Standing in Your Truth With Yanni
The podcast "Standing in Your Truth" will feature Yanni and a group of friends engaging in profound and intimate discussions on subjects such as mental health, finances, faith, and strategies for finding motivation during difficult periods. In this space, guests will be invited to share their life journeys, including the challenges they've faced and the obstacles they've overcome. This podcast aims to provide a platform for individuals to share their stories, ensuring that everyone's experiences are acknowledged, valued, and celebrated.
Standing in Your Truth With Yanni
What Happens After You Stand in Your Truth?
What happens when life's disappointments lead to unexpected blessings? Lupita Navarrete never imagined she'd make history as Ector County's first Hispanic District Clerk, but her journey through divorce, single motherhood, and professional setbacks prepared her for exactly this role.
The conversation begins with Lupita sharing how her nine-year-old son motivates everything she does, though "he has no idea the impact he's made in my life." As a recovering people-pleaser, she discusses her ongoing struggle with boundaries and how running serves as her primary form of self-care. When faced with rejection, Lupita has learned to look for the lesson rather than dwell on disappointment – a mindset that proved crucial throughout her life.
Divorce became the defining turning point in Lupita's story. Married at 19 to her high school sweetheart, she found herself divorced at 25 and navigating life as a single mother. The experience brought shame in her traditional Hispanic community but ultimately shaped her into who she is today. "I wouldn't be who I am without it," she reflects with surprising gratitude. Through therapy and personal growth, she transformed self-destructive coping mechanisms into resilience.
Her professional journey contains equally powerful lessons. After years working in the legal field, previous career disappointments suddenly made sense when the District Clerk position opened. Initial self-doubt nearly stopped her – "I'm Hispanic, I'm little, I'm a single mom" – until she recognized the opportunity as an answer to prayers she didn't even know she had. Now making history in her county, she sees how God's plan exceeded anything she could have envisioned for herself.
Whether you're facing divorce, career uncertainty, or any significant life transition, Lupita's story reminds us that closed doors often lead to better opportunities. Sometimes the puzzle pieces of our lives only make sense in retrospect, revealing a picture more beautiful than we could have imagined.
Standing In Your Truth Podcast with Yanni Thomas
Hello everyone, welcome to Standing In your Truth podcast with your host, yanni. On this podcast you'll hear Yanni, family and friends having open-ended discussions on anything from faith, finances, relationships and how to stay motivated during life's trying times. Make sure to follow on all social media platforms. The social media link is in the bio. Sit back and get ready to enjoy.
Speaker 2:Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of Standing your Truth Podcast. I am your host, yoni. This is definitely a second take. The first one I won't get the mic was on, but anyway, how are you guys doing? Hopefully you are not too warm where you are out here. It hasn't been too bad. Um, we've had some rain, which is hell, but anyway, we've had some rain and we have some wind. That's made it to where it's um hasn't been too bad out here, but um, I'm pretty excited to actually get to know my guests on a different level. So I'm gonna let her introduce herself hi everyone.
Speaker 3:So my name is lupita navarrete or guadalupe navarrete. Um I am, do I? What do I say? Like my job or my age. I turned 30 two weeks ago. I think you did.
Speaker 2:She's looking fabulous on the picture. When I reached out I was like girl, I need you on my podcast, because you're glowing. I need to know why. Thank you.
Speaker 3:I work for Rector County. I am the district clerk as of March. I was appointed, so it's new for me, but I've been in the legal field for a good while. Um, this position has just been a blessing, but it's we come. It came with a lot of new. Yeah, and yeah, that's me. I'm a mom. I forgot about my son. I'm like I was like I'm a mom. Yeah, he went with his, with my sister for a week to dallas, so I'm I forgot about him.
Speaker 2:Oh snap, so you're a single mom? I mean, you're not a mom technically, quote unquote.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'm not a mom this week, I think you're always a mom.
Speaker 2:but technically quote unquote Taking a break.
Speaker 3:Yeah, oh, that's fun. So, yeah, he's. So I have a son, he's nine, turned nine in February, and that's just me and Junior, and yeah, that's me All right.
Speaker 2:So first question what motivates you?
Speaker 3:My son? That's an easy question for me. That's really what motivates me. He pushes me more than he knows. I always say he's. I always say, like he has no idea that, like he has no idea what I've done. You know, but I don't, I don't want, I don't need him to. What I've done, you know, but I don't, I don't want, I don't need him to, but he has no idea the impact he's made in my life, like the way he pushes me. And he's only been in this world for nine years and he's just getting started. Yes, little does he know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, how do you protect your mental health?
Speaker 3:How do I protect my mental health?
Speaker 3:I think for me, that would be setting the appropriate boundaries with uh do you deal with it, uh, I, it's hard, you know, because you especially if you're like a really big people, pleaser, um, it's hard to set boundaries because you don't want to break, like you don't want to, the relationships you have and that you build like you don't want to, I guess put a block on that. Sometimes it's not even like a boundary of like, just don't speak to me ever again, but it's just, uh, just space, you know, and you don't want to do that sometimes, but it's, it's just came with time. I think trial and error, like anything else, you know you don't set a boundary somewhere and you learn what that outcome is and then you try to implement it next time, or you don't, and you keep making that mistake until you don't.
Speaker 2:I think that would be the I literally the last episode talked about the residue of pleasing, and I do well sometimes with setting boundaries. I don't just like you said, sometimes it's the me worrying about what someone I was. I also don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, so the thought crosses my mind very briefly, but there is residue to it. Glad that you were able to settle down, drew.
Speaker 3:It's a challenge. I'm not great at it. It's something I'm working on, okay.
Speaker 2:Nothing wrong with that. What do you do for your self-care routine?
Speaker 3:The gym.
Speaker 2:I was going to say now, if you don't mention the gym, I know you go and she's a beast, the gym.
