It starts, as many great love stories do, with a hot plate of croquetas. Miami wasn’t just where I grew up—it was the place that made me. The sultry city of palm trees, pastel sunsets, and humidity so thick it fogs up your glasses before you’ve finished saying "qué calor" has shaped the way I approach love, life, and everything in between. For better or worse, it’s given me perspective on relationships, culture, and the art of salsa dancing (both on a dance floor and in real life).

You see, Miami isn’t the kind of city that speaks to you gently. It yells in Spanglish, hands waving, telling you to hurry up and grab your cafecito before it gets cold. It’s bold, brash, and unapologetically itself—and honestly, I have to credit it for giving me a crash course in modern-day relationships. If cities could leave you voicenotes, Miami’s would say, “Mira, chico, life is too short to play it safe. Feel everything, pero don’t take yourself too seriously.”

So let’s talk about what growing up in this vibrant, chaotic city taught me about connection, commitment, and finding my rhythm (still working on that last one, by the way).

Lesson One: Love is Loud—Embrace It

Miami taught me early on that love here isn’t subtle. It’s not whispered through a too-cool-to-care text; it’s screamed into the night sky at Calle Ocho, wearing your heart on your sleeve and possibly a guayabera. My grandparents were the perfect example. My abuelo once serenaded my abuela with a Spanish guitar song from our living room couch. Abuela was trying to watch her telenovela, and she still swooned.

In Miami, you learn quickly that passion fuels connection. Whether it’s arguing over who makes the best arroz con pollo or kissing like you’re auditioning for a Univision drama, love is meant to be felt, heard, and seen. It’s messy, real, and sometimes dramatic—but hey, that’s what keeps it interesting.

Takeaway? If you’re showing up to relationships meh, you’re doing it wrong. Whether you’re in a tiny Miami studio apartment with zero AC or out salsa-ing at Hoy Como Ayer, love thrives on showing you care with 110% energy.

Lesson Two: Chemistry Isn’t Enough—But It’s a Start

Every major city has its "Where are we going with this?" dilemma, but in Miami, it feels like an art form. People here are firecrackers—attractive, buzzing with ideas, and very good at texting you things like te extraño when you both know they've been at LIV until 4 a.m. Chemistry? Everywhere. Compatibility? That’s the trick.

Growing up, I watched a lot of Miami relationships fizzle between people who couldn't quite translate the heat into substance. I’d sit in Versailles with family friends, eavesdropping as someone’s tía dramatically declared their sobrino’s girlfriend was “only in it for the green card,” or hear my cousins sigh over second dates that went from flirty to messy faster than you could say “mojito.” Does sheer passion get you in the door? Sure, but my city also taught me to spot whether there’s sustenance, not just spark.

Translation: Look for people who balance your fuego. The new fluttery feeling in your chest is fun, but lasting connections are built in quieter moments, too—like splitting a pastelito at 2 a.m. or sorting out your Uber after a concert in Bayfront Park.

Lesson Three: Family is the Third Wheel (And That’s Okay)

Let me be real with you: in Miami, family isn’t just family—it’s an institution. Growing up in a tight-knit Cuban household, my relatives were involved in my life the same way the weather was. Which is to say: consistently and predictably overwhelming. My first real date in high school ended with me walking back through the house and being ambushed by my grandmother asking if my date “had good values.” I hadn’t even figured out if he liked reggaeton.

You know what, though? That kind of connection—generational, inescapable, love-you-to-pieces connection—has a way of grounding you. For all the jokes I cracked in my angsty early twenties, my family gave me a north star. Above all, Miami taught me this: knowing where you come from adds so much depth to where you want to go. Whether that’s a lifelong partnership or a casual situationship so good it deserves a soundtrack, it all feels richer when you have a sense of your roots.

So, to all the would-be romantics, let your family in. No, you don’t have to let your mom actually join your Friday date nights, but trust me—having that layer of love and history in your life has a way of teaching you exactly what kind of relationships to build, break apart, or hold onto.

Lesson Four: Dance Like Nobody’s Judging (But They Probably Are)

I once went to Cuba Ocho Café on a first date, only to realize halfway through the night that my date hated dancing. I tried teaching them basic salsa moves on the spot, palms sweaty, practically apologizing for my limited rhythms (yes, sue me, I’m not THAT Cuban). Meanwhile, the abuelas on the floor were dancing literal circles around us, not caring that their partners had two left feet.

The moral? Romance, like dancing, is messy and imperfect, but the joy is in showing up anyway. My city humbles and empowers you all at once—forcing you to confront your flaws in one moment and laughing about how comically dateable Bad Bunny is in the next. It challenges you to put yourself out there, dive into life’s rhythm, and own every misstep along the way.

And honestly, isn’t that what life—and love—is all about?

Final Take: Wherever You’re From, Let “Home” Guide the Way

Miami is a city, a character, and a teacher all rolled into one mojito-soaked package. It taught me to straddle worlds: to embrace tradition when I could and remix it when I had to. To let passion and persistence guide me in love, even when I was bumbling through it like a novice bachata dancer. The lessons of where you’re from? They live in your bones, shaping who you are, who you love, and the future you’re bold enough to build.

So wherever you’re sitting right now—whether it’s the big city, a small town, or somewhere else entirely—channel what your history gave you. Use that energy to lean into your own relationships, and let a little “Miami magic” guide you. Because whoever you’re with on this crazy journey? They deserve a little fire.