Esmeralda Baez was prompted to pen her debut book, Reset & Reboot: Regarding Mindfulness, after battling a serious illness that took an emotional toll on her. She hopes the book will help readers improve their mental, spiritual and physical health.
What inspired you to write this book?
It’s four years in the making, and I started writing right after I had a stroke back in 2017. Because of that situation, I was in a very vulnerable place and I didn’t really know what to do with my life. Then, a few years later COVID happened. We were all in a place where we had a lot of time on our hands so I thought it was a perfect time for me to go back and start writing. This time around, I started writing from a different perspective. In a sense, when I started writing the book in 2017, you can see a lot of confusion, loss and anger. Then it turned into this beautiful, uplifting, powerful, motivational book, and I love it. During the pandemic, I was in a different state of mind. I was more appreciative, grateful and humble.
What does it mean for someone to reset and reboot?
I look at human beings as computers. What happens to a computer when you leave it on for six months? The battery eventually is going to burn out. The same thing happens to our bodies. We need to reset and reboot, not just the mental part, but also our bodies. I’m very big on my everyday routine … I come in and meditate, and that’s how I’m able to deal with overcoming anxiety and even depression, so I speak about that in the book. A part of resetting and rebooting is disciplining the mind, and doing things that are good for yourself spiritually, mentally, and physically.
What are three tips that you would give that person who wants to reset and reboot?
First, I would definitely say detox. Second, you need to set intentions. You need to create a plan of where you envision yourself in three years. The third thing is getting to know yourself, your real self. Embracing solitude is where we grow the most.
