If love was above It would constantly surround And never touch the ground Its harmony would create this soothing sound You’d realize it’s within and internally found
If love was below It would go beyond and grow Its roots would glow There’d be a forever flow You’d realize it’s within, something you truly know
If love was an object It’d be something you infinitely protect Eternally collect And profoundly respect You’d realize it’s within, and the realest perfect
Love is our driving force Remember, we are source And this life is simply a course Trusting the divine Lets love and you align
Ace
I decided to give spoken word poetry a shot, it’s been on my mind and heart for a while now! A big shout out to my dear friend, Navin, for his encouragement and gentle nudges on doing spoken word. I am excited to share with all of you, I’d love to know your thoughts!!!
In my eyes, skies are still warm In my heart, breaths are still surviving I search for meaning of all existence, as I draw lines in my mind. So many doors of emptiness surround me as time scatters, but even the eye has an exit. I fall asleep on my pillow of pain and hope to awake on a wing and a prayer. A fullness then gathers inside me, and I now feel anything but ordinary. I watch love nestle in every crevice of my being, I watch the stars pour their light into my veins. That something extraordinary is without form, boundless and forceful. A gentle whisper A ferocious cry, all at once. The sun sets behind the ocean of my dream, and rises over the sky of my vision. The wind blows through every thought in my collection. The trees and the flowers cradle my heart, while the mountains nudge me to grow. I’m in this infinite flow, or maybe I am this infinite flow. And I now feel anything but ordinary.
It was so magical to work with the amazing Diana on this piece! She’s always inspired me and I feel very lucky to call her a dear friend! Diana’s lovely instagram reels also inspired this video!
I hope this piece reminds you that you are anything but ordinary!!
What if this reality is just your imagination? What if all the beings in this reality are just your reflections? Maybe I am not me, rather, I am you. Maybe this world isn’t truly real, maybe it’s just your illustration?
I think the ‘impossible’ is the realm of freedom – the realm of truest creation. Through the ‘impossible’, we can travel through any wonder and discover countless versions of ourselves. We are infinite, we are more than these bodies. That’s the beauty of walking our own path, we get to believe in every ‘impossible’, in every wonder.
You whisper in my dreams every night, you echo in all my thoughts, you travel in every waking step I walk, you channel through my voice, you live in my breath, you fly in my heart and you daydream in the depths of my soul. I walk in the shadows of your trail, I speak in the language of your creation, I dream in the wonders of your intuition, I listen to the beat of your heart and I live in the projection of your mind. So maybe, I am yours and you are mine.
Why do I find comfort in all my thoughts? I know there’s an “ego” but, that’s just a label. I’m realizing all is one and you are all. Why should I judge a part of me just because it speaks in a harsher tone? All those voices in my head are my gifts, they’re my guides. I always get to choose who to listen to and my intuition is there to give me those nudges – I AM all.
I believe imagination is the realest thing in this reality, it’s a reflection of my deepest memories and strongest hopes. Daydreaming is an unrealized zone; it’s one I prioritize as it lets me fly through the lands of my soul. It’s another realm and when I reach it, I am free. Freedom is who I truly am at my core, freedom is who we all truly are – freedom is You.
Thank “you” for this adventure. In all your unknowns, I am finding me or maybe, you. For now, I’ve just conquered this blank page.
We are all puzzle pieces in the infinite puzzle of this life. Each piece is unique in their structure and color. But together, all these unique pieces create something bigger than their forms, something divine. The Universe in each piece reflects upon the other, because together, we are one.
We are each a unique wave in this eternal ocean of the Universe. Each wave with its own force, its own rise and crash, its own depth and its own soothing sound. But together, each wave connects into something much more ethereal, a forever intrinsic feeling. The light within each fragment of every wave shines, because together, we are one.
We are each a step on this endless staircase of destiny. Each step is equal, but special in its purpose, action, foundation and gentle nudge. Together, every step helps each other evolve and build something grand, something sacred. The inspiration to progress and the drive to climb this boundless journey is found within, because together, we are one.
We are each a magnet connected to this board of fate. Each magnet is distinctive in its personality, design, perception and strength. But together, all the magnets unite and present something deeper, something precious. The wonder and character through the vastness in each piece travels through many dreams, because together, we are one.
