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Inspiring Women Magazine May 2023

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Excerpt from the original article.<br />

I am from Bogotá, Colombia. As the<br />

second of four daughters, most of the<br />

time I lived in a small town where my<br />

mother had grown up. Think hot weather,<br />

light clothes. I was a happy girl, a free<br />

spirit who loved to play on the streets<br />

with my friends until late. I did not like<br />

school at all; I used to ride bikes, play<br />

basketball, hide, swim in the river and<br />

enjoy family gatherings.<br />

My early years were hard. I became a<br />

single mother at 15 years old. My first<br />

jobs were cleaning floors and selling<br />

underwear at a chain store. During this<br />

time I went through a period of true<br />

darkness and was using psychoactive<br />

substances and alcohol. Then, in 1993, I<br />

faced death as a result of a car accident<br />

that disfigured my face and my soul. Due<br />

to the trauma, I suffered from panic<br />

attacks, depression, anxiety and being<br />

overweight for many years. But today<br />

I live in Tenjo, Colombia, and enjoy a<br />

harmonious, light and airy figure,<br />

without the need for surgery. Presence,<br />

self-observation, self love and care,<br />

acceptance of emotions and fasting are<br />

my best allies today.<br />

I worked for fifteen years in well-known<br />

corporations, specializing in human<br />

resources management and<br />

administration. In 2006, I decided<br />

to resign to pursue my dream to study<br />

psychology. So in 2007, I began<br />

professional studies in psychology,<br />

integrative Gestalt therapy, integral yoga<br />

and TRE® stress and trauma releasing<br />

exercises, disciplines that today are part<br />

of my everyday life; I specialize in<br />

mindful eating.<br />

Read more/rest of original article by clicking here:<br />

https://www.yumpu.com/xx/document/<br />

read/66787490/inspiring-women-magazinemay-2022/25<br />

“Goodbyes and<br />

New Beginnings”<br />

Of all the people<br />

and situations you<br />

have said goodbye<br />

to in your life, tell us<br />

about two that you<br />

miss the most.<br />

Why is that?<br />

My most difficult<br />

goodbye was when<br />

my youngest son left<br />

home to start his own<br />

life. My husband and I<br />

were both sad to see<br />

him move to the big<br />

city, but it was a<br />

beautiful opportunity<br />

to understand how<br />

attached we were to him and how focused<br />

our attention was on him. It was a chance for<br />

us to redefine our relationship as a couple<br />

and move on.<br />

Now we enjoy more experiences together. I<br />

also have more time for myself to do the<br />

creative things that I love. I can read, write<br />

and experience new adventures only for me.<br />

That is a treasure!<br />

Of all the “new beginnings” in your life, tell<br />

us about two that you really remember/that<br />

turned out to be unexpectedly important.<br />

I was involved in a car accident, which became an<br />

important “new beginning” for me. It made me<br />

begin a new life, with a new face and new<br />

priorities. I was determined to replace complaints<br />

with gratitude. That’s right, I could have kept<br />

crying and suffering about how my face got<br />

disfigured, how I had to endure surgeries<br />

Harvesting<br />

blackberries in<br />

our garden.<br />

(far left, page 70)<br />

Sitting in her<br />

sanctuary –<br />

her studio used<br />

for workshops<br />

and consulting.<br />

(above)<br />

Corporate<br />

workshop about<br />

stress<br />

management<br />

and selfcare.<br />

(left)<br />

70 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 71

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