One cannot explain what they do not know and understand in acceptance. It has taken me a lifetime of experience to understand that my experience is what I accept into being and it is only my choice of what to accept in belief and understance. None can force another to do, act, speak or believe. No one can be convinced by another to accept any idea, circumstance or value. To live is to choose to do more than survive. If we accept that we are doing all we can to the best of our ability, we know it is true for everyone. Each has different experience and inherent knowledge unique to their Purpose to function in operation, cooperation and collaboration. To live only for the self is necessary to meet basic needs unique to the self but this is only surviving. To live, one must embrace a purpose greater than survival and this must include extension of value and opportunity to another or others to enable more to move above surving. When we Unite for Purpose to excell in any way, everyone involved may thrive in accordance of will and expression. None can ever serve your purpose, function or will. If you want an opportunity or value for yourself or any others, you must take charge to fulfill what must be done in creation, expansion and delivery to the extent you can, knowing that what serves all is valued by all and if you serve your values, you will connect to others with shared values. To know your worth is to know your unique power and accept the same of all. In this, what is of value to one must be available for all in access and opportunity. You will achieve anything you can within your drive and function to act for your purpose by investing and trusting your passions. Trust is inherent in all systems of acceptance and action tied to Integrity, Honor for each and all with reciprocal Respect. This combination of values in acceptance is a force that will override fear, supression and judgement. This is your power. Knowing there is always more is the power of Faith and Hope. Love is the only force that can always sustain and spiral out into Creation. We do not unfold multidemensionally but spiral into expanse to grow and spiral down to self to understand and accept (innerstand). This is the dance we play in understance of experience and communication.

I stopped seeing my story as something to overcome. I started seeing it as something to stand on. For most of my life, I saw myself through the lens of what I had to prove. Prove I belonged in the courtroom. Prove I could lead a business in an industry that was not built for me. Prove that being a Latina woman navigating spaces where I was often the only one was not a limitation; it was a qualification. The shift did not happen overnight. It happened in the writing. When I sat down to write Redefining Strength, I was forced to look at my own story without the armor on. And what I found was not someone who had survived in spite of her circumstances, but someone who had been shaped, sharpened, and prepared by every single one of them. I stopped seeing my story as something to overcome. I started seeing it as something to stand on. That moment changed everything. The way I lead. The way I advocate. The way I walk into a room. You are not behind. You are not too much or not enough. You are exactly who your journey has been building.

My identity shifted when I realized true leadership requires a regulated body and nervous system. By studying emotional intelligence through the signals of the body and meeting my inner responses with curiosity, I expanded my capacity to hold responsibility, complexity, and even pleasure; allowing me to lead with steadiness rather than strain. I began to see the pressures, fears, and even the urge to avoid certain conversations or situations as invitations rather than obstacles. By pausing when I felt the subtle bubbling of anxiety or resistance and meeting it with curiosity rather than force, I uncovered the wisdom within those signals and moved forward with greater clarity and grounded confidence.

I did not arrive here because life unfolded easily. I arrived here because I kept going when it didn’t. I earned my Ph.D. decades ago, long before I could have imagined the challenges that would later define my life. Years later, I faced cancer, and I walked through the long, painful reality of my son’s addiction and incarceration; experiences that tested every part of me. What sustained me was not strength in the traditional sense, but persistence: a willingness to confront what was in front of me, to keep learning, and to turn even the most difficult moments into purpose. I did it by refusing to be defined by fear or loss, and instead using both to deepen my voice, my work, and my commitment to change.

For a long time, I viewed my success through the lens of external validation. I was the 'reliable' one, the one who never said no. The internal transformation happened when I realized that by trying to be everything to everyone, I was becoming nothing to myself. The shift occurred during a period of total burnout where I had to ask: 'Am I building my dream, or just decorating someone else's?' That realization shifted my perspective from seeking permission to seeking impact. It shaped my journey by teaching me that 'No' is a complete sentence, and that my time is the most valuable currency I have to invest in my true calling.

The moment I began to see myself differently was when I was selected and began working in my current position as a Human Resources Analyst I. I've always felt like I had the potential and the drive to work in this field but seemed to doubt my own potential internally. When I initially started I had this overwhelming imposter syndrome feeling, like maybe I didn't belong in this position. I was afraid that people would not take me seriously due to my age or would undermine my work being that I was the youngest person in our HR department. It wasn't until peers and executive directors at my company started to compliment me on how thorough my work was and how I interacted with staff of all levels that I realized that it was all in my head and that I was meant for this job and I am excelling in it. I am now able to navigate through things with confidence that I deserve to be in this position just as much as anyone else because I've put in the hard work and dedication.

When the ones you grow to adults, can reflect inner strength and self confidence this renders the greatest currency the world cannot afford!

Sometimes the biggest transformation happens quietly, in the way we begin to see ourselves. For me, that shift came during my graduate studies while balancing multiple responsibilities: academics, professional roles, and community involvement. I had always been driven, but I often measured my worth by how much I could accomplish rather than recognizing my growth and impact. The turning point came when I realized that success wasn't just about doing more, it was about becoming more intentional, confident, and self-aware. Through my work supporting students and engaging in meaningful community initiatives, I began to see the value of my voice, my leadership, and my ability to make a difference in ways that weren't always visible or measurable. That shift in perspective allowed me to move from self-doubt to self-trust. I stopped questioning whether I belonged in certain spaces and started embracing the fact that I had earned my place in them. It shaped my journey by giving me the confidence to take on new challenges, step into leadership roles, and support others in recognizing their own potential. Now, I carry that mindset with me, understanding that growth is not just about what we achieve, but who we become along the way.

I stopped managing how I was wired and started leveraging it. The difference was immediate and irreversible.

There wasn't one single moment. It was a gradual shift shaped by experience, resilience, and perspective. I started my career at Marriott International in housekeeping, cleaning rooms and public areas at the Marriott Plaza Hotel in Buenos Aires, one of the most luxurious hotels in Argentina and Latin America. For me, this wasn't just a job. I wanted to be there. It represented excellence, opportunity, and a world I aspired to grow into. It was never just a job. It was the beginning of everything I was determined to become. At the beginning, I saw myself through the lens of the role I had. But over time, as I grew into leadership, I began to understand that where I started was not a limitation. It was my greatest advantage. The real transformation happened when I stopped measuring my value by titles and started recognizing the depth of my journey. Those early experiences taught me discipline, humility, and a deep respect for every role within an organization, values that continue to define how I lead today. There was also a pivotal moment when I realized I didn't need to fit into a traditional HR mold. I could create something more human, more strategic. That shift allowed me to fully own my voice and step into leadership with confidence and authenticity grounded in a people first philosophy. Seeing myself differently wasn't about becoming someone new, it was about finally recognizing the strength, intention, and purpose that had been there from the very beginning. I've learned to trust my instincts, follow my passions, and never stop investing in my own growth because education is key. And above all, I believe that good things happen to good people. Values have always guided my decisions, and they continue to shape the leader I am today. Today, I look back at that young woman in Buenos Aires with gratitude. She didn't have all the answers, but she had something even more powerful: instinct, determination, and heart.