JeWeLs, The Brainstorm

Queens...

2017-07-22T08:45:00.007-07:00

Jewels, The Queens Girl, You know, The Girl From Queens

Up until last month, I swore I lived in NYC for the first two years or so of my life. As it turns out I was born in a NYC hospital in the neighborhood lovingly coined, "Hell's Kitchen," and I lived in Long Island City, Queens at that time.

One day last month I took my mom to Long Island City, Queens for a quick ride around it was then that she pointed out where on Vernon Boulevard we lived when I was an infant. It was truly a surprise to me but as I turned the corner I saw these smokestacks, my friends. I have always been drawn to these smokestacks. I mean ever since I was a kid riding around sitting on the jump seat of my dad's Checker Cab I could remember seeing those stacks. It wasn't until last year that I noticed there are four, three large ones and one little one. Nevertheless, the family of smokestacks always brings me HOME to Queens.

I live and loved in Woodside, Jackson Heights, College Point, Flushing, and did lots of growing and living in Corona.

Yep, I am a Queens Girl, through and through. No matter where you are you can always get on the 7 train and take a tour of Queens, NY, I truly believe you will be glad you did.

Love transcends all things. Trust in the wonder and power of your dreams.

Thank you for reading and Sharing.

Sharing is caring!
Love exists and Life is a miracle, treat it all as such.
BeLove...

Namastè.
In possibility,
Organic JeWeLs

Presence

2014-12-18T07:12:00.001-08:00

Sharing is caring.

These past few weeks, as the holiday season nears, I've had so many thoughts running around my mind...

This season will be our five year old's sixth holiday season we are a very spiritual bunch of folks, and me, I've taken Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, He's always been my boy!

Nevertheless, we celebrate Christmas and for the last three years we celebrated the Festival of Lights, I've attempted to celebrate Three Kings day

with my son but it gets a little lost with me not being able to find Hay for the Camels

This year I sent my family a message asking them to be more mindful cause we just give too many store purchased gifts. We spend too much money and the true meaning of the holidays is kind of getting lost on our son. I asked everyone to set up dates with him. If they want to give a small trinket as foreshadowing the date, that's totally cool but why not plan a special moment...who said, I won't remember what you gave me but I will always remember how you made me feel?

I know time is busy responsibilities, but isn't nurturing a relationship a responsibility?

Why not give the gift of health and presence? Go to a health food mart, Trader Joe's for example and pick up 20 dollars of healthy eats, set up a lunch or dinner date with a loved one and bring the groceries as you cook them up together. I don't know about you but many of my nearest and dearest memories with my earliest Red Tent is when I was sitting at the kitchen table with my Abuelita and cousins, mom, and aunts cooking and chatting away.

It takes a whole lot to plan a special moment these days but how amazingly precious and priceless is it to share such a beautiful CONNECTED Experience?

I invite you to go on research on line, and find inexpensive ways to explore NY with a loved one and give the gift of PRESENCE.

HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS?

WHAT HOLIDAY DO YOU CELEBRATE?

(I sometimes enjoy celebrating Festivus ;) )

What are your thoughts on gift giving?

What do you consider a gift? A present?

Love transcends all things. Trust in the wonder and power of your dreams.

Thank you for reading and Sharing.

Sharing is caring!
Love exists and Life is a miracle, treat it all as such.
BeLove...

Namastè.
In possibility,
Organic JeWeLs

Let Go, Let God

2014-09-08T06:24:00.001-07:00

Week two of kindergarten started this morning and perhaps it's crisp September breeze, I'm not sure, but I just can't seem to shake this melancholy.

Last week, day one, I was able to walk my baby into the school and watch as he walked with his new teachers to their new classroom. Day two I was told to just drop him off at the door and he will be taken care of. It's a great school, I'm at ease with his being taken care of and getting the education he needs but not being able to hold his hand it tugged at my heart strings. Day three I was totally fine when I kept reminding myself to breathe deep and let love.

Today is day four and as I pulled up to the curb I smiled and said, "You are so grown up, not a baby anymore, but I know you know, you will ALWAYS be my baby!" I wasn't thinking about that, it was just a deep sentiment that rose to the surface. I helped him out of the car and I started to walk with him and said, "Okay, you have to go in from here, I love you. Bye." He grabbed my hand and shook his head no gently.

Just like me wanting to nurture him and see him to safety by holding his hand, he too wanted the assurance of his mom. I hugged him walked a little further, kissed him, told him to have a beautiful day. As he walked in he stopped to confirm where he had to go, I snapped a quick picture with my cell phone, from outside and I walked away with a heavy heart and so proud of my little boy.

For me, it's such a delicate dance the one I have to partake in. You know, the dance of coaching, nurturing, mothering, teaching, and LETTING GO. As I drove away in my car I had thought and I prayed that he will always want me to hold his hand and that he will always be confident and strong enough to go alone.

Love transcends all things. Trust in the wonder and power of your dreams.

Thank you for reading and Sharing.

Sharing is caring!
Love exists and Life is a miracle, treat it all as such.
BeLove...

