I AM LOVE

And again, what a year! So much is happening all around us and most of us are staying home for it.Life as we know it, is this evolutionary process of being and doing. Between Birth and Death there is this intrinsic force of emotions that grab on to all parts of us, changing the way we actually live.Just recently, I lost a dear friend to me.Susan was like a Sister to me and a Mother to my sweet Victoria since she was 3. Susan influenced Victoria and myself  in so many beautiful and magical ways.For those that knew Susan you knew she was very passionate about life.Everything she experienced and created, was done with all of her heart. If you ever purchased her Elderberry Syrup from the studio, you would have tasted the love in her healing infusions."It is all part of the Process" and "I AM Love" were 2 of Susan's favorite mantras to help get her thru her past year as she fought against astrocytoma, a pretty much awful form of the many cancers.After her first surgery, Susan awoke and saw the world completely differently. The fog lifted and she would have conversations like my Abuela Maria did, with the ants. She would call me and say, I know I can tell you this and you won't think I am crazy. And yup, we might me called a bit cuckoo for our thoughts, but they made us happy. Let me share one lesson she learned from the ants...."So, I'm learning from the ants today while I am outside. I need to pull weeds- but I need to coexist with the creatures that utilize this habitat to survive and raise their young. I  realize that if I pull the weeds in small batches in different area it doesn't disrupt the ants. Bc they don't see me as a threat to harm their young. So today I am coexisting with these ants in peace and harmony and I haven't received one bite. Just s thought I had today about coexisting with other creatures and respecting our Mother Earth."And as we want to create these beautifully "perfect" gardens how do we find ourselves tearing the lives of others? How can we coexist peacefully? What choice of words will help you and them grow more into the best versions of themselves. Truth and Honesty is something I share and hope other's share with me. With kindness of course. Bc any other way is just hurtful and a bit spiteful, don't you think? But that may also be someone elses love language based on how they were raised.Susan and I had our ups and downs and shared our truths so well. Sometimes there was ugly crying and sometimes good laughing that came with it. But the one thing we shared was our willingness to continously grow and learn from our differences. When she would share something with me she would take into consideration not just her feelings but mine also. She was kind, compassionate, considerate and most of all I could trust her with my daughter and her influence on Victoria. The ants even knew she was harmless bc she moved mindfully thru her observations and choice of actions.One of her harder days she looked at me and said, "Claudia, I am not dying". And I could only say in return, "What do you mean Susan, we are all dying."  This had become my common response as my father says to me" Aye Claudia, I am getting older." And to him, I always reply "Your not getting any older than I am".We are all getting older. We are all dying.And the question always comes down to how are we living?Susan lived her life with heart. She was so funny and she was so aware. It is rare to find true friends like Susan. She has left behind a 10 year young son, Mikey, and wonderful husband, Rigo, to begin a new life without her physical presence. Go fund me has been reinstalled for Rigo and Mikey, if you may find it in your heart to share or donate, I know it would help them greatly. Rigo has been unable to work most of the year due to caregiving for Susan.A hell of a year and the need to slow down is very fully present. The need to be kind with yourself, others, and the ants is needed so that we may tend our gardens that we cherish so much.The leaves are almost half gone and the trees have been preparing for their next chapter where they will begin their own hibernation period. This last month and a half is a wonderful time to lay down old ways of doing things, get out of your comfort zone, get to the roots and learn from the ants.~ MaktubClaudia