We are One. We are a team, here for a reason and living this dream together!! I’d so love to hear your favorite analogy!! Be fearless and free – Ace
There was a force – its presence indescribable, its space comforting, its aura beyond words and its soul so familiar, yet oddly empty. When the force traveled and danced around in the space known as, air, it would whisper and holler at once. Its soft embrace would eventually land on something. Sometimes, that “something” would present itself as the sky, the sun, a blooming rose, a fleeting hummingbird or, better yet, the magical beings even the force couldn’t quite understand – the human beings.
All time and space folds on top of itself, for time is the ultimate illusion. This force lived beyond constructs known as “time”, the force lived in the vastness and yet soothing emptiness of the Universe. So, at this seemingly current timeline, the force landed in a human being, a soul. In an instant, the force knew every piece, every dream, every past, every now and every wonder this soul had ever immersed herself in – because in stillness, creation speaks.
This soul felt the warm touch of a certain something around. The “certain something” was alive but beyond vision and words, it seemed to play in the echoes of love, peace and harmony. So, this soul let down her shield of protection, took a deep breath and let the “certain something” swim in every wave of her ocean.
All else stopped – the walls became malleable, everything her eyes could see became blurry, her mind was blank, but her intuition vividly spoke. There was such comfort in the emptiness; like a connection to something bigger than this life, something vast – something like home.
The force had found its resting spot in this soul’s intuition. Something about it was open but protected, alive but calm and in touch with a fragment of our true home, the Universe. So, the force nestled in her intuition’s vortex and breathed to the tune of her heart’s rhythm.
It didn’t take long for the force and the soul to become one, because together they were already source.
“When you blink, you’re entering two different realities. Eyes open – illusions are present, labels are aplenty, and versions of you are simultaneously testing the piece of you here in this timeline. Eyes closed – you’re home. Empty space, imagination for eons, free of illusional constructs, adventures in your daydreams, a certain indescribable grandness to be explored – a certain familiarity, a certain magic, a certain comfort, a certain home. As you enter and exit both realities, soak in your emotions and be gentle with yourself. You’re here for a reason, a reason to find home in this lost dream you now call, life.”
The force floated away. The soul smiled, basking in the last few whisps of the force’s essence. To the soul, it seemed like a few seconds. To the force, it was a quick forever. The soul knew these forceful visits well, she called them “the in-between dreams,” for they were little in-between moments only familiar from her dreams. The force knew these ethereal visits well, it called them “divine silence,” for the soul is divine and the force, it, has always been silence.
Author’s Note – The Soul is always beyond his/her, the soul is oneness. For the sake of writing, I chose to make the soul “her”, but keep in mind that the soul is beyond all labels.
When I see you looking back at me in the mirror, my heart beats a little louder and my soul feels a little more at home. My thoughts stop running, my breath becomes more alive and I can start to hear the gentle waves of my emotion. Your simplicity is what gets me; it’s a simple choice to be with you, but, such a rewarding one too. And when I am you, nothing gets in our way.
I feel you inside without even looking outside. As my lips curl upwards, my eyes start to sparkle, my cheeks are the best kind of sore and my mind pauses for a second – all seems perfect. When I fully focus on you, all else disappears and you’re all that is there. You, yourself might not be perfect with one tooth longer than the other and lips a little chapped; but that’s just the perfectionist talking. You, as a whole, are always perfect. Nothing comes close to your enchanting magic, because in one moment with you all is always ok.
You happen the most, not when I’m happy, or sad trying to be happy, but when I’m at a peace. Or when my little mind tries to grab my attention, you come, and it becomes lost in your sea of love. When the light of my far away star shines on my aura, nothing feels better than becoming you.
When I think about what makes me happy, I wonder for a second, before my soul ends up landing on a few different things, a few labels. When really, I could just be you and that could be my forever answer. Everything changes and evolves, but you will always be the same, and just writing that line lets me be with you again.
I look for connections and true relationships, when the truest one I’ll ever find is with you. We are one and we are always together, because you are always there. I overthink and I get lost in the unknown, but one moment with you, as you, brings me back. I dream and get stuck in distantly close realities, and then you and I unite, letting me find the place inside me again that is always at home. I go on rollercoasters within and outside, but you are my still space.
I know you’re my reflection, I know you’re my direction – I know you’re me. And together we are free, because love is always more than the eyes can see.
