Trouble reading this? Please view this week's eZine here.
Aurelia Flores
I'm always interested in your comments and feedback. Feel free to post comments on the site or email me directly at aurelia@powerful latinas.com.

Theme of the Month: All Experiences Bring You Something

As we go through our lives, we experiences our ups and downs, things that are both bitter and sweet, and things that bring both pain and pleasure.  But no matter what, who we are is created by our RESPONSE to these experiences – they all bring us something…

I am sure that, if you’re like me, you’ve had some experiences that have left you breathless…for both good and bad reasons.  All experiences are a foundation upon which we build our understanding.

Our experiences allow us to know what love is (not just what we read or hear about love).  Our experiences allow us to taste chocolate, walk in the rain, dance to music, and cry with a good friend.

While we have a variety of ways in which we ingest these experiences, we all know that you cannot adequately describe the color blue, what it feels like to dive into a pool on a hot summer’s day, or what it means to be Latina.

These experiences have to be LIVED, to be experienced, and those experiences bring us something.  What those experiences do for us, however, is completely up to us.

Have you had your heart broken?  Eaten a rotten piece of fruit?  Or been betrayed by a friend? 

Have you even been laughed at?  Made fun of?  Or failed at something you really, really wanted? 

Could you adequately describe those things?

  Graduation Cap

When we pick ourselves up from difficult times, we get to *choose* what those experiences will mean for our world view.  Will we choose to fundamentally view the world as good, or bad?  Will we decide to try again…or simply give up?

Likewise, have you ever eaten a warm cookie, fresh out of the oven?  Hugged a wriggling, squirming puppy that is desperately trying to lick your face?  Woken up on a cold morning snuggled under a warm comforter?

Do you take those experiences for granted, as something that is your due, and “owed” to you?  Or do you choose to accept them with gratitude, and appreciation, and with the joy of knowing that you CAN have those experiences?

This month, we will reflect on what our experiences have brought, how we interpret what’s happened in our lives, and how we’ve chosen to craft what those experiences mean, and how we will move forward…

Fundraiser for Change in Arizona

Mother and Daughter

I know you all are watching closely what is happening in Arizona (or living it!  For those of you in the state, know that our thoughts and prayers are with you!), and you want to DO something.

Many of you have attended protest marches, sent letters, become involved and care deeply about what’s going on. 

If you are in the DC area, please join Sylvia Trujillo and others who are hosting a Reception to Support Randy Parraz, Arizona U.S. Senate Candidate
 
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 
800 4th Street SW, Washington DC 20024
Potomac Place Towers – Reception Room 1st Floor
(1 & 1/2 blocks North of the Southwest Waterfront Metro)
 
Donation Levels
$500 ~ $200 ~ $100 ~ $75 ~ $50
 
Contributions may also be made at www.parrazforchange.com
 
Please RSVP to Sylvia Trujillo diversitytrujillo@yahoo.com or (202) 285-9880

[For those of you in other areas, let us know about the events, and we will share the word!]

 

Marcela’s Book Picks 

Make sure and check out Marcela’s book picks that go with this month’s theme here – All Experiences Bring You Something.

In fact, one of Marcela’s featured writers is our very own contributing blogger, Thelma Reyna!

If you haven’t yet picked up her book, The Heavens Weep for Us, I would encourage you to do so.  As always, Marcela offers some marvelous suggestions and if you’re a reader (like me!), you won’t want to miss even one of the books she recommends…

 

MANA Brindis

Mana Brindis

The annual San Diego chapter of MANA will be hosting their Brindis this year on Saturday, June 19th at the San Diego Museum of Art, and…

No less than Los Lobos will be playing at the event!!!

Don’t miss it.  Get your tickets now, by going to: www.manasd.org