Reflections of 2024

 In this special holiday episode, the hosts come together to celebrate the season and reflect on the triumphs and challenges of 2024. With heartfelt gratitude, they share stories of friendship, family, and personal growth, while looking ahead with optimism to 2025. The conversation touches on the value of loyal relationships, the journey toward self-acceptance, the warmth of holiday traditions, and the challenges of supporting aging parents. Listeners are encouraged to take a moment to appreciate and connect with their loved ones during this time of reflection. The episode wraps up with a fun and lighthearted collection of podcast bloopers. 

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Transcript

Hey chicas, welcome to Red Lips Real Talk Podcast. I'm Jasmine. I'm Jessica. I'm Monica. I'm Maritza. And I'm Deibys with a Y. Get ready. Somos Latinas from South Florida, bringing you real talk on life, love, and everything in between. Time to get real. Dale. Yeah, wait. Yeah. Awww. It's coming to an end people. Si me ven, si me ven, mi camino de verano. 

Let's do it. Si me ven, tuqui, tuqui, tuqui, tuqui, tuqui, tuqui, tuqui, tuquita. Oh, it's the holidays, and it's almost over. Wepa! Christmas is in a few days, and I'm in a good mood. Good mood, ladies. How are you now? Merry Christmas. Happy holidays. Happy Kwanzaa and everything in between. Let me tell you, 2024 for everyone is a different, it could be good or bad or whatever. 

But for me, 2024 has been one of the best years of my life. It's awesome. And I'm extremely appreciative to my friends, my family, everything that all the good things that I wanted to aspire for myself that I feel like slowly are coming into fruition. But more than, more than anything, I'm appreciative to you, beautiful. 

Oh, me too. I don't think you understand for me how much this has meant to me. It has been like a rebirth for me. It has given me an outlet to express myself, to find bravery and strength and admire so The things that come out of your mouth. And I'm like, I didn't know that about you, and I've been friends with you for over 25 years. 

I didn't know you felt that way. Right? So it has been beautiful for me, and I'm so grateful that I'm ending the year with a bang. Ooh, yes. I love you, girl. I love that. Bang baby. Be bang, bang, baby. I love you guys. I love you. Love that. And I wanna just bring out to the world whoever's and to our listeners, our loyal listen, thank yes. 

Love those listeners. I love listeners you. Are you guys? I heard your show. You guys, you made me laugh. You made me cry. And I'm like, what more can we ask for? You know, keep them coming. Keep them coming. We love to hear the feedback. Our dedicated listeners. Yes. And we know who you are. We appreciate you. We love you. 

And the holidays are right. Like we're just days away. And this is the time to tell the people that you love. I love you. And we love you. We love you. We love you. Absolutely. And 2025 is right around the corner to me. Like I'm so grateful for my family, for my children, for you ladies, for our friendships. 

Another Christmas we're going to celebrate. We're keeping within our tradition this year. Also, you joined us. I crashed the party. I crashed the Red Lips party. What a good crash. Yes, we love it. Full coverage. I know. It was awesome. Do you guys like remember how that all went down? I was like, I was like, Oh my God, I said, I was in, um, just to go back and put things in perspective. 

I spent like the whole summer in Columbia and you guys like put out in the universe and was blasting out and launching the podcast, the red lips. And I was like, Oh my God, I'm so proud of you ladies. I'm like, So ecstatic and just so excited for you guys and what you guys were doing. I was like, Oh my God, these girls and they're so brave and so courageous to do something that I was like, so excited for you guys. 

And then I'm like, I was like, I can't. And also obviously because I love you ladies and we've known each other for so many years. And I was like, I need this. Like I really, like it resonated in my soul. from afar and I was so proud of you girls and I was so excited. It was like, I felt like a little girl and just seeing those launches on social media. 

I was like, Oh my goodness. Can we, can we like a kid on Christmas? Like with the candy cane. Oh, I felt it. Well, we're lucky to have you. Yeah, we are. I was like, Oh my gosh. I was like, I need to be a part of this. And you know what? I just have to put this out there. And Jessica was like, can we, can we have a whole episode on menopause? 

So it's coming. It's coming. Oh, 2025 to stay tuned. You hang on there, hang on to your seat. seats. Gen Xers are the first generation to really put perimenopause and menopause in the forefront. That's right. I know this is the holiday show. I'm sorry, but we are working so we want to be so educated by the time this podcast comes out. 

And it's been, it's been because some of us are going through it, but also Jessica, you were like, I know people let's make it happen. So be on the lookout for that. Be on the lookout for 2025. We have good shit coming. Even better. And if you have been listening. to us since day one, and you listen to us. I mean, we don't really have that many shows, but every show we just get better. 

Yes. So thank you for not giving up on us. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you to our listeners. OK, so what I love about Las Navidades is just take me back to like nostalgic music. I play like in my house, especially because I grew up like that. I grew up in New York where like you blast. Your music, salsa, merengue, all the, like, Gran Combo, Hecto La'o, you know, Celia Cruz, like all the old school, like, just music. 