Where stillness lays, how do I move? You slowly slither till you improve In silence, am I really small? Quite the contrary, you’re alive with all
Every step becomes your road map Are labels just my little mind’s trap? A force inside pushes my crawl What if this road leads to a fall?
If I lose fear then can I stand? Taking a chance helps strength expand Does courage come, or is it a chase? It’s a paradox divinely guided by grace
I breathe and rise with every day But in this journey, have I lost my sway? So many questions hold me back Will destiny keep me on track?
Do guided steps lead to a run? Lessons you learn all mean you won Was I born where this Universe begun? As the stars whisper through the shine of my sun
In a place, through a life, and within my soul Is this a journey of finding home, while becoming whole? An infinite light brightens my obstacle course If I look within will I find this light source?
This is the kid version I was raised on, there is an adult version but this has one has always been special to me. The memories my family and I have created through this pyramid will live on in my heart and soul forever! John Wooden later added Love as the cement just to the kid version and I think that’s why this pyramid has always resonated with me. Plus the childhood nostalgia!
The Pyramid of Success by Coach John Wooden is a sacred piece in my journey. My parents raised my brother and I through this pyramid of success. These lessons and fundamentals of character were engrained in us at a very very young age and I am so eternally grateful. These blocks and this pyramid is my foundation and one of the most pivotal parts of my journey. I was always taught to do my personal best in everything I do and my parents are the best role models I could ever ask for. Big shout out to my parents, thank you for everything, Mom and Dad!!!!
In all that I do, in every moment on my journey and and through all endeavors, I always find myself leaning back on this pyramid of success. It connects to every aspect of life and to the Universe; I feel so lucky to have been blessed by it at such a young age. Again, thank you Mom and Dad!!
Let’s Go Block By Block!!!
1 – Hard Work and Enthusiasm
These are the cornerstones of this pyramid of success, they are the cornerstones to character. I’m combining them now, because that’s how it was always taught to me. Hard Work and Enthusiasm go together; you can’t work hard well without being enthusiastic and enthusiasm is always more real with hard work behind it. You’ll notice under the Hard Work block on the pyramid that it says “Failing to prepare, is preparing to fail.” This quote has always been a big part in my life. It is so powerfully true but deeply simple. For me, hard work has always been so rewarding and through it, I gained fierce discipline. Discipline and hard work is my comfort zone, but learning to be enthusiastic in all moments of life was my challenge. True enthusiasm is such an electric feeling, it’s the zone we all know so well and it’s the adrenaline I thrive on. So, together, hard work and enthusiasm make an immortal team.
2 – Friendship and Loyalty
When I was learning this pyramid of success, my parents always put big emphasis on the blocks on the first row because they are the foundation to true character, to personal best and to success. So, when I think back on those intrinsic memories of how they were taught to me, I realize a few of them were taught to me as a team. My parents are geniuses for doing it that way because I now see how much more powerful they became. I realized the importance of hard work and enthusiasm only when they were put together, and same thing with friendship and loyalty. Loyalty was one of the trickiest blocks for me to learn, but, with friendship added to it, loyalty’s meaning became easier for me to define. And friendship, boy have I learned a lot with that one over the years. I remember as a kid thinking it was the “easiest” one; I see how wrong I was now! Loyalty has grown into loyalty to my soul over the years and that is such a special and powerful thing, it’s freedom! And friendship has become more and more about being friends with my soul and my being, because you can’t be a loyal friend to others without being a loyal friend to yourself first.
3 – Cooperation
In my family, we’ve always been a team. So, cooperation was taught to me within the family first, Always. And through tennis experiences, I learned it in bigger areas, but, cooperation always has meant within my family, my team. Learning to balance speaking up for myself, but, being a cooperative teammate was a huge lesson. It’s such a divine and intuitive choice, and that journey really teaches you to get in touch with the depths of your soul. I think through diving into cooperation at a young age, I see everything as a team. Family is a team, friendship is a team, siblings are a team, my relationship with the Universe (me) is a team, my relationship with my heart/intuition are two separate teams, my relationship with writing is a team and so on. We’re all micro teams becoming a big Universal team.
