So much to be thankful for.
This is the first Thanksgiving with my family in 17 years. It’s already so emotional.
We’ve had to rent a place since there will be a few more than usual.
Along with my family are my friends, both in the real world as well as my internet ones.
You.. I am very grateful for you…
I am truly blessed.
So much love and so many blessings to you.
Raq 😘
No one else needed.
Solo bike ride on a beautiful day!
This here rebel Raq took off to check out the great outdoors..
Ok, so lately I have broken my wrist, fallen a couple times and let’s just say graceful hasn’t been in my vocabulary.
I was a little worried and excited about taking off on my own this morning. So I got all ready wrapped my wrist, sunglasses, keys and off I go! A few miles in I realized I forgot my helmet! Oh and ID? Nope nada. Had my phone, headphones and some coconut water. Oh well I figured if I fall it’s not usually my head that takes the hit. I know, the way my luck has been running it would be the first thing to hit the pavement… lol
Took it easy and just enjoyed myself.
Going to enjoy this trail all I can for now. There was quite a fire near here yesterday so there is still some smoke in the air as you can see in the pics.
This song came on and I could swear it was my trusty steed (bike) singing to me! 😉
So the rest of the day will be packing boxes and this song sola, solita in the head .. lol
Have an amazing day! Much love!
Happiness?
Where do you find yours?
As for me, The more I think of it, the more reasons I come up with. As usual, more than the small post I originally planned on. So my list for now, love!!! Remember when you first fell in love? That stupid smile on your face that made your cheeks hurt and you didn’t even realize you were smiling, until someone asked you what the deal was? Ha! Yeah, I knew you would. Hanging with family, an amazing bike ride on a beautiful day. Wildflowers, laughter, a child’s wonder, music, my dogs, any dog, or animal, not having to go to work tomorrow, finding amazing vegan food when you thought there wouldn’t be any. Omg, the list can go on and on…
Always nice to see others happy as well.
Nevertheless, if you’re not happy in this moment, wait another, think of that time you were. There are always three words I lean on in life, and they are, it goes on. Lol
I was sent this picture today, its local and I love sunflowers. It’s sweet when something so amazing reminds someone of you, isn’t it?
Plus this song! I just love it. Yeah it reminds me of someone and I do hope they are happy.
I hope you’re happy!
That one on my back,
See ya!
Hasta!
Today is lit with possibilities…
Last few days have been rough.. but, I’ve centered my fruity ass and can take it on…
Thanks to those of you who throw out all the inspiration. Much love to you!
I got a mind full of aggravation
I can take it if I just relax
I say a prayer for the motivation
Keep me solid so I stay on track
But there’s a monkey on my back
And it don’t know how to act
Got me climbin’ up and down the walls
Now I gotta make a choice
Maybe then I can rejoice
‘Cause I’m sick of all the same withdrawals
I got a mind full of inspiration
And I ain’t livin’ in the past no more
So feast your eyes
On the big, blue sky
And wave bye bye
From a long, black Cadillac
Pay the price
Gotta roll those dice
And wave bye bye
From a long, black Cadillac
From a long, black Cadillac (Cadillac)
We all chase our butterflies, 🦋 be it love, money, freedom.
Different times of our lives leave us chasing different ones too.
Right now this butterfly 🦋 of freedom is work! However, I think one of my other butterflies might have actually let me go! Pinche butterfly. Lol!!
Glad there are so many other butterflies to draw in. Just have to get some flowers I suppose.
What’s your butterfly?
I was inspired to write this while working out and this song came on.
Always the music isn’t it?
I painted your room at midnight
So I’d know yesterday was over
I put all your books on the top shelf
Even the one with the four leaf clover
Man I’m getting older
I took all your pictures off the wall
And I wrapped them in a newspaper blanket
And I haven’t slept in what seems like a century
And now I can barely breathe
Just like the crow chasing the butterfly
Dandelions lost in the summer sky
Cause when you and I were gettin’ high as outer space
I never thought you would slip away
I guess I was just a little too late
I was just a little too late
I was just a little too, little too late
So yeah new day. Full of sunshine and hope. Going to the beach to hang out and catch some rays. Then later watch Los Lonely boys play some tunes. This is the kind of day that starts out with the promise of goodness!
Boxes be damned!
