Taking the Bitter with the Sweet

Hey Dolls happy Wednesday! Hope we are all doing well and getting ready for our weekend. I am super excited for my lil mama's big 21 on Saturday. Have all the food items bought and ready to go and I got her custom made balloons at Party City can't wait to share the pics with you soon.

Today as I sit in my office looking at the beautiful sunshine coming through my window I find my thoughts wondering to how in life certain occasions can be full of happiness but have a mini trail of sadness.

illustration by popsugar.com.au

How can it be the love of my life will be turning 21 years old and have no immediate relatives but myself to share in this moment? No over joyed grandparents, no excited aunts & uncles, no fun loving cousins, no beaming with pride Father? How can it be that what most of us grow to take for granted which is family my daughter and I really don't have?
We have no control over the families we are born into that is just fate. We can only control the roll we play in that family we do land in.

illustration by pinterest

I am grateful for the small circle I have built that is truly our family. Full of love, support and acceptance. Full of positive energy, lots of hugs and smiles. Ready to always shine a mirror on us to remind us of our amazing beauty and self worth. Always there to remind us of how far we have come and all we have over come.

Family is what you make it and if the one you were born into doesn't know your worth, takes away more than they add, hurts your spirit more than they help you shine then don't be afraid to let them go. It is ok to value yourself more than the blood running through your veins. Poor behavior is never ok to stick around with even if it is family. We are conditioned to think "yeah but that's my family" instead of "yeah that is my family, and because it is such I shouldn't be treated that way" that we never stop to question things until we know better until we know our worth.

illustration by thequotepedia.com

I will continue to take the Bitter with the Sweet, its an awesome alternative to wanting to pull my hair out or scream at the top of my lungs. Sharing some quotes that have helped me through the years heal what was once broken perhaps they can help you as well.
Now back to happy thoughts about my lil sunshine!!!

illustration by sarahdeanna.com

What do you think? Is it ever ok to sacrifice your sanity and well being just because of sense of duty? Are there ever lines you shouldn't cross or is all fair game when it comes to family? Share your experiences and comments with me.

Always stress free xo

Mari 

Wanting my Rewards Now not Later

Dolls Christmas is almost here but can I share I can't wait till it is over! All these greedy, self absorbed people walking around me I have just had enough! Don't you gift your loved ones all year long with the basics of just love, presence and kindness? Are you so F***** up all year long that you have to BUY the people around you in one day? All I have seen lately has sucked the joy of this holiday for me and because I am not wrapped up in myself and have instead actually been dealing with regular life issues I wanted to share my latest thoughts maybe they express something you have put some thought into as some point as well.

Love and attention lasts longer 

than any Purchased gift...remember that

 Happy Holidays!

Is there life before death?
Why aren't we living our best lives before we die?

If you watch the news on a daily basis you see that it is full of gloom. Death and poverty everywhere. People treating each other poorly constantly. What is our fellow man doing to one another?

I watch my daughter and wonder what the future holds for her, I walk pass a park and as I watch the children play I ask myself what is in store for you? How long will that innocence last before someone or something tarnishes your beautiful life?

We walk around as if we have all the time in the world and it is only when tragedy occurs either around us or in our own lives that we stop and refocus. But why does it take tragedy for us to focus on what really matters? Or why do certain people use religion to tell me that my rewards will come later after my time on this earth is done?

illustration by shutterstock.com

I want my rewards now, I don't want to wait for later. I want to enjoy Living. I am not referring to mass consumption of things I am referring to just day to day things. Nature, family, friends, making a living, love...
I want my hard work to pay off now. When I die it is an idea that my soul goes someplace better and that may be wonderful but why can't I also have better now?

Self care. I believe that if all of us valued that concept it could trickle over to every aspect of our lives and every interaction we had with anyone around us. Is it wrong to want to obtain that? Would it be considered selfish and if it is, why?
Why is it selfish to take care of our needs first and have the goodness of that nurturing spill over onto everything else? Ever wonder why only those who neglect their needs only to be miserable in doing so are the ones who label you selfish when you are their opposite?

I want to live my best life now, I have no interest in reaping rewards later. I want to matter, I want to help, I want to make a difference...now.
So how can I do that? How can I have it all like the ideal dream? I came up with this list, what do you think?
-rest
-sleep
-have periods of time where doing nothing is doing something
-volunteer
-practice kindness
-enjoy your friendships
-smile often
-kiss a lot
-dance
-talk to strangers
-learn something new everyday
-read
-turn OFF your gadgets
-have dinner with your loved ones often and talk together
-stop procrastinating

illustration by quotepixel.com

There are so many rewarding things we can do on a daily that our lists can be endless but if we start with kindness and a smile that alone is enough to make any day great. What do you think? How can we live our best lives now, be rewarded now and not have it be labeled selfish?
While you think about that I will be getting my ball rolling by heading to my living room to watch a movie with my lil mama!

Always stress free xo

Mari

I'm so Grateful for...

I personally don't just take one day to express, share or say how grateful I am about anything or anyone in my life. My journey has taught me that anything can change in a blink of an eye so it's important to show value at all times. Unfortunately the world we live in seems to focus and zoom in on just one specific day and blow it up to unrealistic proportions and then add consumption of things on top of that.

illustration by quotesgram.com

As I have shared on my blog on numerous occasions I am not very close with my family and we all try to avoid one another as much as we can so no feathers get ruffled. It took many years of testing the waters and pushing the envelope but I am so grateful that I have come this far and left those rocky moments behind. I am grateful I accepted that some things just aren't meant to be and everything has a purpose.

