Mask or No Mask

A couple of days ago, I was caught up in a Facebook post about wearing or not wearing masks.

I wanted to make the point that many of us have been so afraid that we have forgotten that nature is not the culprit, and we have been hiding from it as well.

It’s possible to go for a walk, go on a boat ride, or even enjoy a beach where there are not many humans. In my daily walk I seldom find people. there may be one or two walking a dog or a baby, or maybe jogging. Most of the time, they find a way to keep their distance or we do. I am even able to hug my tree when nobody is watching. During this time, I don’t think I need a mask. Why not take full advantage of the wonderful oxygen given by the trees directly? When I approach busy areas, I enter the grocery store, or any enclosed building, I have my mask ready to go. I am making decisions in every situation. I don’t want to be a robot.

One thing this new normal has taught me is to be more present, and being present means being aware of my surroundings and my gut feelings. I don’t need crowds, big parties, enclosed theaters or concerts, in the traditional setting.

Maybe this is an opportunity to get out of our cocoons and experience life more simply, with more respect for each other; protecting and using nature as an essential part of our daily life. Maybe we should not call it new normal. Maybe we should realize that things will continue changing, and that it is never normal because it is always changing. We need to accept that and be alert and open as we sharpen our intuition.

Can you visualize this in your future?
-A small-town meeting in an open plaza
-A small open theater
-A drive-in theater
-More homemade meals
-Greetings from neighbors
-Personal health as our responsibility not so much the doctors’
-Picnic at the park
-Donations of time
-Clear skies
-More transparent relationships

What else do you see?
If we are the ones that create our future, what could we make sure happens? I would love to hear what you see in your future. Share with us.


On Parenting

I didn’t have much guidance when I became a parent.

I had my parent’s example and I am grateful, but I would have liked to know more of what was involved. I was not ready physically, mentally, emotionally or espiritually, and neither was my partner. We did the best we could with what we knew. My kids picked up so much on their own, and grew up to be independent beautiful beings, and I am grateful for that.

As a teacher and a yogi, I’ve learned a thing or two that I would have liked to implement when they were young. I would have liked to guide them earlier and deeper in some areas in order to prepare them for life.

1. One with all- The understanding that my actions affect others as well as myself- My thoughts, words and actions are powerful energies that can hurt or heal others and myself. A repeated thought can make me sick and can make someone else sick.

2. I am more than my mind- My thoughts should not be in charge of my life. I, as the observer, can make the decision to align my thoughts, my words and my actions. My thoughts cause my anxiety or my sadness. When emotions arise, I can make proactive decisions on how to deal with them. The mind can be trained.

3. Gratitude- So many of us have been taught to focus on what we don’t have. To make the shift to be grateful for my life, for opportunities, for possibilities, for what I am and what I have, brings peace.

4. Letting-go- Living and loving without harmful attachments has been the subject of many lessons in my life. It’s much easier to let go when you love freely and without conditions.

5. Putting my mask on first- if we don’t put our mask on first before our child, not my child or I may survive a plane emergency. The same goes for life. The parent needs to eat, sleep, exercise, rest, and have opportunities for laughter and creativity to have the energy to be a caregiver.

6. Going in- understanding the importance to getting to know myself, to accept myself, and to love myself just because I am. Only when we are here, can we love others freely. We need to stand strong before partnering with others.

7. Living a purposeful life- One where we are at peace with ourselves, one that helps us grow in all areas of our life, and one that makes a difference in others.

8. Living a life by design- Understanding that we are not the stories we live. That we can learn from them and move on. And understanding that I can cocreate experiences in my life to make me a better person and to enjoy life.

9. Disconnecting from the world-
Understanding that the world can be overwhelming and that’s important to rest the mind and the body daily. We are not Superman or superwoman.

10. Stop, analyze, and decide- we live in a fast world. It requires some planning, organizing, prioritizing, and making decisions. We need to make sure those decisions are good for us in a week, in a year or in 5 years.

Unfortunately, there is no school in our society that helps us become capable parents. We can at least grow and change with our lessons in life, and hopefully, that will help our grown children or others around us.

To Eat or Not to Eat

More and more I’ve been changing how I think about eating.

You’ve heard it should be organic and as close to the earth as possible (not so processed), but have you heard that it depends on the combination of foods, the time you eat it, your body type, and your activity.

My niece is a nutritionist and she is vegan. Her mom is vegan and a natural health promoter. I learn a great deal from them.

Here are two tips:
1. Add lemon to your lentils (or anything high in iron). The lemon allows the body to absorb the iron. Otherwise, the iron leaves the body without being used.🤔

2. It’s better not to eat after 6, but if you do, the foods should not be high in sugar. Tangerines or bread in the middle of the day affect your body differently than in the evening. It has to do with your circadian rhythms (physical, mental and behavioral changes) which respond to light and darkness in your daily cycles.🤔

So, life is not so much about how much you know, but about the decisions you make with the new information that comes to you.

Today I invite you to look at any new information that comes your way, analyze it to see if it’s worth keeping, and if it is, decide when and how to apply it.

Be well!

Is It My Fire?

