Book: I Am An Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girl's Around The World

Yesterday I bought Eve Ensler's I Am An Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girl's Around The World.

 Ensler is best known for her book The Vagina Monologues. Within less than two hours I finished the book. I could not stop reading it! All the while, people were staring at me like I was crazy; riding the bike high speed at the gym while at the same time, very calm and reading away; unaware of the people around me. If a book can do that to me, then  you know this book is good. I usually have a short attention span for books haha.

This book is such a feel-good, lift your spirits type of book. Yes, there are some sad monologues but in a way it makes me feel more united with all girls around the world. I can put myself in their shoes. I think that was the purpose of Ensler writing this book. To make women aware of kind of travesties women endure. This book is to make us aware of who we really are and to embrace it and flaunt our beautiful complex souls. YES we are/can be emotional creatures, but we shouldn't let society make us believe that its a bad thing!

I'd like to leave with you some excerpts from the book. It was hard to choose because in all seriousness, every section I adored. They're pretty long, but I really feel that you will feel much better after reading them.

 INTRODUCTION
"Dear Emotional Creature, 
You know who you are. I wrote this book because I believe in you. I believe in your authenticity, your uniqueness, your intensity, your wildness. I love the way you dye your hair purple, or hike up your short skirt, or blare your music while you lip-sync every single memorized lyric. I love your restlessness and your hunger. You are one of our greatest natural resources, you Possess a necessary agency and energy that if unleashed could transform, inspire, and heal the world.

I know we make you feel stupid, as if being a teenager meant you were temporarily deranged. We have become accustomed to muting you, judging you, discounting you, asking you --- sometimes even forcing you --- to betray what you see and know and feel.

You scare us. You remind us of what we have forced to shut down or abandon in ourselves in order to fit in. You ask us by your being to question, to wake up, to reperceive. Sometimes I think we tell you we are protecting you when really we are protecting ourselves from our own feelings of self-betrayal and loss."

XXV
"This book is to call to question rather than to please. To provoke, to challenge, to dare, to satisfy your own imagination and appetite. To know yourself truly. To take responsibility for who you are, to engage. This book is a call to listen to the voice inside you that might want something different, that hears, that knows, the way only you can hear and know. It's a call to your original girl self, to you emotional creature self, to move at your speed, to walk with your step, to wear your color. It is an invitation to heed your instinct to resist war, or draw snakes, or to speak to the stars"


MY SHORT SKIRT (pp123-125)

My short skirt

is not an invitation

a provocation

an indication

that I want it

or give it

or that I hook.

My short skirt

is not begging for it

it does not want you

to rip it off me

or pull it up or down.

My short skirt

is not a legal reason 

for raping me

although it has been before

it will not hold up

in the new court

My short skirt, believe ir or not,

has nothing to do with you

My short skirt 

is about discovering 

the power of my calvs

about cool autumn air traveling

up my inner thighs

about allowing everything I see

or pass or feel to live inside.

My short skirt is not proof

that i am stupid

or undecided

or a malleable little girl.

My short skirt is my defiance.

I will not let you make me afraid.

My short skirt is not showing off,

this is who I am 

before you made me cover it

or tone it down.

Get used to it.

My short skirt is happiness.

I can feel myself on the ground

I am here. I am hot.

My short skirt is a liberation

flag in the women's army.

I declare these streets, any streets,

my vagina's country.

My short skirt 

is turquoise water with swimming colored fish

a summer festival in the starry dark

a bird calling

a train arriving in a foreign town.

My short skirt is a wild spin

a full breath

a tango dip.

My short skirt is 

initiation, appreciation, excitation.

But mainly my short skirt

and everything under it

is mine, mine, mine

PLEASE PICK UP EVE ENSLER'S BOOK. I ASSURE YOU THIS WILL NOT BE MONEY GONE TO WASTE. 

Quote of the Day

We must treasure the achievers of our land because it's they who raise the sights of all the others.
--Unknown Source

Sometimes I just feel like we don't give enough credit to the people who deserve it. Sometimes achievements go unnoticed or others talk down on them. Be conscious. Praise is always needed every once in a while to assure a person that they are doing good and to keep going and striving for more. Without them, we wouldn't be the modern people that we are now. They are our innovators, they are society's light.

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn

(May 4,1929 - January 20,1993)

I adore Audrey Hepburn! She was such a classic beauty. She was unlike all the other Hollywood starlets during her time. She wasn't curvaceous, she wasn't a sex pot; Audrey was this skinny old thing but nevertheless just as gorgeous, if not more gorgeous. She was a style icon and great actress.

What I adored most about her was spirit, her endeavors outside of the acting world. She is someone I still look up to even after her death. She kind of steered me in the direction I'm headed towards with my studies and career.Audrey Hepburn is a great role model.

