Get Inspired with #HispaFam - July 2025 Newsletter
“Stopping is not giving up. Stopping is not losing momentum. Stopping can be the most courageous and necessary act to realign your path.”
-Dra. Nidia Medina, CEO, Hispanic Family Counseling, Inc.
Reflection July 2025
Hello again from my desk!
Today, I want us to reflect on something that touches all of us: time. Have you noticed we’re getting close to the end of 2025? And like me, you might be asking yourself: When did time pass by so quickly?
We live in a world that doesn’t stop, where our days slip away between responsibilities and goals to achieve. And without realizing it, we fall into the trap of thinking that we don’t have enough time… when in reality, many times we just don’t stop to truly live it. It’s curious: we cling so tightly to time, that we end up losing it.
John Randolph, speaker and political leader, once said:
“Time is at once the most valuable and the most perishable of our resources.”
And how true that is! We run around trying to make the most of it, but what if what we actually need is not to run more… but to pause more?
But what does it mean to pause? Delay? Falling behind? Procrastinating?
We often see stopping as something negative.
But what if stopping is actually the best way to focus, to reflect, to make wiser choices?
Stopping is not giving up. Stopping is not losing momentum. Stopping can be the most courageous and necessary act to realign your path.
Ask yourself:
What are you doing with your time?
How are you thinking about time?
Do you constantly tell yourself there’s never enough of it?
The way we see time shapes how we live. If you see it as an enemy, you’ll live in anxiety and exhaustion.
But if you begin to see it as an ally, something shifts. You begin to live with more intention, more clarity, and more purpose.
Today I invite you to stop. Just for a moment. A breath. A space for you.
Because when you pause, you hear yourself. And when you hear yourself, you find yourself.
For the rest of this year, make space for you.
Love yourself first and without conditions.
Recognize your worth—even when the world is silent.
Observe and value your surroundings.
Smile, even without a reason.
Say hello, even to strangers.
Offer help, even if it’s just a little.
And above all, gift yourself five minutes a day. Just five.
Five minutes to speak kindly to yourself and enjoy who you are.
Five minutes to breathe.
Five minutes to give thanks.
Five minutes to simply be you.
Remember: You deserve time. You deserve your time.
-Dra. Nidia Medina, CEO, Hispanic Family Counseling, Inc.
The Movement Continues!
The director of Soul Shop joined us at Hispafam to continue developing the adapted curriculum for Hispanic congregations. During this meeting, we reviewed all forms and materials, incorporating the valuable feedback we received.
We now have two versions of the training available:
✅ One specialized for training faith leaders and trainers
✅ Another more general version for congregations—accessible, inclusive, and designed so that participants of the one-day workshop can bring it back to their churches.
We are now 100% ready to welcome our next group of trainers this September!
If you want to be part of the movement to save lives in faith communities, register here:
🔗 https://www.soulshopmovement.org/t4t
#SuicidePrevention #SoulShop #FaithAndHope #SaveLives
Reaffirming Our Commitment to Equity and Inclusion
This weekend, our founder represented our organization at the Racial Equity Institute, reaffirming our commitment to social justice and inclusion for all our communities. The Racial Equity Institute is a nationally recognized program that provides deep, research-based training on systemic racism and strategies for lasting change.
#RacialEquity #EquityInAction #InclusionMatters #SocialJustice #DiversityAndInclusion #ComunidadEquitativa #JusticiaSocial #LiderazgoConProposito #RepresentaciónImporta #EquidadParaTodos #CommunityEmpowerment #EquityForAll #NuestraVozCuenta
ListeningToTheCommunity
We’re proud to share that the founder of Hispanic Family Counseling, Denisse C Lamas, took part in the first stop of Representative Johanna López’s Listening Tour—a powerful gathering centered on dialogue, unity, and community empowerment.
Thank you to all the organizations that showed up with open hearts and active voices. This event reminds us of the strength we hold when we come together with a shared purpose.
Sí se puede. Together, we move forward.
#ListeningToTheCommunity #EscuchandoALaComunidad #District43 #JohannaLopez #HispafamInAction #CommunityVoices #FuerzaColectiva #TogetherWeRise #CompromisoComunitario #InternsInAction #SíSePuede #CommunityEmpowerment
A New Beginning, Rooted in Courage.
