It’s been a while since I’ve written, but I am here now. I’ve been a bit busy working on a few creative projects. I recently reopened my Etsy shop, and I’m shifting my focus towards selling digital goodies such as printables for journaling, scrapbooking, and all things creative self-expression. 

I’ve also been spending more time decorating my Hobonichi Cousin, and it’s brought me so much happiness!!! It’s become my quiet space where I can just play with paper, stickers, and little scraps of my daily life. 

Lately, I’ve been super into this community more than ever, and I just absolutely love it. I grew up decorating my diaries and notebooks in the 90s, but I never had a name for it. I remember tearing pages from my Seventeen magazines and decorating pages to inspire me.

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I’m excited to share a few of my recent spreads from my Hobonichi below. I hope they can spark a little bit of creativity in you, so you can also start creating and decorating. Enjoy!

Thank you for being here. May your cafecito be strong and your pages full of sparkle! ♡

Until next time,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Tiendita Playground Shop

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

This past week flew by with work, IRB meetings for my dissertation, and finishing up three sticker designs. Somehow getting a full 8 hours of sleep made everything feel more manageable. Rest really is the underrated requirement for our bodies to recharge that a lot of us take for granted. I know I do sometimes. I forget to rest.

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Also…

*drumroll*

I’ve officially reopened the online sticker shop on Saturdays. It’ll be open once a week from 9 AM to midnight CT, so I can pack orders over the weekend. I’m excited to keep things cute and still sustainable with my busy schedule.

Below is the Instagram carousel I recently posted where I share about what I’ve been up to in a nutshell.

Creative Activity:

Feeling low-energy but still want to check in with yourself? Try one of these prompts in your favorite journal or notebook that will help you reconnect with yourself without doing too much. It should take you about 5 to 10 minutes.

• Turn your favorite song into a doodle. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just try to capture the vibe, energy, or even the colors it makes you feel.

• Reflect on a TV show or movie you recently finished. What type of impact did it have on you? What surprised you?

• Write about a TikTok or reel that you recently saw and reflect on how it made you feel. Did it make you laugh, cry, or just feel?

• Or simply just write down how you’re feeling right now.

Let this be your quick way to reconnect with yourself. Have fun! Bye Bye!

Share

Thank you for being here. ♡

Until next time,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Clari Loves Cafecito Shop

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

It’s been a little quiet around here between work, school, and life. I needed to take a break and let the silence stretch for a bit. I missed writing, but the pause was necessary. Like totally!

I’m talking about the good kind of pause, the kind that lets things simmer, settle, and fall into place. Now that I’ve returned (writing this post), I’ve been thinking a lot about the direction I’d like to take The Cafecito Diaries, both as a space for self-reflection and all things creativity.

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Lately, I’ve been working more intentionally on the sticker & art shop, Clari Loves Cafecito. To maintain a healthy balance between work and play, I’ve decided to simplify the shop’s operations by opening only once a week on Saturdays from 9 am to midnight, which gives me time to enjoy it and protect my energy.

This particular shift made me realize: this newsletter doesn’t have to be either personal or creative. It can be both!

So here’s what you can expect from me moving forward:

• Diary-style entries like this one (life, thoughts, and a few rambling rants here and there)

• Behind-the-scenes moments from the sticker biz

• Updates on new upcoming drops or digital goodies

• Occasional surprises for subscribers (all things creativity)

If you’re into art or stickers, welcome to the creative side of The Cafecito Diaries.

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Thank you for being here, whether you’ve read one post or all of them. Have a wonderful weekend! ♡

Until next time,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Clari Loves Cafecito Shop

The sticker shop Clari Loves Cafecito will be open this Saturday from 9 am until midnight with some of our favorite designs including sparkling cats, motivational stickers, and past designs. The plan is to keep it simple: open one day a week, and that’s it. Teehee! 

You can check out our shop at https://clarilovescafecito.com/.

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

Mimetic desire is a concept developed by French philosopher René Girard, which suggests that human desires are not entirely original but are often shaped by observing and imitating the desires of others (McCabe, 2018). This idea shows how people desire what others have. We desire it because they want it.

In my own experience, I have seen mimetic desire play a huge role in the lives of people who have been in and out of my life. There’s been instances where acquaintances or friends have suddenly taken an interest in the exact same hobbies, career paths, or even personal styles after seeing me pursue them. I have also seen this happen to other people as well. Although it can be flattering at times, it makes me wonder about the concept of originality. Would you agree that finding one’s own voice is such a struggle? 

I have also noticed how mimetic desire affects people in social media. For instance, whenever we scroll on social media for hours, we don’t realize we are looking at a curated version of people’s lives. We get influenced to copy trends, lifestyles, and even in the way we think. Instead of developing our own creativity, we get caught up in a cycle of wanting what others have, which is the trap of mimetic desire. This is where social comparison kicks in, and it makes us not appreciate our lives. This is the power influence. Yikes!

