Meet Gina Fuentes

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gina Fuentes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Gina, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Growing up a devout Catholic, I basically learned that our purpose is to “love your neighbor as yourself,” but when you’re a kid, that kind of doesn’t register. You just live your own little selfish kid like and then when it was time to go to confession, you tried to remember mean things you did so you could do some rosaries and Our Fathers and be absolved. Fast-forward to . . . maybe late last year (2024) or early this year and I came across a TED Talk given by Emily Esfahani Smith. She talked about meaning versus happiness in life. She explained (more eloquently and thoroughly than I can do justice here) that happiness is more about one experiencing pleasure, whereas meaning comes from being in relationship with other people. Maybe I’m late to the game, but that was an eye-opener. I mean “the pursuit of happiness” is in the Declaration of Independence, right? And even in the Metta meditation, which I use to structure my regular meditations, ends with “May you be happy.” (So I just change it to “May you find meaning in your life.”) (By the way, somewhere along the way I saw an article or heard a story about how gratitude and fun can bring happiness. For me, as Father Bertolucci told us in youth group, “have the attitude of gratitude,” which I try to practice. Gratitude elevates one’s spirit and makes you smile and take your eyes off your own damn self. Relatedly, Emily Esfahani Smith also mentioned that giving to others helps with meaning and I would add that it can help you if you are depressed.) Given all that, I would say that my purpose is to serve others and communicate with loving-kindness and forgiveness, grace, mercy, awe, splendor, wonder, etc. It, to me, would make the world a better place.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Well, let’s see. I’ve always been a learner, interested in learning new skills or honing skills I have already. I try to glean the good from whatever source. I try to use my skills, knowledge, and talents for the good, to help turn sorrow to dancing, wherever I encounter it. I practice “the attitude of gratitude” (Fr. Bertolucci from youth group). I am so grateful that I have the energy and interest I do a lot of things, some mundane, some exciting, but all meaningful (even cleaning the litterboxes!!). I am grateful for all the love and support in my life, including my therapist, who practices relational life therapy. Nathan is the best. I wrote a song about him (in progress). I use what I learn from him and from some important books (“Setting Boundaries that Stick,” “Us,” and “The Tears of Things”). I harness my knowledge, gratitude, experiences, passion for justice to write songs. This has been my best hobby ever (and I have had many). In 2020, at age 56, my friend got me jogging again. Long story short: I was so grateful for that, not having jogged for years previously, that a song just came up. A simple song in “silly” Spanish, nylon string guitar, humble harmonica. Less than 2 minutes. I was shocked. It just happened. But I was so happy that I shared it with a musician friend and asked him to “do something with it” and “put it in 3/4 time.” Well, he created a masterpiece (“Carmencitota” by G et al., my artist name–because I collaborate with extraordinary musicians). And then hooks just started coming up out of nowhere, all easy chords and all songs inspired by my strong feelings about something, whether happiness or anger or sadness. Not imaginative, but heartfelt. They span many genres. Without so much support (skilled musician friends (and some hired musicians), local artists to make the covers, and random friends to sing), I could not release my songs. My guitarist friend Allan Gill encourage me to keep creating. I want people to enjoy the music and the lyrics, as entertainment but also maybe glean a good message, making connections with people. It’s what life is about. It’s not “cool” music. I like to say I provide “Hodge-Podge Tunes for All.” But I love this newfound passion and I think others might like some songs. There are so many brilliant visual and music artists in Austin. I am ever grateful for support, friendships, meaningful connections. I have what might be my favorite song of mine on the brink of release. I think it will be very accessible to lots of people. Look out for “Is It Cheatin’?” Coming soon to a streaming service near you. (More info is on my bandcamp webpage, getal.bandcamp.com)

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Courage: Put yourself out there, scary as that may be and even though you feel ill-prepared and incompetent. Take the risk.
2. Learn from your mistakes: Focus on the knowledge you gleaned from the experience where the outcome was not what you wanted.
3. Try again: Do what you must to “recover” from what you consider a setback (but really is a “teaching moment”) and proceed based on that new knowledge.

You will benefit from support from friends, family, like-minded people/community, your therapist (if they are good–mine is the best one ever, Nathan) and be self-aware and open to feedback. Always learn and strive to improve. Believe in yourself. Don’t compare yourself to other people. Establish good boundaries. Respond; don’t react. Speak with kindness and respect, while taking care of yourself.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

If I had just one decade to live, I would be super sad, but I would try to not despair or get depressed. Rather, I would take life by the horns. I would continue to pursue my journey towards a meaningful life, which, for me, means treating people with loving-kindness. (I wrote a song about the Metta meditation, in progress.) I will do this by working on the way I take care of myself and the way I interact with others. I would definitely try to incorporate what I learn into my songs. I would continue to cultivate the meaningful relationships in my life and have positive connections with everyone I come into contact with, whether a clerk at a random store or a neighbor I encounter when I am walking my 5-lb chihuahua, Evie. I would do the best I can to repair the relationships with my wife and others in which I have caused damage, even if unintentionally. That’s the most important thing. I would meditate every day, glean the good messages from whatever sources, even if my friends refuse to take any good from someone they disagree with or want to knee-jerk cancel. I would do my best to accept people as they are, appreciate them as they are, meet them where they are, and love them as they are. Myself included. Some of my resources, besides Nathan, are the works (books, TED talks, lectures on YouTube) of Karen Armstrong, Richard Rohr, Emily Esfahani Smith, some parts of the Bible, and others. I love tapping into my sources that can help change my life for the better so I can better serve/connect/be kind to (which is different from being nice) others and help their lives have meaning (as opposed to them being just happy).

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @gisforgratitude
• Facebook: G et al. Music
• Twitter: @gisforgratitude
• Youtube: G et al. Music
• Soundcloud: G et al.
• Other: Bandcamp: getal.bandcamp.com
  Apple: G et al.
  Spotify: G et al.
  I want to make a BlueSky account and possibly a TikTok account (but it seems scary, what with all the haters out there. I don’t seek fame. I just want my music to get out there.
  Example of a song I wrote out of appreciation (for our grocery store, H-E-B): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfGZTz6MmPI (turn your captions on to sing along)

Image Credits

“Carmencitota” and “The Ballad of Buster” covers by Julia Austin