Follow Ikigai: a reason for being ~ Razón de SER

Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese term for "a reason for being." In other words, "a reason to get up in the morning" to enjoy life. First, the word ikigai usually is used to indicate the source of value in one's life or the things that make one's life worthwhile. Secondly, the word is used to refer to mental and spiritual circumstances under which individuals feel that their lives are valuable. 

In the culture of Okinawa, where ikigai has its origins, is considered the largest population of centenarians in the world. Could the concept of ikigai (pronounced Ick-ee-guy) contribute to longevity? Other cultures have used this concept with different approaches.

In their book Ikigai The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles break down the ten rules that can help anyone find their own ikigai.

1. Stay active and don’t retire

2. Leave urgency behind and adopt a slower pace of life

3. Only eat until you are 80 per cent full

4. Surround yourself with good friends

5. Get in shape through daily, gentle exercise

6. Smile and acknowledge people around you

7. Reconnect with nature

8. Give thanks to anything that brightens our day and makes us feel alive.

9. Live in the moment

10. Follow your ikigai

My goal this year is to find WISDOM to enjoy life and follow my ikigai. What is yours?

Sources:

https://medium.com/thrive-global

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai

Ikigai (生 き 甲) es un término japonés para "una razón de ser". En otras palabras, "una razón para levantarse por la mañana" para disfrutar de la vida.

¿Cuál es tu razón de SER?

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator and Translator

Member ANLMI, FWA,SFWA, SCBWI, MCBD Board of Advisors 
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards, Author’s Talk

Resolution Vs. Value - Resolución Vs. Valor

December is usually a month to ask for presents, to make an evaluation of the year that is going to end and resolutions for the year to come. Probably some of the gifts are received, the objectives are completed, other goals remain unfinished for various reasons and others do not event reach the end of January, Am I right? 

I prefer to stop asking and better thank-analyze and add a value to my life.

Have you ever thought, what would be the value you would like to add to your life in the New Year? I invite you to reflect on the past year and look for what you want to add to the year to come. Think of your Resolution list as a VALUE you want to add to your life. What would it be?

The Project LuzDelMes invites you to follow these three principles for your resolutions of the New Year: THANK-ANALYZE-ADD. Do you want to participate in the program: 12 days with The Spirit of Christmas? Write your comment to add yourself to the list. Thank you! Luz # LuzDelMes 🌠

I invite you to visit my reflections, poems and FREE activities on my website to find your Resolution Word. Please visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Think on ONE Value!

¡Piensa en UN Valor!

Diciembre es generalmente un mes para pedir deseos, evaluar el año que está por terminar y hacer las resoluciones del año que está por venir. Probablemente algunas de los regalos se reciban, los objetivos se cumplan, otras metas quedan inconclusas por diversas razones y otras incluso no llegan al final del mes de Enero, ¿Estoy en lo cierto?

Yo prefiero dejar de pedir y mejor Agradecer-Analizar y Agregar un valor a mi vida.

Alguna vez te has puesto a pensar, ¿cuál sería el valor que desearías agregar a tu vida en el Nuevo Año? Te invito a reflexionar en el año que pasó y buscar que deseas agregar al año por venir Piensa en tu lista de Resolución como un valor que deseas agregar a tu vida.¿Cuál sería ése VALOR? 

El Proyecto de Escritura LuzDelMes te invita a seguir éstos Tres principios para tus resoluciones del Nuevo Año: AGRADECER-ANALIZAR-AGREGAR. ¿Deseas participar en el programa: 12 días con El Espíritu de la Navidad? Escribe tu comentario para añadirte a la lista. ¡Gracias! 💝#LuzDelMes 🌠

Te invito a visitar mis poemas, reflexiones y actividades GRATIS para inspirarte a encontrar tu palabra de Resolución.  Visita: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator and Translator

Member ANLMI, FWA,SFWA, SCBWI, MCBD Board of Advisors 
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards, Author’s Talk

The Writing Project for New Year & Welcome 2019!