You thought I was gonna get all mushy about love I suppose. Ok so here it is… love is more of an illusion. Like a wisp of smoke sometimes you see it or feel it for a second then it tapers off and away.. then it begins again. But it’s enough of a reality to keep us hooked. Just read Rumi or Pablo Neruda or whoever else you choose. One of my favorite Spanish quotes is, de illusión también se vive. Meaning, Of hope also one lives. Figurative Translation: Life is not always about “getting there” or getting what you want, but also about the dreaming of getting there. Hopes and dreams are what keep us going. The translations are always so tricky. Of course this is just my take on it. Wanna tell me yours? By all means, please do.
So many different kinds of love though, I may have taken on more than I originally planned.
So like me…
I said new love today, because I already love today, the promise of being out with others and enjoying it all.
I hope your day is ridiculously amazing and full of love!
Had to come back to say Los Lonely Boys are not very Lonely.. ha! They rocked!!
So many things happening at this time, and not happening at this time. So just a little update.
Boxes being packed on one side of the house and at work.
One week left at work. Ok, yeah, I do a happy dance every morning when I get to work. My coworkers text and email the countdown every day, down to the minutes. They are so happy for me and for the seat I’m leaving open to them. Lol
However, this move is much more that just a physical move to me. I’m done with everything from yesterday. My past has molded me, yet I’m done with it. Fifty-five years and I’m making my own rules or non rules for the rest of my life. The proverbial box is no longer my home.
I’m into love and happiness. My home will only have room for this. I know this sounds simple, and maybe a little woo woo, but it isn’t where there are different views on life and it’s so called rules. It’s going to be interesting to say the least.
Freedom comes in different forms and in the last few years I have found that once you reach a certain point, not everyone is going to be happy with your change. I’ve said before it’s so much easier to keep your head down and just keep going. Not making waves. Well I’m riding this one all the way.
Living la Vida! One moment at a time and in the moment with those who choose to share the same.
I’ve talked to so many people recently, that have hit their 50’s and are wondering what happened.
I’m fessing up to joining up on a website where you can be anonymously yourself and talk to others about whatever your lil heart desires. Yeah, it can be dirty or just be a place where you can let your hair down and speak your piece, or not. It’s a bit freeing.
I did learn that we all have our little secrets. So many of us walking around with that smiling mask, that even our closest people never see under. Now before you go judging me or my cohorts, take a look under yours.
Do you have a significant other that had asked you for something recently, or even in the past few years? Did they harp on it then suddenly quit? Did anything change? Do you want to keep that person? Now this can be anything. Usually sex yes, but can also be how or where you’re living. It can be anything this person holds dear or close. So don’t dismiss it as just a phase or whim. Listen people! Listen to your people! Because let me tell you if you don’t someone else in the same boat will. Do you want to risk that? How confident in your relationship are you? Deep? Nope actually easy. Listen, love,care and spend a little time. That’s it.
Now before you go thinking all these people are just in it for sex, stop, some of the men I spoke to, talk about wanting their wives. I found it sweet and heartening. Very few are done in their relationships. Just need to talk it out with someone they don’t know. Yes, a few feel trapped and need an outlet. But for the most part it wasn’t like that. I myself was on the site reading about different experiences and needing an outlet. I was feeling lonely and disconnected. Not looking for an online relationship. Just an outlet, like this, but with interaction.
So this took a different direction than what I had intended. Lol! I was going to write about hitting 50 and thinking maybe a change is needed. This experience I’ve had above didn’t make me feel this way. I already felt like I needed something else. I actually decided to get healthy. Well, a healthy body leads to a healthy mind. The fog cleared and all I could think is my life needs a change. I had to take a long hard look at myself. I found that work is what’s needed here. Inside and out. The only person that can do this is me. My happiness is on me. Time to take the path less traveled.
I’m in a committed relationship, have been for many years. However, I only want the same for him. A subject for another day.
Many blessings…
So while I get ready to take the big plunge, I’ve decided to enjoy the beautiful California bike trails. Riding my my vintage road bike alone gives me this amazing feeling of freedom. I use Strava and try to push myself to get faster and just stronger.
