Sometimes, when people think of wellness, they think of perfection. A flawless routine and feeling good 24/7. In reality, wellness goes far beyond what we often see online. It’s not all about yoga or finding your zen state, and it’s certainly not about having a perfect routine where you feel happy all the time. Wellness is feeling good and at peace with your body and mind. It’s a journey. For me, it’s about constantly working on myself and how I can make myself feel better in all areas of my life: school, work, eating habits, exercise, family, and community. Practicing wellness can look like going for a walk after a stressful day or deciding to stay in to prioritize rest. Here are some strategies that have helped me along the way to feel present and [...]
Have you ever walked into a friend’s home or a restaurant and immediately felt that everything looked more beautiful? The light seems softer, the space more inviting, and there’s a sense of calm that’s hard to explain. Then you notice it: the plants! A few touches of green can transform an ordinary room into a space that feels intentional, colorful, and full of life. If your home has been missing a little something lately, plants might be the simple change that makes all the difference. Spring doesn’t arrive quietly. It comes as an invitation to open the windows, refresh our spaces, and welcome new growth. There’s no better time to start an indoor garden—even if you’ve never owned a plant before. Where Do I Start? My best gardening secret is surprisingly simple: find a friend [...]
How to create new emotional patterns The emotional brain. Lili knows exactly how she’s going to react. Every time her boss asks her for a report due the following week, something in her immediately activates—the same knot in her stomach, the same urge to do anything but that. She calls a friend she hasn’t seen in months, reorganizes the kitchen drawers, buys things she doesn’t need. The whole week goes by like this. And the day before the deadline, her body sends the bill: sweaty hands, a racing heart, a mind that won’t stop producing images of failure, of being mocked, of her boss’s disappointed face. Sleep-deprived and exhausted, she manages to turn in the report on time. But the experience, once again, was terrible.Lili knows this pattern by heart. She criticizes herself, promises that [...]
Four moms, all immigrants, with one common thread: their kindergartners. It was the summer of 2016; little boys and girls were leaving the safety and familiarity of their homes to step out in the big world. The elementary school was buzzing with a constant influx of parents and children. Did these moms cross paths or see each other amidst the chaos of the first day drop off? Maybe yes, maybe not. The school year commenced and slowly four boys gravitated towards each other. They were either desk partners, shoulder buddies during reading, or together in other activities which fostered their friendship. After a few weeks, one of them invited his three new best friends to his most memorable sixth birthday party. Four moms met for the first time and instantly connected. A sense of ease [...]
Somos Moms There’s something powerful about a Latina mom.It’s in the way she loves—loud, warm, and without limits. It’s in the food, the phrases, the traditions, and the quiet sacrifices no one sees. In this special Mother’s Day edition, we celebrate the women who shape our families and our community—one story at a time. This is more than motherhood.This is cultura, resilience, and legacy. Meet four mamás sharing a look into their unique motherhood journeys and what it means to them Meet Madel Sotomayor, Puertorican mamá, zumba instructor and full time University of Florida employee. Mom to Mia and Gigi “Being a mom means building and protecting a strong sense of familia every day. The hugs, home-cooked meals, music, dancing, and those constant ‘Did you eat?’ and ‘Dios te bendiga’ moments are the love that [...]
There’s something almost invisible that happens when our spaces are full, closets packed, drawers overflowing, surfaces covered in “just in case” items we haven’t touched in months. We don’t always notice it right away. But it shows up in small ways: in the hesitation before opening a drawer,in the mental checklist that never feels finished,in the quiet sense that our home isn’t fully supporting us. Our environment speaks to us constantly. And when it’s crowded, our minds often follow. Decluttering isn’t about perfection or having a picture-perfect home. It’s about creating space, physically and mentally, for what actually matters in your life right now. Why it matters more than we think A clear space doesn’t just look good, it feels different. When your surroundings are lighter, your mind tends to follow. You think more clearly. [...]
