Happiness

To me happiness is defined as being content with who you are and what you have at that specific moment in time. Happiness can be derived from anything and everything. It can be as simple as receiving a compliment from a complete stranger or receiving a dozen roses from your significant other. It engulfs all the artwork your children create, it’s present in the simple words: “I love you mom”.

I have several occasions in my life in which I have been very happy. My first “happiness” experience took place on February 4^th, 2003 when I was only 18 years old, my first daughter was born. I was overwhelmed with joy, happiness, emotion and a dozen other things. It was at that moment that I learned the true meaning of happiness. That 7lb, 12 oz baby girl represented my life and the reason for my desire to get ahead in life. The other occasion was when I got married with my husband. I was only 21 years old, but I knew in my heart that this was the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. We have had our share of arguments like any other married couple, but together we have accomplished a majority of our goals. The third occasion was when my second daughter was born. Being given the opportunity to be a mother once again was incredible and once again an experience that can’t really be expressed with words.

I believe that being happy definitely shapes your life and the way you lead it. Many times we as humans take on the idea that our happiness relies on others, that they are the ones that make us happy. However, we are the only ones responsible for our lives and we are the only ones that can make ourselves happy, everything else is simply the icing on the cake. Happiness changes our perspective on the world, we find ourselves being more optimistic when we are happy. I don’t believe it is the most important thing, but I do believe it is one that needs to be present in our everyday lives, along with the understanding that we only have one life to live and we must not spend it being pessimistic.

Culture: My Way of Life

Culture is defined as what a group of people have in common, including shared beliefs, meanings, and values, as well as shared ways of doing things.

I am Mexican and with that comes alot of traditions that can be found just south of our border. I was born in Mexico but immigrated to the US at age 3. As I look back at my childhood, I realize that my parents mixed traditions both native and foreign to their culture. In Mexico, in the month of December people celebrate "Las Posadas", they are neighbrohood parties/get togethers that are held 2 weeks before Christmas in preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. This is something my parents would engage in while living in Mexico and in their growing up, however I was not really exposed to this, except for the occasional Church sponsored Posadas that we attended. At Christmas time  we always make tamales, posole and mole. I often questioned my mom as to why we had to make mole and she replied with "it's what you do, and needs to be made on days like this, we always had it on Christmas day growing up". In my culture people hold the belief that when a young child becomes suddenly ill, it's because someone "le echo el ojo", which translates to someone gave them the eye. It's seems more like an urban legend to me, but both my mother and grandmother swear by it. I love my culture for what it is and I love the fact that I am able to continue with the traditions/customs that my parents grew up with.

As a mother to two girls it is important to me that my girls become familiar with their culture, and embrace it. I am yet to take them to visit my birthplace and meet their extended family. My girls are being exposed to two cultures: Mexican (birth) and American (association). They know of the posadas, they are learning to speak Spanish, and yet they believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. We celebrate the Fourth of July by going to the beach, and celebrate Mexico's Independence Day by going to the street fair in Santa Ana.