The Day I Found My Purpose (in the Middle of a Cafecito Crisis)

The Cafecito Spill Heard ‘Round the World

Growing up in Hialeah, finding your purpose wasn’t exactly dinner-table talk. My family prioritized practical concerns: keeping the bakery running, making sure we always had plantains on hand, and surviving Miami’s eternal war on traffic. So, I wasn’t exactly walking around pondering the meaning of life, you know? I figured my purpose was something I’d stumble on accidentally—like finding a $20 bill in your jeans during laundry day. Spoiler alert: that’s exactly what happened to me... minus the $20, but stay with me here.

It all started with a cafecito spill. One wrong tilt of an espresso cup, and my shirt looked like it was auditioning to be the new Jackson Pollock exhibit. I was seventeen, working at my parents’ bakery, hustling croquetas like Hialeah’s answer to a Michelin-star fine dining waiter (in my head, anyway). But contrary to modern beverage accidents, this wasn’t some go-viral disaster that ended in free merch or TikTok fame. No, it was just me and my rojiblanco polo–soaked and embarrassed in the middle of the morning rush.

Mid-panic, I glanced up to find an older customer laughing. Not maliciously, but the kind of unfiltered laugh that seems to bubble up from the soul.

“You’re all dressed up for Nochebuena early!” she said between fits of giggles.

Something about that moment—the warmth in her tone, the genuine absurdity of everything happening around me—framed itself in my brain. For the next hour, she stayed at the counter sipping her coffee, telling me about her grandchildren. I chimed in with little quips, stories about my abuela sneaking me Cuban pastries after school, and even though the cafecito stain was still spreading, the conversation felt oddly... important.

What I didn’t realize then was that I had tapped into something pretty big: storytelling. Not just any storytelling—connecting with people through laughter, memories, and honesty. This would eventually become my life’s work, but in that moment? I still thought my purpose might just be making pastelitos without burning the bottoms.

Accidents: Life’s Most Relatable Moments

Fast-forward a decade and a half, and this idea still haunts me—in the best way possible. I often think about how the messiest, most unexpected accidents in life are usually what end up steering us toward who we really are. Think about it:

  • One “accidental” wrong turn might land you at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with the best tacos you’ve ever eaten (looking at you, Calle Ocho).
  • An awkward first date story (yes, the one with the “I thought karaoke was a fun idea” disaster) could become the anecdote you tell every anniversary.
  • Even a heartbreak could teach you that your playlist-making skills rival those of early 2000s DJs—an underappreciated art form, by the way.

Life has a funny way of being the ultimate wingman when it comes to unveiling your purpose. It’s usually during the times we feel most lost, clumsiest, or least prepared that clarity sneaks in, wearing dad sneakers and humming bad 80s music.

The cafecito moment made me realize how much I loved listening to stories and—more importantly—how much I loved creating space for others to share theirs. The older I got, the more I poured that love into my writing, carrying the voices of my family and community into everything I worked on.

How to (Accidentally) Discover Your Purpose

Listen, not everyone’s life-changing moment involves coffee stains or strangers’ life advice. (Although, honestly, wouldn’t it be great if it did?) Still, if you’re looking for some clues about your own purpose, here are a few things I’ve learned:

  1. Pay Attention to Joyful Distractions: You know those conversations or activities that stop time, just for a moment? Lean into those. Maybe it’s cooking for friends or cracking jokes at parties—the stuff that feels effortless but fills you up. That’s where your inner compass points.

  2. Your Purpose Might Look Messy at First (That’s Okay): I thought my calling was limited to fiction writing for the longest time. Turns out it stretched to mentoring kids, advocating for literacy, and teaching strangers how to pronounce “guava” correctly at author signings. Don’t box yourself too early—the process is meant to evolve.

  3. Follow the Threads of Curiosity: Ask yourself why certain things light a fire under you. Are you obsessed with plants because they’re beautiful, or because you like the idea of nurturing something? Are you secretly hyped about ‘90s R&B because it reminds you of summer breaks when life was simple? The “why” reveals what matters most—and your purpose likely lives there.

  4. Embrace the Ugly Side of Growth: Curveballs are the best—once you pick yourself up, of course. My cafecito crisis didn’t feel life-affirming when I was scrubbing my shirt in the back sink, but looking back, it gave me something to tell stories about for years (and keeps me humble whenever I get too proud of my barista skills).

Purpose Is Flirting with You Every Day

Here’s the thing about purpose: it often feels like an inside joke the universe is waiting for you to get. It’s there, flirting with you daily, smiling knowingly while you’re busy swiping Instagram or speed-walking between Target aisles. The problem is, we don’t always believe the small stuff matters because we’re hung up on some big, grand gesture.

But the truth? Life-changing moments usually show up in the form of spilled coffee, awkward pauses, or other delightful moments where you’re forced to laugh at yourself. It’s when we stop trying to make everything so perfect that those little sparks have the room to grow into something bigger.

The Takeaway

So, here’s my advice to you, mi amigo nuevo-on-the-internet: Don’t overthink it. Your purpose isn’t hiding in some unattainable peak. It’s in the everyday. It’s in how you light up when you talk about your favorite song, or that weird thing you do in the kitchen to “get the right mojo flavor” your mom taught you.

And if it’s messy, accidental, or inconvenient? Even better. Purposes, like flan, are built slowly and sometimes get a little cracked along the way. But the joy that comes from discovering it will always, always be worth the wait.

So spill the coffee (or the tea). Lean into the accidents. I promise—somewhere in that mess, you’ll find something magical.