No Giving Up

On November 18, 2017November 18, 2017 By Moments with MillieIn Essay8 Comments

I was finishing my coffee and getting ready to head out into the real world yesterday. As I was making my way into the kitchen something powerful hit me: The words, “I am not giving up my faith in humanity.” I wasn’t even thinking about anything of importance. I began brewing my second cup of java and while standing in the middle of the kitchen the words echoed once again and tears began to cloud my vision. I understand why these words link together. I am seeing so much negativity in social media…the snippets of news I hear along the day…the comments made by friends and family. I hear the necessary things and discard the rest.

BUT, I am not influenced by what anger and fear have to say. I believe in the human spirit. I believe in humanity. I truly believe that things escalate when we continue to shed light into the darkness.

I feel the intensity of change and shifting striving. Things break. They have to in order to expand. Our hearts get fractured from all the violence and crimes. And then, that fracturing begins to slowly heal. Oh my God, when does it stop, right? Well, I am still NOT giving up my faith in HUMANITY. The moment we lose faith the enemy wins. That simple!

I know I am a bit naïve. Okay, maybe too naïve for some people, but I have to believe in the core of my spirit that things happen to bring humanity back on track. We have to stop the freaking labels. We have to diminish the bigotry and racism. We are not black, white, brown, yellow or pink. We are not our religions: Christian, Jewish, Muslim or whatever. We are breathing beings trying to find our way in this planet. We are roommates trying to set boundaries on what the other person needs to feel comfortable. AND even roommates have turmoil in their living arrangements because we are all different: personalities, beliefs, culture, etc.

I am not giving up on humanity. In my daily meditations I see love. I witness the ripples and connections from all the humans together. Because of this I am going to go to come continue doing my share of showing up and handing compassion whenever I can. That doesn’t make me an “angel.” It makes me human.

I go work to read and review countless files of folks who are mentally ill, traumatized, and purely in extreme need of help. You want perspective…walk into a place that has lost hope. Walk into a village that has little water. Walk into a place that has thousands of folks living in filth. Walk into a war zone of folks fighting all in the name of their God. It’s senseless, yes! It’s disgusting, yes! It’s truly demoralizing and it feeds into your fears of what another human is capable of doing with hatred. Alienation, hatred and hostility do not disappear alone. These emotions begin to dissolve and suppress when we shine compassion and love to them.

I don’t have the freaking answers to why these horrific acts of humanity happen…every day. Cause they do happen daily but we don’t hear about them. I don’t truly understand all the hatred. I don’t get the reason we hold on to issues without forgiving. But I have to promise my spirit that until my last breath I will not give up on humanity because I believe in us and the power of community. I believe in a higher power that brings us together. I believe in you.

Together we can commit to bringing love and aid to others…not my judging or rejecting what’s happening…or criticizing another’s faith. Definitely not by constantly talking about the negative (which just instills even more negativity and fear in our souls). We bring it home into our spirits by truly empathizing and realizing that what happens over there is also part of our stories.

May you have a beautiful day…and may you realize that you have the power to change the world one heart at a time! You have it in you to change in small dosages and large quantities. Together we can make the world a better place.

Pick a Cause

On November 18, 2017 By Moments with MillieIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Good morning, darlings!

Pick a cause that moves you. If it’s children, help them find homes, create places for them to grow safely in…teach and change the world one child at a time. They are the future!

If it’s politics or religion or history or whatever…pick a cause that inspires and transforms the world through educating and not demoralizing. Help others see the endless ways to help in our world. Adjust your sails and move through love while helping others.

If it’s the environment…go clean the rivers, help small villages get water, and do it because you want it for you and no one else. Through selfless acts of kindness you will find results.

If you want to change the world make sure you do it out of your love and compassion. You cannot teach and educate through hate and corruption. Follow the ache and passion that makes you shine this life with greatness.

We each have a calling. I don’t care what it is. You might say you don’t have one, that you weren’t given one by divinity. You have. I promise you. And the moment you start to follow the things that make you smile you will begin to unveil it. Life will be sweeter because of it. Of course there are obstacles and challenges. Nothing that’s worth doing comes easy, otherwise we wouldn’t do it. We aren’t made for easiness. We like drama and complications. But, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Helen Keller was blind, mute and deaf. She lived in a time that did not have all the amazing means and opportunities to help her evolve. HOWEVER, she learned to communicate with the world through a wonderful teacher. If she, who could have died in self pity, overcame such adversities and obstacles has changed the world what makes you think that you can’t? There are NO excuses. Absolutely not one single thing stopping you from doing small acts of joyful things in your life. You are the one stopping you!

Not everyone will be Buddha or Helen Keller or Mother Teresa or Jesus. You are you and in that uniqueness you get to help another see the beauty and goodness of this lifetime.

Stop wallowing in the no’s, the cant’s, and start waking up to the endless possibilities of your soul. You are magnificent. Start to act like it, please!

