It's been a while since I put down my thoughts.  A lot has happened since then.  Covid has done it's work and a lot of good people ended up losing their lives.  May they rest in peace.  As for me and mine, we weathered the Covid storm well.  I have managed to travel to Puerto Rico to visit with Mom without adverse effects.  

Speaking of which, my mom is now 92 years old and still strong. I often wonder if I will last that long and if I will be as strong as her if I do last that long.  Sometimes I'm not sure I would want to last that long but only God and time will tell.  

Recently I have been revisiting the past.  All the things that I have done and the ones that I have not done or might not do if I run out of time.   I suppose you could call it my bucket list.  Funny, I never thought that I would be putting together a bucket list but now that I am older, I think "what's the harm in it", right.  It's not like it's set in stone.  I can add or subtract as I see fit.  

On another note, I have noticed that just about everyone is using social media these days (young and old) for a variety of reasons.  Some use it to see if they can find companionship because they are either newly divorced, newly widowed, or just for a change of scenery.  Others hook in because of loneliness.  Kind of like a forum to let go of some of the negative feelings.  

Finding a good person to share and spend some time with can be a daunting experience.  There are so many people out there who pretend to be someone they are not and by the time you realize they are pretending, it is too late to move on.  Then the hurt starts again and you stop trusting people.  Everyone wants to put their best foot forward but in doing so, they lie to themselves and pretend that they are someone different rather than the person they have become. 

Folks, loneliness is a serious thing.  It makes your mind go to places you don't want it to go which is not good for the person suffering it.  Unfortunately, you can be surrounded by many people and still feel lonely because you haven't found that friend/partner that can make you feel validated.  As vulnerable human beings, we need to open ourselves to being a little more social even if it goes against our nature.  I for one have experienced vulnerability and loneliness.  

When I first arrived in Philly, I knew no one.  I was in a different environment than I was used to with people who only spoke English.  I was so used to hearing and speaking Spanish that I felt isolated.  Because of this I made a number of mistakes that I would spend years trying to make right.  Eventually I pushed myself to do something about the loneliness and isolation.  I took up Roller Skating, Aerobics, joined the church choir, and anything else I could think of.  If I couldn't get someone to go with me to some of these places, I went alone.  

That's how I got to the point where I felt comfortable with myself.  I even took the European tour by myself which was very brave at the time since I knew no one and I was going to spend 16 days with a total stranger the company had paired me up with.  I had not met her beforehand but as it turns out, she was a great roommate and we had a very good time together with the rest of the single folks.  Granted, it wasn't easy since I had to push myself out of my comfort zone but I found a way to make it work for me.  I made some mistakes when I first got here but little by little I learned from those mistakes and here I am, talking about them and how I was able to overcome.

Bottom line is that if I, who am terribly shy, could overcome some of the obstacles, I think anyone can.  You just have to want it bad enough and above all you need to believe in yourself.  I finally learned how to feel comfortable in my own skin and to put myself out there to a certain extent.

 

This is all for now but I will be back!

Reflecting on the past two years

Hi,  It's been a while since I wrote anything on this blog and a lot has happened since then.  The political climate is rife with issues and a global pandemic has hit the world.  I can't say that things have gotten completely back to normal but they seem to be getting there a little at a time. I'm praying that things don't reverse and  the virus comes back.  

In the meantime, another Christmas has come and gone.  It has been a very cold winter so far.  A far cry from the winters I used to spend in Puerto Rico but this is the path chose and I will stick with it until the end.

I am hoping that I can make more time for reflection and that I can fill these pages more often.  We'll see what 2023 brings.  

For now, I want to wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year. 

This is Marilyn signing off for now....

Saturday, August 30, 2014

I am sitting in my living room listening to oldies and trying to figure out what to make for Christmas for each member of the family.  I have been working mostly on cards so have not had much chance to think about what projects I can start for Christmas.  I kind of enjoy making presents because I know that no one else will come up with the same thing and at the same time, I get the satisfaction of giving something from the heart which I think is what Christmas is all about, don't you?   

It is Labor day weekend (a long one - Yay).    It's been a while since I've written in this blog so I thought today would be just as good a time as any.  I have been busy trying to think of different ideas for my home made cards.  Sometimes the inspiration comes easy, other times not so much because of too many distractions.  This weekend I decided that I would take a good look around and get some ideas from nature and wherever else I can find inspiration.  

