A Celebration of Life

One of the many things Carmen taught me is that when we love and appreciate people, we must never hold back in letting them know how much we care. The call to rise with this is in learning how to give this love freely, without any expectation of receiving anything in return.

It feels as though this is one of the most tender and vulnerable aspects of what it means to live as an open-hearted human.

There have been countless instances in my life when I thought I was expressing love and appreciation without condition, only to later realize through my grief or frustration that I had been holding a subconscious expectation all along.

And yet, Carmen seemed to embody a superhuman ability to love without condition with such tenderness and grace. She was masterful in her ability to empathize, to express gratitude and appreciation, to make people feel special, to love in a way that healed the world. 

Even with the monumental challenges her life presented, her ability to emanate loving presence: to see past people's stories and straight into their hearts, to feel what was needed in the moment and respond intuitively, was unlike anything I've ever experienced in a relationship. The loving presence that she shared with me over the years continues to be such a powerful teacher and healer. 

I truly believe with my whole heart that Carmen embodied the kind of energy and heart that will heal this planet, and the legacy she leaves behind is a call towards our collective awakening to Love.

In honor of her birthday today, here are some of of her messages of love and appreciation. Close your eyes and take a few breaths and then take a screen grab.

Also, if you’re interested in viewing the collection of paintings created in her honor, you can check them out in my Etsy shop. It’s feeling like this may be the last opportunity to collect originals at this price point, so it’s a great time to get in on the inspiration.

I love you, @gracefully.healing 💜🌸🌌✨