Her Memorial Inspires me to Run Faster, Live more Intensely

I often run by the memorial you can see in the picture. It’s for a girl who was hit by a car in 1996. She was 12 when she died.

When I got home after taking the picture, a few months ago, I Googled her name. I found she was hit by a driver who ran a red light. Alycia died on the spot and her friend, of the same age, was severely injured, but he lived. They were on the way back from doing homework at a friend’s house.

Apparently the driver did some time, but was eventually released. I read the testimonies of the friends who were with her that night and the expressions of pain of her parents. That night I had a hard time falling asleep.

Every time I run by her memorial by the sidewalk next to the intersection where she was run over, I salute Alycia. I think of her parents and her friend. I think of my kids. I think about life.

When I run by her memorial I become aware of my feet hitting the ground and, even if I’m tired, even if it’s sweltering hot, I feel good. I’m alive, my kids are healthy and my loved ones are fine. I hope this lasts, but you just never know, and she reminds me of that. We have to squeeze the juice out of life while it lasts.

During the rest of my run, I make a mental gratitude list. And even if I feel like slowing down or walking, I don’t. I keep on running because Alycia can’t. In her honor, I enjoy every minute of my journey. She’s my reality check. RIP.   

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Diario del Éxito (Success Diaries) will be published in book form in February 2012 by ediciones Obelisco.To read about my books: www.lorrainecladish.com

BlackPata - Body Sculptures

When something inspires me, I like to share.

A few days ago, my eldest brought me a set of rings and bracelets made of aluminum and various stones and shells. They were original and surprising.

The designer is Enrique Recio and the brand of jewelry, which is in fact composed of sculptures that mold to the user’s body is BlackPata. 

For me, one of the descriptions of success is to make real something that started out as the seed of an idea or a moment of inspiration. If besides that it penetrates the market, then it is an even greater success. 

That other people read your books or wear your jewelry thus affecting their lives in one way or another, is success.

If you are daring, if you are different, if you like to admire art and especially wear it, I suggest you visit the website www.blackpata.com to see this particular jewelry collection, the design of which does not finish until you wear it and mold the pieces to you. Especially the bracelets and necklaces. 

The other day I was writing the novel I have underway now and admiring the BlackPata Collection inspired me to go forward and break through writer’s block.

Get inspired!

www.blackpata.com

www.lorrainecladish.com

Inspiration, Your Ultimate Calling

I first read Wayne Dyer´s Your Erroneous Zones when I was 17 years old. Back then I had an eating disorder and I was doing everything I could to overcome it. Dyer´s book struck me as a manual of common sense that few people I knew (to include myself) seemed to abide by.
Almost 30 years later, I still read Wayne Dyer, who has gone to write and publish over 30 books, many of them bestselling titles, and all of them reflecting his own spiritual evolution and, dare I say – my own. I eventually did overcome the eating disorder, and learned a lot from that experience, which drove me to write and publish a book – I Feel Fat – about it.
Just yesterday, during an evening run, I was listening to one of Dyer´s audiobooks – Inspiration, Your Ultimate Calling, which I have read and listened to many times. But yesterday in particular, a few phrases struck me as never before.
One of them was: “There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come”. It resonated with me, as I am now fueled with passion and focused on an idea that fills me with energy, excitement and strength.

Another concept I could relate to was that when we are in tune with our gut and decide to follow what makes us feel good, excited, vibrant and alive, we owe it to ourselves to pursue it relentlessly, because it is our life-purpose. In order to succeed, we will have to keep on doing that which makes us feel energized and on-track, and do away with the low-energy activities, conversations, company and even work that drain us. We often accept certain company, jobs or assignments out of fear. We may be afraid of being alone, of not being able to pay the bills, afraid of not having food in the pantry, fearful of what others may think. Fear is often a fabricated emotion, based on what ifs, and we can decide to let go of it. It really is as simple as that. Our emotions follow our focus, always.

Make a list of those things, people and activities in your life that make you feel powerful, joyful and strong. Then make another list of the people, activities and work that make you feel weak, doubtful and even depressed. Commit yourself to the first list and eventually eliminate the second from your life. Simple? Very. Easy? Not so much. But, trust me, it´s worth a try!

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