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Mimetic desire doesn’t have to lead to negative outcomes, right? Sometimes we just need a dash of positivity to help us keep moving forward. We might pick up a few positive habits here and there based on the concept of mimetic desire. I understand sometimes we imitate others without realizing it, but we cannot let imitation replace authenticity. You’ll get lost in the sauce and not develop your personal growth and self-awareness.

Stop for a moment and reflect by asking yourself if your desires are truly your own or borrowed from the people we look up to and admire. Finding your own authentic voice does require a conscious effort by reflecting on what you value and feel passionate about rather than wanting what others have by mirroring their life choices.

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful week! ♡

Until next time,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

Reference

McCabe, B. (2018). Rene Girard and the mysterious nature of desire. Hub. Retrieved from https://hub.jhu.edu/2018/08/08/rene-girard-evolution-desire/

I wanted to pop in with a little life update on what I’ve been up to lately. 

A few months ago, I started a new work-from-home job (which has been an adjustment but a good one!) while also working on my doctoral dissertation. Revising my dissertation has taken up a lot of my mental bandwidth, but I’m making progress each day as I am trying to stay motivated with the whole writing research process. 

I’m also happy to share that I’m officially under 200 pounds! It’s been quite a journey, but I’m feeling stronger and more in tune with my body compared to last year. I was weighing close to 260 lbs and always felt super out of breath. I’m a short gal, by the way. Anyways, small wins deserve to be celebrated, right?

In between all that, I did make time for a couple of movies and television shows. A few hours ago, my husband and I finished season one and two of The White Lotus, and now I am making my way through The Handmaid’s Tale (finally). I’m also reading the novel. If you’ve watched either television show, we should definitely discuss the character development or anything that caught your attention in the comments section.

In creative news, I have some adorable cat stickers on the way! I illustrated them myself a few months ago and have decided to add them to our main online sticker shop although it is a separate side project. If you’re into cats and stickers, stay tuned for their release! 

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Thanks for your continued support and patience as I work through these changes and life adjustments in my life. My readers, I appreciate you all so much! Let me know how you’re doing this week. I’d like to hear from you.

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend! ♡

Until next time,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

I've always felt uneasy when people ask me "So, what are you doing now?" after I've left a job in the past for whatever reason. It feels uncomfortable because it’s as if I’m expected to have a perfectly prepared response, with detailed plans for my next career move. What if I just want to take a break for a bit or rest for a long time? What if I only want to focus on my personal projects? The question implies that I must always be productive and taking time for myself is not permitted. This question disregards my freedom to choose my own path, whether that's continuing to work a 9-to-5 job or simply just taking a break. Shouldn't we allow people to just “be” without expecting them to be constantly on the grind?

"So, what are you doing now?" and "What do you do for a living?" are two similar questions that make me feel equally uncomfortable. They both try to define a person’s identity based only on their job or careers. But our worth, identity, and who we are shouldn't come from our careers. Here’s the thing.

We are more than what we do for a living.

It is important to recognize that we don’t owe anyone an explanation about our current situation. We are responsible for our choices and decisions in life. Remember, we don't have to explain our situation to anyone until we're ready. And it's totally okay if we never share or discuss what we are doing next in our lives.

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful week! ♡

Sincerely,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

Recently, I made the decision to deactivate and delete my personal Instagram and TikTok accounts, hoping to reduce information overload, and all things social comparison.

While it slightly improved my mental well-being, staying informed about the news and current events has drained me once again. However, reading The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, learning a new language (Japanese), and journaling in my Hobonichi Cousin planner has helped me reflect and bring me clarity amidst the chaos.

A few hours ago, I read something that deeply resonated with me, and it was about growing up in the digital world.

The first generation to experience puberty in the virtual world was born in the late 1990s (Haidt, 2024, p. 44).

As a teenager in the late 90s, I shared a desktop computer with my family. It was an interesting time, as I was able to chat with people from all over the world. 

I've been learning Japanese! I mastered Hiragana, and I'm now working on learning Katakana and some Kanji characters. As someone who is bilingual in English and Spanish, I find that learning a third language is incredibly rewarding, and it's definitely been great for my brain and cognitive functioning. 

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I haven't been promoting our shop, Clari Loves Cafecito, much on social media lately since I'm still working on developing the website and its monthly blog. But I have been having a lot of fun using the stickers from our shop to decorate my Hobonichi Cousin planner. 

I've had several planners in the past from Erin Condren and Callie Danielle, but the Hobonichi planner has become one of my favorites. I originally had the smaller version (the original), but then I decided to buy the bigger one (the Hobonichi Cousin). I'm thinking of turning the smaller one into a vision book or something artsy. I even joined a Hobonichi Facebook group!

I still kept my personal Facebook account and now mostly use it for local events and keeping up with the news. I’m trying to work on staying away from negative media and just focus on the things that don’t elevate my anxiety levels. The other day I posted pictures of my Hobonichi decorating progress in the group and got close to 30 likes along with several positive comments. My goal was not to get praised, but to share with other people in the group how I was using my planner. I definitely like this community that I’ve joined.

