Welcome to Cuídate, a space devoted to the art of slow, intentional living where stories pave the way for joy, mindfulness, healing, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Thank you. Since discovering your Substack several months ago, I’ve begun confronting and dealing with the wounds and traumas I have rigorously tried to suppress in my life. Thanks to your writings I found inspiration and hope. I’ve now taken those first steps towards healing that I knew I had too but was too afraid. Your words, your example of what true healing looks like has honestly put me in a much better place. So thank you very much.
Eric, your words made me tear up. I am encouraged and inspired by your courage to step into healing work. I am so proud of you for choosing to confront your wounds and receive the healing and hope you deserve.
I just really look forward to your posts. They speak to me in ways I’ve never experienced before. What you are doing...the medium you are doing it in...whether you know or not it’s having an impact. So once again. Thank you.
Thank you for writing this piece! Every point you made are reoccurring lessons on the unfolding path of healing. What has integrated for me, since the beginning of this year is that I am free to own my light.
When I started my healing journey in 2021, I was very much going in with this self improvement attitude of trying hard to clear what I can. And I've cleared A LOT. But the journey is not about fixing what is "broken" its about clearing away all that which we aren't so we've always been can show. I feel like I've been given permission to really own and shine my uniqueness.
Yes there's much more to go, and will be as long as I have a soul lol, but my inherent perfection is already there. And it's always been there. And I don't have to wait on the sidelines anymore.
Isaiah 43:1 says Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.
Knowing that I am chosen by the TRUE Jesus no matter where I am with this healing shit, is the greatest ❤️
I am on the healing path, tangled up in the dense underbrush, far down the path, but nowhere near the end. So I walk slowly, and although it is a solitary journey, others are here. Each person’s presence encourages me to continue. Thank you for this wonderful post, Josefina.
Susan your poetic words are a balm to my heart. I love that you are taking your time and allowing those around you to encourage you in your walk. Keep on keeping on.
I confront healing head on, but recently I've discovered a father wound that's turtles all the way down. I'm oscillating between resolving the issues one by one through difficult conversations, and just accepting the situation because 50% of the solution may not want to our be emotionally able to participate.
This certainly isn't linear. Or progressive. It's like a cha-cha waltz. Sometimes organized and sometimes all over the place...
Yes. And that's the part of healing that we can all see yet sometimes tend to look over. It's a waltz. A dance between grief and joy. A dance between healing, growing, and moving forward even if the person that inflicted pain doesn't take ownership. Thank you so much for sharing part of your story with us.
I have found that healing involves letting go of false beliefs that I have held as truths. When I can let go, that's when healing comes. I can't force it, healing comes at the right time when I can sit quietly and feel. Feelings lead to healing.
Thank you, Josefina, for writing this beautiful piece.
I'm also on a slow, whimsical healing journey. Slow here doesn't mean I become lazy in my progress, but being mindful in which steps I'm taking today, trying as much as possible being in the Now. Engaging in Ignatian spirituality practice, disciplining my mind, allowing the doubts to resurface (bring what covered into the light of God) so I can watch them with compassion and transmute them into something gentler.
I've got physical symptoms (e.g. feeling cold despite temperature being acceptable) that is a discomfort, but I confront them and strengthening my mind in prayer to seek God's guidance to feel warm.
Thank you my sister in healing🙏✨ I see and hear you and appreciate you so much speaking to the loneliness. Now that I've begun, there's no going back and it's not a straight line, it's a spiral, each time around bringing deeper truths. My latest a-ha moment came today. People raised on survival respond to life differently than those raised on love. My most important task is to be kind and loving towards myself to the best of my ability, and when I forget, to remind myself that's okay too. I'm doing nothing wrong. There is no "wrong" on my path back to wholeness and I know in my bones and my heart, I'm never alone ❤️
Niki, I really appreciate your words. Thank you for resonating, connecting, and holding on to these words while sharing your truth. I completely agree there's a difference when you're raised on survival mode. Kindness and Grace is a beautiful and much needed thing we need to choose.
Oh how deliciously evocative and precisely poignant is this full sized perfume bottle’s journey.
It really is like that for me. The sensory feeling of familiarity. That which feels so very core to my “me-ness”. Healing has been the courageous willingness in tough moments-as-months to hold nothing about my preciously constructed identity as sacred.
Linda Black Elk was speaking about nettles and the practice of picking them by hand, which can prevent arthritis. Some folks in the audience gasped. She said, "what? Healing is uncomfortable. Even a small scab itches and pulls." I've extrapolated that to other healing journeys and it has helped me confront that idea of healing being this gentle process that I didn't realize I was clinging to.
