Hi y’all!

I hope everyone’s week has been well. Mine has been good, and quite busy.

This week I have spent a lot of my time investing myself into my blog. I expanded it into social media within several social media platforms (@_rhizome_).

I feel like the internet is such an undervalued tool that we do not take advantage of. No, really! If you want to reach someone in this world and send them a message, you literally have the internet to help you.

I wish to hopefully in the near future build my own brand. In doing so, I want to essentially bring to attention the need of financial education, and the negative effects this has later on in our adult life. I’m also going to make my own YouTube channel and podcast, it’s going to be called el CHICANO de COACHELLA. So be on the look out for that soon.

My passion? I love helping people, honestly. Truly, genuinely, from the heart. Being the oldest of 8 siblings really gives you perspective on life. Why? Because I always have to think of what I’m doing, and how that is going to effect the way my siblings see me, and if it’s going to influence them in any positive way. Everything I do is to ensure that they get a better opportunity than I did in life. What would I like more than anything in this world? To be able to have my younger siblings grow up and cherish the very thought of life, because to take things for granted, is to not see what is there in front of you.

There’s a drive inside of me. A new drive. Passion. I like it. It helps me see things a lot clearer. I want to do what I love. Why shouldn’t anyone? My partner talks about how her dream is to be a PA, and help people who truly need the help. Beautiful. Yet, it pushes me to do what I want, because only I know what I am capable of, and yes, life is short, so do it!

I finally got paid my second paycheck, and this one was finally the good one. Yet before I could enjoy it, rent, utilities, credit cards, slashed my bank account by more than half! However, I did my budget and prepared myself financially, to understand how much I can spend, and how much I should save. Notice I use can and should. You have to be realistic with yourself. Money comes and goes. Yet it’s different when money goes, and there’s no recurring source of income to replace that expense. Setting realistic standards, and discipline. You won’t better a habit unless you consistently repeat that habit.

I honestly think if I was taught a little better how to manage my money when I was younger, I wouldn’t be where I am at today. Of course, I am blessed to the fullest looking at where I am today, but realistically, money is the determining factor of a yes or no. Yes, I am going to McDonalds because I can afford the dollar menu McChicken. No, I can’t go out with my friends because I don’t have money. Yes, let’s take the kids out to have pizza. No, pizza is unhealthy, lets buy something healthier for their sake, even if it means spending a little bit more. Who even does that???

I say this because that’s what I see, and unfortunately I do too sometimes! But we have to look after our health, mind, body. We get so caught up in the moment, we’re not given time to think about the future. Yea, we unconsciously think about the future – like college, and work – but it’s different when you think about the future consciously. To think about the future, is to think about one’s health, because at the end of the day, if there’s no you, who’s future are we talking about? I don’t mean to sound negative in any way, but I do feel a need to talk about the importance of self-care, and the misconception money has brought to it. More on that in a later post.

It is important to keep your goals aligned. I consistently try to keep my weekly ones in place, but its the long-term ones that get lost in all of the daily commotion. If you need some help with goal-setting, please feel free to reach out. I am more than happy to let everyone in on the biggest secret of life.

I also moved into my new apartment! Well, when I say move, I really mean just took some things out of some boxes, inflated an inflatable mattress and put a blanket over it, organized a few things, and called it “moving in”. It’s difficult! It’s also a process. As I don’t have the money to buy everything at once, so I thought I would do my research on mattresses and furniture, to buy the things I need intellectually rather than emotionally. My partner also wants to accompany me to buy everything, and to help organize and bring some structure, it’s kind of her thing, no lie.

Today was the SuperBowl, it actually just finished. Patriots 13 – Rams 3. I usually spend this day with my partner and watch the superbowl with her, because she loves the Patriots, but things happened, plans fell through, and her friends invited her out to the bars at the end. I stayed at home to write this for you all. Besides, the NFL is just one big corporation, why support it, right?

I also would like to be more engaged with those who do read my blogs and like my posts on facebook/instagram/twitter. PLEASE, let me know how I can better my blogs, content, pictures, experiences, for you all! I am here to share with you my daily experiences, and I would love to know what people want to hear, to focus more on those aspects of my life.

Like always, thank you for reading, I hope you tune in next week.

Question everything, ask, and reflect.

Fausto Figueroa

Sunday, 7:54PM