Me too. I love it. It brings me back. I love El Burrito. El Burrito Sabanero. I have the whole record, actually. If you don't know, it's a Venezuelan group of kids. And, uh, I have the whole album. I know the whole entire album inside and out. And it's just, I just have such great, great, like memories of the Colombian club. 

Oh my God. Like singing a burrito sabanero. Yeah. My kids will find me dancing in the kitchen. I love it. I love that. I love the music. It was a good memory of mine. You know, a party was lit when your parents were like, put two chairs together and go to sleep. My kids know about that. When somebody was, yeah. 

And I was like, no, we're going to put you right here. No, they would put two chairs together. I would sleep. Yeah. They would cover me with a coat, not even a blanket. Yeah. Same here. I remember. And go to sleep because mommy and papi are dancing. Yeah. We're drinking and we're having a good time. We're enjoying life. 

Yes. But now that I'm older, I'm like, thank God that they did that. And they had those moments because you need, you need those moments. And I'm grateful for those beautiful memories. Me too. Yeah. Yeah. But the music is, is one thing. And also like hearing the music for sure. I resonate with that. And like the smell of lechon, whenever I smell lechon, like I had a really good dear friend of mine for my birthday, which was a couple of months back. 

She, um, gathered some friends and she made two piernas, which is, you know, the lechon. And as soon as I walked in, I said to her, Oh my God, it smells like Christmas. Cause that, that to me, it brings me back. So like the food, the food smells. Yes. And what do you, what do you guys like most proud of this year that maybe, uh, you accomplish or maybe you want to do next year or something that you're like, I've laid that to rest. 

Can it be good or bad? Do you mind if I answer that? Yeah. Because it's really like, it just popped in my head the minute you said it. I'm proud that I have freed myself from caring what other people think about me. Oh, that's a good one. Listen, um, I have been a prisoner of that all of my life. Why am I crying on every part of this? 

I told you the mic is, um, your truth serum. This is therapy, girl. It is. I have been a prisoner to what Hey, wait. I'm very proud of you. Aw. Okay. Because I, I told you that. I'm sorry, but I've known you for a long time. Do that. Thank you. And for you to say that. Yeah. I'm part of you. I I'm not gonna make it. Um, you gonna make it girl 

No. You say what you're gonna say because say it. I'm gonna say something to you. I have been a prisoner to that all of my life. And, um, I am free. I'm free. And I really, this is the last thing I'm gonna say. 'cause I'm gonna fall apart. Stop. I genuinely like who I am. It's taken me a long time to get here. 

And that's why I think 2024 is the best year of my life because I have reached that and I'm so glad I got here. I think I told you Jasmine, Oh my God, for your birthday, I don't know if it was the lunch that we have for your birthday or when I came back. Yeah. From Columbia. And I told you, I don't know what I'm telling you these things, but I see you coming into your own and you're just blooming and you are like, you're where you're supposed to be doing what you're supposed to do. 

And, and you're just being your most authentic and true self. And I love seeing you in that light. Yeah. Like your, your light is shining really bright. Thank you so much. And I love. watching you and as always being a cheerleader. I've always cheered you on. That's true. And you're a great friend. And honestly, I just, I love seeing you and just everything that you're doing. 

And I love that. I want that for everyone. Everyone should feel this. And sometimes People don't get there because of maybe what are my parents going to think? What are my family going to think? And I understand that because I lived there, but, um, it is possible and it's done in baby. It's taken me maybe, I'm going to be honest when my last daughter left to college, that was 2021. 

That's when the journey began. And now it's, we're close to 2025. And, um, That's how long it's taken me, but it's okay. It doesn't matter. No, it doesn't matter. It's that I, that I arrived. That's the word you arrived. And I think that there's something to say about fucking being in your forties and heading towards your fifties. 

That's why I'm always like, bring it 50. Bring it. I'm not scared of you. Just bring it because I know. I'll take wisdom any day for beauty, I'll tell you that right now. Absolutely. That I, okay, so another vulnerable moment, but I'm the oldest I've ever been, probably the heaviest I've ever been, but I feel the most beautiful. 

Me too. Isn't that weird? No. Because you're accepting yourself. Yes. Yeah. You're accepting yourself and you don't give a shit. And I just feel so beautiful. So good. I think that comes with 40 because I feel like I'm still kind of in that crossroad where it's like, I don't give a shit, but I definitely notice I give less of a shit about things. 

And I even recently told us to my husband, I'm like, I'm just in this point of life where it's like, I'm tired of always worrying about what everybody else is thinking. I'm tired of always having to do everything because I need to be there. Not that you don't need to be there for your family and friends, but it's like, I'm just I'm tired of always like worrying about this and that and what this person is going to think or what that person is going to think or what I didn't do. 

