okay let’s get this party started just kidding let’s wrap it up okay
I was I have always been fascinated by
I was I have always been fascinated by stories ever since I was a little girl
stories ever since I was a little girl
stories ever since I was a little girl growing up in Mexico I would get my I
growing up in Mexico I would get my I
growing up in Mexico I would get my I would I would read everything I could
would I would read everything I could
would I would read everything I could get my hands on but I especially liked
get my hands on but I especially liked
get my hands on but I especially liked stories with happy endings stories of
stories with happy endings stories of
stories with happy endings stories of triumph for becoming obstacles heroes
triumph for becoming obstacles heroes
triumph for becoming obstacles heroes stories who doesn’t want to be a hero
stories who doesn’t want to be a hero
stories who doesn’t want to be a hero growing up I wanted to be Princess Leia
growing up I wanted to be Princess Leia
growing up I wanted to be Princess Leia so when the time came to choose a career
so when the time came to choose a career
so when the time came to choose a career I expressed my desire to become a writer
I expressed my desire to become a writer
I expressed my desire to become a writer but my dad told me that I would starve
but my dad told me that I would starve
but my dad told me that I would starve to death so I took the path of least
to death so I took the path of least
to death so I took the path of least resistance and went to law school then I
resistance and went to law school then I
resistance and went to law school then I turned into linguistics and became a
turned into linguistics and became a
turned into linguistics and became a translator a few years passed until one
translator a few years passed until one
translator a few years passed until one day I decided to pursue my passion
day I decided to pursue my passion
day I decided to pursue my passion writing I started writing a story in
writing I started writing a story in
writing I started writing a story in block form and about 30 entries later I
block form and about 30 entries later I
block form and about 30 entries later I figured that I had enough material to
figured that I had enough material to
figured that I had enough material to turn it into a novel but how I didn’t
turn it into a novel but how I didn’t
turn it into a novel but how I didn’t have a writing background I knew no one
have a writing background I knew no one
have a writing background I knew no one in the industry and who would publish a
in the industry and who would publish a
in the industry and who would publish a novel in Spanish in the United States so
novel in Spanish in the United States so
novel in Spanish in the United States so in the summer of 2015 after putting my
in the summer of 2015 after putting my
in the summer of 2015 after putting my job I bought a one-way ticket to Mexico
job I bought a one-way ticket to Mexico
job I bought a one-way ticket to Mexico to find a publisher in pursuit of my
to find a publisher in pursuit of my
to find a publisher in pursuit of my treatment what I didn’t know back then
treatment what I didn’t know back then
treatment what I didn’t know back then was that as I embarked on this journey I
was that as I embarked on this journey I
was that as I embarked on this journey I would be rewriting the story of my life
would be rewriting the story of my life
would be rewriting the story of my life on Sunday March 20 2016 I woke up like
on Sunday March 20 2016 I woke up like
on Sunday March 20 2016 I woke up like every other Sunday happy him really was
every other Sunday happy him really was
every other Sunday happy him really was a team with my husband
a team with my husband
a team with my husband it was our 23rd wedding anniversary
it was our 23rd wedding anniversary
it was our 23rd wedding anniversary we woke up congratulated each other for
we woke up congratulated each other for
we woke up congratulated each other for one more year without appearing in
one more year without appearing in
one more year without appearing in America’s Most Wanted and got up to
America’s Most Wanted and got up to
America’s Most Wanted and got up to start our routine we had a nice lunch
start our routine we had a nice lunch
start our routine we had a nice lunch where we talked about the current state
where we talked about the current state
where we talked about the current state of things with our 22 year old son
of things with our 22 year old son
of things with our 22 year old son announcing a few days earlier that his
announcing a few days earlier that his
announcing a few days earlier that his girlfriend was pregnant and our 20 year
girlfriend was pregnant and our 20 year
girlfriend was pregnant and our 20 year old daughter back home after dropping
old daughter back home after dropping
old daughter back home after dropping out from college with no clear plan or
out from college with no clear plan or
out from college with no clear plan or direction plus our 12 year old daughter
direction plus our 12 year old daughter
direction plus our 12 year old daughter Katie puberty we had faced many
Katie puberty we had faced many
Katie puberty we had faced many challenges together before and this
challenges together before and this
challenges together before and this would be no different everything would
would be no different everything would
would be no different everything would be alright
be alright
be alright three hours later my life came crashing
three hours later my life came crashing
three hours later my life came crashing down
we sent church who famously said when
we sent church who famously said when you’re going through hell keep going
you’re going through hell keep going
you’re going through hell keep going 2016 was that year for me one of great
2016 was that year for me one of great
2016 was that year for me one of great losses for the world first it was David
losses for the world first it was David
losses for the world first it was David Bowie and Prince the Muhammad Ali and
Bowie and Prince the Muhammad Ali and
Bowie and Prince the Muhammad Ali and then my personal hero my father he had
