Sorry but not sorry

Living in the U.S. and Puerto Rico as a Mexican has led me to learn the fundamental truth of not being sorry for everything. Many of us were taught down in our countries many symbols of respect and good manners like saying “sorry”. Others here hardly understand our being sorry is not necessarily submission.

I was raised in a non-traditional family in Mexico but with a very high sense of respect. My father was mostly dedicated to his work who pursued “good behavior” over feelings and emotions. My mother grew devoted to an omnipotent God that needed to be honored just exactly as children to their parents without compromise. She was left raising me with my sister and pushed us into the education she didn’t have. We attended a high standard school with British foundations and strong sense of responsibility where we studied hard and marched at the pace of drums and trumpets while singing “God Save The Queen” and “Mexicanos al grito de Guerra”.

I grew fighting between what was needed to be done and incomprehensive realities all around which got me confused and angry at a times. I slightly thought on what I really wanted out of obligation. I used to speak up from time to time which made me a rebel for my mom and unfitted for some others. I understood that I needed to work hard to create a new reality which brought me to the only known way of doing it by studying and getting a good job to live. 

I had the picture of wanting to be an executive probably to replicate my father. Also I thought I needed to get married then have children with a nice family like any other woman. It was a long way since then and being redefined but so far here I am:  

• The first member of my family who have lived and worked in 3 countries;
• The first woman in my family to marry a non-Mexican and leave Mexico in the name of love; and so on. 

I just recently realized that these are some of a list of accomplishments and how each of them had profound implications both personally and professionally. I started reminding to myself on the successes and also on the failures that gave me huge learning to be proud of. I realized that I don’t need to proof myself to anyone. I am good, I am nice, I am hard worker but above all, I am so damn brave!

I never planned to live in the U.S. but here I have learned on different ways to live each thing. Much less traffic, less drama, different stress, wider perspective and new empathy. The world looks a lot different from this very different place I am. The challenge now is equally or even bigger than it was before. I keep myself watching, learning and inventing new ways all the time. Improving myself and reinforcing my confidence every single day has become a priority. I trust more in my instinct, acknowledging my emotions and empowering my true self. Furthermore, I am trying to smile from the heart, to allow my own imperfection and to be nice to my own thoughts. 

It has been a great journey outside my country up to here where we Latin, Hispanic, Non-American can be as good as any other person around. I as many other immigrant people here work really hard and we own our right to be here. We are good and we do not need to proof so hard to all others. We need to believe our own worth and equal rights.


We need to stop saying “sorry” in every sentence and we need to not be sorry for everything. Because we are not sorry, we are great!!