Like, I'm just tired of it. And I think that comes with age. Which is great. Me too. Yeah. Yeah. You get tired and you're just like, I'm done. And I think it's a different thing. There's a different tired. Yeah. And I think it's a different thing of like not caring what people say. It's something deeper. It's something else because I do like. 

consider the thoughts of other people. That doesn't mean you're like walking around, like, I don't know. Fuck about, right, right, right, right. No, it's just something deeper. Not every day. I feel confident, not every day. I feel like my best self. And there's some days where I feel like, you know, but I want to say it's not to the extent that it was when I was like in my thirties. 

Right. You know, it's just something else. And I think it's just like, I'm curious, I'm always curious to see like, where's that going to go next? Where's that going to take me? What does that mean? What is that looking like? Growth. And I feel it's growth. It's growth. When I hear other women that are not excited, right? 

Like sometimes older women, they're like, they maybe are like waving the white flag is how you say it. And I'm like, no, babe, don't. It's not. No, don't wave the white flag. Don't don't wave the white flag because it's like our best years. Oh yes. Oh my baby. Our best years are ahead. We're still so young. Yeah. 

We're still so young. I know we feel like we're getting older and we feel it, we know, but we're still so young in the big scheme of life. Like you just like, it's the Gen X babe. It's the Gen X thing. It's the Gen X thing. We got grit. Yes. It's the grit that we got. I mean, I know you and Jessica and Davis, you still have little one, but Monica, Maritza and I have daughters and sons in college. 

And let me tell you, I can't speak for you ladies, but you can jump in. But there have been many times that our daughters and sons have said to us, man, you guys are really cool. Like you guys like inspire us. Like there's something about Gen X. Yes. We're built different. Yes. We are. You know, we listen to Biggie, we listen to Tupac, you know, we're the kids of immigrant parents here, first generation. 

They come to talk to us about, you know, drugs and sex, and we're not freaking out. We just talk to them because it's different than the way our parents talk to us. Yeah, it's another generation. You know, it's yeah. Yeah. My parents never spoke to me, but no, I'm not talking. All I got was, Ten cuidao, when I left the house. 

I mean, Maritza, you, You are absolutely right. I mean, my mother never, I love my mother. I love my mother. She never spoke to me about anything. But she came from a different time. I, when I got my, um, when I got my period, I thought I was dying. Cause I hadn't. You were, girl. I hadn't. It's the beginning of the death. 

I'm kidding. I was. I'm sorry. It's the truth. I got to be quiet sometimes. I'm slowly dying. But it's just, you know, she didn't tell me about that shit. So I thought it was fine. And I'm like, dude, when I took my daughter to the dentist, the dentist was like, mom, you need to have the conversation with your daughter. 

The dentist, the dentist. Why? And I was like, your daughter's going to get her period at the dentist. Well, how do they know from the teeth? From the teeth. How? They know. So, pero que? Me dijo, have the conversation with your daughter. So we. I was like she was so little. Okay, I'm going to say it. She was 10 years old. 

Well, that's when I talked to my daughter about it. I never talked to my daughter because my mom didn't talk to me. Deibys, this is learned behavior. Yeah, I hear you. Anyway, Punta Final, I remember what the dentist told me. We were in Target and we went down the aisle that sells, you know, The aisle. The aisle. 

And um, Punta Final, I was like, do you know what these things are? She said no. I said, you know, and that's how I started talking to my daughter about periods. And long story short, two weeks later, she comes in the room, knocks on the door. She goes, Mommy, um, remember what you told me at Target? She goes, it's happening right now. 

Yeah. So those, I mean, I know we're talking about the end of the year, but I just popped in my head and it's like, Those are the things that Gen X are doing differently. No, but to regroup, like you said, you know, that this is the year, like you feel like you left that behind as far as like not caring. I see it. 

Like, I love seeing you in that light. That's, I think that's a, let's see what 2025 brings. Only amazing things, cannot wait. Well, I know they've known you longer, but I will say you. are like, like sunshine. Like when I see you, it makes me happy. I look forward to seeing all you are like sunshine, baby shine through the door. 

Babies walk. in today. You're like a sunflower. Thank you. We're all walking in, ready to go to work. And Maritza was like, oh, dress casual, everything's gonna be fine. I came from the office. Wait, wait. So we all dress super casual. And Deibys walks in and I'm like, I hear in the background, dun dun dun dun. Dun dun dun dun. 

Dun dun dun dun. Dun dun dun dun. Dun dun dun dun. Dun dun dun dun. Dun dun dun dun. And I was like, bum bum bum. Bum Bum I love it! Bum Bum Bum Bum Bum Bum Bum Bum Bum And I was like And I walked in with my heels and she was like Hiii I made it. Bro we can all be freaking out and babies will walk in and be like We can make love This happened. 

