On having my heart in two places — When Mama fell ill, I became preoccupied with death and thoughts of losing her. The world stood ready to collapse, not only the person, because it was the person who kept the world together. She was an ad-hoc mom, a friend, a structural beam of support. I didn’t know how…

‘Tiny windows into other worlds’ — If you, like me, have been struggling with some of your more involved reading, I suggest short stories. They work wonders when stuck in a reading rut. More, they’re a powerful tool for kicking writer’s block to the curb and unlocking creativity. …

From time to time — Tonight, I sit for long spells in wakeful silence while sudden memories encroach upon my world. Lines stretch across the pages of my journal. Sleep abandons me. My eyes are open but not to the present, to a time and place from long ago. I ride my breath in and…

And Why — What’s the first thing you remember writing? The first time I wrote on my own — not for a school assignment — was after an argument with my sister (over something trivial, I’m sure). My mother was working rotating shifts in a factory. She was a day sleeper, so we…

Too Grateful or Not Grateful Enough — https://wordpress.com/view/silviatomasvillalobos.wordpress.com You get out of your way to help someone you don’t really know. It’s not much you’ve given, just a little of your time and money, but it’s your way of saying you want to help. You imagine the response would be a thank you, some form of gratitude. …

I won’t let go of my dream — https://wordpress.com/view/silviatomasvillalobos.wordpress.com One of the greatest speakers, Les Brown, said something to the effect: keep working at what you love. How many of us do that? Life gets in the way of dreams. The unexpected expense, the medical emergency, falling in love. Falling out of love. All are excuses to give…

What Reading is Like When Unable to Create Mental Images — silviatomasvillalobos.wordpress.com/2021/06/18/nothing-greater-than-peace-of-mind/ Visualize this: you’re going about your life when a sudden memory pops up, triggering all sorts of feelings. Can you see it? The mental exercise called visualization is vastly different for everyone, according to a new article. Scientists are finding new ways to probe two not-so-rare conditions to better…

https://silviatomasvillalobos.wordpress.com/ Posted on June 8, 2021 | Leave a comment | Edit Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. It’s un-complicating what’s complicated. For my purpose, simplicity is art. It’s about a spartan house with less furniture. Making life easier. It’s about redoing my space to declutter my mind. About being able…

https://silviatomasvillalobos.wordpress.com/2021/06/03/start-again/ I fell in love with writing the summer before my thirteenth birthday. It was a long summer — made longer by lack of plans. My family had cancelled an ad hoc trip after disagreements among adults; so I was left with nothing but time to myself. You see, I…