Time for change and new beginnings. Forget the misfortunes and get ready to receive good luck.
Happy New Year!!!

My wish is that, one day, formal education will pay attention to the education of the heart, teaching love, compassion, justice, forgiveness, mindfulness, tolerance and peace. This education is necessary, from kindergarten to secondary schools and universities. I mean social, emotional and ethical learning. We need a worldwide initiative for educating heart and mind in this modern age.

Summer

Summer is a season that impresses our senses with its bright colors, fresch scents, briliant sunlight and vibrant flavors. It has a special effect since our burdens seem lighter and we feel compelled to relax, play or travel. 

Summer is a season of light, of opening doors, turning our faces toward the sun. It is invigorating to wake up with the sunrise, take a day trip to the beach, eat different and exotic ice creams or just sit and feel the sun.

Summer will pass quickly, but while it remains, you can renew yourself in the wonder of the light.

 

 
 

As we all do this time of year, I lalso reflect on what has been and look to the future for what comes next. So many expectations!!!

 I am not good at resolutions but would like to set the intention to continually work on my wellness: body, mind, and spirit. I am looking forward to going as deep as I can in this process to help not only myself but my family and the world as a whole.  

I just pray to have the perseverance to fulfill this. Happy New Year!!!!

Enjoy your Age

This photo was taken last year at a family reunion when my eldest niece turned 16. It was a very happy day since I do not have the chance to see my family so often as we lived in two different hemispheres. 

I like the laughter, the silliness and how much we care for each other. Now that I am in my early sixties I´ve come to the realization that I enjoy these gatherings more and more. Life is too short and kids grow too fast, I don´t want to miss them.

"In each stage of life, there are wonderful experiences one can savor and valuable insights one can absorb. Every new decade and, in fact, every new year brings with it wisdom, transformation, and growth, as well as ends and beginnings.   Taking pleasure in the delights of your age, whether you are in your 20s, 40s, 60s, or 80s, can help you see the magnificence and usefulness of the complex seasons of your life. 

Each new year gifted to us by the universe is replete with exciting and unfamiliar experiences. In our 20s, we can embrace the energy of youth and the learning process, knowing it's okay to not have all the answers. As we move through our third decade, we grow more self-assured as the confusion of our young adulthood melts away. We can honor these years by putting aside our fears of aging and concentrating instead on solidifying our values and enjoying our growing emotional maturity. In our 40s, we become conscious of the wisdom we have attained through life experience and are blessed with the ability to put it to good use. We are not afraid to explore unfamiliar territory or to change. In our 50s, we tend to have successfully navigated our midlife reevaluations and have prioritized our lives. In the decades beyond, we discover a greater sense of freedom than we have ever known and can truly enjoy the memory of all we've seen and done." (Madison Taylor)

 

With all that takes place in our lives, it can sometimes be easy to overlook the fact that we´re part of something greater than ourselves- a collective consciousness, the Universe, a greater cause. Because of our tendency to forget this, we might make decisions in our lives that don´t reflect that responsibility that comes with this belonging.

Contributing to the greater cause doesn't have to be all about self-sacrifice. For example, if you plant a tree in a community space, its shelter will cool and protect you as well as your neighbors. Or, your reward might be in the form of the beauty that you now see in that space or the sincere smiles of appreciation from neighbors. When you serve the greater cause you also serve your greater good. There is nothing that you cannot do for your highest good that will not benefit the good of all. For example, saying no to a relationship that isn't right for you not only benefits you but serves the greater good of the other person that you are honoring with your honesty. Saying yes to your dream job not only fulfills you but also serves the people that will benefit from your enthusiasm and productivity. 

When you know you are serving a greater cause, there is little room for fear and doubt. You know that what you do will benefit others, so there is no way the universe is not going to support your efforts - even if sometimes it may not look that way. Serving the greater cause allows you to live from the space of your greatness. When you know that what you do can serve a greater cause, you are aware of your power and ability to influence and create change in this world.

These wonderful words belong to the article A Greater Cause by Madison Taylo in the Daily OM. It does help to provide meaning to some of our habitual actions!

My dear schoolmates in the one-year-planned meeting in Las Vegas, US. They all had a good time, enjoyed the limo ride and the buffet but above all, the friendship. 

We left school in 1971 but have kept meeting every month of every year since then. We look forward to these monthly meetings where we chat, laugh, sing and dance. We leave them with a smile in the face and a light feeling in the heart.

This unforgettable trip to US was made possible thanks to our host and new Spring Queen, America. Let´s hope this is the first of many more events to come.

Love you ladies!