Gladly! I could listen to Linda Black Elk talk about nettles and dandelions forever. I also want a nettle leaf tattoo that says "healing is uncomfortable", but I'm sort of attached to my no tattoo identity 😂
I will write my honest review. The thing that affected me most is healing is possible but you can not heal people. It reminded me a quote “You cannot save people. You can only love them.”
Josefina, so grateful to stumble across your beautiful words. The perfume being tossed by TSA resonated a lil too much! I immediately think about all you would have had to do to keep the perfume -- backtrack and possibly miss what's waiting for you (your flight). Thank you for the reminder that everything cannot go and the possibilities (lessons and writing) that happen when you leave something where it's at. Even if it's hard!! Blessings to you.
You have me realizing that healing comes in fits and starts - sometimes it rushes in and I’m euphoric other times I feel like I’m at square one but over all there is forward movement. I’m also realizing that for some of us healing is a forever process. Thanks for sharing.
The human journey to become whole again. It's the human condition to be separated from the whole. We stay here for a while. Learn what we can and to not make it worse than what it is. Lift up through higher consciousness. ❤️
Hi Josefina, I find this such a gentle and beautiful post and it truly brings this quality of honey onto my day right now. I love that you shared this passage from Proverbs at the beginning. It resonated deeply within me as this is a wish that came up very strongly for me this past week – "I want to bring healing into the world through writing". I am very much at the beginning of my writing-sharing journey, but just reading this verse in your post reminded me of why I am here on this platform. Like a nudge to keep going. Thank you for that. Appreciate you and your journey.
Thank you Josefina. These are beautiful gentle words. Reminders that healing takes such courage are few and far between them. We all need these examples from others who are on this journey and path.
Thank you. Since discovering your Substack several months ago, I’ve begun confronting and dealing with the wounds and traumas I have rigorously tried to suppress in my life. Thanks to your writings I found inspiration and hope. I’ve now taken those first steps towards healing that I knew I had too but was too afraid. Your words, your example of what true healing looks like has honestly put me in a much better place. So thank you very much.
Eric, your words made me tear up. I am encouraged and inspired by your courage to step into healing work. I am so proud of you for choosing to confront your wounds and receive the healing and hope you deserve.
I just really look forward to your posts. They speak to me in ways I’ve never experienced before. What you are doing...the medium you are doing it in...whether you know or not it’s having an impact. So once again. Thank you.
May we all be whole. Our natural state. ❤️
Thank you for writing this piece! Every point you made are reoccurring lessons on the unfolding path of healing. What has integrated for me, since the beginning of this year is that I am free to own my light.
When I started my healing journey in 2021, I was very much going in with this self improvement attitude of trying hard to clear what I can. And I've cleared A LOT. But the journey is not about fixing what is "broken" its about clearing away all that which we aren't so we've always been can show. I feel like I've been given permission to really own and shine my uniqueness.
Yes there's much more to go, and will be as long as I have a soul lol, but my inherent perfection is already there. And it's always been there. And I don't have to wait on the sidelines anymore.
Isaiah 43:1 says Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.
Knowing that I am chosen by the TRUE Jesus no matter where I am with this healing shit, is the greatest ❤️
FREE TO OWN YOUR LIGHT. Wow I love that. Thank you for sharing.
You're so welcome!
Amen my friends ❤️
I am on the healing path, tangled up in the dense underbrush, far down the path, but nowhere near the end. So I walk slowly, and although it is a solitary journey, others are here. Each person’s presence encourages me to continue. Thank you for this wonderful post, Josefina.
Susan your poetic words are a balm to my heart. I love that you are taking your time and allowing those around you to encourage you in your walk. Keep on keeping on.
I resonate ❤️
Thank you for these beautiful words. 😍
I confront healing head on, but recently I've discovered a father wound that's turtles all the way down. I'm oscillating between resolving the issues one by one through difficult conversations, and just accepting the situation because 50% of the solution may not want to our be emotionally able to participate.
This certainly isn't linear. Or progressive. It's like a cha-cha waltz. Sometimes organized and sometimes all over the place...
Yes. And that's the part of healing that we can all see yet sometimes tend to look over. It's a waltz. A dance between grief and joy. A dance between healing, growing, and moving forward even if the person that inflicted pain doesn't take ownership. Thank you so much for sharing part of your story with us.
We stand in peace in the middle of both sides. Equanomuos and undisturbed. Peace. Ohm ❤️
I have found that healing involves letting go of false beliefs that I have held as truths. When I can let go, that's when healing comes. I can't force it, healing comes at the right time when I can sit quietly and feel. Feelings lead to healing.