I didn’t have much to say this week, but I am glad I was able to show you what I’ve been up to in pictures. Maybe I need to take another quick digital pause, or maybe I just need to take a break from all the negativity in the news. Do you all ever feel like this? 

Overall, I find that occupying my mind with learning new things, such as reading and studying a new language, helps me disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with myself, bringing me clarity and calmness.

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful week! ♡

Sincerely,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

In Kishimi and Koga (2013), the philosopher shares wisdom that resonates deeply with my own experiences of being excluded from social cliques. The feeling of being left out of social groups can have a negative impact on people, leading them to believe that they are just not good enough and feelings of self-doubt creep in.

The philosopher states, “Loneliness is having other people, society, and community around you, yet having a profound sense of being excluded from them” (Kishimi & Koga, 2013, p. 52).

It can also be an opportunity for people to become better versions of themselves. Let me share with you an example of when I became excluded from social groups.

• When I quit drinking three years ago, my life totally transformed for the better, but I also lost a lot of connections.

• I was suddenly left out of social events at my workplace and outside of work; I felt like a total stranger.

On the bright side, my health improved a bit more, and I started investing more time in creative projects and activities that gave me purpose. Overall, I've learned to surround myself with people who value my authenticity, without feeling the pressure to conform to someone else’s expectations.

In the event that you are experiencing a similar situation, this book has become one of my favs.

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful week! ♡

Sincerely,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

This week’s newsletter was originally posted on Substack Notes on Saturday, January 4th, 2025. Posting on notes feels very similar to posting on social media platforms to me. I might remove it from notes, or post less on it to focus more on my newsletters.

As a millennial woman who has been active on social media platforms for years, I've learned a valuable lesson: not everyone is your friend. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that everyone who follows you on social media platforms are genuinely interested in your life and daily activities.  But the truth is, many people are just lurking, watching you from the sidelines without ever engaging with your content.

My Own Personal Experience

I’ve experienced this firsthand on my personal social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. I remember posting updates on our small business, sharing photos of my cats, talking about my favorite planners, or just mentioning a few accomplishments here and there, but I would rarely get any likes, comments, or messages from certain “amigas.” However, I would consistently see them viewing my stories on Instagram or watching my videos on TikTok. It was like they were silently stalking me, without ever showing any real interest in my life.

A New Social Media Approach

This experience encouraged me to distance myself from my social media platforms by deleting my TikTok accounts and deactivating my Instagram accounts. This was a direct result of my experience in December of 2024, which emphasized the need for me to re-evaluate my social media approach. I do miss it sometimes, but I’ve actually considered creating new social media accounts for my personal and small business and starting fresh. Why not, right? My goal in 2025 is to connect with people who genuinely share my interests as well. This time, I don’t plan on adding the people who I grew apart from and did not engage with my content in the past.

Not everyone is your friend, and that’s okay. I’ve actually been journaling on this topic and have considered turning it into a book as well. We shall see! Alright. So, what have I learned? That it is better to have a smaller, engaged community of people than to have a large following of lurkers who don’t contribute to the conversation. By being more intentional about who I connect with on social media, I’m hoping to build a more meaningful and supportive community, one that will help me grow personally and professionally.

Social Media Words of Wisdom

If you’re feeling similarly frustrated with your social media experience, I encourage you to take a step back and reevaluate your approach. Who are you trying to connect with? Are they actually engaged with your content? It might be time to start fresh and seek out new meaningful connections who share your passion and interests.

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful week! ♡

Sincerely,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

In the words of Jim Morrison from The Doors, "I see myself as huge fiery comet, a shooting star. Everyone stops, points up, and gasps 'Oh look at that! 'Then - whoosh, and I'm gone..and they'll never see anything like it ever again...and they won't be able to forget me - ever." These words remind me of TikTok's short-lived existence where trends and creators came to life and captivated users of all ages during a time when we needed it the most: during the global pandemic. What I loved about this app was that it brought the best out of introverts and extroverts.

Just like a comet, it cannot be recreated, and there will never be another app like TikTok ever again. As TikTok's "huge fiery comet" begins to fade, I am filled with a bittersweet nostalgia. I actually deleted it a few days ago for personal reasons and also because I'm not very good at goodbyes. I am sad to see it go, but grateful to have witnessed how it brought people to together through storytelling and building meaningful connections worldwide, and now we get to be a part of its fleeting moment in time. Farewell, TikTok. ♡

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

Most subscriptions cost less than $20 while other expenses keep piling up. This past week, as I was going through all of my monthly subscriptions from movies to music aside from the monthly bills, I thought to myself, “Wow, life has gotten a bit expensive,” and then, I continued with my day as I drank my hot French Roast cafecito with a splash of regular milk this time.

