205: Mar de Jade with Laura & Angelica Del Valle
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205: Mar de Jade with Laura & Angelica Del Valle
Episode 205: Show Notes
In this inspiring episode of The Light Watkins Show, Light engages in a deep and revealing conversation with Laura Del Valle and her daughter, Angelica, the visionaries behind Mar de Jade, a unique retreat center in Nayarit, Mexico.
Laura's journey began in the bustling streets of Mexico City, where she shifted from acting to medicine, driven by a desire to serve the rural poor. Despite her family's concerns about her unconventional path, Laura's commitment to her purpose led her to establish a medical clinic in a remote beach town, which eventually evolved into the thriving retreat center known as Mar de Jade.
Angelica, growing up in this environment of service and simplicity, brings her own perspectives on integrating community, sustainability, and education into the retreat's ethos. Mar de Jade is not just a retreat center but a community hub where education, organic farming, and skilled trades flourish, supported by the proceeds from the retreats and donations from a global community.
This episode is not just the story of a retreat center but a testament to the power of following one’s path, overcoming obstacles, and making a profound impact on a community. It's about finding freedom outside conventional life paths and discovering that service to others enriches one's own life in unexpected ways. Join us as Laura and Angelica share their remarkable journey of faith, resilience, and the creation of a sanctuary that not only heals but also empowers its community.
For anyone feeling stuck or uncertain in their journey, this episode is a reminder that sometimes the most unconventional paths lead to the most fulfilling destinations.
Key Points From This Episode:
Unconventional Paths to Purpose: Laura's transition from acting to medicine highlights the unexpected journeys that can lead to fulfilling one's true calling.
Embracing Rural Life: Despite her family's concerns, Laura chose to serve the rural poor in Mexico, showcasing the richness that comes from serving underprivileged communities.
Birth of Mar de Jade: Discover how a simple medical clinic for local fishermen and farmers evolved into the retreat center known as Mar de Jade.
Community Integration: Learn about the deep connection between the retreat center and the local community, including education, sustainable farming, and employment opportunities.
Education Transformation: Angelica discusses the development of a community school and trade school, transforming local education and providing new opportunities for the youth.
Sustainability in Action: Explore how Mar de Jade practices sustainability, from organic farming to training locals in skilled trades, creating a self-sustaining community model.
Impact of Volunteering: The episode highlights the transformative impact of volunteering, both for the volunteers and the local community, emphasizing mutual growth and understanding.
Spiritual and Personal Growth: Listeners will hear how personal and spiritual growth are woven into daily life at Mar de Jade, influencing every aspect of the retreat and community projects.
Facing Challenges: Laura and Angelica share their challenges and how they overcame them, providing real-world examples of resilience and determination.
Freedom Through Simplicity: The episode delves into the freedom Laura found in living a simple life away from city pressures, which allowed her to focus on what truly matters.
Legacy of Service: The Del Valles discuss the legacy they hope to leave behind, emphasizing service, community, and sustainable living as key components of their life’s work.
Invitation to Connect: The episode extends an invitation to listeners to experience Mar de Jade firsthand, whether through retreats, volunteering, or simply visiting to learn more about their impactful work.
Quotes:
"I have something to learn here and I don't know what it is. And I've been in cities and I know I don't want to learn there. I don't want to be hemmed in by institutions and by the social society around me. And here I feel kind of a freedom I've never felt before." — Laura Del Valle
“The world opens up to people who chooses not to fit into society’s mold. You can fit into things that are more kind, more empathetic, and more productive." — Laura Del Valle
"Don't nourish whatever hurts you. Nourish what gives you hope. I look back and I see all the time, what is it that allows any human being to work with the vulnerable? It's around vulnerability. Be vulnerable." — Laura Del Valle
"Growing up in this environment where anything you dream is possible, you don't know how you're going to get there, but you're going to take the first step and you're going to trust that the next step is going to become apparent and that the right person's going to show up and that the right circumstances, because the direction is worth following." — Angelica Del Valle
"Heaven's always in the person you have in front of you, even if it looks like the worst person in the world. Look at what's good in them. Forgive people for everything. They don't mean that cruelty. They really screwed up when they're that cruel. They've got a lot of insecurity, a lot of pain." — Laura Del Valle
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: