Life Lessons

I haven’t posted anything in a while – just thought I’d share this today. ENJOY and thanks for reading!

Life… Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, to teach you a lesson or to help you figure out who you are, or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be, possibly your roommate, neighbor, coworker, long-lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger, but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.

Sometimes in life, things may happen to you that seem horrible, painful, and unfair, but in reflection, you find that without overcoming those obstacles, you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart. “If you want a rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.”

Everything happens for a reason, nothing by chance or by means of luck, it happens because it is meant to be. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity, all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road leading to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, yet dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet that will affect your life, will be the success and downfalls you experience though out life, they are who will help you create the person you will grow to become, even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are the most important experiences because, “Failure teaches success.”

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open you heart, how you must only give to the ones who are worthy of being loyal.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but also because in a way they are teaching you about how to love, have trust and about loyalty. Give them that chance to give and receive what they deserve for and from you. “Everything in life is temporary because everything changes, that’s why it takes great courage to love, knowing it might end anytime, but having the faith that it will last forever.”

Make everyday count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything you possibly can because that may be the only time in your life you will ever have that experience.

Meet new people you have never met before, talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen to what they have to say, it might teach you something valuable, but always remember who your true friends are, “A true friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words”.

Let yourself live, love, and break free, make no boundaries, for you can accomplish anything as long as your heart is into it. This is your life, you run the show! Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a special individual and there is no other out there the same as you. Believe in yourself, for it will be hard for others to believe in you. “If you don’t stand up for something, you will fall for anything”. You are in control and you can create your own life, so take chances, and go out and live it with absolutely no regret. “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be”.

Most importantly, if you love someone tell him or her, for you never know what tomorrow will bring. Don’t let one moment pass because it could change you forever. Don’t ever fear life, because “What doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger”. Learn a valuable lesson in each day that you live. “The rich person is not who has the most but who needs the least”.

Life is too short to take seriously, so remember to begin each day with a smile…”Never frown, you never know who might be falling in love with your smile.” Everyone who walks through your door will make you happy, some on the way in and some on the way out…but always remember to leave the door to your heart open because you never know what may come your way. Believe in Karma, because what comes around really does go around.

~Author Unknown

Together

I don’t want to simply co-exist

in the mundane hours of this lonely journey

because I want to reach out

and magically find your hand to hold

I want to feel the warmth of your soul  

and revel in the magnificence of life in love

together

I don’t want to just survive

another dreadfully boring day

in this painful and sometimes ugly world

because what I really want is to

search for your gentle eyes

and find you waiting for me

I want to lose myself in your essence

and understand the greatness that love brings us

while we thrive in the beauty of this moment

together

I don’t want to sit idly by…

doing nothing but wasting away the years

while time passes me by slowly

because I want to emerge gloriously

into the great dawn of a new day

knowing that anything is possible

and that I can truly conquer all

as long as you’re here – next to me

loving me –  unconditionally

inspiring me – constantly

lifting me – when I am down

and guiding me into a better tomorrow

together

Monica Garcia Saenz © 2010

My Musical Wish – Perfect Poet

Thursday Poets Rally Week 33 Poem Post-Perfect Poet Award Acceptance

 

 

My Musical Wish

I wish I was musically gifted
I wish I could gracefully play
the piano with ease…

I wish my fingers
knew the notes of love
on those shiny black and white keys…

If I could
I would definitely play you a melody
of soft gentle sweetness
and never-ending beautiful love

I would write you a poetic song
that would slowly wrap your heart
in its sensual melodic notes
and whisper promises of
unconditional love in every tune

I would touch your heart
with my sultry song
I would move your soul
with my magical music

Oh If I was so lucky as to
be blessed with musical gifts
my love song would surely be for you!

Monica Garcia Saenz © 2010

 

 

 

This post is for Thursday Poets Rally Week 33 Poem Post.

http://thursdaypoetsrallypoetry.wordpress.com/2010/11/20/the-perfect-poet-award-4-poets-rally-week-33/

 

I would like to nominate This Space Taken by ljm

http://truthisanotheruselessthought.blogspot.com/2010/11/this-space-taken.html

That Lost Yesterday

Today your reflection appeared

in my mind so suddenly that it startled me

 

Your unexpected presence surprised

and overwhelmed me simultaneously

with a delightful mixture of long forgotten

but very intense feelings and emotions

 

I clearly felt the warmth of your smile

as I closed my eyes to take in your deliciously familiar scent

and then I gently pulled you out from that secret holding place

in the center of my soul where only you reside

 

At that moment your heart sat next to mine

and the loud sound of its powerful pounding gave me goose bumps…

I shuddered as I hugged myself

but if felt more like your arms around me

than my own

 

I slowly reminisced on thoughts of you

and I said your name out loud

just to break the silence

and delight in the sound of it again…

As if voicing your name to the wind

would really bring you back to my world

 

Then I stopped to recognized the value

of your presence in my life

while I relived the joyous moments you brought my way

feeling only gratitude for what was

and not lamenting what is no more…

 

And then I returned to my daily doings

Thinking that you would go back to where you are

So far away from me…

But you stayed there

standing to my left

warming my soul with heat of your breath

revitalizing my being with your laughter…

And loving me passionately

Just like you did in

That lost yesterday….

