Should We Celebrate Hispanic Heritage? But of course...

Check out my latest column on CNN where I explore the significance of our nation celebrating Hispanic American Heritage.

(CNN) -- From the White House to statehouses across America, from Main Street to Wall Street, there will be many commemorations marking Hispanic Heritage Month, which officially kicked off on September 15 -- but does all the hoopla matter?

Yes. All the proclamations, mariachi music and exultations, even the tacos served at these tributes are necessary -- especially if, beyond cocktails and soggy nachos, everyone takes the time to learn the stories and recognize everyday Hispanic American heroes who gave and continue to give of themselves to this nation.

The story behind Hispanic Heritage Month

My breakup with high heels... the end of a love affair

I've had a life long love affair with high heels. But a year ago, when I tripped and almost fell on a pile of dog dung, and my heel went one way and the ankle another, I knew it was time to give them up. There are no sensible heels anymore.

I share my break up story w Latina magazine in this month's issue. It's on newsstands now.

"Forgiveness is a not an occasional act it is a constant attitude." Martin Luther King 

A good time to remember an important day in world, not just American, history.

... I have not posted since late June. I can list the reasons: I am revising my webpage (stay tuned for a new page) and I have been extremely busy with assignments and projects. But frankly, the real reason is that I let this blog of mine fall to the wayside because I didn't really think that you all would miss it much. And that made me sad especially because I've realized that is not the case. There are people who looked forward to my posts and I took them for granted. I've learned a huge lesson about taking for granted my virtual friends. Virtual relationships are important and yes, sacred! I have 100 followers, yes you reading this, and to me that is a million. Each of you beautiful beings have made a commitment to read my blog, to stop by and say hey. For your time I am grateful. I did not honor the other part of the bargain that I made when I decided to create this space: to share.

I needed a gentle nudge to be reminded that what I write here matters. A friend recently wrote with a sweet note:

"I notice you haven't posted on your website since June. I miss your wisdom and love for the Latina woman. I know you are busy, so I forgive you." ~ Susan

Are your cultural beliefs keeping you from getting that promotion?

I am so proud of this latest piece I wrote for LATINA magazine. This is about leaning in Latina style. For Hispanic women in the workplace (and at home too) it's not just limiting gender beliefs that can keep us from success, but cultural beliefs. Like, "good Latina girls are not aggressive," or we grapple with respecting elders and don't know how to stand up to authority figures, or we are afraid to makes make waves coz we look más bonitas when we are calladitas...

In the piece I explore four cultural roadblocks that many Latinas grapple with but also feature coaching tips to over come these hurdles:

• Do you like playing humble?
• Do you sometimes believe you don't deserve that corner office, or to be CEO? 
• Do you have an issue standing up to authority figures?
• And do you get pressured to live up to the good daughters should be married, preferably with a man and with kids?

Building Community by Saluting the Sun: How rituals can be healthy for body & spirit

Tricia & Pamela celebrate as Anton photo bombing us

Those of you who follow me know that last year I participated in the largest Bikram Yoga class in the world in Time Square. Along with 4,000 plus yogis and thousands of tourists and New Yorker's looking on, I found my zen. I learned that day that in the middle of urban madness you can tap into your inner peace. As much as I was inside, I also felt amazingly connected to the men and women challenging their bodies in the sweltering heat.

This year when the owner of the studio where I practice Bikram Tricia Donegan announced that she wanted to start a tradition and celebrate Summer Solstice by performing this ancient offering, I jumped at the chance. With another amazing yogi, Pamela Herron, she lead a group of twenty brave ones through 108 yoga poses by the Hudson River just as the sun was hitting high noon.

Welcome summer

The Northern Hemisphere celebrates Summer Solstice today, the longest day of the year. Welcome change! Celebrate the star that gives us life.  What are you doing to celebrate today's change in seasons? Spend a moment giving thanks, welcoming change and celebrating that which gives us life, el sol.

Every year I mark the beginning of summer, the day when the northern hemisphere is tilted most toward the sun, with something special and always in community. One year I celebrated with 99 drummers. Last year I participated in the largest yoga class in the world -- 4,000 people -- in the middle  of Times Square. This year I plan to participate in a smaller community yoga class by doing 108 sun salutations by the Hudson River. Do you have any traditions? I'd love to hear about them.

Here's one of my favorite love poems by Hafiz, it's all about love and the metaphor is the sun's relationship to earth.

Five great Frida Khalo quotes...

"...The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration."

~

Imagine that? Living a life authentically as you feel like it? The boldness with which Frida Khalo lived her life continues to inspire. She didn't just paint, she painted to live. And as a result Frida Khalo lived a full life. While her life seemed like one huge performance art exhibit, she wasn't performing, she was living. This renaissance woman was interested in everything and not just 'art.' And, she had things to say about it all--politics, fashion, culture, women's issues, class issues, cuisine, marriage, sexuality, men, and much more. Khalo inspired women across Latin America and beyond to live authentic full lives.

Can you tell I am a fan? As I see it, Khalo showed us that coloring outside the lines was not only good thing but a great endeavor. Cheers to a woman not afraid to be authentic, even if that authenticity meant to live radically different than was expected of her and women of her culture and era.

I love this quote. Here's a little inspiration, motivation, and life vision from the master painter herself. For Khalo there was no such thing as living in a box because there was no box--life had no limits.

Today is a great day to...

...to someone you love, used to love, want to love, the planet or fill in your blank... 

Adventurous: I added something new to my routine yesterday and got a little adventurous. I walked into a gallery near my home and got a personal tour of a recently opened show "Critical Condition," now showing at the Jim Kempner Gallery. The image is Robert Attanasio's piece, "Be Thoughtful." He curated the show which includes three other artists, gilf!, Bob Seng, and Adam Taye. This one particular piece is called, "Be Thoughtful" and its formerly a Gatorade ad that originally had the word "Be Tough" to which Attanasio ingeniously added h-t-f-u-l. Those five letters subverted the ad and created a whole new vibe. The South Bronx born artist said that this world has too much violence and he just wanted to soften it up a bit. Why promote tough when you can promote thoughtfulness? When you're adventurous lots of amazing things happen.

I discovered some kind of wonderful today...

That even when it rains, birds have a reason to sing.