What I did this summer

Many times I attempted to write on 'What I did This Summer' like an essay from elementary school, and I kept getting stuck. The months flew by, and then life happened.

Back in July, I was all set to try and start a business with doTERRA essential oils, alongside my part-time job at Sprouts Farmer's Market, where I mostly working the early morning shift.

I was reconnecting with some old friends I've know since high school and visiting relatives I don't see often.

Then my mom had a stroke. She was conscious when admitted to the hospital, and later sedated for the next three weeks in ICU as we made hospital visits nearly every day. The stroke caused brain seizures that would not cease. She did not survive. I never imagined I would lose my mom during this extended visit and I will miss her for the rest of my life.

Now I have returned to Merida and I look forward to catching up with friends here. However, there are other challenges and uncertainties ahead. Or perhaps new adventures.

Sometimes there are things you think you could never survive, and then they happen and you find some unknown strength to keep going. It's strange and I have no idea how my life will look a year from now, but somehow I can live through each day and make the most of it. (Actually it's spiritual strength because I believe in God, and a lot of people have been praying.)

You've most likely heard the quotes - 'Life is short,' 'They days go slow but the years go fast.' Each day I am trying to make the best choices of how to use my time, what I think about and give energy to. Try to stay present, and with awareness, catching the negative or fearful stories and change them to something more positive and productive. (Yoga is an amazing tool!)

As Annie Dillard in her book 'The Writing Life' says, “How we spend our days is of course how we spend our lives."

p.s.
I have barely learned and used the essential oils all this time, but there is one thing I had results with so far; using peppermint oil to quickly cure a headache. I applied a dab from the roller bottle oil to each side temple and viola! Headache gone! Give it a try.

p.p.s. While in CA, I had the opportunity to meet the lovely Amy Logan (who is my essential oils mentor, and friend) You can visit her adventures at:  https://www.amyloganlife.com/

back in Cali

Hello from southern California (away from the Yucatan summer heat).

I have been enjoying time with family, and reconnecting with long-time friends. Keeping in touch with my peeps in Mexico is easy via whatsapp and messenger.

As a health and wellness enthusiast, I have been looking to find new opportunities to begin new career directions in that realm.

One direction is working part-time at a natural grocery market. This is a completely different industry for me. There is always something to do, all kinds of things to learn, and plenty of new people to meet! So far so good.

I will share more on the second direction in my next post!

Hope you are enjoying your summer, and spending time with your loved ones. xo

Wonder Woman

A couple weeks ago I saw a lot of hype on Instagram about the new Wonder Woman movie, even from Oprah. So yesterday my friend Judy and I went to the matinee and saw Wonder Woman. What a bargain at 51 pesos/under $3 US! I only knew the old series with Linda Carter back in the day and that Diana was from Paradise Island, so it was interesting to learn more about her story. I liked the compassion she felt towards those suffering and her desire to help them. She reached deep within to grab hold of her strength/power to use for good which all superheroes do, I know. I don't get into all the over- the-top action hoopla and explosions, but it also reminded me more of Xena type women fighters.

The beautiful actresss and model, Gal Gadot, was born and raised in Israel. After winning a Miss Israel beauty pageant in 2004, she later served two years as a soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces.

It's always nice to see strong women, do-gooders portrayed, who can also inspire the rest of us.

I loved her last line -possible spoiler alert in case you haven't seen it -
"Diana Prince: I used to want to save the world. To end war and bring peace to mankind. But then, I glimpsed the darkness that lives within their light. I learned that inside every one of them, there will always be both. The choice each must make for themselves - something no hero will ever defeat. And now I know... that only love can truly save the world. So I stay. I fight, and I give... for the world I know can be. This is my mission now. Forever."
(source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0451279/quotes?item=qt3448222)


(from Warner Bros on youtube)


p.s. I think Adriene Mishler (from Yoga with Adriene) looks a lot like her?!

Viernes

Here we are mid-June already.

Rainy season is making appearances here in Merida. Yesterday afternoon gray clouds covered the sky and the heavens thundered, forecasting a steady rain ahead.

I am finding an exciting direction for a side-hustle in the realm of wellness and holistic healing. Stay tuned.

