New Year 2017

Whew. We made it. A new year! I love January 1st: I love the idea of rebirth, a fresh start, turning a new page. I enjoy setting goals for the year, and it’s a great time to check in on where I’ve been, where I am, and where I want to go.

2016 was a year of change. First, recognizing that I needed it, and then pursuing this shift with a cross-country move. My move to California symbolizes many things, much like the new year, this new place has brought a fresh opportunity to intentionally reinvent the person I want to be, the life I want to live, and the future I want to create.

Isn’t this privilege our greatest power? The fact that we are the owners of our lives. Even in this country, it is easy to feel that we don’t have control over the world around us. It’s easy to get caught in the monotony of our schedules, responsibilities, and societal expectations. It’s incredibly empowering to shed these expectations and tap into our personal dreams, wishes, and desires. Do you hear the whispers of your soul? Have you given space for your heart to dream? This is my intention for this new year and hearing these musings of my spirit are the first step to manifesting this beauty in my life.

So, cheers friends! To a new year, a new month, and a new day. Cheers to the power we possess to change, evolve, learn and grow. Cheers to the beauty in your life, today and tomorrow. I love you.

The Greatest Power of All

Dedicated to my beautiful nieces, may your days be happy and dreams fulfilled.

For when you feel tired my child
Just close your eyes and see
The beautiful ocean in front of you
The sand beneath your feet

Like the trees standing tall
And glistening in the sun
So does your soul shine
Touching everyone

The people of every nation
Of every color and creed
The beauty in us all
Is within our hearts indeed

And if you are overwhelmed
Or wonder what to do
Just close your eyes softly
And look inside of you

Within your very own heart
You hold the greatest power of all
The power to dream, act, and be
The best person you can be

In fact, if you look really closely
You’ll see love is the most powerful tool of all
For love can change the world
If we all answer the call

So with your eyes closed
And the ocean in front of you
Anything is possible, dear
Anything you can do

My Mother

Dedicated to my Mom and our beautiful Mother Earth

My Mother

Feeds me, bathes me, holds me
clothes me, soothes me, loves me
water for my body
love for my soul
I am because she is
I live because she did
allow me to be born
nurtured my existence
nutrients in my sustenance
everything that I do, everything that I see
it is all her, it is all me

We are one
and I live through her, because of her, with her
together we are invincible, unstoppable
full of power, untouchable
the peaks of the mountains, the depths of the sea
no matter where I am
I am because of she

Now the time has come
when I must be a child no more
it is time for me to stand up, find my voice
feel the movements in my soul
the calling in my heart
the need to give back to my mother
to soothe her wounds
to provide her food, care, and love
to tell her thank you
for all she has done

Now it is my time
for even the moon gives respite to the sun
the stars shine brightly, but sometimes they fall
the waves break when they hit the shore,
only to form again and then crash once more
the leaves change color and reunite with their ground
the clouds give way when the rain becomes too much to bare
all of these things, signs of care

And now my mother
it is my turn to show you
that your child has grown
I’m proud to give, I’m happy where I am
and so thankful to live

So let me give you, just a little bit of what you gave me
let me soothe your heart with a lullaby
and scare away your bad dreams
let me feed you with my heart beats
let me love you, with the love that you taught me

I am because you are
Thank you for being my mother
I love you