Speaker 3:And I think running too Like it's. I've always liked to run and recently it's something that I've done a little bit more and I really enjoy it Like it's, that is. I would say that it's the mainly the gym all around, but running just kind of puts me in a place of ease do you like.
Speaker 2:Are you a run with headphones person or you just from?
Speaker 3:run with headphones, um, but sometimes I'm not even listening, like I listen, the music's going, but my thoughts are kind of just like I'm able to think while I'm running because I can't. I feel like I try to do that as like with my, my son, like as a mom or working um, but I, I don't know it, just to me it's different when I'm running so what's your go-to song?
Speaker 2:as soon as you so you put the headphones on, you're getting ready to run. What is your song? You're for sure putting on what's that song? Maybe I should say the artist, if you can't think of the song girl.
Speaker 3:I can't even think about the artist, but it's like a uh, what's the song? It's now.
Speaker 2:I'm like I'm gonna have to check your phone after this. Yeah, I'm gonna have to show you.
Speaker 3:It's like a techno song, really.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's, it's good so it's like it like gets me it gets the, it gets me going, you know that's not funny, but that's funny, like your whole. I have to show you this song because it really bumps me up.
Speaker 3:And then now my like sometimes I'll just listen to that song in my car with my son and, um, he loves the song too now. So when he comes on, there's a part where he's like one, two, three, four, or one two, three, I don't know. But Junior already knows that part, I don't know it's. It's a good song. I have to show it to you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, don't get me going okay, um, what is your mindset when you are told no or the door shuts?
Speaker 3:uh, no, is hard for me. That's something very challenging for me. I've struggled a lot with that and I guess that could come in different ways with what was the second one, the um, when the door closes, yeah, when the door shuts. When the door shuts, I've learned that there has to be.
Speaker 2:There's a lesson in everything, like whether the outcome is good or bad, and if that door shuts, there's a lesson behind it, and I always try to keep that in mind that there's a lesson in every door that shuts and even, I guess, when, with a no to, with a no to um, there is a lesson with that, I think like I said this every episode when I have someone on, but to me that um question kind of gives a insight into whoever's answering it, like they're just them as a person. Some people say what you know, they tell me no, I'm still gonna go through it. So it's like, well, yeah yeah, yeah, you know.
Speaker 3:I had a conversation once with aaron, something that happened at work. Um, maybe a year and a half ago, when I worked for the courts, there was an. There was a situation where the outcome didn't go the way that I wanted to, and essentially it was a no and um, I took that really hard, like my feelings were super hurt. I felt very humiliated by it At the time. I didn't understand it. Coming into this position, I understood why that was a no To me. It was like God knew I wasn't ready for that.
Speaker 3:Yes in that moment because I wasn't mentally, emotionally, I wasn't ready to accept that yes in that moment, because I wasn't mentally like. Emotionally, I wasn't ready to accept that yes, even though I thought I was you know. So again it takes me back to it. There's a lesson behind it. Sometimes you don't understand it, but it's just not. It's not on our timing, as frustrating as that is it's just not the timing for you, and there's a. You have to just trust that so it's hard?
Speaker 2:no, it doesn't, but I have a question. So was that, if that yes would have happened? Was that yes, bigger than this, yes that you're currently sitting in? No, it wasn't it kind of gives the you know on facebook or instagram, they have a thing where it's like your plan and it's god's plan, yes, and god's plan always looks way better than what she thought. Yes, so it's kind of. It's exactly what that is.
Speaker 3:Yes, Wow yeah.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 3:So and that's why we talked about it, because I something was coming up with this new position and I was nervous because of that experience and the I guess people involved. I was going to have to be involved with them in this position and it the my interpretation of that and looking at it now was God was saying no, but he was preparing me for that for this moment to know how to approach that situation. You know, so yeah it's the.
Speaker 2:I think oftentimes when I pray, I'm always like, um, thanking god, like for him being in control, because the way we think that we know what's best for us, or we think how we like our life should be, and then, when you really just you know, throw your hands up and give it to him and let him be the author and it starts going.
Speaker 3:Yes, girl, and it's hard, like it's so hard to not want to take or to want to take to let him take control. That's that is a challenge for, I think, for everyone, you know, and um, to understand that it's not your timing, like that is a hard pill to swallow. It really is, but when, the, when that comes, the, the, I can't even explain like how, how liberating that is and how like amazing that feels.
Speaker 2:It's like one of the pieces my grandpa first got to odessa, I forgot which job that I had live but anyway um one of them. He was like just when you go in there, just start putting your pieces and then eventually your puzzle piece will come together I think sometimes you know, the more we navigate life, I love that and begin to trust god.
Speaker 2:It's like your pieces start to come together and you're like, oh okay, now I kind of see why you might have, you know, that door to shut, and because here we are now and I'm able to, you know, touch and reach more people now than I ever would have been before.
Speaker 3:So it's wow, that's a good analogy. Like I put that into my job now. Um, that's something I will. I'll for sure think about. That's a good analogy.
Speaker 2:I love that you can judge me okay oh, yes, I will that is something you told me I'm gonna, I'm gonna say, just buy me those puzzles yeah, he'll be like still putting them together.
Speaker 3:You don't know me, but like for real.
Speaker 2:Okay, so what is one moment in your life that has shaped you or made a huge impact on your life, or in your life?
Speaker 3:I think there's a lot of them. One of them would be my divorce. I was always really ashamed of that. I don't think I know you were. Yeah, I was. I married young. How young I was 19. Oh, you're pretty young, I got married at 22.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I married at 22. Yeah, I'm married at 22. Yeah, so divorced, I was divorced at 25, so, but he was like my high school sweetheart, so we were together when I was 15. So, um, yeah, so we were together for a really long time. Um, I would say that because you know I mean you've been through it so you understand the emotion behind it and I think anyone that has been through a divorce under you can't explain it. But you understand the emotion, you know. For me it was like I wanted out of the marriage and it was still very hard yeah so I think there's emotion either way and you can't discredit.
