Letters to the Moon....

When I began to write three years ago, I began a journey of self-examination and of self-discovery. It became important for me to review the year I had experienced, reflect on what had happened, what I had achieved, people I encountered, challenges I overcame, how I had grown, the poems and pieces I had written, and the lessons I had learned.   I would now like to share with you the lessons I have learned this year. Here then are the lessons I have learned from 2013. I have learned that… *The world looks amazing, through my indigo colored glasses http://letrasalaluna.blogspot.com/2013/01/indigo-colored-glasses.html *Ghosts from your past can only haunt you if you let them http://letrasalaluna.blogspot.com/2013/01/meetings-and-partings.html *Going back to a story after a brief time away is like coming home, like visiting old friends http://letrasalaluna.blogspot.com/2013/01/old-friends.html *I am grateful for what I have been given and what I have not http://letrasalaluna

For those that celebrate Christmas, I wish you a very merry, happy, healthy, wonderful Christmas. Please enjoy the following Christmas carol, "Angels We Have Heard on High", performed by The Piano Guys. From my house to yours, Merry Christmas.         -Esperanza Habla http://catsfineart.com/assets/images/cats/WinterCats/db_Snow_Pals-_Anne_Mortimer1.jpg

Luna! So good to see you again! Thank you for visiting me a few weeks ago. I remember I had just gone to bed, and my bedroom was flooded with light. I instantly knew it was you. I looked out my window, and there you were. Thank you for coming to my bedroom window that night.  It is so good to see you again. I have missed you the last few weeks. I saw you in the sky last night, almost full. It is so good to see your light in the dark winter sky. How have you been? I have been fine. This is truly my favorite time of year, preparing for and enjoying the holidays.  I love buying presents for my loved ones, and making my famous chocolate covered pretzels for friends and family to enjoy. I love to stay home, cuddle on the couch with my kittens, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, and watch my favorite holiday movies. The world is so beautiful during the holidays. Gorgeous snowscapes in the forests, colorful window displays in the cities, fancily wrapped presents with bags and bows,

In the last year, I have begun to study and follow many life coaches and spiritual mentors. One of the mentors I follow is Iyanla Vanzant. She is a minister, spiritual leader, and a life coach. She has a weekly show on U.S. television; I find I learn something from every episode I watch. Last week, Iyanla Vanzant posted on her Facebook page that she has a new book out called  “Forgiveness: 21 Days to Forgive Everyone for Everything.” Here is a link to buy the book: http://www.hayhouse.com/details.php?id=9229 When I saw the post, I mentioned it to a friend who is going through a private, personal struggle, and is working on forgiveness. Later that day I told another friend about the book, and that I hoped my library had ordered a copy of it. I would like to read it and learn more. This friend then asked me if I have forgiven the man who last broke my heart. My honest reply:  “No, I have not.” I explained that, when it comes to forgiveness, I feel we have three choice

I awake to the sound of a meow.  One of my cats is meowing to the other.  They notice I am awake. They meow at me to feed them. I am home today. I do not have to work. I do not have to go anywhere, see anyone. I do not feel well. I am glad to be at home,       especially because             I do not feel well. I lie motionless on the couch. I watch mindless television. I love every second of it. Warm cozy blanket. One kitten lying on my chest. The other kitten lies at my feet. They know I do not feel well. They purr in contentment,         glad to have me home,               all to themselves. Their presence helps me feel better. Soft glow of the lights on the Christmas tree. So beautiful on such an        ugly, dark,             grey winter day. I look out the window. Snow flits through the sky. So peaceful and relaxing. So beautiful with the lights of the Christmas tree,             against a sky of grey.

Dear friends, I want to share a milestone with you.  One year ago this month I launched this blog. I began my first blog, Words of Hope, three years ago. I decided to change to a new blog, to take advantage of a new blog format, and the translation feature now available. It is important to me that people are able to read my writing in their own language. To be honest, at first I was hesitant about moving to a new blog. I wondered if my readers would follow me. I worried about switching to a new page; yet, at the same time, I was excited about the new translation feature. I hoped that the change would make my work accessible to more readers. To my delight, my hopes came true. In the past year, I have had over 14,800 visits to this blog, from readers in almost forty countries. On my first blog, I averaged about 100 visits a month. On this blog, I have averaged more than ten times that amount every month. Here we are, one year later.  So much has happened, so much has

Yesterday the world lost a guiding light, a personal embodiment of forgiveness, tolerance, peace and hope. Nelson Mandela died at the age of 95 after a long struggle with a lung infection. He changed his country, the world forever.    Rest in peace, Nelson "Madiba" Mandela "Let us pause and give thanks for the fact that Nelson Mandela lived—a man who took history in his hands and bent the arc of the moral universe toward justice." —President Barack Obama "Today the world lost one of the true giants of the past century.  Nelson Mandela was a man of  incomparable honor, unconquerable strength, and unyielding resolve—a saint to many, a hero to all who treasure liberty, freedom and the dignity of humankind.  As we remember his triumphs, let us, in his memory, not just reflect on how far we’ve come, but on how far we have to go.  Madiba may no longer be with us, but his journey continues on with me and with all of us."-Morgan Freeman https://pb

A few days ago, a very good friend of mine gave birth to her first child. A few years ago, she moved away. I have seen photos from her life on social media, keeping in touch from a far.  I delighted in seeing photos from her wedding a couple years ago. Over the last nine months,  I had the pleasure of seeing pictures she posted, watching her grow and glow in her pregnancy. The baby was born in perfect health; mother and baby were just fine. I was overjoyed at the news of the birth. I was so happy for my friend and her husband. Hearing the news of the birth of her child, I began to think about the closest thing I have to children, my kittens. Do not misunderstand me; I do not see my kittens as a replacement for children, or to be the equivalent to a child. They are my pets, and I love them. They share my home, and have a place in my heart forever. But I do not consider them my children. My kittens are 15 months old now, no longer kittens officially (after they are a year old,