Finally! My second book, my sophomore book, my most personal account of a moment gone awry, is now available for the WORLD to read. To say I am nervous is an understatement, but I knew that it needed to be written so that at least ONE person, ONE mom, dad, brother, sister, or family member, … More It’s here…
I am back! Starting today! I return with the second season of “Conversations from the Green Couch Podcast!” Simply tap on the link and listen in on any and all platforms where you listen to your podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversations-from-the-green-couch-w-annette-ortiz-mata/id1566969656 I am excited about this season. I am doing something different, and I hope you join me … More Breaking News!!!
“The eyes are the windows to your soul.” – William Shakespeare I don’t think that William Shakespeare had any idea how true this statement would become in 2020! For the past two years! Yes!!! Two years!!! The ENTIRE world has been asked to wear masks to slow down the transmission of a virus transmissible via … More It’s all in the eyes…
Fragrance is a sweet or delicate odor (as of fresh flowers, pine trees, or perfume) and aroma. So what’s your fragrance? What lingers when you leave the room? How will you be remembered in a world where our last thoughts are memorialized on Twitter, the perfect snapshot uploaded on Instagram, our latest message promoted on … More What’s your life fragrance?
Several months ago, I was enjoying a beautiful dinner with some friends. We shared stories and lots of laughter. It was an evening filled with poignant moments, tears, and encouragement. As the evening was coming to a close, one of my friends made a strange comment, and it literally shifted the moment. It was a … More Perceptions…
What would they learn if someone walked in your shoes for 24 hours? I often ask myself this question. Will they enjoy the day? Will they see how productive I am? Will they learn how charitable I can be? Will they sense joy? Peace? Will they experience kindness and generosity? Or will my shortcomings be … More A day in the life…
He said, “we have a beautiful life….” I didn’t understand….until I did. All I knew was my heart was broken; how can that be called a beautiful life. I let the words settle until the realization of what he was saying became greater than my simple understanding. Our life is beautiful- Every test Every trial … More A beautiful life…
Several days ago I was asked to join some girlfriends on Zoom to “just talk” and I took a hard pass. I thought I’d never say this, but I am officially experiencing digital fatigue. Everything that I must access is currently found on the Information Highway otherwise known as the Internet. Internet use to be … More Digital Fatigue…
Six months of quarantine exposed a million little cracks that, if left unattended, would shatter…it would shatter our family. Awkwardly sitting together in our first virtual session… Family therapy. Looking at a screen trying to communicate why we are here. How did we get here? It was grueling! It required us to hear words spoken of … More Seek Therapy
During this physical distancing time, I have re-organized my closets, my dresser, the kitchen cabinets, my office desk, and the bookshelves. I have sorted in stacks of what I will keep, donate, and throw away. So it occurred to me, what in my relationships do I need to re-organize? How am I relating to the … More A Seat at my table…
So, here I was feeling really good about myself. Walking with a pep in my step and singing along with the radio in the car. I was HAPPY! It had been a summer of several health challenges, in which at this point, I was overcoming, and I had just completed my third semester of law … More Women can be….well… read on…
“We need all your birth certificates”, he said. “All your siblings, it’s the only way to disperse the inheritance”. I proceeded to collect all the birth certificates and something was off. Six birth certificates and there it was. One of these was not like the other, and that other was mine. I was staring at … More Kissed by God…
You are broken, and I can’t fix you You are broken, and I will not hide it You are broken, and I must release you You are broken, and I will always love you You are broken and I accept it You are broken, and I will wait You are broken, and I have faith The … More Love…it sometimes hurts.
The call came in. My father had a heart attack and is intensive care. I sit still and wait. I sit still and process what is before me. Do I love or do I walk away Do I choose to remember how he protected me or do I remember how he treated my mom? Do … More Do I call?
The year was 1966. On April 3, a baby girl was born on the Lower East Side, the firstborn for Maria. One month later on May 29 of the same year, another baby girl was born in the Bronx, the youngest child of Lydia. These two baby girls had no idea their lives would cross … More “Silent Witness”
The first time I heard the word cancer I was a young child. I didn’t quite understand it, but I knew that it was a deadly disease and it brought a lot of pain to our family. It wouldn’t be the last time I would hear it… As life would have it, my first … More CANCER – It’s more than the C word…
Warning this blog may be too revealing for some. Read at your own risk! As a little girl, I witnessed the many times my mom would hold a grudge, and I mean that lady could hold a grudge like nobody’s business. I promised myself I would never be that person. That I would just forgive … More Forgiveness is difficult to give..but required…
Have you ever met someone and thought, where have you been all my life? Or say, I am so glad that you are a part of my life and I couldn’t do this without you. Folks come into your life, sit at your table, break bread, and then BAM! They are gone! One disagreement, one … More Relationships…they’re complicated..but they are necessary!
Growing up my mom had a very best friend…her name was Mery. They couldn’t be more different. My mom liked fancy things, Mery was simpler in her taste. Mami loved jewelry and makeup, and Mery only wore her wedding ring and a watch. Even with their extreme differences, my mom loved her and defended … More She’s my friend…with no judgment, I think!
“The only time she looked back was to see how far she came.” YES!!! The cover of this journal confirmed why I journal and how I choose to live my life! It was an AHA moment, an epiphany, the sweet whisper of God into my spirit letting me know the following… “The unhealthy relationships of … More “51……”