Namastè.
In possibility,
Organic JeWeLs

Time For Momma To Get Grounded In Love

2014-08-04T16:48:00.001-07:00

Wayne Dyer just shared this on a very popular social media platform:
I was telling my personal assistant here on Maui, Dee Garnes, about the idea expressed in the poem by William Wordsworth, 'our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting, heaven lies about us in our infancy.' We talked about how the ones who know the most about God, are those who have just recently been wrapped in the arms of the divine, our infants and toddlers. This is what Dee sent to me regarding a conversation she had with her young son Marcus, a little boy I treasure and love since I am with him everyday.

A few weeks ago, my 18-month old, Marcus, and I sat down for dinner. I started our meal with our usual prayer, "Thank you for the world so sweet, thank you for the food we eat, thank you for the birds that sing, thank you, God, for everything”. As we began eating, I stared at him in wonder. He is so beautiful! So freaking perfect! I love this little guy so much! Without thinking, I blurted: "Where did you come from?!” Marcus sat his fork down, looked up, and raised both arms to the sky. So then I asked: "What is God like?” He dropped his arms, looked directly at me and said: “light.”

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
I don't know about you Mommas but I feel like this, "I stared at him in wonder. He is so beautiful! So freaking perfect! I love this little guy so much!" Every single day.

Love & Light.

I'm so grateful to my source, to my son, to the universe, to God, to Love, to my partner, to gratitude even, for giving me the opportunity to live my life with this little being.

Sometimes, okay, often times, I loose my patience and get loud, often times I loose my patience and I threaten, I will remember the grace that allowed us to be in each other's lives and I will remember and honor his being. My little boy is only a human being who is extraordinary and full of love and light. I will continue to love, celebrate, coach, honor, enjoy, and adore this little person with reckless and calculated abandonment.

Parenting can be quite challenging at times; being a parent can be difficult, so I will choose to be grounded in Love at all moments. I will be compassionate with myself and with my child, at all times. FOCUS, REMEMBER, BREATHE, LOVE.

I know I am a wonderful mom 95% of the time but that five percent can really cause emotional damage if I don't pay attention. When we know better we do better, I know better.

#Parenting #Love #Life #Light

What is your parenting style? What do you do when you think you have no more patience? Where do you spend quality time with your child? How do you coach your child when they are not listening? I appreciate and look forward to your feedback.

NOTE: I had this inspiration after reading Dr. Dyer's Post and I shared it with my mommy group, then my friends, of course I had to blog it. Sharing is Caring!

Love transcends all things. Trust in the wonder and power of your dreams.

Thank you for reading and Sharing.

Sharing is caring!
Love exists and Life is a miracle, treat it all as such.
BeLove...

Namastè.
In possibility,
Organic JeWeLs

You Can't Attract What You Don't Have

2014-07-03T20:37:00.002-07:00

Good. Bad. Indifferent.
It doesn't matter if you don't have it, you can't attract it.
That's just a universal truth.

I just finished a meditation on this notion.

Whole attracts Whole
Love attracts Love

Rumi said, "What you Seek is Seeking you.

What are you seeking? What is Your Essential Truth?

If you are clear that we all attract that which we are, what are you attracting?

Love transcends all things. Trust in the wonder and power of your dreams.

Thank you for reading and Sharing.

Sharing is caring!
Love exists and Life is a miracle, treat it all as such.
Namastè.
In possibility,
Organic Jewels

Velcro Pants...Velcro Dreams

2014-06-11T07:28:00.002-07:00

For several years of my life I worked with a community based organization (CBO) employed with a whole bunch of wonderful human beings. I started working with this group in my late twenties and retired from there in my late thirties. The transformations and transitions I experienced while working there were immeasurable yet blatantly obvious. For starters when I got to the agency I was a single woman and by the time I stopped working there I was already a mother to five amazing human beings. The lessons I lived and learned there are ingrained, some would say holistically, in my heart, mind, and soul.

Last night I was having a conversation with my brilliant 16 year old niece. We discussed brainstorming and I tried to drive home the notion of having limitless ideas. It was great for me to revisit a conversation I had several times in my career at the aforementioned CBO. I remember, quite vividly, a meeting where we discussed the notion of having velcro pants. I don't recall the specifics but in general it was the concept of thinking immensely and experiencing the abundance created by that rational. The Velcro Pants conversation was based on some research conducted by some other organization and a professional and personal development workshop on Innovation.

This week I participated in The Fourth Annual Proud To Be Latina Empowerment Conference, created by Yesi Murill-Gual, one of the speakers #PTBL, Jacqueline Camacho-Ruiz, Founder of JJR Marketing,
introduced a Strategies for Growth workshop and in it she shared some practical tools. Wouldn't you know one of her tools was the Anatomy of a Goal. She recommended making your Goals S.M.A.R.T. Working with the cbo I was introduced to the S.M.A.R.T. acronym and was so excited to make it one of my practices and to teach it to my students. Ask anyone who worked with me in this arena and they will tell you my most favorite lesson of all times is "Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals." I didn't really hear what the letters stood for in Ms. Camacho-Ruiz's share but for me and the cbo the S.M.A.R.T. acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Action-Oriented, Realistic, and Timely.

Like I told my niece last night, "if you put on your velcro pants and use your S.M.A.R.T. Goals while working on your velcro dreams you will attain most anything!"

Love transcends all things. Trust in the wonder and power of your dreams.

Thank you for reading and Sharing.

