Honor Your Calling

I admire Oprah Winfrey for countless reasons and I was so moved by this speech. So in case you haven't seen it, I wanted to share it with you. There are many golden nuggets in her speech for all of us to walk away with. 

I'd start at 14 minutes and 14 seconds and sit tight through the whole video. 

There's a message in there for you too.

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Wordless Wednesday: A Fish Out Of Water

LushLunes: Have A Little Faith

Hola my deep thinkers! In light of recent events, today's LushLunes mission will be a little different.

I frequently talk about the Universe - God - working in your favor... you know "seek and you shall find." Well I received a message from dayspring yesterday  morning, and the timing could not have been more perfect. So I thought I'd share it with all of you:

screenshot of DaySpring message

So what's your LushLunes mission? 

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Turning Sand Into Pearls

An oyster will protect itself from a single grain of sand invading it. In doing so, it turns the sand  into a pearl. 

A few years ago I dealt with a bully. She tormented me because of jealousy. I was in a corner because I wanted to take higher ground and not react to her foolishness. The most I did was slam a door in her face. I got a lot of satisfaction from that, but in the interest of maintaining a professional demeanor I sacrificed a part of myself. I'd thought I'd gotten over that experience, but recently a new bully has entered the picture, and is making me relive it all over again. It's also making me realize that I must not repeat the passive mistakes of the past.

When bad things happen, sometimes there is a lesson to be learned from it. If you don't learn the lesson, then you may be put to the test again. It's time to turn sand into pearls. 

Just one month ago this new bully - another woman - told me how much she liked me and was sorry for her past behavior. She said through crocodile tears "if I ever had a daughter I'd want her to be like you." She gave me an "I'm sorry" card, and an "I'm sorry" Starbucks gift card. When I tried to give it back, she refused. I accepted her apology, gave her a clean slate and just wanted to move forward. Well, I just threw those "I'm sorry" tokens out. 

There was no moving forward. Things deteriorated from there. Instead of dealing with more lies and more tears, I made a change to remove myself from any situation where I would encounter her. Instead of being grateful it ended there, she retaliated. She looked me up online and sent me harassing emails via a pen name.

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Waiting for "The Help"

I treat books the way I treat men: I only bring the one I'm in love with to bed. The Help is one of those books. I stayed up late at night with it. Laughed out loud on the train with it. Fought back tears while sitting on the promenade. Fell asleep next to it. I just loved it. I suggest you read the book soon...because the movie is coming out this summer! 

The Help courtesy of DreamWorks Studios

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Wordless Wednesday: Wave Breakers

 Rompe Olas Beach, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

LushLunes: Walking With Purpose

It's LushLunes, and today's mission is simple yet challenging, and very effective. 

When I'm working out, it is such an amazing feeling. Part of that is because I am completely mindful of what I am doing. I am aware of my breathing, my movements and any sensations I feel.

Whether its yoga (my hands firm against the ground, my feet planted, the stretch in my legs and my back) or swimming (left arm, right arm, breathe) or running (breathe, breathe, breathe), my mind is no where else but in that moment. 

However, one action where my mind wanders and which I take for granted is walking. And it's something I should be grateful for; something I am blessed to be able to do.  This leads me to your mission...

Your LushLunes Assignment:

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El Día E: Don't Show Your "Alma"

On Saturday June 18, 2011, we will celebrate our beautiful Spanish language!  Why? Because it is El Día E !

My vlog below explains this picture. I promise.

El Día E nació como un proyecto del Instituto Cervantes ... celebrando así la grandeza de nuestra lengua y nuestras culturas. 

The day of E started as a project of the Cervantes Institute...celebrating the greatness of our language and our cultures.

Check out the video from the Cervantes Institute with Antonio Banderas, who beautifully describes his favorite word, "Alegría."

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Date Night!

Che and I spend our Fridays together. We have gotten into a routine where he cooks dinner and we watch movies at home. He's such a good cook! It's all about quality time. 

If we mix it up and go out to eat, it's in Howard Beach (Queens). If we go to the movies, it's in Rego Park (Queens). We've tried to limit how often we go out because of the expense. Plus, being together is always a blast, regardless of what we do. But sometimes when  you add a a little spontaneity you discover something really exciting.

Lately we have been going out on our date nights and totally skipping our regular spots. It started with his random request to see Tree of Life on its opening night.

This man hates to venture into Manhattan but he was amped enough to make an exception. We got tickets and had some time to spare. Since we were starving, we stopped into Macondo.  We didn't have a lot of time to eat, but Holy crap, that was a good idea.

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The Universe spoke at BlogWorld #Latism

I won a one-day scholarship from the Latinos In Social Media [LATISM] to go to BlogWorld! (You can keep on reading or watch the vlog at the end...or both! )

I'd been running myself ragged since my vacation, on coffee and no sleep. I'd had a tiff with Che and felt crappy about that, my friends had been pulling at me since I have not made time to see them, and I was struggling to make my billing at work...so basically this email was the highlight of my week:

“Thanks so much for applying for the BlogWorld LATISM Scholarship and for your continued support of all LATISM initiatives. We are happy to share the benefits of our partnership with all of our members, and can’t wait to see you at the conference!”

Thank you #latism! Wepa!

I took a long "lunch" to troop over to BlogWorld. While on the train I’d had an intense conversation with a drunk man who ended our discussion with these words: "where there is life there is hope," (this poetry foreshadowed what was to come in this movie I call my life).