She brings her sunshine for sure. I feel like I'm a freaking windmill of a friend. Girl, you my friend. Twenty twenty four. I got a new. I got a new friend. Oh, I know. That's beautiful. You're my sister. What are you? Grateful for for 2024. I don't know. I mean, every year is a lesson, you know, at the end of it, you kind of reflect on it. 

And we all make a list of things we want to do when the life gets in the way. So I feel like I always end the year. I need to be more positive. I tend to look at what I didn't do instead of what I did do. So I'm hoping that in 2025, I will reflect more on what I have accomplished. That's good. I'm being very hard on myself a lot. 

I'm constantly wanting, not that I want more. It's not that I'm not satisfied with my life. I think just personally with myself, not my children, my family, my husband, my friends, me, like me. Like, I feel like I'm still searching for this thing that I just can't find. And it's like, so I'm hoping that this year I reflect more on what I have accomplished for myself. 

You know, I get it. Yeah. So that's what I'm hoping this year brings for me and stop reflecting on You know, and start really thinking about things I did, not what I didn't do, what did I didn't do? But every year I always end and I know Maritza feels the same way because she has definitely expressed it and I am right there with her. 

I end the new year and I cry. It's an emotional thing. I don't know what it is. I reflect on everything that has happened, the happy. It's a good happy. It's a good cry. Right where it's it's a good cry, but it just makes me emotional for some reason and same here. Yeah. I'm like that too. I cry every new year. 

It's like a, almost like a gratitude cry of like releasing everything from like to getting to that moment. And I think it's a healthy, I think it's a healthy cry. It's like a needed cry. It's like, just let it out. Yep. And it's, it's, I don't know, to me it's almost like a, A spiritual mm-hmm . Thing that surpasses like even understanding you do because you feel it in your soul. 

Right. It's true. It surpasses understanding that it's just like the soul just like releasing itself and you know that you're getting a restart, as crazy as it sounds. 'cause calendar is just a marker. You know, every day is a new day. Right. You know, it doesn't, you don't have to wait for Monday to start, you know what I'm saying? 

Mm-hmm . Like, it's, it's just like, but you feel like I get to restart. Mm-hmm . And you reflect. on everything in the past. Like, I don't know. It's just a weird feeling. It's like I can't even pinpoint a memory that pops up while I'm crying. It's just everything. And I think too, it's the memories though. Cause for me it does happen. 

Like when that happens, I start like memory. It's like your life flashes before your eyes. Exactly. Yeah. Which is beautiful. It's refreshing. Or what about the podcast? How has the podcast maybe? I would like to add that though. Like I definitely love that this podcast has came like not at the end of the year, but you know, it's like the third, you know, like the last quarter of the year and it has made a difference in my life, you know, a positive difference. 

And as it's like, I know you ladies from afar for all these years, because Monica is, you You know, my sister in law and I'm extremely close with her. She's my sister. She's not my sister. And I love you so much. I do. And, and it's like, I know you guys through her because she adores you guys. And I hear like you guys, you know, when you guys hang out and you talk and you know, little things like that. 

And I love that I have had the chance to build my own friendship with you guys. How are you? Are you crying? Oh my God. Oh, I love you, too. 

But I do. It's like, I've always thought you guys were amazing. Like, seriously. And every, any chance that I have had a moment to be around you guys for that short period, I've always been so happy to see you guys. So, I'm really happy that, like, I get to do this with you guys. And that you've let me in because you guys have been friends forever and you have like this amazing bond and flow and I don't feel out of place. 

I just feel grateful that I get to be here with it and build on that. That's wonderful. And that's the nice thing to say because you know, women friendships are complex and it's a beautiful thing that she said that because it's very, very difficult for women to make new friends at an older age. Yeah, no new friends. 

It's almost impossible. No, really. It is. It is. So it's very meaningful that that you said that because, um, it is a challenge and we're already grown. We are already who we are. Yeah. And just because, oh, that's my sister in law, that's my friend. That doesn't mean it's going to work. No. You know, but somehow, some way it was meant to be. 

Well, I have to say something regarding that. Like, I'm going to start crying. Like to me, what has, meant a lot to me right now, closing out the year, is that this, honestly, the podcast has also helped me think like, as a mom, like, you're not forgotten. Aww. Aww. You're not forgotten. Yeah. Aww. It's okay. You're not forgotten. 

I don't, you know, and I mean it in a way where This is your time. This is for you. Yeah. Right. Because you get so lost. Yes. Or, like, you're, like, pulled in so many ways that I'm so grateful for. I'm not, like, here to complain about it. Of course not. But I learned also, especially in the very first year of being a mom with little babies. 

And two. Let me just, there's two of them. Yes. At the same age. Right. It can be very isolating. And I think there's something, there must be like a mom secret that moms don't say because they're really in the thick of it in the first year, but they don't tell you that being a mom is very lonely, especially in the very first couple of years. 

