Time is one of the most valuable resources we have. The way you use it and what you invest in is priceless. No refunds. Invest it in what brings you life. Pay attention to what drains it. (Note the returns and refunds policy above). Play. Live. Be, now. Work towards goals and a future, but don't forget life is happening here, too. Make future you look back and say, "Yes, I lived and I am pleased." Don't let tomorrow get in the way of today. You deserve to be happy then...and be whole and happy now, too. Live it while it's still here. #simplifyandreceive #wellness #wellnessthatworks #inspirationalquotes #selflove #mentalhealth #healing #yoga

We all have our different stories, yet our human experiences share common threads. It's the reason throughout the globe, no matter the age or culture, we all celebrate wins and mourn losses. We're excited about sports and connect to the hero's journey because everyone relates to struggle and the hope of overcoming. No matter your history, humans share the same basic needs: To be seen, to be heard, to be loved, and accepted. Listening to stories is my profession. Sharing connection and creating spaces to heal is my purpose. #wellness #mentalhealth #healing #healingquotes #inspirationalquotes #selflove #yourstorymatters #wellnessthatworks

Be different, and find places that complement & enhance what you give. My mom freaked out when I was setting up to do this headstand. Just for a brief moment. Then she realized I was going to do it anyway and let me be me 🙈. It's funny. We all want to be different to some degree. We want to 🎶 stand out above the crowd 🎶, but we don't want to be tooo different. (Powerline is still my favorite R&B artist of all time. Idc that he's a cartoon). The thing is, we're meant to be different. We're not meant for every group. Or better yet, every group isn't meant for us. We thrive in different settings, different cultures, different environments. Growing up, I didn't feel Puerto Rican "enough" on the island, and I didn't feel "American" enough in the states. I was too loud in some spaces, too reserved in others. I tried to make friends in school, but it was hard. I didn't know how to relate. I needed more quiet time to myself but longed to do fun things with people my age, too. (I talk more about introversion in my second to last post). At some point I deduced that being different was the problem. I used humor to hide. I used my silence to keep me safe. I used my smile to avoid conflict. As I grew (and continue to grow) into my full self, I realized that what made me stick out is exactly what makes me connect more easily with people now. The loud part, the creative part, the quiet introspective part. All these sides of me have made me a better counselor, a better conversationalist, a better friend. What was seen as "quiet" is now the awareness people want me to share. What was seen as "talking back" is now the advocacy people admire. What was seen as "crazy" is now the playful spirit people enjoy. We're not meant to be alike in order to fit in. We're meant to collaborate and enhance one another. Harmonies are fun because each note is different. No one wants a monotone song. It's the arrangement that makes a piece great. Be different, and find places that complement & enhance what you give. #wellness #yoga #community #mentalhealth #inspirationalquotes #selflove #yourstorymatters

Day 5 Coach Piña & I coming in hot with the Latin Pop Classics. #simplifyandreceive #wellness #wellnessthatworks #skatingjourney

Knowing the difference between having social anxiety and being an introvert is important. Sometimes you can have both, but that's not always the case. Which one stood out to you the most? #wellness #mentalhealth #introvert #socialanxiety #wellnessthatworks #selflove #selfhealing

Creating new projects, developing new relationships, taking on new risks. This is what my last several months have been. It's been scary and sooo overwhelmingly gratifying. In the last 6 months, I flew across the globe to meet strangers I found on Instagram... (Wait I actually did that twice 😳. Not the "across the globe" part but the traveling far to meet strangers I only knew from the internet. So much for "stranger danger" lol). I traveled twice to my home state to help manage family obligations that kept a lot of us stuck for a while. I wrote a book. I developed new and rekindled old connections with friends and business partners It's been madness, and I'm so grateful for all of it. And I'm also grateful it's slowed down...at least for a bit. Making big moves is so exciting, but it made little space for me to care for myself in other ways. I lost time for maintenance. Maintenance in my home, maintenance of my body, maintenance of my peace. Not completely, but enough where I felt it significantly. I didn't even decorate for my favorite holiday. My 12 year old nephew did it cuz he thought I needed the help 🥴. Creating without having space for maintenance is a recipe for burnout. Create. Develop. Build. And leave space.... You're going to need the wiggle room. (Side note: Dancing salsa fixes everything lol) #simplifyandreceive #wellness #wellnessthatworks #inspirationalquotes #selflove #mentalhealth #yourstorymatters #burnoutrecovery

Day 5 Skipped yesterday cuz I chose rest instead. Honestly, I'm enjoying not knowing a bit of what I'm doing with this. Here's to exploring without expectation and the freedom that comes with it. #simplifyandreceive #skatingjourney #wellness #wellnessthatworks

Today, my family, along with many other Puerto Ricans and Latinos, celebrated 3 Kings Day. Instead of Santa (or in our case, in *addition* to Santa. That's right. Double the gifts 🎁 🤪), many countries celebrate the 3 Kings, remembering the biblical wise men who brought gifts of incense, myrrh, and gold to baby Jesus. Today, I think of the gifts we share. We can only give what we have. The wise men were able to bring gold, incense, and myrrh because they had it to gift. Our gifts to others are fruits of what we cultivate. If you want to share peace with the world, you must first live it in your life. Receive it, nurture it, and protect it. As it grows, you then have the fruits of peace to give others. If you want to gift trust, first cultivate safety. If you want to gift joy, first cultivate freedom. Gift what you have. But first cultivate it and receive it. In the meantime, enjoy the chaos of my family's celebration from several years ago. Happy 3 Kings Day. ¡Feliz Día de los Reyes Magos! #reyesmagos #threekingsday #wellness #wellnessthatworks #mentalhealth #inspirationalquotes #celebration #parranda

We're not meant to work ourselves to the bone, to constantly move. We are called to rest, just as all other living things rest. This morning I revisited the 2nd episode of Ascension Press's "Bible in a Year" podcast with @fathermikeschmitz. He shared that in God's abundant love, we were created for labor, leisure, and love. That in labor, in leisure, and in love we share the likeness of the Divine. In the beginning of the year a lot of us can get caught up in the allure of changing and doing *allll* the things to be better. Work harder. Strive farther. Reach higher. But without leisure and without love, we're running on empty. Pause. You're not lazy. You are called to rest. Pause. You're not unproductive. You are called to connect. It's a trifecta. Labor, Leisure, Love. Work in what brings you joy and love. Rest. Do nothing...practice it without guilt. Because the truth is rest and play are NEEDS not wants. Love. On purpose. Intentionally. Your spirit yearns for more than a quick fix or resolution. It's day 5 in this new year. Take it easy. You have 360 more days to practice and a your whole lifetime to go. Simplify and Receive. #simplifyandreceive #inspirationalquotes #wellnessthatworks #wellness #mentalhealth #yourstorymatters #onestepatatime

Day 4 Quick clips from yesterday. I didn't feel like editing, so here it is today 🤷🏽‍♀️. I do what I want 😏 #simplifyandreceive #skatingjourney #wellness #wellnessthatworks #myprogressionstory #progressnotperfection