Sessi Dancing Corners

Tag: Gratitude

  • August Feels Like a Deep Breath

    August Feels Like a Deep Breath

    Some months arrive with fireworks.

    Some months ask us to keep running.

    Others invite us to slow down long enough to notice the life we’re already living.

    That’s what August feels like.

    A deep breath.

    July was full in all the best ways. Time with family, girls’ nights out, afternoon runs, little adventures, and coffee dates with myself reminded me that life doesn’t always have to be extraordinary to be meaningful.

    Now August is here, and instead of rushing toward fall, I’m giving myself permission to simply enjoy where I am.

    I think that’s what this month is teaching me.

    To slow down.

    To breathe a little deeper.

    To appreciate the ordinary moments that often become the ones we remember the most.

    One of my favorite parts of the weekend is slowing down enough to make my iced coffee exactly how I like it. During the workweek, mornings move too fast, so I save this little ritual for Saturdays and Sundays. I froth my favorite creamer with flavored syrups, make myself breakfast, and spend a little time writing in my gratitude journal or working on a craft before the day really begins.

    Homemade coffee

    Maybe that’s why I’ve been loving my weekends so much lately. Before errands, plans, or responsibilities start pulling me in different directions, I get a little pocket of peace that’s completely mine. I’ve learned not to take those moments for granted.

    Then there are the days when work is…well…work.

    Whenever I have a stressful day and can feel my body slipping into fight-or-flight mode the tingling sensations, the tension, all of it I know exactly what I need.

    If it’s not unbearably hot outside, I lace up my running shoes, turn my music all the way up, and head out for a run.

    Sometimes I even find myself tearing up while I’m running.

    Have you ever read The Body Keeps the Score? My body definitely keeps score. Running has become one of the ways I let all that stress leave my body. Every mile reminds me that movement isn’t just good for my health it’s also how I find my way back to myself.

    The slower weekends have been just as meaningful.

    On the Saturdays I don’t have to work, I look forward to sleeping in with Chloe. Even though she somehow manages to take over the bed, stretch across my legs, or steal my pillow, I wouldn’t trade those mornings for anything. They’re peaceful in the sweetest way, and they remind me that happiness is often found in the simplest moments.

    This summer also reminded me how incredibly grateful I am for the people in my life.

    One weekend, my forever friend and I spent the day exploring Hoboken before heading to Jersey City to watch the soccer final together. Another weekend, we went axe throwing, grabbed dinner, and laughed until our stomachs hurt. Those outings weren’t extravagant, but they became memories I’ll carry with me for a long time.

    Then there was one of my favorite moments of the summer.

    My family from Puerto Rico came to New Jersey for a brunch my mom hosted. The house was filled with laughter, conversations, delicious food, and the kind of jokes that only family understands. Watching everyone catch up, encourage one another, and simply enjoy being together reminded me how lucky I am to have them.

    For once, nobody seemed to be in a rush.

    Everyone was simply present.

    And honestly, I loved that.

    Looking back, I’ve realized this summer wasn’t about checking destinations off a list.

    It was about collecting moments.

    The slow weekend mornings with coffee.

    The evening runs that helped me reset.

    The Saturdays spent cuddling Chloe.

    The laughter around the brunch table.

    The afternoons exploring with friends.

    The little routines that quietly became the heartbeat of my summer.

    I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting lately, and I don’t want to rush into fall just because the calendar says it’s next.

    I want to enjoy August for exactly what it is.

    A month to pause.

    A month to breathe.

    A month to notice everything that’s already beautiful before chasing what’s next.

    Because sometimes life doesn’t ask us to do more.

    Sometimes it simply asks us to be present.

    To look around and realize that a meaningful life isn’t built only through milestones or big adventures.

    It’s built through ordinary Saturdays.

    Shared meals.

    Morning coffee.

    Evening runs.

    The people who make us laugh.

    The family who reminds us where we come from.

    The little moments that become our favorite memories before we even realize they’re happening.

    And maybe…

    that’s what a deep breath feels like.