It's very isolating. It's very lonely. It is. It's very And nobody told me that. Because I don't think anybody realizes it. Because you're just going through it. not even thinking about it. You want to be superwoman. You're just trying to survive. You're trying to survive. But nobody mentioned that to me. And it's very difficult to maintain certain friendships. 

It is. Because if your friends haven't had kids or gotten married, but they I was the first one in, in my group of friends that I got married and had children. So you didn't have a lot of people to relate to, to talk to, to. Yes. And there were certain friendships that did not make it during that transition of my life, but this did. 

Yeah. And I'm appreciative of that. So I understand because, uh, I know what you're going through right now. And I know why the podcast is important to you, I know why it's important to me. All of us are different reasons, I get what you're saying, but it is very lonely and very scary. Yeah. And, uh, we appreciate you being here, you are important to us, you are a gift to us, and uh, I'm sorry that you felt lonely, but bitch you ain't gonna be lonely no more, bitch, you gotta go to work, and you got a job in 2025. 

I know. You gotta get Pitbull on the show. Yeah, girl. Yeah. Yeah. Make it happen. No, and you know what you do? I'm very grateful, like in closing out the year, that I have these solid relationships. That's one of the other reasons why it's so freaking amazing to be a Gen X er because I have friends that like social media can never replace. 

Even though we're in a podcast, 

but we're here, bitches. And I love you guys for that. And I and I think to also because I'm a mom now, you know, you guys know I've transitioned out. And that's another reason why this podcast has been so important for me is because I'm also a mom. But I also I sold my business and I transitioned out. So now I'm like also curious about what else I can do. 

Yeah. So I'm, I'm also in that like limbo, which is actually not, I'm not scared of it. I'm excited about it and we'll see what 2025 brings. Yeah. Yeah. And Maritza, what about you? What has 2024 been for you? Um, Deibys, you took a lot of words out of my mouth, I mean, because I can relate a lot with what you said. 

I get a really emotional at the end of the year. I reflect on everything that's happened to me. Um, but at the end of the day, most importantly, I have to appreciate my friends, because if you guys weren't here for me at the end of the day, I mean, I don't even know how I would get through. Jesse. You talk about being a new mom, but I don't know if you realize you were there for me when I was a new mom. 

Aww. And surprisingly, I mean, you were like a single woman, no children, you weren't married at the time, but you showed up at my house and you cooked me lunch. Aww. And I was going through, pfft, a major, just postpartum and you shut up every single time. So when you call me, the world stops. Yeah, I pick up your call every single time. 

Oh, you guys. I'm sorry, because that's how it is. You know what I mean? Like, I mean, we're about an hour away from each other. But when that phone rings and you call me, I pick up and the world stops for you. I love you. Because I remember. You being there for me. Um, well, she's my neighbor now. . Yeah. Yeah. And I'm glad I know you just, if she call you, I'm calling you and she calls you to come over and make some healthy fucking lunch and smoothie this for you. 

Take it. Aw. 'cause that's what she did for me. Aw. I love seeing this. Yeah. I wish you guys could see this. The love is like, it's, it's true. I love you. This is important. This is why. Yeah. No, my friendship for you guys was great. A 2024 end of the year reflection. Listen, it's important because I want our listeners to also know, maybe you're driving, maybe you're in your house cleaning or whatever, but there are people in your life right now that are very meaningful. 

Yes. And maybe this is the time for you to slow it down and pick up that phone call. Take your friend out to lunch, take your sister out or like say, Hey, I love you. for being there for me. That's beautiful. Because. Even though you have bad moments, I promise you there were a lot of good moments in 2024. So don't forget the people who were there for you. 

Jasmine, and I appreciate you too for going out to lunch and make and starting this idea and making this happen because it's Thank you. You brought us to this table. Yeah, you did. You brought us to this table. Aw. Your idea brought us to this table. Aw, thank you. Okay. I appreciate that. We're sitting at this table today because you started the idea. 

Because you lit a fire. Because you lit a fire. Yeah, exactly. Thank you so much. And, um. This has been great, and I've been loving it. Very cathartic. And we have had some moments already, like, some technical dips. Yeah, we've learned a lot. You guys don't know what we've been through. How many years of friendship have we had? 

I think we're still learning through our friendship. Guys, how many Christmases have we celebrated? I don't know. So for the listeners, every year, every Christmas, We all have like a friendship Christmas on our own, just the girls, right? Fashion themes. That's right. We need to coordinate that actually. I'm thinking this year should be gold. 

I was thinking the same thing. Your pictures are like the housewives on the reunions. They tell everybody what color to wear. I was thinking the same thing. I like it and we're gold. We golden baby. It's a golden years. Yeah. But I do get emotional every year at the end of the year. I do get emotional about everything that's happened. 

Good and bad, good and bad. And every new year's I cry. I cry and I get emotional. Me too. Okay. I know it's like, yeah, bring it, bring it. It's golden baby. 

