Cry Now, Smile Later – A Latina Women’s Gathering in Long Beach

🌺 Cry Now, Smile Later: Soy Mujer – A Gathering of Reflection & Connection

On Sunday, I had the absolute honor of co-facilitating Cry Now, Smile Later: Soy Mujer—a community event centered on exploring what it means to be a Latina woman.

Held at Viento y Agua in Long Beach, the space filled with the sounds of conversation, shared laughter, deep emotion, and collective storytelling. We gathered not just to talk, but to feel, to process, to cry (a little), and to reconnect with parts of ourselves we often silence.

We reflected on identity, culture, family expectations, generational wisdom, and the resilience that lives in our bodies. Using curated reflection prompts, each person brought their truth to the circle—and something really powerful happened: people cried, people shared things they hadn’t said out loud before, and people connected in ways that felt real.

🥣 The Food That Fed Us

A beautiful highlight: my friend Sayra from La Gasterea prepared a vegan cauliflower ceviche—a dish with a backstory rooted in love and adaptation. Her family in Mexico made this version when meat or fish wasn’t accessible. Sometimes they’d add canned tuna to mimic a more “fishy” flavor. What began as a creative workaround became a symbol of nourishment and care—and it was absolutely delicious.

🫀 Why This Space Mattered

This wasn’t therapy. It wasn’t performative wellness. It was a process space—raw, supported, and full of corazón. We made room for joy, sadness, softness, and truth. And I left feeling so grounded and grateful.

To everyone who showed up: thank you for your vulnerability, presence, and power. You reminded me why spaces like this matter so much.

📆 This group now runs every last Sunday of the month from 4–6 PM at Viento y Agua. Each gathering is facilitated by a different therapist, offering new voices, perspectives, and ways to hold space. All are welcome.

📸 Scroll down to see some moments from the event.