Jumping into Jupiter

Almost 2 full decades under my belt and fifteen days into this journey, and wow — I’ve uncovered a lot.
So much of the past two weeks has been about reflection, healing, and being honest with myself about where I’ve been and who I’ve become.

But if there’s one thing I’ve realized as I’ve looked back… it’s that I’m learning how to let joy in again.

Not the big, perfect, picture-worthy kind of joy.
But the quiet kind. The small moments that catch me off guard — a song, a laugh, a blurry photo that reminds me I was present.

I’ve also learned that joy doesn’t always come naturally — especially when you’ve spent years focused on surviving, pushing forward, or trying to be “enough.” Sometimes, joy feels unfamiliar. Sometimes, it even feels like too much. And when you’re around people who aren’t on the same journey, letting yourself feel good can feel awkward… even selfish.

But I’m learning that it’s not selfish.
It’s necessary.
And it’s powerful.

These past 15 days have reminded me that healing isn’t just about unpacking pain — it’s about making room for light. For softness. For joy. Even if I still have to work at it. Even if some days are harder than others.

I’m not where I used to be. And I’m not quite where I want to be.
But I’m here — open, growing, and learning how to feel alive again.

And that feels like something worth celebrating.

Today’s episode is one of the most personal for me — because it’s about identity, heritage, and the lifelong dance of being Mexican-American.

Growing up, outside of my home, half of me often felt invisible. I rarely saw reflections of my culture in the world around me — in school, media, or leadership. And for a long time, I thought that if I just squeezed myself into the boxes that made other people comfortable, I would finally fit in.

But all that really did was make me shrink.

There came a point when I realized I didn’t have to choose one side of myself. I didn’t have to prove I was “Mexican enough” or “American enough.” I could be both — even if that meant existing in the in-between.

In this episode, I share what it’s meant for me to hold my culture close, even when it felt like others didn’t understand or even rejected parts of it. I talk about moments where I was made to feel like a spokesperson — not just for my community, but for all communities — and how unfair and heavy that pressure can be.

And still, I wouldn’t trade it.

Because my culture has shaped me, grounded me, and taught me resilience in ways I didn’t always recognize when I was younger. I talk about music, language, family, and pride — and also the quiet grief that comes from constantly having to navigate spaces where you’re “othered.”

But the most powerful part? I’ve stopped asking for permission to be who I am.

I’m Chicana. I’m proud. I’m complex. I’m soft and strong and figuring it out every single day.
And even when the world doesn’t fully see me — I see me.

In today’s episode of 30 Days to 30, I reflect on the quiet but heavy pressure of life’s “timeline”—the one that tells us we’re supposed to have everything figured out by 30. I talk about the expectations I carried for years, the shame that came from not meeting them, and the freedom I found in finally letting them go.

This episode is about more than missing milestones. It’s about finding wholeness in solitude. I share how learning to be alone helped me hear my own voice again, reconnect with what matters, and build a life that feels like mine. And just as importantly, I open up about the next chapter: learning to let people back in after learning how to be okay alone.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re behind, like you missed the train, or like being alone meant something was wrong with you—this one’s for you. You're not late. You're right on time.

🗣️ “I’ve learned how to be alone—and now I’m learning how to let people in again. Both are acts of courage. Both are part of my becoming.”

In this episode of 30 Days to 30, I’m sharing how I slowly fell back in love with my life—not through big milestones or perfect moments, but through small, everyday rituals that helped me reconnect with joy.

I talk about the season where routine was all I had—where life felt structured but emotionally empty. And how I began to shift that by adding softness, intention, and presence into my days. From lighting candles just for myself to turning solo grocery trips into peaceful escapes, I began to reclaim my time, space, and spirit.

This isn’t about being aesthetic or curated—it’s about being present.
It’s about choosing joy even when life is messy, and realizing that magic lives in the ordinary, if we’re willing to look for it.

This episode is an invitation to stop waiting for your life to feel special—and start creating those moments for yourself.

In today’s episode of 30 Days to 30, I’m taking you up into the sky—literally.

I talk about the day I took one of my favorite photos ever: from a hot air balloon, floating high above the world. That moment gave me more than just a stunning view—it gave me clarity.

Looking down from above made everything feel smaller, lighter, and less overwhelming. The things I had been holding onto… the stress, the overthinking, the constant striving—they all looked different from up there.

In that silence, with nothing but the breeze and the sunrise, I felt peace. I saw beauty in stillness, and I realized how important it is to rise above your day-to-day chaos sometimes and get a new perspective—literally and emotionally.