Sharing is caring!
Love exists and Life is a miracle, treat it all as such.
Namastè.
In possibility,
Julie Jewels

What did you say?!?

2014-04-12T07:25:00.001-07:00

"Those are bad words, she knows those are bad words because from time to time her mother says similar words and tells her those are bad words."
~Brianne McDonald
10 Types of Moms that Suck

I just started reading the article in the link above and the line I highlighted inspired some thought for me. There have been so many times I have caught myself telling my five year old a word is bad. I say caught myself because I don't consciously believe words are bad. I find there are really great words and good words and no words are bad.

I have attempted to explain to my extremely verbal child that we should think before

we speak and acknowledge that with speech comes responsibility. I attempt to live by Speak with and from Integrity. It's not always easy, especially if I let my emotions get a hold of me and I forget to pause.

I explain to him how language is so powerful. I drive home the notion that there is a sort of mysticism when you are able to create a tapestry of color and light with only words...it's not alchemy, it's MAGIC.

Nevertheless, I hope I can teach and coach my son to thrive. grow, and love in all healthy ways. Also, I pray he remembers Words are worlds, worlds are created by our words and I hope he remembers all words are either good or great. :)

Love transcends all things. Trust in the wonder and power of your dreams.

Thank you for reading and Sharing.

Sharing is caring!
Love exists and Life is a miracle, treat it all as such.
Namastè.
In possibility,
Julie Jewels

Nature & Nurture

2014-03-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

It's genetic I tell you or maybe it's we learn what we live.

Last week my son and I went to have a bite to eat with my parents.
My mom told my son she really liked his toy car. He told her he could sell it to her if she wanted. After she finished cackling she asked how much. My son responds, "Only $100.00." He reminds her he told her that when they were talking via the computer, yesterday. She shakes her head and he says, "Granma, Granma (he uses a very heavy Latin accent when he talks to his granma) I tell you yesterday, you want, it's just $100.00 and today you have all the cars you want for only $100.00."

I could not stop laughing. First the entrepreneurship and now the accent.
He is just too much.

My mom says she's not paying $100.00 but here is a dollar for that one car.

He looks at me and looks at his grandma and says, "Okay, granma, I give, I give."

He got the dollar and got to keep his car, his papa would be proud.

Oh Lord, it's the little things. :)

Enjoy every moment, nothing is trivial.

Love transcends all things. Trust in the wonder and power of your dreams.

Thank you for reading and Sharing.

Sharing is caring!
Love exists and Life is a miracle, treat it all as such.
Namastè.
In possibility,
Julie Jewels

Popcorn...

2014-03-10T10:25:00.001-07:00

Last night I was having a very emotional dream, I was feeling quite verklempt.
It was one of those that takes me through a variety of passages and where I encounter a diverse group of folks, some I know and some I don't. Some of the people in my dream look like they are one person but in fact I know they are someone else.

I walked passed different rooms, different levels, so-to-speak. I saw many folks who I know and love and many of them were wonderful people I've worked with in my long career in the field of education. At one point I got to a level were I ran into a loving, kind, and gentle spirit whom I had the honor of working with back in the mid '90's, at a school. She was such a huge light with a smile that could ignite the sky, I will call her Luz. Luz was standing in front of me with other people I didn't recognize, she was crying, I immediately hugged her. I hugged Luz and told her it was all going to be okay. I asked her what was wrong. I expressed my authentic joy in seeing her after all of these years. A recent former colleague, I will call her Dulce, showed up and explained that Luz was facilitating an "In Memoriam" workshop. Dulce started to explain but as I slightly shifted my view I saw the face of a man who I know recently passed away, I don't recall what his face looked like or who he was but in my dream I knew he just died. A tear came to my eye. I looked passed the gentleman and I saw my Uncle Mario who passed away several years ago. I smiled as he nodded his head towards me. I looked around to the left of the two who were standing in little clusters and I noticed they was a large group of folks who had already transitioned, I couldn't make out any of the faces of the folks to the right but their attire and hue told me they had all already passed. I took a step back, away from Luz and Dulce and to the left of the group of souls with bodies and faces I saw my Abuelito.

I saw my dear, dear Grandpa holding a box of popcorn, he smirked at me and waved as if to tell me everything is fine.

In my dream Abuelito was holding popcorn. I have so many thoughts, theories, and general hypotheses about dreams. One notion I play with is the universe is sending me messages and it's in cahoots with my subconscious and conscious mind. When I remember my dreams I spend a few moments attempting to unravel their meaning. My last Jewels The Brainstorm blog post was an authentic brainstorm (I typed it as opposed to writing it), in it you will read "i'm percolating with thoughts. you can call me kettle corn cause i'm popping with ideas." My Dear Abuelito passed away a little over a month ago and this is the very first time he has appeared in any of my dreams, that I can remember. Grandpa has visited with other folks and I was in those dreams but he hadn't visited me in my dreams until last night.

At breakfast I shared the story with my family and got a little emotional when I told them I saw our Abuelito. As I started this post today I was struck by the thought, my Dear Abuelito is sending me a message about my ideas and thoughts. When he was alive and we would chat he always gave me his loving feedback, I'm so grateful for that and for this most recent encounter.

Love transcends all things. Trust in the wonder and power of your dreams.

Thank you for reading and Sharing.