then my personal hero my father he had
then my personal hero my father he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and took
been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and took
been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and took a turn for the worst right in the middle
a turn for the worst right in the middle
a turn for the worst right in the middle of the four-alarm fire I was trying to
of the four-alarm fire I was trying to
of the four-alarm fire I was trying to put up a succession of life-altering
put up a succession of life-altering
put up a succession of life-altering events was taking place and I wondered
events was taking place and I wondered
events was taking place and I wondered why is all this happening to me
why was all this happening to me I
why was all this happening to me I wondered that it was very difficult
wondered that it was very difficult
wondered that it was very difficult people asked me how did I remain calm
people asked me how did I remain calm
people asked me how did I remain calm throughout all the ups and downs that I
throughout all the ups and downs that I
throughout all the ups and downs that I experienced in that single year
experienced in that single year
experienced in that single year dis got me thinking what it makes some
dis got me thinking what it makes some
dis got me thinking what it makes some people deal with life-altering events
people deal with life-altering events
people deal with life-altering events better than others what makes someone
better than others what makes someone
better than others what makes someone unsinkable do you see this right here
unsinkable do you see this right here
unsinkable do you see this right here it’s called a run a silver chica come on
it’s called a run a silver chica come on
it’s called a run a silver chica come on oh no oh it’s a cute little frog right
oh no oh it’s a cute little frog right
oh no oh it’s a cute little frog right now let me show you the rawness of
now let me show you the rawness of
now let me show you the rawness of Attica in winter she looks a bit
Attica in winter she looks a bit
Attica in winter she looks a bit uncomfortable because now she’s a fox
uncomfortable because now she’s a fox
uncomfortable because now she’s a fox achill has the ability to freeze solid
achill has the ability to freeze solid
achill has the ability to freeze solid when the going gets tough but come
when the going gets tough but come
when the going gets tough but come spring it falls stretched out a little
spring it falls stretched out a little
spring it falls stretched out a little bit pops away it’s a survival skill when
bit pops away it’s a survival skill when
bit pops away it’s a survival skill when freesync solid it has the opportunity to
freesync solid it has the opportunity to
freesync solid it has the opportunity to regenerate in start all over again it’s
regenerate in start all over again it’s
regenerate in start all over again it’s also called adaptation adaptations takes
also called adaptation adaptations takes
also called adaptation adaptations takes thousands of years we don’t have that
thousands of years we don’t have that
thousands of years we don’t have that kind of time humans have to adjust to
kind of time humans have to adjust to
kind of time humans have to adjust to their circumstances to changing
their circumstances to changing
their circumstances to changing circumstances very quickly two months
circumstances very quickly two months
circumstances very quickly two months before that dreadful afternoon I had
before that dreadful afternoon I had
before that dreadful afternoon I had started working with an editor to
started working with an editor to
started working with an editor to publish my manuscript my trip to Mexico
publish my manuscript my trip to Mexico
publish my manuscript my trip to Mexico had been unsuccessful but I was unhurt I
had been unsuccessful but I was unhurt I
had been unsuccessful but I was unhurt I went back home got involved with the
went back home got involved with the
went back home got involved with the local Latino literary community and the
local Latino literary community and the
local Latino literary community and the editor of an online magazine agreed to
editor of an online magazine agreed to
editor of an online magazine agreed to publish my book I was overjoyed by the
publish my book I was overjoyed by the
publish my book I was overjoyed by the prospect of fulfilling my dream the book
prospect of fulfilling my dream the book
prospect of fulfilling my dream the book would become the raft that would keep me
would become the raft that would keep me
would become the raft that would keep me afloat while preparing for this talk I
afloat while preparing for this talk I
afloat while preparing for this talk I started to do some research on real-life
started to do some research on real-life
started to do some research on real-life heroes I wanted to find some common
heroes I wanted to find some common
heroes I wanted to find some common denominators in their stories and I
denominators in their stories and I
denominators in their stories and I found a few
On January 15 2009 flight 1549 took off
On January 15 2009 flight 1549 took off from New York City to North Carolina and
from New York City to North Carolina and
from New York City to North Carolina and hit a flock of geese on takeoff both
hit a flock of geese on takeoff both
hit a flock of geese on takeoff both engines shut down minutes later captain
engines shut down minutes later captain
engines shut down minutes later captain Chesley Sullenberger landed the plane on
Chesley Sullenberger landed the plane on
Chesley Sullenberger landed the plane on the Hudson his years of training and
the Hudson his years of training and
the Hudson his years of training and experience kicked in the second he
experience kicked in the second he
experience kicked in the second he realized that the engines were gone he
realized that the engines were gone he
realized that the engines were gone he focused on landing the plane first and
focused on landing the plane first and
focused on landing the plane first and took the necessary actions to achieve
