Through both joy and pain , You transcend , grow and gain, Angels with you remain , Nothing you give goes in vain, Your blessings and miracles start to rain , Your love and spirit , they all contain , You move with the flow of life Again , again and again…
MIRRORS: A special series of Reflections on Life and Love ❤️
It was a lovely day for a cruise at Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont. We arrived a little early for the boat ride, so my hubby and I walked around the waterfront and reveled in the beauty that surrounds us.
The Spirit of Ethan Allen started boarding, we were welcomed by a friendly crew who gave us directions to our table. Music was playing, champagne glasses were clinking, the buffet was waiting!
The food was delicious! My favorites were the Vermont Maple Sausage and the Brunch Potato Gratin (sliced potatoes baked with cheddar, smoked gouda and Vermont cream). We were torn between getting more food or taking photos of the lake. The boat will only cruise for 90 minutes, and we already spent half the time eating. So, we decided to have one more dessert before we headed to the upper deck.
I felt the cold wind on my face when I got into the open-air deck. I was glad that we bundled up for this fall weather. We were able to stay outside and enjoy the view of Lake Champlain – nestled between the Adirondack Mountains of New York and the Green Mountains of Vermont.
It was a smooth and relaxing ride. The cruise is definitely a “must-do” for anyone visiting Burlington, Vermont for the first time. It’s a fabulous way to learn a bit about its history, drink a glass of champagne, chill, and enjoy being out on the beautiful lake.
My hubby and I had a wonderful time aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen. For more info about the various cruises at Lake Champlain, click here.
Most girls dream of being Supergirl in their childhood.I was one of them. I always wanted to ward off evil and save the world from villains. I always believed in defending the downtrodden. I always saw myself as someone with a “mission” of bringing goodness everywhere I went.
And
as I grew up, my fantasy was somehow realized. In
its own simple, limited fashion. I sowed seeds of kindness and joy among my
family, relatives, friends, schoolmates, and people I practically met. And lo
and behold, I did reap a lot of amazing goodness and happiness along the way.
When I entered the corporate arena, that’s when I was blown away with the gift and honor of sowing more positive seeds on a larger scale. Contributing to the continuous training and development of various employees from various organizations fueled my passion to spread inspiration even further.
This was
my happy story for decades until I was struck down with Kyrptonite in 2018. When
I was diagnosed with IgANephropathy, my world was shaken. I was challenged physically
more than anything. And although I normally choose my automatic pilot response
of joy at any given moment, I am no Supergirl. I am human. Completely human.
2018
was a most challenge-filled year for me. I had days of sadness, wondering
if I could ever go back to the Training Room and inspire my VIP training participants.
You see, since I was undergoing treatment and calibrations were done on the
overall medical strategy, I was advised to “take a break” from work. Funny,
that can seem like paradise to some, but that was not the case for me. I
yearned deeply to do what I do with such passion and fervor. I wanted to
continue conducting corporate training workshops. I wanted so much to help increase
knowledge, build skills, and empower lives. I wanted to INSPIRE. After all, that
is what I have always wanted to do my whole life. INSPIRE.
During
that most unsettling standstill in my life, my entire family embraced me and
loved me unlike any other. No words would even ever do justice to articulate
their unending love and support.
And
so, I was indescribably strong in spirit while I was weakening physically then.
As I was
initially groping towards some explanation of what was happening and as I was
feeling my way through that unexpected dark moment, I had eons to actually stop
and reflect.
Life
knew that it was time for me to take a “breather” and receive inspiration from
others this time around. So, I adjusted my heart and head since I’ve been so
used to giving. This time, I had to make myself more comfortable at receiving.
The
moment that my heart and head had aligned to the new “situation”, I began
experiencing daily miracles of love. They are too many to recount.
I
would like to focus the spotlight on one miracle that stood out.
In 2018,
no Kryptonite could stand this powerful miracle of LOVE.
I had been supremely blessed with a Superwoman. She herself went though her own enormous medical challenges. She had her own share of “unwanted surprises”. She fought her way through medical procedures with a lot of kick-ass strength and Never-Give-Up attitude. She exuded such bravery that would make Generals cower in shame. She went through the battlefield and came out victorious.
So,
every word she said was gold to me. She dedicated hours to sharing her views,
based on her powerful experience and even more powerful love. She balanced her support
with pragmatic insights. She made me feel that what I was going through was
definitely nothing I couldn’t handle. She emboldened me to fight the good fight
of FAITH. She woke up the Warrior in me. She made me realize how truly strong I
am inside.
And to this very day, I have such love, ONLY LOVE, for this amazingly inspiring Superwoman. My beloved Auntie Donna Ilaya.
IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE 