the way will appear

T

my little art

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and may you enjoy time spent with those you choose to be around. I have been spending a lot of time with friends, and thinking about what's ahead.

Aside from the loss of my mother, I've been thinking about what I wanted to say about how things don't always turn out like you think.

Three years ago we left California for our mid-life-travel-sabbatical, which is an experience I would never trade. Then living in Merida, Mexico, extended the sabbatical for two more years.

Throwing yourself into a full-time situation with your spouse is an adjustment. Then living together in an environment like 'retirement' when you are not at that stage of life is another adjustment.This has taken its toll, and our relationship did not survive. Maybe these circumstances accelerated the inevitable...who knows. Not all relationships are forever, and marriage is not for everyone. But I trust it's for the best, and things will ultimately work out well.

This chapter in Merida will be changing next year. I will not be staying once things finalize. However, I will return to visit because I have too many friends here who have become like family to me.

"As you start to walk out on the way, the way appears." ~Rumi 

The loose plan is to head back to CA for awhile and start an obvious new career direction. I am continuing to access the newfound strength to redesign myself once again. I don't expect it to be easy, but I'm not afraid either. You never know what opportunities will arise once you start a new path.

Even though I don't know how life will even look like going forward on my own, I believe if you stay true to what is most important to your being, and keep the faith, you will make good decisions. And hopefully enjoy your journey while living into the most authentic version of yourself. And that my friends, is what maturity feels like for me.

Best wishes to everyone on their individual path head. May 2018 be a magical year.

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On a different note, the lovely Adriene has a new 30 day yoga challenge in January.
http://yogawithadriene.com/true/

I just learned of a new book by Cheryl Richardson, which was inspired by the style/journals of May Sarton, whose famous work was, "Journal of a Solitude" which I read years ago. A genre I love.
http://www.cherylrichardson.com/waking-up-in-winter/

*I share this freely - there are no earnings*

Pick your poison

Monday night I went to hear a talk given by my friend Martine. She did a presentation on the health concerns about Glyphosate. Of course I'd heard of this but didn't know much about it. Boy was I in for an awakening! This crash course provided a lot of information with sited statistics and studies. In case you haven't learned much about this situation yet either....here is an overview.

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide and crop desiccant. It is an organophosphorus compound, specifically a phosphonate. It is used to kill weeds, especially annual broadleaf weeds and grasses that compete with crops. (wikipedia)

Roundup is a herbicide produced by Monsanto, applied to GMO and Non-GMO crops. It's main active ingredient is Glyphosate.

Monsanto Company is a publicly traded American multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation. A leading producer of genetically engineered seed and Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide. (wikipedia)

Basically the Roundup used in agriculture is pretty deep in our food supply, soil (even in water and air) and linked to many disorders and diseases affecting thyroid, kidneys, sleep, obesity, dementia, autism ADHD, anxiety, endocrine disruptor, kills good gut bacteria, leaky gut, auto-immune disease, even damaging DNA, and more. The effects accumulate over time and most studies are too short to detect damage.

There is a class action lawsuit filed in Alameda County against Monsanto by people who developed Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma caused by exposure to Roundup weed killer. And apparently the EPA failed to protect us and the the environment.

Glyphosate touches almost everything, but some of the foods and items suggesting the most contamination include;
soy, corn, cotton, canola, sugar beets=sugar, papaya, zucchini, tobacco, oats, wheat, peas, lentils, potatoes, buckwheat, dairy ... as well as processed foods including cereal.

It was suggested to eat more probiotic rich foods to strengthen your good gut bacteria. Kefir, kombucha, fermented vegetables, sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, even sourdough bread is a good choice. And buy organic when you can because if there are chemicals used.... it usually has 'less' than non-organic.

It's a massive subject and this is just a tiny bit of info from my notes.
Some of the Doctors names mentioned were: Dr. Stephanie Seneff, Dr. Don Huber, Dr. Anthony Samsel, and Tony Mitra.
If you google these names or words you will find articles and youtube videos galore.

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."