Finding my last identity

A series of short histories by Olivia Espinoza

The unknown

For now, I'll give you a short introduction about myself. I am Gres Espinoza, formerly known as Oigres Enery Ponton Espinoza — an odd name, isn't it?

My name sounds like my bizarre life. Never mind about me because I have overcome the sweat, tears, and pain that life gives us as a gift. Now, I can make this book all about you.

We all have different ideas and criteria for success. What does success mean to you? To me, success is broad and personal. In my vision, success is equal to my well-being 365 days a year — enjoying a balanced lifestyle, and satisfying health in all its elements. Physical, mental, emotional, and financial aspects combine to form the components of a happy lifestyle.

For now, I'll tell you my story: My childhood was hard work, tears, and sweat under the rain. My early years were not pink and fluffy, as they should be. My infancy was full of all these rare details that made my life peculiar. Watching people struggle to spell my name or correctly pronounce it was frustrating. Certainly, it was my very first eye-opening shift. When I began to watch people's reactions, emotions, and attitudes towards the rare and uncommon, I had to enhance my game and put into practice how we can take great advantage of our internal tools.

I spontaneously started using a variety of coping techniques at a very early age, more as a self-defence mind game at the time. One of those was called imagination plus internal communications. I was a curious child and took great pleasure in testing people's perspectives, understanding, and curiosity when

they were presented with unclear information. For instance, when they had to guess my gender only using my name as a reference point, they often got it wrong. Eventually, years later, I understood my name was as weird as me and my life.

I was born in Caracas, Venezuela, on the continent of South America. Caracas is known as the Furious City. While writing today, I recall a few old memories about Caracas. I can easily hear the faraway sound of the rooster singing every morning, letting me know it was time to jump out of bed. The smell of fresh coffee coming from each door on my way to school, and the perfect temperature — not too cold and not too hot. The joyous awakening of the city each morning — what a blessing to grow up in Caracas."