Coming home after 33 years....

It would take me a long time to tell you about all of the experiences that I had in the past 33 yrs. of my life since I decided to pack up and leave to find something "better" than what I was leaving behind. I wouldn't have missed one single experience I had, the good and the bad for anything, but the real winner is that all of that just made me realize that I didn't really need to go anywhere looking for it, and I only found that out after I had been gone for so long and once I got back home.

A couple of months ago I started heading down slow first from Israel to New York on my way back to San Diego. I can't explain what it felt like to land in New York, even though I'd only been to that city a few times in my life, just landing there made me feel I was back where it started to feel like home from a very far away land =) simply because I was. The first thing I noticed is that I felt that everything was back to easy for me, I understood the language perfectly, amongst other things...

OK so Diego (a rescued dog off the streets of Tel Aviv) and I arrived to San Diego and there is my ex-husband's girlfriend to pick me up at the airport. That's the part where everyone always keeps telling me that I'm crazy, but I actually believe that I'm the sane one, just think about it, what are the end results of getting along so well with my ex-husband and his girlfriend as well? the result is first what values we're teaching to our kids, no matter what I love and respect my husband and always will, and as for his girlfriend, she treats me like a sister, makes me feel at home in what now is her home and has been more helpful to me than any friend or family member. So I say if the end result of our efforts and appreciation for maintaining a close and loving relationship is getting love and care and good wishes, to me that seems very sane don't you think?

Back to the Story where were we? oh yeah we are at the Airport in San Diego, me and Diego, he is finally out from his confinement ordeal, poor little one, good thing I managed to take him out at the Airport in NY just to pee :)

That first day in San Diego was INTENSE, my senses and thoughts were on overload. I was making a few stops along the way, but this time I was going to go back home, home was calling me, I was now stronger after that Water River Rafting period of my life, living a much more normal and exciting existence, but I started to miss home I believe for the first time since I left 33 yrs. ago.

The rest of my visit in San Diego was just like a dream, and a very intense one at that. First I was invited to my girlfriend Jackie's house for the second time, she opened her doors to me before I left for Israel and then again once I got back. I'll forever be grateful to her and her son Jack and lets not forget Dixie, sorry girl for Diego invading your space, and thank you for gracefully sharing it with him ;)

The end of my stay I spent with my ex and his girlfriend, they have a lovely apartment right downtown with views that never end. Well deserved you guys!!

But the real reason why I was back in San Diego on my way home was my son. I had been visited by my daughter while in Israel but my son wasn't able to take time off and I missed him TERRIBLY!!!!! The first time I got together with him after not seeing each other for almost two years was a feeling of complete joy, warmth, trust and comfortable familiarity, in a way as if you never left except that because you did you appreciate it that much more. We talked for hours, we had so many things to share. We saw each other several times again and each time I felt better knowing he was content with his life and always moving in the right direction.

Paty was at the Airport in Mexico City waiting for me, then took me to eat "Quesadillas del Maria Isabel". Now that to me was the best welcome back home I could have had. Who needs a Parade when you can have "Quesadillas del Maria Isabel." ;) I was excited thinking about the High-school reunion we were having in 3 days and all the friends I was going to see again.

So how was the reunion you ask? where are you now? what have you been doing for the past two months since you got back home? have you gone anywhere, done anything special, it hasn't been that long after all!!!!

Well let me tell you that what I have seen, been to, accomplished, experienced etc. etc. mostly thanks to all the people who have crossed my path in these past two months has been an astonishing realization of longtime dreams. I'll start by saying that no matter where these present realities take me, they just came into my life to show me that no matter how long you dream a dream, if you persevere, if you maintain them alive, if you don't lose the faith or the patience, and just relax in the thought that one day they will happen while always continue to move in their direction, remembering never to listen to anyone who tells you that you are too much of a dreamer.

The reunion was fantastic, there were more people than we expected. I love these reunions because it makes me realize that with a very small and yet enjoyable effort, for a few short hours of our lives, we manage to go back into that place in our hearts where we still hold our childhood, in which we are surrounded by people who were part of our history and after all these years and whatever life has brought to each one of us, we are always happy to share on each other's success as well as being there in times of need.

The rest of my stay in Mexico City was also a dream. Paty was like a sister and we did so many things together in that phenomeal 'City of Mine!!!!' almost nothing looks the same as it did when I grew up there.

We went to Tepoztlan, a very quaint town that reminds me of Sedona, Arizona, spiritual healing, crystals, spas, photos and interpretation of your aura, beautiful crafts, the town was lovely and us three girls had a grand time.

Went to Cuernavaca to visit my dad, that was a very memorable day for me. I spent 8 hrs. making my dad and two of my aunts I didn't know were there very happy to have company, they live in a Jewish retirement facility that I've known since I was a kid, but only this time I was visiting my dad. Right there, in that place I decided I will always do whatever it takes to be independent and live home hopefully with a partner by my side!!!! until the day I'm ready to kick the bucket ;)

In DF we went to many restaurants, to do the Hair Salon thing, got a new look for myself, visited places and ate things I had been craving for years. I went back for New Years and we had a BLAST!!! with other friends from the past.

I could go on for hours telling you all I did in DF and surrounding towns, went downtown to see the decorations for Christmas, of course Sanborns has to be in the equation a few times, so was visiting with my dearest friends from my Jewish organization, and my girlfriends from school and work, I wouldn't want to miss seeing them, and what about my cousins, most of all Jane, she knows how much I love her! my visit to the Cementery to see my little brother, my grandparents and all the friends and family members who left before we did, may they all rest in peace....but my biggest and most rewarding surprise of them all was my visit and subsequent reconcilliation with my brother. We had been at odds with each other for some time now, but that afternoon he invited me to his office and I agreed to go visit him there, everything negative I ever felt before just melted away and he became my big brother again. That alone was worth the trip.

