A Reflection From A Daughter

Reading this book as my mother’s daughter was not simple. It was layered, emotional, and deeply human. As a child, I experienced a version of my mother shaped by wounds she had not yet had the tools or awareness to heal. Like many children, I did not understand the pain she carried or how it influenced her choices. I only felt its impact.

As an adult, I experience a different version of her. One who has done the work of turning inward. One who has chosen accountability, self-compassion, and emotional responsibility. One who leads with wisdom rather than reaction, awareness rather than survival.

This book is not just a memoir. It is the result of a parent who did not stop parenting when her children became adults. It is the voice of someone who chose to heal so the story would not continue unconsciously through generations.

What makes this book meaningful to me is not only what it reveals about the past, but what makes it possible in the present. Healing does not erase what happened, but it transforms how we carry it. I live the rewards of that transformation every day through the relationship I now have with my mother.

This book is an invitation.
An invitation to reflect.
An invitation to have honest conversations.
An invitation to hold compassion and accountability at the same time.

If you are a parent, this book may help you see yourself more clearly and gently.
If you are an adult child, it may help you understand your parent beyond the role you first knew.
If you are fortunate enough to still have your parent, consider reading it together.

Healing is not about blame. It is about awareness.
And awareness, when met with courage, creates freedom.

“To my Amá this book reflects not only where you came from, but who you chose to become. Your healing has created space for truth, understanding, and a different way forward. Your courage changed the way I experience you as my mother and as a person. I see you, and I honor the woman you are today.”

— Becky Garcia

My Golden Tía,

Someone who moves with the best intentions and is unapologetically herself. A true healer in every sense of the word. The journey has not been easy, but with hard work and dedication to healing herself, she is able to offer grace and immeasurable empathy toward others, along with words of wisdom that inspire healing within themselves.

Never one to judge, but one to listen and inspire. She has a heart of gold, which is why she shines so bright. Her light can and will never be dimmed, because she is at peace and has found the ability to love herself unconditionally.

Elodia offers a message of hope that embodies the belief that no matter the circumstances you were born into, you can choose your own peace.

Through her story and the choices she made to heal, she becomes a light for those seeking more than the patterns they inherited.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Elodia for the past 25 years. During that time, I have witnessed a remarkable transformation—both physically and emotionally. I have seen her grow through life’s challenges with grace and resilience.

Each time she returns from one of her retreats, she comes back more grounded, more aware, and more deeply connected to herself. The depth of knowledge and insight she generously shares after these journeys is a true reflection of the path she has walked.

Elodia is a woman who has experienced much, yet consistently chooses to see the good in every situation. Her ability to continue growing, learning, and uplifting others is truly inspiring.

Elodia is one of the most insightful people I’ve ever met. She has a positive, grounded view of life and of the experiences we all move through.

During difficult times in my life, her words have always brought me comfort—not surface-level platitudes, but genuine insight spoken from the heart. Her joy for life is something I aspire to have.

I’m incredibly lucky to know such an intelligent, strong person—someone who truly cares and who I can always count on.

Meeting Elodia at the beginning of my own personal breakthrough was perfect timing. Her friendship, along with others I met along the way, helped move me into a pattern of growth and change.

This mindset allows me to recognize that our paths crossed for a reason, and that despite time and distance, our paths will cross again.

Once my Yaya, always my friend.