Monica Garcia Saenz © 2010

The Voice

I listened to the voice of Spirit tonight
as it whispered to me in the evening wind
showering me with the wisdom of ages
enlightening me with the secrets of time

Its words rang with a powerful truth
that touched my very core
Its magical tune was delighting…
Its beautiful essence inviting…

Lifting my soul
Empowering my mind
strengthening my body
Feeding my hungry heart
with its endless love from the universe
and beyond…

I looked forward into my future
and it was your face I saw in the horizon
slowly and steadily coming towards me
wish ease
It was then that I knew for sure
it was safe to give you my heart
and wish for forever next to you

Today I lost myself in thoughts of you
and let myself fall into your wonderous space…
Today I gave you my love
and wrote your name on my heart
because Spirit told me to!

Monica Garcia Saenz © 2010

A Matter of Perspective

I am a prisoner of the moment

A slave to my emotions

Stuck in the feeling

Locked in the present

Unable to escape my reality

Chained to my experiences

Drowning in my life

 

I am living in this moment

Overcome by my emotions

Overwhelmed by these feelings

Present in my life

Really living this time

Experiencing my circumstances

Aware of my existence

 

I am alive

I am a right here – right now

Happy to be me

Grateful for another today

Enjoying what is

Accepting my life

Embracing reality

 

I am living

I am learning

I am growing

I am evolving

I am being

I am love

I am free

I simply am

You see – it’s all a matter of perspective!

Monica Garcia Saenz © 2010

The Knocking

Love came knocking at my door today…
unexpectedly

It’s gentle melodic wrapping on my
hearts center surprised me…
suddenly

I listened and heard your song
in the evening wind and I smiled…
automatically

I peeked through the window of my soul
and saw your eyes smiling out at me…
happily

Yesterday I might have shied away
and ran to hide…
fearfully

But today I opened the door of life to love
and with open arms received you…
lovingly

Monica Garcia Saenz © 2010

My Love Affair

Is there such a thing as a passion for poetry or love for writing? No, not your typical sultry, sinful and lustful love affair I suppose… I apologize for the disappointment if you were expecting some juicy confession of the heart.  This may not be your average love affair but yet it just very well may be one that can indeed capture your heart and move your soul almost as powerfully as any real life lover can.

So before I continue, I have to ask you…  Have you ever lost your self for a few moments in a captivating poem or a few weeks in an enticing book you just couldn’t put down until the last painful page? I say painful because you didn’t really want it to end, even though you knew it had to. Have you ever been transported to a place far, far away through the magical words of a talented writer and without ever even leaving your doorstep? Have you ever felt so moved by a character in a book that long after you finished reading you sat and imagined what they would say to you were you to ever be so fortunate as to encounter them face to face? 

If you answered yes to any of my previous questions than you might have an idea of what I speak of and you can definitely relate. Read on my friend, I say read on!  If, however, you did not say yes to my previous questions, then I can only pity you. To you I must say the following: You, my friend, haven’t really lived at all until you totally lose yourself in the mesmerizing pages of a book or fall in love with a fascinating fictional character. You haven’t quite lived until you travel to unimaginable places  through the descriptive and colorful words of an overactive imagination coupled with the courage of a writer to share her creativity in black and white… all for the opportunity to entertain and move you with her writings, if only for a short time.  

I cannot for the life of me remember the exact date nor can I name the hour when my love affair with words began. I can tell you that I have been fascinated with stories for as long as I can remember. As a child I sat and listened to the story telling in the family… ghost stories native to my mother’s old small town in Chihuahua. Stories my father used to tell us during our long and memorable road trips to and around my family’s country of Mexico. Stories my mother and grandmother used to tell me about when they were little, how they lived and what life was like for them.

Some of my greatest moments in life have been curled up in a quite, comfortable place, totally lost in a good book.

Later I lost myself in books more times than I can count or even remember. I used to sit for hours wondering what was next and imagining myself inside those creative stories. Through books I traveled the world a few times over and I’ve met the most interesting people you could ever imagine. I have discovered so much history, culture and fascinating details of this amazing and crazy world we call home. On more than one occasion I cried when a book ended because I wanted to know what was next or the ending just wasn’t to my liking. Library trips for me are still a treat, so many hidden treasures… so many books to read and worlds to explore. YES I want them all! To this very day my favorite store in the mall is still the bookstore, crazy as it may sound I own more books than shoes. My favorite online shopping these days is through my nook and my greatest excitement is finding a book I want to read on clearance or even better yet for FREE! If you were to ask me to describe my dream home it would be full of nice comfortable quiet places for me to just sit, curled up with a book… lost in some new and exciting place… a pleasure only an avid reader understands fully.