Hurry up, Jasmine! That's what we're gonna do. That's what we're gonna do. We're gonna wear gold and do flashing lights. And you think we ain't gonna post about it. Oh, we gonna post? That's right. We're gonna post. We're gonna post. Well, Maritza's gonna post about it. Yeah, I'm gonna Silly picture, I hope you guys appreciate all the way You guys don't know how much Okay, so, I can't see through my gold sheet and my sunglasses, but how do I look? 

You gotta pose. What do I do with my hands? What do I do with my hands? I'm the social media marketing. And my daughter was like, mommy, you and your friends are so cute. And, uh, yeah, no, I think it's a beautiful thing. And, uh, and I know 2024 has been great for me, not necessarily for everyone. It's the year of many different challenges, but at the end of the day, there's always good. 

There's challenges. There's. sadness and whatever. But, uh, it is a time to reflect, to be grateful and to tell the people that you love, I love you. And Monica, I want to pass it to you. Yes, Mel Mel. I know that 2024 has been good and also challenging. Do you want to talk about that? I mean, 2024 for me was very challenging. 

You know, I lost my mom, but I did also have a lot of good things happen this year. I'm a grandmother now. It's beautiful. Yeah, it's beautiful. Mm hmm. This podcast and my friendships, for sure. They've been very meaningful. Um, I appreciate it very much. Oh, it's okay. You can cry. It's okay. But I don't want to. 

I know. Um, my birthday this year. It was beautiful. It was amazing. It was beautiful. I felt the love. But I wasn't feeling it at first. I wasn't. Like, I didn't, I didn't want to have. I didn't want to do anything. Okay. I wasn't trying to celebrate. Yeah. It was just that I was in a mood. Right. You know? Um, and when he did that. 

Aww. It was amazing. He loves you. That was perfect. He did the perfect thing. Yeah. He did a good job. He did. He needed to surprise you. I think that was good for you. Yeah. Yeah, because I really. I think you needed that. Like, I don't want to do anything. I don't want to do anything. I just wasn't feeling this here. 

Right. But Monica's understandable. Yeah. Yeah. Uh huh. Absolutely. Listen, I, I, I knew your mom. We all knew your mom. Mm hmm. Your mother loved you. You were her pride and joy. Yeah. Yeah. And she protected you. And she was a good woman. Losing my mom, it was hard. You know, she was older, so she had a lot of years of life. 

But now I'm also transitioning into caring for my dad. Mm hmm. Yeah. That's hard. That's a lot. That's a lot on your shoulders. Yeah. Because you have him and now you're dealing with your emotions and you know, he's hurting too. So you carry his weight as well as your own. Yeah. He's on his own. Right. Right. 

Right. So it's hard. Transition of caring for your elderly parents. But I'm looking forward to 2025 and you know, to see what it brings. Monica, I appreciate you sharing that because you know what, you know, the holidays. I know we're here talking about like, you know, what we're talking about, but you know, it also brings a lot of sad moments for people and, you know, especially if they had a rough year like you're sharing and I think too, and I know that's something that we're going to talk about also in 2025 is our generation right now that, you know, our, the Gen Xers are taking care of aging parents and that's, that's a burden that's, that's not easy, especially when you're, you're still trying to like raise your own children. 

And then, you know, getting through that. So thank you for sharing that. I know that that's, that's not, that's not easy. And you didn't have to share that, and you still did. And just know that we're here for you unconditionally. You're helping a lot of, there's probably people listening to you right now, and you're making a difference. 

And they don't feel alone. That's the power of these type of vulnerable moments. Yeah, I believe that. And, uh, and also there's, you know, taking care of aging parents is a, I think one of the top number one percentage of aging parents, the, as far as what Gen Xers are facing is taking care of parents that have Alzheimer's dementia. 

Yeah. And I'm not alone in that. Nope. You're not. And my sister in law, she is a godsend because she is, She is closer to him and she is also doing a lot going through it. Yeah. Helping my dad a lot and you know, she has her own family to take care of. Of course we all do. So yeah. I, I am blessed to have her Absolutely. 

In my life. Yeah. And I really truly appreciate her for that. I, this is probably gonna sound so like cliche. It's the truth. These are the things that make you stronger. Mm-hmm . Yeah. These are the things that make you realize what's important in life. Absolutely. Mm-hmm . Yeah. And you're going through it right now and I feel for you. 

I feel it. Mm-hmm . You're not alone. You're not alone. No. And I believe that we're here for you, you guys. 1000% for sure. You showed up. You always do. And I am so grateful. Mm, so grateful. Well, I'm glad you talked about this 'cause it's therapeutic for you too, because it's hard sometimes You wanna lock things in. 

Yeah. And you don't know know, I don't like to share a lot. No. I'm not. No. I'm a very private person, so. Yes. It's hard. But you know we're here for you, you know? And I know you don't always like to talk about these things, and that's okay, because we all deal with things differently, you know? But I'm glad you are talking about it, because it's good for you. 

