Natalia Villegas - Miami Region YWD Ldr., Zone YWD Secretariat Ldr.

Growing up my parents always struggled financially. No matter how hard they tried, we never really had money. It was a constant hustle just to make ends meat. As I got older the dark cloud of “financial bad luck” or negative financial karma followed me everywhere. I didn’t know how to get rid of it. I would save some money and something would happen, my car would breakdown and I had to fix it, or I would get sick and have to pay hospital bills, my parents would be out of a job so I would have to support financially. It was always something.
One year a Women’s Division member encouraged me to have a donation goal for May contribution. I thought she was crazy. I was so afraid to let go of any money I had, because of fear of needing it later. When I expressed my fear, she encouraged me even more to use this May contribution as an opportunity to change my negative relationship with money into a positive and healthy one. She encouraged me to chant, and form an action plan to achieve my goal. I stayed in and cooked more, I would do my own nails instead of going to have them done. That May my behavior towards money changed. I became more cautious of how I spent my money. Sometimes it was difficult to not give into my old tendencies and waste my money on junk, but no matter what I kept on with my goal. At the end of the campaign I was able to donate all the money I set out to. I was so proud of achieving that goal. Not only because I was able to contribute to this awesome organization which promotes a wonderful mission, but also because of my ability to create a new healthy relationship with money. I was able to face my fear and win over it.
To me, the contribution campaign is not about money. It’s about winning in all aspects of our lives and proving that with this practice you can win over anything. Let’s win together!

“Nothing can match the strength of those whose lives have been shaped and forged through challenging and overcoming hardships. Such people fear nothing. The purpose of our Buddhist practice is to develop such strength and fortitude. To cultivate such an invincible core is in itself a victory. It is also the greatest benefit. Those who can succeed in this endeavor will savor unsurpassed happiness; they can manifest the supreme state of Buddhahood.” (For Today and Tomorrow- Daisaku Ikeda)

Natalia Villegas