In constant movement, she explores her surroundings every morning while she rides her customary 32 miles on one of her five bikes — yes, she owns five of them! On the weekends, she takes longer rides, adding 20+ miles to her fix of adventures for the week. As if time folded itself, she journeys on her cool wheels bringing back the warm feeling of those happy moments from her childhood in the Caribbean countryside.
Nostalgia settles in and she realizes her upbringing was so different than what kids experience nowadays.
“Our kids are living more sheltered childhoods than when I was growing up.”
Back then, she would roam free playing outside all day long, making an occasional bonfire with her cousins and, of course, riding her bike.
“I’m not sure if there is such thing as perfect happiness but riding my bicycle at dawn, when people are still sleeping or just waking up, seeing the sunrise and little animals — birds flying around — that always makes me happy.”
After being furloughed in April 2020, one reality many have sadly faced this year, she started making a video journal of her bike rides. This, which she continues to do every month, has become a way to immortalize all the good things and people that biking has brought to her life.
“It’s traveling without a passport.”
The project reconciles her career choice in telecommunications, video editing and production with her love for nature, rhythm, bikes, having fun in good company and the sense of community that surrounds this holistic activity of cycling.
Now, she is back to work, but making all her production coordinator alchemy from home as she mixes it up between scheduling photo or video shoots, interviewing people and editing videos in English, Spanish and French.
Nothing bathers her wanderer spirit more than a boring routine and stagnation. Since she was fifteen years old, she has hopped between four states in the US, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Washington. She gave birth to her children in France, where she spent five years and studied the language.
Before that, she lived a whole summer in Ireland when she was 22. At that age, she just wanted to experience life abroad. She bought a ticket, landed in Dublin, stayed in a hostel and quickly found a job and a more permanent room to rent so she could look at the wonders of the third largest European island over the weekends.
“If I have a goal, I always make sure to achieve it.”
This Halloween, she challenged herself and cycled 101 miles during the CAAM To the Beach and Back century ride. She is certainly a force of nature; thus, laziness is one of those attitudes that she can’t understand. She feels that we have an obligation to ourselves to be actors in life, not just bystanders. This may correlate with feeling a little impatient at times and being seen as somewhat stubborn and intense.
“I’m always pushing myself to be better, but the truth is that we’re all already good enough as we are. I just need to accept that sometimes life is more chill.”
While she works on her patience and awaits becoming an empty nester to go on a bike packing trip and perhaps relocate to North Carolina, this self-reliant and fierce woman has a strong sense of family and friendship.
“We need to have our tribe to share life with. What is the point of life if you don’t have anyone to share it with?”
Until they graduate and are off to college, tending to her two high schoolers is her priority. She is proud of being a single parent for seven years now — something that presents its challenges as she aims to split her time to support both her children and take care of herself.
“I always feel like I’m not doing a great job as a mother, but then I see how great my kids are and I think that I’m probably doing better than I believe. Seeing my kids thrive makes me feel like I did my job.”
If there is something that sticks out about Natalia is that she doesn’t let circumstances define her and she has a clear sense of what she likes and wants in life. As someone who is honest and authentic, she values acts that stem from true kindness instead of pretending to be nice. She has seen how deceive and lies have destroyed others, so her code of honor is to always be truthful.
“I like people who are open minded and able to rethink their positions on issues and adapt to new ways of thinking. I like people that are adaptable, resilient, kind, loving, creative, joyful, and authentic. I respect people more when they are true to themselves and they present themselves as they really are.”
For Natalia, this could make it even harder when someone disappoints her. For once, she went through a difficult separation that made her hurt.
“I would rather tell an uncomfortable truth than to lie.”
It was not an easy situation, but she stands firm today with a bright and playful spark fueling her. Truth is, it has taken her time to heal. After going through such turmoil and heartache, falling prey to fear of being undeserving of love — especially as the kind of person that loves and commits fully — can be daunting. The biggest challenge is not to give up on love and relationships, even when knowing how complicated these could be.
“I would like to meet someone and have a partner that I love and who loves me.”
While she hopes to find a partner with a good sense of humor that can make her laugh, she embraces life fully. Having a chance to live and give her best every day is all she needs to feel inspired and go forward.
“I’m just grateful for all that I have.”
She doesn’t take for granted the fact that she is surrounded by people who give out good energy. Having great friends and a supportive family makes everything worthwhile. Plus, having a good banter and a little roasting with them keeps everything more exciting.
This upbeat cyclist is also a music lover — lately she has asked her son to teach her how to play «The Secret Life of Daydreams» by Dario Marianelli in the piano. For any mom, getting a teenage son to commit this way is a true achievement! This speaks volumes of the beautiful bond she has built with him and her daughter.
Cassis and Mango, the two feline sisters that cohabit with them, would certainly agree that their human subject is intrepid, confident, and fiery yet caring, full of fun and loving.
All in all, she keeps at it, playing with the colors of the rainbow as they come through the glass windchimes in her window and defending what she believes to be right and necessary in life. Not a dull moment when you meet someone like Natalia — someone that vibes with such intensity.
Recuenta 