Maria Rodriguez Bross is an author and playwright delving into the fictional world of all things bodegas, botanicas and creative tales of the supernatural, the unexpected and the phenomenal. Stay tuned Brujas!
Are you distracted by the Año Nuevo?
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Volume 2; Issue 4; January 2026 Hola! Are you distracted? I am. The new year arrived and I barely noticed. I told myself it was the cold I'd been battling for weeks, the annoying pressure of a clogged ear and the residual exhaustion. My focus, needless to say, has not been fully regained. And before you advise me to go back to the doctor, I'll add that I feel completely healthy, not burnt out, but just oddly distracted. This got me thinking. Is distraction ever useful? To answer my own question, I took inventory of the distractions I was experiencing and most were predictable, like checking my phone, binge-watching shows, and the list goes on and on. What I'm realizing is that many of my distractions are an unconscious response to the pile of to-dos, especially after being sick. Most routines, (systems, if you’ve read Atomic Habits by James Clear) are dull, repetitive and often require a lot of effort. Distractions feel like a reprieve, but what they actually do is indulge us in something new. The problem is that newness fades rather quickly, unless we decide to take action. And so, more often than we'd like, we're left with nothing. So I beg the question, "are distractions worth our time"? I say “yes”, because it reminds me that new doesn't matter much unless I take the opportunity to get back to the old- my life, a work in progress. And that means everything. Since January is almost over, it would be too late to wish you all a happy new year but I will take this opportunity to wish you something else- May you have fewer distractions in 2026. Be sure to check out El Año Nuevo (below) and for more about my planned distractions in 2026, read Bodega News. PS- I was so distracted, that I forgot to tell you about my Book Giveaway and FREE Audiobook. See below. Spanish Word Translation: The New Year is El Año NuevoWhen I was growing up, the new year itself was personified. I mean, like my family talked about the holiday as if it were a character. In the the days leading up to New Year's Eve, someone would casually ask, "Did you see that?" or "Who are you waiting for?" And when I'd ask, confused, "Who?" they'd answer, "El Año Nuevo" (ta-da-da-da!) It was corny and my siblings and I would groan every time. Despite that, our New Year's Eve parties were wonderful. The memory of my family dancing salsa and merengue in our cramped apartment and staying up till 2am was the norm, kids included. Our home smelled like celebration, with pernil (pork) roasting in the oven, pastelón (plantain casserole) layered and bubbling, guava and coconut treats laid out after dinner. But what I remember most was somewhere between the dancing and the countdown, the mood would slowly shift. There were several relatives and friends crying softly, while their voices broke holding the phone. As the music faded into the background, I realized that they were grieving, missing their loved-ones in their native lands. I understood that being an American means real sacrifice. Even as a kid, I felt the joy, heartache and both belonged to the new year ahead. Bodega News
Until next month...Stay tuned Brujas! Other Magical Tales You Might Like:
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Bodega Botanica Tales
Maria Rodriguez Bross is an author and playwright delving into the fictional world of all things bodegas, botanicas and creative tales of the supernatural, the unexpected and the phenomenal. Stay tuned Brujas!
Volume 2, Issue 5; February 2026 Hola Brujas! Do you believe in love? I do. And yet, lately, it feels as though people aren't treating one another with love, despite it being everywhere. You read that right. Love is everywhere, from heart emojis 🥰 to saying "love ya" or "thanks, love" as easily as our hellos and goodbyes. (Air kisses anyone?) Media floods us with reminders to send love to our friends on their birthdays, to buy loving gifts for our family on holidays, and to embrace messages...
Volume 2; Issue 3; December 2025 Hola Brujas! Do you care what people think of you? I do. Recently, I found myself preoccupied with people's opinions, well, of me. This got me thinking. Is there any benefit to caring what people think of you? In today's social climate, there might be. You see, we've been bombarded with messages of "ignore the haters!", "who cares?" and "do what you want". These messages, although trying to aid in people's confidence, have created a juxtaposed problem, one...
Volume 2: Issue 2; November 2025 Hola, Do you like FREE? I do. If you think you don't, let me ask you this: Have you ever read something on the internet without paying a fee? Ever buy one, get one free? Ever ask someone to do you a favor? Then you, my dear reader, have partaken in FREE. This got me thinking. From what I've observed throughout my life, nothing is free, even love. This I've come to learn from being a caregiver, where I often put my wants on hold for the ones I love the most....