lives – we’re wrong.

Work on replacing bad habits with good ones. Remove people. You do not need to explain yourself. Accept that these people or habits have been a significant part of your life but that they may be hindering your growth. You will be in awe at the things that come to you when you open space for healthier things; sometimes things you didn’t even imagine possible.

Knowing Others

Aforementioned, seek new experiences as well as good vibes and idiosyncratic thoughts. Take the time to connect with like-minded peers but also subject yourself to individuals who have different perspectives and ways of thinking – you could learn something invaluable.

Open up conversation. Be an intellectual. Share your outlooks. Engage in the conversation and observe. You don’t always need to be the one talking; “listen with the intent to understand, not solely with the intent to reply.” Be genuine. We are in a generation where people are driven by money, status and especially ego. So open up a little bit, talk about passion and purpose, art and sports, likes and dislikes.

Discuss what inspires you on your best days and what motivates you on your hardest ones. 

Soul Mantra

Give out what you most want to come back because beauty and truth surrounds us. Be conscious of the energy you emit and connect with. 

Be with people whose company you enjoy as much or more than your solitude. Whether it’s grabbing a drink, relaxing at a coffee shop, exploring a new city or sitting on the couch at home. Make connections to souls aligned with yours. You will find that encouragement, inspiration and happiness come easy with these people. These are the ones that will contribute to the quality of your life. 

Sending positivity and peace to you all.

With Gratitude

Hello lovely,

As we approach this holiday season and the year end, I want to take a moment and thank each and every one of you who takes the time to read my work. It was just a mere eight months ago that I began sharing my writing and the outpour of support, kind words and positive feedback has been overwhelming. The more I share my thoughts and various outlooks on life, the more I have been faced with the question: Why do you write? What motivates you? What inspires you? These are questions I have worked on perfecting over time but I have narrowed it down to this simple answer:

I write because I want people to know that they are not alone.

I began writing because in my darkest and deepest struggles, I found comfort in the words of people that I didn’t know. It was quotes, song lyrics and literature that got me through. There is something powerful about reading words and feeling as if in this great big world, someone else understands your pain. There is something unique about making our pain and sorrows into something beautiful.

2015 has been especially trying for me. I was tested in many different ways. My year started on a sad note. Just a mere six weeks later I found myself heartbroken. My heart was bruised, beaten and lost for so many reasons. I found strength as I do in many of my hard times. Then I was faced with losing someone I love very dearly to death. My spirit faded, my heart became fragile. Since then, I have been through phases of pure happiness, love and joy. I have also experienced grief, anger, and darkness.

Thank you to the people who lent me a shoulder to cry on, and to the ones who made me laugh so hard that my stomach ached the next day. Thank you to the people who challenged me. Thank you to those who forced me to learn hard lessons. Thank you to the friends who left me and the new people that came into my life and stayed. Thank you to the man who taught me what love was, and what it wasn’t. I have learned valuable lessons through the relationships with all of you.

I want to be known as a woman with a big heart, a strong mind and a beautiful soul. We are all responsible for taking opportunities given to us, but also planting the seed that will develop roots for our lives. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all grow together? In sync with the lives of the ones we love? But since that isn’t the way it always works, it is nice to know that we are surrounded by people who support our growth as we support theirs.

As the year ends, I encourage all of you to reflect on this past year. To my family, friends, acquaintances and strangers – you are all wonderful, unique and full of love. I am thankful for everyone – the good and the bad; for they have contributed in shaping me into the woman I am today. I hope I am a contributing part of your growth too.

Wishing you all a happy, blessed and thankful holiday season.

All my love.

The Golden Rule

The Golden Rule –  “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Simply put, treat others as you would like to be treated. This is one of the oldest lessons in the book. A very matter-of-fact moral principle relating to a fundamental human nature that was taught to us in our early stages of life. But for some reason, our world is filled with individuals and groups that just do not seem to understand how matter of fact The Golden Rule truly is. Many times in my life I have been the victim of venomous words and actions. I too, have also been a perpetrator. We are in an era that makes forgetting The Golden Rule very easy. People hide behind computer screens and cell phones to verbally harass and abuse others. People are belittling one another through vicious words and name-calling. It’s hateful and it’s sick. They can be so tragically and traumatically cruel to strangers, friends and loved ones. I see too many people encouraging disparaging remarks and actions. I witness too many good people treating others with apparent disdain for them. We are all worthy of seeking respect and others are worthy of receiving it.

Words and actions are powerful. They can be so influential to the point that they change peoples’ lives – for the better and for the worse. I have seen both. I have experienced both. As a product of other peoples’ insecurities, I have been torn apart mentally through both words and actions. As an outcome? Well, I became who I am today. A woman I am proud to be. Not perfect, not near it but I am working to be the best version of myself that I can be and then I am going to strive to be even better than that. We as a generation need to spend more time building one another up, supporting each other on our paths to success and teaching our younger generations love and kindness rather than hate and cruelty.

