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There is nothing more liberating than choosing to be yourself regardless of what others may think of you. When you learn to disregard the opinions of others and instead choose to be that inner you who wants to come out…man!! It is the best sensation in life! It’s like being high without the drugs. It’s being comfortable in your own skin. When I look back at my life I NOW understand I was always meant to be in communications. I just lacked the belief in myself to be good at it. I was unconscious to the notion and yet the signs were all there! I remember when I was a little girl my mother had a typewriter where it wasn’t quite a computer, but you could type and there was a digital display of the line typed before it would print. I used to love to play with that thing! I also loved keying on old typewriters. I thought it was the most fascinating thing ever: pressing a button and seeing a metal device lift and puncture a letter on a piece of paper (clack, clack, clack). That led me to wanting to learn how to type fast and so I took a keyboarding class in high school as an elective. I got the inspiration from a kids show called Ghostwriter (90s show), where a group of kids would solve problems through a computer. I also recall being told I was extremely talkative as a child. Another clue! I loved to share information and quite frankly it’s something I still enjoy doing today. It’s like the Universe has been trying to reveal myself to me since childhood and I wasn’t picking up the clues. Actually, if I think of it deeper, I remember senior year in high school I contemplated applying to college to major in journalism. When I went home and shared the idea with my mother it was shut down. At the time I was an insecure teenager and thought someone outside of me knew what was best for me than my own inner voice. So in reality I squandered my own dream and chose to live in a bubble for the next 22 years. I really have been living unconsciously for quite some time! In senior year of high school I took a pre-college course in order to gain college credits…want to guess what it was? Writing. Why I chose accounting as my college major baffles me now because the interest has always been there. I guess I needed the derailment in order to gain experience and confidence in myself.

So now here I am. Writing. I don’t know what the subjects will be, but hey: there’s beauty in not knowing how things will turn out. You just have to go with the flow. Yea, it can be scary, but the way I see it is that I rather reach the end of my years with the least amount of regrets as possible. From what I’ve come to experience, regrets come from the things never done as opposed to the things we did experience and maybe could’ve handled differently. I do it because I want to more than the idea of somebody reading it. The joy is for me and if I can inspire and help others on the way even better! You just have to be yourself and take a chance on you. May the chips fall where they may!

It’s just amazing how many times the Universe has tried gear me in the right direction and I wasn’t aware. So much so it’s in my birth chart! Just in case you need any validation about your thoughts on how to proceed in life: look at your natal chart. It packs wisdom on your inner being! When I turned 30 I had my first spiritual awakening (an awareness that I was more than just this body) and I asked myself what is the thing I do easily and effortlessly? Turns out the gift of gab, speaking, sharing information is what came up within a few minutes. AND if all of that is not a testimony to my calling, when I met my twin flame he worked in media. Yea, I didn’t know he was my twin flame at the time, but I did find it peculiar that the man I fell in love with worked in the industry I actually wanted to belong to. He’s not a talker like me, but he works in communications. My point is that the Universe will show you what’s in your best interest, you just simply have to follow suit and let the magic work itself out. So now at 38 I FINALLY embark on a career I’ve known for the last 8 years is what will bring me the most joy. Better late than never!!!

The whole point I’m sharing all of these moments in my life is because how many times can you say something like this has happened to you? Where life is trying to show you the direction in which you should go and instead you completely ignore it and keep heading down a different path? I know I can’t be the only one who has experienced this! If you feel dissatisfied in your current profession that’s a way of life speaking to you too. You already know what it is you want to do. so why aren’t you doing it? Is it fear, insecurities, lack of self worth? Or maybe you think that there are so many people already doing what you would want to do so why bother? My mind would say the same thing to me, but what’s truly important is to know that the career you choose is for YOU. Not for anyone else. It is for your own self realization and fulfillment. So if you’re reading this and have no idea what it is that you want to do with your life in order to bring a new level of fulfillment I recommend you sit quietly and let your life receive that answer. And if you do know what it is that you want to pursue, then the only way it will get done is by doing it. Have faith in yourself and believe that whatever you have to share there is someone out there who will appreciate it! And if there isn’t (highly unlikely, but we’ll leave the option on the table) then at best you did something for yourself that lightens up your heart.

