1️⃣ Accept. It’s not in your control.
2️⃣ Let go. It’s not personal.
3️⃣ Protect your peace.
Si las paredes hablaran 😂 feliz de compartir con la jefa @madelineceballos @maka_usa @makacapilarhealth x @bella360.co 🙌🏽 cuanto respeto + admiración 💛 y con Dios seguimos 💪🏽
Boot weather is here + I shared my top 5 styles under $150 on @pix11news 👢
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Today I am speechless, last night, I had a lot to say. Here’s my 2022 Media Influencer acceptance speech at Power Play NYC’s 2022 Gala:
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“Everyone has a story to tell but not everyone can verbalize it. I learned this early on in life when I used journals to chronicle literally everything that was happening to me.
I would write letters to family members + friends. To my mom especially after getting in trouble for something. And as an adult, it is how I believe I kept my long-distance relationship going with my now husband.
From my parents divorce at 7 years old + being the only Latin@s attending a private school while we lived in Dayton, OH, I remember writing about understanding that my skin color was something I would have to defend from that moment on.
Writing was just the best way I knew how to communicate.
At 13 years old, I had a clear vision of writing for a fashion magazine, sitting at my desk in the corner office of a high-rise building, typing away while occasionally looking up to catch the hues of the Manhattan skyline. At 13 was also the time I faced my childhood trauma of my sexual assault at the age of 5. In that moment, writing became my saving grace.
I wrote a book about it called “5 Steps to Fabulous” + when I told a friend about it her question to me was, “What makes you think you have the know how to tell others how to live a ‘fabulous’ life?” I mean, have you seen my outfit tonight?
In all seriousness, here’s the truth…when you’ve been abused, when you have lived managing depression, when you’ve been gut punched by a friend, you are only able to get to a better place when you share those stories out loud. Whether writing it or speaking it, you begin to connect with other people who have gone through similar things, and you no longer feel alone, unseen, unworthy.
Fifteen few years ago, I would have let that friend’s question break me. Today I know that I was divinely appointed + accept that my know how is my story. In sharing your story, you set others free.
I would first like to thank God for this humbling opportunity in receiving this award. Thank you to the PowerPlay NYC Board for seeing the value that my voice + company brings to the media space. Thank you to my incredible team whom I couldn’t do this without. People who are committed to the work we do at BELLA Magazine + aim to push the content boundaries + storytelling in order to allow those who look like us + who also don’t -to embrace who + what they are.
I believe firmly that in the media we have a responsibility with the messages that we are sending, especially to young women + BELLA aims to empower + be a positive agent of change. BELLA aims to be a reflection of the world we live in. I am so grateful to know that when I say, “you’re going to think I am crazy, but”…my team now smiles and says, “bring it.” Especially you two Lynette + Jennifer.
Thank you to my husband, my fiercest supporter + my 2 boys whom have sacrificed so much for me to be able to live this life where I still manage somehow to make them proud.
If you take away anything from my words tonight, please let it be my version of this quote from Theodore Roosevelt: “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,…because if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly.
Thank you so much.”
#acceptancespeech #bellamagazine
You do everything for everyone all the time. You give and give and give and never ask for anything in return. You try so hard to make everyone else happy. Does this sound like you? Are you always going out of your way to keep the peace?
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We all want to be considerate and thoughtful, but when we only speak or act in ways we think other people want us to because we need them to think we are nice, is a complete disservice to yourself AND them.
Here are 3 reason why:
1. Being too nice keeps you from having close relationships.
When we don’t speak up or show up as who we really are it actually keeps us disconnected and feeling lonely.
No one will be able to connect with you in an honest, deep, and meaningful way if you are not yourself.
People thrive on connecting with REAL people. We want and need real. And yes, real sometimes can get messy, but it’s human.
2. Being too nice leads to a victim mentality.
It takes courage to stand up and say, “This is who I am, this is what I need, and this is how and what I can and want to give.”
That’s a better and healthier approach than keeping inventory about how many times you’ve been nice to others and/or feeling ripped off if other people don’t treat you the same way.
You are responsible for yourself. If you want or need something, it’s your responsibility to voice that. We can’t expect others to read our minds to see how much we think they owe us because of how nice we’ve been to them n the past.
3. Being too nice makes you a stranger to yourself.
When we navigate life trying to make everyone else happy and never consider our desires, we are rejecting and neglecting who we really are.
It’s not always about you, but it’s also not ever not about you.
If you never allow yourself to play an active and equal role in your relationships and in your life, you will never give yourself the opportunity to appreciate your true self.
Lesson: Practice being more genuine and authentic with others and yourself. Practice sharing your thoughts, opinions, and ideas…and here’s the big kicker…do it even if some people may not agree with you.
If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not,
you don’t.
If you’d like to win,
but you think you can’t,
It is almost a cinch that you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost;
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will. It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are;
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before you can ever win the prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster wo(man);
But sooner or later
the wo(man) who wins
Is the one who thinks s(he) can!
Be a BELLA Boss, but make it fashion ✨ client meetings at @buttonwoodnyc ✔️ where it’s at in NYC 🗽
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Welcome to my kitchen 👩🏻🍳 Thank you PIX11 for having me on today sharing these healthy, sustaining + easy to make pick me ups for the entire fam to enjoy 😋
Our brains are beautiful and powerful, but they are needy. And one of those needs is constant energy. Any time you go longer than 4 to 5 hours without eating, your body’s energy levels can crash significantly.
This list of snacks is perfect for both bringing to work and running errands. Each has a combination of nutrients to keep you going faster and stronger.
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Apple with peanut butter. When an energy emergency strikes, grab n apple and smear some PB on, and all will be okay. Obviously. Peanut butter makes everything peanut better.
Popcorn. Isn’t life a movie? Get poppin’ to put some pep back in your step. Air pop some kernels with coconut oil to stretch out that boost of energy until your next full meal.
Veggies and hummus. Hummus is the glue that keeps soul together. Dunk veggies like carrot sticks, sliced bell peppers, or celery for a nutritious kick that will sustain you all the way to dinnertime.
Roasted chickpeas. Spice up your life with this super easy recipe. Season rinsed and drained chickpeas with coconut or olive oil, salt and pepper or seasoning of choice, and throw them in the oven for about 15 minutes at 450°F. You can thank me later.
Hard-boiled egg. Eggs are no yolk. They pack plenty of protein, as well as the vitamins needed for the body to produce energy. Hard-boiled eggs are easy to make in advance, store, and reach for as needed.
I am a legend because I own who I am + am here to serve 💛 sharing more BTS @soarnjwomen with an interactive social booth for @bellamag.co 💛 check out our stories to hear from these amazing women expressing why they believe they are legends too 🙌🏽
God knows how hard I’ve worked to get here.
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There was a time in the life of every hero, champion, master, + tycoon, when they said to themselves, “Fuck it. I will not wait any longer.”
And no matter how near or far away their dream then seemed, they began to take action. Every day. No matter what.
No matter what. Happy Friday 💛