We go through things we move to places, we meet new people, we take new risks, but we NEVER give up on the dream, and literally as everyone who talks about this says "When you LEAST expect it..."

In San Miguel I had rented an apartment on the internet and am lucky enough to have great neighbors, we've adopted each other!!!

One day my neighbor and I, we hang together every day at some point and this time we wanted to see if we could broaden our horizons as far as people were concerned.

We picked a social lunch for people who get together every Wednesday at 2 pm. to eat and experience different restaurants. There can be 5 people who show up or there can be almost 30 people like there were that time, so we walk in at 2 and everyone is already sitting around this gorgeous garden restaurant, they've already ordered drinks, which tells me they've been there for a little while at least, there are two places visibly open for us to sit, I wonder if they knew we were coming ;) but the places happened to be strategically apart from each other. At that moment I thought to myself, what on earth am I doing here, this is not normally my scene, and on top of it I have to make small conversation with these people around me, who live around town, pretty soon I'll be walking down the streets and waving like Evita Peron at everyone I've met, and all I really wanted to do was have a good meal and make comments about it with my friend, and she was way out there at the other end meeting other people as I was.

The woman next to me was very interesting, I wanted to hear more about her life. She had lived on a boat a few years, then came here and became a psychologist, she works through Skype mostly abroad, does laughter therapy and she is 77 yrs. old, like my mom was when she passed away, I'll have to ask her to teach me a few tricks, I bet you I can learn a lot from her, and well, laughter is something I do all the time anyways, so that should make the learning easier.

On my other side were other nice people, one lady had the same name as an aunt of mine my mom used to love a lot, we grew up around a lot of family so it brought good memories from childhood, I know whenever I see her again I'll know her name and that's a good feeling :) I was finding myself enjoying the experience more than I expected I would and then at the other end a woman stood up and introduced herself, she told us her name, who she was, hold long she'd been living here, what type of business she had, and asked if we would introduce ourselves. We went around the table until they got to me, so I told them who I was, where I'd been and ended with what I wanted, which was a job, maybe my own radio talkshow, I wanted to do voiceovers and translations, and just like that the woman who had started the introductions said, come to my office I'll hire you.

My friend and I finished lunch and left, we went to look for an apartment first but it wasn't available so we said lets go see about that job and we did. When we got there we were directed to a small office upstairs. There was a large wooden table, large enough for say 8 people, she was sitting at the head, to her side was a young man who was next to her at lunch and another guy who was there too, so I knew then they worked for her as well. They quickly explained what they did and it seemed to me that I had found a nitch, it was what I knew how to do plus what I wanted to do which was translations and voice work. I was anxious to start and see where this experience would take me, but what I wanted more than that was to find out who the guy sitting on her left was. She had introduced him as her attorney but did he work there? was he single? Who was that handsome Argentinean? Moriah and Laura would be wondering as I'm sure are all my other friends ;)

I started the job the next morning and I got to do things I always wanted to do, however I quickly realized I'm better off doing it as a freelancer, that way I can do many other things and keep a balanced life which is exactly why I came here in the first place.

So as we stand right now I have a lot of things going on all the time, I'm out there in the World trying to "Make My Life Happen on Purpose" I try to visit DF at least once a month, yesterday I celebrated one of THE MOST memorable and enjoyable birthdays of my life, I had a gorgeous bouquet of flowers brought to me by a handsome Argentinean who cooked a delicious meal for me and invited my neighbors to share on the feast. You should have seen the dining room table, it looked like those parties that my mom used to throw now and then, the one thing she would always do was make sure that there was TOO MUCH FOOD!!!!!! I also got cards and calls and messages from a lot of people who always make me feel loved and cared for, ESPECIALLY MY KIDS!!! it's for all my friends and family, to whom I don't often have the opportunity to write and keep you up to date with my adventures, that I write this entry, with an ENORMOUS sense of appreciation to each and every one of you for being a part of my life. I always try to make sure to be in appreciation, and to let those who have in any way impacted my life know that I'm truly grateful.

I owe a lot of you who have asked me for a short recount of my two year life experience in "The Holy Land" I will try to write it soon and will name it "Roaches, Humidity and Bats... OH MY!!!" we'll see how fast I can get to that. In the meantime I take this moment to encourage you to follow your dreams no matter what they are...

And now I'm off to continue to "Make my Life Happen on Purpose", and in pursuit of new dreams. I have places to go, things to do and people to see. I can't wait to see what life has in store for me :) Next time I go to San Diego I have to remember to take a picture at the beach and this time write on the sand the words "BEEN FOUND!!" and change it for the picture at the opening of my blog ;)

Hope to hear from y'all soon, or better yet, come visit!! :)

Hugs,

@nit@

FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real...

FEAR

by Ilana

It´s dark out, and you´re home alone. The house is quiet other than the sound of the show you are watching on TV. You see it and hear it at the same time. The front door is suddenly thrown against the door frame. Your breathing speeds up. Your heart races. Your muscles tighten.

A split second later, you know it´s the wind. No one is trying to get into your home, you are safe. For a split second you reacted as if your life were in danger, your body initiating the fight-or-flight response that is critical to any animal´s survival. But really, there was no danger at all. What happened to cause such an intense reaction?

FEAR - an emotion mentally and physically paralyzing. We´ve all experienced it. We wouldn´t be human otherwise. Today, I want to talk to you about FEAR.

Fear is a chain reaction in the brain that starts with a stressful stimulus and ends with the release of chemicals that cause a racing heart, fast breathing, and energized muscles, among other things - also known as the fight-or-flight response. Does this response sound familiar to you?