I Invite you to follow these THREE principles for the New Year

THANK-ANALYZE-ADD

A dear friend asked me, “How do you achieve everything you set out to do each year.”

My answer may surprise you, I said. “I can tell you that I always look for challenges that I know I can achieve. I never compare myself with anyone else since I am my only competition.” 

This year, think of your Resolution list as a VALUE to add to your life.

What would it be?

In the last two years, I participated in the "12 days of Christmas for Writers" by Julie Hedlund. During day 2 and 3 of the challenge, she invites us to write on an empty piece of paper the surprises and successes of the year to focus on our accomplishments instead of New Year’s resolutions. She believes the way New Year's resolutions are traditionally made comes from a place of negativity - what DIDN'T get done or achieved in the previous year.

This is my first time sharing my professional accomplishments, but I think it is important to recognize the effort of this year. Definitely, hard work paid off! Thank you for your support! 🌷 #LuzDelMes 🌠

👉Here is my list of my major professional accomplishments for 2018.

Surprises 2018 💖

1. My biggest surprise this year was the invitation to be a collaborator (over the phone) with Radio Sion, NYC 🎤because I live in Florida. This experience has been a growing lesson of perseverance, learning Spanish literature from diverse perspectives and authors, challenge myself to write poetry in Spanish. My brain works different, I write in English first, then I translate into my tongue language. Weird, isn’t it?

2. Invitation to be a speaker at Authors for Authors Conference.

3. Guest poet at The Enchanted Lair ~ La Guarida Magazine Winter issue 2018.

4. Received recognition by two cities: Miami Dade, FL and Union City, NJ for my contribution to the Spanish literature.

5. Invitation to be advisor of Multicultural Children's Book Day 2019.

Successes 2018 💖

1. Being able to talk on a Radio Show for Writers and Poets for six month 🎤. \

2. Launched a Literary Breakfast in New York City.

3. Participant as reviewer of bilingual books at Multicultural Children's Book Day

4. Participated as a speaker in two local conferences in Florida.

5. Participant at the Feria Internacional del Libro Ohio 2018.

6. Attended one author local event or two per month.

7. Self-published my six book. LUZ DEL MES.

8. Guest poet at The Enchanted Lair ~ La Guarida Magazine Winter issue 2018.

9. Nominated to Carmen Luisa Pinto Spanish award for my memoir "Ojos Avellana".

10. Participant at Fefi.TeVe Spanish Forums.
11. Finished 12days4writers, ReFoReMo, STORYSTORM.
12. Participant at Tiny Toadies Crit Group.

After surprises, successes and a lot of challenges, I closed December feeling blessed and excited for New Year plans to celebrate Multicultural Children's Book Day 2019 with a local school visit and Barnes & Noble Story Time Reading, for 2 invitations as Speaker at South Florida Writers Association, Authors for Authors and participant of my FIRST Florida SCBWI in January 2019.

 I am Celebrating success!

I DESERVE it!

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator and Translator

Member ANLMI, FWA,SFWA, SCBWI, MCBD Board of Advisors 
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards, Author’s Talk

Kwanzaa: Celebration of Cultural Heritage and Traditional Values

Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States and in other nations of the Western African diaspora. 

Kwanzaa Candle and traditional food

This celebration honors African heritage in African-American culture. This year Kwanzaa begins onDecember 26th and ends on January 1^st with the feast and gift-giving.

According to history, Kwanzaa has seven core principles called Nguzo Saba.

It was created by Maulana Karenga.  The first Kwanzaa celebration was at the end of 1966 beginning 1967. 

The Black Candle represents the first principle Umoja (unity) and is placed in the center of the Kinara. The red candles represent the principles of Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujamaa (cooperative economics) and Kuumba (creativity) and are placed to the left of the black candle. The green candles represent the principles of Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Nia (purpose) and Imani (faith) and are placed to the right of the black candle. The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green; black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle.

