Episode 24 - Karina Mora: Season 2 Ending
Hola!
We made it. Welcome to the last episode of season 2. I’m beyond grateful a todos that have listened to the podcast. Elevating la Cultura has had over 700 downloads, and many YouTube views.
Right now I’m recording this episode LIVE for those of you watching on YOUTUBE. I’m also streaming on IG live. So if anyone has comments or questions feel free to post, I’ll get to them at the end.
I’m so grateful to my guests who have been vulnerable enough to share their stories, and offer wisdom and advice on this very important topic of health and wellness. We had amazing guests that have talked us through their journeys and the importance of their field as well as being purposeful to educate the Latinx community.
I’ll be honest, that I have grown so much this season from each and every conversation I’ve had. I’ve had to dig deep into my own life after some of the conversations and make mental shifts as well.
I think that after the year we had last year, as a whole, we are valuing our mental wellbeing a little more. We are even recognizing the importance that therapy might have in our lives. We are a little more willing to ask for help, to talk about our lived experiences because we’re realizing our feelings are valid. And if you need someone to tell you, I’m telling you, you’re feeling are valid. You deserve to be heard, and if you struggle with acknowledging that, no esters sola, you’re not alone.
I grew up thinking that in order to be considered “good” or una nina buena, I just had to follow the rules, without question. The rules my parents set for me. The rules my teachers set for me. The rules anyone else had set for me. Just follow them. Look ahead, don’t ask questions, and you’ll be fine.
In talking to my parents I understand that for them during the time they were growing up, that was the way they would survive and get by. And it’s understandable that it was easy for them to continue with that way of thinking as they became parents. In times of stress or anxiety is easiest to revert back to what is known, what is comfortable, what has worked in the past. So while I can look back and hear the words “you turned out ok” and nod…I understand that’s a way for them to cope with the past, and that it may have been the only thing they knew how to do. And that they were wanting to create a better future for me than what was more traumatic past for them.
So while I can be thankful for the better future that my parents provided for me, I can also sit in the tension of the traumas that I’m healing from now, as well as working toward providing my children with more emotional safety to further grow their legacy. All of that can exist and take place at the same time. Complex I know, but we should be normalizing the complexities of it all, and taking small steps to try to heal and more forward.
Like I said before, it all starts with vulnerability in sharing pieces of our stories. And being willing to dig a little deeper, so that we can bring representation to these topics.
Since many of this seasons episodes were recorded in April and May, I feel like so much has shifted and changed in that time, specifically in terms of the pandemic. But it’s also given me the three months that we were in production to reflect and start making changes in my own life. So let me share a few of those with you.
If you listened to episode 21 a few weeks ago with Evelia, you heard my stories with using De Mi Tierra Products, and how receptive my family was to her products as opposed to other store brand products. I’ve been using many of her products for a while now, but since the episode, I have been using her natural deodorant for about a month now. It definitely took some getting used to but no one has told me I smell, which was a huge insecurity of mine, so I’m going to say that’s a win. While it was common to purchase cheaper store-brands and be wooed by marketing campaigns, we’re realizing the value of natural products just like our ancestors did before us.
Since talking with Dr Angie the pediatric and prenatal chiropractor, on episode 16, I’ve been taking my kids to get adjusted by her three times a week for about 6 weeks now. We actually just got home from there a little bit ago. The reason I initially was interested was because both of the kids were having trouble sleeping, and I wanted to see if it had anything to do with their nervous systems being on overdrive from the past year of uncertainty. For about the past 4 weeks we did notice that both the kids were going to sleep much sooner, and not waking up as much during the night. I was like ok, phew. It’s working And then in the past 2 weeks, my son has been trying and eating more foods. He was a super picky eater. And didn’t like much Mexican food, which I mean come on. Pero te digo, that this kid now will eat a whole bowl of menudo. He’s eaten pozole in the past, pero menudo…con el carne! Tu cres?. I was like who is this kid. He’s also been enjoying foods with more flavor and more Mexican meals in general. En serio. I wouldn’t lie to you. We have loved seeing Dr. Angie and the staff on a regular basis and how they’ve become part of our family. I’ll be honest, chiropractic care isn’t something I would’ve thought of as an option for the kids, but after my conversation with Dr. Angie I trusted her to try it, and I’m so glad I did. I really appreciate the knowledge she is sharing with her community on treating many issues through chiropractic care.
