Love and Joy

​“Let us not become wearing in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”Galations 6:9
 
I started feeling under the weather, battling sicknesses, and having pain issues this season. I found out I was having bad back and glute issues that did take a toll out of me these few weeks. Preparing for New Jersey 10k, I was discouraged and sad on some days. My boyfriend aka coach and my sister Regina has been so motivating especially on the days where I did not have my great days. Before my New Jersey race, I meditated every day. Deep breaths in and out and tried to not worry about the issues on my back and lower glute due to a personal concern that I have been dealing with.
 
Often, after a race, my mind is scattered. Trying to collect the memories and learn from my mistakes. The day prior to my race, I had insomnia issues. I did not think about the issue of the eastern time zone which was 3 hours ahead of LA schedule. Closing my eyes and finally sleeping by 2am. When I woke up, I questioned myself on how little rest may result in taking a beating out of me. The elite women on the start line pushed me through each mile while my body and legs weren’t in the race mode. As I can be sad and frustrated after the race. I can say I met some incredible women at this race and I loved hanging out with a woman named Kimberly. Her light shined when ever we spoke. Her passion in this sport and also getting to know her goals as we both want to prosper in this sport called running.  I know that every race doesn’t define who I am or what I will accomplish. My learning lesson is getting defeated is part of the story. So today, be kind to yourself. You are created with purpose. You are created with great worth.
 
Enough about the race, now let’s talk about FUN.  I went to my friend’s home, at New York.  Not once did I feel unwelcomed. I am deeply thankful for the memories. If I can describe my adventure at New York, it would be joy and love. Too….. running at central park, cite seeing, walking to subway to subway. Not the subway where you eat a foot-long sub. The subway you take to reach a destination. This fast pace city is a dream come true especially in eating dreamy meals that were made from scratch by my friend Lidia.
 
I came back to LA full of love, thankfulness and joy. My sweet friend wanted to make my sister and I feel special and I felt it. I loved how she stated to her boyfriend, “This is my vacation too.” I couldn’t have asked for a better friend. I found this quote and I thought of my friend.

​“The heart of hospitality is about creating space for someone to feel seen and heard and loved. It’s about declaring you’re table a safe zone, a place of warmth and nourishment.” S Niequist
 
Thank you God for my friend and the perfect adventure at New York City.  

Attached are some photos that we captured at New York. Hope you ENJOY. :)

​

---

This first image. Is an oatmeal that we all created as a team. Ingredients: oatmeal, coconut, blueberries, almonds, walnuts, honey and cranberries. The best right before my run. Talk about fulfilling. :)

Central Park will have to be my top favorite place to run at. If I lived at New York. You would find me here, running my speedy workouts to my easy runs. This day I had to run 6x's, 3 minutes hard with 3 minutes easy at 5:10 pace. Talk about fast, I was blazing with a time of 4:50 to 5:10 pace. The energy of the people as well as trying to keep up with the bikers helped. My least favorite would have to be getting lost. Getting lost after a tough workout would have to be the most gruesome part being at New York. lol 

My friend Lidia recommended this amazing pizza to me. This place is perfection as well as the service. The best part was when my sister drank her full wine and the server would come and refill it. She was a bit out of it after eating due to the fulfillment of wine after wine. lol :p 

The Metropolitan Museum was an adventure and interesting. If anyone knows me well, I love learning about different cultures and history. 

Fun Fact: WE are Scorpios and love having deep conversations. ;) 

Full wine and special dinner by my friend Lidia. Thank you for delicious food, wine, and dessert. :)))) 

Subway after subway. Learning how to be a New Yorker. Regina and I would run inside a subway because we did not want to miss going inside. Lidia told us a story where her aunties who did not make it in the subway while she did. Well we did not want a story like that. lol Pretty scary. lol 

Coffee date. Yes please. :) ​

The fearless girl statue on wall street.

On women's day, the defiant girl was placed here whom is seen as being powerful and fearless in front of the bull. So we wanted to pose this powerful look of power and strength. Taking this picture, we had a large crowd looking as we captured this photo. They all said, they loved this photo and we did a remarkable capture. We felt strong along with providing a purpose on this day.

​"Be a purpose each day."

Right: Regina and Rebecca
​left: ​Me and Lidia

 The Brooklyn Bridge with friends. :) 

Be kind to yourself. You are created in God's image. You are created with purpose. Your worth is not settled in what you do or don't do. God has created you with great worth. Love and be loved. "Sight Seeing." 

---

We went on a fairy and saw this amazing view of the Statue of Liberty. Grateful! <3

We all fed the squirrels. This was one my favorite moments. I love animals. :)  "Give and you shall receive even more. " 

Strong, Independent, Powerful, Hard Working and Fearless women. 

Love. Love. Love. Roof top sight seeing. The Empire State Building. After my friend Lidia and her boyfriend took us out on a fancy date. Loved every bite. Forever grateful! :) 

"Good things are going to happen" Anyone who knows me personally. I am obsessed with the moon. 

---

Fancy breakfast. :) Toast of bread with fresh avocado squashed. Over easy eggs with fresh salad on the side. Currently obsessed with this breakfast.

Bye New York and hello LA. Thankful for a fun trip. Stay tuned to more adventures. :)