Embracing Freedom: Living a Life of Joy, Peace, and Purpose
Freedom to me is having the free will to live a life of joy, peace, salvation and living in relationship with God. In having freedom, I use it to be productive in a way that interests me and in a way that benefits everyone around me. I feel free every day, because I get to open my eyes every morning—a blessing I cherish, and I make the best of that day using it as another chance to improve.
One place I felt extremely free was when I was up at the podium at the NMSHSA Public Policy Forum, where I had the honor to share my story and my family's story as farmworkers. It was a revelation; I realized I had never told my story in public before. I always believed that no one outside my family cared about our experiences. My parents and I would work in the hot fields every day, and I saw my parents suffer from blisters and severe sunburns at times. It's sad that every time I ask my parents if they love what they do, they say no but that it's a way of surviving so that they don't go back to having nothing. My mentors Cleo, Robert, Ilda, and Janna helped me see this part of my life differently. They shared their stories and I realized my family and I’s story is more powerful than I thought. It has the potential not only to help us but also to benefit our community.
Going to NYC this week was a pinch me moment and made me wonder how immigrants, like my parents and aunt from Mexico, felt when arriving in such a vast city. My aunt is now a resident in NYC, but my parents moved to FL instead, and they often describe the culture shock they experienced. I felt a sense of freedom and inspiration whenever Cleo said to my cohort, “there are so many interns here in D.C. but none of them have the same story as you do.” The Lord put these wonderful individuals from NMSHSA and the parent community in my path helping me learn more about myself and my roots. As I write this blog in a local coffee shop, I feel a deep sense of freedom and excitement for my next blog. If you are reading this, I thank you dearly for caring about our story.