So I take off this beautiful Saturday morning. AirPods in, some kicking ass music. I felt amazing. I was having the best ride. I even saw a beautiful mountain lion, a gorgeous deer jumped out in front of me and it was just going great. I know you feel it coming lol… so I had thought I’m going out 10 Miles back 10. I went out the 10 and the lion was so on my mind. I need a picture or no one will believe it. So on the way back, I see two young ladies on the trail and I slow down tell them to be careful since I saw a mountain lion earlier. One young lady, was so scared telling me we just saw it, it’s right over there and she points behind me. I turned around but I didn’t see it. She continues, saying we didn’t know what to do, and we were waiting for some bike riders to come along. Poor thing, she was so scared. She asked if I had ever heard of them attacking anyone in the area. I haven’t but I guess it’s possible, right? I felt no fear. Which now that I think of it maybe should have. Anyway, I told her to go ahead and I was going back to see if I could get a picture of the cat. I looked around a bit and never saw it. However time was passing and of course there are things to do. I left and after a few miles I felt my energy quickly depleting. Lowest gear barely moving kind of bad. I had water on me, that’s it. I usually pack a few dates, but not today. There was a small hill and that was it, nothing left! Left clip out, right clip, right clip? Uhh yeah that’s me on the ground. Dang it! I was done… I dragged my sorry self over out of the way and sat there. Damn that’s embarrassing. No one saw me fall but the ego took quite a hit. I sat there trying to rest up a bit so I could move on and get home. Ok, so like, I felt pain all over, but when I tried to get up my right wrist wasn’t having it. What the heck!? Is that really so painful? I got up using my left side thinking ah it can’t be that bad. Um, I can’t even get back on the bike!! My arm starts shaking and it finally registers in my head, you have messed up big time now. So I make the call of shame. Hello? Husband? I messed up my arm and can’t ride my bike back. I think I need a ride to the ER. His response? WHAT!? Lol yeah I need a ride if possible. So he drove to the closest spot he could and I walked about 4 miles to the truck. I’m shaking my head now, just thinking about it.
My inner voice kept telling me, stop, rest a little while. But, no, I had to hurry since it was getting late. Lesson learned the hard way. Plus I ruined that whole day. ER took all day, and a month of bike riding. Cast is now off, however wrist is weak and stiff. I will be riding that same bike tomorrow. Stay tuned lol.
You would think this would make me second guess my plans. However, it hasn’t I feel as though this is just something that’s happened and it’s over.
It’s like I’m in this place inside myself. Focused, and there’s this calm in my soul. Love and light emanate. Nothing seems to bother me, hurt me yes. My feelings can be hurt but when I look into myself, I find that place again, and all is well. My path is lit and here I go.
Blessings
Love, Love, Love
Yeah baby… love. So a person told me not very long ago there are many forms of love. Which yeah there are. I just really don’t think about it very much. Does anyone?
You love your family. Yeah
You love your friends. Yeah
You love your pets. Yeah
Then there is that one love.. Amor. The stuff you read about and movies are made of. That soul sucking, heart wrenching, mind melting stuff people dream of. Is it real? Damn straight it is. Ask any Latina out there. We love hard and so when we get broken.. we break hard. Haven’t you heard any of our sad, broken hearted songs? They make country songs sound like a ray of sunshine. Ok ok I’m kidding, kinda.
People use the term I love you all the time. The meaning seems to vary depending on the person saying it. I find that actions are so much louder. People are busy, life is busy. So for someone to take a little time in their day is indeed a sign. Then again no message is also a message.
Someone dear to me brought this song to my attention, Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. A few lines from it are:
Those three words
are said too much
They’re not enough
I have to agree. You can tell a person all day how much you care or love them, but at the end of the day its going to be how you treat that person. If you value their heart you will treat it with care, as if it were your own. Not just at first, because its new and exciting. But later on too.
ok I’m gonna come off as a fairytale reading kind of person. However it’s my story so deal.
Shouldn’t there be a bigger connection? Is there a bigger connection?
Ahh yeah, that one connection… The one who gets you, who doesn’t care about yesterday. This person knows that’s what made you today. Made you the person he or she adores. No judgement, just a learning and a yearning. Like that? Lol. They are also around to be there for you. To raise you up, not break you down.
What’s this got to do with this blog? Happiness, the pursuit of happiness. Love has to be a part of it doesn’t it?
La Vida Raq 