Letters to the Moon....

Another year has come to an end. I have accomplished so much this year. Not everything I wanted to accomplish, yet still a great deal. I got the electronic version of my first book, “I am Hope”, published. It was a monumental accomplishment.  I am proud that I was able to achieve my goal. In the New Year I will soon publish the print version of the book. While  I wanted it to get done this year, I know everything will happen it is own time. As I look forward to all that the New Year brings, I cannot help but look back on the year that has been. I have learned much from this last year. Here is some of what I have learned….. *Purging your house of unwanted and unneeded items cleanses your environment as well as your spirit. http://letrasalaluna.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-purging.html *I never want to have another thirty year winter storm in my lifetime. http://letrasalaluna.blogspot.com/2014/01/ion.html *I must be patient until my muse shows up. http://letrasala

It probably comes as no surprise to you that I have fallen in love with the written word. It is my primary means of self-expression, as well as my passion. I feel I have always lived a life of words… http://letrasalaluna.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-life-of-words.html Now that I am a published author, I have an immense respect for authors and self-publishers. To begin with a glimmer of a thought in your head to finish with your words printed on a page is nothing short of miraculous. I should have known I was destined to live a life of words. I first worked in a library in my elementary school; since then  I have spent over twenty years of my life working in libraries. It is always a fascinating subject, the future of libraries, of the written word. People always ask if new libraries that are built in the future will have books in them. My answer is always a resounding: “Absolutely.” I have heard the comparison of books versus electronic books to be like a staircase

It is fairly common to have stress during the holiday season. However, it is not common for me to feel any stress during the holidays. I am the type of person that lives for Christmas. I usually buy Christmas presents for my friends and family all year long. Not this year. I have been so consumed with publishing my book that I have not had time to even think about Christmas. (For those of you who are waiting to buy my book, it will be available for purchase in early 2015.) I have no gifts for anyone to open. I am so far behind. I am not ready for Christmas, emotionally or otherwise. This is not like me. http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/12xmas_stress.jpg I am usually more prepared for Christmas. I am always ready with my Christmas cards. I collect Christmas cards. Usually in July I go through all of my Christmas cards and pick which ones I want to mail out. Then, in November, I write a personalized greeting on the inside of the card. When I leave my home for the Thanksgiving ho

There is nothing like the loss of a loved one. That person who took up such an important place in your life is not there anymore. They will never be there again. There is a massive gaping hole where that person used to be. How can you begin to go on without them? I have written about the deaths of friends before…. http://www.esperanzahabla.blogspot.com/2011/04/goodbyeadios.html http://letrasalaluna.blogspot.com/2014/05/yet-again.html …the death of a pet…. http://www.esperanzahabla.blogspot.com/2012/07/one-more-star-in-skyuna-estrella-mas-en.html …the death of a friendship….. http://www.esperanzahabla.blogspot.com/2012/06/death-of-friendshipel-muerte-una.html ...and loss.... http://letrasalaluna.blogspot.com/2013/03/loss.html I have a friend who is going through a very deep, personal, tragic loss right now. She did not ask me any advice on what to do in this moment to begin to grieve; yet, I reached out to her and gave her my thoughts. I thought she mig

Meditation is a concept that has always fascinated me. I saw a post recently from Iyanla Vanzant, minister and spiritual leader, about meditation. She wrote: “Meditation is a process that stills the mind in order to facilitate sacred healing and growth. Meditation can and will order your thinking and therefore your mind. As we heal the broken and wounded places that exist in our hearts and minds, we grow mentally and emotionally. Mediation is, therefore, a tool for growth. ” I have to admit, meditation is a concept that is foreign to me. I understand the purpose, yet I do not understand how to do meditate. To me, meditation means to calm the mind. My mind is always thinking, always active, always full of thoughts. As I watch a movie, I notice little parts that no one else seems to notice. When I listen to music, I analyze the instrumentation and harmony. As I drive home from work I watch the road while I’m wondering what I will have for dinner that night. To quiet my mind is

They say that the theater is a temple of dreams. A library is a similar temple-a temple of stories. Now that I am in the midst of publishing my own book, I stand and marvel at the books in a library. To publish a novel, a book of poetry, anything yourself, is a daunting task. It gives me immense admiration and respect for authors and self-publishers. I will never look at a book the same way twice. http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/131126191411-strahov-abbey-library-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg It is the plight of the writer to have endless thoughts in your head. Thoughts about what you have already written, thoughts about what you will write about. My thoughts drift back to the novel I am writing. I have not written anything in the novel in six months. I have been so preoccupied with publishing my first book of poetry, “I am Hope” that I have put the novel aside. (In regards to “I am Hope”, the e-book can be purchased here:  http://www.silencecommunity.com/

Recently at a social function someone brought a luscious homemade baked treat. I thought I was safe in eating it. I ate two pieces of the treat. Minutes after eating the luscious treat, I regretted doing so. That incident is not a common occurrence, yet, more common than I prefer. The reason for the reaction, I have a food allergy. I am not alone. Currently there are 15 million Americans that have a food allergy. I do not know for certain when  I acquired this allergy.  However, research has shown there is a definitive link between having your gallbladder removed and developing food allergies. The gallbladder is an organ in the human body that aids in digestion.  I had my gallbladder surgically removed when I was 17 years old. I believe my food allergy began then. Food allergies are quickly becoming commonplace in America. There are eight main allergens found in foods-Milk, Eggs, Fish, Shellfish, Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Wheat and Soybeans.   http://farrp.unl.edu/informallb

Today is the 100 Thousand Poets for Change global event. The idea is for poets, writers, singers, composers, filmmakers, artists of all kind, to create a piece to bring about positive change in the world. This is my second year participating in this event. Here is last year’s submission: http://www.letrasalaluna.blogspot.com/2013_09_01_archive.html#!http://letrasalaluna.blogspot.com/2013/09/tolerance.html This year I have chosen another topic that I have started to become passionate about-equal rights for all. I recently viewed the speech Emma Watson gave to the United Nations. You might recognize her from her role as "Hermione Granger" in the "Harry Potter" movies. Hers was an impassioned speech for rights for all, and advancing the rights of women. If you would like to view her inspiring speech, you can watch it here…. This speech was the start of a global initiative for change called the He for She campaign. Men all around the world are standing up