I think if you watch the videos below, you'll get a better understanding of who she was. Maybe you'll learn to love her just as much as I do

Division

Will it ever end? I ask myself this time and time again. Just when I think we're making progress, I have to hear someone say something stupid and so separatist. I'm referring to the division amongst women.

You don't understand how frustrated I am with it all! Its like you ladies complain about the progression of women and how not all of us are succeeding at that; but don't you think we have to be united in order for that to work?

All this female on female crime & hatred is not the best way to go about things.

Women, or rather girls, because real women don't behave that way, talk down on other girls because of race, relationship status, and etc.

When a guy breaks a girls heart and leaves her for another, who does she automatically get mad at? The girl! Its ridiculous! Why are you getting mad at her?, he was the one who was deceitful or just stopped liking you. Instead you should be mad at him; that is, if you want to get angry at someone. This girl didn't like me before because the guy that she thought she had wrapped around her fingers took interest in me. She started gossiping amongst her friends and calling me all sorts of names. I mean, I didn't even know she existed until he informed me about her and what she was saying. All this time, she could've just focused all that energy on herself and have moved on. You can't make every guy you like feel anything for you. If it doesn't work out, don't get mad at the new girl! It just gives guys the idea that they can play with us and not suffer any consequences. Get real! Think logically!

Another thing I notice is that women separate themselves from other women of different races. Its the 21st century! Women talk about other women of other races. Does it make you feel better to talk about the Asian girls? Black girls? Hispanic girls? Indian girls? Middle Eastern girls? Caucasian girls? etc? Do you think they're going to support you and like you after the comments you make about them? Do you think this helps your cause in the upward mobility and unity of all women worldwide? NO. I don't know why this happens. Maybe theres some sort of resentment for something that a girl of that particular race did to the other person. But you shouldn't generalize all women of that girls race as being bad or evil. Women, we need to look at eachother as individuals, not by the color of our skin.

These are just some of the ways we divide ourselves from other ladies. If you are guilty of any of these examples or others, you should check yourself and correct yourself. Don't place barriers amongst yourself and other women. We all want to become something better. We all want to see women advance. With wholeness and togetherness we can be the best. Set aside all your prejudices, jealousy, anger, and resentment aside. Love one another & support one another.

The Soloist ... kinda

I'm used to being on my own
Ever since I could remember its been that way
Being the middle child, naturally I was left out
My little sister wanted to be like my older sister
And my older sister was too busy being rebellious to bother with me
At the time it sometimes made me sad because I was so young
And I just didn't understand this was common for many middle children
I moved around quite a bit growing up so I never really could attach myself to anything or anyone
Change is something inevitable in all our lives
I embrace it, others don't
I'm not afraid to venture out into the unknown alone
I think I've grown up to be a very solo-dolo, do-it-on-my-own type of person
Some people might think this is so "sad" but quite the contrary!
I think this is why I'm so adventurous, and outgoing
I think this is why I don't rely on anyone nor am dependent
Having to go through many changes such as moving and making new friends and doing things alone have made me this way
I have no trouble trying something new
I have no concerns if no one will agree to do something with me
My relationships haven't really suffered because of this
It's not like my sisters and I don't get along just because we were mean to each other growing up; we're like the best of friends now!
It's not like I have no friends because I've had to move around a lot; my true friends are still with me
The ones who are no longer in my life don't matter anymore
It's not like I'm anti-social; I love meeting new people all the time.
I think if I hadn't have been brought up to kind of fend for myself, I would be the opposite of what I just mentioned
I would have been a sheltered little girl who would've been afraid to do things alone, who would've been afraid to meet people outside of my circle, who would've relied too much on everyone around me
But you must know, that I'm not stubborn to ask for help all the time
I know when to turn to people for assistance and guidance
I'm not completely shut off on the idea of working with others and what not
So don't feel bad for me when you hear this
I'm a much better person because of it
I put a positive spin on everything

Photo Reflection

Honolulu Airport 178
Originally uploaded by cristalkit02

I took this photo in 2007. It was in late June or early July I believe. This is a photo of my father, Manuel holding my nephew Gabriel as we were leaving the Buddhist temple in Oahu

My family and I went to Hawaii to enjoy the summer over there for a week. We stayed in Oahu for the most part and went to visit Maui for a day.

Looking back on this photo, it brings so many memories of the time we all spent and all of what happened the year of 2005. In '05 I finished high school. But what always remains in my heart is when my grandfather passed away that year. I was heart broken, it had been a long time coming but I didn't think it would've have happened around my graduation.

