Guillermo del Toro’s fascination with the beauty within the grotesque mirrors, is a realization I had during a time as a social volunteer. In 2023, I embarked on an experience that would change my perspective entirely: teaching a WhatsApp course to a foundation supporting individuals with cerebral palsy in Barcelona. While I initially perceived myself as the instructor, I quickly realized that I was the one being taught a far greater lesson.
I had been preoccupied with minor inconveniences in my life; yet, when confronted with this audience and their daily struggles, I came to see how little I had actually been fighting. Notwithstanding my initial assumptions about volunteer work, I discovered that true commitment to a cause is not merely an act of charity but a profound shift in one’s core values. It was at this moment that my true engagement with volunteering took root.
To watch society shine its brightest lights on celebrities, who often attain their status without significant struggle, is to witness a fundamental imbalance. We dedicate endless hours to following the lives of the rich and famous—whom they marry, what they wear, where they travel—yet those who battle in the shadows remain unseen. With that being said, it is not that popular figures do not deserve admiration, but rather that there exists an undeniable disparity in where we choose to place our collective attention.
Guillermo del Toro crafts fables that urge us to embrace the ‘otherness’ within us all. Similarly, my experience in volunteering opened my eyes to a deeper truth: the most significant impact comes from illuminating those whom society has cast into the darkness. The true measure of worth is not in wealth or status but in resilience and authenticity. Having said that, I now understand that life’s purpose is not to bask in artificial light but to shine it where it has been unjustly withheld.
Yet, those who tirelessly comment on the latest trends, the most glamorous figures, and the ephemeral world of fame should take a step back. I invite them to experience what I did as a WhatsApp instructor for individuals with cerebral palsy—perhaps then, they will clearly see where the light should truly be directed.
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@Yolanda Muriel 
yolandamuriel.com 