This weekend Amir Tsarfati is speaking at Calvary Centro. He is from Jerusalem and is a Jewish Believer who informs about current events in the Middle East, alongside biblical prophecy. This should be very interesting! You can learn more about him here - http://beholdisrael.org/

An interesting article on BBC about managing your focus:
 why-you-should-manage-your-energy-not-your-time

Have a nice weekend.

approaching summer

You might think not working is a dream....
and for a season it can be!

However, I am antsy and really want to work (& earn) again
but it's a challenge in another country...
especially if you are not fluent in the language,
and do not want to teach English.
I find the best option is to be an entrepreneur with
an online business, and/or freelancer.
(Digital nomads are everywhere now.)



At this time in my life, it is essential to do something I care about,
and that would help others in positive and healthy ways.

 There are companies out there I could align with,
 and work for in some capacity. I've already started reaching out
to inspiring people in those realms.

The hot weather in Merida adds motivation.
I have decided to go back to CA for the summer..
To get some temp/p-t work in areas related to health & fitness
while exploring online-based opportunities.
I like the term 'side-hustle' and could use a couple of those for variety!

Pitaya is back!

Spending time with family and friends is another reason.


What are you planning to do this summer? 

As Annie Dillard said,
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."

art and tacos

I went on a fun little outing with my friend Linda to visit the Lux Perpetua Art Centre Gallery.

Tacos at Wayan'e

We also wanted to try this popular Taco Stand, 'Wayan'e' which is across the street from the gallery.The taco's were great! I had one with chaya con huevo, the second was pollo poblano. The horchata was a little too sweet for my liking, but it's a great taco stand and we'd both go back.

The artist Amador Montes was the only artist installation in the gallery for this exhibit. Having just been exposed to him, we both loved his style. It's sort of contemporary, collage-y works.  The docent spoke some English and was able to answer our questions. The artist is relatively young (early 40's), and on some of his paintings was a stamped name 'Carmen' which we learned is his mother's name.

Linda and me in front of an Amador Montes painting

From the information sheet, I learned - Amador Montes (1975) is a painter, ceramist, printmaker, and sculptor from the state of Oaxaca. "He's been able to merge his contemporary work with the ancestral, nostalgia with modernity, magic with reality, thus entrapping viewers in the delight of expanding time and space".... He spent time in South Korea and has participated in over 30 individual exhibitions and a similar number of collective shows. Below are some photos of his pieces I liked, these have feminine quality to them which I like. He has painted a range of subjects though.

insomnia + books

 

Insomnia - habitual sleeplessness; inability to sleep. I've had it on and off over many years. It always comes and goes which makes me grateful when I sleep through the night. I attribute it to age, menopause, sometimes wine, or oversized worries in the middle of the night.

It's staying asleep that is my problem which is called 'middle insomnia'. Sometimes I will glance at the time - 12:00 or 1:00, but this week it's 2:30 or 3:30 and I am awake. I've tried a number of natural remedies and occasionally take melatonin. Maybe it helps. I am never sure.

So I've been catching up on some reading. So I thought I'd share the books I'm reading at those ungodly hours!
I tend to wait and get bargain deals on kindle books, and mostly non-fiction.

 
I just finished "Life's Golden Ticket: A Story About Second Chances" by Brendon Burchard. It's an inspirational parable. (I think it is available for free, in PDF, if you google it.)

"At Home in the World, Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe" by Tsh Oxenrider
(pronounced Tish) and her husband who are seasoned travelers and have lived abroad, took their three kids traveling to various countries for nine months. I'm enjoying this book but am only a few chapters in -where their next stop is Singapore.

"Present over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living" by Shauna Niequist. I have read most of her books and love her stories, and writing style.

"Do Your Om Thing: Bending Yoga Tradition to Fit Your Modern Life" by Rebecca Pacheco

A few newer books I recently heard about that I want to read (but have to wait until they come down in price) are:

Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy - by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant. (I listed to a podcast interview from 'On Being')

The Rules Do Not Apply: A Memoir - by Ariel Levy (I saw this book on a post from Sarah Jessica Parker on instagram!)

Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy - by Anne Lamott

Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage - by Dani Shapiro

Eat This Poem: A Literary Feast of Recipes Inspired by Poetry - by Nicole Gulotta

And this one sits on my wishlist:
M Train - by Patti Smith

This is only a small sampling because I have a book problem addiction fondness.
Please let me know if you have any tips to help with 'middle insomnia', or other book recommendations I should know about!


Sleep Well.