My name is María Estrada , and this is a story that was born from pain but blossomed into hope, effort, and transformation. This isn't a story seeking admiration, but rather to motivate every woman who feels defeated today to rise up, fight, and believe in herself.

In 2019, my life took a difficult turn. I fell into a deep depression, spending an entire month unable to get out of bed. The light and noise were unbearable. I felt I no longer had the strength or the reason to go on. However, something deep inside me told me otherwise. That inner voice led me to seek professional help, start going to the gym, and keep my mind occupied.

My self-esteem was still at rock bottom. I struggled to look at myself in the mirror, but little by little I gained confidence. My body and mind began to change. Over time, my self-esteem improved, and I started inviting friends who also needed a change. Without realizing it, I became an example of overcoming adversity for other women.

A year later, I faced one of my biggest challenges: completely reinventing myself . A good friend told me something that changed my life: “Don’t worry, focus on figuring out how to solve it.” That phrase was the beginning of a new path. I decided to invest in myself and turn my life around completely. In January 2021, I began studying massage therapy at the AMNA School of Therapists.

I was 47 years old, financially strapped, and I kept hearing things like, "It's too late to start," even from my own family. It hurt because it came from those who most needed my support. But that resistance turned into motivation. I had already overcome depression, and this time I was determined not to give up. Finally, after months of hard work, I earned my diploma. That achievement was a turning point: I wanted to continue growing professionally.

I started by giving free massages at a clinic, to practice and get my name out there. Then I started charging and even partnered with that same clinic, which offered me a workspace. I learned to value myself, to charge a fair price, and to believe in my work.

In that quest for growth, a second opportunity arose: patients were asking me for handmade soaps that weren't available in clinics or pharmacies. So I decided to get trained and start producing them with high-quality natural materials. My second business was born: D Marielos Handmade Soaps .

With two businesses under my belt, I've learned to use social media and manage pricing, and I've stopped taking comments as destructive criticism. If someone thinks your product is expensive, they're simply not your customer.

Did I make mistakes? Of course. I agreed to give massages after an advertising change that didn't bring in any clients, I trusted the wrong people, and I got frustrated when growth wasn't as fast as I expected. I even shut down my page in anger, but I'll learn that you shouldn't make important decisions when you're feeling down. You can always start over.

Today, at 51, I understand that no one should be more important than yourself . As mothers, we often put ourselves last, but we deserve to live, learn, and reinvent ourselves.

I learned that receiving a "no" is not a defeat, but an opportunity to grow. Our failures don't define us; what defines us is how we face them. The real secret is: insist, persist, resist, and never give up.

Working for others offers security and a fixed salary, but it's working for someone else's dreams. Entrepreneurship has no set hours or guarantees, but every step is a brick in the road to freedom.

Today I can proudly say that I have two businesses: Professional Therapeutic Massages and D Marielos Handmade Soaps . I hold a Diploma in Holistic Therapeutic Massage and a certification in the doTERRA AromaTouch Technique. I continue my training in naturopathy, crafts, digital marketing, and financial literacy .

It's never too late to start. It's never too late to believe in yourself again.

Maria Estrada
Massage therapist
Facebook: Therapeutic Massages
Instagram: Therapeutic Massages
WhatsApp: 4695-4318