Speaker 3:I think that's for a long time I kind of discredited my emotions because I lived.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:You know I chose to do that, but I stopped doing that, so that would be one that would probably be the main one Getting a divorce and becoming a single parent. That came with a lot of lessons that I wouldn't have learned. I don't advocate for divorces and I don't encourage them, but, um, if that wouldn't have been the outcome for me, I wouldn't have, I wouldn't be who I am on it and that sounds very cliche, but honestly I wouldn't.
Speaker 3:I wouldn't be sorry when I can tell you I wholeheartedly, yeah, wholeheartedly, and you get it like there's no words that you have to say, to say like I know you do, you know.
Speaker 2:Because they were, I guess, similar in the sense of I fell first, yeah Same, I got him served and I moved away. But I did it because if I didn't do it, I probably, honestly, at this point, what am I now? 34? So you know we wouldn't have made it. I probably would either be checked into somebody's mental thing or would have probably killed myself. It was just that, controlling that much abuse there, that's the road I was going down, but, needless to say, I don't have this. But at the same time you got to get into the divorce.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I agree, and for me it was like I remember sitting there and saying, like, looking back and saying, and this was five years ago, I remember, in our room and when I, when that just came, I you know something happened and I said it just clicked. I guess I remember looking at my son. He was asleep in our bed and it was just me and him and I said this is not what I want for my life in five years. And you know, I knew what is not what I want for my life in five years and you know, I knew what my mom had gone through with my dad.
Speaker 3:So I said my mom went through this so that I wouldn't have to. And here I am, like, with so much more opportunities and I don't want this for my life in five years, and I never pictured it to be like this. Um, it was much better than it's, much better than what I anticipated, what I expected, but I just didn't want that like it just clicks.
Speaker 2:It just clicked, you know, I just don't want that for my life you take. I'm not gonna lie, I know, for me it was so long where I was like kind of you, kind of um, I guess it's almost like you had your glasses on versus off, or for you ignore it and you're like, okay, it needs to get better and it didn't it don't, and then I was like you know what I just woke up one day and let all my family know.
Speaker 2:My family knew what's going on let all them know what's going on, um, and then homeboy took a trip to jamaica and he came back and I had an apartment in a car I was letting them know this ain't it. Yeah, no, I was like got to go.
Speaker 3:That takes a lot of grit.
Speaker 2:Oh, it definitely did and I definitely was confused.
Speaker 3:You were scared, I'm sure. Yeah, oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I had the church. Some of the church talked to me, some of it did the church back in Louisiana, by the way. Some of them talked to me some of them didn't, but I was like, isn't that it? Yeah, and then it's the fact of, like traditionally, african-americans don't believe in therapy.
Speaker 3:Oh, okay, neither do we Bruh Hispanics don't either.
Speaker 2:Bruh. So instead of like going to a therapist and talking about my problems, unfortunately I was going to Chili's, and that just for maybe like a year or so before I moved to texas. That was how I was coping. And then I got out here, um, got plugged into a church, got re-baptized, um, got into therapy, wow. And now it's different, and now I can look at some stuff and be like the fact that you know, um, we couldn't have in the house at one point, that used to make me so mad. Now aaron doesn't care, we even lose all the time.
Speaker 3:That's awesome, it's just stuff like that. But yeah, no, but anyway, that's awesome, that's so awesome. That's awesome because? But now getting divorced is interesting.
Speaker 1:It's hard yeah and I was the same like I went through the whole like I would.
Speaker 3:I was drinking excessively, um, even seeing people with no title and um, just disrespecting myself 100%, and I thought I like in my head it was like so I was divorced, I wanted to get out of the divorce but I didn't deal with it and I needed to. I did that and then, until I did, and then it all kind of came crashing and then I kind of tried doing it by myself because I felt like a broken record and um, yeah, it was hard, but a lot of like it was beautiful. What came out of it? You know, like I'm, I've been sober now for a long time and, um, a lot of goodness came out.
Speaker 1:I guess. So I mean a lot of more good came out of it than bad.
Speaker 3:You know, the bad was my son doesn't grow up with a family, um, and he might not understand it now. Sometimes he'll ask like things and say things, like you know what, if you and my daddy ever, or my my tata he calls him if you ever got, if y'all ever got back together, he's he's said that before and now he's at the age, like before if he would mention that I couldn't really explain it. But now he's at the age where I can tell him you know this is like we both love you and you know God put us in each other's paths so that you can be here to love us forever. Like there's just I guess that would be the only bad thing, but for him it's not I don't know how to explain that Like it's not a bad thing, but I guess you know divorce sucks and that's something he's going to have to work through, and he even went to therapy for that, yeah. So yeah, I guess that would be the only bad thing. Have you done therapy? I kind of rambled.
Speaker 3:I've been in and out of it. Go on, me too, me too, I've questioned myself with it too, because I know I need, I still need it, you know, and I I get scared, it gets scary and I'll do it. And then I run and I'm like, oh my gosh, what did I say? And yeah, I don't know like it's, that's something that's been heavy on my head, on my mind. Like you, you need to I will tell you so.
Speaker 2:I did therapy when, um, we're kind of right after the divorce is final and then I want to say for maybe like two years a year or something like that.
Speaker 2:Okay then I stopped mainly because my I changed jobs and my insurance changed and all that therapy can be expensive. So I was like, bro, I can't, like, unfortunately, I can't afford that anymore. Um, but here recently, um, I started seeing a therapist, and this one's different, because the first one I had she was, excuse me, just on FaceTime, wasn't in person. So this one, a new one I have, I'm actually going to see her in person.
Speaker 3:And how is that?
Speaker 2:Because mine was going to.
