This time, I will be a little more personal.
Sometimes, one day at a time is just too much.
After surviving one of the hardest experiences of my existence, I can guarantee that my life will never be the same.
On June 24, 2026, I survived one of the most surreal experiences anyone could ever live through. I survived a natural phenomenon that occurs only once every 1,000 years: a double earthquake of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude.
You see death flash before your eyes in just a matter of seconds. Emotional intelligence and survival instincts kick in, and you suddenly realize your own agility, your maturity, and just how prepared you are for a moment like that.
After saving the lives of my parents and my dog in a span of mere seconds, once I was finally able to catch my breath, I could only look up at the sky. I was searching for answers, trying to calm the rush of adrenaline that wouldn’t truly subside until days later.
Because of the political system I live under (I live in Venezuela), I perceive life differently. Here, life is treated as if it is worth nothing; there is no dignity, no humanity. Because of this, I learned to value everything so much more, and to say “I love you” to my loved ones much more often.
Fifteen days after being reborn, I have more questions than answers. Not sleeping, gripped by the panic that it might shake again, is my new reality. Expressing gratitude with far more love is something I now do, sometimes to excess. Paranoia takes over your thoughts. Quietly analyzing every little detail has unintentionally become how I spend several minutes of my day.
We do not value life, tranquility, and peace enough. I will never say this often enough.
Although I wanted to immediately reintegrate into normal life—if there even is such a thing as normalcy after losing everything—I came to understand that my reactions are completely typical for processes like this, thanks to the psychologists who have dedicated themselves to providing information on how to handle this situation in the best possible way.
There are days I start out exhausted from a lack of sleep, crying over the many tragedies that surround us. There are others where I want to seize the day, making the most of every single second. It has not been easy. Normalcy might arrive in a few months, but it is something we do not have right now, and we must understand that, too.
A long recovery process lies ahead for my country. However, I do not want it to distract me from living, from enjoying every remaining second of my life, from my loved ones, and from life itself, plain and simple.
Make the most of every second. Value every person. Do not waste your time on people and things that are not worth it. Build memories, make beautiful moments, love deeply, love fiercely, and say “I love you” every single chance you get.
Do not wait for a tragic event to remind you of how fragile life is, and how everything can change in just a single second.
Thank you for your patience, and for understanding this moment I had to live through.
Thank you for tuning in to the show.
May God bless us.
With my love and respect,
About the author:
Jennifer Barreto-Leyva is a multi-faceted professional and a powerhouse in the Hispanic community.
She is an attorney, journalist, and author. Pro-life activist. Former Fox News correspondent. Is part of the editorial national board of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly. TV and radio host. Former Venezuelan ambassador at the Britts Global organization in the United Nations. Politics analyst. Opinion columnist, President of The Ladies Coalition. Director for LATAM of Latinas 4 life.
Named for Parade Magazine, 8 years in a row, as one of the 50 most influential and powerful Latinas worldwide.