Latina women are often told to tough it out and have the burden of keeping everyone and everything together. The alpha males in the family need so much care many latina women find themselves swallowed up by the larger unit. When things start to fall apart, aside from the guilt of letting down your entire community, a woman needs to take time for real and honest introspection. Being a writer gave Brenda her own voice. Being a journalist gave Brenda the opportunity to integrate information with experience to create meaningful stories.

Key Takeaways:

[2:20] A special quote for Brenda - resist or go with change

[4:04] Pushing the rope through my 20’s and 30’s but empowered at 40

[5:56] I grew up hearing “you tough it out no matter what”

[7:40] I’m analyzing what I bring to the table in relationships now

[12:36] Responsibilities based on gender in South America are very defined

[14:55] I avoid dating in my own culture based on my invisible scripts

[18:21] My mother knows not to fix me up

[19:13] Real honest introspection

[21:25] Differences in the North American and the Latin American culture

[23:37] As a woman it’s important to take time for ourselves

[25:53] Women in their 40’s get lost in the weeds

[30:02] Men have cycles too - They can go through “manopause”

[36:00] The face down moments give us the opportunity to get curious

[43:34] Growing up in a storytelling family

[45:35] You haven’t hit 40 without some skinned knees

[47:56] There’s a learning curve to figuring out what you will and will not do

[50:06] Integrating information with experience to create meaning

[52:20] If you want to stand out and rise up, tell a meaningful story

[54:53] Remembering the Muse - Learning to stop pushing the rope in the South of Spain

Mentions:

Writer in Florida - Brenda Barbosa

Straight Talk for a Curvy World

The Gift of Change - Marianne Williamson

Rising Strong - Brene Brown

@writerinflorida