tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54557502012-01-04T08:47:28.854-05:00A spiritual journalPhillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.comBlogger341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-84293425684746463002011-12-28T20:23:00.003-05:002011-12-28T20:25:03.047-05:00

This past year has been a tough one, but it is ending on a brighter note. I realized that I have not been much in touch with my spiritual side. I pretty much put it on hold. I've noticed the lack of spirit in my life overall. It wasn't a good place to be in and I hope I never again leave my spirit behind. This coming 2012 I plan to be connected more frequently, if not everyday, to my spiritual

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-78684203741044192152011-08-11T21:43:00.001-04:002011-08-11T21:46:45.245-04:00

The economy has a lot of people full with fear and frustration. The country's financial uncertainty has many, including myself, wondering what the future holds. Sometimes this crazy climate pulls me down and makes me feel like giving up hope. But I hang in there. Some friends are going through the same thing, and I know of an entire online community that shares their hopes and dreams and lean

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-4972133430572829962011-06-06T01:10:00.002-04:002011-06-06T01:18:08.467-04:00

I have not posted to this blog in over a year. I have been concentrating on my "real work" but it's time to get back to posting some spiritual thoughts. Life is just crazy right now and I am at a lost for some answers. But no matter how much I worry, or feel uncertain, or fear the unknown, life goes on. It doesn't stop for anyone or anything. There is no pause button. I have to adapt to the

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-28488623440162113822010-05-27T10:17:00.002-04:002010-05-29T05:55:30.843-04:00

The universe wants to give you good things. That's what we must all believe. I truly think we bring good and bad things into our lives. The goal is to try to focus on only asking for what we want as oppose to what we don't want. So the question becomes what do you want? Once you take the time to really decide what it is that you really want, then one must ask for it. Ask, as it is said, and you

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-10470784694227547272010-03-31T14:12:00.000-04:002010-03-31T14:12:49.798-04:00

Sometimes, no matter what you want or try, some things are just meant to be what they are. Acceptance. Faith. Letting go of what you cannot control. Everything does seem to fall into place. Awareness is key and motivation. Learn what you can during the process of just letting go and letting God, in a spiritual sense. Go with the good energy. The path is sure to present itself. The tricky part is

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-39487077955984278352010-02-17T02:06:00.000-05:002010-02-17T02:06:39.542-05:00

Sometimes you don't know what direction life has in store for you. Sometimes the future looks uncertain and hope runs dry. No matter how difficult the journey may be, one must hold steady and continue on. Keep showing up for life and before you know it a path becomes clear. Patience is important during life's low points. You think you may be ready for the next step, but maybe you need to learn

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-30892723735385212832009-12-31T16:28:00.003-05:002009-12-31T16:41:06.414-05:00

As 2009 comes to an end I reflect on the highs and lows of the year. It was one of great change, both personally and professionally. Personally, I learned to accept things much more for what they are while also accepting my strengths and limitations. Professionally, I learned that sometimes taking career detours do not always work out. In any case, I still hold on to my basic principle in life

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-75450720383765699772009-12-01T00:07:00.003-05:002009-12-09T12:32:15.198-05:00

Don't hold grudges. Let people be. Don't make stories up in your head. Things are not always what they seem. Accept people for who they are. Don't try to change them. Treat people well. Be generous of your soul. Do what you love. Acknowledge beauty. Seek wisdom. Enjoy peace. Listen to the silence. Be in the moment. Hear your heart. Speak your voice. See.

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-35845852743790238182009-10-31T15:56:00.002-04:002009-10-31T16:11:20.122-04:00

Sometimes you just need to take a break. Though I have had a lot of free time on my hands, I have tried to keep busy with various volunteer activities. I have stepped back my fraternity and political involvement recently. Politics is really tough work and I found myself doing things I really disliked, such as cold calling and knocking on strangers' doors. It is part of the political world but not

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-74061891716033289882009-08-30T16:30:00.008-04:002009-08-31T03:35:26.730-04:00

It is an end of a era. Rest in peace, Ted Kennedy. This weekend he was memorialized all over the Sunday morning news shows. His life and character were grand. He made a difference. He was someone we should all aspire to emulate. We can't all be Ted Kennedy, but we can make the world a better place by embracing something greater than ourselves. Maria Shiver was on Meet the Press today and talked

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-86932006209217993532009-07-03T14:25:00.005-04:002009-07-05T15:14:45.133-04:00

The summer is here and I have been keeping busy. I continue to work on my four blogs and am learning a great deal about social media. I am also volunteering time at a cultural arts non-profit organization and a political campaign. I'm also reflecting on what path I want to take in regards to my working career and am trying to find ways to incorporate this time off into my next full-time job. It's

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-56925992289717116982009-05-30T13:01:00.004-04:002009-07-05T15:15:14.569-04:00