That photo isn’t just a memory—it’s a reminder that there is always more to see, more to feel, and more to be.

In today’s episode of 30 Days to 30, I share the story of someone who completely changed the course of my life — and she just so happens to have four paws, whiskers, and the sweetest soul.

Her name is Tootsie.

At a time when I was hidden away, buried in schoolwork, and convincing myself that isolation was just part of being “focused,” Tootsie came into my life. She was tucked into the corner of a shelter cage, just as quietly unseen as I felt in my own world.

But the moment I held her, something clicked. I knew she was meant to come home with me.

She didn’t ask me to be okay. She didn’t fix me.
She simply existed beside me — making me laugh again, pulling me out of my room, and reminding me to care for something outside of myself.
And slowly, I started showing up for myself too.

Tootsie isn’t human, but she gave me more stability and love than any person had. She became my quiet anchor, my little healer, and one of the most powerful presences in my life.

This episode is a love letter to her — and to the unexpected ways love can show up and save us.

In this episode of Jumping Into Jupiter, I’m leaning into my wild side—literally.
We’re talking adventure in the sky, on the road, and behind the wheel of an ATV, and how these adrenaline-fueled moments have become some of my most freeing, joy-filled memories.

Whether I was flying through the sky on a plane, riding through desert dust on an ATV, or chasing sunrises on a road trip—those moments reminded me of something important:
My creativity thrives in motion.
When I’m outside of my comfort zone, that’s when I feel most alive.
And when I feed that part of myself—the bold, curious, imaginative part—I return to everything else with more clarity and color.

When I’m out there chasing adventure, I’m not just exploring the world—I’m reconnecting with the parts of me that refuse to settle.

In this episode of Jumping Into Jupiter, I’m sharing one of the most personal and ongoing lessons of my 20s:
learning to stop being mean to myself—and choosing kindness instead.

For so long, my inner voice was critical, harsh, and unforgiving. I held myself to impossible standards and talked to myself in ways I’d never speak to anyone else. I thought that was discipline. I thought that was growth. But it was just me carrying shame and calling it self-control.

Now, I’m working on something different:
Being soft. Being patient. Being loving.
And reminding myself that I deserve the same compassion I give so freely to others.

In this episode, I talk about:

• When I first started noticing my self-talk

• How I learned to catch the inner critic in real time

• The new voice I’m building—one that feels safe, supportive, and strong

This is your invitation to do the same.
To stop making yourself earn rest, grace, or love.
And to remember that growth doesn’t require cruelty—it just requires care.

In this episode of Jumping Into Jupiter, I’m reflecting on one of the biggest lessons my 20s taught me: the journey to becoming yourself isn’t one big moment—it’s a series of small, brave choices.

From learning to stop shrinking myself to letting go of regrets I once held onto tightly, I share how becoming me meant unlearning the need to please, perform, or prove anything to anyone.

This isn’t a story of instant transformation—it’s about the quiet courage to show up honestly, over and over again.
I even wrote a letter to my 20s recently, and it reminded me that every version of myself—yes, even the messy and uncertain ones—deserved love, grace, and credit for getting me here.

And for the first time in a long time, I’m also taking a moment to thank myself—for not giving up, for evolving, for choosing growth even when it was hard.
Because becoming yourself is work. But it’s also the most beautiful gift you can give to your future.

This episode is your reminder that:
💛 You don’t need to be perfect to be proud.
💛 You don’t need to justify your growth to anyone.
💛 And you don’t need to regret your path when it led you back to yourself.

#JumpingIntoJupiter #30DaysTo30 #BecomingMe #ThankYouMe #NoRegrets #ThisIs30 #OwnYourStory

In this episode of Jumping Into Jupiter, I’m taking you on a journey through the music that carried me through every season of my 20s.

From grinding through school with Hans Zimmer’s cinematic scores and Eminem’s fire to fuel my ambition, to dancing into freedom with BTS, Suga, Psy, Gloria Trevi, and Daddy Yankee—music was more than a playlist, it was therapy, motivation, and healing.

I talk about how each phase of my life had a soundtrack:

• The intense, focused years of hustle

• The emotional release and joy of discovering pop, K-pop, and Latin pop in my late 20s

• And how every beat reminded me I was still growing, evolving, and becoming

This one’s for the people who heal through headphones and find pieces of themselves in every lyric. 🎶

#JumpingIntoJupiter #30DaysTo30 #SoundtrackOfMy20s #MusicHeals #ThisIs30 #BTSArmy #LatinPopVibes #FromFocusToFreedom