took the necessary actions to achieve
took the necessary actions to achieve the best possible outcome if you listen
the best possible outcome if you listen
the best possible outcome if you listen to the recording of the exchange with
to the recording of the exchange with
to the recording of the exchange with the control tower his voice is always
the control tower his voice is always
the control tower his voice is always calm and in command when the tower
calm and in command when the tower
calm and in command when the tower suggests he had to Tedder borough New
suggests he had to Tedder borough New
suggests he had to Tedder borough New Jersey he responds with a hundred
Jersey he responds with a hundred
Jersey he responds with a hundred percent certainty look for us in the
percent certainty look for us in the
percent certainty look for us in the Hudson captain Sully knew they were in
Hudson captain Sully knew they were in
Hudson captain Sully knew they were in trouble but he was prepared he was
trouble but he was prepared he was
trouble but he was prepared he was focused and he took the necessary
focused and he took the necessary
focused and he took the necessary actions to achieve the best possible
actions to achieve the best possible
actions to achieve the best possible outcome not just action but the best
outcome not just action but the best
outcome not just action but the best course of action a hero story was
course of action a hero story was
course of action a hero story was written that day on the Hudson when
written that day on the Hudson when
written that day on the Hudson when tragedy or a disaster or difficulty hits
tragedy or a disaster or difficulty hits
tragedy or a disaster or difficulty hits it’s normal to feel blindsided confused
it’s normal to feel blindsided confused
it’s normal to feel blindsided confused frozen but the difficulty seems small
frozen but the difficulty seems small
frozen but the difficulty seems small even prosaic pregnant girlfriend college
even prosaic pregnant girlfriend college
even prosaic pregnant girlfriend college dropout sick father you’re not alone
dropout sick father you’re not alone
dropout sick father you’re not alone that is the story of life nobody gets a
that is the story of life nobody gets a
that is the story of life nobody gets a Pierce I noticed also that action takes
Pierce I noticed also that action takes
Pierce I noticed also that action takes a lot of forms action doesn’t have to
a lot of forms action doesn’t have to
a lot of forms action doesn’t have to look like a Star Wars movie action can
look like a Star Wars movie action can
look like a Star Wars movie action can be quiet silent in a passive sometimes
be quiet silent in a passive sometimes
be quiet silent in a passive sometimes wearing it out can be the best course of
wearing it out can be the best course of
wearing it out can be the best course of action
action
action oops that was a punch line oh my god
oops that was a punch line oh my god
oops that was a punch line oh my god oh there okay so that is Rosa Parks
oh there okay so that is Rosa Parks
oh there okay so that is Rosa Parks being booked after refusing to give up
being booked after refusing to give up
being booked after refusing to give up her seat back in 1955 by refusing to
her seat back in 1955 by refusing to
her seat back in 1955 by refusing to move she ignited the civil rights
move she ignited the civil rights
move she ignited the civil rights movement many people think she did this
movement many people think she did this
movement many people think she did this out of the blue she didn’t she had a
out of the blue she didn’t she had a
out of the blue she didn’t she had a plan a few had tried before her
plan a few had tried before her
plan a few had tried before her unsuccessfully but she waited and waited
unsuccessfully but she waited and waited
unsuccessfully but she waited and waited a little bit more until the time was
a little bit more until the time was
a little bit more until the time was right she had been prepared for this
right she had been prepared for this
right she had been prepared for this moment all her life she was focused on
moment all her life she was focused on
moment all her life she was focused on sending a message on behalf of her
sending a message on behalf of her
sending a message on behalf of her community and she took action at the
community and she took action at the
community and she took action at the right time
right time
right time by refusing truth this selfless act of
by refusing truth this selfless act of
by refusing truth this selfless act of defiance changed the course of history
defiance changed the course of history
defiance changed the course of history and her story selflessness translates
and her story selflessness translates
and her story selflessness translates into fearlessness when you put others
into fearlessness when you put others
into fearlessness when you put others before you look at superpowers any one
before you look at superpowers any one
before you look at superpowers any one of you can be a hero and not know it
of you can be a hero and not know it
of you can be a hero and not know it we see this often when tragedy strikes
we see this often when tragedy strikes
we see this often when tragedy strikes ordinary people like you and me suddenly
ordinary people like you and me suddenly
ordinary people like you and me suddenly doing extraordinary things that March
doing extraordinary things that March
doing extraordinary things that March afternoon after coming back from lunch I
afternoon after coming back from lunch I
afternoon after coming back from lunch I went upstairs to my bedroom to read my
went upstairs to my bedroom to read my
went upstairs to my bedroom to read my husband stayed downstairs watching TV an
husband stayed downstairs watching TV an
husband stayed downstairs watching TV an hour later my older daughter came
hour later my older daughter came
hour later my older daughter came running upstairs in a panic mom I have
running upstairs in a panic mom I have
running upstairs in a panic mom I have to tell you something I caught dad with
to tell you something I caught dad with