A young girl is raised in a Bronx housing project by poor dedicated parents who tell her she can be anything she wants when she grows up. It happens all over the United States. Parents of every background face challenges they must overcome and only hope the best for their bright-eyed, curious children. Some of us are raised with the idea that race is not an issue, but for sadly, sometimes it

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-30355660849963630492009-04-18T16:15:00.003-04:002009-07-05T15:16:42.644-04:00

Life has its way of keeping it interesting. The only thing truly constant is change and right now I have an opportunity to create a new path. It's an exciting and anxious time. The energy is vibrant and keeps my mind engaged in deep thought. Many new directions are present and I look forward to the revealing journey. All in due time is my motto now. There is no rush. The clear way will present

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-68246691538461973282009-03-24T19:53:00.003-04:002009-07-05T15:17:08.128-04:00

Natasha Richardson’s sudden death last week reminds us all of life’s fragile and fleeting nature. A seemingly innocent fall ends a life and makes us think of our mortality. I have had my share of falls in my lifetime and thankfully I am still physically here. It makes me wonder I could have been gone long ago. There is no way to really explain fatal freak accidents. Richardson’s death echoes the

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-44374075637855042262009-02-21T18:54:00.005-05:002009-07-05T15:18:03.562-04:00

Recently I had a conversation with a friend about why certain people cause a great deal of drama in their lives. What I mean is that some people like to argue a great deal, make small issues major ones, and overall must have some type of crisis or problem they feel a need to focus upon. I have always been a pretty laid back kind of guy. Life is too short to get all charged-up about things we have

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-16659921785232122832009-01-30T22:06:00.004-05:002009-07-05T15:18:47.225-04:00

Is our life drawn out for us ahead of time or do we have control over where we end up? If you let go of trying to control every thing in your life, do you end up where you were suppose to all along? Or does every decision you make put you in a different place? I wonder if my life is predestined no matter what I do or can I create the life I want and deserve? Or am I living the life I was brought

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-56928267392241162242008-12-31T10:25:00.003-05:002009-07-05T15:19:19.170-04:00

It has been a tough 2008. The last six months have been quite challenging. In July my good friend Michael passed away from colorectal cancer. He was 32 years old. My cousin Alyssa continues to fight her battle with a form of brain cancer. An aunt was also diagnosed with breast cancer during this same time period. Cancer just seems to be everywhere and it's a shame. More effort and money has to be

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-83330948995494420052008-07-10T12:02:00.003-04:002009-12-24T00:00:33.276-05:00

I finished reading “A New Earth” by Eckart Tolle earlier this summer. I have been on a spiritual path for most of my life, trying to make sense of it all. I have to say this book was very helpful. Like all spiritual self-help books, there is no real evidence that what the writer is saying is of absolute truth, however his points do make intellectual sense. Like millions of people, I was born a

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-58359568059517998742008-04-11T16:45:00.004-04:002009-07-05T15:21:25.281-04:00

I am feeling good these days. I was in a rut for a while, but things are starting to look brighter. I am letting go of a lot of "should haves" and "could haves" and trying to just be. I am trying hard not to get all obsessed about the past or the future, and just be in the moment. It is tough, but worth the effort. I recently started listening to the audio iTune version of "A New Earth" the book

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-68861450668766946642007-12-31T12:14:00.001-05:002009-07-05T15:22:27.447-04:00

2007 ended with the death of two family members on my mother's side. The toughest year we have had to date. My second cousin passed away on Dec. 4, 2007; he was 3 and 1/2 years old. My grandmother passed on Dec. 11, 2007; she was 76 years old. My family was strong. I still can't believe that my grandmother is no longer here with us. I knew she would pass on some day, but never really thought it

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-1130740111218184662005-10-31T01:25:00.001-05:002009-07-05T15:23:30.109-04:00

My dad passed away on Saturday, Oct. 29th, 2005 after a long battle with liver cancer. I am in a weird space and preparing mentally and emotionally for his funeral. He was an absentee dad while I was growing up, and in my mid 20's I thought of writing him out of my life. But I decided rather than having life-long resentment toward him, that I would forgive him for not being the dad I wanted or

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-1128864122069334922005-10-09T09:14:00.001-04:002009-07-05T15:25:32.645-04:00

I have been thinking a lot about the future lately. Happy with life overall and about to make some major decisions. Will probably apply for graduate school again. I suppose I am an eternal student. I like learning new and challenging things. Getting my finances in order also. Trying to save money, lower debt, and even thinking about retirement. I guess I am going through a mid life crisis of some

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-1097524915156285652004-10-11T15:28:00.002-04:002009-07-05T15:26:45.985-04:00