Today we say goodbye (with so much love!) to our dear Vivian, a member of our staff, who is beginning a new chapter in Puerto Rico as she starts her PhD in Psychology . Although she’ll continue working remotely with us, her presence in our day-to-day will be deeply missed.
Vivian, we celebrate you, applaud you, and fully support you in this amazing step forward. Thank you for your dedication, your joy, and your commitment to our #HispaFam family!
“Great stories begin with a brave yes.”
And you, Vivian, are living that to the fullest!
If you want to learn more about our work and impact on communities, follow us on our social media platforms.
➡️ Read the new blog post:
Making Peace with Time: A Cultural Reflection
Time. It slips through our fingers, races against our calendars, and often feels like something we’re constantly chasing. In our modern world, time has become synonymous with productivity—how much we can do, how fast, and how efficiently.
But what if we paused to ask: Whose definition of time are we living by?
Cultural Clocks: More Than Just Hours and Minutes
Not all cultures view time the same way. In the United States, there's a dominant emphasis on “clock time”—rigid schedules, deadlines, multitasking, and an underlying belief that time is money. In many Latin American cultures, however, there’s a deeper value placed on connection over control, presence over productivity.
In Spanish, we often say “no te apures” (don’t rush) or “a su tiempo” (in due time). These phrases carry more than just comfort—they reflect a worldview where life unfolds in rhythms, not races.
Yet many of us—especially immigrants or first-generation families—grow up juggling both clocks: the cultural clock that prioritizes community, and the societal clock that demands constant output.
This tension can be exhausting, and even more so when we internalize the idea that rest must be earned or that slowing down is laziness.
The Trap of Hustle Culture
Hustle culture glorifies overworking. It tells us that our worth is defined by how much we accomplish, and that rest is only acceptable after total burnout. This mindset can be especially harmful in Latinx communities, where generations have worked hard to “prove” their value and ensure stability for their families.
While hard work is deeply ingrained in our values—and rightfully honored—there is also sabiduría (wisdom) in learning when to pause, reset, and listen to our bodies and hearts.
Rest is not just physical recovery. It is emotional regulation. It is cultural preservation. It is resistance against the idea that we must always be doing to be deserving.
Reclaiming Time with Intention
Making peace with time means allowing ourselves to slow down—not out of failure, but out of love. It means recognizing that healing takes time, growth takes time, and joy is not a distraction from our goals but part of the journey.
As we reflect this July, consider this:
What are your family’s cultural messages about time?
Are you measuring your worth by your busyness?
Can you allow yourself to embrace rest as a form of healing?
Inviting a New Conversation
At Hispanic Family Counseling, we honor the diverse stories, rhythms, and values that shape our community. We believe in a model of wellness that includes slowing down, being present, and redefining what success means—not just for individuals, but for families and entire cultures.
Let’s make peace with time. Let’s make room for balance. And let’s remember: our ancestors didn’t just survive by moving fast. They survived by moving together—with wisdom, community, and care.
You deserve your time.
You deserve to live in your rhythm.
If this message resonates with you or someone you love, we invite you to connect with our counselors. You don’t have to walk this journey alone.
📧 info@hispafam.com
📍Hispanic Family Counseling, Inc.
Christian Alverio, MSW - Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern
Christian was born and raised in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. He is a Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern who provides counseling and mental health services to families, adults, and adolescents helping them to focus on their strengths, problem-solving, and goals by providing them with healthy tools for the good management of their emotions. He earned a master’s degree in Social Work Direct Services at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. He has experience working with LGBTTQ+, groups, and with adults struggling with anxiety, emotions, grief, divorce, depression, anger management, and trauma. In addition, he has a history of working with HIV and homeless populations. As a clinical social worker and therapist, his core values and priorities are services, social justice, dignity, and individual core values. He places a heavy emphasis and understanding around human relationships while fostering integrity and competence at the forefront of his services.
Download Our Positive Message for Your Phone Screen
Brighten your day with an inspiring message! Download our positive wallpaper for your phone and carry motivation with you wherever you go.
Click the image below to download and embrace self-love and care! 💖📱
Click here for English version.