The rise of subscription-based everything is causing financial strain. The cost of living has risen dramatically, and many people are struggling to make ends meet. Between monthly subscriptions and bills, it's hard to keep up. And guess what? Many of us are also unhappy with our jobs. Is it all because of the pandemic? Or is there something else going on? How can we find fulfilling careers and work we truly love?

What is Holding Us Back?

Do you remember the pre-pandemic social media posts about the dreadful Mondays? These types of posts have noticeably decreased over the years. The pandemic has drastically changed our perspectives on work. Last year, I learned about social media trends like "quiet quitting" which is basically a growing dissatisfaction with the traditional 9-to-5 grind. I completely understand people want to improve their quality of life and spend more time with their loved ones. 

However, there is a gap that is holding us back from growing both personally and professionally. As a former teacher of almost ten years, and current doctoral candidate researching why teachers quit, I am particularly interested in learning more about this major disconnect.

Everything in life requires a formula or some type of strategy. To achieve happiness at work, for instance, your values and your job responsibilities must align. While this may seem a bit straightforward, many people experience career dissatisfaction due to a misalignment of personal and work values. Although we develop and learn a lot of skills throughout our lives, we often lack preparation for the workforce in the real-world setting.

On Being a Server

When I was in my 20s, I felt pressured to choose a career. Even though working as a server helped me become financially independent, my “friends” made me feel bad about not pursuing a career with my English degree. I worked as a server for 2 more years after getting my first degree. Working as a server helped me become self-sufficient, and I always had money in my pocket. If I needed extra money, I could easily pick up shifts on the weekends. Someone always gave up their shifts on Fridays and Saturdays.

Now that I'm older, I often meet people who feel stuck and unhappy in their careers due to stress and lack of motivation, which often leads to other mental health issues. So, how can you break free from this feeling of being trapped in an unfulfilling job? That’s actually a very good question. I’ve been here, too. I’ve spent countless hours researching university programs and majors. I even started looking into side hustles to help me pay for my books and other school related expenses. I remember on social media, people would offer guidance on helping others establish online business and achieve a better work-life balance. However, most of them charged a whole lot. Also, there’s a lot of scammers out there, so be careful. Always exercise caution and avoid potential scams.

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My Educational Background & Side Hustle

I completed my BA in English in 2013 and continued my education without taking any breaks. Unlike most people who start teaching at 21 immediately after college, I began my teaching career at 30. During this time, I earned a second BA in Psychology. I kept going to school and earned the following graduate degrees: MS in Psychology and an MEd in Guidance and Counseling. Currently, I am only a dissertation away from completing my doctorate degree, which means I know a thing or two about careers. I’ve always been slowly expanding Clari Loves Cafecito. It started as a side hustle as I turned my designs into stickers and sold them online. To balance my studies and side hustle, I invest a little bit of time to my art whenever I am not busy by working on a design or contributing to the growth of the small business.

Recently…

Before I started working from home, I felt exhausted all the time. I no longer experience constant fatigue, I have lost about 50 lbs, and I accomplish a lot more during the day. I am incredibly grateful for this positive change in my life. I give thanks to our heavenly father, and my husband for always believing in me.

My Plans for The Cafecito Diaries

I plan to research more on career-related topics because it greatly interests me. In conjunction with my dissertation on why teachers quit, I also plan to further investigate why people quit and read more about work values. Last week, I wrote about how I took off my paywall. Instead of charging for my writing content, I could potentially create a paid hub with resources and/or host weekly virtual meetups via Zoom. These meetups, lasting 30 minutes to an hour, could easily fit into my schedule on the evenings or weekends. This semester, I’m working as a counselor during the day and only taking a dissertation class once a week. The subscription fee for this service would be around $5.

Believe in yourself and your ability to achieve great things. Focus on finding the opportunities that can enhance your life and overall well-being.

Time is our most valuable asset; how can we discover work that we love? Share your thoughts and ideas below.

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

A few minutes ago, I decided to turn off my paywall for personal reasons. If I do decide to turn it on in the future, it will be because I started a club or support group, but I have no intention to charge for my writing. 

I recently decided to delete my TikTok accounts and deactivated my personal Instagram accounts to focus my energy elsewhere. I felt that endlessly scrolling for hours was draining and leaving me feeling disconnected from myself. One of the IG accounts I deactivated had been active since 2011. That’s a long time!

The Experience of Disconnection

Feeling disconnected from ourselves should be an immediate warning sign. Right? I discovered that learning how to be present in the moment helped me as I struggled to find the time to connect with myself. I started paying attention to my thoughts and my breathing, which led me to the decision to quit the social media platforms that were consuming so much of my time.

Change Your Perspective

How can you be present in the moment? It’s actually very simple. To be present, simply take note of the following: your location, your current activity, and your breathing pattern. Just ask yourself the following questions:

1. Where am I?

2. What am I doing?

3. How is my breathing?

These three basic questions can quickly help you assess your present situation if you find yourself feeling a certain way, or if you just want to shift your focus to being present in the moment. What is happening in your surroundings when you become self-aware of how you feel? Perhaps you’re in a situation that is causing your anxiety and stress levels to increase. For instance, spending too much time on social media increased my anxiety and stress levels, which is why I decided to remove it from my daily activities. Regardless of your specific situation, it doesn't take much time to assess how you feel and shift your focus.

