2022- The Year of SELF #TBT Conexion Florida

A very special year this one. For BB, time to prioritize and follow bucket lists. 

Starting 2022 with this article written for Conexion.

Porque this is gonna be some año...

 

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

 Have you decided on your word for 2022?  Seems the latest trend is to pick one word that encompasses what your goals (because “resolutions” is sooo ayer) are for the upcoming year.  Thinking of what she’d like to accomplish in her upcoming 60th year de vida, BB realized that it was time to focus, to step back and away from perceived obligations. Es hora to focus on Self.

 SELF- as in: SELF LOVE, SELF APPRECIATION, SELF WORTH. It has been said that we radiate what we feel, what we are, and if we’re not one with ourselves, not aligned, then how could we possibly be so for others?  And that Beautifuls is what BB believes is our mission here. To make the planet better, to raise the vibes of SELF so it will radiate to others, because you never know who you might be touching.  Who you might touch, who you might influence.  Hopefully it will be with good. Pero there can be no verdadera good if you don’t feel good about yourself and your life choices. Being true to SELF is the ultimate Truth y Strength.  How strong are you Beautiful? Will you make time for yourself a priority? Will 2022 be the year you follow your heart and the knowing you’ve pushed aside for so long? 

 

  This is BB’s wish.  That we all raise ourselves, each other, and the planeta. In Good, for the Good of All.  Find your Truth and Live It Beautifuls. If there is one thing Babushka learned from 2021 and the cursed Covid, it’s that mañana isn’t promised. Don’t live for the future if it means faking the present. Find yourself, YOURSELF. Believe and Love who you are and you’ll be able to do the same for others. And in this heartfelt mindset and vision, we will find the maravillas of this mundo. 

  Here’s to 2022 and the wonders it will bring.

 Babushka Besos a Todos. Cuidensen.

May is for Mother's Day & Ms.Olivia - A BB BounceBack

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

This post was originalmente shared in 2012. Seems increible to BB that it's been 5 years already since I met Ms. Olivia, and also incredible that seeing her foto and recalling her aura still makes me smile and gives me paz.  Totally perfeccion that this be shared in the month we celebrate Mother's Day.  She just exuded motherly love, patience, the vibe of knowing and enjoying each moment.  Her "Life is so cool, and I'm cool with it."  attitude just radiated and encompassed. Babushka forget Ms. Olivia?  JU SO FONII!!!

4/2012   BB's an Original, but Ms Olivia is the Real Thing.
Saw her at the bus terminal and knew right away BB was seeing her future self.  Older but oh so stylish, she meshed the retro past with the boldness of today and gave it a flair of her own.  She was marvelous.

Traveling with her two daughters and her granddaughter, you could see she had loved and lived and continued to do both with grace and a natural air.  Babushka was all excited with plans and strategy for the Hispanicize 2012 conference and was in her own little world- and then she saw Ms. Olivia who reminded me what BB's real world should be.

Here was a woman who had found her way a long time ago, was comfortable in her skin, whose very essence exuded "this is my style, this is my life, this is me- and I like me".  Her beauty - inner and outer brought tears BB's eyes.  Have you ever sensed the presence of true beauty?  The knowledge of self worth and the radiance of self acceptance- THIS is true beauty  and Ms Olivia embodied it.

Babushka had to take a picture of her, to remind oneself of what is possible, to remember what BB aspires to be,  and so shyly approached Babushka's new idol to ask her permission.  Ok si, I hear you- "BB, You- Shy?!?  JU SO FONII!!!"  And you'd be right 99% of the time to doubt, but this was the 1% of our human race who had actually attained self love and Babushka was in awe and humbled. 

She graciously heard Babushka's petition, smiled, and told me she'd discuss it with her daughter.  Her daughter of course wanted to be assured of one's sincerity and asked why BB wanted to photograph her mother.  It was explained how Babushka wanted to capture her mother's style and love of self.   Apparently she believed BB because she came looking for me when we had a stop over, and BB didn't give her a chance to change her mind.

