Today we’d like to introduce you to Yvonne Cruz.
Yvonne, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always been a writer. Throughout middle school and high school, I was on the publication staff and I always carried a journal to write poems. I decided to major in journalism and TV/Radio/Film in college but I soon realized that journalistic writing wasn’t for me, too many rules and constraints! Junior year I switched over to Sociology and Latin American Studies but stayed in media by hosting a radio show for the college radio station. After graduating, I worked at a non-profit for a year before heading off to grad school for Urban Planning. My ultimate goal was to become an architect as the interdisciplinary nature and practicality meet creativity of the field always interested me. I ended up leaving grad school though, I was tired of school! I got an office job but that didn’t last long. I had started freelance writing and blogging to meet my creative needs and soon I decided to quit my job an give my self the time and mental energy to further explore those interests. Right now, I have a bunch of hustles and it can feel like I’m all over the place but I feel much more aligned in my life. I’m not meant for an office!
Has it been a smooth road?
The road is never smooth. No matter how far along you are. My biggest challenge, the struggle at the core of all my other struggles, has been my struggle with self confidence and self-acceptance. I’ve wasted so much of my life second guessing myself, not fulling going after my dreams because I was too concerned with what I thought I “should” be doing or what I thought was expected of me. My biggest advice for young women would be to fully accept your dreams and desires as valid and worthy of being pursed. Go for it!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I believe most people know as a writer, whether it be through my freelance work or through my blog. My blog has two main purposes. 1) To serve as my creative outlet and 2) To document my personal development journey so that others can learn from it.
I think one of the main things that set me apart from other bloggers is that I write about whatever the heck is intriguing me at the moment. I don’t worry about whether it fits into a niche or if it’s trendy. I talk about boxing and style, which I know specifically as garnered my attention. Currently, I’m focusing much of content on conscious style and conscious living in general. Most style bloggers promote consumerism and I’m trying to get my readers to really think about what they consume while not forgetting about aesthetics! I think that’s also something that sets me apart. I don’t comprise ethics, well being or aesthetics! I totally believe you can do it all.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
I could do a whole interview on podcasts! I’m obsessed but in the area of personal growth and living your best life My favorites are “Over It And On With It with Christine Hassler,” “The Life Coach School Podcast”, and “The Sports Motivation Podcast.” These are seriously life changers! Whenever I’m feeling down, I just listen to one of those 3 and my mood instantly shifts.
As for apps, I really enjoy starting off my day with Insight Timer, which is a free meditation app. They have a nice gong sound that alerts you when the time is up that’s a lot less jarring and startling then the alarm sounds your phone makes. They also have guided meditations.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TejanaMaluca.com
- Email: yvonne@tejanamaluca.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tejanamaluca/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TejanaMaluca
Image Credit:
Jeremy Pesina, Molly Margaret Syndor, Misael Sandoval, Alejandro De La Luna
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