A Bigger Picture

Worth repeating!

A message I heard in church a few years ago was about three kinds of enemies. I’d like to share this insight with you, trusting that it’ll help you the way it did me.

  • HOLDERS – Those that want to hold you back.
  • PULLERS – Those that will pull you away.
  • CLINGERS – Those that keep you behind with them.

We probably all know someone in either category. We may have an idea, a vision, a dream, a desire, or feel passionate about something that we may share with somebody, but then that person does not share in our enthusiasm but merely seeks to crush our spirit. Before we know it, we are pulled back, stifled, crushed, and beaten down. I’m not saying there won’t be times when we are to make ourselves available in helping others. I am saying there will be times when we need to be around those who care enough to pour something back into us.

I need to be refilled. You need to be refilled.

MEDIOCRITY HATES VISION.

See the bigger picture of something greater and something better.

If we don’t grow, we die. This was me about four years ago. I wanted to grow, move forward, and better myself but only felt squashed and discouraged by those around me. Yet, they were moving forward. So in my prayer time, I sought guidance and courage. And when I heard my pastor’s message a few days later, it hit me.

Image source: thinkstock by Getty Images

I took a leap of faith and moved on. Why? Because I knew God had something better for me.

I had to make a choice and yes, it was frightening. It took a few months, but it was the best decision I made for me. Still today I am in a much better place and in a much better job position. I am challenged, fulfilled, and continue to grow. I am encouraged for doing my best and appreciated all that I do. I work for a phenomenal boss and some pretty phenomenal people.

Sometimes you have to give up something good to gain something better.

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© M.A. Perez, 2015, All Rights Reserved

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Filed under Devotional, motivation

You Light Up My Life

So many nights I’d sit by my window
Waiting for someone to sing me his song
So many dreams I kept deep inside me
Alone in the dark, but now you’ve come along

And you light up my life
You give me hope to carry on
You light up my days
And fill my nights with song

Rollin’ at sea, adrift on the water
Could it be finally I’m turning for home?
Finally, a chance to say hey, I love you
Never again
To be all alone

‘Cause you light up my life
You give me hope to carry on
You light up my days
And fill my nights with song

‘Cause you, you light up my life
You give me hope to carry on
You light up my days
And fill my nights with song

It can’t be wrong
When it feels so right
‘Cause you, you light up my life

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Happy Twenty-First Wedding Anniversary to the one who continually lights up my life.

Here’s to twenty-one more years together. I love you, babe.

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April 6, 2015 · 12:00 AM

Reflecting on Easter

Found a beautiful poem written by Helen Steiner Rice titled

Easter Reflections

With OUR EYES we see
The beauty of Easter
as the earth awakens once more…

With OUR EARS we hear
The birds sing sweetly
to tell us Spring again is here…

With OUR HANDS we pick
the golden daffodils
and the fragrant hyacinths…

But only with OUR HEARTS
can we feel the MIRACLE of GOD’S LOVE
which redeems all men…

And only with OUR SOUL
can we make our ‘pilgrimage to God’
and inherit His Easter Gift of ETERNAL LIFE.

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Today’s Featured Author: Mary A. Perez

I got to do a guest blog today! Thank you Susan, I am honored to be here!

susanleighnoble's avatarInto Another World

Today author Mary A. Perez stops by my blog as part of her Running in Heels virtual book tour.

Interview

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am Puerto Rican descent, meaning both my maternal and paternal grandparents, as well as my father, were all born and raised in the Island of Puerto Rico, which by the way, I have yet to visit!

Where were you born and where do you call home?

I was born in the Bronx and raised in Miami. In the year ’77 we moved to Texas. Although Houston has been my home for the past 38 years, I am far from having a Southern country accent. I am told that I sound like I am from up North. Go figure.

What is the best thing about being a writer? The worst?

The best thing about being a writer is that writing can be therapeutic. It…

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Girls Night Out University

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A little update to continue this journey with you all. Last night was new territory for me, as I had the honor and the privilege of speaking 11119507_10206612723224616_4333682381497684401_nbefore several women at my church. I was asked to share my heart about overcoming some of the adversities mentioned in my book, Running in Heels. There were six of us speakers who were each given a classroom to hold two 25-minute discussions on different topics. Although this was out of my norm, I felt an unusual calmness while delivering my message. You can rest assured that this entire event was saturated with prayer!

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To be surrounded by precious ladies–many who had read my book, many who hadn’t–all attentive to my every word touched me in a special way. Many came up to me afterward to give me an encouraging word. But I couldn’t be more blessed than to have the honor of praying for others hurting as they walked through their own struggles.

We should never be ashamed of our pain. Whether you’re going through the valley, or over the mountaintop: WE NEED ONE ANOTHER.

© M.A. Pérez 2015, All Rights Reserved

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Filed under New Territory, Speaking Event

MenilFest

MenilFest
On April 18th, I’ll be joining many authors, artists, and musicians at Houston’s annual MenilFest! The festival goes from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., so if you’re in town, be prepared for an ENTIRE day of entertainment.