I am not naive. I am not blind to the reasons why people are mean. But I do not want to live my life putting other people down. I do not like everyone. Matter of fact, my circle is small. But I will not lower myself to the levels of others who treat people with disrespect. This world can be hard and life is messy. Everyone truly is fighting their own battles. The way we can make a difference in this world is to help make others’ lives just a little bit easier, lighter, and happier. And if you cannot do that, keep your disrespect and blatant disregard for good to yourself. Indulge in kind words, big hearts and the potential of goodness that we have within ourselves. Inspire yourself to inspire others. It is an act so simple yet so immense. Mother Teresa said, “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.”

Almost.

I think in life there are just some things that we are never going to make sense of. There are questions that will never have answers; opportunities that will lie dormant and passed by. Endless scenarios will manifest in our minds, but that’s what they will be – mere scenarios. Because at the end of the day our reality is just what it is, or almost was. We got a taste of something good, we skimmed the surface, we almost figured it out, but not quite.

“Almost” – it’s one of the saddest words in the English language. Something or someone being close enough but not quite all there. Something with infinite possibility but it fell short.

“Almost” – it’s such a peculiar word. Very nearly but not quite. It is a word shadowed with a feeling of hopelessness and a bit of emptiness. Very often it is something or someone close to our hearts. An opportunity missed.

I guess the almost moments in our lives happen because not everything is meant to work out the way we’d hoped. Maybe, just maybe, our almosts lead us to be better. We have to learn hard lessons and use them to succeed the next time around.

Our almost moments are great times for reflection. It is in times like this to get in touch with our souls. Our souls need to be cared for because without a healthy soul we cannot love or live to our fullest potentials. In your almost moments, take the time to rid the burdens that are disturbing your soul. Those burdens are the reasons why something wonderful remains an “almost something wonderful.” Do not be the reason that you are not genuinely happy. Stop allowing fear to turn your absolutes into almosts.

I love my almost moments. In such beautiful chaos, I can step back and see the purpose in all of it. Our almost moments become a part of us. They are our stories to tell. They are our defining moments. That alone, makes our almost moments some of the most special.

“He was almost in love. She was almost good for him. He almost stopped her. She almost waited. They almost made it.” 

 

Seek Your(selfish)

Many times in my life I have neglected my own happiness in fear that I would be hurting the feelings of someone I care about. I’ve done it with friends, family, and lovers. Not to fault of their own. My heart is big, my soul genuine. I love, and I love unconditionally. But there is truth in the saying, “It is both a blessing and a curse to feel everything so very deeply.” I am not great at being selfish. Most of the time that I have decided to put myself before others it resulted in me feeling torn down or regretful. However, being selfish is something that every individual should practice. It is healthy for our minds and souls to be aware and active in putting ourselves first. There is a thin line between being selfish for the good and just straight out being a selfish person. One lies within conscious decision making and positive outcomes. The other can be destructive to both oneself and your relationships due to the misguided interpretation of what being selfish means. This is not black and white. This is a balancing act. Put yourself first in situations or decisions that better your quality of life. By bettering your own life, you can then contribute to the lives of the ones around you. Build yourself up so you can build up others. Choose carefully who you put before your own happiness. Just because you do it for them does not mean that the gesture will be returned. There are no guarantees in this life but one thing I know for certain is that if you follow your intuition when it comes to making connections to souls aligned with yours, you will not be left disappointed. You will find that encouragement, inspiration and happiness come easy with these people because they understand the cycle. These are the ones that will contribute to the quality of your life.

Be whole alone. Make an investment in yourself. Then share your greatness with the world. 

Dark Realities

An emotionally dark place is accompanied by pain, fear, and even stages of numbness. It is a cold and lonely road. In my darkest times I have always turned to my writing. But for the first time, no amount of my words felt as if they would be powerful enough to shed light on overwhelming circumstances. I had complete writers block. Until yesterday, when it was someone else’s words that resonated with me. My friend said to me, “sometimes it’s good to release the sad, we can’t be truly happy if we don’t let ourselves express our sorrows,” he continued, “your words will come to you.” He reminded me why it was words that I always turned to. My writing brings me peace. “I write to hold on. I write to let go. I write because I am a firm believer that we do not have to go through things alone – the good and the bad.” Thank you, Isiah, for reminding me of that.

  • misfortune: (n) an unfortunate condition or event
  • sorrow: (n)  a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others.

We all have our own problems or experiences that cause pain. Through my years I have learned that no experience or problem can be compared or classified as big or small. Our sadness derives from the fact that the situation at hand is close to our hearts and who or what it is matters to us, to our souls. Everyone is different. We all carry the weight of our sorrows in our own ways. Personally, I choose to suffer in silence. As a woman who is very used to being the strong and independent one, it is hard to be completely vulnerable to others. But I am trying to learn that being vulnerable isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s merely human. So, tonight, I write with a heavy heart and a bit of vulnerability.