As I increase my conscientiousness and self awareness in order to become the person I wish to be, it’s syncing in even more what was meant by “you are who you associate with.” Humans are part of tribes. Naturally, we relate best and prefer to be around people who are similar to us. Hence the adage. This is why when you hope and aim for change it is recommended to network with people who are where you wish to be. It’s a lot easier to accomplish the goal when you keep it right in front of you: represented by your new friends and network.

So, if it’s true that you are who you hang around with, does that mean that there is a part of you in the people you know? And if that statement is accurate, does that also mean there’s a part of you in the people you know and dislike? What draws your attention to that kind of person? Is it possible you may have a similar trait? Ouch! Now that’s tough to swallow: The things I dislike in others is possibly something I possess too. This is a wonderful and new perspective to have because it helps recognize what we can improve in our own life. Reviewing one’s own traits is the first step to bringing about positive change. These are just some random evening thoughts as I analyze my own choices.

It’s been on my mind a lot lately:  motherhood is hard ya’ll.  You conjure up in your head what it must be like to parent a child, but it’s NEVER like the real deal.  It dawned on me that I did not account for all the challenges or hurdles that would come with parenting.  I mostly thought of all the good things that would happen or what I wanted to see happen.  Anyone else do that?

My little one turned one in January and as she grows right in front of me I’ve been thinking about the past year.  My takeaways have been:

1. Postpartum depression is no laughing matter.  That alone can change your perspective on life as a whole.  To acknowledge such a shift in one’s personality can be frightening.  The good thing is that once I realized I had it, I started making a conscious effort towards positive change.  It took months to recover (once I was aware).
2. Life is about taking chances and risks.  I was so afraid to have a baby for fear of the unknown:  what if I didn’t really want to have a child as much as I thought I did?  What if I end up a single mom?  What if something goes wrong during pregnancy?  What if, what if, what if….I focused on the downsides instead of giving myself hope for the positives.  Well, what if everything goes well and I have nothing to worry about?  Truth is, life is unexpected and you will never have all the answers.  Just take a chance on what you want and let things fall into place.  Stop worrying and start living.
3. There will always be something to do.  It will never ALL get done.  So knowing this:  enjoy the now and enjoy your baby!  She won’t be a baby forever!
4. It’s important to have alone time.  Even if only for a few hours. Individuality is important.   As a parent, you add motherhood to your existing identity, not replace it.  It’s important not to lose yourself in your child.  When possible take time for yourself to do something you enjoy:  get a manicure, get your hair done, organize a space at home (I find it therapeutic to clean), read a book or just daydream.
5. Life is better when I am happy.  My family will agree with this statement.
6. Although the baby will take up the majority of my time, it’s still important to nurture the relationship with my partner.  Dad needs some TLC too.

Becoming a parent is no easy feat and there will always be something new to learn.  I am grateful to have made it this far and look forward to the next several years of this parenting adventure.

Becoming a mom is some tough work!!  It feels like working three jobs is easier honestly.  No matter how many books you read, baby sitting sessions you do for friends or witness other women be mothers, nothing prepares you for the hands on experience than, well, hands on experience (just like everything else in life really).   When you don’t have a child you’re focusing on the desire of having one; imagining a little human call you “momma”.  It’s nice to daydream about building a family of your own.  I didn’t daydream about the restless nights, never ending chores, hot mess of a home, last minute rushes to the doctors office and extreme dirty piles of laundry that would accompany it though.  Then again, who daydreams about hardship?  Truth is, if we did, we probably wouldn’t do half the things we experience in our lifetime because every great endeavor comes with difficult moments attached to it.  The best advice I can give (to myself) is to embrace the experience.  Nothing lasts forever.  The home won’t always be upside down, eventually you’ll be able to sleep a full 8 hours again, the laundry will get done and the baby will grow up.  That’s the most important part:  the baby WILL grow up.  So enjoy your little one while you can:  spoil them with hugs and kisses, give them your undivided attention, sit and play with him/her for 30 minutes.  Build the bond.  After all, wasn’t that the whole point of having the child?  The other things will take care of itself at the proper time.