When I got to the Jacob Javits center I was nothing but smiles and totally relaxed - like I didn't need to get back to work or something. At the Expo Hall I learned a lot about different companies, had lunch, chatted with AsceningButterfly and GayNYCDad while I hovered around checking out what BlogWorld had to offer. I was hunting latism people down but to no avail. Before I left for the day I thought I'd checkout the BEA book expo (my tag allowed me to check out the book expo as well).

Little did I know after this point I'd receive two messages that I didn’t know I needed to hear. The Universe - God - meant for me to hear.

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Wordless Wednesday: Lost

Don't Self Abandon

When you're in an airplane, the emergency directions state you have to put your mask on first before you put the mask on anyone else.

Hmmmm. 

It's logical, but hard to swallow right? Something inside might yell, "No! Help Them First." But if you have denied yourself air to breathe, how will you ever help anyone?

photo of an ad at Grand Central Station

In an interview I did for Blogadera over a year ago, I said the following in response to the inquiry as to why I started blogging:

"I started thinking about ME for the first time – my wants, my needs, my happiness. The moment I made ME a priority, this shift started in my life... I posed the question “how could I be of any real help to others if I was not helping myself?” From that point on, I learned to set boundaries and to stop putting the needs of others before mine. This ...made my world completely different. "  read more.

It still holds true and it's something I strive for every day (especially with my weekly LushLunes reminders). But it's easy to fall into patterns. You have to set boundaries and stick to them because the most important relationship you will ever have IS the one with YOURSELF.

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LushLunes: Making Allowances

Hello my deep thinking LushLunes cohorts! This Monday's LushLunes is posted a day early so you can be fully prepared for your mission. 

I have a hard time getting up in the morning. I can wake up, but then I'm rolling around swaddling myself in my sheets stretching, and dozing off, hitting snooze at least four times. Then of course, when I have no choice to but to get out of bed, I'm rushing around the house trying to get out in time for my train.  If this sounds familiar, then you definitely need to keep reading.

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I am a Jet-setter. Nice to meet you.

I have been back from my vacation and never even told you about it!!!! I had a FABULOUS time. I've been so busy since I got back, so this post is way over due. I came back refreshed (with a slight cough) a cute tan and ready to take on the world!

outfit details below

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Wordless Wednesday: Warning Signs

Everyone Loves a Lovely Blog Award!

Woo Hoo! I received the One Lovely Blog Award, and part of that requires me to share random things about me! Since I've done a similar post in the past, I will come up with some more random stuff, and bare my soul to you!

Seven Random Things About Li:

1. I like cheese. I have been known to eat a cheese sandwich and Café con leche for breakfast - you know, like Olympic champions. 
2. I love love love yoga! It's totally a part of me! But I'm more flexible in my mind than in real life.
3. I am super shy when I speak Spanish because I always mess up the feminine and masculine words. 
4. I hate to paint my finger nails because I don't like when the polish chips. It drives me insane.
5. I curse like a sailor. My apologies for the stereotype if there are sailors reading this.
6. I really love swimming. Even more than I love running. But in the end, nothing beats my love for sleep.
7. Horror movies used to thrill me, now they just hurt my heart and prevent a good nights sleep, so I can't watch them. 

Did you just love that list?! Well you wouldn't have learned these deep thoughts without the Fashion.Makeup.Lifestyle blog. She's the deep thinker who gave me this award! Definitely check her out because she's got great fashion sense and always puts up fabulous photos. I wish I could just take all those outfits and throw them directly into my closet.

Now that I've received this award, I have to pay it forward to fifteen other lovely blogs (check out the links to their individual pages)!  This was no easy task, considering how many blogs I just adore.

And the Winners Are (in no particular order): 

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LushLunes: Dancing In The Rain ...Or the Shower.

 Hello my deep thinkers. I hope you have a great LushLunes, today! Today's mission is a bit of a multi-tasker, but I think you're up for it. 

As a child when it would rain in Puerto Rico, I would run out to my front yard barefoot and dance in the rain. These were usually sun showers and it look amazing to me! I would stick my tongue out at the refreshing droplets as I twirled and laughed, loving that my long unruly curls were getting wet and being tamed by the water. I was so involved in the moment, yelping and laughing, just loving the rain.

Last year I saw this movie called the  Peaceful Warrior and there is a scene where the main character is taking a shower (nothing fresh) and he is completely in the moment - a lot like I was as a child in the rain. Enjoying every drop of water, utilizing all of his senses. It was total mindfulness, and it's something many of us forget to do. Which leads me to your LushLunes mission...

Your Assignment: 

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Find Your Truth

There is this friend called Hope. She sits at the bottom of my heart and does not whisper. She affirms. She says "Yes, your dreams will come true." She plants herself there, sitting in a meditative pose, stubborn as a mule.  Unwavering.

My foot in the ocean, Puerto Plata, D.R.


As much as I whine she does not move. She merely opens one eye and says, "stop that." Seeing my reaction, she opens both eyes and says with an annoyed sigh, " you know you will be successful as an actress," and goes back to meditating.
 I can only pause and stare at this little Hope that so daringly kicks the crap out of Doubt (the neighbor that lives in my brain). Hope warms my heart, even when Doubt tries to freeze my dreams right out of me.

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National CPR Week: American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women® UPDATE

Like many of you, I learned CPR in high school. But would I be the first to attempt it in an emergency? Probably not, considering I'm a little rusty. Until now... 

Last November when Papito stopped breathing, the home health attendant did not know CPR. She was shocked and ran out of the house (this is a long story I'd much rather forget). Not knowing what else to do, my cousin called 911 and used what she remembered to administer CPR herself but it was too late. She did her best. We all did our best. There was nothing anyone could do.

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Wordless Wednesday: Trouble In Paradise



 Rompe Olas beach, Puerto Rico, from my window.