Speaker 3:I would highly recommend.
Speaker 2:Really Switch it up, girl. Okay, when I tell you you I like to, when I first time I went in. Uh, first of all, I'm super, sometimes can be very socially awkward, so I walk in, I'm like okay, I'm racing on your couch. Like you know, it was all like really nice and she has like the like the um pink himalayan oh, we're trying to set like the vibe, or whatever, yeah, but she's really nice, so I pay my gladly every three weeks $40 to go and talk to her for about an hour.
Speaker 2:Well, I think it's not, yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 1:I would highly recommend and even so, it's local here.
Speaker 2:But High Sky Children Ranch, they have a therapy part and they do offer therapy for the community. And on the community, it's a scale, it's on income. Okay, so there's an income of how much you pay.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah. So I'm glad we put it for you guys. We have to get some information.
Speaker 2:No, when I tell you I thoroughly enjoy it. Yeah, thoroughly enjoy it, that's awesome.
Speaker 3:You know, my son started therapy whenever we me and my ex-husband got a divorce and it came out of. It came out of his dad because his mom it um the connection was with with his mom, and in my head, like that's not normal in in our family, you know, and um, when he said that, I kind of like like I don't agree, like I don't think anything is going to come out of that, but I did it and I and I admire my son because of the strength that, like the, the courage that that it takes to do that, and um, not every now. And then he'll say he'll mention her and he'll say hey, um, do you think you know there's?
Speaker 3:I want there's some. He knows how to handle his emotions. Like if he doesn't, his solution is I need to talk to her about this so that I understand how to handle this, and that was why I got motivated to do it, because of him, and he had no idea like how much I admire that, you know, know, because I think that's awesome like he was.
Speaker 3:He was, I think four or five when he started going and he goes in and out now because you know he doesn't do it as much. But, um, yeah, I thought it just. I always I've always said that like he's just amazing for taking, like for doing that. You know, because we're so, I'm so scared I speak for myself I'm so scared to talk about anything any feelings I have, I will run, I will not talk about it.
Speaker 2:I feel like that was me the first time I did therapy, but, um, I feel like I realized, especially dating aaron, because aaron's so, um, vulnerable and transparent like being married to him, you can't have, like there would be no way for him to be able to look at himself in the mirror and for me to be his partner in life and can't do this. Yeah, and I think, um, with that mindset, is to where now I'm like, not, I want to say I'm an open book, which I am to certain people. I mean, if you ask me a question, I'll answer it, but I'm blurting all my information out to the world yeah, yeah at the same time.
Speaker 2:But um, I just think therapy, you know, you just have to be comfortable with the idea of like, looking and realizing. Not saying that you may think you're perfect, but I think when you have a therapist, like working through things, you're starting to realize okay, I need to work on this I need to actually still work on this and that's true, yeah, and I think that's also some of the tough parts, some of that also is, he said, kind of tapping into those emotions and realizing it's OK to feel sad.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's OK not to be OK.
Speaker 3:It's.
Speaker 2:OK to still be disappointed, that, like for me, I was disappointed in the fact that I had another divorce. Yes, yes, it's like disappointing with that or the idea of having a failed marriage, like you know, um, but I will say that once you're um ready to look in the mirror, it changes um, because now you don't think some of that is shame, is holding on to it, like you gotta go with the shame, like it happened. Yeah, unfortunately, divorce has happened. Yeah, um, you know, yes, for me, like, yes, there's some things I could have done different, but there's just some things that they're speaking up and doing with me that have something to do with him, and it's just, you know, yeah, owning that. And looking in the mirror and saying okay, yeah.
Speaker 2:And then, crazy, I mean, right before I started talking to aaron, I actually tried again to talk to my ex because at that point in my head, you know, I had um, let's share with Christ. I went through therapy, I was healed and I grew. Well, maybe he grew by chance. So let's just, you know, just see it out. Maybe you know, girl, that talking lasted, maybe I don't think we made it a month, I think maybe a week or two weeks, couple conversations, and that controlling part came back and I was like, oh no, oh no, like you actually haven't grown and actually don't worry about this. I'm so sorry that I even reached out to you, I think I, I think I would have to apologize for my end of it. Yeah, um, because I was like there's some things I realized now that I could have done different.
Speaker 1:Yes, yeah, I was like yeah, no, I mean he's like he didn't even give us a shot.
Speaker 2:No, definitely did try, and it um didn't work out.
Speaker 3:You didn't. You've never worked on yourself and, and you see, for me I have to. My ex-husband is this, the father of my child, so he has to be involved, and my son's older now, so it's only to a certain degree. But even to that degree, um, sometimes he, he can. He's still the same in a lot of ways. Yeah, and I see it because you know we have to communicate, um, but I've really learned how to with that, you know, because I can't run from that, I can't get away from that, because we have a child together and, um, my son loves him, you know he's, that's his world, and um, I had to learn that the way I feel like, the way I I feel about any individual and, um, the way the way they made me feel it doesn't matter because there's somebody out there that absolutely adores them and that they've made a difference in that person's life in some way.
Speaker 3:So I have to remember that. And that's what I that's what I try to, that's what I implement with him. Like it's kind of like I have healed from that. I feel like I've healed from that situation, that marriage and the divorce and he's just still very angry in some ways or just has some qualities that are the same and, um, you, just it's not, it's no longer something that you just, like you, said, like I just feel bad because you, you haven't healed, you haven't worked on yourself, and you know so yeah, funny story.
Speaker 2:Someone I don't know who and he swears that day that I did someone sent him a picture of aaron and I it's not funny. Someone sent a picture of aaron and I was like this is what true love and happiness. I did not have the number, I do not know who it was, uh, but he was like uh, something like uh, when you find out who this is, I ain ain't fucking out, they ain't texting my phone, so he got that message.
