Work in Progress

You probably don’t remember how excited your parents got when you took your first steps. You probably don’t remember your mother picking up the phone to call her friends and exclaim with joy. You most certainly, probably don’t remember, that all everyone cared about were the steps you ‘did’ take; it didn’t matter that you fell, or how many times in fact you fell. That’s right, because it doesn’t matter in life how many times you fall; it only matters that you got up and you tried again!

We are ‘works in progress’…well most of us anyway! [smile] We aren’t perfect; and it’s okay to not be perfect. Our creator/Universe/God loves us just the way we are, with all our faults. You don’t have to be perfect to receive his blessings; your heart is what’s important; the fact that you’re trying and the fact that you’re not giving up on becoming the best you.

That’s the journey, my darlings! Your journey - this journey - of life! The journey is the falling and getting back up, the blessings come after, but it’s okay, pat yourself on the back, because your heart is one of gold, and that my friends IS the most important quality to have in this life. It isn’t perfection. It isn’t narcism. It isn’t being mean-spiritied or self-righteous. It’s being you! Flawed. Humble. Laughed at. It’s okay darlings, the longest road has an end. Treat those blisters and keep on moving! :))

Have Heart

** You gotta' have heart...and you've gotta' stop being AFRAID - suffering brings you to greatness - Embrace it...it's only a matter of time ;)

Let the Heart Win

I learnt this phrase from one of the best acting coaches I had the pleasure of working with. Joe Salazar (www.theactingteacher.com) He said that so often we let 'the actor' take over instead of letting the character really surface with their emotions and feelings. He told me that if we let 'the actor' overpower the character or the heart, the audience will only get small glimpses of when the heart tries to come through. He looked at me sincerely and said, "You must always let the Heart win."

And he's right, so frequently we allow the mind to run things in our lives. "I'm okay, everything's fine!" "I'm happy, hope you are!" "Am I doing this right?" "Am I being too sentimental?...Too emotional?...Too real?" What are we afraid of? In these times on earth, human beings are becoming closer and closer to realizing that the universe and all that was created are so intricate and magnificent; we are realizing that life is not all that meets the eye, and that there is something much more grand that keeps everything in perfect symmetry and balance... that keep us eerily connected. It is by tapping into our hearts, that we are able to communicate and receive messages for the better. It is by surrendering to those feelings that allow us to 'really' live life to our fullest potential.

We may not enjoy playing games with each other, but somehow it makes us feel 'on-top' of things. We don't have to really delve into the things that make us cringe, make us frown, make us sad. We don't really have to deal with anything we find uncomfortable. It is much easier to ignore, speak about something else, turn on the television, or simply say, you're busy or sorry to people who really care. L My darlings, after you surrender to these feelings, and deal with your fears head-on, it is then, and only then you will be able to experience true joy and love; for how can you explore new and exciting lands, if you have fear of leaving the shore? It is only when you accept the adventure, will you be able to hold on for the ride, take a risk in listening to your heart, which always whispers the truth, you'll be quite blissful when you do. J

Here are a few lovely quotes I love to read because they speak the truth, which I'll share with you:

Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God ~ Christian Bible

The beauty of the heart, is the lasting beauty ~ Rumi

Let your heart guide you. It whispers, so listen closely ~ Author unknown

Tears are holy, because they show us that the ice of our heart is melting ~ Barbara de Angelis

Love is blind, only to the eyes. The heart sees everything clearly ~ Author unknown

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart ~Helen Keller

The less you open your heart to others, the more your heart suffers ~ Deepak Chopra

What your heart thinks is great, is great. The soul's emphasis is always right ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The heart is the only broken instrument that works ~ T.E. Kalem

A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love ~ Mother Teresa

A good heart is better than all the heads in the world ~ Edward George Earle Bulwer-Lytton

A flower without a stem, is beauty waiting to die. A heart without love, is a tear waiting to cry ~ Octavio Paz

The light which shines from the eye is really the light that shines from the heart ~ Rumi

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart…who looks outside dreams. Who looks inside, awakens ~ Carl Jung

J

And now I will also leave you with a lovely story by one of my favourite authors Kahlil Gibran:

The Enchanting Houri

Where are you leading me, Oh Enchanting Houri, and how long shall I follow you upon this hispid road, planted with Thorns? How long shall our souls ascend and descend painfully on this twisting and rocky path?

Like a child following his mother I am following you, holding the extreme end of your garment, forgetting my dreams and staring at your beauty, blinding my eyes under your spell to the procession of specters hovering above me. And attracted to you by an inner force within me which I cannot deny.

Halt for a moment and let me see your countenance; and look upon me for a moment; perhaps I will learn your heart's secrets through your strange eyes. Stop and rest, for I am weary, and my soul is trembling with fear; upon this horrible trail. Halt, for we have reached that terrible crossroad where Death embraces Life.

Oh Houri, listen to me! I was as free as the birds, probing the valleys and the forests, and flying in the spacious sky. At eventide I rested upon the branches of the trees, meditating the temples and palaces in the city of colourful clouds which the sun builds in the morning and destroys before twilight.

I was like a thought, walking alone and at peace to the East and West of the Universe, rejoicing with the Beauty and joy of Life, and inquiring Into the magnificent mystery of Existence.

I was like a dream, stealing out under the friendly wings of the night, entering through the closed windows into the maiden's chambers, frolicking and awakening their hopes…Then I sat by the youths and agitated their Desires…Then I probed the elders' quarters and penetrated their thoughts of serene contentment.

