Meet Abeni Moreno

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abeni Moreno.

Abeni, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started my journey very simply. As a young child, I kept a diary that fueled my daydreams and my incessant need to feel emotions so big they could fill the Earth. It was as though I started every sentence with, “I feel this…I feel that…” in regards to life, situations, family, love, school, etc. I never truly learned how to function in the world without separating my feelings from everyday occurrences. Everything had a significance or symbolic meaning to me. I couldn’t help it. Some people viewed this as a fault, I always saw it as a strength. But there was no arguing, I had to reflect on my inner sentiments to make sense of the world around me. So naturally, I began journaling, which led to poems and short stories. As I got older, I knew I had (and still have) a lot to learn about the world but maybe I could do so by creating a platform or narrative that will allow others to feel or self reflect as much as I needed to.

I believe there are many lessons in stories and personal narratives. I fell in love with connecting to people via interviews and writing. Making human connections through life experiences and creative storytelling is my passion. That is why writing became a therapeutic outlet for me as well as a tool to utilize my world perspective to create positive & social change. Over the years, it has allowed me to deconstruct age old norms and identities that affect my life. Hence, my venture in my first children’s book titled, “Dear Big Brother” that combats society’s stereotypes of Chicano masculinity as well as allowing accountability of emotions intertwined with gratitude for Latinx family dynamics. In addition, Conscious Radio is a podcast and my first passion project showcasing local artists and connecting their art to their lives. Currently, I am doing my best to pursue my passions and continuing to live life simply in my feelings.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Creatively, things have aligned themselves with me almost astonishingly. For example finding partners to co-create with was fairly easy. My illustrator (El Oms) and my Conscious Radio family fell into my lap like fallen angels. My children’s book (Dear Big Brother) and CR podcast have been well received overall and I can’t help but feel like my journey has just begun. Although, finding ways to support myself financially so that I may continue creative projects has been proven somewhat difficult in the past but I have always found a way push through. I’m sure many people can relate to that. I am grateful for all the support I have received from friends and family. They have really helped fuel my motivation to continue what I have started.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am an independent author and radio host. I aim to highlight personal narratives and overall human connection. I uniquely connect common things like: family, love, music to the complexity of identity and interpersonal emotion. I am most proud to be involved in surrounding communities and supporting other forms of art. If my stories and questions make you think twice or feel three times in comparison to your normalcy, I’ve done my job. I’ve connected us for a small moment in time and I live and breathe just that.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
When I think of luck, I think of free will and destiny. They are partners and often walk hand in hand. A common question I’ve heard in the past is: Do we control our destiny? Or does destiny control us? Personally, I have come to notice that our destiny cannot unfold if we are stagnant. You must utilize freewill in order for the future you are meant to have to come to fruition. For example: my bad luck happened mainly when I was stagnant, confused and didn’t take the time to really think about the type of life I wanted. I was unhappy at 25 years old, having worked various 9-5 jobs wondering when it was gonna get better for me. “When will my good luck happen?” – I thought. I had no idea I could create my own good luck by simply taking action: like quitting my job (when the time was right), reaching out to creators and submitting my work to fairs and festivals. Taking a leap of faith is the first step to good luck and reminding destiny “Hey I’m here, and I’m ready.”

Pricing:

• Dear Big Brother is sold on Blurb.com for $40. LA locals can contact me for cheaper prices.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.abenicr.com
• Email: Abimoreno629@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iztaluna/
• Other: https://www.blurb.com/b/9557063-dear-big-brother

Image Credit:
Photographer: Natalie Reynoso @nreynoso90 Instagram (Outside book photos), Photographer: Ricardo Javier @cardovier Intagram (library photos)

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