A Weekly Newsletter Will Be Sent on Mondays

I'm heading back to work tomorrow after a relaxing two-week vacation, and I am now considering publishing my weekly newsletters on Mondays – I think it's the perfect day! The Cafecito Diaries will feature stories on resilience, creativity, language learning, and self-reflection. I will also share some behind-the-scenes insights on creating cute items and stickers from my doodles. 🙂

Currently, I am working on a doctorate degree in Curriculum and Instruction, so I will probably share a few insights on my dissertation progress amongst other things like what it’s like to work from home, and my experiences working as a high school ELA teacher for almost 10 years. I do feel I have so much to talk about and that is why I plan on not having a paywall for my writing content. 

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

“Welcome to my cozy corner of the internet dedicated to all things that bring out the creative side of me! This website marks a fresh start for me as I step back from most of the social media platforms I would spend a lot of time on and re-focus my energy on the things that I like. Here, I will share my thoughts through art, writing, music, and other creative ways. To be more specific, this will be my place to share about what I'm up to similar to what I was doing on social media platform stories and posts. I'll probably post about the music that I am into, books that I am reading, life updates, and other cool things like whenever I have a quesabirra. I will also write about the activities that I participate in whenever I procrastinate. Just kidding! I never procrastinate.”

This first paragraph that I just shared with you is what I wrote for my first post on my website. Currently, I am waiting for Squarespace to transfer my domain claribotello.com to WordPress. It usually takes a couple of days for the transfer to complete. As a result, my new email address won’t work until the transfer is complete. Yikes! By the way, let me share a picture of our cat Meeoo who got dressed up for the occasion of approving my newsletter.

About the Wallpaper Photo

The photo included in this post represents the day when I realized I needed to detach myself from social media platforms. Let me be a bit more specific on what exactly happened on this day. I remember recording myself making a wallpaper for my phone on my desktop computer and uploading it to a specific social media platform. I didn't like the way I felt after uploading it and only getting like 40 something views. All the hard work that went into making this wallpaper, and it didn't get the recognition it deserved. By detaching myself from social media platforms this year, I aim to focus more on developing my website, writing and artistic skills, and other aspects of my life that went ignored when I spent too much time on these social media platforms.

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Less Screen Time

My life will definitely change, and I'm excited that I won't be thinking about what to post on my stories or what "content to create" so I can have a chance to go viral. I enjoy writing about what is on my mind and reflecting on my life experiences overall. I will be doing more of that on this newsletter The Cafecito Diaries. Woo!

I will definitely be paying more attention to my surroundings since I will be holding my phone a lot less than in previous years. For instance, yesterday I went to Ross with my husband, and I left my phone inside my tote bag because I wanted to enjoy shopping without having to take any pictures and record what I was doing. It felt great! I also plan to use my digital camera a bit more than before to document with a purpose and develop my craft; taking photos will be more meaningful to me.

Thank you for stopping by and reading about my experiences.

Sincerely,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

I just finished thinking about a few things regarding social media platforms while sipping on some delicious homemade cafecito, Spanish for coffee. I feel I have been giving social media platforms the best version of me without getting anything in return. In a few weeks from now, I will be 40 years old. Looking back, I was remembering the time when I first built my first website when I was 15, lol. If you are around my age, you probably still remember Geocities. That’s where I built my first website. Time flies. I spent my 20s and 30s on social media platforms and didn’t get much in return. I actually got more in return from having a website, to be honest.

Based on my experiences, I can tell you that opportunities do exist outside of social media platforms. I also think it is awesome for those of you who have gotten brand deals and amazing opportunities thanks to social media. However, that hasn’t been my case, but I am actually okay with it. I really am.

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I recently deleted my two TikTok accounts with over 10k followers. I joined the TikTok world because I felt like I was missing out and wanted to find out why this platform was so popular. I get it. I really do. I fell in love with it because it was a place of authenticity and a lot of people became famous creators overnight. Just recently I decided to delete my accounts because I was spending too much of my time and energy creating content and getting nothing in return. 

I run a small business where I sell my designs in the form of stickers, keychains, magnets, and tote bags, so I decided to create an account for my art to be seen. The other account became my own personal blog where I showcased my interests and behind-the-scenes content. I do regret not growing my YouTube account instead, but it’s okay. I learned a lot of lessons along the way.

I deleted both of my TikTok accounts when people were promoting this purple ticket incentive. On my ForYouPage, I must have counted 7 videos of people promoting the incentive in less than 30 seconds. This is when I decided I needed to remove myself from this social media platform. Also, most of the social media connections felt forced with the exception of a few awesome, inspiring women.

