Today we’d like to introduce you to Arlene Margarita Santiago.
Hi Arlene Margarita, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sensitive Content Warning: This post touches on difficult subjects such as childhood trauma, sexual abuse, eating disorders, and personal struggles in relationships. Please read with care and take breaks if needed. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or professional.
My Story: A Journey of Healing, Rediscovery, and Empowerment
My journey began at the age of 4, when I experienced sexual abuse that would continue to shape much of my life until I was 12. These early experiences left me with debilitating beliefs about myself, love, and my body. The way I related to myself was diminished. I avoided men and didn’t know how to understand the way my body would change and speak to me. This disconnection followed me into my teens and early twenties, showing up in the choices I made and opportunities that I didn’t take, and the way I neglected my voice, my body, and the fullness of who I was meant to be.
Growing up in a strict first-generation family, I was burdened by the expectation of perfection. As the eldest of 4, I was expected to be the role model by setting the standard academically, solving every problem that arose in the household, and especially live up to my father’s idea of what he hoped for us to achieve. On top of being indigenous, I had another layer of conflict by cultural and personal disconnection. These internal conflicts showed up in how I related to others, friend and romantic relationships even including my relationship to food, where I had a prolonged eating disorder in high school. Cycles of self-doubt, self-destruction, and unhealthy patterns had a silent grasp on me.
One of the hardest and most transformative experiences came after an abortion following my last deeply painful relationship. I had depleted myself, completely conformed to his needs, and neglected my own. This was the catalyst that began my journey back to me. I started reconnecting with my roots, rediscovering my truth, and building a life aligned with my spirit.
Through self-education, therapy, mentorship, and the courage to be, I began to craft myself. I learned how to embody a version of myself I chose to be grounded in strength, creativity, and self-compassion. This healing process wasn’t just about reconnecting with my body, but also about returning to my inner foundation, finding safety within myself, and reclaiming pleasure. something I had long denied. For years, I didn’t understand what it meant to experience joy and vivacity.
My healing deepened when I returned to my homeland, Oaxaca, Mexico, continuously from 2019-2022, where I met incredible ancestral medicine women who held space for me to rediscover the parts of my soul that had been dormant. I connected with my ancestors even stronger. I acknowledged how my lineage carries deep power, wisdom, and an innate relationship to the land and its plants. This connection has strengthened me, and through it, I realize that this ancestral strength is available to us all and gets even stronger when we nurture that bond.
Today, I am grateful of myself for choosing to live an intentional, purposeful life guided by spirit. I listen to my inner voice, and I embrace the modalities that align with me. I’ve returned to university with a renewed sense of purpose: to achieve a childhood dream by becoming a naturopathic doctor. My journey has empowered me to embrace a holistic approach to wellness that encapsulates the mind, body, and spirit. This healing journey has even led me to create my program, which focuses on reclaiming your roots, nourishing your body, and honoring your unique energy.
As I move forward in my life and career, I do so now with curiosity, purpose, and presence. I’ve learned how to live in a way that honors my essence, my values, and foster healthy relationships. My work is ever-evolving, but it always returns to my roots: helping others rediscover their own strength and pleasure through spirit care, ancestral, womb care. and holistic health practices. I am grateful to give back to my community in ways that I can with guiding others on their transformative journeys.
Thank you for reading my story.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life is a road trip, filled with signs and moments that guide us toward self-discovery. Growing up, I carried a mindset rooted in people pleasing-always putting others’ wants ahead of my own and never voicing my true feelings. I was the quiet kid, and while it felt like safety in my mind, it really contributed to my disconnection from my own needs and desires. That silence, that lack of self-expression and self-advocacy, followed me into early adulthood, shaping how I navigated relationships and my sense of self-worth.
During times when I became aware of a pattern, habit, or new season in my life, I came face-to-face with mental obstacles. I had to ask myself: how can I show up fully? The beliefs I’d built around not being safe to share my voice, and not being “good enough” or “worthy,” were deeply ingrained, pulling me back each time I tried to step forward.