MenilFest is an annual one-day festival of art, words, and noise bringing together the visual, literary, and performing arts organizations located on the Menil Collection campus.

Now in its 7th year, MenilFest! is a unique merger of literature, performance art, and words–both spoken and written.

This family-oriented outdoor festival is brimming with live performances, films, artists, food trucks, and wordsmiths and takes place on the beautifully austere 30-acre Menil campus.

Featuring nearly 100 independent authors, bookstores, magazines, presses, and literary arts organizations!

Check back often or follow me on Twitter (@MarysReflection) for more details as the book fair approaches.

LOCATION
   1533 Sul Ross St
   Houston, TX — 77006

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Filed under Book Promotion, MenilFest

My Two Year Anniversary with WordPress

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Time has flown by! WordPress sent me a message stating that it is my ‘Two-Year Anniversary’ with them. Amazing!

When I first started out, progress was a bit on the slow side of things, but steady. I thought, “Not too shabby for someone who has a 40-hour workweek, helps to care for a 104-year-old, and writes in between!” Well, let me tell you that things have picked up quite a bit since then! Matter of fact, I feel as if I’m on a roller coaster traveling faster and farther with my hair blowing in the wind and the sun shining on my face! It’s both scary and exhilarating at the same time.

I will share a few stats from the last 2 years:

100 original posts
1384 faithful followers – WordPress, Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin’, Tumblr
9,740 views to date (was 3,220) – U.S. being number one, followed by Brazil, China, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Philippines, with France & Australia tied, India, Spain Netherlands, Mexico …
The most viewed post besides the About Me page is Running in Heels
The second most viewed post is News Flash
And the third most viewed posts is My Sister, If Only
Most commented was About Me Page & The Little Green Dress
Most popular topics were: determination, memoir, perseverance
My top commenter: Sandra DiGiovanni

My followers know that I have recently published my first book, “Running in Heels: A Memoir of Grit and Grace.” The “experts” said that a newbie (yours truly) should have a writer’s platform. So, I started a Facebook writer’s fan page, and two years ago, I began blogging about past and current events.

I’ve been especially happy since signing up with WordPress.com, thanks to its user-friendliness, which makes it easy to navigate.

From time to time, I do include short excerpts from my book, and to my delight, you readers are wanting and asking for more. This is good! Since I started blogging, I have reconnected with friends, acquaintances, and yes, family members from across the miles. I have made many new friends and fellow bloggers who not only take the time to read but also leave positive comments and inspiring feedback. This is great!

Bottom line: I feel blessed beyond measure. And I appreciate each and every one of you for visiting my site–newcomers and old–and sticking with me throughout this journey to the finish line. My one regret? That I didn’t start blogging sooner.

Feel free to leave a comment about topics that interest you most.

Thank you again for your support and for following this blog – from my heart to yours.

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Filed under Blogging, Memoir, Wordpress Anniversary

The Sunday Show – Defining Moments – Mary Ann Pérez – Author, Blogger and Survivor

I wish to thank Sally Cronin for the honor of allowing me to be a guest on her wonderful blog, “The Sunday Show: Smorgasbord – Variety is the Spice of Life“. Her blog is indeed uplifting, filled with savor and spice in today’s world.

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Houston Authors Bash – 2015

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On this day, I had my first big book signing event, rubbing shoulders with over 100 other authors. A lot of work and labor of love went into it behind the scenes, spanning weeks, days, hours, and even minutes beforehand. Family and friends braved the cold and wet weather to stop by and share my special day with me. I was intoxicated with emotions as I ran around giggling, boohooing, and giggling again. This was one exhilarating day, an event that I will hold dear to my heart and cherish for a lifetime.

Do you have a passion? Is there a dream in your heart that motivates you to do something? With perseverance and determination, dreams do come true. Be a dream chaser. Dream big. Don’t quit. Every journey begins with a single step.

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Filed under Houston Authors Bash book signing event, Running in Heels

Guest Blogger: Mary A. Perez (This Thing Called Tears)

I wish to thank Faith Simone for the honor in allowing me to be a guest on her blog, “All Things Written…To Encourage & Inspire“. Her blog is indeed encouraging and inspiring as she unselfishly pays it forward.

Faith Simone's avatarFaith Simone

There are a few people walking the earth brave enough to wear their hearts on their sleeves; not because they’re careless or foolish, but because they’ve been through enough to know that each time they share their stories they celebrate their triumph. They’ve won. Mary Perez, of Reflections from the Heart, is one of those people.


This Thing Called Tears by Mary PerezMAry I consider myself a tough cookie. After all, aren’t I a survivor? I’ve survived some hard times: A broken home by age three, followed by poverty, hunger, homelessness, alcoholism, neglect, loss of a sibling at age nine, two near-drowning incidents, in a car wreck, juvenile detention home, taunting, brawls, racism, alternative schooling, marriage to a ruthless man twice my age, bearing four children by the time I was twenty-two—three  by cesarean—physical abuse, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, betrayal, hopelessness, despair, rejection, abandonment, being shot at (he missed), divorce, single-parenting …

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