“Creating content” for me started to feel like a chore. Also, whenever I would scroll on the app for a few minutes, it felt like every time I scrolled, someone was trying to sell me something. Ever since learning about the possible TikTok ban, I began to think about how easily it can be to lose everything you put a lot of time and energy into. Although this app is not for me, I really do feel sad that it could be banned because a lot of people depend on it financially. 

This made me think about the MySpace days actually. I remember putting a lot of time and energy into perfecting my profile page in my late teens/early 20s. I thought it would last forever, and then one day, it just became obsolete. I actually do not remember getting anything in return. I just remember getting asked by my “friends” about the order of my top 8 friends. Do you all remember that? LOL. 

FB replaced MySpace, and it became another social media platform account for me to manage along with IG a few years later. FB is now a place where I catch the local and national news. IG is still fun. I still love everything about it. Just lately, I feel I need to break up with my personal social media platforms and not be too available. Also, the same type of material just keeps getting recycled. I think I’m just becoming bored of seeing the same type of content over and over again. I personally believe I might have messed up the algorithm since 2011, but I don’t have the energy to start a new IG account. I rather play and pass Super Mario Bros. 2 over and over again than try to figure out how the algorithm works. I will never be able to figure it out, and it’s okay. I really want to put my time and energy into something different now that I’m turning 40.

For me, social media platforms have become a place where people you don’t really talk to watch your stories but won’t engage with your content, especially if it is related to the arts. Social media platforms have become a place where people who follow you do not engage in regular conversations with you or ask how you are doing. Makes you wonder why you’re even posting in the first place if it is going to get ignored. I could be working on developing my craft or on fixing my own personal website where I can showcase my best work, accomplishments, art, and experiences.

So, in 2025, I’m going to spend less time on social media platforms and focus more on leveling up my skills and working on my projects.

Ultimately, I plan to stop scrolling endlessly on social media platforms for hours and hours.

Thank you for stopping by and reading about my experiences.

Sincerely,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

Looking back on my life, I felt very lost in my 20s! It was a decade of crazy decisions and the belief that the world was my oyster. I jumped into every opportunity without hesitation and experienced a lot of failure in career decisions, friendships, and relationships.

When I hit my 30s, I thought I had it all figured out. I followed the traditional path of checking off all the boxes of success. Or so I thought. I got a stable job with a really good salary, thinking that money would make me happy. I continued going to school and ended up pursuing two graduate level degrees. I was determined to follow the script of adulthood and was convinced that by doing so, I’d find ultimate happiness because that is what I was led to believe when I worked as a server. The people in my life convinced me that I would be happier if “I became somebody in life”. This is definitely something I plan to look into and further investigate. I plan to find scholarly articles that explore these topics that greatly interest me. Moving forward, working as a server was one of the greatest experiences that taught me a lot about life and becoming self-sufficient, but this will definitely be a topic for another day.

But now, as I’m about to turn 40, I’ve realized that the way I approached life was just not working for me because I ended up feeling confused, dehydrated, and exhausted. I actually do not feel any of these things right now at the moment. Quite the opposite, I feel very hydrated, full of energy because I’ve been eating a lot healthier than before, and I am making sure I get enough rest. I also gave up energy drinks back in August. Now that I am older, I’m starting to understand that life isn’t just about following a checklist; it’s about enjoying the journey. 

I’ve realized that I need to slow down and do things that make me truly happy and not try to impress other people. For example, I love designing, illustrating, creativity, and art aside from reading of course. I’ve come to realize that I enjoy doing these things a whole lot more when I do it for myself. When I come up with a design for a tote bag that I want for myself, I enjoy it more as opposed to trying to profit from a design that others MIGHT choose to consider. I’m also excited to try new things such as learning a new language. Currently, I am learning Japanese, which is not at all easy, but my frontal lobe is benefiting from this process. These aren’t just hobbies for me; these activities give purpose to my life.

I feel this is a topic that I need to write more about as a way to heal from my 30s and possibly to provide a glimpse of what it was like for me. There is no call-to-action for this post because this journal entry poured out from my soul from the life experiences section. I first wrote down my thoughts on paper, and here they are now…alive on a digital platform called Substack.

Thank you for stopping by!

Sincerely,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

As a 39-year-old millennial, I’ve recently gone through a big, drastic change, both in my career and my personal life. Leaving the school district I’d always wanted to work in was one of the most difficult things I had to do. I was also a year away from getting my 10-year anniversary ring for having worked as an ELA High School Teacher for almost a decade. However, my physical health kept getting worse, and I also felt lke I was losing touch with myself. I felt disconnected with my purpose in life. The constant illnesses and the feeling of not being able to meet my own expectations led me to take a leap into the next chapter of my life to take better care of myself.

Highs:

• Working from Home: Switching to working from home in the summer has been a huge change for my mental and physical health. It’s definitely helped me find a better balance in my life, and I also landed my dream job of working as a school counselor.

