Tom ’s Love Story
Well it all started at work –
I walked into the front gym and saw the most beautiful woman at Royale Gardens.
I had just started working as an Occupational Therapist
and Tonia was working as a Restorative Aid.
I noticed Tonia’s interactions and caring nature with the Residents
and needed the courage to talk with her, so when we were alone in the gym;
I mustered up the courage to ask her about her tattoos –
that is the best I had at the time…
Through the weeks following, I would purposefully work in the front gym, looking for her – hoping she was working. Tonia and I would interact at work discussing patients and getting to know one another and after several months – She moved into her own office – doing Admissions. I would find a reason to go and see her – about her artwork hanging on the wall – about her tattoos…
I noticed how loving and caring she was with the patients, kind and compassionate. She worked hard wherever she was and was always kind – especially with the dementia patients.
Around Christmas, I asked her to meet up for pizza with some co-workers, and she politely declined. I kept texting her until she got tired of dancing around and she ASKED ME to go out!!! Of course, I said yes!! We went out for dinner on New Years’ and had a connection like we have never felt before.
We both discovered we were empaths, shared many similar situations, we were raised primarily by our Grandparents, and have a love for working with the Geriatric population. Both of us had dealt with bad relationships and were very surprised how much in common our experiences had been. Talking late into the night and over the course of the next few weeks, we found ourselves falling in love.
Both of us were gun-shy and unsure of this feeling cast around us. Tonia’s birthday is on January 5th and I asked her out for dinner to celebrate. The more time we spent together, the more we found that connection – that ease of conversation – that heart felt love for one another welled upon us quickly.
We moved in together after Valentine’s day – she found out I could cook!!! We both were so comfortable sharing our past and were both surprised in the similarities and dreamed about the future. We were scared about how fast this relationship was forming, always forward and open, honest and caring, funny and real. Neither of us had this in the past and what a cool trip it has been.
Meeting my Mother was particularly challenging… my Mom came out to stay with us for six weeks. That’s when I knew that Tonia was in it for better or worse. When I met her daughter Onastacia, she said that I “was an upgrade from the previous guys”!!! Jesse, her son, was happy but cautious about how different I was with his Mom. Over time, the qualities in myself and how I treat Tonia – with love, respect, caring, compassion and honor – will show Ona and Jesse that I am truly blessed to have Tonia as my Wife.
We share similar goals of stability at home, mutual honesty (always), and great communication about our feelings. Tonia has been working on her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and with it, she hopes to work with the Geriatric population as a Case Manager or Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation. My goals are to be supportive in all ways to her and the family – both financially and spiritually.
My background in my formation years ago was to become a Catholic Priest – having gone to Seminary for High School, College and Graduate School. When I was called to a different vocation, I kept this foundation which now resonates more with Spirituality rather than a religious perspective. This Spirituality within myself has brought us closer together. She is very spiritual, grounded in God’s presence in all that is around her. We both feel that energy and presence of “Spirit” in nature – very similar to the Native American Mother Earth.
We aspire to build each other up, praise the Creator every day with the gifts that He has given us. We truly feel that we are marrying our best friend and soul mate. We can’t believe that this is happening so fast yet know within our hearts, that it is right. The future is not known, but together, we will go hand in hand and welcome all that comes our way. With love, all things are possible.
Tonia’s Luv Story
I first noticed Tom standing in the lobby at work. He was dressed rather nicely and looked like he needed directions. After I directed him to the back gym, he commented on my sleeve tattoo; the first of many such comments.
Even though I worked primarily in the front gym as a restorative aid, I would run into Tom periodically as we both worked with residents throughout the nursing home. ALWAYS he would stop whatever he was doing and say, “I really like your tattoo, who did it”? He probably asked me this ten plus times and I never had a clue that he was just trying to talk to me!
When I took a new (and very stressful) position in admissions, he seemed to keep an eye on me. He was always there to ask how I was doing or if he could help at all and on tough emotionally draining days; he would just sit and listen.
One of the qualities I noticed about Tom, was how kind, patient, and compassionate he was with his patients. I also liked how he spoke with his patients; to them not through them.
I left for a new position elsewhere in October and really didn’t expect to hear from him again. I was very surprised when he texted me in December asking to hang out. He asked a few times and each time I declined. I honestly had no idea why he was asking me (my brain was immersed in work and school). When I mentioned it to my cousin, she laughed and said, “sounds like maybe he likes you”. I denied it, laughed, and then thought about it for the rest of my shift. Later that night while texting with him, I asked him out and I literally thought he was going to come through my phone when he said “yes”!
This has been truly an amazing year and I honestly cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with this amazing man, who is truly my best friend and the love of my life.
—————————————————————–
A Luv Story Blessing Born from Tattoo Curiosities
It’s awesome when a career fulfills one’s Being…
Being that the True Nature of Both your Beings are Highly sensitive
to the thoughts, feelings, emotions and the pain of other’s,
helping others for a living is a natural inclination along your Noble Path.
Then falling in Love with your True Love where you both Love to work…
This is as fulfilling as it gets… and that’s a good start to Boundless Bliss.
Before one with empathic sensitives has learned to balance
the Deep connection with other’s intensely dynamic energies…
Early relationships are prone to be unusually challenging, particularly
If the partner has narcissistic tendencies… creating a vicious cycle.
Having already experienced life’s challenges that
didn’t quite approach Boundless Bliss,
Appreciation and Gratitude is both intrinsic and spontaneous.
Everything that has happened… Had to.
Everything that is to come, has Infinite potential.
Tom & I have similar Catholic roots.
Tom’s Path took him a wee bit further… almost to ‘Priesthood’,
Somewhere within, Tom must have felt he could do much more
service of Spirit in a career of helping others with their physical challenges…
His Gift of Spirit plays a big roll the whole healing of other Beings.
We’ve included the core inspirations we had in our youth,
but have Spiritually Transcended to a more direct connection to
The True Nature of our Being and the Divine Perfection in all that ‘Is’.
Tonia’s intrinsic Insights into this Natural Spirit has lifted a veil
that had previously kept the True Love of Soulmates from manifesting.
All the challenges of the past are just steppingstones towards
lifting even more veils we’ve created that keep us from
recognizing our True Self and the perfection in all that ‘Is’.
Recognize this perfection
and experience Contentment in the Ever-Present Moment
and you will abide in Eternal Bliss… Do this together, and
you both will experience Eternal Maui Marital Bliss.
Soulmates, Sacred Synchronicities and the Ground of our Being…
Along with our perceived ‘Life’, our place in the Timeless Wonder of it all,
all of Creation and our Inseparable connection to all that ‘Is’…
All require a sensitivity to the subtlest aspects of Natural Spirit.
Your gifts of empathy naturally inspire these Divine Insights,
along with truly feeling Spirit in all that ‘Is’, particularly, in nature,
Like the Native American Indian’s reverence of Mother Earth.
Native Hawaiians have this same reverence for the Aina’ – Sacred Land,
Their ‘Mana” – Spiritual connection, is rooted Deeply in the ‘Aina.
As you float along here in Maui Marital Bliss, enjoy the
Boundless Bliss of each other’s Being and the Inspiring Insights
that come with all the natural elements & Spirit that abound here on Maui
and everywhere your Path takes you.