The Principles of Kwanzaa

Source from Official Kwanza website: http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml

umoja (oo-MOH-ja)

Meaning: unity

Action: building a community that holds together

kujichagulia (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-yah)

Meaning: self-determination

Action: speaking for yourself and making choices that benefit the community

ujima (oo-JEE-mah)

Meaning: collective work and responsibility

Action: helping others within the community

ujamaa (oo-JAH-ma)

Meaning: cooperative economics

Action: supporting businesses that care about the community

nia (nee-AH)

Meaning: a sense of purpose

Action: setting goals that benefit the community

kuumba (koo-OOM-bah)

Meaning: creativity

Action: making the community better and more beautiful

imani (ee-MAH-nee)

Meaning: faith

Action: believing that a better world can be created for communities now and in the future

Activity for Kids: Coloring Pages:

http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/kwanzaa-coloring-page/

Kwanzaa Songs: https://youtu.be/ZQneok5d0xA

For Tradition,  values and more: http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/kwanzaa.shtml

¿Qué es Kwanzaa?

Según la historia Kwanzaa tiene siete principios básicos llamados Nguzo Saba. Fue creado por Maulana Karenga. La celebración dura ocho días y empieza el 26 de Diciembre y finaliza el Primero de Enero. Los colores de las velas en la Kinara representan: La Negra, representa su gente, la roja el sufrimiento de su gente, y el verde la esperanza por un mejor futuro.

¡Feliz Kwanzaa!

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator and Translator

Member ANLMI, FWA,SFWA, SCBWI, MCBD Board of Advisors 
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Recipient of  Crystal Apple 2006, VCB Poetry 2015, Latino Book Awards 2016, Author’s Talk 2017, SOMOS Foundation -Poetry 2018

Boxing Day Traditions

Boxing Day is the 26th December and is a national holiday in the UK and Ireland. It’s a day to spend with family and friends and to eat up all the leftovers of Christmas Day.

British activities on Boxing Day include bizarre traditions like swimming the icy cold English Channel, fun runs, charity events and Fox hunting.

History and tradition differ about the origins of the name Boxing Day.  The most common reasons are:

     ·  A ‘Christmas Box’ in Britain is a name for a Christmas present.  

     · Boxing Day was traditionally a day off for servants and the day when they received a ‘Christmas Box’ from the master. The servants would also go home on Boxing Day to give ‘Christmas Boxes’ to their families. 

     ·  A box to collect money for the poor traditionally and placed in Churches on Christmas day and opened the next day - Boxing Day. 

     · Great sailing ships when setting sail would have a sealed box containing money on board for good luck. Were the voyage a success, the box was given to a priest, opened at Christmas and the contents were given to the poor. 

.     .  Irish activities on Boxing Day include the celebration of St Stephen who was killed, purportedly stoned to death, for believing in Jesus. It is known as "St Stephen's Day" and is famous for its "Wren Boys" would go out and stone Wrens to death with blackened. This barbaric act has now stopped, but the Wrens Boys will still dress up and parade around time, though, but collecting money for charity. 

"      

        "Boxing Day" es el segundo día de Navidad y también el día de San Esteban. Es un día para pasar con la familia y los amigos y comerse todas las sobras del día de Navidad. Es una festividad celebrada principalmente en el Reino Unido y otras naciones que pertenecieron al Imperio británico. Se celebra el 26 de diciembre y se promueve la realización de donaciones y regalos a los pobres.

        En la región de Cataluña, España. En algunos países europeos como Alemania, Polonia, Países Bajos y en Escandinavia, el 26 de diciembre es celebrado como un segundo Día de Navidad.

       

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator and Translator

Member ANLMI, FWA,SFWA, SCBWI, MCBD Board of Advisors 
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Recipient of  Crystal Apple 2006, VCB Poetry 2015, Latino Book Awards 2016, Author’s Talk 2017, SOMOS Foundation -Poetry 2018