Tag Archives: Love

Life

23 years later…9/11

Here I sit, in New York City on 9/11. Having grown up on the east coast, but spending most of my adult life in California, I’ve always kept my love for the east coast close in my heart. And now I am here for my first anniversary of 9/11. Hard to believe it’s been 23 years since that tragic day. Never in a million years did I realize at the time that I would be so affected by that tragedy only then to move on in life to work on the rebuilding of the WTC. I knew in my soul I needed to be a part of rebuilding. And yet, I had never been a New Yorker until now. It was just something so strong within me that I had to be a part, even if small, in being a part in bringing life back to this property.

Through my role in Commercial Real Estate, in particular for the mall business, I had the chance to work on and ultimately be in charge of the Marketing and overall planning for this re-opening of Westfield shopping centers, The Oculus WTC. Through this opportunity, I was able to work with incoming retailers, city planners and the like, encouraged to ensure we created an event that would not only open a center, but most importantly, honor the families of 9/11. It will go down in history of my life as one of the most important days that forever touched and left a mark on my heart. As I, unfortunately didn’t have a way to change history, or reverse the wrong that was done on that day, I (at the very minimum) had the chance to share my love, support and condolences to those who came to be honored. To find a way to bring light to the darkness that fell upon this city.

Remembering seeing mothers closing holding onto, hugging their children, families and loved one. It took all I had not to completely lose myself in all the emotion, in these moments with my empathetic heart. But to rather use the overwhelming love I felt for all those in the Oculus, to reflect and share that back with everyone there that day.

For all those so personally affected by the tragedy, I continue to hold you in my heart and pray for peace in your life as you carry forward.

Life

Full Circle on a Saturday morning

I wake up early on this fine Saturday morning to go and enjoy a relaxing morning and catch up on writing.  For me, writing is a beautiful way to recap life’s experiences and moments that, although may seem small at the moment, are truly what makes life worth living.

I arrive at Coffee Bean and Tea leaf, my usual spot for a latte and letting go in expressing my thoughts.  Though todays visit also came with an added bonus: inspiration.  Upon ordering, I see two men working on getting connected to wifi.  One of these men is a homeless local that tends to hang around, very peaceful and in his element, often just taking time to relax inside.  The other gentleman is simply lending a hand in helping him out.  It always warms my heart to see when there is goodness to speak of, that people take the time to help one another, even if just to get on wifi.

Moments later as I’m awaiting my delightful vanilla latte, I notice a woman going up to the same homeless man.  She says:  “You’re the one who helped push my car yesterday, aren’t you?”  With great appreciation and love in her heart, she handed him a gift card and thanked him for his assistance.  You could tell she was beyond appreciative and yet a bit intimidated to show her thanks to this “Stranger.”  And the beautiful thing about it was that he was humbled in his space, as if helping her was not even a thought.  That it was his duty to help her.  A person in need and that’s what he did…Second nature, nothing to be thanked for.  Though it is truly in these moments that I am thankful to bear witness to the beauty and simplicity in these gentle gestures of humanKIND.  From witnessing this man go from being helped to helping another, all within moments.  This is truly what makes life so sweet.  And a sweet vanilla latte to further savor the moment….ahh, it’s going to be a good day.  Happy Saturday to you.  May you experience a moment of humanKIND today.  (and everyday for that matter!)

Life, Travel

Let the Wind blow you….

Most of my life I have been a “planner.”  The ironies of it all, are that most of the joys of life come from the spontaneity of life, not through planning.  Though finally the winds of life blew me to Paris one year ago.  It wasn’t just a strong gale wind or anything that finally allowed…or shall I say, forced me to change up how I was living.  Though it was pretty close as it was one of the most powerful change ups of my life to date.

I had been through some major life changes, including my job which, although loving the company, the role itself had left me feeling unfulfilled.  Uninspired, lacking typical enthusiasm for the day to day made me realize something had to change.  I knew I wanted more for my life.  I needed a change…a surge of inspiration.  To LIVE and experience life for myself.  Not thinking about work, a relationship or what anyone thought or cared about how I went about my life.  Not to mention, I had come out of a very tumultuous marriage and I suppose was going through what maybe called a renaissance of my soul.

I had come to realize the many ways I went about, accepted and allowed life to HAPPEN TO ME.  I thought life is what you’re here to LIVE in, participate and engage in.  And at times, it feels that life is throwing you off track, though if you pay attention, it just so happens it’s not off course that you’re been thrown off, more like putting you exactly ON course, right where you belong.  Thankfully I had (finally) become tired of what I was allowing for my life.  I had given my self-fully to all that I am, for my entire life.  Even writing that now makes me overwhelmed just thinking about it.  The feeling of caring what others thought, working to “prove” myself to my job, my family and the like.  All while dismissing what I wanted and needed for my life.  To think about all the love, passion and energy I have poured into every job and relationship was enough to make me feel like a narcoleptic… and pass out on my keyboard right here and now!  And yet, its a struggle as I truly believe we are here to LIVE.  And with PASSION.  And to bring the very best of who we are to everything we do, touch, interact with.  This is my view of Life.

Though at times it can seem that giving passion and enthusiasm to life that you can end up feeling quite beat up at the end of the day.  So, I called my ‘soul sister’ to get it off my chest as I was simply drained.  After explaining that I can’t turn off my passion for what I do, as it isn’t how I’m programmed.  We went on to talk about random whatevers that we were getting into for our Saturday.  As we often talk in circles, tangents and a conversation that you think isn’t really going “Anywhere” in actually is going EVERYwhere.  As it often turns into some of the purest, most divine discoveries of some of life’s biggest treasures.  Soul seeking truths, all by talking about the random activities we do each day.  It’s as if life’s secrets and clues are being blown over to me, through the phone lines with my gal pal.  And it happens so organically that it I’m pretty sure it’s what you would call a sacred whisper.

I often wonder where the wind will take me and teach me along my path. Though I’m finding that it’s the day to day wonderment and paying attention to the magic that surrounds us that is the biggest gift of all.  To trust that if we surrender to life we can allow life to take it’s course and guide us on a beautiful journey.  So my friends, I encourage you to enjoy, embrace and let the wind blow you where it may.  I believe you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see where life leads you trusting in life takes you to places you hadn’t even imagined.  Better than what you could have even wished for.  Trust and let life guide you.  Enjoy the ride.  xo