Listen to your body and your spirit. It will always tell you how to act, react, love, pray and try. By stopping and paying attention to everything you are allowing spirit, not ego, to watch out for you. It’s that simple.

You are THE One!

I love you. Mucho!!!

Our Ability to Love

On December 2, 2016December 2, 2016 By Moments with MillieIn Essay10 Comments

When I became a writer/blogger I made a mental note that some things weren’t up for discussion or sharing: serious things about my children (unless it was to help someone), hardships and disappointments with family and friends, and any discord with my mate. I wouldn’t put my dirty laundry out there for the world. When I’ve written about things, in regards to my children, I have tried to do it from a place of motherhood and the challenges the job entails, often times from a humorous point of view. Being a parent is never easy. Ever! In the moments when there is heartbreak you feel isolated. In moments of pure joy, you feel elated beyond whatever words can describe the event.

Yesterday it became official. Our (almost three year old) was officially adopted. We’ve been on this long process of making her ours since she was 5 months old. It’s a bitter sweet story. It’s one of complete joy in one hand and sadness in another. After raising 6 kids, one of my daughters from Romania had this baby girl. She is not mentally stable. She has serious mental health issues and lost this sweet addition to the family. Incredible how one moment of joy can transform into something so deeply heartbreaking within a short time.

Motherhood is who I am. I knew from early on in my childhood that I wanted a house full of children. My family was small. I wanted a big one. At the age of 10 I would say that I was going to have my own biological kids and lots of adopted ones. My mother frowned on this. I think she expected me to “outgrow” this notion.

When I was 18 years old the show 20/20 did a segment on Romanian orphanages. I had just gotten married and I made a comment of this to my then-husband. I was heartbroken, crying like a baby, watching the images of this segment. I told him that I had to help. He told me he didn’t agree with adoption. I was told that I could possibly never have children. I wanted to get on that quickly. I was born with some major issues in my female reproductive organs…but my tenacity and faith truly showed those ovaries who was in charged. By the time I was 22 I had two sweet boys, a divorce behind me, and the world ahead to possibly change the lives of one child. By the time I was 29 I knew I was ready to make that dream come true. My first little girl arrived on my 30th birthday (cause that’s the way God works with me). She was 2-1/2 y/o. The following year I adopted a little boy who was four and a few months later a little 9 year-old girl, and an 11-1/2 year-old young lady.

I will not share the struggles that arrive with caring for older children. I will not list the issues that came up with having that many kids under one roof. I believe that laughter and lots of prayers help us all cope with the wonderful experiences. But, I will share this: every single one of my kiddos has taught me some major powerful lessons. Each one has enriched me with love, patience, compassion and the understanding that we all have a purpose here. I don’t know who I would be if I wasn’t a mother. I can’t imagine another career more soul-fully connected to growth, spiritual connections, and love.

When Kali arrived into our home, and hearts, my youngest was graduating high school. At the age of 45 I restarted my career of loving, patience, and compassion. I had to come to terms that my then-plans would be altered. My husband and I are truly blessed. He didn’t have children of his own. To witness the love between this child and her daddy…oh my gawd…makes your heart melt. I promise it’s sometimes Hallmark moments.

I woke today with gratitude. When her social worker informed me yesterday that she was finally ours, I sobbed at work. I was overcome with so many emotions. I felt the elation of finality and the sadness of completion for my daughter (Kali’s mother) who can’t be in her life at this moment. I have to continue being her mother and protecting this child as well. It’s not a fun balancing act. At times, in solitude, it tears me apart knowing I cannot be all to all of them. I cannot be Super Mom! But those are my lessons. They are there for the evolution and expansion of my soul.

I am no saint. I am often one giant hot mess. I make some amazing delicious over-the-top mistakes. I am as simple and common as they come. I am just trying to live the most beautiful lifetime while knowing that because of me, seven children, have experienced love and laughter.

We are all connected. May you find yourself reaching out to another who needs it. It’s in the small things. You don’t have to adopt a child or an animal or a family. You can just be there for another. You have the ability to be good, do good and create good. It’s all about humanity. We all have that extra oomph of DNA that expands with giving love. We have a tremendous ability to love one another. It’s called altruism.

It’s the holidays. Please gift yourself the most loving present of giving and seeing the world change one soul at a time because you were PRESENT in someone’s life. A cup of coffee, a gentle touch, a freaking delicious smile, a scarf and jacket, or anything that can give a stranger the ability to recognize they matter. It’s really THAT simple. You matter. I matter. We all matter on this melting pot of awesomeness we get to call home.

I don’t know another way to live. I don’t know another way to forgive. I don’t know another way to love. It might not be right, but it also isn’t wrong. So…join me, darlings, in the ability to give of yourself to those in need. There are so many folks out there feeling the stings of loss and destitution.

I love you! Yes…you! Even if we aren’t friends anymore. Even if we are strangers. Even if we have had issues. Even if our time was short and sweet. We are in this together. Hugs!

Happy Holidays! We got an early Christmas present. And…nothing can beat these moments!