I Am a Warrior, a Spiritual Warrior

"I am a Warrior, a Spiritual Warrior"

Our lives are filled with stories/adventures. Some stories are filled with many extremes, others are filled with peace. Most people fall under these stories with extremes and it can make us feel out of control, powerless and victimized. However, none of these options help us very much. I am one of the many that has a story filled with extremes but I do not allow these obstacles or struggles rule me or define my life. I have made and continue to make the choice to define how I live by making my decisions as a "Warrior" would make decisions.

The Toltec teachings show how we can learn to avoid feeling helpless, how we can take charge of the events in our lives so that we no longer feel so powerless. Since 1997, the Toltec teachings of don Miguel Ruiz have become known worldwide. His first book, The Four Agreements, became a New York Times best-seller and has sold around 4 million copies. His son, don Jose Ruiz, has begun to teach with don Miguel, and their collaboration has lead to the creation of The Fifth Agreement - a deeper and more intricate "guide to self-mastery."

Being a Warrior, is based on five simple agreements: "Be Impeccable with your Word: Which means speaking with integrity and saying only what you mean. This also means avoiding gossip and using your word in favor of love and truth"; "Don't Take Anything Personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering"; "Don't Make Assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life"; "Always Do Your Best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret" and "Be Skeptical but Learn to Listen: Don't believe yourself or anybody else. Use the power of doubt to question everything you hear: is it really the truth? Listen to the intent behind the words, and you will understand the real message"; don Miguel Ruiz & don Jose Ruiz.

Théun Mares shows that the Toltec Teachings are a practical approach to life founded upon taking action in one's life. Through learning to value our unique experience, as opposed to relying too much on information gleaned from others, we build greater self-reliance and self-belief. This is the foundation for true knowledge, and through a practical knowledge of ourselves we begin to find purpose and meaning in our everyday lives. "Life is an adventure to be lived and experienced, not an intellectual dogma to be embraced", Théun Mares.

Considering me, part of this group is all about my journey and struggles throughout life and my choices to overcome them. Therefore, I find this weird and amazing that for first time I am sharing parts of my story, on paper, that have and continue to lead me to be a warrior. I say parts because five pages are not enough to sum up all of my life's experiences to-date. My husband told me once that I should write a book about my life, and I think everybody should do it; it is the effort of being honest and having the strength to write about you. Everyone has a story to tell and it would be nice to have it shared, especially since the story itself puts you on a warrior path.

So much of the knowledge in our minds is based on lies and superstitions that come from thousands of years ago. Humans create stories long before we are born, and we inherit those stories, we adopt them, and we live in those stories. This begins my story: My parents told me that when I was about two years old, I almost died due to a very aggressive intestinal infection. Corny, but for the grace of God, the physicians and my own strength and will: I recovered very fast. I started to fight for my place on earth and now after years, I realized that I meant to do big things in this life.

I was born with a congenital defect: "Bilateral Hip Dysplasia" and if caught early, it is treatable and you can grow up like everyone else. Nobody really knew about this condition back then, the physicians were not very well prepared to detect Hip Dysplasia and I did not find out about this condition until physically debilitated (29 years old) to the point that I could not walk anymore. It shaped my beginnings and is something I live with now and until I die.

I grew up participating in different activities like charities, playing soccer, riding bicycle, dancing to salsa (music and dance in my country), camping, swimming in rivers and eventually working in my profession. While doing all those things, I always felt something holding me back but could never put a finger on it until this affliction suddenly change my life's style. My first reaction was of surprise and disbelief that was happening to me; after days I cried but not in front of my parents, friends or family. I did not want them feeling sorry for me and start treating me different. This frustration filled my senses and I felt like I became useless. I even thought that I would never have kids. The pain got worse day by day and the doctor kept saying that I was too young to have the physical affliction.

Some strong feeling from within me made me resist the idea that my life was changing that I could not enjoy my life anymore, like everybody else my age. I sat reflected and started to find a solution to this physical problem, I felt that I should to do something right away, instead of sitting around all my life regretting this situation.

I became to be military objective when I was a Manager of a Medical Center the "guerrilla" thought I would be easy to bribe and take money away from The Medical Center, and I refused. I helped them with sample medicines and offer them medical services but they accept only the medications. It was not until they started threatening not just my life but that of my family that I acted by going to the police and why I originally came here to this country. Also, in that Medical Center I had to deal with people that even though they were co-owners, as I was, they put all the responsibilities on my hands, as Manager and I did not receive any support from them but