Life is a poem.

And the rhythm of it is love.

So is its message.

Have You Ever Asked Yourself: What Is the Greatest Miracle of Love?

It’s hard to narrow it down, isn’t it?

Because there are sooooo many miracles of love.

Here Are Some Examples Of The Greatest Miracles Of Love

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If you’ve seen Sonia Choquette in a conference, you know how wonderfully amazing she is.

So, if I tell you that I prefer her books over her live events it’s not because her events are bad (because I’ve already said that she’s wonderfully amazing in them), but because I can savor her charm the entire time it takes me to finish her book.

This Book is A Page Turner

This is a book that drew me in the minute I started reading it.  This this Walking Home by Sonia Choquette book review , reveals why.

Sonia presented herself in such a raw, vulnerable and real way that I could immediately relate to her humanness.

As you know, this book is a journey deep within herself as Sonia strives to regain her balance after two deaths in her family and her struggle in her marriage.

She decides to reconnect with herself by walking El Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage path that crosses Spain and takes most people about 30-35 days to walk about 14-16 miles per day.

And she does so alone.

But it’s almost like she takes her readers with her, because she describes everything in delightful detail. She shows, she doesn’t tell.

You feel like you’re walking beside her.

Sonia showed so much detail regarding how the Camino looked, nature looked, her room looked and the people she met looked looked, that I kept wondering all along, “how does she remember all of these details!?” Saying that she was as present as she could be living these moments is an understatement.

I literally could not wait to get into bed every night to read what had happened to Sonia that day on the Camino.

It was soooo engaging that I sometimes read several chapters in one night.

This book is my 2nd favorite book ever. And you know what? My #1 favorite book is also one that she wrote. And trust me, it’s not favoritism, because I love to read a variety of interesting topics, but she just draws me in.

She is the best literary “host” I know, because she welcomes you into her story and into your heart.

Sonia says that a naysayer in her life questioned her ability to write in a quite insulting way as she was beginning her career. I really can’t believe someone would have the audacity to say such a thing to her.

In my book, she writes so vividly, that even technology doesn’t entice me more than her book. And I LOVE technology.

That’s how good of a storyteller she is.

Why I Love Walking Home By Sonia Choquette So Much

Here are just some of the reasons why I like the book so much:

1) Aside from being able to “see” what she was going through as she told her story, I was able to admire her more for allowing us to see who she was… by being so real with us.

2) I GREATLY admire and got to know the true, quiet, shy and reserved Sonia.

3) I admire the positive impact she’s had on the world even more despite her preference to be alone (being an introvert is not a bad thing)

4) I feel better knowing that if people have failed me or if I’ve failed myself, it’s because of love and the associations we have to love and ourself. This book teaches us that it’s human to make mistakes… no matter if you’re highly intuitive or not.

5) This book keeps you on your toes to see what’s going to happen in the end.

I, however, was sad that the book ended because I want to read and know more.

I’d love for Sonia to write part 2 to this story that explains how her life has been since the Camino and how she’s been applying the principles she learned throughout her journey. Most importantly, I’d like to know how she’s looking after her own wellbeing even now, that she has reintegrated herself into her daily life.

Why You Might Like Walking Home

There are many pros to it, here are just a few.

Walking Home is a book that:

• is introspective
• magical
• vivid
• makes you believe in humanity
• you don’t have to be spiritual or religious to enjoy it
• makes you better understand and have compassion for the human experience
• allows you to accept our pros and cons more fully
• allows you to see the resilience of the human spirit

Concluding Remarks About El Camino

In sum, this book is soooo great, that I will be rereading it again soon. It’s that good!! There’s that much meaning to extract from it if your’e willing to observe the subtleties and parallels not only in her life but in yours.

As Sonia says, you don’t have to walk the Camino to reconnect with your heart and soul. Don’t be surprised if by starting to read this book, you begin to have a healing journey of your own. It’s practically inevitable.

You can learn about spirituality and know it theoretically. Sonia, however, is a prime example of how to apply spirituality in a practical and natural way.

I received this book from Hay House in exchange for an honest review.

Now It’s Your Turn

• Have you read this book?
• Or other books by Sonia Choquette?
• Which is your favorite?

Please leave your comments below.

What Do I Mean By “Count Your Challenges” During These 12 Days of Thanksgiving

This year, be thankful for your challenges. Give thanks for:

• The ups and down of life, which did more than cause you worries, they kept things interesting.
  • The ups made us feel happy and
  • the downs gave us hope, teachings and resilience.