Yeah. You know? And I think it's, it's actually a really meaningful thing that you're doing it towards the end of the year. Right? To release all that. Right. Right. And we have opened the door for what 2025 and the new year is going to bring for you. Well, can I bring in some positivity? So Monica, you know how we always send memes to each other, tag each other and stuff. 

And Monica tagged me on something and she's like, this is going to be us. And it was a positive. It was two girls, I don't remember the name of the show so I apologize, but it was two young ladies who had a very successful podcast and, um, but it took them a while to, to kind of get to where they are now and, um, they did a clip where they're in a room and they're recording and no one's in there and then now they're in a room and there was like 300 people in there. 

Nice. Yes. Like, they were screaming and clapping for them and they were doing questions, like Q& A. That's gonna be our listeners. We can't wait to meet you. And Monica put, that's gonna be us. Yes. That's beautiful. And I was like, you think so? She goes, fuck yeah! So let me ask you something, Monica. You've been a very, uh, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes girl. 

She has. Inviting myself to places that I'm not even invited to. Because you are always invited, please. You are. So do you think that has anything to do with just like things that have happened like recently that have made you feel like, I'm just going to say yes to everything. Yeah. And again, like Jasmine pointed out, this point in our lives, we were just. 

We don't care about what others think of us. And we're doing more for ourselves. My daughter's older. And, you know, she's in college and doing her own thing. So, not that I don't have to worry about her. No, but you have time more for yourself now, right? So I'm taking advantage. Yes. You know, and, you know, I'm doing all the things that I kept saying no to before, and whatever, I can, I'll find the means, I'm doing it. 

Yeah, cause Monica's been a double booker. Yeah. Not on purpose. I mean, no lie, this girl has been just saying yes. I know someone that got engaged, right? We know someone that got engaged recently, and they're not planning on having a big wedding. And, you know, they're doing a little thing for themselves. And I'm like, well, I'm I'm going going. 

I wasn't invited. No, but OK, but crashing, I'm going gives me a reason. I want to go to Italy, but I've seen it and I've seen it and I love it. I love to see you in that. I love to see you in this. And that's what I'm going to be doing. That's beautiful. That's right. I'm going everywhere. To you, girl. That's right. 

I was invited on a trip, you know, hopefully soon, and then I'm trying to plan my husband's 50th. Yeah. Beautiful. That's another trip, and I'm sorry for Don't be sorry. my boss. Do it. I'm sorry, but No. Sorry, boss. I'm taking this time off. Yeah. I mean, I can understand what you're saying because, you know, Maritza, Monica, and myself, we have, uh, we're empty nesters, in a way, we're empty nesters. 

You are. Yeah, yeah, we are. And, um, when I started transitioning into, What's my next phase of life, right? Your second act. Because not, not, not to interrupt you, but we are talking about the end of the year. So this year has been the year that your daughters have gone. At least the last one is the one that's gone, right? 

Well, this is the year. Well, this is her third year. Okay. So it's taken me a long time to get here. Of course. I can imagine. Oh, no, I can't even imagine. And, uh, this is the funny joke of the family. Now, in the beginning, I just said, Like, you know, you have all, you're always so busy, like, I can't, I can't, I got to do this, I got to do, and then you go from having so much time on your hands and then a little depression kicks in, right? 

So this has been like, uh, something for me that has actually saved me in a way, along with other projects and things that I'm doing. So I have a little calendar and I, And my calendar's always booked. And my daughter called me from FSU. She's like, Oh, mom, you know, I'm thinking about doing this, this, this, and this. 

And I can fly down and blah, blah, blah. And I was like, hold on a second. Let me check my calendar. Let me see if I can squeeze you in. Let me see what I can do. And she was like, what? And I was like, babe, I like have a life. Now I have a podcast, bitch, you sound like my mom life now. My mom is like that. And she was like, what is such, she's like, need I? 

And, uh, I love it. Yeah. And like I'm going to spend, um, I have a Sunday, like one particular Sunday is all completely blocked off for my grandson and my stepdaughter's son, but he's my grandson, like, you know, and I'm like, he's on the calendar and they're like every, the whole family was like. Oh, shit, the baby got a whole day. 

Don't hate, don't hate. Don't hate. I was like, no, that, that day's blocked is for the baby. Like that's going to be, that's our day. I'm taking, I'm picking up the baby and we're going to be with him all day. And they're like, they were telling the baby, Oh, you are special. special. You got a whole freaking day. 

And I was like, I'm so fucking grateful that this is my life because two years ago I was in bed and I didn't want to take a shower. Yeah. And I'm, and I'm grateful for that. So if you're in a slump right now or you're feeling a certain way, I hope this is an inspiration that that doesn't have to be forever. 

You're just in a bad place. Get up. It's all temporary. Take a shower, join a gym, buy some cute outfits Get in a good mental space, reach out to people that you trust and get the fuck out of that darkness because there's a lot of life and a lot of life out there to be lived. Absolutely. That's right. 2025. 

