Volume 2; Issue 12; September 2026

Hola! Do you set boundaries? I do. This past month, I left an event early due to weather conditions, canceled a meeting when I was not feeling my best and declined invitations due to commitment overload. These are not the classic boundaries pertaining to mental and physical space, which generally deserve respect without further explanation, but rather boundaries rooted in personal choice. Over time, I've learned that boundaries carry unintended consequences, such as missed opportunities, alienation of others and overreaction to situations that may have otherwise been resolved without a boundary. This got me thinking. When is a boundary worth the consequence? It's different for everyone, but for me, I have to be honest with myself in order to properly set a boundary. The goal is not to set limits on every uncomfortable scenario just because it serves me; for me, the goal is to accept the outcome even it may not be the right choice. Boundaries are worth the consequence when you are in touch with what matters most to you. If you don't know what that is, it's very difficult to set boundaries. The reality of setting boundaries is this: leaving an event early may cause you to miss something meaningful; canceling an appointment may create more stress since you will need to reschedule; and skipping an important gathering with someone you love presents the possibility that you may not get another chance. And for all these scenarios this past month, I could have pushed through and "made it work". But doing so would've come at the expense of my well being, and lately, that's a boundary I'm not willing to cross. And with that, I invite you to get in touch with yourself so you can better identify your boundaries.

Read about Abuela and why you should give her a break for crossing boundaries, along with boundaries I've set for myself in Bodega News.

Spanish Word: Abuela translates to Grandmother

I wonder about my Abuela and what boundaries looked like for her. She had twelve children and seemed to spend her life cooking, cleaning, and caring for everyone around her. Her love came in the form of instructions like, "Eat my dulce de coco (coconut candy), it's good for you"; "sit and share a cup of coffee before bedtime", and "wear a jacket so you don't catch a cold". If you refused her advice, it felt disrespectful. The problem with some boundaries is that we expect others to instantly understand our personal choices. The reality is more complicated. Setting boundaries requires clarity and sometimes it's confusing to other generations. My Abuela's generation had different ideas about obligations and very different experiences with personal choice. I sometimes think she would have marveled at today's abundance of information and candid openness, or maybe not. Maybe she would have insisted I eat her food even though it gave me belly cramps, I have a cup of coffee even though it would prevent me from getting a good night's sleep and I cover myself with blankets, even though I'm a middle-age woman with hot flashes. I'll tell you what: I'd skip those boundaries just to have one more day with her. And I'll tell you another thing: If she knew how I truly felt, she would never give me those instructions ever again, or maybe not. I'll never know. But despite that and in honor of Dolly Parton's famous lyrics and my Abuela's passing almost 30 years ago, I'd like to state this: I know you had to go, but I feel you every step of the way and I will always love you Abuela.

Bodega News

• I speak Spanish but I know my boundaries. I know I couldn't translate my book the same way a native speaker could. So I asked Elba Caraballo, who studied Spanish at the University of Puerto Rico, to help out and she was the best. Thanks to her, I was able to launch Bodega Botánica Relatos: José. A big thank you to Elba 😘 and the Latin American Fair for helping me introduce the Spanish Edition of the first novella in my six-part series. I'm hoping that I can continue working with Elba and launch the rest of the series in Spanish. I also had the privilege to meet some of my readers, along with new readers taking a chance on my work. If you'd like a copy of the Spanish Edition for you or a loved one, please click on our photo below to purchase your copy.

• The Audiobook for Bodega Botanica Tales: Carmen has launched on Audible, Spotify, Barnes & Noble. So far, it has received five star reviews, like the one below from Rose's Review on Amazon and Goodreads. Take a listen and let me know what you think.

• The War of the Bodega vs. the Botánica: Others crossing boundaries can be scary. This is the Season One Finale of the Bodega Botanica Tales: Short Story Podcast. To get the FREE audio story when it's available, please make sure to subscribe on Apple or Spotify or on photo below. You won't want to miss this finale as characters like Santero, old Zoila, Morayma and even David's boombox return. My goal is 25,000 downloads and I think this short story finale will get me there.
• Also, thank you to Podcast Delivery for the shout-out and mention of Bodega Botanica Tales: Short Story Podcast. Follow them out on Instagram if you'd like to get recommendations for podcasts.

• Bodega Botanica Tales: Tito is now scheduled to launch on Tuesday, February 2, 2027. I had hoped it would be available in October but there were some setbacks. I've set some boundaries for myself to ensure that Tito's story is not delayed any further.

Next Month will be the beginning of Volume 3 of my Newsletter... I have so much to share... Stay tuned Brujas!