Speaker 2:Oh my. And then he screenshot it and sent it to me. Oh, okay, my number's still the same. Yes, yes, and that's like a.
Speaker 3:that's a hard pill to swallow, honestly Like to see that On his side.
Speaker 2:On his side, yes, probably. It's probably not a good thing, but I, I don't know who- said that to you, but it's my man.
Speaker 3:Yeah, we're chilling. It's good too.
Speaker 2:I mean we were honest enough. We were like we weren't married so we were still like honestly, can you take on that picture of your action? I'm sure you probably did. Okay, yeah, anyway, yeah, divorce is interesting.
Speaker 3:It is interesting it is to say like it's very, it's waves, you know it really is like you're good one day and then the next day you're not, and then one day you're good and then until you're. I feel like you get you. You do get to the point where you're good, but you have to make.
Speaker 2:There's just a lot that comes in between and it's not gonna be from one day to the next and you can't expect that and I can only imagine because my ex and I that we don't have kids, so like that communication after this last time where I thought we were gonna get back together. After that, there's no community.
Speaker 3:I don't communicate, yeah yeah, and we do so yeah, so I mean, that's kind of a and I think even the challenge there was even challenges where you know he's, he's with somebody now and, uh, he has kids with him now.
Speaker 3:But whenever they first had their, whenever I first found out about the first, uh, their first child, that she was pregnant, I think that's kind of when I really dug into how I felt about, about this, the separation and all that, and I had to really deal with it because it was like it for me it was a hard pill, just like I didn't have my family. They had, you know, he. It was just a lot of emotions and it was at the time it was like a lot of, I think, like jealousy and hate and insecurity and spite and like why couldn't you do that for me? Why couldn't you give me that? It was a bunch of healing that came with it because I saw, I guess I thought it was like slipping through my hand, but it was a blessing. You know, the divorce was a blessing for me, um, but yeah, I don't, don't know I got off topic there.
Speaker 2:You talked about your friends just now.
Speaker 3:I did yeah, so I don't know why you're running away. Okay, therapist.
Speaker 2:Well, you know. So actually I am technically so this is my little blonde self. I put on there that I was a life coach Girl. I read the certificate again it's a certified mental health coach. Answered the same thing, but anyway. But no, my dream is to finish up school at OC and to get into social work. Oh, wow. So therapy is like where my heart is and I can see that.
Speaker 3:I see that with you and Aaron, really you'll have that. I think it's easy to gravitate and, like you, can pick that up. You know, I, I see that and I hope that you're that's something that you really I'm going to be rooting for you because I I can see that I can see you doing that I enjoy it.
Speaker 2:I didn't really, I didn't quite understand why, like people would be like tell if you tell me, like all their everything, and I'm like wait what? But now realizing that that is my gift and, um, I do realize that I think it's my first episode of my podcast, but someone came on and talked about something. They're like. I have never talked about that and I've always been scared, but sitting with you was very therapeutic and it was easy and this is scary.
Speaker 2:This is scary now, yeah, for me, but it's like I'm glad I was able to make you feel comfortable enough to open up because, at the end of the day, you opening up allows someone else that's listening to this to hopefully realize, for one, they're not the only one, yes, and for two, to realize we have so much more in common with our neighbors than you realize it. Hey, I've known you for I don't know. I've known aaron for about two years yeah, so I've probably known you for about two years.
Speaker 2:I had no idea you were divorced yeah, but then also, I mean we talk and say hey, but we never actually had like a real conversation. Yeah, but yeah, no. So it's the fact of the matter.
Speaker 2:Is this's just why I love hosting and having this yeah that's because you're able to, um, sit down, have the conversation, get to know the people around you, but I think not only just getting to know them, but you know. Let's just say, um, I see you out and about and I feel like now you know, when you see me out and about, you have a safe like you have a safe person, you know, at the end of the day, if you see me somewhere you about.
Speaker 2:You have a safe, like you have a safe person. You know, at the end of the day, if you see me somewhere, you're having a bad day. You need something. I'm there. Yes, so it's. I think this is also what comes with. It is setting that foundations for relationships going forward.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yes, I agree, and that's that's beautiful, that you take the time to do this and have these conversations.
Speaker 1:You getting it out of me, girl.
Speaker 3:Free therapy session. You didn't even know you needed it $40 where?
Speaker 2:And look, she says so, when the next time you're a quarantine, come sit down, I am done, Okay, wait. So I do want to touch on how you actually ended up at Ector County, because I mean, let's just be honest, I don't know that many young people that are out serving as far as, especially, I think at one point it's- actually an elected position, right?
Speaker 3:Yes, so you're going to have to run In November, this November, I have to put my name in in November. Yes, okay, well, I'll be ready to hold my sign and wear my t-shirt. I'll be here. I'll drop off a sign and everything when you see the sign out in the yard, just know it was me it was Polly.
Speaker 2:If we definitely, if we believe in it, we'll definitely we had to sign out for oh, that's a college.
Speaker 3:Oh, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:I'm a student. I believe that school needs some. But anyway, yes, yes, okay.
Speaker 3:So when did you start with Ekigami? So I'll kind of go back to the way it started. So criminal justice has always been like it for me. Really, I love it and growing up like I would watch cops and I was obsessed with it and then all those shows and I dreamed of being a cop. I really did so in high school. I remember doing some criminal justice class. It's always been just a big passion.