Sharing is caring!
Love exists and Life is a miracle, treat it all as such.
Namastè.
In possibility,
Julie Jewels

More Women

2014-03-06T21:56:00.002-08:00

today is thursday.
3.6.14
six days into the greatest month of the year.
march, it comes in like a Lion and out like a lamb...or so they say.

so many thoughts.
so many dreams.
so many moments.

it's real.
it is authentically true.

the month of february was a hard one for me this year.
i know i mentioned i lost a few folks who transitioned from the physical world last year.
the immense amount of loss i experienced last year was unmentionable.
once 2013 ended i was for sure i was in the clear for at least five years.
i was wrong.
january 6 i lost a loved one.
february 7 my heart broke into pieces.

march is here.
march is my spring.
(i know your spring may also be in march or just in your step.)
i'm not being coy.

i'm excited.
i'm about to go to bed but i'm percolating with thoughts.

you can call me kettle corn cause i'm popping with ideas.

i started today by writing four Happy Women's History month hearts.
march is the month i was born.
march is the month my folks tied the knot.
march is when the saints come in.
spring begins in march.
march is a renaissance

happy women's history month.
goodnight.

Thank you for reading and Sharing.

Sharing is caring!
Love exists and Life is a miracle, treat it all as such.
Namastè.
In possibility,
Julie Jewels

Flight Booking

2014-02-15T11:48:00.001-08:00

I just finished booking my return flight to New York from Florida.

In my forty years of life, I'd never purchased a one way ticket to anywhere. A week ago yesterday I got the call, from my younger sister, of my grandfather's passing. We were expecting it, I'd spoken to him earlier in the day to say my final goodbyes. Grandpa had spent about four months in New York with us last year. I took grandpa and grandma to the airport gate on January 1, 2014 and truth be told I said my goodbyes to him then. I cried so deeply and intently cause I knew in my mind that it was the very last time I would be able to hold his hand and look into his eyes and see his beautiful light shining as he smiled at me and nodded. I knew it, my heart refused to accept it (honestly my heart is refusing to accept it right now even though we buried his body this past week) but in my mind I knew it for sure; it would be the very last time I'd experience a moment with my dear Abuelito.

As soon as I got the call I took a deep breathe, I couldn't believe it, it was the most surreal thing I had ever experienced in my life. It was wild. I got the call in my bedroom and went down to the basement to let my partner know. I was breathing deeply and repeating the words slowly and in a quiet whisper. "Grandpa died, my grandpa passed away, my grandpa has transitioned, MY grandpa went home with the Lord, my GRANDPA is no longer part of the physical world." I was repeating it and repeating it until I got to my beloveds arms and told him, I could not hold in the tears and the piercing pain of acknowledging the loss. Thankfully my beloved grounds me he soothes my soul and reminds me of all the amazing moments of love I shared with my Abuelito. He reminds me that we shared a special bond and even though he has transitioned from the physical world he will live eternally in my soul and in my heart. That is why my heart won't accept the loss cause my heart hasn't lost a thing.

Grandpa transitioned over a week ago, we had a wake for him and buried him the next day.

My heart is heavy.

I just booked my return flight home but a huge part of my heart lives here in Florida, that piece will stay here always and flourish. My grandfather, on the other-hand, he lives in my heart and soul forever. No flights needed to see my grandpa again, all I have to do is close my eyes.

Love exists and Life is a miracle, treat it all as such.

Namaste.
Sat Nam,
Julie K. Aponte

Traffic

2014-02-03T20:38:00.000-08:00

For the past couple of weeks I've had so many thoughts running through my mind.
My mind is like a freeway of information and my semi addiction to social media doesn't help that.

My mind gets quiet momentarily and then boom, noise again.

Everyone has gone out, I'm home alone.

A few folks went to church and then to the cemetery to visit granpa's final resting place.
I believe when folks I love transition, when folks I love die, their soul is omnipresent, everywhere I am.
I don't have to go to where their body is resting.

My parents went to run and errand with my youngest sibling. I'm home alone.

I hear sounds, I see shadows, none of which are outside of the realm of what we would see and hear during a normal day, there is, however, this lightness of my soul. I look at my right, to where I would normally see my abuelito when I'm visiting and now a frame with loving memories sits there, if I look to my right it's the same. If I close my eyes I see my abuelito...

The traffic in my mind quiets down a bit once I sit down and pause to share.

Love exists and Life is a miracle, treat it all as such.

Namaste.
Sat Nam,
Julie K. Aponte

Nothing Is Trivial

2014-01-18T22:10:00.002-08:00

Everything Matters... <-----A vlog post, I invite you to click on the link and enjoy a Video Post.

Sharing is caring.

Thank you for viewing and sharing.

Namaste!

In Possibility.
SAT NAM ...,it

Julie Jewels

Did you write your letter to Santa???

2014-01-14T11:00:00.003-08:00

This past week my four year old began rattling off a list of things. He explained these were the things he wanted Santa to bring to him for NEXT Christmas. I smiled and asked him if he had already written Santa a Thank You card for all the wonderful gifts he got this past holiday season. He shook his head and discussed with me the concept of being four and not knowing how to write and that he had already said thank you when he prayed and on Christmas day he extended his gratitude. I considered his explanation and clearly illustrated to him the fact that he had written a letter to Santa, with help, but had written a letter nonetheless, ASKING for stuff. Much of the stuff he asked for he received. He acquiesced and we now have a date to write Santa a thank you letter by the end of this week.

