Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
A Book Story
Once upon a time, there was a life without a story, a story without a book and a book without a reader.
Until one day, Story knocked on Life's door.
"Who is it?" asked Life.
"Your story," answered Story.
Life and Story shared many moments: happy, sad ones and of the unspeakable kind. The more they shared, the more excited they became and out of their joyous relationship came about a book. A book about life... a story of many lives. Only there was a problem, the book needed readers.
Knock, knock!
"Who is it? asked Book.
"Your reader,"said the dreamer.
Lets face it. We all have stories. We all love stories. Stories make life all the more interesting. Books transport us to other worlds. Readers turn books to life, movies, traditions...a book without a reader is lost and forgotten.
And that's why we have book festivals! To satisfy our literature hunger :-)
The Los Angeles Times Book Festival is one of the largest around. If anyone is attending, please stop by and say hello. I will be discussing and signing for Shattered Paradise on the following dates:
April 12, 2014
USC, Los Angeles Times Book Festival, Hoy News Booth
April 13, 2014
USC, Los Angeles Times Book Festival, Booth 464
12:00-1:00 and 2:00-3:00
Live, Love and Read!
Ileana :-)
Friday, May 24, 2013
The Irony of Life
The irony of
life: a game of chess guided by predictions, choices—the element of time. What
makes us interesting beings is the ability to go through life unnoticed, to
blend amongst the ordinary and the grand, and to camouflage a past to where no
one can tell it ever existed.
--Excerpt from Shattered Paradise: Memoirs of a Nicaraguan War Child
At last, I have found the courage to click on the "submit for publication" button and share my childhood with a world of wonderful strangers. Cheers to life, friends and the excitement of the unknown.
Share your greatest achievement with me...or adventure! It will certainly soothe my nerves :-)
--Excerpt from Shattered Paradise: Memoirs of a Nicaraguan War Child
At last, I have found the courage to click on the "submit for publication" button and share my childhood with a world of wonderful strangers. Cheers to life, friends and the excitement of the unknown.
Share your greatest achievement with me...or adventure! It will certainly soothe my nerves :-)
Monday, January 30, 2012
Happiness
Happiness...an exquisite pursue!
Happiness is transient and is dependent on our personal aspirations and values. Our pursuit for happiness never ends, as we might find ourselves switching from happiness to unhappiness from one moment to the next. Based on my personal experience, overall happiness could be stored into our good memories, by trapping every moment of bliss-however small that moment may be.
Happiness like love, must be nourished and protected. We are the sole owners of our happiness and only we can change the things that make us happy or unhappy. Our happiness should be based on our very own feelings: our ability to love, and aspirations: our ability to dream without dead ends. As an advocate for war survivors and a survivor myself, I have concluded that in this world, there is much more to laugh than to cry about. Every day we are alive is a reason to smile, every heart beat that takes us closer to the 3 billion heart beats in a lifetime, is a reason to feel blessed, and every hug, kind word and kiss we receive from our loved ones is a reason to feel lucky and endlessly happy. Our true happiness depends on us and lies inside our own human spirit. We only need to search inside our souls. If we can’t find it, we need to just look around, particularly at the less fortunate throughout the world, and realize that if they are capable of smiling, then so can we.
Overall, true happiness lies in the essence of a positive human spirit. To me there are two kinds of happiness: 1) the type provided by material gains and 2) the type provided by spiritual, emotional and overall self-actualization gains. Both are needed to some extent. Therefore, the key to happiness is simplicity. The simpler the life style and the goals we set for ourselves, the more likely we are to accomplish our goals, and as a result we’ll feel happier with ourselves and our surroundings. This is not to say that we should have a mediocre mentality in order to achieve happiness, in the contrary, we are free to dream and achieve anything we want, just as long as we keep reality alongside.
Happiness is transient and is dependent on our personal aspirations and values. Our pursuit for happiness never ends, as we might find ourselves switching from happiness to unhappiness from one moment to the next. Based on my personal experience, overall happiness could be stored into our good memories, by trapping every moment of bliss-however small that moment may be.
Happiness like love, must be nourished and protected. We are the sole owners of our happiness and only we can change the things that make us happy or unhappy. Our happiness should be based on our very own feelings: our ability to love, and aspirations: our ability to dream without dead ends. As an advocate for war survivors and a survivor myself, I have concluded that in this world, there is much more to laugh than to cry about. Every day we are alive is a reason to smile, every heart beat that takes us closer to the 3 billion heart beats in a lifetime, is a reason to feel blessed, and every hug, kind word and kiss we receive from our loved ones is a reason to feel lucky and endlessly happy. Our true happiness depends on us and lies inside our own human spirit. We only need to search inside our souls. If we can’t find it, we need to just look around, particularly at the less fortunate throughout the world, and realize that if they are capable of smiling, then so can we.
Overall, true happiness lies in the essence of a positive human spirit. To me there are two kinds of happiness: 1) the type provided by material gains and 2) the type provided by spiritual, emotional and overall self-actualization gains. Both are needed to some extent. Therefore, the key to happiness is simplicity. The simpler the life style and the goals we set for ourselves, the more likely we are to accomplish our goals, and as a result we’ll feel happier with ourselves and our surroundings. This is not to say that we should have a mediocre mentality in order to achieve happiness, in the contrary, we are free to dream and achieve anything we want, just as long as we keep reality alongside.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Inspiration
For inspiration: seek nature, for relaxation: seek nature, for meaning: seek nature, for challenge: save nature.
Growing up in the beautiful rain forest of Northern Nicaragua, some say I was fortunate, others don’t agree. After all, I did enjoy many things most people can only dream in a lifetime: freedom to ride a horse with open arms through whimsical rain and clouded forests, warm showers straight from the heavens, endless moonlights and adrenaline laden adventures. In my childhood I indulged in all delectable organic treats nature had to offer. I also witnessed live executions, human anatomy displays and above all—I got to see how a paradise shattered. This was the day my innocent childhood ended and my new life began.
A new life in which I have learned to smile a lot. An enjoyable adventure called LIFE!
Live every moment as if it were your last!
Growing up in the beautiful rain forest of Northern Nicaragua, some say I was fortunate, others don’t agree. After all, I did enjoy many things most people can only dream in a lifetime: freedom to ride a horse with open arms through whimsical rain and clouded forests, warm showers straight from the heavens, endless moonlights and adrenaline laden adventures. In my childhood I indulged in all delectable organic treats nature had to offer. I also witnessed live executions, human anatomy displays and above all—I got to see how a paradise shattered. This was the day my innocent childhood ended and my new life began.
A new life in which I have learned to smile a lot. An enjoyable adventure called LIFE!
Live every moment as if it were your last!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The road of life
There are times when you choose the road; other times when the road chooses you. But whatever road you choose, drive it well my friends! ©Ileana Gutierrez
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)