How Has Your Faith Been Affected By Your Challenges

Think about your faith. Is it stronger? It probably is, because you were able to confirm for one more year, that no matter how big your challenges are/were/have been and how long they have lasted for, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Faith that isn’t challenged doesn’t grow and strengthen as fast. -Haydee Montemayor

And faith, is something that we can be thankful for.

Let’s Start Practicing Gratitude Right Now

I believe that it’s important to be thankful during the whole year but especially, during Thanksgiving.

• We should be thankful for the big things, such as our health, our family, our home, our income, our friends, and the love that we have, but most importantly, we should be thankful for the little things, which as you know, often end up being the biggest, most important things.

So, instead of spending too much time reading this post, I want you to spend this time instead reflecting upon what this year has been like for you now so that you continue cherishing it, and continue living it to its max.

How This Activity Will Work

You can either answer one question per day, from here to Thanksgiving Day and even after Thanksgiving because any day is a good day to give thanks or, if you prefer, you can answer all of these questions at once.

I highly recommend that you write down the answers to these questions either in your journal or even on app to take notes on your phone, so that you can fully process and record all of the ideas that will come to you as you do this activity.

In the future, you’ll be intrigued and fascinated by what you wrote.

Counting Your Challenges

In looking back on this year:

1. What was the greatest trial you overcame?
2. What was biggest fear you faced head on?
3. What issue finally resolved itself this year?
4. What lesson have all the recent challenges in your life taught you? Why do you think you went through what you did?
5. Who are you grateful for that help you during this trying time?
6. In what ways have these challenges improved your life?

Counting Your Blessings

Of course, I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to go through trials and tribulations to appreciate the good things in life. So take a moment to reflect upon the blessings that were given to you, like acts of grace. Looking back on this year:

1. What was the greatest blessing you received this year?
2. What was the kindest thing that you did for yourself?
3. What was the greatest thing you did for others? (If you haven’t done anything yet, there’s still time).
4. What was your favorite day this year and what was so great about it? What is the greatest memory you created?
5. How can you express your gratitude to the people whom you most are thankful for?
6. What lesson did love teach you?

Share The Gratitude

Depending on how public or private you are, you may share your answers to the 6 “count your blessings” questions above with your loved ones while sitting around your Thanksgiving table. I don’t think that you’ll want to share the answers to the 6 “count your challenges.” But if you do, go for it.

Instead of simply sharing your answers, encourage your loved ones to also participate. I think that you can learn a great deal about someone based on how they respond to these gratitude questions.

Who knows? Maybe one of their favorite moments may be with you, and if you didn’t take the time to share your ideas, you might not ever know it! And if they are a star in one of your most gratitude-filled moments, this is the perfect time to let them know how much they mean to you.

Either way, have a box of Kleenex available for all of your guests, you’ll probably need it.

It’s Your Turn To Share Your Wisdom, Or In This Case Gratitude Tokens

Before I invite you to share at least one response to any of the questions above, let me inform you that I’m very thankful for the people who read my blog.

Wishing you a Thanksgiving that provides you with the opportunity to reflect on all the beauty in your life!

Have you heard that it’s highly likely that when you pass away  you will see images from your life flash before you? Does that scare you, does that excite you or are you indifferent?

If you’re not sure about what the answer to this question is, perhaps you could be open to an experiment.

To start off, let’s answer an easier, more mundane question. How long ago has it been since you uploaded the photos of your camera onto your computer?

If you’re like most people, the answer to that question is probably between 6 months to a year ago, and some people… even a couple of years ago. Typically, that’s not a good thing because if something happens to your camera… that’s months, if not yeeeears worth of precious memories that you’ve just lost… buuuuuuut for now, don’t worry. All is well.

Even Though All is Well Let’s Take Some Time to Reflect Upon What Your Photos Say About You

Take a moment to connect your camera to your computer right now. As a matter of fact, take some masking tape or make a label with the labeler maker to label that USB cable that connects your computer to your cable so that you can learn to treasure your life a little more. Think of it as your “lifeline” (you’ll read why in a minute).

Sit in a comfortable chair in front of your computer and start uploading. As you watch them flash before you, thing about this question: what do your photos say about you?

If you’re anything like most people this is what you’ll probably feel/think:

1. Woah… those picture are since my child’s last birthday. How many months has it been since I last uploaded the pictures?

2. Geesh, the camera is saying that I have thousands of photos to upload since my last upload! I can’t believe that I took this many! How is it possible to take thousands of photos? I take thousands of photos when I travel… but I’ve taken thousands of photos from ordinary moments. Maybe the ordinary moments are just as special. Plus, what would I want to look at…. a building of some sort or my loved ones’ accomplishments and celebrations?

