The last couple of weeks have been such a whirlwind! The good kind… You know, the kind that makes you jump for JOY!
A few days before I left for my two-week Tampa~~>NJ~~>Upstate NY~~>North Country, NY~~>Montreal~~>NYC~~>Jersey City~~>Tampa trek, I attended a Native American Full Moon Ceremony & Drumming. There, I ceremoniously let go of “that tough situation.” Life after that Completion has been so yummy!
My journey North was healing…
I was able to spend some quality time with My Baby Girl. The last time I saw her was in April 2011. Way too long. 
I realized that I had let that “tough situation” suck me in so deeply I forgot to live Life! I spent two years of my Life wallowing in suffering & depression AND I wasn’t going to take it anymore! My Baby Girl became a Little Lady and I had missed it. I also realized that our first day together at the Bronx Zoo, I was talking to her like she was a 5-year-old. She is 12! She’s an amazing inspiration to me still. I watch her as she does what she’s passionate about and it fills her up! She still loves Michael Jackson like crazy! I remember feeling the same way about Menudo. It’s energizing!!! She is also an amazing sketch artist! I see how she does not allow anyone or anything keep her from feeling what she calls “that fuzzy feeling” you get when you do what gives you JOY. We had incredible conversations where she told me, “You know, Titi, people think it’s wimpy to let go, but I think it takes courage to let go of what you want.” Look at the Wisdom I’ve been missing out on! I vowed to spend more time with her…
Spending that time with My Baby Girl ignited something inside me. The zest I had for Life re-awakened and she was a Wild Manifesting Banshee!!!! I spent the next two weeks…
Playing in rivers…
Getting energized by nature…
Discovering new worlds…
Basking in the beauty of Mother Earth…
Meditating out in nature…
And shooting, of course…
JOY is the highest energy of all. It’s the magical sense that everything is possible. JOY springs from appreciating the gifts within each moment. JOY allows you to attract and create your present and future moments at their highest possible levels.
~Doreen Virtue
The JOY I feel as I get to explore this beautiful world and connect with others is so exhilarating… This journey had many JOYful moments: Dinner with old friends in NYC! Cocktails with some clients-turned-friends in Downtown Jersey City! Holding my friend’s two-week old baby girl in my arms!! Cracking up at how her hiccups sound like a squeaky dog toy! Deep conversations in Hoboken! Dinner with Old and New friends in Montreal!
Big Girl conversations with My Baby Girl! Singing along to I’ll Be There with My Baby Girl! Giggling like a little girl at how cute Michael Jackson is on This Is It!! Bodega meet ups!! Yelling, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty I’m free at last!” at the top of my lungs near Journal Square! Running through the cornfields yelling at the top of my lungs!! [I've got video to prove it!] Brunch with Old and New Friends!! Jumping for JOY all over the State of New York!
[A BIG THANK YOU to Jump for Joy! for the beautiful quote above and the inspiration for my jump shots! I love the feeling you get when doing the jump shots!!!! It's exhilarating!]
And the cherry on top of all that yumminess is that I fell in Love! Yes, I said it. I said it and I’m not ashamed! I find it sad that we don’t use that word more often. It’s the new 4-letter word. I’ve always been impulsive. I’ve also been told that is not a good thing. Who was the genius who thought it was a bad idea to throw your whole heart and soul into what gives you that fuzzy feeling? When did we become so cynical to the POWER of the basic principles of LOVE, TRUTH, JOY, PEACE, GRATITUDE, FAITH… ??? It’s not just for hippies and children, people! It’s for humanity!
Speaking of FAITH! I have FAITH in humanity. There is a powerful spiritual shift happening on this planet. Brilliant children like My Baby Girl are leading the way in reminding us that life is too precious to not be full of JOY, PEACE, LOVE… I spent two years in “that tough situation” wallowing in emotions that flat out DID NOT FEEL GOOD! Life was passing by and I was missing it… Do I regret it? Not one bit! It forced me to go within and discover my Diosa and I love her fiercely! I’ve learned to honor Her Truth. Always.
In the last two weeks, I’ve been learning to read my body’s signals. She knows when something’s off and she let’s me know. It’s like Abraham Lincoln said, “When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. And that is my religion.” I’ve become so sensitive to the energy shifts in my body and I don’t like the negative shifts. I do whatever I can to get out of whatever is causing even the slightest negative shifts as quickly as possible. I have too many places to see and too many people with which to connect. I’m addicted to the fuzzy feeling!
Most of all, I’ve learned that tough times are as inevitable as good times. The most valuable thing I can do in both times is go within.
This photograph brings me to tears… 
The night I got home, as I was editing my pictures I came across it and thought, “Wow! She looks so at peace!” I realized I had come a long way to feel what I was feeling in that moment captured by the lens… I deserve to be blissfully at peace! I spent the night crying tears of GRATITUDE & JOY! I slept 4 hours and spent the morning on my knees crying tears of GRATITUDE & JOY! My body was radiating so vibrantly it was shaking for hours that morning. I’ve been bursting into tears of GRATITUDE & JOY multiple times a day! As I write and edit this, I have to stop every so often to wipe away my tears of GRATITUDE & JOY!
I remember not so long ago spending many months with sleepless nights in tears of sadness…
My niece and I have boiled it down to this ~ when I’m full of JOY, it feels good all over my body right down to the core of my soul! When I’m not, I feel it all over my body right down to the core of my soul. It’s a no brainer…
I’m going to keep doing the things that bring me JOY!