• Weight Loss: Since I left the classroom in May, I’ve lost about 50 pounds overall. This has been a big step towards getting my health back and feeling better about myself.

• Academic Progress: I’m making good progress on my dissertation, which has been both difficult and rewarding at the same time.

• Creative Journey: I’ve been designing and illustrating more this year. Stay tuned for some behind-the-scenes content.

Lows:

• Health Challenges: 2024 started off with a health problem. I got COVID for the first time in January, and then I had an ear infection that lasted for a good while. Going through this was definitely tough on my body and my mind.

• Chest Pain: Earlier this year, I started getting chest pains very frequently, which was a wake-up call to take care of my health and make some changes to my lifestyle. I was always feeling anxious, and it didn’t help that I would drink a lot of energy drinks just to stay away and function during the day because I had stayed up creating the lessons and activities for the following day.

Looking back, I know that change can be scary and hard, but it’s also a chance to grow and improve your life. I’m still going through this journey of healing, and I’m hopeful and determined to make a more meaningful chapter that will make a positive impact on the people that I love and care about.

Journey to a New Career Path

I always dreamed of becoming a classroom teacher ever since I was a little girl. I always dreamed of having a classroom, a place where we could all learn and grow together from each other.

I am very fortunate for having had the opportunity to teach my students the reading and writing skills they needed to learn. I knew I had done my job when students would thank me for not giving up on them and always going the extra mile to help them understand everything they needed to know about reading comprehension and feeling comfortable with writing a draft.

Over time, things got a bit difficult after the global pandemic. Collaboration was just not the same anymore with my colleagues. I started to feel like I was the only one trying to make things work, and my efforts to encourage teamwork were often ignored.

The stress took a toll on my health because I was always feeling anxious and overwhelmed, especially at night when I would get chest pains because I was worried about the next day’s possible walkthroughs. I honestly thought something was wrong with my heart for a couple of weeks because the pain was more than just heartburn. Then, I got COVID-19 in January 2024. It was a really tough time for me, fighting the illness and realizing that I needed to change my life. Being sick made me think about what I really wanted in life. Every night, lying in bed with chest pains and anxiety, I knew I couldn’t keep going like this.

So, I decided to change my work environment. I started looking for new job opportunities right after recovering from being sick. I remember still feeling a bit weak and logging onto the computer. I decided to give LinkedIn a chance and searched for remote jobs. I applied for a couple of counseling jobs, and interviewed for a few different roles in February and March. Each job opportunity showed me a glimpse of a different future where I could have a different life and also be successful. In May, I finally landed the job of my dreams. A remote counseling job, which I truly love.

I stil needed to make lifestyle changes with my physical health, so I started changing the way I ate. My perspective started to completely change day by day. From this summer on, everything changed. This new job was exactly what I had been praying for every night. It is December 2024, and I feel really good about myself and my purpose in life. I ended up losing about 50 lbs, my cortisol levels have dropped, and I have a lot of support from my colleagues. I am excited about the future and feel like I have control of my life once again. 

Looking back, I am glad for my experiences and everything that I went through, good or bad. These experiences taught me to listen to my mind and most importantly, to my body. I learned that it is okay to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. Now, I look forward to each new chapter with a new sense of hope and purpose.

What were your highs and lows of 2024?

Share in the comments! I am looking forward to reading about your experiences.

I really appreciate you taking the time to read about my experiences. I'll be back soon with another post, especially since I have a few vacation days coming up. 

Sincerely,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

Rediscovering the beauty in life’s simple joys is what happens when we pause for a second to reevaluate our lives. Whenever I feel stuck, I try a different approach to my situation. Why do I do this? Let me tell you why. Shifting our perspective can open our eyes to new possibilities we hadn't considered before. Sometimes, we just need a fresh perspective to make sense of things. We start to see new opportunities, and even more creative ideas emerge. Our goals become clearer, and we feel more connected to our purpose in life. By changing our focus, we are able to reevaluate our surroundings and appreciate the smallest moments in our lives that hold the greatest significance. 

How has a new perspective changed your life?

Share in the comments!

Thank you for stopping by!

💌 hello@claribotello.com

As I approach 40, I'm reflecting on the significant lessons I learned in my 30s. This decade was a time of milestones such as becoming a teacher at 30, getting married at 33, and earning two master's degrees at 32 and 34. Yet, this decade also brought a lot of unexpected challenges, such as rapid weight gain and developing unfulfilled career expectations, which left me feeling lost and uncertain for a very long time.

The global pandemic was a turning point for me, especially since I was 35 when this happened. During this period of isolation, I stopped drinking and going out, focusing my energy on self-reflection and rediscovering my personal projects I had previously dismissed as silly or impossible to reach. As I shed old habits and unnecessary distractions, I found clarity in solitude as well. Although some friendships faded, I became more resilient and had a much deeper understanding of myself. Most importantly, I learned how to embrace my imperfections.

