If you’re staring at the pieces of your life thinking, “Where do I even start?”—I hear you. I’ve been there. Today I’m sharing my story… the story of starting over, more than once, in this thing we call life. And at the end, I’ll give you three simple steps you can take today to move forward.
Episode one is personal—no guests, just you and me with a cafecito. I’ll share what broke, what I learned, and how I rebuilt my life and business, paso a paso. This isn’t about drama; it’s about learning how to begin again—sometimes by choice, sometimes because life happens. The two things that must stay strong in you are determination and faith. If they feel far away today, ask for help—borrow some from someone who loves you. Yo te presto un poquito de la mía.
My journey starts in Lima, Perú, where I was that driven kid who entered university at 15–16. A visit to the U.S. turned into a new life—new country, new rules, new responsibilities. Later came marriage and motherhood, beautiful and heavy at once. We both loved family, but in different ways, and those tiny differences—money, customs, “how we do things”—grew into big tensions when we didn’t yet have the tools to talk them through. After eight years, we chose to separate. I found myself starting over again—this time alone, learning independence at 25–26, far from the place I grew up.
Rock bottom wasn’t dramatic; it was ordinary: three jobs, unpaid bills, sleepless nights, and the kind of exhaustion that makes you cry over small things. A car accident caused by burnout snapped me awake. I wrote down every problem racing through my head and circled one thing I could do that day—make a call, ask for help, cancel something, or simply rest. Through all of it, my faith in God pulled me out of every bad feeling. When I didn’t have strength, I prayed. When I didn’t have a plan, I asked for just the next right step. Dios siempre me sostuvo.
In 2015, the turning point arrived. I met my now-husband, Geovannie, at work. At first we barely talked—he was playful and cheerful; I was direct and no-filter. Friendship grew into love, and with him I discovered a comfort I didn’t know I missed: a shared language and rhythm. We’re from different countries, but we both move through life in Spanish, with that warm family closeness many of our communities cherish. Here’s the truth we explore in this episode: a supportive partner doesn’t rescue you; they stand beside you—they give you space to grow, clap for your boundaries, and gently remind you of your goals when you forget. We married in 2019: new home, new customs, a new start—otra vez.
Career-wise, the restarts continued. I grew as a leader at Bastos Pavers. During COVID, I launched Modern Pavers—first alone, then with family. After two hard years, we closed and lost almost everything. And still, a little rainbow appeared while it was raining: colleagues began asking for notary work, translations, and permit pulling. A trusted friend and accountant said, “This is your lane—tailored work solutions and consulting.” Quietly, I founded Modern Services Consulting. It felt like a lifeline when I was barely breathing. My husband was scared for us—but he stood beside me anyway. And once again, God met me right where I was, lifting me from fear into focus.
In this episode you’ll hear the whole arc—Lima → U.S., early marriage and cultural friction, the 2013 separation, the ordinary face of rock bottom, the 2015 turning point, a supportive partnership that changed everything, and the work pivots that led to my business today. Then I leave you with three zero-budget steps you can use right now:
Name your chapter so decisions get easier.
One-hour reset ritual to tidy your space, handle one admin task, and move your body.
Create a help map—three people and three services you can reach this month.
Bilingual moments included. Real talk, no gossip, lots of grace. You’re not behind—you’re rebuilding.
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