The conversations that I had throughout the season with my therapist friends like with Raquel from episode 13, and Pati from episode 19, as well as my chats with Yesenia, Jess, Crystal and Vanessa are the ones that really got to me emotionally. After those conversations I felt more understood, validated and like I wasn’t alone in the past experiences I had as a kid. Speaking to Raquel and Pati, actual therapists, gave me hope that there will be more Latinx representation in the future meaning that there will be more of the Latinx community getting the space to talk through all of the complexities of Latinx life in the future as well.
I know Yesenia and I got deep in our conversation and as I was talking with her I was making real time connections to our past experiences and I appreciated her encouragement and support in our journey to not continue negative patterns that we experienced in our youth. You can also listen to her podcast Her Revolution.
Hearing Jess and Vanessa talk about mindfulness and wellness in a holistic way was empowering as a Latina. We’re often taught to believe that holistic wellness is a euro-centric practice, when in reality our indigenous ancestry has always been connected to many wellness practices. So really it’s not a “white thing” but when we care about our body, our soul, and our minds, it’s just us reclaiming things that are already part of us. It’s just that in our society we’ve lost focus or forgotten or been assimilated to think differently. I was so encouraged by Crystal’s desire to pour back into her community, with the practices she knew as a child, and continue to educate on them so they’re not lost. It’s definitely what I am trying to do as well.
Also in talking with Anabelle owner of Juice vibe bar from episode 15, I was reminded that even juicing or being mindful of what we’re eating is rooted in our culture. You walk around any Mexican City and are able to find fresh juice so easily. The freshness of food is available easily, but we have been made to believe that it’s a luxury. Fresh juice or gluten free or dairy free options are easier to find in more affluent communities with a higher price tag, when in reality it’s in our roots to find value in those options as well. I was challenged to keep reshaping how I view cultural foods in general especially after my chat with Jen, on our latest episode. Seriously, I think my conversation from episode 23 had been the most impactful for me, and I wrestling with it daily. I hadn’t realized that many of my internalized thoughts around fitness and food stemmed from the lack of control I was given around my food as a child, as well as passive aggressive and manipulative comments to control how I looked in general. I definitely want to put an end to that for my children.
And that’s exactly what I hope comes from this season, that you find connection, encouragement, and hope in making small or big changes in your life so that we can create generational change to make health and wellness a priority. While the generations before us might not have had that as a priority since they prioritized survival and protecting their families, we have the privilege to focus on our emotional and mental wellbeing which is just as important as we try to build a more just, and equitable society for our children.
If any of this resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts, please leave a comment on this YouTube video, or on Instagram. I love how after recording each episode I felt empowered to keep expanding this space and this platform. I’m hoping to possibly host events or workshops where we can have real time conversations on what it means to create generational change as a Latina and for our Latinx communities.
I’ll be taking the month of August off to record our next seasons episodes and will be back in September. You can follow on IG as we continue conversations on how we can elevate our cultura. As a teaser, te digo, I’ll let you all know that I’m excited to continue sharing stories next Season featuring Latinas in the education space. As we may be becoming more and more aware of the bias, injustices and overall harsh realities in the educational system, I want to dive deeper, and elevate the voices of our educators. You guys, it’s going to be GOOD. I’m so excited.
Ok amigos, Thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed this conversation please rate on apple podcasts, share, take a screenshot to post on IG @elevatinglacultura or send me a DM. You can also comment on our YouTube video if you’re watching online. I always like to hear from people an how they resonated with the stories I share.
So, muchisimas gracias for another amazing season, enjoy the rest of the day/afternoon/evening whenever you’re listening, y nos vemos pronto.
Adios!
Watch the episode on YouTube.
