“The good news: you’re a hero.
The bad news: you have to save yourself.”
Dark and light, grief and hope - Ruben Briseno Reveles is a master of duality.
By day he’s the general manager of a bustling Sacramento restaurant - by night he’s an artist, photographer, and self-proclaimed student of beautiful things. But are these two roles as different as they might seem? And how do any of us navigate identity with seemingly contradicting parts of ourselves and our stories?
Tune into this week’s episode to hear a story of loss, redemption, and the outcomes that are possible when pain is transformed into healing.
Ruben and I discuss how losing his mother at four days old and having a painful childhood meant that he wasn’t dreaming as a kid - he was just trying to survive. We also talk about what it’s like to grow up as a child of immigrants, caught between cultures, and how venturing away from your roots can also someday lead you back to them.
Today’s episode is for you if you’ve struggled with not fitting in, wondered where your artistic ability might lie, questioned how to balance art with work, how the pain of your past could ever actually be a force for good, or if you’re wondering how to be the creator of your own story.
Speaking of creating your story, below are some quotes that we mention in the episode to help you along. Keep following those fires, my peaches - and don’t forget to come subscribe to my blog for podcast back story, tips on emotional intelligence, and weekly guidance for how you can follow YOUR fire (and live a life you’ll look back on with pride.)
“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.” (Lao Tzu)
Everybody is a Genius. But If You Judge a Fish by Its Ability to Climb a Tree, It Will Live Its Whole Life Believing that It is Stupid. (Maybe Albert Einstein)
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To see my news appearance (drama) referenced in this episode:
To contact Ruben Briseno Reveles (and see some of his incredible art) you can find him here:
https://www.rubenreveles.com/about
https://www.instagram.com/rurevel/