life

The Only Guarantee

Carmen Lezeth Suarez 3 Comments

The only thing we are guaranteed the day we are born is that inevitably we will die. We don’t know how or why or when, but eventually we all do stop having “TIME” to do, to be, to live.  It is an undeniable truth we all have in common.

I’m not going to say what you think next – I’m not going to encourage you or try to inspire or motivate you to live your best life.  I’m not.  I have faith that you try to do that every day. We all do the best we can with what we have in front of us. And yeah, I’m tired of the constant cheering on, the pushing and the loud screaming about all the ways for you to succeed.  As if you’re not already doing your best to be better every day…

No, today, on this day of remembrance, this day that reminds me of how precious life is – how we can lose a college friend like Cesar Murillo, in a moment, for no reason at all except that he was in the twin towers going to work – on this day when I reflect on time, on birth, on death – on this thing we call life, the only thing I’m going to encourage you to do, is to take a deep breath.  Exhale.  Take a moment to be grateful for all of it. For the process, for whatever all of THIS is. Existence, possibility, life. 

If you’re reading this be grateful for the good, the bad, the mundane, the joyful, the sad. Reflect on this moment as a powerful one. As a quiet one.  Acknowledge that you are here, you are worthy, lovely, and perfect just as you are.

Appreciate this moment in a time of grace.  And never forget…

How precious life truly is.

College. Friends. Life.

The Picture Is Vague

Carmen Lezeth Suarez 4 Comments

Life feels like a 5,000-piece puzzle some days.  The full image is vague at best with only random sections partially filled in. We’ve never seen the full picture and we don’t know what it’s supposed to look like, but we have to put it together anyways. There are thousands of pieces still needing to be connected.  We can see there might be some likeness coming to fruition, maybe a tree, the sun, dark clouds – is that a house over there?  But nothing concrete, not just yet.

With both frustration and glee and every feeling in-between, we trudge along anyways, excited by the highs of figuring out a 218-piece part in the top-right-middle that finally looks like something solid.  We get easily saddened by the lows of realizing a piece we once thought fit perfectly, never actually fit at all.  We kick ourselves for having wasted so much time on that one part. How did we not see it was the wrong piece for so long?

But when all the pieces fit and a small portion of the picture emerges, the joy is almost unbearable.  When a baby is born, when you fall in love, when you accomplish a long fought after goal – in those moments, figuring out the puzzle pieces of life seem well worth the effort.

Maybe when we began this journey, if we were lucky, we started out with a corner piece handed to us by our parents and mentors. Then, for most of us, our daily adventure (or torture depending on your perspective) is to figure out where the rest of the pieces are and how they all fit – if they fit.  Maybe connecting all the puzzle pieces of our lives is exactly the journey we’re all on.

Is life just a matter of figuring out the full picture of a 5,000-piece puzzle?

Maybe.

Just something I was thinking about today.

 

Your Resolutions From Me

Carmen Lezeth Suarez 14 Comments

Yup, you read that right. I wrote a 2019 wish list for YOU! You’re welcome.  😉

  • May you listen to more music on a regular basis and stop texting, especially while driving.bitmoji-20190101063153
  • May you meet your friends in person, talk to them on the phone, enjoy the reality of life instead of this “cyber” version we’ve all become addicted too.
  • May you read more books and take a journey anywhere that doesn’t involve a computer screen. bitmoji-20190101065859
  • May you stop having your entire life and relationships revolve around politics and Trump in general. Stop it!bitmoji-20190101065032
  • May you stop being so obsessed with your looks, your weight, your “outer” God-given shell and learn how beautiful you really are. This is how I see YOU. bitmoji-20190101080924
  • May you realize that life is both hard and then some days even harder – for EVERYONE. You’re not the only one having a tough time – walk on through it. We’re all over here, waiting for you, needing you too. bitmoji-20190101065401
  • May you be more generous with your time, your money, your love. Being selfish, cheap and self-absorbed is easy (and so unattractive).
  • May you realize that it’s not always about forgiveness, but about acceptance. Sometimes things are just the way they are – and that’s okay.bitmoji-20190101080058
  • May you celebrate your birthday so brilliantly understanding that this is the day YOU were gifted to the world and YES, we should celebrate that ALL. DAY. LONG. You matter!bitmoji-20190101065455
  • May you be considerate of others – while driving, while walking, while at the grocery store…you know, everywhere! Kindness stems from being considerate.
  • May you dance a lot more often and stop being worried that you’re doing it right. (If you’re dancing at all, you’re doing it right!).bitmoji-20190101065543
  • May you take care of your health – mental and physical. No excuses! bitmoji-20190101075845
  • May you reach out to others instead of sitting at home wondering why no one is reaching out to you. bitmoji-20190101080015
  • May you stop swearing – it’s the easy way out (I’m talking to you Arianna Grande, Adam Levine, Cardi B. and others… uhem, and yes to myself). bitmoji-20190101063056
  • May you have more people in your life who are not like you!  Racially, religiously, culturally, sexual orientation, etc. Let’s broaden that circle people! We’re all better for knowing and accepting difference! bitmoji-20190101075909
  • May you go out of your way and hug someone you’d never imagine hugging before, just because they need it (and so don’t you!). bitmoji-20190101065623
  • May you find the time to create art in whatever way it manifests in the unique being that is YOU!bitmoji-20190101080601
  • May you find that part of you that is warm and fuzzy and let that shine instead of that yukky part that surfaces in all of us way too often.bitmoji-20190101063338
  • May you break out of your comfort zone and learn what it feels like to really BE!
  • May you understand what true beauty is and that it has nothing to do with looks. bitmoji-20190101063532
  • May you love fiercely, cry with joy and see all the good in the world. bitmoji-20190101065827
  • May your 2019 be a monumental and beautiful year!bitmoji-20190101062605

Don’t let me down people!  I promise to do my very best also!

bitmoji-20190101065732

Perfecting that Selfie

Carmen Lezeth Suarez 4 Comments

Caught in-between perfecting that selfie.

I was trying to fix the camera to take the “perfect” shot. Instead I got the…

in-between shot.

The un-fixed shot.

The un-posed shot.

Funny.

No matter how long I tried to pose for the right pic, nothing ever matched the “realness” of this moment.  The in-between shot.

I could point out every flaw – and I want too – but, it’s pointless. And honestly, who cares?  I have a good life – in this moment…. “life is pretty spectacular”.  The perfect selfie?  Irrelevant! 

It’s become cliché but wow…  First. World. Problems.

A bad selfie.

Moral? 

Catch the moments in-between.  It may be the sweet spot.