4 – Self Control
And now, we move onto the second row! Self Control always used to be my brother’s hardest block and my easiest, as confidence used to be my hardest and his easiest. My brother and I were and still are opposite in many ways, we teach each other and the opposites bring us closer. As a kid, I was almost too self controlled; I’d push everything down and never speak up. So, learning how to be honest and authentic while still being self-controlled was a really good paradox for me to learn. Again, I think it’s such a powerful and divine choice we make within.
5 – Alertness
Whenever I think of alertness, I immediately think of my younger, shy self. I remember myself in a room just quietly observing everyone and paying close attention to every little thing. People watching is my thing as I have much experience 😂. But alertness is so much more than this; alertness is detail, attention and listening. I remember my mom especially teaching me alert listening. Alert listening is so powerful and one of the kindest things in this Universe. I also learned alertness through tennis; making a hundred decisions in one second takes skilled alertness. Alertness is an art and it’s a beautiful art at that.
6 – Actionand Determination
Action and Determination were always paired together. Determined action is the best action. And action without determination is simply not action. Determination is an attitude, it’s a mindset. My mom has always been such a fierce example of determination. In all she does, she’s determined, driven and fueled by passion. My dad is an incredible example of determination too; he just goes about it in a different way, a calmer way. Action is an intricate and deep lesson. There’s action and then there’s smart action and those are two very different things. Efficient action, specific action and purposeful action are gifts tennis has taught me. Tennis truly brought all these blocks to life, but, for Action, it especially comes to mind.
7 – Fitness
Now, onto the 3rd row!! As a four-year-old, serious fitness was not a big thing in my life 😂. I’d just started tennis and my parents applied this block to tennis. Tennis wasn’t serious at this point in my life, it was just an activity I was barely beginning to love. But, practicing doing my personal best came to life here. I absolutely love fitness and the gym now, it’s a place full of adrenaline for me. And I do love the pain, it’s a time for me to grow and to achieve. I’d kind of forgotten fitness was a block, but, for where I am now in my journey — it’s a full circle moment.
8 – Skill
Skill was a confusingly simple block for me back in the day. This block was also taught to me through tennis. I definitely understand skill a lot more now. With smart action and determination, you can be skilled at anything. As the quote underneath this block says, “Practice makes perfect.” Who knows if perfect actually exists, but, practice and constant improvement creates skill. Towards the top of this pyramid, my parents would often revert back to the foundational blocks to show how they all connect to the ones above it. And it’s so true; I can really see it now.
9 – Team Spirit
Team Spirit like Cooperation was taught to me within my family team. And then it seeped out into bigger teams in the outside world. Whenever I think of Team Spirit, I immediately think of my family. Team Spirit is an energy, a vibration and a frequency — it’s a connection. It is a teammate’s responsibility to raise the spirit, to give 100% and to influence the heart and soul of the team. And I think even in the team of you and your soul, team spirit is huge. You have the choice to look at a tough moment as tough and hard, or as a challenge you and your soul will learn from and overcome together.
10 – Poise and Confidence
These blocks were big big ones for me. Besides Hard Work and Enthusiasm, these two were probably the biggest. I never truly understood Poise until a few years ago. My parents always explained it has being confident and then authentically living that confidence in all experiences. Confidence was really hard for me for many years, I lived with fear in a lot of my youth. I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world though, it made me the fearless and free soul I am today! When I started to fully believe in myself, I found confidence. And poise came almost naturally. Being my authentic self no matter what was a journey of its own, but, one of the most rewarding things in my life! It feels so good to be authentically you all the time; there’s this inner knowing of I AM that just oozes out of your soul. I could honestly write a whole post about poise and confidence, but, to keep it short, these two blocks will always have a special place in my being.
And with that, we come to Personal Best!!! Personal Best is me, it’s my soul, it’s my forever solid foundation. Thank you to my parents, for doing beyond their personal best in raising me to be the fearless and free soul I am today. And for instilling such powerful and life long values in me at a young age. Thank you to my brother, who’s been on this personal best journey with me since the very beginning! Thank you to my childhood, for blessing me with opportunity after opportunity to practice doing my personal best! Thank you to tennis, for being my vehicle to putting all these blocks together and for allowing me to grow with each one. And thank you to YOU, for reading this for always inspiring me to go beyond my personal best! I hope this helps you on your journey! Be fearless and free – Ace
Fearless Free Soul 