Is it a fire? Is it yours? Does it need to be taken care of right now?

I remember when I worked as a teacher in a school in West Palm. We taught the children to become more independent while working in small groups or on their own. The teacher would be working with 1 student or a couple of students and did not want to be interrupted. The rule was that if it was a fire (major disaster) or someone was bleeding, you could interrupt. Otherwise, you could ask another student or decide to do something else that was productive. The child could responsibly, use the bathroom, sharpen his pencil, or get up to get a needed material. (All these options would be modeled and practiced before they did it on their own.)

In our life people interrupt us at work and at home. It is possible not to meet our goals if we continuously stop for others.

At my last conference, we were discussing the importance of stopping, analyzing and deciding. Something I forget to do sometimes.

I believe we can prevent some of the interruptions by foreseeing what others that depend on us may need, and seeing how we can give them the strategies and tools to solve some things themselves.

Interruptions will come anyway, so here is an idea. Ask yourself,

1. Is it a fire?
What is the urgency and intensity of the problem?

2. Is it my fire?
Am I the only one that knows how to put it out? Can I use this moment to train someone? Can I delegate? Can we partner on the task?

3. Does it need to be put out this instant?
Can I finish what I am doing, and then deal with it?

We can’t have a rule to resolve everything right away or to delay every time there is an interruption because all interruptions are different.

So, STOP! ANALYZE! DECIDE! It takes a few minutes, but the consequences may make a major difference in reaching your goals and supporting others in ways they can become more independent.

All is Well!

No matter what today brings, all will be well in me. Let’s make that decision now.

It may bring ideas we don’t like, conversations we may not want to take part in, uncomfortable situations, or events where our body or mind may feel out of control. But all is well in me because I choose to be well.

Let’s remember that everything comes for a reason. It may be a lesson. It may be part of a healing process. It may be an event I or a community needs to wake-up and focus on what matters.

So if toxic actions of others are in your space, maybe it’s your opportunity to learn to step away or to speak up. Only you know what you need to learn. It’s all part of the school of life.

If your day brings, overwhelming circumstances at work or at home, it’s an opportunity to step physically and mentally out of the situation. It may be time to listen to your inner voice, to take a break, to get help, to prioritize, or make a change. There are always choices. The solutions are on the other side of fear. This is not just a popular saying. Get to know your fear. It helps me know that that’s where my growth is.

If your day brings an unexpected natural event, take a deep breath as well. An overwhelmed fearful mind is not helpful to make decisions. What can I do in this moment with what I have, and what I am able to do to be safe? Then act. Working on dealing with emotions is not easy, but we have to do our best so we can think clearly. It’s part of our growth.

Inhale deeply, close your eyes and check with your essence, then smile because all is well no matter what the world brings.

I make a decision now that all will be well within me no matter what happens. How about you?

No Matter What Happens

A couple of nights ago I had an interesting dream. I don’t know a lot about dreams, but I understand that all the participants in my dreams are me, even if the faces are different.

In this one, there was a younger version of someone I barely knew, and he was asking me, “How do you take care of the jitters when performing in life?”

“The way to do it is by understanding and knowing that everything is going to be fine no matter what happens!” I answered. (My higher self?)

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS everything will be fine. Do you have to be reminded of that sometimes? When we look at some parts of life, they don’t always look so pleasant on the surface. It’s not always easy to see the good. How could an accident be good? How could being kicked out of a job be good? How could someone asking you for a divorce be good?

As you are going through these things, you may feel like you are drowning. The moment you catch your breath and begin to reflect, it’s a perfect time to put your feelings to one side. Feelings tend to blind us. Now you are able to see that before the accident you were going to embark in something you were not ready for, or you were doing too much in your life and the Universe gave you a reason to slow down. Maybe the job you were in was not fulfilling you, or you were no longer being productive, and you were forcing it. Maybe you two had grown in different directions, and it was time to be “you.”

Experience should teach us that in the long run it will be fine. In the short run, we should also remember that being grateful is a great way to find the good in the now. Even when we don’t yet see it in something, it’s helpful to keep the saying, “All things happen for a reason,” handy, to remind us that NO MATTER WHAT, all will be well! All is well!

Clear Minds Clear Solutions

Have you noticed how the solutions for our “problems” or challenges are always available when our minds are calm and without worries?

For example, when you have not shopped for groceries and you think you will not be able to make anything for lunch, but you turn out with the best dish ever. If you are stressed, you decide that the only way is to go out to eat or go shopping, but the possibilities are always there.

The other day I took some things to Goodwill to give away. I thought that it would be a good idea to walk. It was a beautiful day. So, I put all the stuff in a cart, got some water and my keys with an additional keyring to attach to the cart. As I walked out of my complex with this cart full of bags and boxes, a tire got loose and the cart fell on its side. The first thought was (‘poor me.’) I’ll need someone to come and help me. Then I took a deep breath and said to myself, “There are always several solutions to any challenge we have. maybe there is a better one.” I looked to see how the other tire was held in place. It had what I called a thick paperclip. I knew I was near the neighborhood office, I could get a paperclip there. Then, I thought about the keyring. It was perfect for the job. It only took a few minutes to think, decide what to do and do it. My mind was clear, and I had planned to enjoy my day no matter what. We always have several possibilities.

