I've Decided...

Tying my shoes while preparing for work, I've decided to be happy!

The Roads Less Traveled

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson

FOLLOW YOUR BLISS

"Follow Your Bliss and the universe

will open doors for you

where there were only walls."

Joseph Campbell

Nature's Prescription

Ayurvedic massage at the spa - abhyanga and shirodhara!

Deliciously calming - I needed that.

Mmmmm... Goodnight...

More on Happiness

I saw this video on Deepak Chopra's website yesterday, again, just when I needed it most. Perfect timing! Nature is leading me to the right people at the right place at the right time! First time yesterday in several months that I felt my old happy self. It's been tough for me lately. Hopefully, I'm on the right track. Gotta be! I've got no choice.

In Ayurveda, this is the VATA season, (November - February), changeable, excitable, moving, fast, and the like. VATA is one of the 3 fundamental operating principles in physiology. It governs the nervous system and also all movement in the body. When VATA is in balance, one feels happy, energetic, enthusiastic, mentally calm, clear and alert. Out of balance, one feels anxious, confused, nervous. That's why it's important to have a regular routine, go to bed on time, avoid stimulants, keep warm, to balance VATA. Unfortunately, I got all the opposite happening to me right now, worst season for that too! I'm hanging in there...

Talk about Ayurveda, you can check out my post, OBAMAMANIA, ONE YEAR AGO..., January 2010. It talks more about the different seasons and how they affect us, like how the "Obamamania" came about from an Ayurvedic perspective. It's quite interesting! Incidentally, I worked with Dr. Deepak Chopra at Maharishi Ayurveda some years ago. Here's sharing his wisdom. He's a very aware, enlightened human being!

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Deepak-Chopra-Explains-the-Happiness-Solution-Video

To Happiness, indeed!

HAPPINESS

I was having lunch with a friend the other day at a Japanese restaurant in the neighborhood. While I was proposing a toast, saying "Cheers" to life, to health, to so many things, she said 2 words, and it said it all, "To Happiness!"

Right on! And just what I need the most at the moment!

Thanks, Brenda.

Inspiring... and Inspired!

"To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did."

Got this on email. It read so powerful and daring I put it here to motivate me and keep me going especially at present where things have not been easy for me.

Medjugorje

http://www.medjugorje.ws/en/videos/bbc-pilgrims-medjugorje/

Serenely Delicious!

(Photo by Socorro de Castro)
Tea & Serenity

Deliciously serene!

A Gentle Reminder

Sleep peacefully.

(That's what I need right now... and always, naturally.)

Revisiting Christian, the Lion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-2mpwfhtcA

No words to describe the feeling!

Dr. Mehmet Oz: how can you overcome stress build-up?

The Ten Commandments of Life

Someone had written these beautiful words. Must read and try to understand the deep meaning of it. They are like the ten commandments to follow in life all the time. 1] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout. 2] So a Car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the Rear view Mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, Look Ahead and Move on. 3] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write. 4] All things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either. 5] Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamond! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold! 6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end! 7] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities. 8] A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!" 9] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you. 10] WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, it takes away today’s PEACE. If you really enjoy this, please pass to others. It may brighten someone's day...

Tradewinds Carmel

If you ever go to Monterey Peninsula, stay at the Tradewinds Carmel. From the outside with all wood architecture, you'd think it was modern. Inside, with all its Asian-inspired design it's beyond modern. It's ageless, timeless, it's here now, it's a Zen experience, it's beautiful! It's an exhilirating feeling!

Deep Weekend Rest

Driving down south away from the city

Away from work for a much needed rest

Enjoying the greens, hills, trees

Seventh-inning stretch at the Giant Artichoke

And all artichoked-out

Cruising the Seaside

Beautiful Monterey Sunset

And my destination -

Carmel-by-the-Sea!

Staying at the exotic Tradewinds Carmel

Asian-inspired decor through and through

Simple yet elegant with lush bamboo

Fancy fireplace, hot spa,

Luxurious king-sized bed,

Quiet table fountain running

Soothing to the ears, calming my nerves -

I'm splurging, why not, I deserve it!

A night walk at Ocean Avenue

A cozy dinner for two

Walk and talk back to the hotel

Respite at the fire pit

A visit to Buddha's fountain

Back to the room

Warm, calm and ready

To soothe the soul and body

And finally, sleep peacefully.

Delicious continental breakfast

A morning drive on Ocean Avenue

A walk by the beach

Taking a picture or two

Cruising 'round Ocean View Road

Enjoying the beautiful homes

Moving on to Cannery Row

For brunch and window shopping

Then homeward bound again.

Stopping by Gilroy Outlet Factory

Shopping galore, splurging again

Why not, I earned it!

Great Japanese dinner in my neighborhood

And to call it a night -

Home, finally, home.

A deep weekend rest

Never been so deep

Never felt so good

Well-deserved,

Well deserved. Amen.

copyright 2011 Socorro de Castro

Today

Today is 1/11/11.

Beautiful Prayer for New Year's 2011

My schoolmate, Ilo, from high school wrote this beautiful prayer for New Year 2011 and as she said, "... unto forevermore!!!!" and I want to share it here with you all. It's really moving and inspiring! Thanks, Ilo, you're a beautiful soul!

On Dec 31, 2010, at 9:52 AM, Ilo Wallenstein wrote:

Dear Lord, look upon us your favored ones and keep us in the palm of Your Hand.
You have blessed us, you have guided us, you have loved us through.  We
give thanks and we give You praise.

As we enter into another year which definitely brings us closer to the
end of time (whether we like to think that way or not), we rest in the
finished task you have completed and which we just live out according
to Your riches in glory.

Let us not forget that YOu have done it all, once for all.  In the
times when we stray, rein us in ASAP; in the times when we hesitate
because we doubt, remind us, we only are a prayer away; and in the
times when it feels like we have no one, nothing, and so helpless, rain
down faith, that we might remember: our emotions lie to us, our memory
sends wrong and conflicting signals, but that the PEACE in our hearts
where You are as our Lord and Saviour, will carry us through...We live
on Your Promise:
NO WEAPOIN FORMED AGAINST US SHALL FLOURISH.
YOU WORK ALL THINGS FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE YOU AND ARE CALLED TO YOUR PURPOSE.

With such assurances, we WILL, by grace, carry our challenge through!

In prayer unity, we honor You, Lord and Saviour of our lives, now, in
2011, and by your amazing grace, unto forevermore!!!!

Ilo

Today

Today is 1/1/11. Way to start 2011!

Post Script

CELEBRATE AND ENJOY NEW YEAR'S EVE 2011 SAFE SANE AND SOBER!!

HERE'S TO LIFE & GOOD HEALTH!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! WELCOME 2011! WISHING ONE AND ALL LOTS OF LOVE AND HAPPINESS, GOOD HEALTH, ABUNDANCE, SUCCESS, JOY AND PEACE AND MUSIC.

LIFE IS GOOD!

LOVE YOU ALL!