Seize the day!!! and look after what makes you happy...-Dedicated to Nadia Sofia (RIP)

It is with tears in my eyes that I write this post. Funny enough I had just written of how tears cleanse and help you start over. But these are not those type of tears; these are happy tears. As you all know, my brother Omar is a twice heart transplanted patient, who's been through hell and back a few times. He makes note of all the monsters and battles he's put up with. He still battles to breathe the congested air, drink the poisonous water, and see our cloudy skies.
LIFE IS PRECIOUS.
I have to be thankful to the Villalba family that allowed their son, brother, cousin's organs to be used. Unfortunately, back in 1998, this heart was damaged. Whoever this happy heart belonged to was hit so hard by a car, that there were clots in his organs and we were not able to use his much needed heart.
Back in the same year, another healthy girl loses her life. This time, the UNKNOWN family to Matilda (that's the name Omar gave her donor) also allowed her organs to be used and allow others to live. Matilda's heart beat inside Omar's body for a long 13 years. Regardless of his massive rejection and heart attack; Matilda's heart beat strong.
One other family lost a young man. Mind you, my descriptions are brief because that's all we know. All we know is their time of death was some hours before Omar's big surgery. This one was also from Orlando, FL. Small world if you ask me. This heart was sick, but strong.
Three hearts, three losses, three gains, three families.
It breaks my heart to know that some families refuse to share their lost one's organs. Mind you, the patients are not asking for something that is being used by your loved one. Neither they're asking to hurt your loved one. They're simply asking for a chance. A chance to live longer. A chance for those organs that otherwise would go either to a burner, a grave, or the trash.... Instead, those organs could safe someone's life. I just came across a blog and after a family had agreed to donate the organs, the patient was told they changed their mind. Being the optimistic person she was, Nadia Sofia was grateful and understanding of the plan of God and was waiting for another heart. Sadly, Nadia didn't make it; she parted this world. Im not saying you have to donate your loved ones organs. This is a VERY personal decision and we all respect that.  We also appreciate the ones that DO. All I'm asking is for you to at least consider it? Give people like Omar and Nadia. People like David and Belmari and all the other transplant patients a chance. David is no longer with us either, but his family enjoyed him a little longer thanks to a family saying yes.

Tears

I am not ashamed of who I am, of what has brought me here today. I am not ashamed to say I've cried many nights or that I've lowered my standards in the past. Hey, I count that as community service. I'm not ashamed to say that I've been wrong to love whom I've loved and not to love whom I haven't. It is true that one cannot dictate in the matters of the heart. Regardless, as I always say to my readers: there's always a lesson to be learned. 

I learned to wipe my tears in silence. Hell, I've learned to accept a tissue or two from others when I'm being loud, too. I learned to wear more of that concealing paste. I even learned a few makeup tricks. But most importantly, I learned that tears do heal. Unfortunately for me, when you cry, you do look like crap, BUT afterwards, you come to accepting your situations and move on. 

Unfortunately, when it comes to losing a loved one, you never get over it. But most of the time, you come to accepting that they are gone and learn to appreciate the moments of joy you lived with the person. It's hard, especially when you truly loved them, but it's life. 

I always tell my readers: "they always come back" when it comes to relationships... and they DO! Funny thing is, it is usually a little too late. When you've already gone through the healing process and are able to tell them to go on their merry way. And IF they're lucky enough that you want to give it a shot, it usually doesn't work out anyway. 

Tears can be a symbol of washing away. They wash away the pain and allow for a new beginning. And aren't we all worthy of a new beginning? So allow yourself to cry if you need to, but remember that you only live once, so don't go wasting time crying when you could be having a blast starting over. 

xo, 

Marie

old to new- de clutter

Do (it won't be done by itself... you gotta get your behind up and DO)
Eliminate things you do not need (you might want to look into what need means and learn to differentiate     between needs and wants before doing this.)

Cut your belongings by a fraction (1/8, 1/4, 1/2-- My magic fraction seems to be 1/2. I cut my clothing down to half, my pictures down to half, nail polishes, books... you name it. Feels so good and liberating!)
Lose the things that make you sad or bring negative energy to your life (if there are negative feelings or energy or you really just don't like it all that much, why the hell would you keep it? Donate it to someone else)
Use your space wisely (make sure you only keep things that you absolutely love or make you feel good about yourself)
Take your time to do this (nobody's rushing you... just make sure you do SOMETHING)
Time is not of the essence, but determination is (once you make your piles of "not to keep" things, get rid of them... don't put them in the attic, or the closet, or the garage... get RID of them)
Evade the "what ifs" and the "I'll use it later" (really? My mom went ah! when I told her I got rid of her trampoline. Really mom? She's like: I was just telling your cousin I'm gonna use it. TOO BAD! Been there for over 3 years, untouched! I'm sure you'll live!!!! She just laughed cause she knew it was nothing but the truth. Be true to yourself and if that shit's been sitting there for 3 years, get rid of it!!!)
Reduction is key. I'm not suggesting you take as drastic a step I've taken on getting rid of things. However, when you let go of all the old and bad, you are making room for all new and good things to come into your life. :)

One of my favorite sayings has always been: "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" ∼ Albert Einstein