Living in "The Four Seasons".

No, it is not the hotel, even though it would be fabulous. We live just outside the delicious Dairy State, Milwaukee Wisconsin, a very cool and small city. A place where Cream City brick buildings are still standing. Home of one of the most beautiful art museums (MAM) designed by the genius Calatrava. Home to the Bucks and the Brewers, The Milwaukee River, thousands of bars, and thousands of churches.

We have been blessed with the most gorgeous views of Lake Michigan. You forget it's a lake, the vibes here are friendly and quaint.

Coming from a warmer place (Mexico City) and the most crowded, I have been learning to appreciate all I have here. The safety of my children growing up to the peace of my backyard. It took me a while to lower my city pace. The rush to get to places, the traffic. I never talked about the weather in my life. I just took it for granted. I never imagined a day without sun. I never noticed the seasons. My life was pretty young back then. My level of activity and lifestyle were so different. For one, I wasn't married and had kids. My priorities were not the same.

What I do have now is gratitude. It takes me one trip back home to realize how lucky I am. I get to appreciate my country, my dear Mexico. For all it is. the chaos and the beauty. The genuine kindness of my people. The color and the gray. How blessed I am to have given this vision to my two kids. Growing up realizing we live in such a safe space. Not everyone gets to say that. How lucky they are for having both worlds. I am forever grateful to this country. To host my dreams and make them come true.

Now I get to experience the four seasons. During Spring, I always have a sense of Hope. We all need the sun at this point. We are so exhausted from feeling the cold in our bones. We are done with the fireplaces and the smores. But if we look closer we can see the miracles happening, the little buds on the trees, the greener grass, the restless birds waking us up earlier than usual. The days are longer.

This is the perfect season to ground ourselves. To reflect on what we do have. There are new beginnings everywhere. Why not align ourselves with Nature? This is the time when we can start something new. Break with habits that don't align with what we want to achieve. Observe what needs to be done.

Let us quiet our minds for a moment. You can do it anytime. Grab a piece of paper and a pen. Take a deep breath, notice your lungs expanding, now exhale loudly (who cares if you are not alone), and repeat. With each breath you welcome your peace, the light of understanding. This is a place of no judgment. Just truth. Honesty within yourself. Here is where you write your biggest blessings and what you are grateful for. Reflect.

If you can't find what you are grateful for it is because you are experiencing a loss of peace. Maybe you are overwhelmingly busy, or there is pain in your heart or body. Maybe you lost someone. Time will heal these wounds. No human can be at peace all the time. Or experience joy all the time.

What we can do is organize our feelings, a bit so they don't overwhelm our existence. Journaling does exactly that.

Try this.

Let's write out the biggest worry. Your biggest doubt. Your biggest anguish.

It is hard but you can do it. Now look at it in the eye. It is out of your brain for a moment, it will be given the light to be resolved. Write three things you can control, that could help you with this issue. The virtues you will need to use. Your strengths. Anything that comes to your mind. Now observe if this is something you can control, or if it is something you won't.

If it isn't, this is the time to surrender. We don't need a plan yet, or the answers or solutions. But one thing is true and real, the light is already shining on it. Maybe time will do the trick. Manifest these issues being resolved. Visualize yourself at the other end of the tunnel.

You are guided, loved, and protected. These too will pass. Trust!

Don't wait another season to find your peace. Be brave, and align yourself with your nature. You are a peaceful being.

Writting things helps give them the size they need to be. Now written on a piece of paper, they might not be as heavy as they are inside your brain. I welcome you to prioritize your mental health. Without it, we can not continue to excel in other facets of our lives. We can not help or serve others if our cup is not full. We simply can't. And if you are you probably are exhausted. Take a break, it is much needed. Allow yourself to be the biggest love of your life.

You got this, and remember the cute saying,

"no rain, no flowers".