The brain is a profoundly complex organ. More than 100 billion nerve cells compromise an intricate network of communications that is the starting point of everything we sense, think and do. Some of these communications lead to conscious thought and action, while others produce autonomic responses. The fear response is almost entirely autonomic. We don´t consciously trigger it or even know what´s going on until it has run its course. The stimulus could be a spider, a knife at your throat, the sudden thud of your front door, or even speaking before a room full of people.

An what is the number one fear humans have? Public Speaking! Jerry Seinfeld illustrated it well - ¨According to most studies, people´s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, If you go to a funeral, you´re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.¨

Today, I speak here before you about FEAR to point something out. Some of you may already be aware, some of you may not. But, nevertheless, I cannot let this opportunity to speak my mind go by without making sure I said my peace.

Each one of us boldly faced the number one fear humans have. I do not think anyone should downplay the courage they have shown in this classroom nor forget about it. In the future, at times when fear seems to be seeping in, remember the power that resides within you and the strength you exhibited in this classroom. This course isn´t even a requirement and the fact that each one of us got up here - multiple times, well, I personally think that deserves recognition.

So, whether your biggest fear IS public speaking, or sharks, or the dark, or something absurd like the fear of red socks - whatever it may be, congratulations to all of you for the completion of this course. And thank you Professor Piccillo for your wisdom and guidance throughout it.

Man's Harshest Foes...Mother Nature and Father Time

Humans are straddled with unsurmountable challenges, from the moment of conception until dust turns to dust. If anyone looks back at their lives and evaluates the challenges, hurdles and burdens they have had to overcome just to exist, many would question whether the effort justified the legacy.

It appears that every critical movement made in our lives, is a decision between good and bad, right and wrong, do or die. The outcome of those choices can only be properly assessed in hindsight, when the dust from the battle has settled and we can then count with clarity all the casualties left behind. It is the expectation of humanity that we constantly walk through the right door, even though the laws of aging and time are antithetical to experience and wisdom.
The traditional hope is for us to become wiser and consequently better as time and maturity set in. And yet in order to achieve homeostasis with our environment we are naturally doomed to make enormous errors in judgement from which we are to learn the lessons in life. It is almost like we are fighting ourselves and our birthright ignorance, in an attempt to fortify and toughen the positions we take when we confront our fellow man. As shown throughout time, it appears we have yet to master these skills, and we wind up yearning for more time or more endurance to reshape our legacy in later years. The paradox is overwhelming, forcing us onto the compliance treadmill that keeps us generally on the straight and narrow while stifling creativity, progress and internal growth. Sometimes or most of the time we swallow the bitter pill in order to shave off trials and tribulations associated with breaking out of chained traditions.

I have no observations that moves us closer to resolving the riddle.
I do however have some commentary about two forces that are usually discussed in gentle terms, friendly forces that ease the challenges of the exciting climb to the summit from where we can see where we came from, and guide us gently through the descent where we hope to settle at base camp to talk about all our achievements, in hopes of convincing them that our route was the right one. All of this if only we give in kindly to them, without resistance, passively and amicably. These forces are natural, human and part of the equation of life. I don't believe they are as friendly as they are portrayed. They are interwoven into life's fabric and they become an essential component of the blanket we use to shelter ourselves as the days get colder, in the wintery quarter of our presence on earth.

Mother nature and Father time. Amazing how their public relations agents even gave them both benevolent and revered status by assigning them paternal monikers. Making us feel like they are part of our family, trustworthy and intent on advancing us to a better place.

I think they are the ultimate Trojan horse embedding themselves in our bodies, minds and spirits, only to slowly spread like a malignancy that leads us to the ultimate holocaust, the destruction of humankind. Take mother nature always portrayed as a playful winged creature powdering life with sprinkles of fairy dust after which everything seems greener and smells fresher. She solidifies the illusion that as long as we care for her, we shall be cared for in kind. Father time is portrayed as a benevolent figure born with a diaper on January first and wisely walking off the year's calendar on December 31st. This is done as if to contain and cloak the ravages he dispenses in his relentless eternal tick tock attack on our lifetimes. Together they play the most deceiving slight of hands, intended to lull us into their lair, asking us to give up gracefully the youthful indiscretions that defined us and made us relevant. These two con artists steal our importance in society pushing us off the treadmill with the promise of an afterlife where neither appear to play any significant role. Just think of the deception. Mother nature delivers the infant, squeaky clean, powdery fresh innocent and free from responsibility, helpless and totally reliant upon others to achieve the next level. She sneakily provides us with all the necessary elements to breathe, drink, eat and thrive. She makes us feel invincible, with rubbery bones that never break, skin that always regenerates and enough energy to tackle every daunting task that we are faced with.

Then we grow holding hands with her, listening to her advice and admonitions, believing blindly in her altruism, convincing others to follow her, dancing behind her like rats behind the piper. It's not long before you realize this lady is no lady at all. Playful at first she seems so innocent and loving, until the first subtle yet definitive assaults. The tree that sheltered us from rain and suspended our childhood house, collapses in a pile of timber after it's struck by lighting, either of which can snuff you out if you cross them. The earths waters rise and fall as she warns "prance at your own peril". The gentle breezes become violent killers randomly plucking her children and churning them into netherworlds. The warm comforting crackles of the nourishing and warm fire, explode into wild orgies of destruction at the drop of a match. The solid earth we tread on giving us a gravity platform will spontaneously tremble so recklessly,it brings all her children to their knees begging for forgiveness for transgressions never committed. The nourishment provided by her kindness slowly offends and degenerates our organs rendering them inefficient, obsolete or both. The skin wrinkles, the muscles ache and the mind fades. The more we are encouraged to pursue our dreams, the more she seems to impede the efforts. It is almost as if she is lying traps in the labyrinth that has no exit, and the reward, when reached is staled by our absence of zeal and vigor.

