Un día a la vez: What I’ve learned through practicing embroidery already

Yesterday, I went to a class at the Latino Collection and Resource Center about the power of autohistorías via embroidery by my dear comadre Bonnie, my amazing friend Sarah, and one of my favorite poets/writers, Laurie Ann Guerrero. I got to sit with Rebel and Agosto while we learned, did an activity about using our power in mantras/affirmations and learned how to embroider!


In my free time, I haven’t stopped stitching since & have looked up new techniques to try. Hopefully I’ll get better at it, but right now I’m really enjoying being present, focusing on one task, and allowing my mind to slow down and be deliberate.


I chose “un día a la vez” because it’s a line from a song I remember my abuela singing a lot growing up. Taking things one day at a time is a mindset I’m trying to center so I worry less and enjoy my life as it’s happening. My therapist told me depression is rooted in the past and anxiety is worrying about the future, and I’ve seen how that appears in my life sometimes.

As someone who enjoys planning (yes, a bullet journal post is coming soon) and likes to daydream into the future, I often find myself worrying about things that aren’t real yet to the point it’s unhealthy. Practicing embroidery has helped me already begin to slow down and focus, while everything else melts away.

I’m excited to continue practicing and can’t wait to hang my first creation, “un día a la vez,” as a reminder to take time to be deliberate, present, and allow myself time to be a work in progress.