to tell you something I caught dad with an app on his phone
an app on his phone
an app on his phone what what are you talking about Grindr
what what are you talking about Grindr
what what are you talking about Grindr mom is that a dating app mom my head
mom is that a dating app mom my head
mom is that a dating app mom my head started spinning a few minutes later I
started spinning a few minutes later I
started spinning a few minutes later I confronted my husband and with much
confronted my husband and with much
confronted my husband and with much difficulty he admitted what my daughter
difficulty he admitted what my daughter
difficulty he admitted what my daughter had refused to tell me not that he was
had refused to tell me not that he was
had refused to tell me not that he was cheating but that he was gay I was
cheating but that he was gay I was
cheating but that he was gay I was stunned
stunned
stunned I felt like Captain Sully I had lost the
I felt like Captain Sully I had lost the
I felt like Captain Sully I had lost the engines and I had to land this plane
engines and I had to land this plane
engines and I had to land this plane fortunately I had more time than captain
fortunately I had more time than captain
fortunately I had more time than captain Sully so I had two choices I could
Sully so I had two choices I could
Sully so I had two choices I could choose to be this and there’s the
choose to be this and there’s the
choose to be this and there’s the punchline or I could choose to be this I
punchline or I could choose to be this I
punchline or I could choose to be this I chose Princess Leia and it’s okay guys
chose Princess Leia and it’s okay guys
chose Princess Leia and it’s okay guys you can also be Princess Leia I focused
you can also be Princess Leia I focused
you can also be Princess Leia I focused on my book and the well-being of my
on my book and the well-being of my
on my book and the well-being of my children and as long as I was calm and
children and as long as I was calm and
children and as long as I was calm and in command I knew everything would be
in command I knew everything would be
in command I knew everything would be alright at the end of May I my book was
alright at the end of May I my book was
alright at the end of May I my book was launched at the national museum of
launched at the national museum of
launched at the national museum of mexican arts in chicago nobody had ever
mexican arts in chicago nobody had ever
mexican arts in chicago nobody had ever heard of me
heard of me
heard of me but I was prepared focused and
but I was prepared focused and
but I was prepared focused and determined to make the event a success
determined to make the event a success
determined to make the event a success more than 100 people attended it and I
more than 100 people attended it and I
more than 100 people attended it and I can proudly say it was a hit considering
can proudly say it was a hit considering
can proudly say it was a hit considering it was a novel in Spanish published by
it was a novel in Spanish published by
it was a novel in Spanish published by an unknown author in the United States
an unknown author in the United States
an unknown author in the United States after the book launched we told our
after the book launched we told our
after the book launched we told our children about our impending divorce in
children about our impending divorce in
children about our impending divorce in their father sexuality and they accepted
their father sexuality and they accepted
their father sexuality and they accepted him with open arms
him with open arms
him with open arms although saddened by our separation they
although saddened by our separation they
although saddened by our separation they expressed that the only thing they cared
expressed that the only thing they cared
expressed that the only thing they cared for was our happiness in October I
for was our happiness in October I
for was our happiness in October I presented the book at the Monterrey
presented the book at the Monterrey
presented the book at the Monterrey International Book Fair the day after I
International Book Fair the day after I
International Book Fair the day after I came back my granddaughter Valentina was
came back my granddaughter Valentina was
came back my granddaughter Valentina was born two weeks later my father passed
born two weeks later my father passed
born two weeks later my father passed away in November and in December I
away in November and in December I
away in November and in December I presented the book at the prestigious
presented the book at the prestigious
presented the book at the prestigious Waddell Jara International Book Fair to
Waddell Jara International Book Fair to
Waddell Jara International Book Fair to a packed room that’s the picture you see
a packed room that’s the picture you see
a packed room that’s the picture you see up there
today oops
today oops today my ex-husband is my best friend
today my ex-husband is my best friend
today my ex-husband is my best friend and my family is still my family I’m
and my family is still my family I’m
and my family is still my family I’m working on my next novel and I have a
working on my next novel and I have a
working on my next novel and I have a beautiful granddaughter I am prepared
beautiful granddaughter I am prepared
beautiful granddaughter I am prepared for the next chapter of my life focused
for the next chapter of my life focused
for the next chapter of my life focused on the things that would add to my story
on the things that would add to my story
on the things that would add to my story to make it a good one
to make it a good one
to make it a good one so remember follow your passion because
so remember follow your passion because
so remember follow your passion because it’s going to catch up with you sooner
it’s going to catch up with you sooner
it’s going to catch up with you sooner or later and when the going gets tough
oops again prepare focus be fearless
oops again prepare focus be fearless take action and make your story a good
take action and make your story a good
take action and make your story a good one thank you
”
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