I have also been thinking about a family member who recently moved to a place where they are not familiar and have no family connections and I can't help but remember when I first came here to Philadelphia from Puerto Rico.  I knew exactly 2 people and had no job or job prospects!  I persevered but it was not easy in the beginning.  I had to get used to speaking and thinking only in English, where before I thought and spoke mostly in Spanish and some English when with American friends.  Then there was the weather.  It was difficult to get used to the cold when coming from a climate where the coldest it might get is 65F.   During the cold spell, everyone stayed indoors and that was an adjustment because I was used to being outdoors most of the time.  There were many times when I thought that I would return home  

At some point in time, I did resolve that I would only go back to the island because it was a conscious choice that I made and not because I was homesick or could not find gainful employment.  Here it is so many years later and I am happy with my life choices.  Granted, there are a few choices that if I had the chance, I might change but in retrospect, they have made me the person that I am today so without those experiences I would not be who I am (whew, that was deep).

I also found my faith again. For a while there I was not sure what I believed, but life has taught me many lessons and I think I have learned them well.   My faith is stronger than ever.  I currently work in a field where I see all kinds of crimes committed against good folks and I am glad that I can assist them in any way I can.   I feel that God put me here so that I could learn from these experiences.

On a lighter note, I'm getting excited about the holidays.  When fall comes and the weather turns cool and crisp, I feel invigorated, full of all kinds of energy.  I know that Thanksgiving and Christmas are around the corner and this is a time for family and friends.

A family member put me on to a great song - "Lemonade" by Alex Boye and I have not stopped playing it since I downloaded it on i-tunes.  It is such an inspiring song.  Love it.

Before I leave, I would like to include some of my card creations so here goes...

Hi, It's been a while since I wrote on this blog. I haven't stopped trying my hand at making cards though and that seems to be going well. At least as well as I can expect. I work full time so it's hard to dedicate the time that I would like to card creation, but I find the time every once in a while.  Later on I will add some pictures of what I have been up to lately. For now, ta ta.

Christmas is fast approaching...some thoughts

Today is the 7^th day of November. I am deep into the creation of my Christmas cards for 2013. Whenever an idea comes to mind, I try it out.  Some of my creations I am happy with, others not so much, however, I need to look critically at the triumphs and the duds to learn from each so that’s what I am doing. I am including some of the recent creations that I have been working on. Lately, I have been obsessed with the white on white cards. They look so clean and pristine. I have tried a few but I find I end up adding some color. For some reason, I cannot get that white on white one that I am happy with.  Besides cards, I have been reading a lot. Have gotten on a site called Goodreads and have been enjoying all the articles and giveaways they have there. Through this site, I have had the opportunity to realize how many books I have actually read in my lifetime. When I was very young I used to be an avid reader. Books would transport me to other places and other times and Oh, how I loved it. Since I lived in Puerto Rico from a very young age, not only did I read in English but I also loved reading books in Spanish. This is how my Spanish vocabulary got so good. Now that I am an adult, I still continue to love books in all forms. I listen to audio books, read eBooks, and regular books. Sometimes I do the public library and other times I do other venues. There is nothing like a good book when you have some time to curl up in a comfortable chair.

Anyway, I digress; I want to post some of my latest creations so here goes…

Another rainy day in Philly...

I haven't posted anything in a while so I felt it was time so here goes.  Been doing a lot of crafty things. As I create more cards, I get a better feel for what I would like to make and in what colors I would like to make them.  You see, I come from a family where everyone has some kind of talent either in art, music, or otherwise.  I taught myself to sew, crochet, macrame, make cards and some other artsy things.  I also love to sing.  I sang with the church choir for many years and loved every minute of it.  Whenever I am with friends and someone says a catch phrase, A song pops into my head that connects with what they are saying.  I am also a computer geek.  I love to play with the computer to create web pages, etc.  It's fun and it take me away from the other stuff that I do as a Victim Advocate in the District Attorney's office.


I am including some of my latest work with card creation.  It's still a work in progress but I am already planning my Christmas cards and any other cards that I need to make...

Para variar...

Bueno, pues para variar, voy a hacer unas entradas en mi idioma natal.  Estoy probando este blog para ver si es algo que quiero continuar.  Cuando tenga un momento cambio la apariencia de la pagina para que pueda reflejar mejor los colores de mi isla los cuales son brillantes y llenos de fuego y salsa.  Por ahora les dire hasta luego pero si Dios quiere, hablamos pronto.  Ciao.