We recently connected with Mariela Ayala and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mariela, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Sometimes risks are unexpected gifts from you; just loving yourself how you deserve. It was December 20, 2019. As usual, I opened my letter from the social security disability that I have been receiving for the past 20 years, and my soul left my body. The top of the letter reads ” Social Security Notice of Case Closure.” I sat there in disbelief, uttering, ” I am free. ”
I have been aggressively working on my health for the past seven years. At just 100 lbs. lost to date. After being told three times – no change, permanent disability determined and will continue,”. After 20 years, no more specialists, no more medications, no more limitations, I have nothing to hold me back now. I can start a life,
I can build a career. Then I gasped! I can have children! A flood of emotions hit me. Who knew that taking one step at a time to learn how to become healthy put me at risk of losing the only permanent income I had? Entering into the World of ” Financial Freedom/independence and What Options I have, my possibilities are endless.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My journey to public speaking started in September 2019. I told myself, ” I have an extraordinary story and collection of knowledge over the past twenty years of resilience, strength, and perseverance, and I wanted to learn how to get there.” I joined my first Toastmasters meeting. My Brand ” MariWithThe411 ” was created. Over the years, through Social media, published articles, and my first news interview about my story – ABC Action News with Latinas On The Go – ” Inspires and motivates women in the community.” aired on July 14, 2021. I continued to inspire others to become their hero, even if they were an army of one in the beginning. In August 2023 – On a Podcast called ” Stroke It Guide ” with Jenny Alday Townsend titled ” You have to be your own cheerleader.” – I shared my story once more and spoke about another passion/trade of mine ‘ Law for the first time. ‘Announcing that I am not only a public speaker but also a paralegal. December 2023 was named ” Top Three Download of 2023″.

What sets me apart is regardless of my age, degree, timeline, or what societies deem as a must-do list. I ignore it and put my well-being and happiness first. I have been told to give up; you are old, you are divorced, and I only have an associate degree. There is no way a person who has been sick for almost 75% of their life can make something of themselves. Challenge Accepted. God Bless the Broken Road because I am about to light it up.

There is no way God ended my disability to be mediocre. There is no way what was sent to destroy me did not work, and I survived. There is No way God sent people in my path to build me professionally as quickly as I did. People place roadblocks on their limitations. People lead with their fears. Fears of rejection, Fear of failure, Fear of Success, Fear of abandonment, and Fear of loneliness. Who fears nothing because roads untravel are always led by God. I can’t, I won’t, I would never, and Impossible will never exist. Now, if you take the opinions out of your lane, Look at how clear your path is.

My goal with my audience is to inspire, encourage, and push just to get started. Meet new people, attend workshops and networking events, and sit at tables to learn. Your life, new beginning, and never-ending story are out there waiting for the show’s star.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn – I was a burden. Yes! Being sick, I was in endless doctor appointments, nurses going home, weekly trips to the pharmacy, spontaneous trips to the Emergency room. I was determined never to ask anyone to help me and only hire. My counter-independency became what all people admired. The ” Mariela Can do it all on her own” or ” Mariela will never need a support system. She is my inspiration! She is Strong” or ” I wish I were strong like you.”

Strength was never my first choice; it was my only choice as I love the ” Mariela Ayala ” life has created. Between the disability and the lessons of independence, my parents instilled in me.

I also unlearned, “You ask a person for help, you are a burden, and all respect is lost.”
Or “You are no longer independent.” or ” You are not a leader,” or ” You are weak.” ” or ” emotions are always false, never validate,” or my least favorite. “It’s childish to be celebrated and clap for yourself. Being the only person to be proud of is more rewarding.”

When you think of these statements, ask yourself?

What Fortune 500 Company became recognized as having no employees?

Doesn’t it feel great to have one less task off your to-do list and do it precisely simultaneously with other tasks?

Everyone Leads by example, don’t they?

Does a ship not sink if it’s too heavy?

Tomorrow is not a promise. Doesn’t it feel great to be surrounded by loved ones?

Don’t you love buying gifts to show someone ” I am happy you were born to share life with me?

Never settle; time is not running out, but millions of communities exist. And every nationality and culture is an adventure waiting to happen.

As I dive deeper into writing my current book in the making, ” It’s okay to put your weapons down!” by Mariela Ayala.

Counter-independency will always be a temporary solution.

The goal is always Interdependency.

You are only a burden to someone who does not want or know how to help you.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

This year, March 2023, my Rideshare job ended after seven years. I was in shock. This was how I would buy my home by the end of this year. This is how I was going to pay for college along with my other source of income.

The Pivoting point. I was forced to slow down. I learned quickly why it was the greatest thing that happened.

The money was thriving, but the mindset was still survival. I was still moving like I was still living in my car. My goals were getting accomplished, but my health took a hit. I noticed the errors of my ways and started to write.

It is possible to accomplish goals and still not be productive. Not having the foundation of meal prepping, a workout routine, meditation, a sleep schedule, and using your rest days to reset can set you back to rock bottom.

How you set your day, week, pto, and vacations accordingly keeps you out of a survival mindset and in a thriving mindset, not the amount in your bank account. Creative minds work best, est not in chaos.

As I accomplished my goal of paying off my debt, I could have gone on one vacation and lived a little.
I was still focused on what “I needed to learn to ” catch up” according to me.

Simplicity is Key. Stillness Speaks. How much knowledge can slip through the cracks that could have had other goals accomplished quicker? Less is truly more. You do not have to skip daily health routines or lose several nights of sleep to achieve goals.

Less is more. Work Smarter, not more complicated.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/askmariwiththe411
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/Mariwiththe411
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/Mariwiththe411
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/marielaayala/
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/Mariwiththe411

Image Credits
Stroke it! Guide Podcast by Jenny Alday Townsend