A new me was born! I find myself reflecting on the journey that has brought me here. 2024 wasn’t about new milestones, accolades, or material success; it was about something far more transformative. It was the year I finally discovered myself through resilience.

For most of my life, I believed my value was tied to titles, achievements, and roles. I carried the weight of expectations on my shoulders, striving to prove I belonged, that I was enough, that I mattered. But as the years passed, those accolades began to feel hollow. I realized I was living in a way that didn’t align with the woman I wanted to be. I remember telling my husband and my coach that I felt like an impostor, there was something about me that did not feel authentic.

As I reflected on these feelings, I discovered and decided to stop chasing validation and start chasing the truth.

A Legacy of Strength and Sacrifice

My story didn’t begin in 2024; it began decades ago in the Dominican Republic in a house that wasn’t quite a home. Four concrete walls and a sturdy roof held my family’s dream of a better life. These concrete walls were more than a house, it was a symbol of resilience and sacrifice.

Growing up, I watched my mother leave everything behind to pursue a life of opportunity in the United States. I stayed behind with my sister and father, learning early what it meant to sacrifice, adapt, and survive. Years later in 1997, I would make that same journey, stepping into a country with a strange language, unfamiliar faces, and an uncertain future.

With change my life started to shape, marrying young in 2002, had two children, and followed a path I thought was laid out for me. But somewhere along the way, I realized I wasn’t living for myself; I was living for what others expected me to be. Therefore, in 2009, I went against the odds to get a divorce and become a single mother just because I knew there was more to life and I needed to find myself personally. 

The Turning Point 15 Years Later

2024 just as in 2009 became a year of rediscovery but this time professionally. I stopped looking for value in what I had and started finding it in who I was. I reflected on the sacrifices of my mother, my grandmother, and all the women who came before me. They didn’t just survive; they thrived, paving the way for me to stand on their shoulders and build something extraordinary. I realized that the strengths I gained in 2009 came from somewhere, and my grandmother was key. She poured that strength into me through her examples.

So, less than 9 months ago, I took a step I had never dared to take before, and I beat the odds again. My community was powerful as I took this new step; family, friends, and my coach were pivotal parts of the process. Growing up, I believed that I needed to follow orders and not be confrontational, but coaching taught me something powerful: How to create boundaries. My coach helped me challenge the limiting beliefs that our culture tends to impose on us. To name a few: not speaking up, listening and following orders, being a good class citizen. My cultural beliefs did not empower me to stand up for my rights until I found my inner self strengths. Then, I discovered once again that it was so much more than a title, and my coach encouraged me to see the power in my own story.

I’ll never forget one breakthrough moment in a coaching session. I was reflecting on my early years as a young mother, juggling two children, cultural displacement, and financial insecurity. Through tears, I admitted, “I always felt like I was surviving but never living.” That moment of honesty unlocked something in me. It was a realization that survival wasn’t enough. I wanted to thrive.

Finding Myself in Abundance

The biggest discovery of 2024 wasn’t the financial success I’ve achieved or the businesses I’ve built; it was realizing that true abundance is found in authenticity. It’s in the courage to step away from roles that no longer serve you. It’s in the power of saying no to expectations that don’t align with your values.

I learned that abundance isn’t measured in dollars or possessions. It’s measured in the love we share, the strength we build, and the legacy we leave behind. For me, abundance is knowing that my story has the power to spark change, not just for me but for every person who’s ever felt unseen, unheard, or underestimated.

An Invitation to Rediscover Yourself

As you step into your discovery, I invite you to ask yourself:

• What parts of your story have you been hiding from?

• What dreams have you left unfinished?

• What would it look like to live for yourself, not for others’ expectations?

Finding yourself isn’t about erasing the past. It’s about embracing it. It’s about honoring every sacrifice, every struggle, and every triumph that has shaped who you are. I welcome you to write three things you feel most proud of and resonate with what they mean to you.

2024 was my year of rediscovery. Let 2025 be yours.

Lastly, remember that no matter where you start, your story matters. And when you choose to see abundance in what you already have, you’ll realize you’ve had everything you needed all along.