3. Wow my child was so tiny!

4. My loved one looked different…. but great. I love them.

5. Ohh that outfit that my child/loved one was wearing was so adorable! They looked so cute in it!

6. I don’t think that my child fits into that outfit anymore. That’s so sad! They’ll never get to wear it again.

7. When was the last time that my child wore those pijamas? Was it that day that I took that picture? Oh my gosh, they’ll never get to wear that outfit again? Did I take photos of my child when he/she was wearing all of his/her cutest outfits?

8. Why aren’t there more pictures of me? Yep, I know, I know, I didn’t have more pictures taken because I didn’t want more. I thought I looked fat and/or ugly. Come to think of it, I didn’t look so bad after all. Heck, I might even look worse now. But should I have more pictures taken now… because in retrospect, I’m looking better now than I will in the future?

9. My child does look adorable when he/she cries. I can’t believe I’m even saying that!

10. My baby’s way of playing and asking for my attention is adorable. Am I always a responsive parent?

11. Whatever I bake or cook looks pretty, I should bake/cook more often.

12. I have been meaning to upload those pictures to my social media site. They would help somebody with this type of project.

13. My child’s messes look adorable. I shouldn’t have minded cleaning it up.

14. Perhaps I should hang or store my camera closer to my computer so that I can upload photos more often. The cable connecting my computer and my camera really is a lifeline that should invite me to do two things.

• #1- Treasure my family while they’re alive immensely and see each moment as something special and as a gift.
• #2- Regardless of how much or of how little you’re enjoying your life… uploading pictures should remind you of how fast time really does go by and how you have to be even more aware, more thankful, and more conscious of how the day to day living affects your quality of life and that of your loved ones.

Nowadays, we download pictures for the world to see. Yet what they see or don’t see is irrelevant. Their perception of you doesn’t matter. Your perception of yourself should matter. So instead of investing lots of time downloading a photo that portrays you in the best light, download the photos from your camera to your computer and take a moment to analyze them. Appreciate them. Relive them. All for the purpose of really analyzing visually what is going on in your life.

1) Are you and your significant other still making an effort to have photos where both of you come out or do you each come out on your photos, solo?

2) Will you miss not snapping a photo of you hugging your kids… all because you think you don’t look good enough?

3) What occasions do you think are worth preserving?

4) Is taking pictures a chore or a joy?

If you’re very, very honest, almost brutally honest with yourself, you’ll probably remember as you’re watching your pictures download, that you were, tense, nervous or fighting with a loved one shortly before or after some of each pictures. If you have children, what do you think that they’ll remember the most? The fake, forced, or real smile that they gave and that you gave at that event, or the argument and tension that occurred before, during or after that event.

Life, as grand as we think it is, is simply the essence of many little moments.

What are those moments for you?

Perhaps it’s important to analyze this now, when you still have time to change them. Your energy affects the energy of others. Remember that. Most importantly, your essence, which is what you egotistically refer to as your life, will remain in the lives of those whom most love you and were most interested in taking important pictures with you. What memories are you truly creating for them? What memories are you creating for yourself? Based on that, if indeed, your life flashes before you, at the end of your life:

• Will you feel that it was a life well lived and one which you loved?
• Will you feel that it was a life that was “okay”?
• Will you feel that it was a life that you wished you would have done things a little (or a lot) differently?

Think about that every day and live your life with that awareness. Try to not procrastinate to make your life better… make it better now… for you and for those that you most love and treasure.

 It’s Your Turn to Share Your Treasures With Us

After you’ve done the picture download activity? What do you think your photos show or not show about your life? What is one thing that you’ll now so that the pictures that you’re taking (based on the life you’re living) are worth the end-of-your-life picture reel?

Have you ever stopped to wonder why many times, the animals that most marvel us are those with wings?

Regardless of whether or not your favorite animal happens to have wings, or not, is irrelevant since many people still have a deep admiration for animals that do have wings.

It’s as though we long to have wings so that we too can soar to new heights. The beauty of this is, we don’t have to have visible wings, because we definitely do have invisible wings.

So without thinking twice about it, enjoy this moment and all the potential that conspires on your side so that you too can soar to the altitude of your dreams, no matter how high you may think they are now.

Most importantly, make sure that you have enough “wind” under your wings to soar to that height simply by:

• Being you- totally and unabashedly
• Believing in your worth
• Investing in your happiness
• Giving yourself the time of day- otherwise who are you really giving it to?
• Being enthusiastic about having the honor or being the one in your life who has the potential of living life on your terms.