Robin Deluna

This is 4-year-old Robin, and she had big dreams.

She wanted to be a singer, a poet, and an author of many books. She slept with 4 night lights because she was deathly afraid of the monsters under her bed.

She named all her stuffies, kissed all 27 before bed, and rotated sleeping with each one of them so they felt equally loved. Her mom always said her "little eyes would dance". She was so happy, and laughed so much, it annoyed her older brother.

This little girl deserves a good future. One where she has a fair chance to be all she can be, and a future where she actually believes she can create anything she wants.

Somewhere along the way, life took over and she stopped believing in herself. She thought success was for other people, and she doubted everything in her life - mostly herself. She stopped seeing her uniqueness as a gift and tried to be like others, silencing her strengths, silencing her laughter, and silencing her creativity.

Forty years later, my adult self has arrived. I'm doing my best to show up for her in a way that I never have. My eyes dance again, and I'm paving a path that is aligned with my truest desires. I'm certain that 4-year-old Robin would look forward to her future, knowing her journey is fruitful and full of life experiences on every spectrum. Taking care of her is my number one priority.

What about you? How are you showing up for your 4-year-old-self? Are you living the life your younger self wanted? Are you taking care of their heart and dreams? If not, what is stopping you?

This exercise is so POWERFUL, and I do it with my clients. Look at a picture of your younger self and be reminded of all those things you forgot. Notice how this beautiful being is worthy of all the unconditional love in the world. Feel the love and compassion for that little person. Show that little person how much you love them today and every day.

This makes me wish humans had tails.

Expressing your creativity is so important, even into adulthood. Art allows you to be in your own head for a period of time in a world that is externally focused. A world that teaches children to compare themselves to others and follow the crowd.

My 6-year-old son, Rocco, started taking classes at The Houston School of Art and Design and it's been amazing. He showed an interest in art very early on, and we found a place he loves. This was his first project. If you are a Pokeman' fan, you know who this is .

He is learning how to use paints, colored pencils, and draw. Most importantly, he can switch off the outside world for a couple hours a week and create something that is uniquely his.

Our intent is to help create these opportunities to switch off and build his confidence in something that is unique to him. Opportunities where he can say "I did that!". Art is exactly that, and the smile on his face was worth every penny.

As adults, it is so important to create these opportunities for ourselves as well. I'm working on what that looks like for me.

I love how children can help us remember these things. This is the best part of experiencing life with a little one.

Trauma...

Recognizing your existence took me decades to achieve.

Now I see you, I hear you, and I'm strong enough to face your truth.

I can feel your pain and be grateful for the lessons you brought.

I can feel sad about the experience and appreciate the empathy it created.

You are ugly and beautiful. I don't have to pick one side. I can experience both, because that's life.

Joy and pain.

Love and loss.

Happiness and sadness.

Knowing I can feel it all and still be okay is my power, my strength, and my responsibility to embrace.