The art of surrender is a tough yet beautiful one. Thank you for sharing Janine.
Letting go is the answer to most questions. Let go of the questions 🫶
Thank you, Josefina, for writing this beautiful piece.
I'm also on a slow, whimsical healing journey. Slow here doesn't mean I become lazy in my progress, but being mindful in which steps I'm taking today, trying as much as possible being in the Now. Engaging in Ignatian spirituality practice, disciplining my mind, allowing the doubts to resurface (bring what covered into the light of God) so I can watch them with compassion and transmute them into something gentler.
I've got physical symptoms (e.g. feeling cold despite temperature being acceptable) that is a discomfort, but I confront them and strengthening my mind in prayer to seek God's guidance to feel warm.
If we have faith that all is made well, our body responds accordingly. As within so with out ❤️
Oh thanks for the lovely phrase: as within so with out. I read that years ago, now you reminded me of this.
Thank you my sister in healing🙏✨ I see and hear you and appreciate you so much speaking to the loneliness. Now that I've begun, there's no going back and it's not a straight line, it's a spiral, each time around bringing deeper truths. My latest a-ha moment came today. People raised on survival respond to life differently than those raised on love. My most important task is to be kind and loving towards myself to the best of my ability, and when I forget, to remind myself that's okay too. I'm doing nothing wrong. There is no "wrong" on my path back to wholeness and I know in my bones and my heart, I'm never alone ❤️
Niki, I really appreciate your words. Thank you for resonating, connecting, and holding on to these words while sharing your truth. I completely agree there's a difference when you're raised on survival mode. Kindness and Grace is a beautiful and much needed thing we need to choose.
We are just walking each other home
Oh how deliciously evocative and precisely poignant is this full sized perfume bottle’s journey.
It really is like that for me. The sensory feeling of familiarity. That which feels so very core to my “me-ness”. Healing has been the courageous willingness in tough moments-as-months to hold nothing about my preciously constructed identity as sacred.
Except the sacred.
Phew this is a whole mouth and heart full. And so true. A courageous and willingness during tough moments. I love that.
We show up the next day with a bigger perspective
This is pure gold. Healing to all. ❤️
Thank you for reading Paolo.
Linda Black Elk was speaking about nettles and the practice of picking them by hand, which can prevent arthritis. Some folks in the audience gasped. She said, "what? Healing is uncomfortable. Even a small scab itches and pulls." I've extrapolated that to other healing journeys and it has helped me confront that idea of healing being this gentle process that I didn't realize I was clinging to.
Wow! Wow wow! Even a small scab itches and pulls. What a lesson. Thank you so much for sharing Amy.
Gladly! I could listen to Linda Black Elk talk about nettles and dandelions forever. I also want a nettle leaf tattoo that says "healing is uncomfortable", but I'm sort of attached to my no tattoo identity 😂
I will write my honest review. The thing that affected me most is healing is possible but you can not heal people. It reminded me a quote “You cannot save people. You can only love them.”
— Anaïs Nin. Make sure to keep your love in life.
Wow, I love that quote. Thank you so much for sharing.
Josefina, so grateful to stumble across your beautiful words. The perfume being tossed by TSA resonated a lil too much! I immediately think about all you would have had to do to keep the perfume -- backtrack and possibly miss what's waiting for you (your flight). Thank you for the reminder that everything cannot go and the possibilities (lessons and writing) that happen when you leave something where it's at. Even if it's hard!! Blessings to you.
You have me realizing that healing comes in fits and starts - sometimes it rushes in and I’m euphoric other times I feel like I’m at square one but over all there is forward movement. I’m also realizing that for some of us healing is a forever process. Thanks for sharing.
The human journey to become whole again. It's the human condition to be separated from the whole. We stay here for a while. Learn what we can and to not make it worse than what it is. Lift up through higher consciousness. ❤️
Hi Josefina, I find this such a gentle and beautiful post and it truly brings this quality of honey onto my day right now. I love that you shared this passage from Proverbs at the beginning. It resonated deeply within me as this is a wish that came up very strongly for me this past week – "I want to bring healing into the world through writing". I am very much at the beginning of my writing-sharing journey, but just reading this verse in your post reminded me of why I am here on this platform. Like a nudge to keep going. Thank you for that. Appreciate you and your journey.
Thank you Josefina. These are beautiful gentle words. Reminders that healing takes such courage are few and far between them. We all need these examples from others who are on this journey and path.
Soul balm for me today in my morning journaling and reflection practice. Thank you 🙏