Olga M. Marroquin:

If your between the ages of 12 - 22, sign up and come create some art with me!

It’s been well over a year since I’ve last written a Mella piece. Its time, I am filled with awareness to share, today is the day I write the 1st story of the second chapter… I love these little moments of illuminating vision.

"I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (via thefreenomad)

(Source: thelittlephilosopher, via thefreenomad)

Push yourself! … When you think you can’t anymore. #crossfit

I began my crossfit journey a few months ago when my BF introduced me to some routines. I was pretty weary at first since unconsciously I’ve always classified myself as the “non-athletic” type because well, I’m an artist. Ironic how my life’s philosophy is to try new things, explore, live without barriers, remove personal labels and to never identify myself through a specific box; yet sports and competition had been blocked off my list for good. I had conditioned my own mind into believing creativity was sufficient to my fulfillment because simply put, I believed I was no good at physical or competitive training… so here we are a couple months later and I am the most committed I’ve ever been to any type of sport. At this point, it has become a habitual activity and a requirement within the week. I can’t say that I am amazing at it, but I will say I am the strongest and fittest I’ve ever been in my life! My level of endurance has increased dramatically and my ability to catch on is not so bad for a beginner. Ok, I’m pretty good. With every work out of the day aka “WOD” I find myself mentally tougher and physically stronger. Some days there has even been breakthroughs. I’m amazed I am able to complete routines I would have never even attempted months ago for fear of failing. I am so committed that I am already looking forward to compete in the crossfit games next year. I am excited to see where I stand one year from today. But as they say: it is the journey, not the destination that makes the individual. So here I am taking a pledge on March 2012, the last month of the crossfit games of this year. To do something out of my regular “paint box” to expand my daily routine through fitness and liberate my mind of the self conditioned limitations I had set for myself and become an athlete this year. I will not only compete next year, but I will excel and overcome my own mental barriers and physical strains throughout the year. I am very excited to continue on my crossfit journey!

And because I am a creative and have a background in design, I like to do what I do in style. I have been searching for these pair of Nike Air max trainer one’s, circa 2010. I’ve been looking through every nook of the Internet. Most websites are out of stock and others carry limited amount of colors and sizes. But I NEEDED to find a pair of these trainer shoes specifically designed for most of the movements involved in crossfit (at least that’s what Nike marketing says and yes, I am a sucker for good packaging and limited amounts) … so, I found the LAST pair of 7.5 in my favorite neon color.

Wish me strength on my crossfit journey!