Follow My Bliss

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

The Four Agreements

The Four Agreements™ was published in 1997 and has sold over 15 million copies in the United States alone. It has been on the New York Times Bestselling list for over a decade and is published in 52 languages worldwide. Everything we do is based on agreements we have made – agreements with ourselves, with other people, with God, and with life. But the most important agreements are the ones we make with ourselves.

The Four Agreements are…

Be Impeccable With Your Word.
Don’t Take Anything Personally.
Don’t Make Assumptions.
Always Do Your Best.

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Earth Music

"The earth has music for those who listen." Shakespeare

A Magical Tour of Val D' Orcia Pienza, Montepulciano, Montalcino June 27, 2024

In July of 2024 I was in Italy with Aria and family. The days were slow and easy for me while everyone else was in day camp or leading summer session classes. I signed up for a day tour of Val’dorcia : Montepulciano, Pienza and Montalcino.

It was a small bus tour and I was on my own. I got to the meeting spot early. Daniele arranged for a taxi to take me to the spot as it was a bit far and we were leaving early for an 9 hour day trip. I remember watching a young woman running to the meeting point. It turned out later she would board the bus and be our guide. She was lovely and enthusiastic, funny too. Her name was Ilaria. She spoke Italian, English and Spanish, switching from one language to another easily.

There were people I came to know from Prague, Brazil, Vietnam, parts of the U.S. and Canada. A small friendly group. But there was one woman,, a petite blond probably slightly younger than myself that I got to know at the very end of the trip. Her name i hardly recall but i think it was Maria.

I noticed her because I loved her backpack.

In the last town of the day the tour guide pointed us to the main town center and told us the time and place to meet to return to Florence. I wandered a bit with the Vietnamese woman and then parted ways.

the vietnamese woman traveler

Ilaria and Maria

I don’t know how it was that I ended up walking with Maria and Ilaria. Maria was on a mission. She was looking for a woman that ran a store or cafe. A friend of a friend I believe. So having no destination of my own I followed along and so did Illaria. We three laughed and talked and had such a grand time.

We found the shop and took a picture of Maria and the woman she had set out to find.

We three agreed we should sit and have a drink. We ordered spritz’s and had a great conversation.

Maria shared she had been in Florence for a month taking classes. She was from Florida. She was full of personality and had such a great aura of positivity . She was like a flame and Illaria and I were like moths drawn to her. We talked about the people that come into our lives and make an impression good and bad. Some will stay forever becoming an important part of our existence. Others will be significant but do not stay. Immediately Maria took out her phone and said “I have a favorite quote which exactly explains how I feel about this.” Attached a photo of that quote.

I will probably never see Maria again, though she invited us to visit her in Florida. Travel invites this kind of meeting and whether for a day or a lifetime a significant memory is made. That is how I will remember this day.

*on Facebook my friend Mike Murase said:

Mike Murase

Ichigo ichie, Italian style

to which Jocelyn responded:

Ichigo ichie translation in Texas: Yippie ai yo cay yay

I responded:

Barb Cabot

Mike Murase that is a beautiful saying. What is Ichigo Ichie?

Ichigo Ichie (一期一会) is a Japanese concept that means "one time, one meeting," or "a once-in-a-lifetime encounter". This philosophical idea encourages people to value every moment and interaction, as that exact moment is unrepeatable, even if the same people meet again.