Gratitude is an integral value in my life.

I always say, Sharing is Caring, therefore I am sharing with you the notion of sitting with your loved ones big and small and taking a moment to write some short and sweet Thank You Cards.

Who doesn't appreciate kindness and enjoy being on someone's heart and mind? I don't know of anyone who would ever object to gratitude, kindness, and love!

It's still only January 14, a Thank You Letter/Card to "Santa and His Elves" would be a wonderful thing to do!

Love and Light to you and all of your loved ones.
Remember to breathe deep and love always!

Sharing is caring.

Thank you for viewing and sharing.

Namaste!

In possibility.
SAT NAM...
Julie Jewels

As I Say Goodbye...

2013-12-31T07:14:00.001-08:00

This holiday season has snuck up on me like never before. Today is already 12.31.13, the very last day of the year.

I am one of the folks that many love to dislike because I decorate my home for Christmas the weekend before Thanksgiving. Yep, the Christmas Carols are ringing way before December even begins. Why not, I mean, for me it's been the happiest time of the year since I was a very little girl. The magic I experienced year in and year out is just inexplicable, there are no words for it, it's just something felt in the heart.

This year it was extra imperative my home be decked for the holidays as for the first time ever I was hosting my grandparents at my home for Thanksgiving. One thing I can tell you about myself is my grand parents mean the world to me. When they sold the house I grew up in and decided to move to Florida my heart broke into a million pieces (it's one of the reasons I am able to love so much, my heart's everywhere now, every little piece of it) I couldn't believe it and had to go with them to help settle them into their new lives. Thanksgiving that year I took a day or two off and went to Florida to celebrate Thanksgiving with them. My whole life I had only spent it with them and my extended family of course but my Grandmom was the person who orchestrated Thanksgiving (she was also in charge of hosting Christmas and New Year's celebrations), to this day her stuffing is the best I have ever tasted (I can't eat too much of it these days cause I've been developing a health conscious awareness and respect for my temple so I try to keep it simple, colorful and healthy when eating).

September 5, 2013 my Christmas began, Grandma and Grandpa, my Abuelitos, came home and I knew the day they arrived that I must really and truly focus on what I wanted to experience with them. I knew the time would fly by and that I needed to be present to every moment. I knew they would be celebrating their last New York Christmas this year (My Abuelitos won't be doing anymore airplane travelling). It was very emotional for me, the time we spent together. They are leaving tomorrow. I was just standing in my living room looking at my tree, the stockings, and the remnants of gift wrapping around the living room, a ribbon here, a tissue paper there. I've already put away the Advent calendar (Thanks Amanda for re-introducing me to it, it's our most favorite tradition-mine and Max's) and my Hanukkiah. My tree will go away on the 7th as we are waiting for the Three Kings to arrive. Every day I give the tree water and every day I say a prayer of gratitude for the gift of life and love.

As I say goodbye to 2013 I would like to acknowledge and celebrate the lives of 12 beautiful, well respected and greatly loved souls. Three of these folks I never had the opportunity to meet in person but have been able to experience the joy they brought into the world from their loved ones. These folks have transitioned from the physical world but the impact they made and their spirits live on forever.

My intentions for 2014 are based in Love, Light & Integrity. I will live the Sacred Pause, Stand In Gratitude, and always Focus on LOVE. BeLove.

The end of 2013 snuck up on me and here I am, I have to go and celebrate with and spend some quality time with my Amazing Abuelitos.

Love and Light to you and all of your loved ones.
Remember to breathe deep and love always!

Sharing is caring.

Thank you for viewing and sharing.

Namaste!

In possibility.
SAT NAM...

Julie Jewels

My Version of the Truth

2013-12-28T06:50:00.002-08:00

Yesterday I learned of the transition of a man who was my boyfriend when I was 15, he was but in his early forties, I lost touch with him about 25 years ago...

Today I am on my way to pick up my 87 year old Grandfather, who is visiting NY and was in the hospital for a bit here...

I constantly say, "Light is not Lost on Me" and this here is a prime example.

I only pray that my grand parents, or anyone for that matter, don't suffer any pain. I can't take away any of the pain but I can ease it by being there. Seven years ago a very dear aunt of mine, who was more like a friend, passed away unexpectedly at 41, she went to take a power nap and just never woke up. No one expected her to die and she did, she died peacefully (I HOPE) in her sleep one Friday afternoon.

Life is a gift. I am a firm believer that we are all Spirits having a Human experience so we are ever present, this is what I believe. I also believe that life is about what we create and what we choose.

It's important to be aware and conscious of our choices. I am so very aware that I don't have control of what transpires completely but I choose to be present with my Grandparents, in energy, physically and in Spirit. It's not cause I know they will die, who knows I may die before them, but because I love them and they are a gift to me. I like to acknowledge and enjoy my gifts.

If you love someone, let them know.
Breathe deep and BeLove, that's the one thing I really need to share at this moment.

Love exists and Life is a miracle, treat it all as such.

Namaste.
Sat Nam,
Julie K. Aponte

Light is not lost on me...