Today I invite you to see the different possibilities to your challenges. Don’t just take the first one that comes to mind. There may be a better one. There are infinite possibilities, and we can see them if our mind is clear.

Change or Die!

Most people who are told by their doctors that they are going to die soon unless they change their lifestyle, actually do change for about 4-6 weeks. Then, over 80% go back to their old ways.
When people work on their personal growth, the same thing happens, but when they give up, what dies is their dream- their purpose. So, they continue to do what they have always done, and they continue to get the same results.
How do we change when will power is not enough? Sometimes what we need is support. Over 75% of patients stick to their new lifestyle when they have the proper weekly or daily support (Book: Change or Die). Today, I invite you to find someone that wants the best for you to support you in your journey. Mentors, teachers, coaches and accountability partners have made a difference in my life. Find the right one for you.

Feeling Successful?

A person who feels successful has three characteristics. First and foremost, they do what gives them a state of wellbeing and joy. At the same time, they also give regularly of their time, talent and treasure, and finally, they love who they become in the process. Success is not just being promoted to CEO, getting a degree, getting married, or getting a job. That is just part of the process.

The first two go hand in hand because if we do not take care of ourselves first (i.e. Putting our oxygen mask in an airplane), we cannot take care or give our best to others. I remember being drained of energy, and always tired, when giving my all to serve in all the possible committees at church and the school where I worked, I ended up sick because I did not make time to pamper myself, and didn’t do the things that were good for my mental, physical, and emotional health. I now meditate daily, walk, eat as healthy as possible, and take time for me when needed by going to the spa, going on mini or long vacations, going to retreats or just being.

Giving, is an extension of being, is a satisfying activity that actually has many benefits. Just the act of giving with a generous, loving intention is more than enough. However, in the process of giving great things happen. You develop a sense of purpose, and a sense of wellbeing. According to Why Good Things Happen to Good People by Stephen G. Post, giving helps with stress and depression among other ailments. He also says that when people give to charities that have meaning to them, a region in the brain associated with pleasure and trust, create a “warm glow” effect – that fuzzy feeling. I talk about giving of your time, talent and treasure because it is a basic component in the ancient philosophies and then adopted by religions as well. People who understand the law of giving and receiving know that giving in these three areas results in amazing returns unimaginable to them.

People who feel successful do not just achieve a goal and say, “I have arrived!” They achieve a goal, celebrate, and continue growing and serving. When we decide to rest on our laurels after obtaining a goal, paradigms, old fears, and bad habits may creep up and keep us down. It does not mean that we shouldn’t take breaks or vacations, those are essential. It just means that Our dream must be bigger than a goal, for our lives to be meaningful. So, people who feel successful love who they are becoming in the process of life.

Clear Days Ahead!

A few days ago, I woke up and felt a bit lazy. For some reason, I didn’t feel like going to my morning appointments. I listened to my body for a bit, but then, I knew I had to get going. I drove on the expressway and got off on a 6-lane road with a small median. I was driving on the far right. I had the sidewalk to my right, and there was traffic to my left and behind me. Suddenly, in front of me, I see a huge brown pick-up truck facing me and speeding my way. The windows were dark, and I couldn’t see inside. I heard sirens and then saw police cars on the other side of the median. I looked around for my options.  For a moment, I couldn’t see any, and the truck was getting closer. Then, as I looked in my left mirror, there was a break in the traffic, and I escaped. Later, I heard in the news that the truck had been stolen, and that he had crashed nearby. A few years ago, my body would have been paralyzed and my brain in a fog in this situation. You see, my mind is not in charge now, I am. I was shaken a bit afterwards, but I was not afraid during the event. Fear comes from negative thoughts, and I choose not to have those controlling me anymore. I have been working for a while to maintain a clear mind.

Preventing brain fog takes more than just changing my negative thoughts to positive ones, though. I have taken the time to observe my actions and my emotions to see how they affect my thinking. I have come to realize that many of my habits either make my mind foggy or clear. The main one is what I eat. If I eat too much, or too little without my daily water intake, my brain does not work well. However, if I eat healthy balanced meals (in my case vegan) in good proportions, I don’t get sleepy afterwards. And if I fast on just fruits, raw vegetables and juices appropriate for my metabolism for appropriate bowel movements, that’s heaven for my head. Fasting one day a week is a good habit to have, but if you need more than that, it’s good to have a health practitioner guide you with your choices.

Along with food, being mindful makes a big difference. It’s easy to accept stress and allow it to take over our minds.  So, we must find a way to decompress by taking breaks, walking in nature, listening to soothing music, using essential oils, doing asanas and meditating.

Here are some specific recommendations:

  • Taking vitamin B-12 if you are deficient
  • Doing the cat/cow pose
  • Doing intermittent fasting (on fruits/vegetables, or just juices)
  • Using rosemary essential oil
  • Meditating with a personal mantra daily
  • Drinking more water than you think you should be drinking
  • keeping worry and fear out of your head by changing your thoughts

Clear days ahead!

Be well!