We go so far and try so hard, only to realize that the prize, is half figment of our imagination and half truths. She is ultimately uncaring of our half fulfilled hopes that scream for a little bit more time. Which brings me to him, Father time. Always present from the inception and promised to be there at the end. Always on time, like clockwork marking it's passage by benign celebrations where we eat cake and blow out candles to signify another year of accomplishments and hopes for the future. He encourages you to look at times past making your past life a living and breathing being,always at your beck and call to assist you in the next endeavor. He is a distant friend in your early travails, and we seem to not see him or worry about him as the summers last forever and the things of youth are seemingly perennial. But don't mistake his fatherly complacency. He is much more evil than the kindly clock we believe him to be, ticking happily at the beat of each step we take. He is a con artist, a deceiver, a liar, corrupt and corrupting. How ironically he plays with our memories, taking us instantaneously to other places in the past where we feel the emotions are vividly in our reach. He gently glides you past those years that are so fulfilling and reminiscent of better circumstances,while covering the face on his watch as if to say, "don't think about me, you will always have me by your side".

Then one petrifying mirror morning you discover the rouse. We are face to face with a stranger, a distorted apparition that looks nothing like you remember, and bears the scars inflicted by her, Time's ally in the battle against you. And when you try to time travel, the memories are not quite the same, and mostly only serve as an anxious reminder of what was, and no longer is. As if this were not humbling enough, she robs you of the ability to reminisce by dementing the memory process and erasing any cogent thought that may help you figure out, how you wound up where your at, and how to cope with this strange unreal world. As we are conned into believing that she is all embracing and he is the keeper of happy times we are slowly yet systematically awakened by their evil plot, first by making you believe in their selflessness and then, once you do, kick out the underpinnings of the structure we call our life, sending it careening down into a dark eternal place where even her sunshine can't reach, and his hands no longer mark any passages.

At the near end All thats left from the solid rock you depended on, is sand slowly dripping into the bottom half of his iconic instrument. So there you are, wasted tired confused and weary. Battle scars are abundant and grotesque for all to see. The young ones coming up from behind never believing they too will be here one day, smirk at how irrelevant you are in their world . All you have left are morsels of love and companionship parceled out by the loved ones you touched in life.

And sadly toward the end, all that is consistent are the foes . Mother nature decaying the last few fibers of hope dragging us to the finish line regardless of stature or station in life. She does so independent of good or bad works, and uncaring of half fulfilled hopes that scream for a little bit more time. Simultaneously father time, is rapidly counting away the few remaining minutes, sadly flashing better days before your eyes. They both embrace each other congratulating themselves on a job well done. One more for the eternal record . We appear to be always concerned about the date the world will come to an end.

Sadly it ends every second of every minute of every hour of every day. The third enemy of the triad, "Death", ends the world for you.

Mark. Fall of 010

Everything is Amazing and Nobody is Happy!!!

It's never been as good as when we didn't have as many choices.
I'm all for going back to basics, who's going with me? =)

Hugs xoxo
Anita

The Heart of a Child

It doesn't matter whether you are a great-grandparent, a grandparent, a parent, or however many titles or hats you wear in your life, don't EVER lose your childish innocence.

I love the child that lives inside of me!

Hugs xoxo
Anita

"SMILE"...and the Whole World Smiles at YOU!!!

There isn't one thing that I've found that is more powerful than a smile.

~ It helps overcome obstacles

~ Opens new doors

~ It's important in our daily lives

~ The most effective method of non-verbal communication

~ It's contagious

~A sign of hospitality and confidence

~Helps gain people's trust

~Brightens up your mood

~Triggers smiles in others around you

~The most sincere gift you can give

~And IT'S FREE!!!!

So what are you waiting for? Go make someone SMILE!!!

Hugs xoxo

Anita

Don't even think about it...

Just DARE TO DO IT!

ATREVETE!

Hugs xoxo
Anita

Destiny

Meet me at the corner of Dream and Trust...

Shine

We really can do anything if we want to, we just have to want it bad enough!

Hugs xoxo
Anita

As a New Year begins...

~May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs, and your stocks not fall and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.

~ May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastroenterologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your plumber, and the Internal Revenue.

~ May you find a way to travel from anywhere to anywhere during rush hour in less than an hour, and when you get there may you find a parking space.

~ May this Yom Tov, find you seated around the dinner table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends, ushering in the Jewish New Year ahead.~ May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them.~ May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, may your check book and your budget balance, and may they include generous amounts for charity.

~ May you remember to say "I love you" at least once a day to your partner, your child, and your parent(s).

~ May we live as intended, in a world at peace with the awareness of the beauty in every sunset, every flower's unfolding petals, every baby's smile and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous part of ourselves.

~ May you be blessed with every happiness, great health, peace and much love during the next year, and all those that follow. Amen~

With love,

Anita, Ilana & Josh

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

And since I'm the Beholder, I say this is Beauty!!

Unchained Melody

Dare to Dream ! ! !

Lifted

We never know how one simple caring action can impact the lives of many creating a domino effect, I like to call it "The Power of One".

Refreshing, well thought of, creative and inspiring.

Go make someone smile!

Hugs xoxo
Anita

It's Not This, It's That

"Knowing what to do, has not made me wiser.

Knowing what to say, has not made me smarter.

Getting what I want, has not made me richer.

Giving what I give, has not made me poorer.

Suffering so much pain, has not made me sadder.

Eating what I love, has not made me fatter.

It's embracing my pain, and being relentless.

It's following my dreams, and not holding resentments.

It's paying with love, and opening my heart.

And staying strong when all fails, and never falling apart."

~@nit@~

Hugs xoxo

A Celebration of Love

Today is Valentine's Day, a day chosen to "Celebrate Love" and though we would all like to have someone special to celebrate with that may not always be the case.

