Elvira Burgo

Elvira, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

It comes from God, my choices, a learned response, and my work as a Happiness Club facilitator. 

Resilience is a gift, really, like all gifts that come from God. I’ve experienced much in my life as a military wife. The military lifestyle is not something I was prepared for, but God was there for me, and he still is. Some of the lessons learned along the way were that no matter what happens, I will be okay. That knowing is significant, but the more incredible lesson was that no matter the challenges, there was the good.

I also get resilience from the choices I make. I can choose to laugh, or I can cry. There’s lots to cry about in this world, and I do cry sometimes. However, I continue to live my life fully because life, as is yours, is a gift. Sure, things will happen, but it’s up to me to decide how I take it. For example, when my mother was dying, I had a choice to be depressed or to enjoy her last days. I chose the latter, and let me tell you, that was one of the most important decisions of my life. 

Additionally, resilience is a learned response. I’m confident that somehow or somewhere, I’ve learned resilience. Maybe it was from my mother, who was a strong woman. Or, perhaps, it came from someone else. Going through so much is a lesson in resilience in and of itself. When you go through things, nothing really bothers you. Okay, maybe they do. However, you learn to accept things more easily.

Finally, as a Happiness Club facilitator, I learned a lot about resiliency. My research taught me what matters in life, and relationships are one key. They buffer you from what life may throw at you.
 

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a writer, and I’m excited to announce that I will be launching my first children’s book. 

I embrace being a writer, but as a published author, I will celebrate that milestone because it’s been a long process.
More importantly, what’s unique about this book are the illustrations. They are so beautiful! I am still shocked that a 17-year-old artist who had never illustrated a book pulled it off. Talk about risk-taking and bold decisions on my part. Her mother and I believed in her, and she came through. 

Something else that’s special about my book is its message. It’s hopeful, and the main character and her father change as a result of their experience. Please check out my website for further details on the book’s release date, signing events, and more. (www.elviraburgo.com).
 

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three qualities that had the most significant impact on my journey were courage, discipline, and faith. Let me start with courage.

Courage is a critical element. When I decided to write, it took some courage. Courage propelled me to act and gave me the ammunition to continue when things were not going so well. For those who feel they may be lacking courage, let me share with you that there was a time in my life when I had no courage. Courage can be developed. So, my advice is, when you decide on something, go for it, and don’t be afraid. That’s courage. 

Along with courage, discipline was necessary in my role as a writer. Having a morning routine and making writing central helped. I had to find a way and the time to write; writing was what made me a writer. I also blog. Although blogging is a different type of writing, it keeps me writing. I write about things I am passionate about. And for all you writers out there, here’s something for you: Write about what you find interesting, not just for the market, because that will sustain your writing.

Finally, faith is necessary. I think faith is something I touched upon already but it bears repeating. It’s knowing that things will be okay or work out. I knew nothing about blogging, but I did it. I also knew nothing about the publishing industry, but I learned a lot. Even when I made mistakes and things didn’t go the way I imagined or planned, it was not the end of my writing journey. The end would mean giving up. When it comes to faith, my advice is to trust and let go. Often, we want to be in control of things. It’s not easy to let go and trust, but it’s doable.
 

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

I’m facing a couple of challenges, but the number one obstacle I’m facing right now is having guests stay for extended periods. I love people and don’t mind having guests over, but I have to share my workspace at a critical moment of a book launch. Even harder is narrating stories in the midst of the noise. Oh boy, has that been difficult! If it weren’t for resilience, I don’t know what I would have done. Some of you may relate. Think back to the onset of the pandemic when you had to share your workspace. How did it make you feel? The good news is that you survived the experience, and so that makes you resilient.

I’m resolving the challenge of guests’ extended stays by changing my routine multiple times and turning my car into a workspace. I’m thrown off, really, but at the same time, I manage. I work through the television noise and others talking. After all, people do matter, and relationships are essential. More importantly, it’s temporary, and I’m savoring every moment. I’m looking forward to my book launch party, my book’s release, and the day I can have some quiet once again. And who knows, maybe I’ll miss my guests.

Finally, here’s something I would like to leave you with. 

“Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.” Misty Copeland