Home Is Where The Heart Is

I have been in my new home for 6 days now.  I feel so grateful and bubbly inside, words can’t express.  I look around and feel like I am home.  Now of course I felt this way when I bought my first home in 2001. I also felt this way when I first arrived in Salvador.  As I think back, I arrived to Brazil with $0.  I took the boat through the Amazon from Colombia and arrived in Manaus.  A friend I met along my journey lent me money for a flight to Salvador. Once in Salvador, my brother was able to wire me money, which was a tremendous support.  I am thankful for him and my family for supporting me and thankful that I have not had to ask for money to be sent since.  I started to teach English and after a year of moving from place to place I finally found a place I could afford and call home.  I stayed in a favela, but it was my own place, I loved it.  It was small but all I needed.   I had a simple life, did not want for more.  The name of the favela is Morro da Sereia, which means Mermaid Hill.  I lived there for almost 2 years.  I moved in January 2012 and lived there until September 2013.  There I was able to grow my Reiki practice where I taught regular classes as well as gave sessions.  I was able to do yoga with different practitioners.  I took part in Variety shows, workshops and grew spiritually.  The downside was the amount of steps that I had to walk up to get to my house, the days or weeks we would go without water, the dog and cat poop on the steps and in front of the house and not to forget the noise.  I realized how precious water is, and how much I use it and need it in my day to day life.   I also, learned how strong and perseverant I am.  To hike up the steps with grocery bags, to deal with the neighbors’ music early in the mornings or late at nights some time, the foolishness of some of the neighbors, but I also had loving neighbors who watched out for me and my home, and it felt like a sense of community.  I loved it and am thankful for every experience I had there as it helped me to grow.  I know I also stayed there because I thought I could not afford more and through my personal work learned that I was there as a way to honor my ancestors.  But I know now, my ancestors do not want me to honor them through lack or a poverty mindset.  So I will honor them another way.  Now I moved into my new home, which has space in the back for a BBQ and a little garden.  I look forward to this space to plant herbs and to allow my Aloe Vera plant to flourish.  I feel like I can make a home here for however long that will be.  I am just open to what the universe sends to me. 

39 Years of Reflection

39 Years of Reflection

Today I turn 39 years old.  I honestly can't believe it.  I feel so much younger than 39.  I lay in bed reflecting on my life and have thought of the many things I have done and the many more to come.  In this 39 years I have worked hard to achieve a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology. I worked to put myself through college, as a waitress, bartender and salesperson at Lowe's.  After earning my Bachelors from Florida State University I moved to Virginia where I began to work at a technology firm doing accounting work, then teaching at a preschool and later going back to earn my Master's at Marymount University.  I've worked for Mental Health Hospitals, a Mental Health Insurance company, a crisis center and at the age of 29 started my own business as a Private Practice Psychotherapist.  All the while planning events such as ski trips, camping trips and socials.  My life has always been a busy one, preparing me for what is to come.  I've had several religious paths such as Catholicism, Baptist, Christian, Buddhist all to learn more about myself and this world. In 2009, at the age of 35 I decided to travel the world.  I started in India, then went to Argentina, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia all of which I stayed for 3 months, then on to Brazil where I decided to put down roots for some time.  I entered not knowing the language and within 7 months began a Post Graduate Program in Transpersonal Therapy where I studied for the last 2 years in Portuguese.  Wow that is a big accomplishment.  I am currently taking a Dance class to work on seeking the interior self and work on individuation.  Speaking of dance I have danced Belly Dance, Tribal Fusion and have performed here in Brazil.  I can't forget my acting in the States when I was a child.  I performed in Musicals, Plays, and Comedy Skits.  It has always been hard for me to write about myself.  This is my healing right now as I write for myself.  Most people look at my life and think how easy I have it and how much fun I am having, but Salvador is a tough city to live in.  I have faced many struggles that many don't know of, I have cried many tears, but I have also loved, and laughed many laughs.  That is part of life.  The balance without the sad times we could not appreciate the happy times.  I have written for magazines, was a weekly guest on a talk show, have been interviewed for magazines and radio shows.  I have done a lot in these 39 years and if I could give advice to someone I would say follow your heart and live your dreams.  Don't be afraid of carrying out your dreams. The universe and God is there to help!  You just have to trust and have faith! I have also studied Reiki traditional and Egyptian, am a Master and teach Reiki as well.  Wow have I done a lot.  Now it is time to dare yet again and start doing my retreats around the world to share what I have learned and to help others travel the world and grow at the same time.  Somewhere deep inside I have doubted myself which is why I haven't started yet, but I have accrued a lot of knowledge and experience and am ready to share.