ADAPTability in "the Ridge"

 Walking these streets alongside strangers everyday

 Little kids playing catch on the sidewalk in front of their stoop

 Middle-aged women sitting on a bench smoking Capris sharing their usual rant 'what is it with these  people, are you freaking kiddin' me?' with their thick brash Brooklyn accents

 Muslim women wearing their coverings and pushin' strollers with a careful eye

 Troubled Irish veterans sitting in the pub getting their usual 'pint' on the 11 o'clock hour (in the  morning that is) 

 And then there's me, a euro 'blended' woman strolling by the storefront windows wondering why so  many stores are FOR RENT....change is a comin' quick! Please no high-rise greed or else!!

 You have the pizzeria on the corner, and a Mediterranean deli on the same side

 Many times I've seen a butcher cross the street with a cow carcass over his shoulder as if it were a  duffle bag, that's surely an unsettling sight

 American flags soaring in front of the 'old breukelen' brick homes, and Greek stars shown proudly  from the windows of their neighbors

 We live in this city with a requirement to ADAPT

 Strong cultures immerse us, and brash judgments may come to surface 

 It's up to you to fathom the idea that you will be sharing the same unpredictable environment

 If you plan on livin' here KNOW that you will face diversity on a daily basis

We breathe the same air, share the same laundromats, eat at the same restaurants and live for the same goal of ADAPTABILITY....yes, you will have strong opposition with some and angry faces on others but as a community, you must own the right to get along for the sake of the long-standing and cherished area...

Oh Bay Ridge, you were in my life way before I saw day 1. I adore all of your perfections, and imperfections that my great relatives once lived as well. 

Like The Waves...

Always being reminded to focus on our "path"

Not knowing exactly which way to sway

Like the waves.....

Just as the water hits it's high, the crashing down overpowers anything below

The times that we achieve that ultimate inner satisfaction, the smallest dark obstacle can sneak in and destroy

Like the waves.....

Unguided

Fluid

Limitless

Sometimes, without having any guide in our lives we end up struggling to stay connected with our true purpose

Intuition is nature's signal but unlike the waves, we have to trust within ourselves that there won't always be ripples of uncertainty

It's all about finding that one true perfect place that we feel at 'one' with ourselves

Only then will we have ultimate happiness, and will no longer sway with the current....

God's Thunderbolt - we've ALL felt days like these

The minute you awake

The first step you take

You feel overcome with tension

Like a thunderbolt intervening through dark and damp clouds

Depression hits you quickly and FIERCELY

Throughout your day,

Every little incident seems to throw off your way

All self-confidence dwindles

Loneliness eats at you inside completely

Constantly in your thoughts is a voice saying, "God why me? Why are you trying to STRIKE me?'

You sit silently hoping for a brighter path

Just as a thunderstorm affects the entire sky

Gloomy emotions influence your every thought

Nothing positive comes your way

On days like these, you have little hope

As if God placed you aside for a reason known...

Like a thunderbolt, things in life seem to constantly pierce.

NEED CLEAR SKIES NOW...

"It's not about how one reacts to a negative situation, it's how they manage it"

Anxiety

I don't believe there's one person who doesn't encounter it.  Whether it's positive anxiety, stress-fueled anxiety, "manic" anxiety, etc. life's unexpected events can definitely spur this strong emotion.

Within our day-to-day tasks, planning is a significant action that helps us attain our goals.  However, when that "hiccup" situation comes full force, our mind becomes frazzled and unorganized.  Our heart may speed up, tears may flow or worst yet, we can become immobile.  But the true solution to that anxious feeling, is to completely flip your mind into thinking "I can handle this, it can always be worse, and I will conquer."

In the spiritual sense, bringing clarity to those intense nervous thoughts will bring your entire self at peace.  After all, our emotional strikes lead directly to our physical being, indefinitely.  I like to think of the brain as a computer, and too much "data" causes an overload.  So, we are told to breathe deeply, try and think logically about the situation and move on.  

We are our own controller of circumstances.

Which leads me to reflect on the following powerful phrase: "it's not about how one reacts to a negative situation, it's how they manage it".  *Manage is the key word, and is definitely one of the toughest actions for some.  Even as incredibly emotional beings, we have to teach ourselves every day to combat those cluttered thoughts and truly learn how to take control.

