The Light In Her Eyes
Today I feel inspired to write in honor of the birthday of my mother, Norma Plaza. Norma was born in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, between coffee plantations and tangerines. She has nine siblings–a big family dedicated to agriculture in a mountainous rural community of Puerto Rico, similar to Las Marías. In 1977, this brave woman in search of more formal education—a less common thing to do for a woman during that time—decided to move to San Germán, where she met the love of her life: Sigfredo. Norma dedicated more than 30 years of her life to being a teacher and accompanying at-risk youth and their families as a Counselor of the Department of Education. At night, she also worked as an academic counselor at the Interamerican University. She worked a lot… After retiring, she started to enjoy spending her free time with her husband and grandchildren, making crafts and farming at home. And let me tell you: she has the magic touch to make any plant bloom!
Norma with husband Sigfredo and their grandchild, Kahlil
Ever since I was little, I have seen my mother be a passionate leader who was connected to her family, school community and neighbors. She had three children: two girls, Vivian and myself, Glenis (I am the older one) and a boy, Christian. Coming from a large united family, we had to separate ourselves since my two siblings moved to the United States–as many other families do, due to the many circumstances and socioeconomic challenges in Puerto Rico. This situation brings us sadness and discouragement, but my parents Norma and Sigfredo have maintained their union, communication and persistent family connection with my siblings.
Physical distance is surmountable when there is love.
Norma (fourth from the left) and seven of her siblings.
The Padilla Family (from left to right): Glenis, Sigfredo, Glenis, Christian, Vivian.
When the pandemic started in 2020, I noticed my mom was off— her anxiety and changes in mood were evident. She didn't leave home for any reason because she was very scared of getting sick. This paralyzed her and kept her in extreme social distance– she did not visit anyone, not even her dear siblings in Adjuntas. My mom gained weight and started having problems with thyroid imbalance and having less control of her blood sugar levels. Norma has suffered from high cholesterol in her blood for years, and last year she started to suffer from acute gastric problems. She felt that something was wrong and, after several medical appointments and physical examinations, she discovered that she had a hernia in her esophagus which was aggravating her digestion.
Norma (front) and participants of the Healthy Eating and Wellness course working on a group recipe.
At the time that my mother discovered her condition, I found out that Plenitud PR was planning their first Healthy Eating and Wellness pilot course. Many of the self-care practices and plant-based recipes that the course covered were based on the principles of Ayurveda–a natural system of medicine that originated in India thousands of years ago. This course was intended for adults with chronic diseases and its aim was to give them support in learning about and creating better eating habits to prevent or counter diseases. It’s worth mentioning that the three leading causes of death in Puerto Rico are cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. In Puerto Rico, 25% of the population are people over the age of 65. I still don’t know how I convinced Norma, but I managed to get her to enroll in this 4-month course. We agreed that I would accompany her because participating in this course required a weekly two-hour drive from San Germán to Las Marías to attend 5-hour workshops with other 20 participants from the community. It was an experience that stretched Norma out of her comfort zone, and I wanted to be there to support her in this journey.
And that's how we did it. This group received an amazing vegetarian recipe book, weekly boxes of fresh ingredients and spices to create recipes at home, and a journal to encourage each person to reflect on their experiences. These reflections prompted an open dialogue for inspiration in each class. Throughout the course, each participant was paying close attention to the emotional and physical responses that accompanied their new diet and more conscious lifestyle. One of the great lessons I learned from the Ayurvedic perspective in these workshops was that listening to our body carefully helps us to make better decisions for our health and well-being. Accompanying my mother to the workshops gave us quality time to chat in the car and listen to each other more intentionally. We both knew that the goal was to seek healing and connect with greater intention.
Left to right: Norma taking notes at the class lesson in a local supermarket; participants focused on a cooking demonstration; Norma graduating from the Healthy Eating and Wellness course with facilitators Paula Paoli and Seona Boyle
Norma’s testimony from the Healthy Eating and Wellness course (Spanish audio only)
And we made it! Almost eight months later, and we’ve grown so much. My mother has lost weight, she eats less meat, cooks with more intention and her gastric problems are under control. Improvements have been significant. Norma has become a leader of the group of adults in the Healthy Eating and Wellness Course and today, she helps coordinate the monthly meetings that the group has committed to have on a voluntary basis. I have seen her true self re-emerge– shining with all its beauty. Sometimes we get lost in anxiety, illness and isolation. But this time, I can attest that Norma found herself again, and found a supportive community like no other. Today my union with her is stronger and I hope to continue walking hand in hand, along with the Plenitud PR family, towards our well-being. I am witness to what my friend Paula Paoli would call a “little miracle”. The eyes of my mother are full of light again.
Top left and right: Norma with the Senior Care cooking team and volunteering in the kitchen. Bottom left: Norma with new close friends, Virgen, Aura and Doña Carmen. Bottom right: the Healthy Eating and Wellness course participants gathering months after course completion to cook and share a meal together.
Mommy, on your birthday, I celebrate your smile, your courageousness, and your physical and emotional well-being. I love you and will be forever grateful to you for being my mother.
Happy birthday!