Whatever it is I believe in you. Go for it. 2025 it be. So ladies, since the 2025 is coming near, like what are the three things that maybe you want to put out there? It doesn't have to be like specifically like these are the three things, but maybe just, you know, affirmations, things you want to put out there. 

For 2025? Yeah, for 2025. I want to travel more. There you go. Yeah, and I just want to be happy. I'm already happy, but I want to be happier. You are happier. You are happy. I'm going to keep it simple. I want to travel more with you. Oh, great memories, great memories. It was fun. It's a lot of fun. Traveling with me is fun. 

And what else, Mo? What else, Mo? That's one. Focus on me. There you go. And my best friend, my husband. Oh, I love that. Of course, continue my friendships. Making a meaningful. We've been friends for a long time, and I think now we're like a lot closer than before. I don't know. It's just we're getting more together. 

What about you, Jess? I want to dive more into my creativity, my creative side, and allow that to evolve. I'm very curious about that and really just continue to make memories. With my family, with my kids, with you ladies. And I'm like, I don't know, I'm just like really feeling like I'm just, my heart is open. 

And like my arms are open to whatever is coming my way. That's beautiful, I love that. And what about you Maritza? Um, definitely. With this podcast continue, um, we have a lot of goals and I want to reach those goals. And I love that we became closer with the whole podcast. I guess another thing would be finding myself again. 

I feel like I lost myself through motherhood. Not, it's not, and I'm not saying it in a bad way. I just have a lot of free time in my hands right now, and I'm just trying to figure out who I am at this moment in my life. So 2025 is tapping into that. That's beautiful. That's great. Yeah. What about you, Daisy? 

I don't know. I haven't had time to think about it listening to you guys. I was really really listening to you guys. Um, one thing that you guys all said, I will say that what Jessica said, her creative side, I feel that I feel that I really want to come into my creative side. I feel like there's always this piece of me that wants to come out and I don't know what it is. 

It's an artistic side. I do have an artistic side. I definitely feel like that's part of me and how I mentioned earlier, like, I just hope this year I can focus more on the things that I've accomplished and not accomplished. And I think that might help me accomplish more because I'm constantly knocking myself down because I'm always worried about what I didn't do instead of what I did do. 

So I'm hoping that I hope and I could tap in more into my creative side, you know, in this podcast, I really want to build this up and just keep doing amazing things with you ladies. So I'm really excited. hoping for amazing things this year, praying, sending that out there and just, you know, growing closer with my family. 

I mean, I, I love them dearly. Like, you know, Mike, we've all talked about the last podcast, your husband being your best friend. He dearly is my best friend and my children are my best friend. As funny as that sounds, they believe they are. And I tell them all the time. I mean, sometimes I whisper in their ear, who's your So it's like I just want to keep that going and I tend to get caught up in my own life because I think I struggle with my own accomplishments that I tend to forget about the people that are in my life. 

It's going to make me emotional, but I just, I feel like I'm so blessed to have such good family, such good friends, and it, hurts me sometimes that I feel like I'm not there for everybody. And, and it's not the I don't give a shit that I don't give a shit about what everybody thinks is, is different than me being there for people. 

And I just want to find more time in my life to be there for the people that really mean a lot to me outside of my husband and my kids, you know, like, so that I really hope I can do that more. Beautiful. So with that, we're going to play some bloopers of all the funny little bloopers of our past podcasts. 

Um, if you want to stick around and listen to some of them, cause there's a lot of them. And with that, you guys, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year. I love you ladies. Happy Holiday. 2025 ladies, you God bless your I love you. You girls. Thank you. I love you girls. Asima, 

AlrightDeibyses, eat your sandwich. Put your headphones on, baby. I hate everything. Well, we know Bread, cabbage, chicken. You haven't heard that one yet. It's just fucking hilarious. David's like. 

I gotta finish eating my chocolate. I know. I'm gonna be like, hi. What y'all doing? I swear. Holiday. We got some good ass chocolate here. Ritza! What kind of chocolate is that? Dammit! Get some water, bitch. I'm not going to make it through this fucking up or not. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. Welcome everybody into the room. 

Come on. All right. We took a break. That's how I felt. I was going to say that, but I didn't want to talk about it. 

Hello. Hello. Order in the court. Hello. Because it is! It's bullshit! Eta negrita que va caminando! Sorry, I don't know. My mind went to Rick Sanchez. I'm Rick Sanchez. I'm Rick Sanchez. And I have exciting, exciting news. Oh my gosh. You haven't seen my Rick Sanchez Instagram? I didn't know. Oh my gosh. Thank you for listening. 

Make sure to subscribe to our show so you don't miss an episode. We will be dropping an episode every two weeks. Oye, no, like seriously, subscribe now. So just chill. Till the next episode. Follow us on Insta and TikTok. Hasta la proxima.