What is Chingona Rising? This is a message about my "why" and what I hope to accomplish together.
Transcript:
Chingona Rising is an idea I had some time ago. As I went through some of the most challenging times in my life, I always had my cousin Holly and my bestie Kineta to remind me that sometimes the best you can do is wake up and keep everyone alive, but tomorrow is a new day to concur. They reminded me that feeling overwhelmed, tired or TEMPORARILY defeated didn’t mean I wasn’t a bad ass, a chingona—my inner chingona was defined by my ability to move past those days—or let’s be honest—sometimes it took me weeks.
The support they gave me was such an integral part of my continued movement toward my goals, that I wondered what it would be like to create a group of women supporting each other? We are all on our own camino—our journey, our path—but what if we realized we are more alike than we are different. What if we found purpose in helping each other rise instead of flaunting achievements to feel “better than” the woman beside us?
The word Chingona has become widely known in Spanish speaking communities as a bad ass. While Urban Dictionary isn’t a usual go-to reference for me, I thought it would be appropriate to use it to define Chingona. It says a Chingona is A badass woman who does what she wants. Another user defined Chingona as A maker of her own camino, this is her path and she is going to follow it, regardless of what culture says.
I LOVE BOTH OF THESE!! There are no limits! You are a chingona for deciding to forego the 9-5 hustle and grind to put everything you have into raising the next generation of spectacular humans. You are a chingona for becoming a union iron worker at 50, like my sister Cyndi. You are a chingona for turning your life upside down to start a business like my niece Shira, my sister-friend Kineta, and my darling Jess.
YOU—Reina—are chingona for waking up every. single. morning. Despite challenges, despite fear, despite trauma, despite whatever challenges have been thrown at you. Some days you will conquer, some days you’ll feel as if you’ve been conquered. My hope is that we can celebrate each other’s achievements and lift those who need it.
I have known very dark and uncertain times, I have known years of unrewarded struggle, relentless work that felt like it wasn’t getting me anywhere and greater sacrifice than I have known in my life. It’s important to remember we are all in different places. Because I was not witness to your struggle, does not mean you didn’t have one. Because your struggle looks different than mine, doesn’t mean one is bigger and the other less.
It is my sincerest hope as I record podcasts with some of the knowledge I have gained on my journey, that some of my experiences speak to you. Life is difficult reinas, tearing each other down doesn’t make it easier; building each other up does.
Until we meet again, mis reinas mas chingonas…keep rising!