I am generally in good spirits, but today find my soul off center. I have had a lot on my mind lately. I am thinking a great deal about the future and its uncertainty has me a bit rattled. Work, relationship, finances, career are all taking a toll on me. I feel a little lost right now. My focus is blurred and I believe I am becoming a bit reclusive. The combination of it all has me in low

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-1087333076000030822004-06-15T16:27:00.002-04:002009-07-05T15:28:22.101-04:00

I have not written a blog in quite some time. I originally started with two blogs: this one and one entitled Nuyorican Spirit. I have decided to continuously update the one here, at Centered Soul. I cannot find the other blog so I guess I must have deleted it.Today, I am feeling good. Life is overall going well. I am in a great relationship with the sweetest person I've ever met. We have

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-1078859164021738102004-03-09T14:06:00.001-05:002009-07-05T15:29:31.464-04:00

At the present time my career goals are prominent on my mind. I enjoy my job, however it's not a career. I am searching for a career in which I can put my years of community involvement and communications work to good use. I'm conflicted in which direction to focus my energies. This May I complete work on a master's in corporate communication and am most interested in working for the

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-1071680008338450382003-12-17T11:53:00.002-05:002009-07-05T15:31:52.439-04:00

The end of the year finds me in good spirits. I am done with my part-time semester course work. Social activities are around me and I am having a wonderful time getting to know a very sweet and loving person. Possibly the most beautiful person I've ever dated; kind, smart, funny, spiritual, sexy and very attractive. I am truly blessed. We celebrate our fifth month of dating tomorrow and I

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-1070296856369314662003-12-01T11:40:00.002-05:002009-07-05T15:33:27.864-04:00

It was a good summer. Very relaxing. The best part of it all was meeting a nice person. We are getting to know each other and I am enjoying the time spent. I am trying to just be me, but some old memories of past failed relationships creep up on me from time to time. I have to remember to leave them where they belong: in the past. But this is not always easy. Knowing and trusting someone

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-1060108462722236742003-08-05T14:34:00.001-04:002009-07-05T15:34:38.181-04:00

I like my present job. It's a worthy cause within a socially conscious not-for-profit minority health advocacy organization. Though I wonder what my future professional life will look like. I have several options, but need to decide in a course of action to obtain the right position. I continue to plan the course. I have one more year left of work on my masters in corporate communication. I

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-1057589553182795132003-07-07T10:52:00.003-04:002009-07-05T15:35:43.397-04:00

The body is a temple and as I get older, I have more respect for my own. As a younger man, it was not something I payed much attention to. I feel and look great. I've been getting more into physical exercise and have noticed a little difference. I'm no gym bunny, but staying in shape is important. A good balance between mind, body and spirit is important. I went to the beach for the first

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-105674579539405712003-06-27T16:29:00.003-04:002009-07-05T15:37:25.944-04:00

Life is not easy. For some people, it's a constant battle of self-acceptance. For others, it's an ongoing attempt to gain recognition from people in their lives. This weekend a group of college friends are getting together to remember a friend of ours who took his life in March. His life was full of drama. He always seemed to have something troubling him. He disowned his family and may have

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-1055876635730623452003-06-17T15:03:00.002-04:002009-07-05T15:38:26.470-04:00

I try to live my life making a difference when ever I can. I believe the more you give to the world, the more you get back. Giving can be as small a thing as helping a woman with her baby stroller down a flight of subway steps or alerting a man that he just dropped his wallet. Little things like that go a long way. Karma is real, and the more positive energy, acts and thoughts I can put into

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-1055532750670912622003-06-13T15:32:00.003-04:002009-07-05T15:41:09.457-04:00

An 18 year-old cousin of mine was killed in a vehicle accident last month, triggering many questions about life, death, and my purpose here on Earth. He was such a cute kid. Great smile, very personable. My mother told me lots of people came out to his funeral in Puerto Rico. She and others in my family were quite surprised by the number of people who came out to pay their respects. He was

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-1055185999132796852003-06-09T15:13:00.003-04:002009-07-05T15:45:49.062-04:00

Love. Elusive. Here, then gone. I have tried to find love, and have let love find me. However, I suppose I have not found true love, for it disappears faster then I would hope. I wonder if I will ever truly meet my soul mate. Have I found love and lost it? Or will a new found love show me the way? Love is confusing. Sometimes I feel it doesn't exist. Or maybe I have not experienced profound love

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455750.post-1054926861799369432003-06-06T15:14:00.001-04:002009-07-05T15:46:59.371-04:00

The difficulties and challenges of life sometimes weigh us down and make us wonder what's it all about. The meaning of life and our purpose on Earth is an ancient question, with very few clear answers over the ages. We have to find our own meaning in life and our own mission. My life is no different. I have faced many challenges and will continue to do so through my journey. However, I try

Phillip L. Velezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734846949875705704noreply@blogger.com0