I’m truly thankful that some of my Loved Ones cared enough for me to tell me to slow it down! I absolutely understand they do not want me to get hurt “just in case it doesn’t work out.” However, I’ve grown a lot spiritually in the last 40 years… Loved Ones, I got my big girl panties on! Don’t worry about me. 
Click here to see more photos of my incredible journey on my FB Fan Page!
Pingback: Livin’ My Life Like It’s GOLDEN!! | Spiritual World Traveler
Bravo to you! Inspiring!
Thank you, Tahira!!!
WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW.
so much to celebrate. so much gratitude to write down so i look forward to a lot more blogs as this one.
and whether you have fallen in love or not, no one knows what you went through but you. we all have a different way of dealing with life on life’s terms so whatever it takes to make you ‘JUMP’, i say do it.
and besides, nothing beats a failure but a try SO keep trying to until its done right. keep doing the thing girl.
you LOOK AMAZING!!!
Thanks, Nikki! xoxo
Love you!!!
I want to jump with you and all the people you touched with your positive and beautiful outlook and vision in life. To experience a pure joy that timeless. To truly live and feel alive. To smile that really comes from a heart that is rejoicing. To embrace the world and all its adventures like a child. Thank you for sharing your light and your world.
Thank you!!!
Pingback: Zully’s Petals « Being Rufina
I’m so happy for you, my friend! He’s a lucky man! Thank you for sharing your journey…
Love you.
xoxo <3
I miss you, too! Hope to see you soon!
Thank you! I’m thrilled! We dream of traveling the world together soon!!
I love this post for many reasons. First, I was witness to a part of your travels through NY and the fun we had in finally meeting, connecting in person, and forging a friendship. Second, I love the title of the post “It’s a No Brainer”. This coincides with the chapter title of the current book I am reading called “Way of the Peaceful Warrior” by Dan Millman. The chapter I was reading was titled “Pleasure Beyond the Mind”.
Here is the excerpt that matches what you describe in this post:
“To the gate! To unreasonable happiness! To the one and only goal you’ve ever had but didn’t know it. And now it’s time to lose your mind and come to your senses once again! You once were bathed in brightness, and found pleasure in the simplest things. The birth of the mind is the death of the senses…You have to actually lose your mind before you can come to your senses.” (excerpt from Way of the Peaceful Warrior)
See, it really is a no brainer! No wonder you found Love. Gratitude, Joy, Faith, Peace and Hope are her soul sisters. xo Rufina
I absolutely LOVE that quote! Yes! I had read this the other day and didn’t answer right away. I completely forgot! Funny thing is that I couldn’t remember where I had read it or the exact words. Coming across your message, I realized it was here!!! lol
So happy you were there to be a part of it all! I love you! Thank you for your beautiful post. So so so touching! That I could just have that impact on someone is truly humbling… Wow.
Here’s to more cowbell!!!!
Pingback: Beautiful Blogger Award! | Spiritual World Traveler
Such beautiful photographs!!! I love love them all!!! Continue to enjoy your journey!
Thank you, Sonia!!!
Wow, great pix! Thanks so much for sharing your journey, Zully! And thanks for a wonderful evening with you and your friends in JC! Your baby girl is truly wise
Thank you, Lenore! From a wannabe-author! xoxo
Great post and very inspiring to everyone that reads it.. you are so right to jump for joy and find seek joy even through lessons.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Such an Amazing start to a wonderful journey…
Yes, thank you!!!
I love the Lincoln quote. Isn’t that the truth? I feel like so much of the time we try to make happiness and contentment so formulaic. “When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That is my religion.” Thanks.
It really is that simple!
You are inspiring me with how you walk your talk!
You are walking the talk, so inspiring!
Thank you!
Girl…I’m so darn excited for YOU…and your big girl panties!!!!♥ This boundless JOY and GRATITUDE is creating Magic and Miracles for you at every turn!!! CREATE ~ Express ~ LOVE without fear or bounds….and you will know what it means to be FREEEEEEEEEEE!!!♥ Thank You for sharing yourself so bravely and beautifully!!!
Yes! I feel SO free!!!!!!!
This JOY you describe and feel has brought tears to my eyes this morning. So much energy and wisdom in your words. I have to remind myself …sunshine thoughts, sometimes…let the sun shine in and within. Blessings to you,Zully and so happy you had this wonderful time with your niece who is beautiful, I might add and all your friends…jumping for joy.
Thank you for basking in that JOY with me! I just feels so good!!! <3
Sully, your post was the perfect way to start my day. I remember you as a sweet little girl…and now you’re this fabulous, inspiring, beautiful woman
Sending lots of love, Lavonne
Drat the spell corrector on my iPad which changed Zully to Sully!
Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment! 40 years is a long time to learn…
SPEAKING OF FAITH…I HAVE FAITH IN HUMANITY….
oh Zully!!!
You’RE ENERGY Truely IS CONTAGIOUS….
thus far, this is my favorite blog…
JUMP FOR JOY!!!
there have been times, not so long ago, when i expressed my disenchantment in humanity. AND HERE YOU ARE RE-KINDLING MY HOPE…
JOY…you are right there is no feeling that holds so much positive energy the emitts from one human to another….
STAY DYNAMIC CHICA…
i’m glad that you are getting in touch with the Goddess within and sharing it all with us….
Thank you, B!!!! Stay positive!!! Really!