The rest of that year was kind of dramatic for me as well. My sister became pregnant and one of my best friends was going through a very serious situation. I would elaborate on it, but I don't want to invade their privacy, nor am I comfortable discussing every detail. All i can say is that naturally, I became affected by all of this. Juggling school and trying to be there for everyone was tiring me out.

But by the summer of 2006 everything seemed to turn around for the best. My friend had finally gotten her life in order and was away from the negativity that had left a dark cloud over her head for most of 2005. On June 10, 2006, I distinctly remember getting a call from my little sister, while I was in the middle of watching The Omen at the movie theaters. Of course I thought nothing of it and just let the phone ring (silent mode, that is, because i'm courteous). Then she sent me a text "Where are you?! Lisa's water broke!" My first thoughts "Oh shit! you guys we have to go! My sister's water broke!" So we all joined together and met up at the hospital.

It was just me and my best friends and my direct family. The ones who held it down for me that whole past year. The ones who I've stood by and supported like no other. All united at a hospital to witness the birth of my nephew. Gabriel Guillermo Flores.

Funny thing is, my sister ended up staying in labor for about 33hrs! lol So we left the movie for nothing and my sister had to deliver by Cesarean operation. Go figure! =) But waiting for the birth was that moment in which everything just made sense to me, I was in a calm and happy state of mind. I felt centered and whole as odd and confusing as that may sound.

The rest of 2006 was spent cherishing every precious moment I had with my family and the addition to our life. We all bonded more with him around. He was the reason to our smiles, to our joy, to our laughter. He was the reason we became a stronger unit more than ever. My sister believes in reincarnation and she felt that Gabriel was a reincarnation of my grandfather, hence, she gave him the 2nd name, Guillermo, in honor of my grandfather. That year went by so quick! Its amazing how fast babies grow up! I think we have enough documentation of his first year =)

So this photo shows me how far we've come along as a family and how good of friends I had at that time in my life. Its so great to look at this photo and remember all the times we shared in Hawaii that summer as a whole considering all that happened the years prior.

Mae West

I really admire strong powerful women who just don't care what others think about them. It lets me know, its okay to not worry about impressing others. As long as you are doing & saying what you want, then everything is fine.

One of the most profound confident women ever to have graced this earth was Mae West. Mae West was one of the top actresses of her time in the 20's She was best known for always playing the dominating female leads. She was both dominating on film and in real life. She was a force to be reckoned with. Her thoughts were provacative and yet at the same time very honest. I admire her strength and openness about her sexuality and being a woman.

Here are some of my favorite quotes by her; Enjoy!

• Don't marry a man to reform him -- that's what reform schools are for
• Men? Sure, I've known lots of them. But I never found one I liked well enough to marry. Besides, I've always been busy with my work. Marriage is a career in itself and to make a success of it you've got to keep working at it. So until I can give the proper amount of time to marriage, I'll stay single
• I like a man who's good, but not too good -- for the good die young, and I hate a dead one
• I go for two kinds of men. The kind with muscles, and the kind without
• Personally, I like two types of men - domestic and foreign
• Men are my hobby. If I ever got married I'd have to give it up.
• The score never interested me, only the game
• I'm no angel, but I've spread my wings a bit
• Look your best -- who said love is blind?
• A man can be short and dumpy and getting bald but if he has fire, women will like him
• Ten men waiting for me at the door? Send one of them home, I'm tired.
• Every man I meet wants to protect me. I can't figure out what from
• It's not the men in my life that count, it's the life in my men.
• It's all right for a perfect stranger to kiss your hand as long as he's perfect.
• Love thy neighbor -- and if he happens to be tall, debonair and devastating, it will be that much easier.
• Good women are no fun. The only good woman I can recall in history was Betsy Ross. And all she ever made was a flag
• You can do what you want, but saving love doesn't bring any interest.
• Brains are an asset to the woman in love who's smart enough to hide 'em
• Some women pick men to marry -- and others pick them to pieces
• Cultivate your curves -- they may be dangerous but they won't be avoided.
• Women with "pasts" interest men because men hope that history will repeat itself
• The best way to behave is to misbehave
• You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough
• When I'm good, I'm very good. When I'm bad, I'm better
• It's hard to be funny when you have to be clean
• I'm a woman of very few words, but lots of action
• It isn't what I do, but how I do it. It isn't what I say, but how I say it, and how I look when I do it and say it
• When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before
• Marriage is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution yet
• When women go wrong, men go right after them.
• It is better to be looked over than overlooked
• To err is human, but it feels divine
• Sex is emotion in motion
• Those who are easily shocked should be shocked more often
• I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond
• A dame that knows the ropes isn't likely to get tied up
• I never loved another person the way I loved myself