I remember when I was in elementary school, I used to look forward to this day; in those days we had to give cards to everyone in our class and I'd spend days preparing for that. I'd give the best cards to those friends I loved the most, I tried not to be too obvious with the boy I had a crush on at the time, but he would get the best lollipop, and I left my least favorite for those I didn't care for that much, but I'm sure that especially those who didn't expect it felt loved.

I remember running home at the end of the day to read each card I had received with exciting anticipation and how surprised I was at how some of my friends felt that they could not otherwise express.

So why not tell your family, friends, co workers, neighbors or anyone in your life that you care about them and make them feel as special as you would like to feel, And while you're at it, don't forget to 'LOVE YOURSELF'. When we love ourselves there is more of ourselves to give away.

I wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day every day!
Hugs xoxo
Anita

Uniting the World through Music

This is a fantastic video that demonstrates that Music has no frontiers. A profound and emotional lesson for all mankind.

Puts a BIG smile on my face!!!!
Go make someone smile.

Hugs xoxo
Anita

Finding blame...

My dear father-in-law is very proactive. He loves to stay on top of important issues around the world, especially those that have to do with wars because he experienced them first hand.

But the beauty of dad's involvement is that he speaks his mind and sends these articles to newspapers around and they always get picked up and published. I'm sure that at the very least he makes a lot of people think, and some might decide to get involved in being part of the solution and not the problem.

This article in particular hits very close to home since in the next couple of months I will be fulfilling a dream that I've had since I was 17 yrs. old, and that is to move to Israel. I guess I'll get to see first hand what goes on there. Meantime I'm very excited moving forward with my dream.

It's your fault Israel...

by Harold Shaffer

I made it known to some of my friends that Israel will be condemned, cursed and blamed for the latest turmoil that took place on the Gaza Strip.

All you did Israel was to defend your country and citizens from constant rocket attacks from the Hamas that control The Gaza.

You were nice enough to warn them if they didn't stop you would retaliate; you even warned the civilians to leave the area. Unheard of in all the conflicts I've been in and have read about.

Israel you're surrounded by millions of people that would dance in the streets if your nation and all your population was wiped off the face of the earth. All you did Israel is do what every other country would've done in the same situation.

After the Twin Towers went down we sent a couple of hundred thousand troops over to the Near East to chase the bad guys. Same thing, you have a right to defend your nation that was built on the bones of 6 million innocent men, women and dear children that were murdered in cold blood. Didn't hear all these anti-Israel countries trying to stop the Holocaust. Israel you are not aggressors, you are DEFENDERS!!!

Good Luck!

Tis that Season Again!

It doesn't matter who you are, where you are or what you celebrate this season, what matters is that whatever you do you do it with JOY and PASSION, and make it contagious so you can also bring HAPPINESS to others Over and Over and Over again!

From my little family to yours, blessings and hugs everyone xoxo

Ilana, Josh and Anita

Don't bury me on Friday Morning...

This was written by my handsome and youthful 92 yr. old Father in Law! That's why he is still so young and vibrant, because he lives his life with humor.

Love you Dad xoxo

"I had to take my wife to the hospital last week. While being examined the first words she spoke to the doctor were "I got to get out by Thursday, got a beauty shop appointment Friday".

Fellows, you're wasting your time taking them to doctors, picking up prescriptions, taking them for MRI's, CAT scans or X-rays. Forget about doctors' appointments, just get them to the beauty shop. That's the best treatment.

I told my Rabbi, "When I die, don't bury me on Friday morning, my wife goes to the beauty shop on Friday morning."

Harold

My Birthday Suit...

My birthday suit doesn't fit anymore. What happened to my body? What happened to the suit? It used to fit so tight, smooth silky supple, wrapped so tightly that it made me look like a little sausage.Then it grew when I grew, filling and stretching around every milestone, bulging with me, allowing me to keep my belongings comfortably sheltered and offering me protection from the wear and tear of daily fulfillment.

You never seemed to care how I treated you. I burnt you, skinned you cut you, abused you with unhealthy diets and customs knowing you would always bounce back. And then one day you seemed awkward, uncomfortable, not quite what I was used to.

I don't know when it started happening but it did happen slowly almost imperceptibly, until one mirror morning I couldn't believe my tired eyes. What devastation, my suit no longer fit. It sagged in the wrong places, melted off of old chronic fixtures, and showed harrowing evidence of the battle. Scared, blemished and unforgiving. Unrecognizable except for the reminders of times past, not unlike the marred surface of an ancient tree who's only history can be found in its rings.

My suit is abandoning me, reluctant to regenerate once more, becoming more of a hindrance than a companion, apparently wanting to fade off the mannequin before its put away into storage. I'm sorry my friend. I took you for granted, and now I expect you to fit like yesterday. Maybe a trip to the skin tailor for a rejuvenating nip and tuck to delay the inevitable.

No, I think will gently give in and shed you in time. Thank you for standing with me throughout the battle. You were there for the good and the bad. Ill try to be gentler on you. Stitch up the gaps, soothe the abrasions, and prop up the stance not unlike Dali would his timepiece.

Hang in there as you always have. Be assured you will only be retired alongside me when Father Time and Sir Isaac Newton quit.

Marco

Get Happy... Your Life is Right Now!

"Your life is right now! It's not later! It's not in that time of retirement. It's not when the lover gets here. It's not when you've moved into the new house. It's not when you get the better job. Your life is right now. It will always be right now. You might as well decide to start enjoying your life right now, because it's not ever going to get better than right now--until it gets better right now!"

