Guest Column: Paulina’s Playground – Living En Las Nubes

Welcome to the first guest column from Paulina For the People! – “Paulina’s Playground.”  

Her column promises to be part advice column, part storytelling, and “a whole lot of corazón — a go-to spot in the San Diego sandbox for laughs, local vibes, and some typical Paulina sass. It’s the perfect place to swing between life’s WTF moments, random topics, and shout-outs to San Diego’s movers, shakers, and party-makers. 

Let’s rewind—waaay back—to that classic question every kid gets asked: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Were you one of those kids who had your answer locked & loaded? Astronaut? Doctor? Lawyer? Or were you like me, torn between trying to fit into those “respectable” roles while knowing deep down they just weren’t your thang! BUT anything else was always brushed off as a pendejada. And creativity? Forget it! I didn’t even know if I was creative enough to claim it. People would say, “¡Te pasas, get your head out of the clouds! You’re such a Lil Dreamer!” (Yes, Lil Dreamer was my chola-wannabe name…and I always wondered why. HA!)

But here’s the thing: what if someone had told us back then that living “en las nubes” (or “in the clouds” could be the fuel for our futures? It would’ve saved me so much second-guessing. Looking back, I realize my creativity wasn’t a phase; it was literally the foundation for everything I do today.

Coordinating my senior trip to Cancun? That was my first taste of sales and promotions. Hosting house parties? Event planning, duh. Designing flyers for those parties? Advertising and marketing. Carrying a video camera everywhere? Filmmaking, obviously. And being friends with all the different social groups? Networking, no doubt! It turns out I’ve been building my career since I was a teenager—just with a paycheck now and way fewer Solo cups.

Now, fast forward to my 40s and I’m still wondering what I want to be “when I grow up.” But a recent run-in with a high school friend gave me that ah-ha moment. They pointed out I’ve basically been doing the same thing my whole life. Turns out, Holy Shit! I’m grown up now and I’m doing it…I just didn’t even realize it.

And you know what? Maybe it’s time we stop asking kids that question altogether. I used to think it was just a simple innocent question, but now I see how much pressure it creates. Instead of stressing kids out with the idea of becoming something, why not just embrace who they are? Let’s notice their qualities, celebrate what excites them, and help fuel those sparks into something amazing.

So what’s the takeaway here? Pay attention to what lights you up—and encourage the same for the people around you. Those little things you love, the stuff that comes naturally?

They’re not just pendejadas—they’re your purpose.

Whether it’s a career, a side hustle, or just something that makes you feel alive, those little things are your secret sauce.

So, stop playing it safe on the playground; swing a little higher, jump off the monkey bars, and chase what excites you!

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