Life is about...

Beautiful Smiles

 A loud laughter

The look in your eyes

     The sound of the rain

A tight hug

   A child's giggle

The colors of a rainbow

     An amazing sunset

A starry night

     Listening to your favorite song

A slow dance

     The sound of the waves

A day at the beach

    Reading a good book

A refreshing swim

    A nice walk through nature

The warmth of the sun

    A breezy afternoon

A crazy dance at midnight 

A quiet evening

    Being barefoot on the grass

A creative mind

Time with your friends

Sharing with family

    The scent of your perfume

A passionate kiss

 Holding your hand

Love between you and me

                                                      Tere Rodriguez-Nora

I’m thankful...

 for that smile that a stranger gave

 me unexpectedly 

 for the rain that wet my feet on my way

 to work yesterday

  for the ray of sunshine that blinded my eyes 

when I was walking 

 for the singing of the bird that woke me up this morning when I wanted to sleep more  

for that difference in opinion, I had with my 

friend that made me appreciate her more 

 for the times my parents didn’t let me do what 
I wanted because it wasn’t good for me 

for all those people that aren’t part of my life
anymore because, from them, I have learned a lesson 

 for that bad experience I had because it

 helped me be a better person 

 for the day that isn’t going well because 
make me appreciate the good ones

 for those moments I felt a failure because

 it helped me grow as a person  

for the days I doubt myself a little because it
made me believe in myself more  

for the good news, I saw on TV because 

it gave me hope in humanity  

for those words my teacher told me when

 I thought I couldn’t make it  

for that moment I didn’t like myself because it

 made me appreciate myself more  

for that tear turned into a smile because made

 me believe in better days to come 

 for just opening my eyes this morning because

 I have one more day to live 

                                                                 Tere Rodriguez-Nora

Love is what it is

Have you ever fell in love? I'm sure you have.

How did it make you feel? Isn't love the most amazing thing? For me, it is for sure!

Thinking about falling in love makes me think about those who fall in love but either not want to or think is not the right time for it and, then, they prefer to pull away. Why prohibited yourself from such a wonderful feeling and experience of sharing your life with someone you love?

Why end it?

 A good love can make you be a better person, can make you see things with a different perspective, makes you see life more beautiful, give you strength when you think you don’t have it anymore, it’s fun and adventurous.

I truly don't understand why they pull away, but I guess they have their reason.

You can’t plan love, it just happens and when it does you should grab it. It’s this amazing ride that two ride together, going up and down but always caring and respecting each other. 

Love sometimes gives you another chance and you shouldn't waste it.

I’m not getting any younger and when love knocks on my door I will give everything I’ve got to it. Who knows if this will be the last time in my life that I’ll feel this way for someone. I'll embrace love for sure!!

I don’t want to end this post without sharing with you this quote that I read in Spanish the other day -“Dicen por ahí... Que de tanto darle tiempo al tiempo, se nos va la vida." 

It means, "Some people say...That from giving so much time to time, our life slip away." 

True, right? 

At this point in life, I may not know where, but I'll know with whom.

Take care, Tere

That kind of love (2)

A love that doesn’t make excuses,

 that’s strong to fight,

 that not preconceives,

 that’s calm,

 which forgot it was wounded in war,

 that brings peace,

that doesn't move away after getting closer, 

 that doesn’t compare,

 that makes time, 

ready to sometimes don’t understand why...

                                  that kind of love. 

                                                       Tere Rodriguez-Nora

My abusive relationship experience...

Abusive relationships happen every day, every hour, and to anyone. It doesn’t matter where you live, your social status, religion, or education. It’s out there and real. It’s more real than you know. You might have a friend who is involved in this type of relationship and you don't even now.


I was part of one myself. I was in an abusive relationship for way too much time. Yelling, insults (like fat, dumb, sexually incompetent, inept), always making me feel guilty, jealous about everyone (including my two sons), trying to make me feel less were part of my everyday life.


I was used to it. I was "happy". That's all I knew. I was so in love that I didn't notice that I was abused. I didn't care about what my sister, my friends, anyone told me; I always made an excuse excusing him. Nothing wrong was going on.



It had been 5 years since I decided I was done with my relationship. It sure took me a lot of time to be done with it but is better late than never. Right?


I have invested too many years of my life in that relationship.


The day I was done with it, it was when I felt how heavy was the load I was carrying when I was no longer feeling that weight.



After I finished my relationship; I took a profound look at my interior self, at what I have lived and what was going to be my new life. Part of my introspection included trying to remember my life of the past twenty-something years. Weirdly, it seems that I have erased from my mind most of the things that happened to me in this relationship, both good and bad. I erased experiences when he abused me but I also erased experiences that were about Christmas, birthdays, family get togethers and events, among others. 


I'm pretty sure I did it in a way to protect myself. I am a counselor, I know that our mind is powerful and can do strange things to help you cope with different situations.



The decisions I took after my separation were hard to understand for some people (including one of my sons) but they were necessary. One of them was that I needed to get as far away as I could from my ex. His love was an obsessive one so I needed to place a lot of distance between us. So, I did, I moved to Florida to start a new life. 

I was immensely hurt. He tore my self-esteem apart. A lot of the insults he said to me stayed with me for a long, long time. I believed they were true. Little by little I began to heal and I began to be secure about myself and of the great woman I am.

From every situation and experience, we learned something and this wasn't an exception. I learned that it wasn't me who was wrong, it was him. I learned that a love relationship should have more tears of joy than of sadness. I learned that life always offers second chances. I learned that love shouldn't hurt if it hurts is not love. I learned that you can love again even if you were hurt. I learned that you can always create new memories. Most of all, I learned and I know that I am a smart, creative, caring, funny, lovable, extraordinary woman who is capable of loving and respect a man and most of all deserve a relationship fund on respect, caring, happiness, and love.



If you have had the same experience as mine; belief in yourself, believe in second chances, and believe that you are capable to have a magnificent relationship with someone who will love and respect you.



Take care, Tere

For all those romantics out there!

Hi! Are you a romantic?

Here are some of my others romantic quotes I have written.
Hope you enjoy them!