Ms. Olivia was in pure joy when she posed for the camera as was Babushka that she had allowed me the honor. BB believes her daughter had known her mother was exceptional as she thanked me profoundly for noticing.  But how can one not notice?  It would be like not noticing the Lady Moon as she shines and shimmers, not noticing her beauty naturally escaping and filling our nights. No, BB's the one who is thankful to Ms. Olivia for her example and hope this does her justice as she inspires us all to embrace our lives and ourselves. 

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

BB's an Original, but Ms Olivia is the Real Thing.

Saw her at the bus terminal and knew right away I was seeing my future self.  Older but oh so stylish, she meshed the retro past with the boldness of today and gave it a flair of her own.  She was marvelous.

Traveling with her two daughters and her granddaughter, you could see she had loved and lived and continued to do both with grace and a natural air.  I was all excited with plans and strategy for the Hispanicize 2012 conference and was in my own little world- and then I saw Ms. Olivia who reminded me what my real world should be.

Here was a woman who had found her way a long time ago, was comfortable in her skin, whose very essence exuded "this is my style, this is my life, this is me- and I like me".  Her beauty - inner and outer brought tears to my eyes.  Have you ever sensed the presence of true beauty?  The knowledge of self worth and the radiance of self acceptance- THIS is true beauty  and Ms Olivia embodied it.

I had to take a picture of her, to remind myself of what is possible, to remember what I aspire to be,  and so I shyly approached my new idol to ask her permission.  Ok si, I hear you- "BB, You- Shy?!?  JU SO FONII!!!"  And you'd be right 99% of the time to doubt, but this was the 1% of our human race who had actually attained self love and BB was in awe and humbled. 

She graciously heard my petition, smiled, and told me she'd discuss it with her daughter.  Her daughter of course wanted to be assured of my sincerity and asked why I wanted to photograph her mother.  I explained how I wanted to capture her mother's style and love of self.   Apparently she believed me because she came looking for me when we had a stop over and I didn't give her a chance to change her mind.

Ms. Olivia was pure joy when she posed for the camera as was I that she had allowed me the honor. I believe her daughter had known her mother was exceptional and thanked me profoundly for noticing.  But how can one not notice?  It would be like not noticing the Lady Moon as she shines and shimmers, not noticing her beauty naturally escaping and filling our nights. No, I'm the one who is thankful to Ms. Olivia for her example and hope this does her justice as she inspires us all to embrace our lives and ourselves. 

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

Chinese New Year

Don't you just love the Chinese New Year?  The festivities, the history, the colors, the pagaentry, the chance to catch up and do a New Year right!  Que Que??  You actually thought January 1 was the real new year?  JU SO FONI !!!  Maybe it's because my mother was 3/4 Chinese, but in BB's mind this is when the reality of the New Year comes in.  Bueno, truth be known I think it's more because of my Cuban side... si, further in the year is better because we're always running late.  Whaaaaaatttt??  I'm only now taking down the Christmas lights... well, I will take them down now that the true New Year has come.

No me miren asi- don't look at me like that.  Really people, think about it.  For 8 days there's a whirlwind of activities- Christmas Eve to New Year's- most people don't come out of the stupor until at least a week  into the new year and then they go into shock when they see the scale and the bills of that holiday hip hop. By the second week of January most will have abandoned their resolutions and are slumping into disappointment from their lack of determination. But should this be? I say Nay!! Nada de eso mi gente!!!  Chinese New Year is the perfect time to make more realistic petitions of ourselves.  We've now seen what we're capable (or not capable) of doing and can go ahead with expectations we can fullfill!  Let me help you with some examples.


January 1 Resolution                                              Chinese New Year Resolution

No more junk food.                                               No more junk food on Mondays.

Exercise everyday.                                                        Exercise on Mondays. 

                                                          Go ahead, w/out junk food it's a bad day anyway.

Call loved ones more often.                            Ever heard of Feibu? How about Escaip?

Spend less money.                                         52 Mondays w/out junk food = saved $$.

Lose weight.                                                         Learn to walk in higher heels. 
                                                                     You'll either sweat from fear of falling
                                                                      or look thinner because you're taller.

Be nicer to my fellow man.                                               Hide on Mondays.

May this year of the Dragon bring you strength-

especially the strength of self. 

Self knowledge and Self Love is BB's wish for all in 2012.

Babushka Besos a Todos.  Cuidensen.