Welcome 2019! Here’s What I Was Thankful for in 2018

Some newer friends who we’ve introduced to my family and have had wonderful vacations with like this summer trip to Puerto Vallarta.

It used to be that you’d meet someone the traditional way, like at a party or because they were your classmate or you bumped into someone with similar likes at a seminar or class.

These days, I find myself meeting people in some very untraditional ways such as connecting on Instagram and reaching out on Linked In.

I’m not saying that every one of these people will be a life long friend, but it is amazing when you put yourself out there, who responds and I have met some really great friends in this way.

After the importance of all these key people in my life, there is nothing more important than having my health. I truly believe that taking care of myself both mentally and physically is a huge part of being the best person I can be.

Sometimes I desperately need a moment of peace and quiet. I am so wound up by work and the constant barrage of co-workers’ needs, phone calls, emails, social media and excess noise.

I need a minute to relax my mind whether it be a much needed catnap because I’m functioning on too little sleep, a bit of introspective meditation, or maybe a bubble bath and a good book.

Eating healthy is part of being healthy. They go hand in hand. Thankful for the food that I get to choose to put in my body. Not everyone on this earth is as fortunate as I am.

On the physical side of being healthy, I made a conscious decision about eight years ago to eat healthy and be more active.

It helped me to lose 45 pounds, become more confident and truly enjoy my life. These days my husband and I love the ritual of making dinner together and make smart choices in what we decide to eat.

I’ve removed a lot of processed goods, gluten, and excess fat from our diet. I watch my portion sizes when eating and make sure to savor and enjoy the meals that I spend the time to make.

When it comes to being active, I will honestly say that I would never have entertained the idea of “loving” a good workout when I was in my 20’s and 30’s. It just sounded like torture to me.

Once I made the choice to commit to more activity like walking more on my commute and taking up Zumba thanks to my sister pushing me to join her at classes, I saw what it could do and how strong and empowered it made me feel.

I love the ability of a good workout to take your mind away from the stress of the daily grind. I always keep it mixed up so that I’m not getting bored with a single routine.

Thankful for a strong body and my health. I’ve taken up Pilates in 2018 and really enjoy it as another option in my weekly routine of classes.

I’ll bounce around from zumba, kick-boxing, ballet burn, yoga, jogging or walking, biking out on a local trail, snowboarding, or sometimes taking an on demand class if I’m traveling or have limited time. There is just such a rewarding feeling from getting your cardio up and feeling a sense of accomplishment after a great activity session.

Thankful for a gorgeous day on the mountain at Stowe, Vt.

My two cats, Basil and Maxwell are also 2 little lives that I am truly thankful for.

I know it sounds crazy to some of you, but I love having the sound of little furry creatures in my house. If you are a pet lover, you’ll understand this.

There’s nothing like coming home from a day of work or after a long vacation and having them greet you at the door. They are a soothing presence in my life and they teach me the value of enjoying life because of their shorter life expectancies than humans.

From Digger the hamster when I was in my early tweens, to Apple my white bunny rabbit also in my tweens, and then Scarlet and Einstein, the first cats that my husband and I had together, I’ve been fortunate to have had a few pets in my life.

We are taught the value of life when we have to watch a pet age and make the difficult decisions about their quality of life.

We are taught to be care for their needs and that no matter how mischievous or misbehaved they may be, they are ours and we took a responsibility upon ourselves to be their owners. They also teach us to not be selfish with our love.

I give plenty of love to Basil and Maxell with hugs and cuddles which they usually think is way too excessive, but I can’t help myself. How can I resist such cuteness?

Thankful for these 2 furry mischief makers. They look very innocent here, but they keep things interesting every day!

My career is also be something I am thankful for. As crazy and hectic as it is, it has made me who I am today. Since I was a young girl, I have always dreamed of having a career in fashion. I knew I wanted to be in New York City, the fashion capital of the world.

Thankful for this incredible view of NYC on my commute into the city for work.

Today I would say, maybe being in the city is a bit exhausting, but it goes hand in hand with fashion. I have now been in the industry for 26 years!

The past 18 I have been at the same company which I love. I am fortunate to have an employer who trusts me and lets me make choices on how to take business forward. I’ve learned so much in my role as Design Director for KBL Group Intl.

Working on new business opportunities with model, TV host, and actress Chiqui Delgado and stylist, Gaby Rouge.

As the retail landscape has changed dramatically in the last five years,

I’ve made changes to try and adjust with it. I’ve had projects that I was nervous to take on because of the immense scope of what was needed to accomplish them. I’ve learned how to get to the other side by finding the right people to collaborate with, build strong teams of people, be open minded and be a good leader.

I’ve been given creative license to try things and create presentations for new projects that I know would not be within my job description at other companies.

This job is continuously preparing me for the changes happening every day in the retail world. I will always continue to learn and grow and take on challenges. It has taught me to never settle or be static.

Accept change gracefully and make your path in the world.

Thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given at KBL Group Intl. I’ve grown personally and professionally in the fashion industry and have such a breadth of knowledge.

I’m also thankful for the opportunities I’ve had by being a partner in Latin Business Today. 

I see the future of what we can do by helping Latinos learn more about building and growing their businesses and continuing to help each other. I’ve been integral in bringing new ideas to the table as well as learning from other leaders in their industries such as tech, marketing, and education.

Being the Director of Community Relations has also allowed me to connect with many inspiring Latinos, hear and share their stories.

I’ve been fortunate to interview some fabulous people like musicians Tito Puente Jr., Bobby Sanabria, and Tito Rodriguez Jr., and journalist, Giselle Fernandez.

There are so many more things that I am thankful for and I don’t want to leave anything out like my loving in-laws, my beautiful home over my head that my husband and I built together, the ability I have to be a positive person who sees the best in people, and on and on….

I think the best way to get the point of my gratefulness for everything I have in my life across to you might be this photo from my annual Hot Toddy party.

My husband and I have had this event for 25 straight years in a row! This embodies the feeling I have when I think about how much good I  I have in my life. It’s a good feeling!

              

I am so thankful to be surrounded by the most supportive family and friends. 

I know you all have just as many wonderful things to be thankful for in your lives so take some time to truly appreciate what you have and take all of those things forward with you in the new year! Don’t leave any of it behind! It makes us who we are.

And all the best to you in 2019!

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