In today’s episode, we talk about the journey to being kinder to myself inside and out. For a long time, I avoided mirrors and cameras, not just because of how I looked, but because I didn’t like who I thought I was on the inside. I share how I used to feel unworthy, ashamed, and invisible, and how I slowly started to show up for myself with compassion instead of criticism.

This episode is about learning to put myself first, without guilt, and how choosing kindness—even towards those who’ve been unkind to me—has helped me grow in strength and softness. I discuss what it means to love not just the polished aspects of myself, but also the messy ones. Because the truth is, healing isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence.

If you’ve ever struggled to love what you see or who you are, this one is for you.

In today’s episode, I share a quote that has stuck with me through the highs and the lows—a line that’s given me strength, clarity, and a sense of purpose. It’s more than just words; it’s become a mantra, a reminder of who I am and who I’m becoming. I talk about how I found this quote, why it resonated so deeply, and the role it continues to play in my everyday life. Quotes can feel like a small thing, but sometimes they’re the very thing that pulls us back into ourselves. This one has done that for me, again and again.

Almost 2 full decades under my belt and fifteen days into this journey, and wow — I’ve uncovered a lot.
So much of the past two weeks has been about reflection, healing, and being honest with myself about where I’ve been and who I’ve become.

But if there’s one thing I’ve realized as I’ve looked back… it’s that I’m learning how to let joy in again.

Not the big, perfect, picture-worthy kind of joy.
But the quiet kind. The small moments that catch me off guard — a song, a laugh, a blurry photo that reminds me I was present.

I’ve also learned that joy doesn’t always come naturally — especially when you’ve spent years focused on surviving, pushing forward, or trying to be “enough.” Sometimes, joy feels unfamiliar. Sometimes, it even feels like too much. And when you’re around people who aren’t on the same journey, letting yourself feel good can feel awkward… even selfish.

But I’m learning that it’s not selfish.
It’s necessary.
And it’s powerful.

These past 15 days have reminded me that healing isn’t just about unpacking pain — it’s about making room for light. For softness. For joy. Even if I still have to work at it. Even if some days are harder than others.

I’m not where I used to be. And I’m not quite where I want to be.
But I’m here — open, growing, and learning how to feel alive again.

And that feels like something worth celebrating.

Today’s episode is one of the most personal for me — because it’s about identity, heritage, and the lifelong dance of being Mexican-American.

Growing up, outside of my home, half of me often felt invisible. I rarely saw reflections of my culture in the world around me — in school, media, or leadership. And for a long time, I thought that if I just squeezed myself into the boxes that made other people comfortable, I would finally fit in.

But all that really did was make me shrink.

There came a point when I realized I didn’t have to choose one side of myself. I didn’t have to prove I was “Mexican enough” or “American enough.” I could be both — even if that meant existing in the in-between.

In this episode, I share what it’s meant for me to hold my culture close, even when it felt like others didn’t understand or even rejected parts of it. I talk about moments where I was made to feel like a spokesperson — not just for my community, but for all communities — and how unfair and heavy that pressure can be.

And still, I wouldn’t trade it.

Because my culture has shaped me, grounded me, and taught me resilience in ways I didn’t always recognize when I was younger. I talk about music, language, family, and pride — and also the quiet grief that comes from constantly having to navigate spaces where you’re “othered.”

But the most powerful part? I’ve stopped asking for permission to be who I am.

I’m Chicana. I’m proud. I’m complex. I’m soft and strong and figuring it out every single day.
And even when the world doesn’t fully see me — I see me.

In today’s episode of 30 Days to 30, I reflect on the quiet but heavy pressure of life’s “timeline”—the one that tells us we’re supposed to have everything figured out by 30. I talk about the expectations I carried for years, the shame that came from not meeting them, and the freedom I found in finally letting them go.

This episode is about more than missing milestones. It’s about finding wholeness in solitude. I share how learning to be alone helped me hear my own voice again, reconnect with what matters, and build a life that feels like mine. And just as importantly, I open up about the next chapter: learning to let people back in after learning how to be okay alone.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re behind, like you missed the train, or like being alone meant something was wrong with you—this one’s for you. You're not late. You're right on time.

🗣️ “I’ve learned how to be alone—and now I’m learning how to let people in again. Both are acts of courage. Both are part of my becoming.”

In this episode of 30 Days to 30, I’m sharing how I slowly fell back in love with my life—not through big milestones or perfect moments, but through small, everyday rituals that helped me reconnect with joy.

I talk about the season where routine was all I had—where life felt structured but emotionally empty. And how I began to shift that by adding softness, intention, and presence into my days. From lighting candles just for myself to turning solo grocery trips into peaceful escapes, I began to reclaim my time, space, and spirit.

This isn’t about being aesthetic or curated—it’s about being present.
It’s about choosing joy even when life is messy, and realizing that magic lives in the ordinary, if we’re willing to look for it.

This episode is an invitation to stop waiting for your life to feel special—and start creating those moments for yourself.

In today’s episode of 30 Days to 30, I’m taking you up into the sky—literally.

I talk about the day I took one of my favorite photos ever: from a hot air balloon, floating high above the world. That moment gave me more than just a stunning view—it gave me clarity.

Looking down from above made everything feel smaller, lighter, and less overwhelming. The things I had been holding onto… the stress, the overthinking, the constant striving—they all looked different from up there.

In that silence, with nothing but the breeze and the sunrise, I felt peace. I saw beauty in stillness, and I realized how important it is to rise above your day-to-day chaos sometimes and get a new perspective—literally and emotionally.

That photo isn’t just a memory—it’s a reminder that there is always more to see, more to feel, and more to be.

In today’s episode of 30 Days to 30, I share the story of someone who completely changed the course of my life — and she just so happens to have four paws, whiskers, and the sweetest soul.

Her name is Tootsie.

At a time when I was hidden away, buried in schoolwork, and convincing myself that isolation was just part of being “focused,” Tootsie came into my life. She was tucked into the corner of a shelter cage, just as quietly unseen as I felt in my own world.

But the moment I held her, something clicked. I knew she was meant to come home with me.

She didn’t ask me to be okay. She didn’t fix me.
She simply existed beside me — making me laugh again, pulling me out of my room, and reminding me to care for something outside of myself.
And slowly, I started showing up for myself too.

Tootsie isn’t human, but she gave me more stability and love than any person had. She became my quiet anchor, my little healer, and one of the most powerful presences in my life.

This episode is a love letter to her — and to the unexpected ways love can show up and save us.