But transformation is a process, an ongoing cycle. Being able to ask the right questions to be able to reframe the limiting belief plays such a big role. Then when paired with fully accepting about where I’m at by using the internal and external resources that I have now, and reminding myself what’s actually real, I then move forward with an open mind. It’s by embracing imperfection that I’ve learned the most. I’ve realized that showing up imperfectly is not only part of the journey, but it’s also how I’ve grown the most. I’m still learning to honor my needs, but by consistently making decisions that align with my highest self, I move closer to embodying my authentic self, even when I’m nervous. With that comes the wisdom of imperfection and the realization that it’s worse to stay stuck in our heads than to take action. It’s not as bad as we imagine, and we rob ourselves of opportunities for growth if we don’t take the leap.
It gets easier. I now understand that it’s essential to carve out time for myself in my schedule. A metaphorical pause out of the busyness will allow me to hear my needs, tend to my needs, do whatever I need or want to do, which actually feels like I slowed down time. Life was never meant to run by someone else’s script. This is the beautiful reminder and gift we have: we are the artists of our own lives, and we get to draw the masterpiece we create.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I currently wear many hats, balancing my business I Am Wellness, working alongside my mom in our ABCDE professional housecleaning service here in Northern Nevada, and pursuing my studies. I specialize in spirit care, offering transformative services through ancestral wisdom, energy work, and holistic wellness practices. Through I Am Wellness, I’m creating a space where individuals can reconnect to their roots, nurture their body, and realign their spirit, whether through spiritual limpias (energy cleansings) or personal nutrition and lifestyle coaching.
In my community, I’m known for giving limpias, offering a safe and sacred space for people to release negativity and restore their inner peace. What I’m most proud of? Aside from the personal growth I’ve achieved, I’d say my ability to travel, both solo and with loved ones, has been one of the most nourishing experiences for my adventurous spirit. Travel has taught me so much by observing cultures and their customs, view lifestyle patterns, perspectives, and priorities. All of this allows me to shape my perspective on life.
What sets me apart from others?
I believe that each one of us are unique, and it’s the individuality within us that makes our work truly special. For much of my life, I thought I had to follow a linear path, and I would often beat myself up over not being “where I thought I should be” by a certain age. But through my journey, I’ve come to realize that life isn’t about fitting into an expected timeline. It’s about honoring your own path, with all of its twists and turns, and allowing the lessons and blessings to unfold naturally. Through those experiences I grew and ingrained practical skills.
Now, at 28, I’m calling this my blossoming year—embracing the person I’ve become, and am still becoming. I’m stepping into my authentic self, sharing more about nutrition, holistic wellness, spirit care, and continuing to hold the strong aspiration of becoming a naturopathic doctor. This phase of my life is about growing with strong intention and purpose and continuing to walk and honor my journey with my ancestors that have my back, moving with certainty that everything is for the highest good.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Right before the onset of the Covid-19 crisis, I was juggling two double majors and two full-time jobs. It was an unsustainable pace, and burnout hit hard. Recognizing that I needed a break after crying every Monday before entering class, I paused my uni schooling but remained deeply connected to my love for health. This led me to take a year-long course in nutrition with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, where I became a certified health coach. My intent was clear: to learn about food in-depth and gain knowledge from a variety of professors, speakers, and doctors who can guide me on deepening my relationship with food. But really I got more than that, it was a whole-being transformation as it targeted your own wheel of life.
During this time, I stepped away from one of my jobs. It was a moment of clarity to see that I had been overdoing it. I believed that I had to catch up or prove myself by carrying more responsibilities. However, when I slowed down and leaned into what truly excited me, I saw the beauty and potential in focusing on the things that really mattered.
This period also marked a major shift in how I approached my finances. I began looking at long-term investments seriously, opening the appropriate accounts and learning from reputable finance sources. I’m grateful I took these steps, as they’ve helped me lay the foundation for my future. In addition to this, I invested in my personal growth by diving into courses on breathwork and subconscious programming. I committed to completing each course and saw the transformation within myself firsthand.
This season was about deep investment in my growth—both professionally and personally. Through it, I learned that by doing less of what I thought was expected of me and being intentional with my focus can lead to powerful results. By moving towards my interests and priorities allowed me to experience its process that then expands me. I uncovered opportunities that I couldn’t have anticipated otherwise. Just like the opportunity to be on this article, thank you.
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Image Credits
Katelynn G. Product and Lifestyle Photographer
onlythegoodthingsphotography @onlythegoodthings.kv