Excerpted from a workshop in Silver Spring, MD on Saturday, May 11th, 2002
Abraham/Hicks

The Diaper

Its amazing how time distorts perspective. Emotions change as time transpires. Take the diaper. At first the excitement and anticipation we experience when we first wrap the silky smooth skin of our newborn in the first of an infinite pile of disposable gem catchers. Because after all, our treasures can only create gems.

They're so cute and soft and loving. So defenseless and dependent, a bundle of dreams, hopes and unfulfilled expectations. We are at their beck and call, all day, every day. Their cries are angelical, their odors pungent but heavenly, their regurgitations a long awaited sign that we have patted them long enough to resume their feeding. How effortless the otherwise daunting tasks, always finding eagerly awaiting family and friends who trample over themselves in the hopes we would allow them the honor of changing their full diaper. How we cling to that fleeting period when our heirs are hopelessly clinging to our every blink.

We are sadly joyful when they stumble away from their potty and graduate sigma cum-laude.

Fast forward eighty years. All accomplishments behind us. Our future is measured not in years but by the sweeping second hand.

How ironic. The diaper is the same but different. No one standing in line to change it. No longer are the contents cute. We will no longer hear rushing footsteps eager to clean the soiled wrapper. The skin no longer soft. The rashes no longer soothed. The cries no longer heard. The anticipation is no longer for the first step but for the last breath.

The diaper full cycle.

Parallel Parked in a Perpendicular World...

I often wonder if I read that phrase somewhere, or made it up in a moment of solace and despair. I just remember thinking one day that I felt as if I was 'Parallel Parked, in a Perpendicular World' because I can't see life the way most people do.

I have spent the past 5 years of my life getting to know my inner Source, and came to the conclusion that I was right all along, I'm definitely "Parallel Parked in a Perpendicular World".

In these past 5 years I discovered that I had no idea how life worked for the first 52 yrs, so can you imagine all of a sudden waking up at 52 and saying OMG you gotta be kidding me, I was just doing it the way I was taught.

OK so I say well I'm a bit beaten up and exhausted, I put a LOT into my life and it failed me in many ways, but I ain't quitting now that I figured out how it works. 'Lets Make Life Happen on Purpose.' this time.

So I get all excited, put on my rugged boots, some comfortable jeans, I know I have a long haul here because the more I read, the more I realize how much I need to learn.

I get bombarded with information, it comes from so many different sources, and every one of them claims to be the best one. And of course I want to learn all of it so I can mold my destiny the right way this time, but it gets overwhelming when you keep on reading that so many people claim to know just the right secret. And the one thing that they all have in common is that if you don't learn their secret, you'll never be able to mold your destiny the way you want to.

So I rise up to the ocasion and I go to the seminars and take on the courses, read the books and listen to the tapes and that's not easy because you have to earn a living and you have responsibilities to fulfill, and I'm still sitting here behind my desk thinking "I know all of this but what's the secret to getting it faster, I'm missing an element here. From what you tell me I should have gotten everything I dream of and thensome and I'm still two legs short a five legged stool.

There wouldn't be enough hours in a month to do the things I'm supposed to do in a day if I followed everyone's advice.

I mean don't take me wrong, I owe A LOT to all of the people out there who give so freely of yourselves and you are so dedicated to your cause, my admiration and outmost gratitude, I'd be even further behind without you, but in the very humble opinion of a simple, caring, middle-aged Mexican/Jewish/American and soon to be Israeli woman, I actually believe life is very simple, a lot of people resist change and everyone goes their own way, there is way too much negative energy out in the world for it to work in harmony. You can try to make a dent and you guys are doing an awsome job at that, but the negative energy still permeates the air and it gets tiring to be constantly pushing against it. Seems that most people rather suffer than change.

I've said this many times, we all have a talent, a gift, something we are passionate about, we ought to give freely of our gift to others who need it, since we love doing it anyways, and then others can share their gift and we can all have everything. Do you see that ever happening?

If everyone did that we wouldn't need meditation and there wouldn't be wars because we would be in a constant state of serenity and zest for life instead of so much turmoil and chaos, nobody would lack for anything. All of mankinds advances are amazing, but sometimes I think that the more we create the more we destroy.What we need to do is go back to basics and start teaching all of the new generations how it works so we can stop the chaos instead of perpetuating it or contribute to making it worse.

I never want to stop learning and teaching, to me that's what keeps life challenging and interesting, never complacent or boring.

I'm on my own mission, while enjoying learning to live in the moment, no matter what, just for right now I have everything I need, and since now is all there is, I have everything all the time. I guess I'm just happy "Making my Life Happen on Purpose"


Hugs everyone xoxo

@nit@

What is a Friend?

A true friend will never ask you to compromise your principles in the name of friendship and is willing to put your happiness before your friendship. 

It is said that "good advice grates on the ear," but a real friend will not hesitate to tell you something you don't want to hear, even at a risk of breaking the friendship if they think it's in your best interest. They will correct you when you are wrong, confront you with your addictions or suggest you get a check-up if they notice something you might not. 

A true friend inspires you to reach your best potential not to indulge on your bad habits.

"A friend is a second self."
 ~ Aristotle

Are you being the friend you want to have?

Hugs xoxo
@nit@

What is Courage?

Cowardly Lion: Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the "ape" in apricot? What have they got that I ain't got? 
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman: Courage! 
Cowardly Lion: You can say that again! Huh? 

"Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit.”
— Baltasar Gracián

What stops us? Keeps us from doing what we need to do? Prevents us from experiencing the depth of relationships, love and meaning in our lives? Fear is something we all experience—it’s part of the human condition. The only way to dispel fear is to look it in the face and utilize courage.

Courage is not the absence of fear, it’s the triumph over it, revealing to you what you’re truly capable of.

"Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others. "
- Aristotle

Dreams, they are never in the place you expected them to be...

There is so much to life, we must experience!

"Why do we get all these feelings and dreams 

and hopes if we don't ever use them? "

~ Shirley Valentine ~

Live your Life with Passion!

Hugs xoxo
@nit@

Is there ANYTHING more important than LOVE?

"Perhaps Love"
by John Denver

Perhaps love is like a resting place, a shelter from the storm
It exist to give you comfort, it is there to keep you warm,
And in those times of trouble when you are most alone,
The memory of love will bring you home.

Perhaps love is like a window, perhaps an open door,
It invites you to come closer, it wants to show you more,
And even if you lose yourself and don't know what to do,
The memory of love will see you through.

Oh, love to some is like a cloud, to some as strong as steel,
For some a way of living, for some a way to feel,
And some say love is holding on and some say letting go,
And some say love is everything and some say they don't know.

Perhaps love is like the ocean, full of conflict, full of change,
Like a fire when its cold outside, or thunder when it rains,
If I should live forever, and all my dreams come true,
My memories of love with be with you.

"Love is all there is, and That's That!" ~ @nit@

Hugs xoxo
@nit@

Boredom...

~ Boredom occurs when you're not happily occupied. If you really have to spend 40 hours of your life a week making money to support the rest of it, shouldn't you enjoy it? ~

This was a part of my horoscope today, and I thought it was RIGHT ON!!! After I read it I said to myself OMG Anita what have you been doing? wasting your time with work when you could be having fun doing what you love to do, why are you still postponing it?

I wanted to share it with you because it applies to us all! in one way or another we postpone having fun, until...

Until we go on vacation,
Until we get home,
Until we graduate,
Until we become rich,
Until....


I need to start having more fun!!!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone,

Hugs xoxo
Anita

School Days, school days...

Dear, old golden rule days...

Honesty is like pregnancy...

"Honesty, is such a lonely word

Everyone is so untrue

Honesty, is hardly ever heard

And mostly what I need from you"...

Honestly, have you ever really stopped to analyze how honest you are with yourself and with others? Give it a try, it's a good place to start. Honestly!

Honesty is like pregnancy, you either are or you aren't...

Hugs xoxo

@nit@ 

Work Harder Than You Think You Should

One of the reasons why I'm not around here as often as I used to is because I'm really 'Making my Life Happen on Purpose.'

I created a social life that could keep me busy every day if I find the time, I have a job I like, but since it's not the job of my dreams I go to work with joy while I continue to study in order to pursue those dreams.


I prepare by taking courses, going to seminars, reading books, listening to CDs, watching videos and talking to experts.

I enjoy adding to my blog, read, workout when I'm not too lazy or tired; take care of my puppy, take long walks with her at the park at least twice daily, help my kids, visit my father weekly and try to help others when I can.

And the truth is that I still feel and know I should be doing more!

I just find that when you're motivated enough you can do a lot and not notice it.

Hugs, xoxo
Anita

Work Harder Than You Think You Should
By Gary Vurnum
=====================
Can you honestly, in your heart-of-hearts, say that you deserve a pay rise every year?

It probably wouldn't surprise you to find that most people would say 'yes'…but if you were to ask their bosses they almost certainly would say 'no'. Why?

Well…in the workplace at least…we always tend to overestimate our contribution. I know…I used to. I spent about five years thinking that I was indispensable…until I had to suddenly take a couple of months off…and found out that I wasn't.

You KNOW if you are getting in a little late…or taking a long lunch break…or surfing the Internet instead of working. We all do it. But…it's how much you do it that has an impact on your future.

Laziness is a habit that is contagious. The more you do it…the easier it is to do it even more.

Action Point:
In what little ways might you be letting yourself down? Sure…you won't get any thanks for working your best or for turning up that little bit earlier, but in the minds of those in charge…you will set yourself apart from everyone else who doesn't do exactly that! Plus…it gets you into the habit of working at your best…which is an amazingly useful habit to have if you want to make more of yourself!
========================

I'm a Rebel...

I consider myself to be a rebel and proud of it!

I'll admit I'll break every rule I can, so long as I don't hurt anyone in the process.

I believe we are all unique and as such have unique talents, and it's our responsibility to find ours and put it to good use.

So do you know what yours is? I challenge you to find it!

Hugs xoxo
Anita

Challenge The Status-Quo
by Gary Vurnum
======================
It's almost as if we are expected to be robots. Our parents' generation were happy with working 40 hours a week for 40 years to retire on 40% less than their salary. Are you?

We are all under pressure to 'conform' to the stereotypical view of who, or what, we are. You work in accountancy so you are dull…you work in a fast-food restaurant so you are stupid…or you are a mother who stays at home to look after her kids so that she doesn't have to 'work'. Don't accept it!

Challenge other people's expectations of you. Never accept something because you feel that you should. You have unique talents that go far beyond your occupation…use them or lose them!

Action Point: What unique talents are you holding back? What's the point in having a life if you don't get some satisfaction from it? Don't wait until it's too late before you start having regrets of making more of your life…where's the fun in that?
===========================

To Know what We do NOT Know....

Tonight I was looking for a good quote, I came across this one, and it became one of my favorites, because nothing can be more true and valuable than to know that there are things that we just don't know, and that we have to continue to pursue knowledge!

~ To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.~ Copernicus

What inspired me to write this blog was a British Man whose articles I receive daily; his suggestions are very practical and he gives you a 'Recipe for Success' that is simple to follow. He was talking about planning your day and it hit me that the reason why I'm stuck and am not growing faster, is because I don't plan my day, I usually just go with the flow.

Being a free spirited and passionate being comes with some huge handicaps, and the worst one is not planning.

What's happened to me is that every time I plan something, it NEVER turns out the way I thought it would. Sometimes it turns out much better, sometimes much worse, sometimes it doesn't work out at all, and many levels in between, but never the way I thought it would so that made me stop planning and stop worrying and started to just enjoy 'THE ADVENTURE' of living.