Then you captured my fancy, and since that hypnotic moment I felt like a prisoner dragging his shackles and impelled into an unknown place… I became intoxicated with your sweet wine that has stolen my will, and I now find my lips kissing the hand that strikes me sharply. Can you not see with your soul's eye the crushing of my heart? Halt for a moment; I am regaining my strength and untying my weary feet from the heavy chains. I have crushed the cup from which I have drunk your tasty venom…But now I am in a strange land, and bewildered; which road shall I follow?

My freedom has been restored; will you now accept me as a willing companion, who looks at the Sun with glazed eyes and grasps the fire with untrembling fingers? I have unbound my wings and I am ready to ascent; will you accompany a youth who spends his days roaming the mountains like the lone eagle, and wastes his nights wandering in the deserts like the restless lion?

Will you content yourself with the affection of one who looks upon Love as but an entertainer, and declines to accept her as his master? Will you accept a heart that loves, but never yields? And burns, but never melts? Will you be at ease with a soul that quivers before the Tempest, but never surrenders to it? Will you accept one as a companion who makes not slaves, nor will become One? Will you own me but not possess me, by taking my body and not my heart?

Then here is my hand – grasp it with your beautiful hand; and here is my body – embrace it with your loving arms; and here are my lips – bestow upon them a deep and dizzying kiss. J

** Bless up!

Love Jair

Hang in There

I was always a late bloomer; I mean what did you expect from a girl born in paradise, enveloped in lush rainforest and perfect weather. I was lucky, really; and although I was not ridden of problems, I was doing pretty alright for myself if I decided to just stay there. On that little island, wading my feet in the lucid sea; twisting a lime over lobster for supper and maybe opening up a 'sun-tan (natural vitamin D) saloon'. For some reason; I yearned to see more and to learn more; I learned about pain, loneliness, humility and sorrow, about heart-ache and lies and greed too. I learnt it alright; and sometimes I think I could have done without all this tainting, but I know it makes me even more powerful for the greatness I one day will attain.

So the roller-coaster of life goes, UP and then DOWN again; and I hold on with tightly closed eyes, latching on for dear life, and Bonnie Hunt says, "Hang in there…" [haha]. Well; not really, but she did say it in the film 'Jerry Maguire'. Yes; can you believe it! I have only now recently seen this film and I know it is not the most recent of films. On a layover in London recently I had the pleasure of settling in to this film I've heard so much about but never seen. I believe things come to you when you are ready for it and it won't come a day earlier or a day late, but right on time!

I'd never been an enormous fan of Tom Cruise; for a number of different reasons, but one should remember that 'nadie es perfecto' – nobody's perfect and if the 'Mission Impossible' theme song didn't have me rooting for his character, then this film surely would be it. How charming he was; how much I loved his character. My goodness! He went through so much turmoil it was almost insane the feats he had to withstand, but he 'hung in there' and he came out on top! Of course! A happy ending! How I love those! J

I loved the way he would tell me to wear sun block if it was a scorcher, or wear a jacket when it was cold. I loved the way he would make annoying popping sounds, like 'Donkey' from 'Shrek' with his mouth, but somehow it made me smile so. I loved the way he leaned to the side when he drove his snazzy sports vehicle. I loved the way he fell asleep and I would let the rose petals tickle his relaxed face. I love how we would laugh at the silliest things like 'Store Owner' and that I'd light a candle that smelt like him anytime I wanted him close…Sigh***

Oh! Wait! Wrong story, different time and certainly not Tom Cruise! J Now where were we? Ah yes - Bonnie Hunt; yes! I was lucky to have her on one of my flights about a month or two ago. I've had many celebrities on flights, many of whom I knew little about, many of whom I didn't fancy, many of whom were demanding and spoilt, many of whom changed people's lives forever with simply a song or a good film. Bonnie for me was joy! She and her traveling buddy laughed the entire flight. She was courteous and sweet, and even though she pushed the flight attendant button a little too much for our liking, we didn't hesitate to make her comfortable. I know Bonnie has her own talk show now, but little did I know she was the big sister character of Renee' Zhellwegger in the film 'Jerry Maguire'. I admired her character a great deal because although she seemed hard-hitting, she was really a delicate flower who only wanted the best for her younger sister. She loved her so much; but knew she had to let her go if she were to have any chance at resolving issues that were still very much a gaping wound in her heart.

"You had me at Hello!" Wow; now I finally know where that tired phrase came from. It's funny how some movies completely revolutionize an entire century or time. Like 'Thelma and Louise' or 'Rocky' or one of my favourites, "Hello Johnny!" said by Jack Nicholson, one of my favourite American Hollywood actors. This is why I love film! The writers, directors, actors and even lighting, grip, and sound people all collaborate and work together to create something so influential, so astonishing, so inspiring, that it evokes not only hundreds of emotions but also positive change within the world. I think this film certainly spoke of the heart and to the heart. Each character was wishing and hoping and aspiring to achieve greatness. Whether it was becoming the star player of the NFL; or obtaining true love, or having wealth to provide for his family, or proving how much you loved BLACK PEOPLE! [haha]; everyone that wished for something got it in the end because they used their heart, they didn't give up and they realized who was really their true friends.

I loved the line…"Jerry, why did you get married huh?"

And Jerry replied, "Because of loyalty…she was always there for me…"

And even though that was a good enough answer, I loved that he found out why he really loved her, why she was really loyal, and why they really worked. She believed in him, she stood by him, she loved him with all of her heart, she was there for him when his girlfriend bashed in his face; literally, and she took the risk at beginning something with him, although she knew it would be dangerous because she felt as though she didn't want to miss out on the most beautiful man who inspired her from the beginning.

Kudos to Jerry Maguire & Kudos to Tom Cruise! J