journey-to-balance

[journey-to-balance]

We've been infected with this idea that love is only an emotion felt between two people. But love is universal. An energy. A contagious force. A gift. To save a worm from the sun is to love. To take a spider from the house back out to the garden is to love. To smile at a stranger is love. To be grateful, to be hopeful, to be brave is to love.

True Story. Many years ago, when I was very young and living in New York City with my boyfriend, and working at the UN, I worked many late hours, sometimes even on the weekend depending on what project we were working on. While I was living and working in Manhattan, the commute home every night was still not "that great" ... the UN is on 1st Ave and I had to get clear across to the other side since I lived on the upper west side.

Every day around my lunch hour, that is, when I did take a lunch, I would pass a homeless man near the deli where I'd get my coffee. Normally, I'd keep my distance, as I know New York to be dangerous, I'm not the trusting kind to begin with, and "stranger danger" and all of that. However, one particular day I had gone into the deli, bought a light lunch, I think it was a chickpea salad or something, but was too stressed to finish it. I tend to lose my appetite when I'm stressed, and have been this way all my life. Anyway, on my way out I saw the homeless man and gave him my leftovers. He didn't smile, just accept it. That was it. The whole thing was weird, a little awkward.

A few days passed by, I saw him again and again in the same corner, and I don't know why, but I felt somehow guilty for giving him my leftovers, so one day, on another day when I wasn't particularly hungry and against a deadline, I went to the deli and actually bought something to give to him straight away. I think in total I may have done this 3, maybe 5 times.

Well, one day, I was going home late, yet again, and had to pass this man yet again, except this time there was some creep, another homeless guy acting a little suspect for my taste. Gosh, I hated working late in that city. I don't have to tell you what you're probably about to guess, that it was my 'buddy' who made a scene in order to divert that creep's attention away from me. I made it home safe.

The next morning, upon passing him on the sidewalk, yet again, in the same spot, on my way to work, he smiled at me. For the first time.

I never felt scared working late after that. This went on for 2 years, if I recall. Same sidewalk. Same man. Same dirty smile with missing teeth. Never learned his name. But this, too, is love.

Maritza Alvarez - Our Journey to Balance

[journey-to-balance]

I am currently embracing a season of life where happiness doesn't come the constant pursuit of that which I deem pleasurable, or from fulfilling all I desire. Instead, happiness is manifested from the peace of mind that comes from not constantly craving more, and from adopting a pragmatic approach to life that remains fluid and embraces change.

Defining happiness at this stage of my life... Our Journey to Balance

[journey-to-balance]

As much as possible, I like to carve out personal time on a weekly basis. I like to sit quietly with myself for 15 to 20 or so minutes at a time, usually first thing in the morning.

There's so much to listen to, so much to appreciate, to reflect upon, and to grow from.

I want to encourage you to sit with yourself from time to time. Sit with the unspoken words in your heart. Listen. Become whole.

I wish you peace.

Reflections, Our Journey to Balance

[journey-to-balance]

I'm more interested in how my life feels to me, than in how my life looks to others; or better yet, how it's being perceived by others...

Reflections, Our Journey to Balance

[journey-to-balance]

self-love is the only ocean you can never drown in. The deeper you dive in, the more your lungs fill with air.

...

[photo: The Beach at Seaside Heights on the New Jersey shore after a snow fall during winter of 2025]

reflections, our journey to balance

[journey-to-balance]

I find comfort in knowing that there is no final version of myself. I am in a constant stage of change...

[journey-to-balance]

Your energy will always supersede your appearance...

[journey-to-balance]

self awareness is the single greatest agent for change...

[journey-to-balance]

Notice the old lesson resurfacing. But, you've transcended that stage now. Now, notice your new response. Ease into this transformation. Breathe into this growth.

[journey-to-balance]

You become a master of your life when you learn how to control where your attention goes, when you value what you give your energy and time to.

[journey-to-balance]

May the next few months be a period of magnificent transformation.

[journey-to-balance]

This comeback is personal. It's an apology to myself...

[journey-to-balance]

When it hurts, observe. Life is trying to teach you something.

[journey-to-balance]

Clear Signs You're Well On Your Way To A Spiritual Awakening...

One sure sign you're on the path to spiritual awakening is that you start to trust your connection with the source of life.

For instance, you start to notice yourself beginning to answer your own questions more and more, and thus begin that process of actively healing yourself.

You're now able to look at your experiences not through the eyes of pain, but through a neutral lens, and can use that acquired strength to teach, to mentor, to guide and even to heal others.

Through consistent discipline and introspection, you're now able to notice, examine, dissect, prune and purge some of your old, outmoded, or even limiting or toxic beliefs.

You're better able to manage stress. You now have healthy boundaries, not based on fear or judgement, but on integrity. You speak up, no longer censor or suppress your thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

You trust yourself more, enough to become your own role model and forge your own new, unique path.

Reflections, Our Journey to Balance

[journey-to-balance]

What you heal in yourself, you heal in your family line.

However, as you focus on clearing your generational trauma, do not forget to claim your generational strengths. Your ancestors gave you more than just wounds.

Reflections, Our Journey to Balance

[journey-to-balance]

Animal Totems...Spiritual Significance of the Eagle:

Representative of a divine spirit and connection to our creator - a most sacred healing tool.

They are a symbol of power, healing and wisdom. Eagle represents a state of grace that is reached through inner work, understanding and passing the initiation tests that result from reclaiming our personal power.

It carries the spirit of tenacity, the gift of clear vision, and patience, of a life in balance with heaven and Earth granting us the opportunity to fly above our life’s worldly pursuits, or above the shadow of our past realities.

[journey-to-balance]

I don't want to go back to how it used to be. I want to go forward to how it should be...

Be patient with yourself. You don't just overcome things overnight, you don't suddenly become okay, you don't mature in moments. The reality is, the process is messy, even ugly at times. It's not linear, sometimes it feels that you have taken more steps back, than you have forward. At times, it even seems as if you don't understand yourself, you don't know where you stand, where you're heading, who you're trying to become. It is not easy, some days seem hard, some days seem impossible. At times it seems better to give up, than to pave a new path for your being. But the truth is, that is exactly the way, the route to evolving - it is meant to be that way, there is no other way through it, or simpler path to take.

Be patient with yourself. You will overcome, mature, rise, and be more than just okay - but, you must be patient with yourself.

Reflections, Our Journey to Balance