For this season of thanks, I want to focus on transparently reflecting on the things I am most thankful for this week and every day of my life thus far. As you read through this, I would like to note that I am basing this on my personal experience. I encourage you to take what resonates for your own life.
Many of us share what we are grateful for at Thanksgiving dinner as we hold hands and say grace. You will likely hear answers such as “family, friends, a roof above my head, health,” which are all wonderful and essential aspects of life I am eternally appreciative of. But I wanted to step out of those more generic answers and come up with something that is representative of everything I’ve experienced recently. This year, I have grown very fond of my Colombian background and realized just how huge this part of my identity is for me.
Ever since I was very young, I have always loved going to Colombia, the country where my family is from and where my roots will always be. My mom, dad, and brother were all born there, and shortly after they immigrated to the United States I was born in sunny Pembroke Pines, Florida. Although I do not have a direct connection to the country, my family has always ensured that I stay connected to my origin. My native language is Spanish and continues to be the primary language spoken in my household. Shoutout to my parents for acknowledging the importance of bilingualism, which has opened doors for me in the professional world as well. They have also made it a priority to make Bogota, their hometown and the country’s capital, a place we frequently visit. Although my parents sacrificed to leave their country in order to give my brother and I more opportunities, they always wanted us to know what their life looked like before I was born.
These two factors being a priority for them have shaped my identity and fondness of Colombia pretty strongly. Over the course of my life, I had the privilege to make so many amazing memories in Bogota surrounded by family and friends, and it became a place I always look forward to coming back to. The more I went, the more it grew fonder for me. Living in the United States has been amazing, where I experience many luxuries that many in Colombia share with me. However, in Colombia, I am always introduced to new experiences that I don’t really get the opportunity to experience anywhere else. Whether it be interactions and dynamics shared with people, new places and activities, or new music and tastes, I even get to wear “Rola fashion,” which is what my friends like to call it. It’s basically more of a permanent fall and winter fashion for Bogota that is universal within the city, and I always get to wear my favorite outfits I can’t wear here due to Florida heat. It’s always hot here and always cold there, because the city is surrounded by mountains and at a very high altitude. It’s those little things I get to learn and participate in that are exclusively unique to them that I consider so enriching and fulfilling.
Although I never may fully understand since I did not grow up there, the eagerness to learn about these little intricacies of mundane life for Colombians ignites a newfound excitement and appreciation for me. I absolutely love how through their quotidienne life, they are always able to find joy, humor, and especially a kind of community friendliness even in tough circumstances. And when it’s time to go home, I get to take those little things and experiences back home with me and store them in a special place in my heart.
This Thanksgiving, I am especially thankful for the circumstances, even the ones that seem insignificant at first glance. All of us come into this world with a life we didn’t ask for, in completely different situations. I am incredibly thankful for this circumstance, that my heritage just happens to be part of my life, and has helped me in countless ways. Embracing this part of myself, not only individually but surrounded by the people I love, has allowed me to grow immensely as a person. It is a part of me that I would not trade for anything in this world, and a piece of my heart will always reside in Bogota. So much so, that in my future career, I hope to bring in this great love I share for my culture and its people as a more permanent factor. As you can see in my author bio; I spoiled it for you guys a bit. However, I would love to bring in my knowledge from both the United States and Colombia and fuse them together to work closely with Latin America. I am so happy to be able to practice a career where I can use the things I am passionate about and implement them in my current projects. I have decided this past year to pursue this specific passion, as a commemoration to all of the blessings my background has brought me and to my parents for fostering that experience for me.
Thanksgiving is the day when we get to vocalize our gratitude and share these things out loud, but once you do, hold onto that thankfulness. You will see that it will fill your heart and soul in the most enriching way, and you’ll end up thanking me later (pun intended). I hope you guys had an amazing Thanksgiving, and if you are reading this, I am thankful for you.