The story we tell ourselves...

I've been on a self-reflection journey of my mind, body, and spirit, putting in the work to forgive and clear out all the negative energy I've carried almost my entire life. I've always been extremely intuitive, able to see and hear spirits, perceive auras, and connect with spirit and Mother Earth in a way that made me feel ashamed and, in a way, scared to share what I could see and hear. I wanted to be "normal." I longed not to be judged or viewed as the crazy, weirdo chick. I've always been different. I've loved Elvis Presley for as long as I can remember. I've collected crystals, stones, antique dolls, old coins. I love history. I've always been more mature for my age; I've been called an old soul when I listen to my music.

Recently, I started to truly accept myself. I've been listening to my intuition, allowing my spirit guides to lead me, coming out of the broom closet, and letting everyone know about my witchy ways. I've embraced and loved myself for all the things I had suppressed for so long. I've smudged my house thoroughly, working through the demons in my head, and made progress with my coach on forgiving without receiving the "sorry" from the people closest to me who hurt me the most.

I started to prioritize myself, focusing on self-love and self-care. The detox was challenging. I was physically sick for many days, feeling drained as if it was easier to give up at times. Fortunately, I had support from my husband, kids, family, and a group of soul family with coaches who cheered me on. My grandmother used to say, "Surround yourself with those who cheer you on in the worst of times because they are your true family and friends. Anyone can support you when you're at your best, but it's during tough times that you find your true allies!"

I was in a happy mindset, feeling grounded. I had never felt such peace in my heart as I do now. I was excited about the future, about all the plans and visions I had been seeing. Then, bam! Oh, mother-freaking no! I was reminded that life is never this easy! I had been neglecting my health in the same way as my mind and spirit. I had been procrastinating on all the necessary doctor visits. I had undergone back surgery in 2019. My back was starting to hurt again, badly. I was bedridden from the pain. I had gained weight over the holiday season; it's tamale season for us Latinos. I've never been a skinny chick; I've always been a big girl, and I've been okay with it. But at the same time, I felt like a hypocrite because I'm a passionate herbalist, advocating for using herbs and living a holistic life. I felt like I was lying about myself and hiding these feelings. So, I knew I needed to see the doctor, and that would be the kickstart I needed. When I stepped on the scale and heard myself saying, "Oh, your back hurts; that's the cause of your weight gain," or whatever story I told myself.

With the new year, I decided to see a new doctor. I chose her solely based on her name. Something about her name put me at ease. I trusted my intuition about her, so I made an appointment. She asked the usual questions and then delved deeper. Not once did she mention my weight or tell me to start exercising. None of the things I had expected her to say before the doctor's visit. Instead, she was caring, listened, and started planning what we needed to do to diagnose my back issues. She conducted routine blood work along with additional tests I wasn't even aware of.

After some time, I received a call from the office, informing me that my blood work had been received, and my doctor wanted to see me. I wasn't feeling great; I had been resting in bed. I tried to schedule the appointment for the following week. That's when reality hit me. The person on the phone said, "No, ma'am, she wants to see you today. When can you come in?" In my head, I screamed, "Today?! Wait, for what?!" Suddenly, I felt like a chicken with its head cut off. I couldn't drive because of my back, my daughter was at work, my husband was working in another state, so I had no choice but to ask my son, who only had an expired permit and no license!

We got there, and it was a whirlwind of emotions. I was told that my results showed I had an autoimmune disease and that one of my organs was not functioning properly. I felt as if a tractor-trailer had just crashed into me! Now what? My doctor remained calm throughout. We started planning what needed to be done. When I got home, I started crying. My kids, husband, and sisters comforted me. They told me not to jump to scary conclusions. It was just the first test, and further testing was being done.

Later, I received a friend request from someone in my coaching mastermind program. I accepted it, and then a live video from her from the day before appeared in my feed. She was doing a card reading with three cards, each with a stone on top. I was drawn to the one in the middle with the rose quartz. It was the Vulture Spirit, "Nothing Is Wasted." The message she conveyed was exactly what I needed to hear; it was as if she were speaking directly to me. But she was speaking directly to me. We all receive these messages, but at times, we're so overwhelmed by the noise around us that we can't hear them. If I hadn't gone through the journey I've been on, I wouldn't have seen or heard the message meant for me.

In the midst of my journey, I've confronted the challenges of my physical health. I've battled recurring back pain, undergone surgery, and faced the struggles of weight gain. It was during a recent retreat in Costa Rica that I had a revelation. I took a pivotal moment to celebrate my strength and resilience by collaborating with a professional boudoir photographer, Shay Perna from Boudoir by Perna and the Perna Collective. In that empowering photoshoot, I proudly wore my scar, a symbol of my healing journey. The photo captures not just my physical transformation but also the depth of my inner strength and the courage it took to embrace my body fully.

This experience has added another layer to my self-acceptance journey. It's a testament to my growth, not just in mind and spirit but also in body. I've come to understand that our stories are not just about the challenges we face but also the strength we gain from overcoming them. My willingness to share this vulnerable moment, proudly displaying my scar, reflects my deep belief that our scars are proof of our resilience.

We all have stories, and sometimes we feel ashamed or fear criticism regarding our stories.

So here I am, sharing my story with you. Because I want you to know that in the end, it's not the challenges we face that define us but how we rise above them. I invite you to join me on this transformative journey of detoxifying the mind, body, and spirit.

Who's ready to share their story and go through the detox of mind, body, and spirit?

And if you happen to know someone with a podcast or a platform where I can share my story, please reach out to me at contact@obraoflove.com. It's time for me to speak my truth, proudly bearing my scar, a testament to my strength and the power of self-love. Let us embark on this journey together, celebrating our scars as symbols of triumph and embracing our stories in all their beautiful complexities.