Thankful Thursdays

Apparently, according to this article, I’m a genius. 😎

I stumbled on this article the other day that switches back and forth between English and Spanish, and I breezed through without missing a beat. Pretty cool, I thought.

Even after 53 years in the U.S., I still think of Spanish as my first language. It’s just hardwired into my brain. Sometimes, I get those little “brain freezes” when I’m trying to find the perfect English word. But put me in a conversation with someone who speaks my language, and that back-and-forth flow? It’s like second nature. Hello, Spanglish!

In Miami, Spanglish might not be “official,” but it practically is the local language. It’s how a lot of us communicate.

(Quick warning: If Spanglish isn’t your thing, grab a coffee and go with the flow. I promise we’ll get back to regular programming next week.)

Here’s the article, in case you want to give your brain a little workout:

El Spanglish!
You Can’t Read This Article Si No Eres Bilingüe.
(English & Español)

Being bilingual es una de las mejores habilidades en el mundo. Think about it por un momento. You can use dos idiomas at the same time in such an amazing way que hace que tu mente quiera explotar de emoción al changing from un idioma a otro. Pero tú can hacerlo y feel special al mismo tiempo, and eso te hace único. The fact that you can read this article sin tener que detenerte to think es un talento que pocas personas tienen. La mayoría de la gente struggle to read en un solo idioma, but what you’re doing ahora mismo es un signo de absoluto genius. Reading un texto muy complicado en dos idiomas diferentes seamlessly te hace apasionado(a) del aprendizaje y alguien que finds joy en los idiomas.

Leer this article probablemente le ha dado a tu cerebro un buen workout. Por eso deberías share it con tus friends.

De nada in advance ¡y que tengas un fantastic día!

No stopping, no translating, just flowing. Some people might see it as a mess, but for me it felt completely natural. How did you do?

But seriously, knowing more than one language connects you to people in a way nothing else can. And when you’re traveling abroad, it’s a total game changer to actually understand and communicate. If you have not picked up a second language yet, trust me, it is worth it.

Today I’m grateful for the ability to speak (and think) en dos languages. So to all my fellow Spanglish speakers, bilinguals, y language learners, keep doing your thing. It’s not just un talento, es casi un superpower.

What are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

[Note: In case you are not Spanglish-speaking, “si Dios quiere” means God-willing. Mom finished most of her sentences with that phrase. After her passing, I added it to my sendoff in her honor.]

“Spanglish is a creative way of saying, ‘I am an American, and I have my own style, my own taste, my own tongue.”
–I. Stavans

“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.” -F. Smith

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