Speaker 3:Um, after high school I was going to school for criminal justice and then after high school a position opened with an attorney and I didn't know nothing about anything. I was going to school for it. But I found this opportunity came and I went and applied the attorney. I remember he told me the girls that work here they're B-words, they're rude and they're mean and they're going to be mean and this and that, can you handle it? Because I'm small. I was like, yeah, you know, I didn't know what I was talking about. I didn't know what to expect or anything. I started there at 18. It was a receptionist position. I ended up growing into it as a receptionist position. I ended up going growing into it as a legal assistant and then that attorney ended up funny because he was in. He was an attorney, so he was in court and that judge brought him. This is his story. I brought him to his chambers and asked, like he said, hey, I'm retiring and I really want you to take this position. And so then my boss, he started thinking about it and he decided this was something he was going to do. So he offered it to me and at the time I was still married and my ex-husband now, during that that time he was not always very supportive of anything that I did and, um, he hated the, the job and, um, he just always discredited that job.
Speaker 3:But honestly, I, he didn't, he didn't want me to work and wanted me to be a stay-at-home. You know, wife and um, and that's very normal, like in the Hispanic community, that's very normal. I, just in the Hispanic community, that's very normal. I just couldn't like I just had this dream and I just wanted to pursue it and you know, but I still wanted to be a wife, I still wanted to be that, have that family dynamic, but this was always just there, you know. So when the judge, when the attorney at the time, he told me hey, do you want to take that? Like, I want you to come with me to the courthouse and be my court administrator, which is like my right hand. I didn't immediately say yes because of that, because of my marriage and because you know, I didn't know I was kind of conflicted.
Speaker 3:And then this thing happened where I like something happened, and then I decided, okay, I need to get out of this. So I did. And then then I did, I moved out, I moved in with my mom and my dad and and then, um, after that I talked to him, justin Lowe, the, he was an attorney then and he, um, he asked me about it again, he brought it up in conversation and I took I, I said yes, like I was gonna come and I didn't know what I was doing, but I was gonna do it and I was in like it was in the legal field and that's all it was, you know, and I didn't know how it was going to turn out or anything, but it did and it it ended up working out.
Speaker 3:So then I came to the courthouse with him and, um, I was with him as a, as an attorney. I was with him 18, seven years and then I went to the courthouse and then I became his court administrator. And it's funny because, like, after the whole cop, I wanted to be a cop. I ended up going, I went back to school and I pursued my bachelor's degree and then I, and then I, oh, I always wanted to be a probationer. That's then like that was my next thing. I can kind of I can see it. That was my next thing and it was always like the mentality can see it that was my next thing, and it was always like the mentality of like.
Speaker 3:I always want to help the people in this, in this field, because, like in the at the attorney's office, they're walking into the attorney's office and this should be their safe place Because the outside world sees them as these ugly and dangerous, horrible people. So I always made that, that like. I always made it an effort to make them feel like hey, I'm not judging you.
Speaker 3:Like we're friends, you know. And so, with probation, that was the same thing, like I wanted to make a difference in these people's lives so that they never came back to the system and that there was hope, there was somebody that wanted to push for them, for their success, and all of that. So, while I was at the court, um, a position opened up with probation and like this was my dream job, like this is what I wanted to do. So I told him, I said hey, um, this came up and he was like really sad about it. But he's like you know, I know this is what you wanted, and blah, blah and um, so I applied for it. I had an interview, um, I ended up taking the taking down, like um, saying no to the position because I was a single mom. That's really why, like, I couldn't afford to be and I said that in that moment I was like this is just not a dream, this is not something I can pursue. If I was married I could have, you know, but I don't have that, so I just can't. The smart thing wouldn't be to do this, like in this, in at this time and I was.
Speaker 3:It was kind of sad, but I ended up staying with the court and it's still. You know, I loved, I love the system in Hoan. Um, you know it has its, it has its ugly parts, but I just enjoyed the being in the in it and um, so I stayed with the courts and then the district clerk that is was in the position, clarissa Webster, amazing person, um, we worked together because you know I worked with the courts, she works for the district clerk and you know they work together. So me and Clarissa always worked so well together.
Speaker 3:She was so helpful to me and we just always had a really good. It was always a really good relationship like from day one, and she always just she was amazing. And so then, you know, she ended up taking the, she went to, so she works for the OCA. Now she's a court, so she didn't retire. She just a better opportunity presented itself and she took it and she was an amazing, amazing district clerk, very knowledgeable in what she did and very proud of it. So she it ended up. You know they had because she left before her term was over. The judges have to appoint someone to that position and um, long story short, um, I did not originally say this was something that I wanted to do, because I was also going to court reporting school at that point and um, do you know what court reporting is like so everybody like any hearings that happen in the courtroom there's always somebody typing
Speaker 2:everything.
Speaker 3:And that's what I was going to school for.
Speaker 2:Girl, you have little fingers.
Speaker 3:Every time you see them I'm like, yeah, so I was doing that. And then I'm kind of going everywhere because I'm thinking about stuff. I was also last year. I remember I was doing that. I was working a part time job. I was, I was doing that. I was working a part-time job, I was a server on the weekends and then I would work for the courts. That was my full-time job. So anyways, coming back to this, my boss came to me, Judge Lowe, and he said I think you would do great. I spoke to a few other people that brought it to my attention and I remember I was trying to recruit people to take this position because in my head, like you know, I'm going to court reporting school and I love judge low, Like I've worked with him forever.
Speaker 3:There's no way I can work anywhere else Like I'm used to working for him and, um, I remember talking to one of the girls that I that I uh, like I told I thought I thought she would be perfect for the position and she told me why she, she didn't want to take it. And we were having that conversation and she mentioned something about her pastor the previous Sunday. The message was like put a somewhere along the lines of put a goal for yourself and believe in yourself that you can, you can, that you can that, that that's going to happen, like you know, pray about it and throughout the year, something along those lines. And I told her. I told her you know, well, maybe God is speaking to you through me and I felt like I kid you not, like I felt like God in that moment told me and I'm speaking to you through her, and I like it was like a, like a blow. Honestly, that's what it was and I ignored it. I was like, oh, but in my head, like I started thinking should I take this? Like should I say, okay, I want to put, I want to be considered for this or whatever? But I ignored it and I remember I would wake up thinking about it. It was just in my head for a long, long time and then the judge brought it up again and I just kept deflecting because I kept saying, like there's no way, you know, like first I'm Hispanic, my name's Guadalupe Navarrete, and all these things came in my head. I'm little, you know, I'm Hispanic, my name is Guadalupe Navarrete, like you know, and all these things came in my head. I'm a, I'm little, you know, I I can't, like I'm not married, I'm a single mom, like I was a server last year. Like there's no way that I can do this.