  • 4th of July: Family, Fireworks, and Full Hearts

    4th of July: Family, Fireworks, and Full Hearts

    On my dad’s side, everyone takes turns hosting the holidays.

    My Titi Belen hosts Thanksgiving. My Tio Carlos hosts Christmas Eve. My Uncle Spooner hosts the 4th of July. I started hosting my cousin’s Christmas photoshoot and hanging out before all the Christmas activities. So yes, in my family, holidays are not just dates on the calendar. They are full blown family events.

    Back to the 4th of July.

    In Casa Rivera, my Uncle Spooner buys fireworks, my Titi and Tio get the food ready for the afternoon and dinner, and everyone brings their own kind of energy. There are drinks, food, music, kids running around, and family everywhere.

    Casa Rivera

    The kids play in the pool. The adults talk, laugh, joke, and catch up. Then once it gets dark, everyone gets ready for the fireworks.

    My Uncle Spooner does not play when it comes to fireworks either. We have ground fireworks and aerial fireworks. Everyone gathers outside, watching in awe, recording videos, taking pictures, and holding onto the people they love.

    Some family members are talking loud, some are laughing, and my Uncle Spooner is usually somewhere shouting about the fireworks like he is the official mayor of the 4th of July. And of course, Spanish music is playing in the background because what is a family function without music?

    Honestly, my Uncle Spooner made me fall in love with this holiday.

    He brought the family in during the summer. He gave us a reason to gather, eat, laugh, and make memories. Everyone has a good time with smiles, food grilling, and love all around.

    There is always something happening in my family. A graduation announcement, a pregnancy announcement, a birthday, or just another reason to celebrate life together.

    Last year, I brought my forever friend with me. She had fun, and she is coming again this year. That meant a lot to me because I do not bring just anyone around my family. I do not want temporary people in my life, especially around the people who mean the most to me.

    The day I bring a man to a family function, please know it is serious. My family means a lot to me. I am very family oriented, and my family is full of roasts, jokes, stories, chaos, and love. We talk about anything and everything.

    So happy 250th birthday, America. I hope we remember that we are still a melting pot, and that we all deserve to get along, live comfortably, and lead with love.

    And for me, the 4th of July will always be about more than fireworks. It is about family, memories, music, food, and those little moments that remind me how lucky I am to be surrounded by love.

  • 3 Lessons My Dad Taught Me

    3 Lessons My Dad Taught Me

    I grew up with divorced parents, so both of them taught me different things. Almost the same lessons, but not in the same way.

    My parents grew up together too, but they did not have an easy life. They were both in survival mode in their own ways. My dad taught me resilience, never quitting, the value of hard work, discipline, and staying true to my values.

    The first lesson my dad taught me was hard work and discipline.

    He taught me the importance of consistency, whether it was working out, reading a book, or doing the things we say we want to do. He showed me that discipline is not always loud or glamorous. Sometimes it is just showing up every day, even when you do not feel like it.

    I still carry that lesson with me. I still try to stay consistent with my body, my goals, and the things that matter to me.

    The second lesson my dad taught me was resilience and never quitting.

    He never gave up, even when life threw challenges at him. He went through the Marines, life changes, childhood lessons, and things that could have made him bitter, but instead, he learned from them. He passed that strength down to me and my brother.

    Even my uncle was like a big brother to him, and I think those relationships shaped him too. Because of my dad, I do not quit on the things I love. I fight for my dreams, my family, and the life I want.

    The last lesson my dad taught me was staying true to my values.

    This one might be the lesson I understand more as I get older. My dad showed me how important it is to stand your ground, especially when it comes to family and the people you love.

    He also taught me that not everyone deserves access to you. People show you who they are by how they treat you, and you have to pay attention. He used to explain it with animals and how they move — basically, always be aware, stay ready, and do not be surprised when people act exactly how they have already shown you they can act.

    That lesson stuck with me because it taught me to love people, but also protect myself.

    I thank my dad for every lesson he taught me. Because of him, I know how to work hard, keep going, love my family, and stay true to myself. I appreciate him and love him so much. Happy Father’s Day to the man who taught me strength by the way he lived. 🤍