We've all heard the classic, "Life isn't always easy" schpeel. We've heard our loved ones tell us "You're just having a bad day" or that "Things will get better."

Whenever I'm having one of those days that "will get better" there is always one thought permanently settled in the back of my mind: "I have a Peruvian tamale waiting for me in my freezer."

My best friend's mother, whom I consider to be a mother to me as well, makes the absolute BEST Peruvian tamales. These tamales I hold close to my heart and store deep in my freezer. Every time I have a long day filled with athletic workouts, volleyball practices, college classes, college drama, and the works; I can look forward to eating that sweet homemade Peruvian tamale at the end of the day.

This tamale not only reminds me of my Hispanic heritage but allows for my worries to disappear. Once I bite into that soft and warm cheese-filled corn flour, things really seem to "get better." My stress continues to linger and my burdens do not diminish completely, however, the tamale served as a reminder to be positive. Instead of relishing over everything that seems to be going wrong in my life, the tamale allows me to acknowledge everything that is going right.

Every time I eat a tamale, dance to a Latin beat, or do anything else that reminds me of my Hispanic culture, I instantly obtain a glimpse of that silver lining. Whether I received a poor grade on that test I studied so much for, lost that match I felt destined to win, or anything else I struggled to cope with that week, these reminders of my family's background help me see that obscure "light at the end of the tunnel."

When I think about my ethnicity, I think about my family and loved ones. I think about the way my mother squeezes me in her comforting arms while saying, "Te quiero, mi hijita," every time I come home from college. I think about the way my father screams at the TV in Spanish every time one of his favorite professional golfers misses his putt. I think about the warm array of rice, beans, chicken, and plantains laid out for me during every evening meal. I think about the family parties we spend dancing and singing to every Romeo Santos song we can remember the lyrics to. I think about fighting with my siblings over finishing the homemade guacamole without saving them some. I think about hanging out with my close friends and spending time with all the people in my life that make me happy.

So if I have a bad day where I am wallowing in self-pity, all I need to do is eat that tamale. That tamale will remind me of my family and friends that support me and will always be there for me whenever I need them. When I'm having that day that just "isn't easy," I think about how blessed I am to have them all in my life. I am so blessed to have my loved ones along with the beautiful Hispanic culture my family graced me with. This culture shapes who I am today and gives me the strength to look on that cliched bright side.

On those days where I feel like I am losing myself, I can look at that tamale and come to a realization. I can come to realize that the lessons I've learned from being a Latina and from being surrounded by people who constantly support me, will grant me the strength to get me through those bad days. When everything in my life feels like it is falling apart, I can rely on that tamale for a bite of sheer optimism that is made with love and wrapped in a steamed corn husk.