Overview

Lina's story is proof that the human spirit can rally from anything. From surviving cartel-era violence to rebuilding herself through heartbreak, loss, and raw self-honesty, Christmas Cactus shows what real resilience looks like. Her writing has muscle, memory, and meaning. You don't just read these chapters-you feel them. --Greg Morley, cultural competence expert, author of Bond and Rally In this fierce, funny, and breathtakingly honest memoir, Lina Clavijo traces the roots of her resilience across continents, generations, and the emotional fault lines that shape every family. A sweeping, intimate portrait of a woman reclaiming her story, Christmas Cactus is a celebration of resilience and a guide for anyone seeking illuminated healing. Anchored by a towering cactus in her grandmother's courtyard, a symbol of survival, beauty, and inheritance, Christmas Cactus reveals how eccentric family lore, cultural identity, and long-buried wounds intertwine to form the emotional DNA we carry. From her childhood bond with a larger-than-life grandmother, to cross-country train rides through the Andean cordillera, to shoveling horse stalls in rural Georgia, Lina's story moves with vivid clarity. She confronts the aftershocks of her country's most violent era, finds unexpected beauty in women's communities 3,000 miles from home, and faces the unraveling of a fifteen-year marriage with honesty and grace. Lina shows that healing is not a destination but a practice-a way of living, loving, and rising again.

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9798994261019

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Reviews

""What moved me most about Christmas Cactus is how Lina refuses to let the world define her. Not the chaos of family expectations, not trauma. From her mornings with Mamanena to the raw honesty of meeting herself in a psych ward, she shows us what happens when a woman claims her identity on her own terms. This book is a triumph of self-worth."" --Amber Brookman, former CEO of Brookwood Companies, and author of Nobody's Girl ""Lina writes with the fire, humor, and fierce tenderness of someone who has lived every line she shares. Her stories show how culture isn't something you inherit. It's what you excavate, reclaim, and ultimately transform within."" --Alan Way, Executive Director, Private Clients, LOUIS XIII Americas, Remy Cointreau Group ""Whether she's describing a ten-foot cactus glowing with Christmas lights or witnessing a killing only steps away, her storytelling never sensationalizes, never wavers from the truth in a mesmerizing way. Christmas Cactus is a powerful work of lived journalism!"" --Claudia Cataldi, president, Brazilian Press Association of Electronic and Digital Media-RJ, alumni, Brazilian War College ""This memoir is a true testament to resilience and truth-telling. With unflinching honesty and lyrical grace, Lina Clavijo invites us into her transformational journey not just to witness her struggles, but also, to celebrate the strength and beauty that has emerged from them. Her vulnerability and courage shine through every page, reminding us that even in our most difficult seasons, there is beauty, resilience, and hope, and that healing is always possible. This book touched my heart and will stay with me for a long time!"" --Jenna D'Annunzio, MS, CPC holistic business, mindset and success coach ""Christmas Cactus will make you want to light your own tree year-round. Lina moves from sugar mangoes in the market to the terror of Narco Era Colombia with the kind of emotional courage that takes your breath away."" --Sona Jepsen, author of Pink Dragon: Breathe Fire Into Your Life and Leadership ""As a memoir writer myself, I know what it means to take the fire of your heart, to take the experiences that you have lived, and now live in your blood and bones, and share them word by word in the hope that somebody else is able to learn a lesson you are so thankful you learned in this life. That is exactly what Lina has done with her memoir, Christmas Cactus. Meet Lina on the page and meet your heart."" --Debra Driscoll, author and spiritual teacher, founder of The BeHER Collective ""Lina writes with the conviction of a woman who has lived many lives and the generosity of someone willing to share every lesson. Her reflections, from the Swiss sisterhood that helped her rise, to the healing silence of a Catskills retreat, remind us that empowerment is both an inner practice and a global conversation."" --Angelique Khalifa, Ph.D., toxicologist and author of Harvesting Hope: One Girl's Journey from a Rwandan Farm to Global Science

Author Information

Lina Clavijo is a Colombia-born global citizen, seasoned marketer, corporate-communications professional, and cultural storyteller. She leverages her personal experiences and corporate background to explore deeper themes of identity, culture, and ancestral healing. CHRISTMAS CACTUS is her debut book as a storyteller and healing advocate.

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