One of my rediscovered passions was getting back to finding a creative outlet that ended up bringing a great sense of fulfillment. I fell in love with turning my designs into stickers and seeing them on people’s tumblers and laptops.

Now, I'm entering a new decade with a sense of excitement and anticipation. I welcome the wisdom, resilience, and self-awareness that comes with being 40. Overall, I'm eager to continue exploring my creative passions and living more authentically than ever before.

What were your most significant lessons from your 30s?

I’d love to hear your transformation story. Share in the comments!

Thank you for stopping by!

Sincerely,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

Dear Cafecito,

What have I learned in my own creative, entrepreneurial journey? I anticipated support from my friends and colleagues I spent a lot of time with, but their actions proved otherwise. Strangers will become your BIGGEST fans and unwavering supporters. It’s disheartening whenever people expect me to give them freebies, free services, or major discounts because we all know it costs money to make money.

In the early stages of my entrepreneurial journey, I enthusiastically mentioned to my friends and colleagues I used to work with that I was selling my designs online in the form of stickers. I am genuinely grateful for those of you who supported my work by purchasing stickers for your laptops and tumblers. I heart you very much. However, I felt very confused when certain women, with whom I shared meals and social outings, would deliberately change the subject or completely disregard my words.

This puzzling behavior left me feeling emotionally conflicted, as I struggled to understand their lack of acknowledgement towards something so personal of mine. Ultimately, I decided to distance myself from this type of energy and focus on the people who genuinely appreciated and supported my creative journey.

Another thing that I have learned is that some people who you were once close to WILL COPY you! While some may argue that imitation is a form of flattery, I question its validity if those replicating your work profit from copying you. It’s disheartening to witness creators on social media express their frustration over others copying their content word for word. Verbatim. This is definitely a situation that resonates deeply with me. 

I actually know someone whose logo bears a striking resemblance to one of our sticker designs. While I cannot reveal names, I’m referring to our hand-drawn, illustrated purple butterfly sticker. Is this a mere coincidence? 

In my personal experience, I’ve noticed a significant change in how people interact with me based on the information I disclose regarding my background and profession as opposed to when I simply mention that I design and sell stickers online. The response and social interactions are different.

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation?

Have you experienced a similar situation where expressing your creativity and showcasing your craft posed a challenge for you? I’d love to hear your perspective on this topic. Share in the comments!

Thank you for stopping by!

Sincerely,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

My life changed forever in May 2024 when I got hired as a... remote High School Counselor.

I gained tons of valuable experience during the pandemic when I worked from home in my role as High School English Teacher.

Nearly a decade later, I am starting to feel confident in my role in education. Although recognition for my efforts were minimal, I know deep in my heart I was a great teacher because my students always kept reminding me that I was making a positive impact in their lives. My main focus in my career is to make sure our students thrive and become the best they can be.

Now that I work from home, I get to look back and see how my strengths and weaknesses shaped me into the educator I am today. For a long time, I hesitated to step out of my comfort zone and apply for other positions in education. As a teacher, I taught various subjects like English I through IV, College Readiness (ACT focused), and TSI College Prep ELA. Out of all the subjects I taught, TSI ELA was my absolute favorite.

In a few months, I’ll be 40 years old with no kids… wait a minute, my fur babies ARE my kids. 

There is no such thing as a perfect life or career, but I have learned that the best thing you can do for yourself is investing in your own personal GROWTH. Taking action is the key to experiencing new things in life.

 Most of the time, we unconsciously avoid changing ourselves because we are scared of failing and just making a “bigger mess” in our lives. Well guess what? If something doesn’t turn out as planned, you can just take a different approach, right? Just think about the time when you first started cooking rice. Your first attempt probably came out either too grainy or mushy until you figured out how to make it right.

I feel super fortunate to have had the chance to teach a subject I am truly passionate about. Perhaps I’ll do it again down the road, or maybe not. However, right now I am realizing how important it is to put my mental and physical health first more than ever because I am about to enter a new decade soon.

I’ve been thinking about starting to share my experiences and journey on Substack for quite some time now, but I just didn’t know what to say or how to begin. But right now, I finally decided to open my Macbook and start typing my little heart out. I really am hoping that my stories can make a positive impact on others, or at least help me connect with the people who feel the same way I do about… taking a leap to the next chapter in our lives.

I named my Substack “The Cafecito Diaries” because I’m totally obsessed with coffee in Spanish. And get this, back in 2018, I even got married in Spanish! I’ll share more about that later. But for now, let me just say that the word “cafecito” means a lot to me because… it completely transforms me when I drink it. I love it!

So, here’s the deal. I’m starting this space for myself and for everyone else who is interested in reading stories about overcoming challenges, diving into all things self-care, becoming self-sufficient, and I can also share a few teaching tips here and there. Most importantly, I want to focus on personal growth and development because I am a firm believer that it can help us improve our quality of life.

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? Or maybe you're feeling a bit stuck when it comes to stepping outside of your comfort zone. Share in the comments!

Sincerely,

Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com

Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.