On the eve of this designated day to give Thanks I want to share what I am Grateful for...

-My life- for over 40 something years I have been on this planet and though some of my chapters have not be so awesome I have truly learned so much and loved so deeply and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to experience all the things I have and be here today with very few scares and no bitterness. Life truly is what you make it don't give that power to anyone else. Live your life not someone elses.

-My daughter- it goes without saying that she truly is the greatest love of my life and though all parents think their child or children are the best my daughter has given my life purpose and has been the best teacher I could have ever had. I am grateful for the love and mutual respect we have for one another and I am grateful for her father. I give thanks every day for our union and our life together because it served such an amazing purpose. So for those of you out there wasting your time being bitter about your past and with your x, let it go. That has never been me, I love my x dearly and hold no ill will but I have seen the other side and the destruction it leaves behind. Staying in that state does a disservice to the beautiful human being you created.

illustration by hdwallpapersimage.com

-My parents- they gave me life, they taught me long lasting lessons about what family really means and though they are not part of mine I am grateful that they bought me into this world so I can be Erica's mother and so much more. Parents do the best they can with what they know so if yours messed up learn to forgive let go and learn from their mistakes.

-My siblings- they remind me that a brother or a sister is not just blood related. I have a few and I am grateful for the many more I have acquired over the years that love me and respect me and value our connection. Family is what you build and what you work at, communicate and grow and if it doesn't fit a purpose move on.

illustration by quotesgram.com

-My grandma (baby #2)- omg my vieja, how I love her and how blessed I am to have been destined to make her last chapter in her journey as comfortable as possible. How blessed I am to learn and practice patience and compassion every second I am with her and carry it on to daily life. How honored am I to even if vaguely be part of her last memories. I am grateful to be here for her and to show my daughter an awesome example of letting go of expectations and just being in the moment.
Alzheimers robs you of any control you believe you have in your life. Don't allow your high expectations to rob you of the simplest moments. Illness isn't the only thief in life.

-Fram- I am grateful to all those that I have called and still call friends and family. You guys all have taught and teach me so many different things. One being nothing last forever so the earlier we learn that and accept it the better off we will be.

-My Mindful practices of Yoga & Meditation- I am grateful to have come across you in the greatest time of need. I am grateful for the open arms and love you have shown me. I am grateful you gave me a new chance at an amazing life. I am grateful you showed me who I really am.

illustration by pinterest.com

Last but certainly not least YOU. Thank you for following me or just dropping in from time to time. Thank you for reading my words, I really put a lot of thought into all I say. Thank you for allowing me to enter your personal space and I am so Grateful and humbled by your attention. Please know I take no visit, no click, no comment for granted. Please know I am here as a friend and anything my journey can do for another is my purpose.

Always stress free xo

Mari

Being an Adult

Reveal Thursday.

First and foremost I want to wish all my family, friends and supporters an amazing Thanksgiving!! I want to say I am so grateful to have all those that truly matter in my life and for all the lessons this past year has taught me, Thank you. Every day is a blessing, go out and live your life!

I looked up the definition of an Adult, it said a person who was fully grown and developed, someone sensible and mature not childish.
I guess then that on paper I am totally an Adult but in spirit I am totally more childlike, but in a good way.
I love Candy, Cartoons, Tattoos, Motorcycles, Coloring books, Toys and all kinds of Music. I love Video games, social drinking and late nights out with friends. I love Colors and Nail polish and Amusement parks. I love the Ocean but can't swim; I love strolling in the park but can't ride a bike. I am always high but I have never done any drugs.

I took the test Dr. Oz had/has on his website that from your answers can tell you what your “Real” age is in body and mind. From what the results said my “Real” age is 32. Awesome! It puts me at ten years younger than my Birth Certificate.
I took Dr. Oz’s test on what is your real age and mine said Real age is 32.
Perhaps what has allowed me to parent as carefree as I have is having this mindset and this outlook. I have never forgotten what it was like or what it felt to be young heck I am young and no one can tell me otherwise.

I know a woman who always feels she has to remind me of my age (as if I am not aware) and better still she has to beat herself up about hers. She was my inspiration for this post.
Once I was sort of cruel because I commented that those that have a problem with ageing should not be around but it wasn't because I wanted to be cruel it was more of a speaking out loud observation. I have a strong belief that life is to be appreciated and lived as best possible and never taken for granted. But who am I to make such a statement.

Guess what I want to convey is don't knock me because I feel youthful because I have childlike tendencies and because I live life period. Don't be upset I am not on a countdown or that I watch everything I eat or do. Don't be mad I am not stuck or angry that my daughter is a vibrant young woman and enjoying her own life. I am living mine as well. I am not in competition with the young, I am in my own space, I had that time now this is just another time and I am still ready to explore and when I looked in the mirror today I was still that young vibrant spirit I was years ago and still was yesterday.

Perhaps she will continue to remind me, perhaps she will just stop one day and try things my way in any case…
Age is nothing but a number, you here it all the time; except for me it is the truth.