What Have You Come Into This Life to Learn?
Taking time to reflect on your life is essential. You can evaluate if you are making progress or are heading towards the direction you want to go. My wise friend Adora Winquist, who is a Modern Alchemist and Author of Detox Nourish Activate Book, posed this question for one of our authentic conversations series on Instagram live a few weeks ago. We talked more in depth after giving it good thought. So, what have you come into this life to learn? You can watch the short conversation here!
For me, life has been quite an exciting journey. As I’ve looked back and shared some of my childhood memories with you, I have reflected and learned about the person I have become today. While some of my stories may have sounded sad, like I had gone through many hardships, the truth of the matter is that I was and have always been a happy girl. I was blissfully unaware of what was happening as a child, and all I could do was go with the flow of change in life. There was no choice but to adapt. Lucky for me, adapting wasn’t that difficult.
Loving Memories of My Father in El Salvador
In my last story, I shared about my parents separating, and I mentioned remembering the night my father left our house. Even though my father left our home and divorced my mother, he never left his daughters behind. He has given me love and support throughout my life, and he has shaped me into the independent, strong woman I came to be. You can see my resemblance to my father on my Instagram Post here.
Some of my favorite memories with my father were Friday nights which I spent with him. He would come to pick up my sister and I to take us to a steak dinner every week. The place is still open to this day! If you’re ever in El Salvador and want a good Argentine steak and chorizo dinner, you must visit La Pampa El Volcan Restaurant. It sits on a dormant volcano which overlooks the city of San Salvador. The view is pretty spectacular! I have so many happy and joyful memories from these dinners! My father always had practical life lessons to share with my sister and I on these nights. We learned table manners, how to conduct ourselves in public, how to be independent, and so many life lessons I put into practice till this day.
My father has always been by our side, perhaps not always physically, but he never stopped loving us. He would bring us back to El Salvador every summer break after we moved to the US. We would spend every weekend at the beach club Estero Y Mar, swimming in the ocean and the pool. We got to play with our cousins at my grandmother’s house and spent long afternoons with my grandparents. Friday night steak night continued while we were there. Oh, how I looked forward to summer vacation! Those were some of the best times of my life! I am grateful that I had a wonderful childhood full of fun and love. I felt safe when I was with my father.
Love Shifts The World’s Vibration Higher
To return to my question above, I have come to learn that everybody in this world has their own story of their life. Everyone goes through loss and hardships, which can change a person in so many ways. My parents did the best that they could to raise us. I understand that now. I have come to learn that we have to be compassionate, without judgment, patient, and loving to one another. We don’t know what people’s lives and situations may be. So why not add joy to a stranger’s life who may need a smile to uplift them? Why not share love and laughter? Let it spread from person to person, and shift the world’s vibration higher with each smile.
I’ve come to learn that love is powerful and contagious. Love knows no distance. My father’s love and my mother’s love were my life’s greatest gifts. I will always be grateful for the life they gave me. I’m also grateful that they are alive, and that they love and support me to this day!
Grateful for My Parents
My father has inspired me in so many ways. Growing up in poverty, ignited his desire to be successful. Sure enough, 33 years ago he opened Prisma Group, a screen printing equipment and supply distribution center in El Salvador. He still provides goods and services to high, demanding clients who print for American companies like Nike, Puma, Target, North Face and more. Till this day, he employs over 30 people. I am fortunate to have him as my father, my mentor, and my friend. I have learned so much from him. Thanks to my father, I was able to graduate from Florida International University. I got my degree in International Business Management and learned to be an Entrepreneur of my own business now, Sweaty Girl.
My mother showed me so many things like how to embody strength, how to be sweet, how to balance a checkbook and the importance of paying your bills on time. I’ve kept a good credit score because of this! She’s been a Social Worker for many years helping the Aids community, the homeless community, and most recently, people with mental health issues. She is a living angel!
I’m so proud of my parents! I love them deeply! ¡Gracias Papi y Mami! Los quiero mucho!
Tell me in the comments: What have you come into this life to LEARN?
With love and gratitude ❤️🙏🏽,
Karla Perez
Coach Sweaty Girl KP
Wholistic Resilience Expert