I think that a clear mind brings an incredibly amount of healing.  I've lived with anxiety my entire life, and do know this: we all have to be able to organize the positive and negative thoughts.  We have to learn that even in the most absurd situation,  we do move on.  God created obstacles to keep us growing, and learning from our experiences.  I say today, as the minutes of my life go by I learn to control my mind's own "worst enemy."  

There is no age as to when one finds that true inner peace, but I'm looking forward to successfully surviving the difficult stages ahead.

Sad day in poetry's history: the loss of a timeless soul, Ms. Maya Angelou-you will never be forgotten: R.I.P. May 28th 2014

Today marks a sad day in poetry's history: the loss of an intelligent, powerful, super talented author and poet, Ms. Maya Angelou.

My ode to you: I will never forget that day I saw you speak while a college student at SUNY Oneonta.  Your uplifting words and great insight completely paved the way for me to become an author myself.  Through the years, after reading many authors' works it has always been clear to me that you were my favorite.  You've painted such strong paintings with your words, and have moved my emotions like no other.

Maya-your soul will never be forgotten.  Thanks to you, many women have grown to be self-confident.  That alone is so significant in today's society, where attaining true confidence for a woman can be impossible.

I'm in debt to YOU forever!

Below are 2 of my most favorite poems by Maya-I will always keep these with me.

     Phenomenal Woman

                                                                    By: Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size   

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,   

The stride of my step,   

The curl of my lips.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,   

That’s me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,   

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.   

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.   

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,   

And the flash of my teeth,   

The swing in my waist,   

And the joy in my feet.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered   

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,   

They say they still can’t see.   

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,   

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.   

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.   

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,   

The bend of my hair,   

the palm of my hand,   

The need for my care.   

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Still I Rise

By: Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Always More Satisfying Not to Expect

At my wedding shower yesterday the phrase, "don't expect and you'll be satisfied" kept running through my mind.  I realize today how much depth that meaning brings into life.  Even though we're all raised in this world to expect certain things, the things that occur and aren't assumed bring the ultimate satisfaction.  For someone who's a great planner, and finds it difficult to get "thrown into things" I believe when moments happen unexpectedly  shows that not everything has to be planned to bring happiness.  Even during an event where I expected gifts that I've chosen, I still felt that extreme gratification.  Words to the wise: let things "be as they are" without any expectation and the silver lining will shine!!

Addiction doesn't just affect YOU, it affects EVERYONE

Of course, addiction haunts many families.  If it doesn't affect yours, consider yourself blessed.  However, there are all sorts of types of addiction and now I"d like to discuss the HEROIN addiction.  Whether or not you've dabbled in any drug whether it be prescription pills, pot, meth, cocaine, crack, the list goes on.....9 times out of 10 you've been affected in some way.  Many say that pot is one of the largest "gateway" drugs.  Well, I disagree and I believe that harder drugs lead to harder drugs.  It all comes down to one's decision.  Based on all of the addiction reality shows seen on tv,  I"m pretty much an expert on what/how each affects the user.  Heroin is becoming as popular as pot was in the 70's.  It's been mentioned time and time again as the "suburban poison" along with bath salts and crack.  Now, when one has a heroin addict in their family, that affects all on a much deeper level.  I"ve always placed heroin and acid in the same horrific category, but nowadays young adults are experimenting HARD with both and don't see the severity of it all.  

I"m deeply saddened to say that my first cousin is going through rehab for heroin addiction.  Not only has he been addicted to heroin, but before was cocaine and painkillers.  There are no words to explain the emotions I feel--sad, angry, shocked, etc.  My cousin was always an A+ student in school, an excellent athlete, and did phenomenally in college.  Only to find that after those carefree college days are over, you're dumped in the real world with depression.  Hey, we all go through that depression and sometimes can't get over it.  However, the last time I saw him he looked pale as a ghost, with injection marks everywhere and eyes that looked dazed out as can be.  

I"m writing to say that addiction is selfish-definitely.  However, it's a very serious sickness that people tend to brush off as "they got what they deserved, stupid idiot."  The user suffers the most, but I think they neglect to realize how much the other family members become affected.  All of those negative psychological side effects never get forgotten.  I just wish and hope that he can truly see the "light at the end of the tunnel" and think of us all.  He's like a brother to me and the fact that I can't visit him at all kills me. 

 If you know someone who is heavily addicted to something, please reach out and don't blame them.  They've just given up and need all the support they can get.  God bless you cousin, for I can't wait to see you shining again~Laura