2013-11-18T10:13:00.000-08:00

This past year I had the opportunity to visit the place where one of my greatest loves, greatest blessings and greatest teachers originated. My son's dad was born in paradise. I thank God his family found the strength to break away from such rich and beautiful lands full of spirit and love. The experience was what I would call, "Una Experencia Religiosa!" a solemn and divine experience.

Every single day and night I extend my gratitude to my source for allowing me to walk this path with such a light in my heart and in my days. My school of thought is nothing is an accident and we create all things with our words, thoughts and actions.

My life has been a true journey, in all ways. I don't have it better or worse than anyone in the world. I stand in what is and attempt to stay still and be an instrument of peace and love. This is my authentic intention and desire.

When my friend told me he wanted to introduce me to someone I didn't think I was ready. When he called me and said, "I have the perfect person for you to meet." I told him I wasn't sure. I told him I just wasn't ready. I wasn't ready for a new relationship with anyone but myself. I explained how I was on a quest to get to know me and to heal me. I tried to explain that I had never ever truly been alone. I told him how I was searching for the right words to forgive my inner-child and show her love. I further explained that if his friend was truly that perfect for me NOW then he probably wouldn't be perfect for me cause I'm not really where I think I need to be. See my thirties, like for many, were definitely years of growth, self-awareness and personal exploration. My friend has known me for several years and was quite familiar with my choices in partners. He was privy to lots of situations and relationship experiences that I had gone through. He was my mentor for a couple of years. He was so insistent on my meeting his friend that at one point I said, "LB, if he is so great, you should date him!" My friend didn't find the humor in my statement and just kept on insisting. Now don't get me wrong. I was all for blind dates. I'd been on a couple in my day and didn't ever have a problem with that, not even when I went on that date with the Blind gentleman, my friend Joanna's friend, remember Karina? Truth be told I asked Joanna...Anyhow, I digress.

I had gone through a very sobering life experience and I thought I would be too fragile and jaded to engage with anyone on a serious level. My friend didn't specify if this person was looking for something serious or not and I didn't ask, I just felt if my friend was introducing me to someone so perfect it wasn't for just non committed dating. I talked to other friends and they all agreed I should meet this gentleman. They said I deserved perfection. I do have the greatest friends. My therapist gave me very good counsel and I agreed to meet LB's friend.

We met, we talked, we laughed, we connected. It was great. I didn't expect anything and guess what, neither did he. It was the beginning of a magical relationship. I didn't want to be friends with him. I wasn't looking for another friend and I wasn't looking for another intimate relationship. I wasn't even looking for love, or maybe I was. The point is really I wasn't searching for anything outside of myself at that point.

There was a connection. It was pretty immediate and grew gradually.

We planted a seed and have nurtured it. We have had our ups and downs like any other relationship and we find the beauty in our uniqueness. I am always me and he is always himself yet what we bring out in one another is truly only ours. Sometimes learning and growing for ourselves involves being in relationship with others. The clarity of thought I received while standing on the side of that mountain with my son, his sister and his dad was one I will always hold in my heart and call upon to guide me when I start to get a little lost. To always focus on my light...

Thank you to LB for being the Lord's messenger and making sure I met my soul's song, this lifetime and thank you to My son's father for being such a light in my life. It goes without saying, my eternal gratitude to my source, to the Lord, to the universe.

THANK YOU!

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Thank you for reading and sharing.

Namaste!

In possibility.
Julie Jewels

11.12.13

2013-11-12T21:44:00.001-08:00

Not only is today 11.12.13, the calendar says, 11.12.13...

How awesome is that!

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Thank you for reading and sharing.

Namaste!

In possibility.
Julie Jewels

43 Green Notebooks

2013-11-12T07:10:00.002-08:00

Recently I was working for a not-for-profit which had a grant that placed them at a high school. Recruitment of 43 students seemed quite challenging. When I went to the school to speak to the team I had a very thorough brainstorm and came up with some very effective ideas for recruitment and retention. I've worked with kids, high students mostly for the past 20 years of my life. It's basically second nature to me. My last name is Aponte which translates to "A Bridge." It's in my DNA to make connections, to create possibilities.

One of the great ideas I shared was having the students do free writes at the start of every meeting. A brainstorm is a sharing of ideas with neither judgement nor qualification so the wilder the ideas the greater the brainstorm. My idea wasn't new in anyway, Julia Cameron writes about it in her book, "The Artist's Way." That's just one example of how it isn't new but it was a new concept to this particular group of folks. I said we can get cool notebooks and have the students journal. It's always a wonderful exercise to write down your feelings or experience when starting a new endeavor. The grant is about working with high school freshmen to make sure the transition into the high school world is successful and that they feel supported. One of the main goals is to successfully be promoted to the tenth grade, for the students to triumphantly pass the ninth grade. Free writing and/or journaling would be quite appropriate, fun and it would measure growth as well. So the concept was multi-purposed.

Nevertheless, I met with them talked about some other ideas and then went about my work business, which took me out of the school and to the office to be the Executive Assistant to the Director. The Director is quite creative and has been in business for over 25 years. She is a leader in her own right. She hired me to be her part time assistant but what she called me was her, "CATCHER." She shared how she had lots of activities on her plate, many goals, lots of balls in the air so-to-speak so she needed a catcher. One of my responsibilities was to get this particular program off the ground by creating the workscope, organizing the schedule, meeting with school staff, and interviewing the folks in charge and then I passed it on to the coordinator we hired who would be in charge at the school. So you see I had this minor connection with the high school program.

