Elaina M. Avalos

writer || dream chaser

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Author: Elaina

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What I’m Listening To . . .

April 9, 2021April 9, 2021 / Elaina / 2 Comments

Here's what I'm listening to this week. In many ways, this has been a hard week. But it's also a good week. It was one I needed to make more changes and push me further in the right direction. There's a whole wide world out there, friends. And there's a lot left for me to … Continue reading What I’m Listening To . . .

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Dreaming About What Comes Next

April 8, 2021April 13, 2021 / Elaina / 1 Comment

The cat is out of the bag. I don't need to hide it anymore. My employer knows that later this summer, I will begin moving on to the next phase of my life. While I actually wanted to do it sooner, I let some things get in the way and then it seemed to be … Continue reading Dreaming About What Comes Next

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Safety

April 7, 2021April 7, 2021 / Elaina / Leave a comment

Searching for safetyIt escaped me for so long.I found you -You aren't safe.But you were my safetyIn a storm I didn't know I'd walk into.In another storm, I longto be yours.

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Happy Easter

April 4, 2021April 4, 2021 / Elaina / Leave a comment

This morning, I’m overwhelmed with God’s mercy & grace. Friend - His mercy and grace are waiting for you. He’s waiting for you & He will lavish unmerited, crazy, wild grace on you."I thought I deservedTo be six feet beneath the earthFor all the things I've done and the things I've saidThe choices made that … Continue reading Happy Easter

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Come Live This Wild Life With Me

April 3, 2021April 5, 2021 / Elaina / Leave a comment

You can’t tame wild things. Who wants to be tamed, anyway? Certainly not me. When I was in high school, I camped with friends, amongst the sequoias and redwoods. They towered over our primitive campsite. I woke up on the first full morning there and looked out toward the Pacific. If you stood just right, … Continue reading Come Live This Wild Life With Me

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Abby the Wonder Dog

April 3, 2021April 4, 2021 / Elaina / 2 Comments

I have a dog. Her name is Abby. But I call her by many other names. See - I have this problem. It involves nicknames. I usually end up with about a bazaillion nicknames for kids and animals. Abby has a boatload. She is Booty Boo, Boo-Boo Bear, Boo-Boo, Abigail Ann, Abster, Busy Body, Ab, … Continue reading Abby the Wonder Dog

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Home

March 31, 2021March 31, 2021 / Elaina / Leave a comment

The day I met you, your skepticism was a challenge. I knew instantly that I had work to do, to win you over. I adore the skeptic in you. Even when it drives me crazy.For all the days that have passed since, I have fought back Against the feeling that I'm home, when I'm in … Continue reading Home

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It’s a lemon drop martini, 🍸 kind of evening. After today, I’m taking a little adult beverage break, as I’ll be doing a special diet the next couple weeks before my trip to the NC mountains. And then I’ll be going to wineries so that goes out the door. 😂🤦🏽‍♀️
A poem
It’s supposed to be Taco Tuesday, I hear. But tonight, it’s margs and gluten free pizza night. It doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, but it’s what I wanted. And if there’s one thing I know - it’s that I don’t have enough of what I want in my life. While 99.9% doesn’t involve pizza and margs, there’s a lot of life left to pursue those things that set my heart on fire. So in this birthday month (I turn 45) I’ve started making plans. I’m looking forward to pursuing more of what makes me the wild girl I was always meant to be.
Yesterday was rough. So. Rough. I told my mom, after working part of the day today, that I needed to get away for a bit. We went to Wilmington for some retail therapy. We stopped in a few antique stores including the very fun antique mall, Fleabody’s. I found these #DorothyThorpe high balls & I had to have them. I bought half of the set. Then we went to Trader Joe’s where I bought more flowers than is reasonable. I was so bummed to learn they had almost run out of ranunculus (basically my fav flower). I was literally searching last night for a place to buy wholesale flowers in NC just to find ranunculus! I got one bunch that’s kind of a reject. But it still gave my heart a little jolt of joy. And couldn’t we all use a little jolt of joy to the heart, from time to time?
I step out onto the back deck to make sure everything is just like I wanted it. Our table – two together – to make room for all of us and our wild children, sits in my favorite spot under the Oak trees. Andrew - who is a saint, by the way – hung lights and lanterns all over the yard last week.
There’s a thing that sometimes happens when you’re standing in the forest – your feet firmly planted on the leaves and pine needles that fall to the ground. Silence. There are times when I’m on a trail that I don’t even hear a bird make a peep. If the breeze or wind is non-existent there’s no rush of wind through the pines (one of my favorite sounds ever). It’s just silence. This is a comforting silence. It’s even more comforting in the high heat of summer when the sun and humidity bake the pines. The intoxicating scent of pine and the silence of a still day in the woods, are a gift.
Working on those self-care routines again. Sunday evening baths with enough Epsom salt for the Dead Sea, the “Sunday Nights if You Were Here” playlist on Spotify, candles burning, and lights off. Here’s to a new week of caring - but not, carrying.
I’ve been writing a lot! I wrote a bit of short fiction on Friday. It’s called “It May Stretch or Tangle” and is at the “latest post” in my link tree.
Sometimes self-care is driving 1.5 hrs to get some of your favorite flowers.
This week has been rough. Not quite sure when it will let up. But this morning I had a reminder that in so many years past, even when facing trials, confusion, or pain - I was still very good at seeing the beauty and good things around me. I’ve lost some of that delight and joy at the simple things. On my quick walk with the dog this morning, I was reminded of this, as I caught sight of spring blooming around me and listened to the birds. It was a reminder that the trials and struggles are temporary. The seasons always change...

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Road Trips, Birthday… on Flash Fiction: The Hard W…
Elaina on The Cure for Anything
cynthia avalos on The Cure for Anything
Elaina on What I’m Listening To .…
cynthia avalos on What I’m Listening To .…
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