LaraLove

The End of An Era

Happy with the ending although it was sad to see Rue succumb to the worst kind of drug. One that you take trusting you will live forever feeling only euphoric for a while only you find out it's your last breath. As a writer and a lover of characters Rue wasn't my favorite but Zendaya did great in the role. My favorite character was Maddy Perez, an ambitious girl from the barrio who only dreamed of being a stay-at-home wife to a rich man.

Only that didn't happen her heart was broken time and time again by the most selfish kind of man. A boy who has been spoiled with material things but searched for validation like it was love in the most superficial things. That's exactly what his life became, empty within and filled with superficial things and accomplishments he conned people to get.

Post Operative Life

It's been 3 weeks since I had my surgery and I'll be returning to work soon enough. So much has happened in such a short amount of time but I do feel refreshed and ready to take on the next chapter in my life. While off of work I healed and pushed send on my graduate degree application. I am excited to see what the future brings.

I also used some of the time to go to a couple conferences. UCSF Fresno held a conference that talked about a lot of topics that are very important and necessary for the central valley life. Also took Olivia to a STEM conference at Reedley College where she got to take cool classes and meet the Foos in Medicine. It was definitely a very inspiring week. Last weekend we did a getaway to the beach, just what our souls needed.

Here is to a wonderful May month to come and more life experiences. My breathing is great; I have lost some much-needed weight, and I continue to dream big regardless of our country's circumstances. I will be addressing some more health concerns soon enough and hoping to be back in tip top shape to continue to push on to the next level of life.

Urgency of time and mortality

Marcus opens by reminding himself that life is short and slipping away. He urges himself not to waste what remains on trivialities, but to live deliberately and in accordance with nature.

The value of the present moment

He emphasizes focusing only on what is in front of you — the current task, the current duty. Distraction and anticipation of the future are wastes of the rational mind.

Reason and the inner self

The ruling faculty (the hegemonikon — your rational mind) must be kept pure and undisturbed. External events, bodily pleasures, and the opinions of others should not corrupt it. Your inner self is the only thing truly yours.

Duty and service

Marcus repeatedly returns to the idea that humans are made for one another. Acting for the common good, doing your job well, and treating others justly are the highest expressions of our nature.

Indifference to externals

Fame, wealth, beauty, and even life itself are indifferent things (adiaphora). The Stoic sage loses nothing of real value when these are taken away, because virtue is the only true good.

Simplicity and the retreat inward

Rather than retreating to the countryside for peace of mind, Marcus says you can retreat into yourself at any moment. The mind is its own sanctuary.

Key quote (paraphrased): Do not waste the remainder of your life in thoughts about other people. Look inward. Keep your ruling faculty sound.

Inevitable Justice

Today is the last day of the month of March. Women's herstory month was the embodiment of healing and transmutation. We are womanfesting and predicting what comes next because of our intonation with the earth and her cycles. I have been initiated into something very divine, and I have felt the shift for me.

I will be having surgery on my Tio Panchos birthday and that is perfect alignment with the healing journey I will be starting. 5 years ago when we found out he had Covid, we prayed and hoped that he could pull through. That same year we would suffer our own major loss in the immediate family. Though we have no control of the outcome of any situation, we face our fears with courage and peace.

Justice is here and I want to be the healthiest to face the future that needs to be built for our children's future. This weekend I finished the finale of Paradise a show that highlights so much of our human tragedy. Though some may have sad stories that are unjust and cruel, those of us who have some say stay in tuned with our humanity to help where we can. I have also been reading a book that is a bible for human struggles Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl.

This book has taught me that finding meaning is the most important thing in this world, whether it be through dark times or great times. Seek for meaning over happiness, happiness is temporary and meaning is forever. Freedom of choice, in life we can be stripped of all things except our internal peace and how we respond to situations we might find ourselves in. Find purpose through the pain, nobody can tell you what you need to live. Only you can push through, only you can find your why.

We Can Be Heroes 💕

Sacred Action

It's time to bring the active energy of the cheetah into your life. This swift cat represents decisive action and intense focus. Take an honest look at the projects or situations that have-for some reason- been put on hold. Perhaps you've been wanting for a better time, unsure of what you want to focus on or even what action to take.

Let go of hesitation. Your soul longs for you to move forward on your path. Whether your goal is personal, professional, or spiritual, you have the power to manifest whatever you desire. Now is the time to resolve to pick a direction that calls to your heart, and act! Let go of your self-doubt and fear of making the wrong decision. The strength of your spirit will guide you every step of the way.

Your spirit may also take you in the more global direction of sacred activism. The light of shared consciousness between animals and humans can help you take decisive action to make the earth, and all her life-forms, a top priority. And as your loving intention expands to encompass others, it accelerates the beneficial momentum and activates blessings worldwide. In this way, you have the power to heal the earth and yourself in your actions and choices every day.

Talib Kweli - Get By

It’s time to drop this here. This is my anthem during times when they want to bury us.  Like the Mexican proverb “they tried burying us, they didn’t know we were seeds”. Maize to be legit.  La yerba de los ancestros.  We will grow. 

We will grow like we have for years on this land, before the colonizers arrived. We lived on these lands, through our hard work and persisting to prevail.  They couldn’t kill us all we lived on this land that they were just trying to figure out.  If anything our ancestors helped them survive.  They would have died.

Jesus Christ knows the truth.  We had built on these lands before they even knew they existed.  They even had to bring slave labor to build, they couldn’t even with their own hard backs or hands.  Just with their cruelty and inhumanity.  So we remember what existed before they arrived. The ancient lands and philosophy that we continue to pass down to our kids and generations to come. 

James Talarico’s Beautiful Answer to Christian Nationalism | The Ezra Kl...

January 13th

Today Olivia turns 9 and I am so proud of her. She has grown so fast and it’s beautiful to watch. Her birth was the biggest gift of my life. I'm trying hard to be a great role model for her. My biggest prayer is for her to live the life of her dreams. Also, that I prepare her for the world she will be inheriting.

The other day she gave me advice to unfollow someone that I liked but responded to me disrespectfully in response to a comment I had made. She also pointed out that the way I worded something could have been the catalyst of the trigger to this person's overreact but that I could not respect someone who is extremely over reactive. I was shaken by her insight as I was like okay maybe I deserved that response because people are super sensitive to advice these days. Obviously, I apologized to this person as I didn't mean to offend but simply offer perspective.

So, as I have reflected on the comment I posted, I will articulate where I think I am at fault and where my daughter is right and I can't respectfully continue to follow this person. Although I admire this person POV I also see where growth is required. I tried to give some insight on what I had noted could possibly help in her growth for patience. My wording was a catalyst that could have been seen as offensive to someone with this person's sensitivity. I will be more conscious on how I communicate.

I have learned to just offer my comment and try to clarify but if the person is adamant on taking things out of context, then that is a personal problem, and I can't help them on that journey. Humility is a tool that helps with understanding and connection and it's lacking a lot these days. So, I wish this person well and as my daughter suggested I unfollowed because growth is required and until that day comes there is nothing I can help with at this point and there is no reason to follow this person who clearly doesn't care to grow.