Speaker 3:And I talked to my, my dear friend, rudy Moisek. He's an attorney and I was like, hey, you know, just to seek his guidance with it, and he's a really close friend of mine and I really respect his judgment. And he told me the story of the man that was stranded in the ocean. And the man that was stranded in the ocean he prayed to God. That God is going to God, I know you're going to get me out of this, I have full faith that you're going to get me out of this and he kind of really knew all the struggles that I kind of went through last year, and so I think that's why he shared this with me.
Speaker 3:So he's stranded in the ocean and there's a boat that comes to try to save him and he says no, god is going to save me. And then a second boat comes same response. Third boat comes same response. And then he dies, he drowns, and then he tells God, like you know, I prayed and I said you were going to save me and you didn't. And he said I sent, I tried to do it three times and you ignored me, like you didn't pay attention.
Speaker 3:So that really stuck with me, you know, because people kept coming to me and telling me I think you'd be great for this position and people that I respect, like honorable people that I really respect within the court system, and so that was kind of that moment where I said like I needed I think this is this is it, you know, and it kind of just really it just fell on my lap and there was a lot of like disappointment and hard work behind that. That just to me, it always just went so unnoticed but I never wanted to take away, like I always wanted to be proud of everything that I did and and I didn't understand like why things were not really coming together for me, but I trusted that.
Speaker 3:You know, I know God, but I I also in the back of my head.
Speaker 3:I feel like we all, or at least I always had it in the back of my head, like when, yeah, but it will get better but when you know, then I was constantly trying to find ways to make it better, like you know, getting a second job and, um, just doing all kinds of things to just try to fix my life, you know, under my own term. And then, um, yeah, so I ended up putting my hat in I mean, my name in the hat and the, the judges appointed me and I was appointed on the 3rd of march and here I am and it's been a really, it's been a really cool blessing because god has just revealed, like you know, when we talked about you don't know, he knows, and it was there's just so much blessings that have came out of this and, um, he put me in a position where, you know, I love to help people and I love to serve and be there for other people and and I love the legal field and to be able to do that together. Um, such a blessing to me. You know, I get to be the center of that and and do it to the best of my ability and, yeah, so I just thought it was just like when it happened, I was just like god there's like I told you, you, I wanted it to get better, but this is too much.
Speaker 3:Like I can't, I'm overwhelmed by it, like I was very overwhelmed by just the blessing that, um, all the blessings that this came with, you know, and um, so yeah, I, I love, I love the position because I get to do that, I get to be in the middle of that field. That I absolutely love, you know, and it's hard to understand and it's not perfect, but I love it, I love to learn about it, I love to to just learn about it. And then I get to help people and, you know, to a certain degree, you know the district clerk is always a neutral party to everything, but I still get to serve the public and and yeah, so, yeah, that's it. I kind of went everywhere with that.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry, but yeah wow, I mean it's crazy just to see. Um look, I mean to hear your story. You can just see how, like the whole time you were just taking step by step, step by step, yeah.
Speaker 3:So yeah, it's been a really big blessing. Very, I don't take it for granted at all.
Speaker 2:What did your son say when you got appointed?
Speaker 3:He kind of didn't know, like you know, when we, because it was in the courtroom.
Speaker 2:Because he held the Bible.
Speaker 3:Yeah, but he was scared because there was a lot of people in there and he was telling my mom, like why is there so many people in here?
Speaker 1:for my mom Like what's going on.
Speaker 3:So he doesn't quite understand it, which I think is awesome, because I always say you know, it doesn't matter what I do with my life ever, it doesn't matter who I am, my world stops for that kid.
Speaker 3:Like if that kid is hungry and I have to like everything stops for him, and you know, I mean, yeah, he doesn't know that and he doesn't have to Like I think that's the job of a mom to the world stops for your kids. I think that's the job of a mom to the world stops for your kids, and I think that's and God has put me in a position where I'm able to to do that. So, yeah, he, he doesn't quite know, but he sees people, like if he goes to the office every now and then and I'm in my office and he'll be like what is like who? What do you do? Like what do you? What is your dog Like? What do you do?
Speaker 2:You know he doesn't really understand it, but but when he does, he'll know his mom's name will be in Edgar County history books History. Yes, because you are the first.
Speaker 3:First Hispanic and I think I, if I'm not mistaken, I'm also. I'm the first to hold a bachelor's degree and, um, I don't know if I'm the youngest, I'm not sure, but first hispanic.
Speaker 2:How did that told you that? Uh it feels good, but it's very like overwhelming.
Speaker 3:You know, like me and like who am?
Speaker 3:I you know and and exactly who god sent yes, yeah, the job yeah, and I realized that now, but at the time it was just like who am I? You know, I don't come from background. My parents and my family it does not. They do not come from a political background. And you know, this is on no, like what. You know, it was just one of those things, like God, I asked you to to make a way, but I didn't expect the way to look like this. You know what I mean. So it was.
Speaker 2:It was just very overwhelming what did they say um what does this tell god? You're playing and he laughs, or something he sure does, he sure does he laughs. He probably got a real good chuckle girl, I mean I'm not pointing at you because I'm sure he looked at me and be like girl, girl, okay, yeah, for sure, oh my, okay you look back and you're like you know god, you're funny, literally here recently, like I just sit back and I think, especially when you get to that moment, first of all, do you want it?