I usually just live in the moment and try to always go in the direction of my dreams, but I don't have a set plan, and without a plan it's a lot harder to move forward faster.

So tonight I made a commitment to 'THE UNIVERSE' that I'm making a plan, so I can get there faster, because I'm starting to get a little bored with the Adventure, I need to spice it up a bit... I'll add on some Latino Spice!

I HAVE to finish writing my book, starting TONIGHT!

Do you have a Plan?

Hugs xoxo

Anita

Don't put Happiness on Hold...

In reading one of the postings of a blog I subscribe to by the name of AWAKE it reminded me of one of the handicaps that I've had to work on overcoming, which was thinking that I was supposed to put on hold my happiness until.... and you can fill that blank with anything, like:

• I'll be happy when I finish school

• When I get married

• When I have kids

• When I buy my own home

• When my kids go off to college, etc. etc. etc.

I decided to post this blog because I think it illustrates what most of us do.

I hope you find something to bring you joy today and everyday.

Hugs xoxo

Anita

Don't Delay your Joy

by Louis Majors

Driving to town today, I listened to an interview of Charles Marshall regarding his book ‘The Soul Mechanic.’ When I got home and started to read the introduction one line really jumped out at me… Live for the experience of living! Wow…what a line! It re-minded me that when we choose a ‘goal’ to trigger joy and satisfaction (ie: I’ll be happy when….) it might delay us from living in joy all the moments leading up to that one point and all the points after our acheivement.

Don’t get me wrong…there is nothing wrong in setting goals and working towards that end. But if I don’t enjoy the process all the way it doesn’t make any sense to be unhappy 99% of the time when I can create and hold the energy of joy any time or all the time if I so choose and program my subconscious to surprise me with joyful and happy events in my human experience. Most of this is unconscious because as infants we were taught the ‘reward’ system by our parents/guardians. It started with the ‘good child/bad child’ program as we tried to appease our parents/guardians and evolved into peer approval to gain self-worth.

Of course the easiest path to ultimate self-worth and self-love is found within where we always have the power to effect our energetic resonance and therefore our experience. That reminds me not to delay the experience of the energy of joy and love that already exists within me AND that I can trigger and release any time and all the time if I so choose.

We know as ‘conscious’ humans I can choose as a goal to experience and expect JOY every moment and the universe will respond each moment with the appropriate objects, people, and events.

PS: One problem with setting target goals to trigger joy is it tends to make us evaluate each event as ‘working for’ or ‘working against’ my goal thus triggering the appropriate up and down energy in my emotional resonance. Also it’s putting the horse ahead of the cart to ‘wait and see’ if events bring me joy INSTEAD of knowing my personal power and changing my subconscious expectations to expect joy and fulfillment from every experience thus making it happen correcting the disruption created by my past self-imposed uncertainty.

Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows

I remember as a kid this song playing on the radio in the 60s many times, it made you want to dance; I never knew Marvin Hamlisch wrote it when he was about 15 yrs. old. Leslie Gore sang it, she also sang some of my favorite songs from that time like "It's my Party", "Judy's Turn to Cry" and "You Don't Own Me" songs that my kids have heard me sing many times.

It was from a much more optimistic era where our future was bright, as reflected in the lyrics. Back then songs were about LOVE; today they're about suicide and sex. I'm not one to miss things but I do miss those times!

Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows


For those interested here are the lyrics.
Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,
Everything that's wonderful is what I feel when we're together,
Brighter than a lucky penny,
When you're near the rain cloud disappears, dear,
And I feel so fine just to know that you are mine.

My life is sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,
That's how this refrain goes, so come on, join in everybody!

Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,
Everything that's wonderful is sure to come your way
When you're in love to stay.

Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,
Everything that's wonderful is what I feel when we're together,
Brighter than a lucky penny,
When you're near the rain cloud disappears, dear,
And I feel so fine just to know that you are mine.

My life is sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,
That's how this refrain goes, so come on, join in everybody!

Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,
Everything that's wonderful is sure to come your way
'Cause you're in love, you're in love,And love is here to stay!

There's more to ABC than meets the I...

A - Achieve your dreams. Avoid negative people, things and places.

B - Believe in your self, and in what you can do.
C - Consider things on every angle and aspect. To be able to understand life, you should feel the sun from both sides.
D - Don't give up and don't give in.
E - Enjoy. Motivation takes place when people are happy.
F - Family and Friends -- Don't loose sight of them.
G - Give more than what is enough.

H - Hang on to your dreams. They may sway for a second, but these will be your driving force.
I - Ignore those who try to destroy you. Don't let other people get the best of you.

J - Just be you. The key to failure is to try to please everyone.
K - Keep trying no matter how hard life may seem.
L - Learn to love your self.
M - Make things happen. Motivation is when your dreams are put into work clothes.

N - Never lie, cheat or steal. Always play a fair game.
O - Open your eyes.
P - Practice makes perfect.
Q - Quitters never win. And winners never quit. So, choose your fate - are you going to be a quitter or a winner?
R - Ready yourself. Motivation is also about preparation.
S - Stop procrastinating.
T - Take control of your life. Discipline and self-control are synonymous with drive.
U - Understand others. Yearn to understand first, and to be understood the second.
V - Visualize it.
W - Want it more than anything. Dreaming means believing.
X - X Factor is what will make you different from the others. When you are motivated, you tend to put on "extras" on your life like extra time for family, extra help at work, extra care for friends, and so on.
Y - You are unique. Value your life and existence.
Z - Zero in on your dreams and go for it!!!

Unknown Author

"Now I know my ABCs, next time won't you sing with me?"

Hugs xoxo
@nit@