Empowerment – Page 17 – On Life, Hope y todo lo demás…

I’ve finally arrived at my destination at 50

I never thought this would happen to me. That I would turn 50 and then 51. I actually thought older people belonged to a different species in my youth. As I got closer to 50 I felt anxious, but once I arrived and became part of that over 50 species I feel somewhat relieved. My […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Why I choose to wear “give-up” clothes

The other night, my friend and I watched a movie where this woman was chastising her recently divorced friend because she was wearing “give-up clothes.” While I found it hilarious it wasn’t so funny when my own friend looked at me and said, “Don’t laugh so hard because you are wearing give-up clothes around the […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Marital statuses don’t define us

We keep wanting to classify people as if this would in some way give us a much better clue about a person’s identity and build a clearer picture of who they are. But, a marital status doesn’t define us and in some cases, it’s best not to disclose because of the negative implications. As is the “divorced” […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

The importance of mourning loss

I thought that the best cure for pain was getting busy and trying to forget at any cost what had transpired. But it doesn’t work that way. Or at least it hasn’t worked for me. Those solutions are temporary. Getting over pain takes a period of mourning. Now, I’m at that point, and I’m not […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Those scary places.

Once in a while when your safety blanket of comfort has been taken away, and everything is new, you have to reinvent your life and make it fit again, but it’s a scary place to be at. Change is scary because of its newness and unpredictability and you find yourself holding your breath hoping it will […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

How I became chill

I’m chill, says my eldest niece. I don’t get angry or too excited. I agree, but it didn’t use to be this way. It’s taken a time to get to a place where I don’t have to control my emotions and go to extremes which, is very challenging and emotionally draining. I lost my anger at […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Rebooting and downloading a new life

For the first time in my life, I’m not in a relationship and I’m ecstatic. I am finally giving myself the time to figure out who I am alone, what I really like and need in order to be content and happy. I’m also realizing that I can make it on my own which is a […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Frozen by indecision.

After a year of constant decision-making, following my heart and intuition to the best of my ability, I now find myself frozen by indecision. However, it’s not big decisions feel unable to make, but simple everyday decisions as whether to dine out or at home. I know this happens to many after the dust settles […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Dare to break your routine and trust that it will be OK!

I used to live only in my little bubble of comfort. I had my routines where I felt safe and risked nothing. I desperately wanted everything to fall into place and go as planned. I was too fearful to try anything new. I lived a safe but boring existence. Until one day I realized nothing was […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

When thoughts are toxic

It may not happen often, but when you allow your mind to wander into dark places, thoughts can become toxic. The longer you stay there, the more prone you are to focus on them and allow them to rule your days. Toxic thoughts are those that cloud your mind with fear. Everything may be OK, […]