This joy I found in reading has brought me to my current creative love for writing. For me it is an honor to share part of me with you through the collection of my thoughts written down specifically for you to connect with me and experience something, hopefully great, through my writings. Today I dream of taking you on an exciting journey with me and having you see the world through my eyes. I dream of inspiring you to live a moment outside your self, to travel where you thought you couldn’t and remember what you didn’t even know you had forgotten. I dream of touching your heart and moving your soul with my colorful tapestry of words… to remind you that you are not alone, that you are very much alive and that we all are more alike than we are different.

My love affair with words has driven me to put my thoughts down in writing, to organize my poetry in a book and to want to just share it all with you today. To you the reader, I say thank you for allowing me to share part of me with you today. I am honored!

Anything is Possible

Anything is Possible

Anything is truly possible - you simply have to believe in it!

I believe anything is possible

when you decide to live your life

with passion and purpose

with only Love

at the forefront of your life

releasing yourself from the past

and living only in the present moment

Embracing unwavering faith

and unbreakable hope

knowing failure is not an option

and giving up is not a choice

You finally reach that point

where your fears lose power over you

and you forge ahead anyway

keeping your eyes fixed on the

light at the end of the tunnel

knowing your goals clearly and definitely

Believing in your heart and mind

that good awaits you because

you deserve it – it’s already yours

Understanding that strength and endurance

are born from deep within you

and they expand effortlessly outward in your life

spilling out and inspiring others

who happen to cross paths with you

Once you decide to use your God given gifts

and abilities for the greater good

to provide something positive 

something of significance and service to others

just to make a difference in the world

Everything changes

Everything falls into place

Doors open magically

and suddenly

the Universe conspires to make your greatest

dreams come true…

Like I said… Anything is possible

 Monica Garcia Saenz © 2010

As featured on Jingle Poetry Potluck  – http://jinglepoetry.blogspot.com/

The story behind the book –

Expressions of the Self has been a long time in the making. I started writing poetry in high school but didn’t really get into it on a deeper level until the birth of my daughter Edith in 1993. Right around that time I had a radio show on KKFI 90.1 FM Community Radio in Kansas City, Missouri. Mine was bi-lingual night time radio show by the name of “La Hora del Amor” or “The Spanish Love Hour” and through it I played romantic music in spanish and a little bit of romantic english music performed by Latin artists. It was through this show that I got the idea to read poetry on the air  half way through the show and it was a hit with my listening audience. Then I asked myself why not write my own poetry both in english and spanish and share it on the air. My listeners loved it even more because it was personal and they inspired me to continue writing and asked me if I would consider publishing a book. This was the birth of my love for poetry and the moment I realize I had a gift for writing. With each radio show my poetry collection grew and grew as did my excitement and passion for writing.  I pushed myself to write a new poem for every show and with each positive response I began to believe in myself more and more…  

Expressions of the Self - A Journey Through Life in the Form of Poetry... Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

What my listeners didn’t know was that it was right around this same time of the radio show that I decided to teach myself to write in spanish (never having formally studied it before, other than high school spanish class). My parents were from Chihuahua, Mexico so I grew up speaking spanish at home but I didn’t know how to read it and write it let alone write poetry in spanish. I had a great love for Mexico, it’s music and it’s culture and at times I even wished I was born there like my older siblings and parents. So there I was, at age 24, a bi-lingual radio show host that decided to turn poet… and so I did. With my spanish/english dictionary in hand I started writing and I loved it. Funny thing is that most of my poetry I wrote in spanish and translated into english. I share this because most of the poems you will read in this book are translations of a spanish version and I hope to one day publish the spanish version of this book as well.

There were long periods of time in my life in which I didn’t write anything. My poetry folder sat sadly in a dusty box or a crowded drawer, unattended and forgotten. I look back and I clearly see that the reason why my inspiration was missing was because I was in a period of growth and transition… finding my way but mostly just lost. I have come to understand that it really is in times of peace, tranquility and joy that I am able to tap into my creativity and express myself in written form. It is when I am on the “right” track, when things are going good and I am doing well that they ideas begin to flow and spirit speaks to me in the form of creative writing energy.

This book really is a compliation of my life’s journey. I look back and I don’t regret the pain, the suffering or the difficult moments because it was through them that I learned to not only grow and become stronger but really and truly appreciate the beautiful moments of my life. I believe I needed to travel, love, lose and just live life. I needed to experience it all in a big way, fall down, get back up again and hit my head against the metaphorical brick wall a million times in order to have what I needed to get back up and live life in a greater fashion and finally be where I am today – just grateful and happy. I needed to grow and mature from it all. I needed to meditate and think about it, understand it and write it all down so that I could share it with you today, here, in this book!

To read more about Expressions of the Self – click here.