The main reason I am creating this site is to release the thoughts from my mind and physically putting it somewhere.  Like everyone else in life, I don’t know what I am doing.  I am just hoping that the decisions I make are worthwhile and the best ones for my life experience while I’m here.  I used to think everyone else in the world had their lives figured out until a good friend of mine amidst a deep life conversation said to me “Gizell, no one has it figured out.  Everyone is just trying to make do.”  We were in our mid 20s when she said that to me.  So wise right?!?  It was an eye opener for me!  When you think about it, it makes sense.  Even the most successful of people are not 100% sure of the choices they make.  They just roll the dice and move forward.  They’re not stuck in contemplating on what choice to make.  They just do and move forward.  So….while I try to figure and sort myself out, might as well create a platform where other people are trying to figure themselves out and want someone to share that experience with.  The posts written are advice I am giving to myself, but could probably help someone else too.  And sharing is caring…so there you go!

Hello and welcome to my website!!  Hope your visit is worthwhile and I hope you and I can share an experience, albeit virtually, while we try to get our lives in order.  Feel free to send me a message on whatever comes to mind.

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and get your financial fitness on.  I realized while trying to pursue this goal myself, there are a few things to definitely avoid in order to successfully achieve this goal.  I think you will find these helpful too:

1. Continue using your credit cards to live your lifestyle.  Let’s face it….if you were great at managing money you wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with.  So if you really want to get out of debt, this first step is key!!  Statistics show that 75% of American household’s major financial concern is credit card debt.  Frequently using credit cards will prevent you from finally being debt free and learning to live within your earnings.  It’s time to get off the hamster wheel!  The best way to start this journey is to pay cash for everything until you have disciplined yourself to not overspend.

2.  Using a debt consolidation company to pay off debt.  Plain and simple:  If you got yourself in the mess then you can get yourself out of it!  Believe me when I say you can do it!  Hold yourself accountable!  That is what being an independent adult is all about!  The truth is that you CAN actually get yourself out of debt.  It requires focus, discipline and MAJOR effort.  YOU (yes you) have the capacity to accomplish whatever you truly set your mind to.  It’s going to hurt like hell, especially when needing to develop the new habit of restraint.  Remember, nothing worthwhile comes easy!  Stop relying on an outside source to solve your problems.  You are very well capable of getting your life in order.  Besides, debt consolidation companies operate on settling your debts after you’ve stopped paying them for an extended period of time.  Don’t do that!

3. Take out a personal or 401(k) loan to pay off your debts.  Hold up, hold up, hold up.  So you were awesome enough to save some money for your later years and now you want to cash out early to pay for your current mistakes??  Oh no!  You’re not doing that my friend!  Your future self will thank you.  This is similar to seeking debt consolidation.  Many people have the misconception the reason they can’t get out of debt is because they have it spread among multiple cards and if they transfer it to one big debt balance then they can manage the payments.  You know what happens to most people who take this approach?  Now that they have a clean slate and no debt on any card, they’re tempted to spend.  That ultimately results in having to pay credit card debt plus a loan balance.

4. Be hard on yourself for not realizing all this debt was a bad idea sooner.  Making mistakes is part of life.  You can’t spend your time thinking about the past and how you could’ve been different.  That time is gone and will not come back.  The best thing you can do for yourself is to move forward and be grateful that you now realize you’ve been making poor decisions and want to rectify them.  Focusing on the positive will lead you to desirable results in the long run.

5.  Window shopping or online browsing – Let’s face it:  putting yourself in the lion’s den is DEFINITELY not the best of intentions when you are trying to get out of debt.  There’s just so much advertisement out on the web nowadays that simply scrolling through a social media platform can cause major FOMO.  Before you know it you’ve bought several items not needed.  Money you could’ve used to pay down your debt.  Do yourself a favor and avoid exposing yourself to these scenarios.  Whatever you could possibly think of purchasing will not bring as much satisfaction as not having to pay a credit card balance.  Work toward your goal!  You are bound to see it through.