The holidays were around the corner and I was planning a Halloween Party for my son and our friends. I stopped in a Discount Outlet to find inexpensive Halloween decorations or something fun and I found some very cool green composition notebooks. Without hesitation I purchased 43 of these notebooks for the kids.
I thought I could have the coordinator of the program make up some cool labels with the name of the program and the company and then give one to each student. Imagine the possibilities.

Due to other work responsibilities I hadn't taken the notebooks to the folks who would administer their use. I am not working with the agency anymore and in the trunk of my car I have 42 green composition notebooks (I gave one to my high school aged niece on Halloween as her Trick_or_Treat gift). Yesterday when I was organizing some paperwork I found the receipt, thankfully. Now I can go back and return them but it makes me sad that neither students nor I, will have this experience. 42 notebooks, I think I will only return 30 of them...

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Thank you for reading and sharing.

Namaste!

In possibility.
Julie Jewels

Mi Sobrino

2013-11-11T22:26:00.005-08:00

I would be lying if I told you I remember what I felt when I first became an aunt. My first nephew just celebrated his 37th. birthday this past weekend. I don't remember when he was born cause I was only four at the time. I don't remember being excited or falling in love with him. I don't think I even knew he was my nephew. I don't know how old we were when we were formally introduced or when we had our first conversation. I can't recall the moment I realized I am his aunt.

These seemingly random thoughts were inspired by my dear friend Rose who is celebrating her nephew's birthday today, 11.12.13. I love what she shared about learning her nephew was coming into the world. It was so beautiful and so moving. I wondered what did I feel the very first time I became an aunt. I commented on her share stating, "Auntihood is one of the greatest "Hoods" around." I truly believe that. I have 13 nieces and nephews and a few great nieces and great nephews, so I KNOW what I am talking about, I'm well versed in "Auntihood."

Now, I know I told you I don't remember when Anthony was born. (Anthony is my nephew, if it isn't obvious), I couldn't tell you anything about his birth or his early years but I can tell you my nephew, Anthony is one of the most responsible men ever! Anthony was so focused and responsible when he was a working youngster that I recommended him for a position at one point (if you know me, you know I don't recommend anyone for anything, ever). I knew he would be very successful in this position because I knew what his values are and the depth of his integrity. My nephew recently got married. He's an amazing son, a wonderful friend, a valuable and hard working employee, a trustworthy man with great character. Anthony doesn't just talk to talk, he's quite stoic in his deep silence and meditative tone. A big teddy bear and if you see him smile or hear him giggle you will know this immediately.

I have never told Anthony how proud I am of him and I have never told him how grateful I am for introducing me to "Auntihood," at such a tender age.

Thank you Anthony! Anthony, being your aunt is truly an honor. You make me proud all the time, from the thoughtfulness you share to your loving kind and protect-full nature.

Happy Birthday honey, keep enjoying and living your life the way you do, and be proud of the human being you are. You are so loved!

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Thank you for reading and sharing.

Namaste!

In possibility.
Julie Jewels

English is My Second Language

2013-11-04T10:54:00.003-08:00

Julie En Espanol is my attempt at some Spanish blogging. You can find this particular blog at JewelsLatina.blogspot.com. (So far I've got eight posts on there. I'm attempting to increase this but only with thoughtful pieces that inspire me.
Sometimes They Say/Aveces Dicen
Check it out when you can and share it with your friends if you like. Thanks.)

English is my second language.

When I started kindergarten back in the late '70's, I did not know one word of English. The first five years of this lifetime I only heard and spoke Spanish.

At 11 I taught myself to read and write in Spanish. I would write letters to my family in Ecuador, that's how I got the most practice in the writing. Everyday I would take grandpa's EL DIARO LA PRENSA & EL MUNDO newspapers and start to sound out all the words. It was so much fun. (I'm thinking I might choose another language, buy the newspaper, find a pen pal and start learning a new language soon!)

I'm so grateful my folks taught me Spanish. It wasn't in any way a consciou thought. My family immigrated from Ecuador and Puerto Rico, the only language they spoke at the time was Spanish. For me it's not been easy to teach my son Spanish. My go to language now is English. Only when I am feeling some sort of intense emotion does my mind go to Spanish.

There will be some minor grammar and spelling errors, please help me to correct them, if you can, THANK YOU!

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Thank you for reading and sharing.

Namaste!

In possibility.
Julie Jewels

Choosing Love.

2013-11-02T14:30:00.003-07:00

In life and in art I love to see when folks choose Love.
My motto is Live LOVE Laugh. I believe Love is All.
This wasn't always the case for me, thankfully I learned.

Last night, for the first time ever, I watched the movie, "My Girl 2." In this movie the main character is on a quest to learn about her deceased mother's life. Her dad has remarried and his wife is expecting a baby. I was moved by the love the step mom showed the girl. The step mother saw a photo of the girl's deceased mom and authentically expressed how beautiful she found her to be. (It reminds me of me, being able to always see beauty in most situations and human beings, MOST).

love.
Dr. Wayne Dyer #ICDINY13

It was a great example of choosing LOVE.