We make sacrifices for the people we love. We give away a little bit of our hearts and ourselves to everyone that we truly love, all the while having faith that the space we clear will be filled in return. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Sometimes we are making space for others and when it is not filled we are left with a feeling of emptiness. It is an emptiness that can consume a part of your heart, leaving a void that cannot be filled. There are no promises in love. There is no written contract that states that if you generously give your time, energy and love to other people that they too must return it. It is not how life works. I’ve learned that the hard way – more than once; and I am sure that I will experience it many more times throughout my life. Sometimes our love is not enough to make people stay. 

Maybe this is true. That there are some of us who give love and some of us who take love; and that those who give can’t help giving just as those who take can’t help taking; and maybe this is what holds the world in balance. [Chris Abani]

Dare to Show Up

It can be so easy to get caught up in the negative aspects of our lives. Because lets face it, everyone is going through something. Likely, we are all dealing with more than one negative situation that just flat out sucks. Big or small, we all have troubles. Some people share their problems in the hope that maybe the world will help to solve them. Others keep their problems quiet; silently tucked away in their hearts and minds. I do not want to talk much about the negative today, nor is that what this post is about. I just wanted to recognize the simple fact that we are all facing our own set of difficulties. I also want to remind both myself and all of you to not get so immersed in your problems that they begin to consume you. When they consume you, you become unable to keep the situation in perspective. You are also inhibited from keeping the problem at bay; resulting in an inability to solve it.

ʟɪғᴇ ɪs ᴀ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴇᴛ ɪᴛ ʙᴇ

Let the good consume you. Be filled with what excites your soul. Surround yourself with good company. Learn something new everyday. Teach something new everyday. We’re all here for the journey.

Stop talking about the past all the time, more-so, stop trying to alter it. Personally, I do not want to continue talking about what happened in the past or what the future may or may not hold. I want to live fully and wholeheartedly in the present. I made it a personal goal to look forward to everyday. This may sound cliché to some of you. But what is better than starting each day with a purpose? I do not want to just make a living, I want to [each day] build my life. Through trial and error, I am working each day to further my career. I make my heath and fitness a priority through persistence and consistency. As I travel, I am endlessly discovering who I am and experiencing things I never even knew existed. I spend time taking care of myself, so I can also take care of the ones I love. I spend time to strengthen the friendships I have and make new ones if I can. I think it is vital to remind the people in our lives that they are important to us and appreciated. I also feel that letting people know you’re thinking of them or giving out a compliment are small gestures that can make a big difference in someones day.

In closing, I am most definitely someone who likes to look at the “bigger picture” and really try to figure things out. However, as of lately, I’ve learned that taking each day and making it matter, overall, is slowly but surely changing my life in the most positive ways. If times are tough, focus on the small things that you can handle. When you make it a point to do small encouraging and constructive things in your everyday life, you begin to look forward to everyday and not just the weekend or the bigger moments. You will be amazed at how the smallest measures can lead to the biggest changes. All you have to do is show up. Trust me, it is worth showing up.

sᴛᴏᴘ ᴡɪsʜɪɴɢ. sᴛᴏᴘ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ. sᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ.

Muse – a source of artistic inspiration

Every writer needs their muse. I am most certainly inspired by many people and on goings in my life, but I definitely have found my muse. He inspires me to love, think and write deeply. He reminds me that being genuine and compassionate is not a weakness, but my greatest strength. The ironic part – he has no idea. But if he ever reads this – thank you.

“Everything Will Fall Into Place” – Those words sound comforting, don’t they? Even more so when they come from someone you love, especially when you are feeling low. If there is one thing I’ve learned over my (almost) twenty-three years of living, it is that life is messy. Days come and days go. Everything is changing while it all feels the same. How does time pass us by so quickly? We look back and cannot quite place when and where the changes began. But I think that is the point. To constantly be growing, learning and finding ourselves through the chaos of our own lives, and maybe even the lives of the people we surround ourselves with.

When i say “chaos” or “messy” – the connotation is to be interpreted by the reader. Our “chaos” or “messes” can signify sadness, heartbreak and difficult times. They can also signify beautiful, soulful, happy moments we have experienced throughout our lives. I hope that everyone who reads this has experienced both. Because I in particular feel that some of the most beautiful things come from our most painful hardships. It is how we as individuals learn and strive to be more. If everything were easy and perfect, what would motivate us to be better and exert ourselves to fill our souls with what makes us happy and whole?

Our existence is not black and white. It is an array of arresting colors and shades.

Life is always going to be messy. I can only hope that we all find what it is that will give us piece of mind. I hope that we fill our souls with what is truly meaningful to us.

All my love.

Pilot.

The chronicles of a mind that never stops wandering.

What does that mean? Where am I going with this?

Well, I don’t really know either. What I do know is that I have the inability to shut my mind off. I mean really, this brain of mine never stops wandering. I think, I write, I think, I write. But I never write on paper, I never write online (until now). The writing has always been composed in my mind, where is was stored and locked away. But as a twenty-something, what good is that? Why not share the chronicles of this busy, wandering mind of mine? So that is precisely what I am going to do. I will share with all of you, the craziness of what it is that is going on in my head which is both a blessing and a curse.

My aspiration of one day being able to truly take my thoughts and compose a beautiful piece of literature has to start somewhere. So today, it will start here.