Speaker 2:yes, I do okay, so when you get to that moment, when you're in a healthy marriage, coming out of one that is not, you have moments. I promise you the first time I met aaron.
Speaker 2:I had to pinch myself because it was like simple things like I'm where, I don't think we were gay, we were just friends and I was sick but he was leaving out of town to go probably to crossfit something um, and came in my house and bought me like pho and medicine and flowers and ice cream and all kinds of stuff and I was like Like what, what up? Oh.
Speaker 3:I love that. I was like like what, yeah?
Speaker 2:So I think that's where, for me, therapy came in handy. Okay, because. I say it all the time If I didn't go through therapy, I wouldn't know how to handle Aaron Really, because he just was complete opposite of what I was choosing.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and that was going to be my question.
Speaker 1:Like how did you, how were you able?
Speaker 2:to accept that when you never had it before therapy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because I would have been like what? Because I definitely, even then, when he I was like, and sometimes he does- stuff and I'm like and for him that gesture was.
Speaker 2:He was like what do you mean? It's normal, and for you it was everything.
Speaker 3:I was like yeah, there is no way, what's going on?
Speaker 2:and even randomly. I mean there's technically there's dead flowers in there now because they died, but every so often it just brings back, let's see, yeah, therapy for sure, because if not, I've been like noted, noted, yeah, if there's a number of you to go, go, girl, see me ready for your next. Yes, man, that baggage will be unpacked, okay. So my last question for you is what do you stand for?
Speaker 3:what do I stand?
Speaker 2:yeah, I'm gonna jump you.
Speaker 1:I'm going to re-answer that Because I feel like this episode, I have a different answer, okay, than previous episodes.
Speaker 2:So currently I, yanni Thomas, say I stand for remembering that, or treating people like they're human. Treating people like they're human yeah, that's what I would say.
Speaker 3:Before I think I said like spreading kind of, which is not a bad thing, yeah, but this current stage of my life?
Speaker 2:I just believe yeah, and I can agree with that. I can agree with that, I think, especially if your job is making it to where you have to be a new party.
Speaker 3:You probably see yeah, I would agree with that. Nothing like comes up to. Honestly, nothing crazy comes up. Yeah, I hate that, but nothing comes to my head, um, besides just treating people with. Be that, be that good comment. Yeah, make somebody's day, I guess.
Speaker 2:Yeah oh, I have a a little. It's a saying or block or whatever it is on my desk that a co-worker gave me to be the reason why someone smiles today. Yeah, there you go. I often have to ring out the door because the flesh be trying to kill me.
Speaker 3:Yes, girl, and I be like squid mind what is actually happening.
Speaker 2:But yeah, no, well, is there anything else? You would like to add that I forgot that you're like hey.
Speaker 3:I guess I could just say just it gets better. You know, sometimes everybody's situation is different, but it really does get if you, if you put in the work and um and not. I'm not just saying that like work-wise, I'm just I'm saying that in like you you as a person it gets better, and that better is more than you can handle.
Speaker 2:You know um, so yeah well, with that note, I would say thank you, yes, for coming to have a conversation with us. I say us meeting all of my listeners yeah, this was so fun anyway, thank you for having me.
Speaker 3:I had this is awesome. I was like nervous. I was so nervous.
Speaker 2:Yeah says I don't like talking like when I come to the door, I was like I'm so nervous. And I was like nervous, I was so nervous yeah, says everyone like talking. Like when I come to the door, I was like I'm so nervous and I'm like girl chill yeah, this is cool, I forgot that was even playing over there.
Speaker 3:Yeah, because it's the only way.
Speaker 2:It's just a conversation, yeah, yeah, and you're allowing people to realize you know they have common, something in common with you. Come with us, hey, we can have a whole discussion just about divorce yeah, yeah, and it's a good.
Speaker 3:It was like a good reminder for me. Like you know, girl, this is you went through stuff and you acknowledge, don't disregard it, but look, you're in a good place and be thankful for that. You know, because we forget, we forget to, we look at the what we're, the current, whatever that looks like, and we forget all that has just changed.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, for sure, I think also it's a reminder of life comes the seasons. For one, they're not your whole book, just a chapter. Yes. And then for two, it's not your character or it's not your identity. Yes, it may be you know something that happened or something you did, but yes, like someone's you're not and I'm not walking around saying I'm a divorcee, mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah, but I mean, if it comes up, it comes up. Yes, yeah.
Speaker 3:And I just think it's important to know that there is a lesson behind. Like, even if for us the outcome sucks, there is a lesson behind it. And what can you do better? How can you improve?
Speaker 2:You know what, can you work on because of that situation.
Speaker 3:Yeah, look in the mirror well, um for those that are listening. I will tell you that you are loved. You are needed, needed.
Speaker 2:You are emphasized on the needed right. You are needed um. What did I say?
Speaker 3:I forgot now and forgetful and it's all right yeah.
Speaker 2:And you are seen. We are all human, we are all going through things, so don't think you're the only one.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and remember that Jesus loves you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and he sees you. He does, and I think for me, recently, I had to remember that he sees you when your times are good, and he sees you when times are bad, when your times are good, and he sees you in times are bad, um, he counts your tears, um, and he's always there, even when you it seems like you know how or why. I don't know how or why, but God does. So I would just tell you to pray and talk to him, um, and start that relationship. Yes, and if you're looking for a church in Odessa Midland area, come see us. At Hope Alive, I said come see us. I'm going to be honest, I need to get better with going to church, but anyway, that is my church.
Speaker 3:So come see us at Hope Alive. But all right, bye, bye.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to another episode of Standing in your Truth with Yanni. And if no one told you today, you are loved, you are beautiful, you are needed and you matter. Be sure to follow on Facebook at Standing In your Truth Podcast with Yanni. Also on Instagram Talks With Yanni.
