Today we’d like to introduce you to Lupita Rios.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lupita. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in Houston, but grew up in the small town of Coatepeque, Guatemala, and moved to the U.S. at the age of 12. My long-time dream has been to become a neuroscientist because, in addition to plants, I also LOVE science. I am making small strides towards achieving this dream, and I am excited to say I am halfway through my first year of graduate school! It has been such a wild ride so far, and I know that I still have a long journey ahead, but I am excited to one day become a scientist and hopefully change lives through my research.
Today, I would like to tell you all about one of my favorite hobbies: Plants! I decided to start my small planter business during a rough time in my life when I was struggling with anxiety. For me, struggling with panic attacks and anxiety was one of the most difficult experiences that I have ever gone through. There were many days when the worries and negative feelings were greater than the positive ones. IT. WAS. HARD. But in the midst of it all, I was growing. I learned to slow down and appreciate the little things in life. I learned to make time for the things that I love. And most importantly, I learned to focus on the present, and not dwell on the past.
One of the things that always made me feel at ease during this difficult time was gardening. I fell in love with succulents–perhaps their resilience inspired me to keep going and moving forward. And like any reasonable plant lover, I filled my home with plants very quickly (shoutout to all my fellow plant lovers out there, keep making our planet a greener place!). One day, I woke up and decided that I wanted to make planters for my entire collection of succulents. I played around with different materials, textures, molds, etc. and finally decided to make my planters out of concrete. This entire process brought so much light into my life during a difficult time and gradually helped me heal. Every planter that I made, and plant that I grew, was a daily reminder to keep moving forward. I want to share this joy with others, and my hope is that my little planters will help brighten someone else’s day too, for when the days get tough.
My long-term goals are to become a neuroscientist and devote my research to better understanding the underlying mechanisms of mental illnesses. I want to work hard to increase awareness about mental health and decrease the negative stigma surrounding it. We all struggle at one point or another, we’re human, but I want my products to be a little reminder that you’re never alone and that there is a community filled with love and support cheering you on!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Starting Pita’s Planters has not been a smooth road, but it has been filled with so much love and support! The thought of starting a small business was daunting at first, but the more I talked to other small businesses about it, the more encouraged I felt to launch my business. I am so grateful to the entire community of small businesses in the Dallas area–each and every single one of them has been so supportive. I have gotten to meet so many talented people in Dallas–from soap makers to candle makers, visual artists, and farmers…and every single one of them has inspired me in one way or another. I feel so grateful to be part of this network of small businesses lifting each other up!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Pita’s Planters is a small locally owned business, located in Dallas, TX. The goal of my small business is to create unique handcrafted concrete planters & decor, and to spread love and positivity one succulent at a time! I believe in creating a high-quality yet personal product, so we make sure that every single one of our pieces is carefully hand-poured, sanded, washed, painted, and sealed with tons of love. As a small business, our goals are to create strong relationships with others in our community, and keep the connections strong! We want to create a community of support and hope–especially for those that are going through difficult times or struggling. We hope to create an open environment to increase awareness about mental health issues and decrease negative stigmas by openly talking about it.
What were you like growing up?
One of my favorite memories as a child is a bittersweet one. It was the day that I was going to leave Guatemala and permanently move to Dallas, TX. I was scared to leave my beautiful country, my friends, my loved ones…but I was also excited that I was going to the “land of opportunities”. In Guatemala, many people longed to move to the United States–the land where they could provide a better standard of living for their family, where the opportunities for work are endless, and where you can achieve anything you set your mind to. I vividly remember getting on the bus to go to the airport and saying the last good-byes to the person that raised me. She hugged me tightly and encouraged to go after my wildest dreams and to make her proud. When I set foot on U.S. soil, I was ready to make my dreams come true! Along the way, there have been many struggles…but I am happy to be where I am now. I like to think that I have made her proud.
Pricing:
- Planters range from $13-$30, I can make custom orders too!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @PitasPlanters
- Facebook: Pitas Planters
- Phone: 469-263-3627
- Email: pitasplanters@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Lynnet Perez
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