“Finding composure and acting with clarity and resolve, right in the midst of your fears, is a form of generosity that in Buddhism is sometimes referred to as ‘giving the gift of fearlessness.’”

Marc Lesser, “Do Less, Accomplish More”

I grew up avoiding confrontation because my dad’s doctor had said that he was prone to have a heart attack and drop dead at any time. My mother reminded us of that danger whenever my brothers had a typical boy’s brawl, which was too often for my comfort. I strove to be obedient. . . and not cause a disgusto or aggravation to my beloved dad. . .

I wrestled with these old, anxious feelings when deciding what the cover of my new book should look like. As the title says, Alborada, A Cross-Cultural Memoir in Poetry, is a collection of poems narrating my life experiences. It takes a lot of courage to expose one’s life and character to an unknown audience. I wanted people to begin to discover who I am before they even opened the book.