👋🏽 Hey hey, !

You think I'm cool? You should meet my friends! Below is what I'm calling, the most collaborative message yet! You're in for a treat with this edition of...

The P.O.C.H.O. Stuff Email

​Algo bien for a fun Friday.

Edition: Friday, May 17, 2024​

Picture 📸 • Optimism💖 • Cool Find 🕵🏽‍♂️ • Homework 📝 • Other Stuff 📢

PICTURE: 📸

CUAUHTÉMOC De La Armada De MÉXICO arrived in San Diego yesterday!

I didn't take this pic, my talented friend @LeftyMarisol did, she posts great pics form her travels throughout Mexico and the world. Back to CUAUHTÉMOC, the vessel is in town and will be open to the public -free admission- starting today May 17 until May 20. Learn more from the Mexican Consulate and go see it!

OPTIMISM: 💖

A quote to brighten this May gray weather:

"When you can't find the sunshine, be the sunshine."

— Unknown

COOL FIND: 🕵🏽‍♂️

I swear this is not an ad, I found this deal in my feed.

My good friend and dealer (Art Dealer) Alexander Salazar who you may have seen in an earlier edition of the POCHO Stuff Email, turns 51 today (HB bb) and to celebrate he's having an art sale at his Mission Hills fine art gallery!

Swing by the SD Art Advisory to score some sweet deals and good times. Tell him I sent you...do we still do nalgadas and a pinch to grow an inch? 😂

HOMEWORK: 📝

Global Art in Nature: Take a nature walk and collect natural materials like leaves, flowers, and stones. Use these items to create outdoor art installations inspired by both Mexican and American cultural motifs. Share your creations with others to spread joy and creativity! 🎨🌼

OTHER STUFF: 📢

This week, I'm thrilled to come give you another collaborative BTW, the Bonus Tip of the Week (I know, right?). It's the part of the email where I reach out to people much smarter than me for advice, tips, tricks, life hacks, and more. This time I reached out to my personal therapist and friends who are professionals in mental health for this Mental Health Awareness Bonus Tip of the Week.

BTW:💡

Prioritizing Mental Health 🌟 I asked therapists to share their top advice for those who haven't yet contacted a therapist. Here are their valuable insights to help you navigate your mental health journey:
🌱 Explore Different Options and Trust Your Gut

The unique and Alternative Therapist Fernando Aceves Martinez suggests, "Probar diferentes opciones. Basarte en la conexión y el feeling más que en la línea terapéutica." It’s essential to try different options and base your choice on the connection and feeling rather than the therapeutic approach.

🤝 Find a Trusted Person and Use Available Resources

You may have seen clinical psychologist, family and school counselor Hector Meza on Loacal TV, he emphasizes the importance of having a trusted person: "Tener acceso con una persona de confianza ayuda a disminuir el estrés y aumenta los niveles de dopamina." Trusted individuals, whether family, friends, or mentors, can significantly reduce stress and boost dopamine levels. He also recommends various resources for those without a therapist:

• Walking in nature
• Exercising
• Writing gratitude journals
• Setting and pursuing accessible goals
• Reading about mental health
• Practicing yoga and meditation
• Joining dance groups
• Connecting with faith or beliefs

🕵️‍♂️ Do Your Research and Be Patient

Long distance IG friend and Latina mental healthcare professional in the making Nicole Villarreal Martinez, MSW advises, "Therapy requires patience, often much more than expected... connect to your community." Research and patience are key as therapy takes time. Utilize community resources like university counseling centers, workplace wellness programs, local advocacy groups, religious centers, and support groups. Connecting with these can make the process less daunting.

💪 Be Brave and Take the First Step

Mi amiga Vanessa Sanchez encourages courage: "Be brave & take the first step to actually connect with a therapist... don’t get discouraged if not everyone is a good fit." It's vital to take that first step with the understanding that not every therapist will be the right fit. Don't give up, as finding the right one is immensely rewarding. For those supporting loved ones, she suggests directly asking about their mental state and offering practical support, such as helping set appointments or accompanying them to therapy. Vanessa shared a bunch of resources with me that I'll post next week, stay tuned!

📌 My POCHO Takeaway:

Mental health is a journey. Be patient, explore your options, and connect with trusted individuals and community resources to support your well-being. Thank you to all of this week's contributors and you for reading!

THANK YOU for opening these emails, I am truly grateful. I hope you enjoyed today's POCHO Stuff Email. Have a fantastic weekend, and see you next week!

Te quiero,

Tony U

💖 🙌🏾✨

-your favorite pocho and multicultural marketer.

P.S. Remember you can tell me what you think! Respond to this or any email from me, I read each one. Unsubscribe if you're not feelin' it anymore, I won't judge, or better yet forward it to someone as cool as you that you think would like to hear from me too and share this subscription link too. xo