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to be a part of the I Can Do It New York weekend conference hosted by Hay House. The event was held at the Javitz Center in NYC. IT was INSPIRED and INSPIRING #ICDINY13. I had learned one of the keynote speakers was to be the one and only Dr. Wayne Dyer, The Father of Motivation. I randomly (in all reality, I don't believe anything is random, nothing is by accident) ran into him one night in the late '90's when I was home flipping through the channels. Dr. Dyer was on PBS and was talking about, "Thinking from the End!" WOW. He blew my mind. I was so moved I called every single person listed in my phone book. I called and said something like, "Hey! You MUST put on channel 13 RIGHT NOW, there is a dude talking to us! He is telling us all we need to know to live our best lives, watch it now!!! Goodness, I wish I could record it..."

Dr. Wayne Dyer was my gateway to positive thinking, my window to self awareness and my introduction to the universe and my connection to it. Dr. Dyer wears a shirt at all of his conferences, the shirt reads LOVE.
Love. Period. Just another sign that my initial thoughts and experience with him are no accident.

Always, in every way, I choose LOVE!

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Thank you for reading and sharing.

Namaste!

In possibility.
Julie Jewels

Ain't No Sunshine When They're Gone

2013-10-16T13:02:00.001-07:00

I posted a status on one of my social networks and just felt compelled to share it with you all...I'm so grateful for my Abuelitos!

My grandmom is 82 and such a Being of love, strength, experience, wisdom, honesty and just plain humor. She is too much. My name is Julie because of her, her name is Julia. I also am blessed to have my grandfather Fausto who is in his late 80's, he was truly a stoic, loving and fun man. Grandpa and Grandma were always the life of the party, ALWAYS (they also always use to host the parties at their homes). Anyway, my folks are here in NY right now, they moved to Florida several years ago, but right now they are home, here in NY! (THANKFULLY!) I have been calling and messaging some folks to go visit with them.

I can't force anyone to do anything they can not or do not want to do. That's a fact.

We all have our values and priorities and you don't have to be with someone physically to love them or even send them love but my thought is if you do love someone and you find they are a blessing to you why not share some time with them while you can. Why not take time out of your busy life to sit down and truly spend a moment.

There are two ladies who have been making a point of coming to moms and chatting with my folks. That means all the world to me, but mostly it means all the world to my grandparents.

My grandparents helped to raise me. My grandparents love me unconditionally, always have. My grandparents have supported me emotionally, physically, financially and in every which way possible. They may not have a college education or huge bank but they have precious life experience, wisdom and love to share.

If you know my grandparents and you have even just a little bit of love for them go share a moment. A half hour even. Or just give grandma a call, she will relay the message to grandpa and he will smile.

I understand you are busy, cause life in America keeps us all busy. I get it.
If you can great. If you can't we understand.

After calling and emailing a few folks to invite them to come spend some time with my abuelitos I found it affirming to find this video on one of my networks. www.upworthy.com/youll-be-amazed-how-just-a-song-could-break-through-to-this-woman-with-alzheimers

It says it's the Song that caused the breakthrough, I daresay it's the human to human loving interaction. I daresay it's feeling the right touch. I daresay it's being acknowledged and the song the song just inspired the joy.

I have to get back to work now. Thank you for reading and understanding.

Namaste!

Dejavu

2013-09-23T07:37:00.001-07:00

In May of this year I shared a personal experience and my perspective on it on my Jewels Organically Blog.
I think it's worth sharing again.

JeWeLs Organically: Love is NOT Abuse

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Thank you for reading and sharing.

Namaste!

In Possibility,

Julie Jewels

Smoking and Breastfeeding: What's the Correlation?

2013-08-11T09:04:00.000-07:00

Human Nature is so fascinating to me. I'm of the school of thought that nothing is trivial,

absolutely nothing.

I also believe in and/and. I read yesterday a post where my friend quoted Nietzsche:

You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

<---wise words I tell you. Anyway. I remember when I was a smoker folks use to say they needed to quit when the prices of cigarettes went up, cause they couldn't financially afford it. Now I'm not right, nor correct, nor is my way the only way but I never thought that. When I was a smoker I was paying whatever I needed to pay to get my cigarette fix. I thought it was ludicrous but I was a smoker so I had to pay what it costs. The appropriate reason to not smoke isn't cause you can't afford it financially it's cause we can't afford to keep hurting ourselves. It is cause we can't afford to have a poor quality of life.

Now I've made the connection today with the smoking or non smoking to nursing or not nursing. Nursing takes lots of effort and so does preparing formula. Nursing is NATURAL and FREE financially formula is processed and SUPER EXPENSIVE. If you don't want to nurse that's fine for you, no one should tell you otherwise unless it's someone who loves you and wants to support you to be healthy and strong. If we want to nurse until our children are 4 or 5 it's not your place to say anything either.

Smoking is unhealthy and so many of us have done it and continue to do it.

Nursing is healthy and so many of us do and and so many of us don't.

It's all a personal choice but my nursing my baby doesn't affect you or anyone else other than us (me and my baby). Smoking, it affects you and everyone around you.

Just some food for thought.

Happy Sunday, friends!

namaste.

(A post I shared on my personal social media and wanted to share with YOU!)

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In possibility.
Julie Jewels