"Geometry tells us that parallel lines never meet, but I’d like to argue that they can be bridged. My own life has taught me that," opened communications consultant and writer Valeria Palmertree on Friday, March 16. As she began her talk, Valeria encouraged the crowd of 75 listeners to consider how PARALLELS may surface in their own respective mediums of creative expression. Valeria has set the stage for her talk with her writing desk from home, adorned with her vintage typewriter, a small bud vase with fresh flowers and a selection of treasured books.
It should come as no surprise that an eloquent writer and storyteller can transfer her gifts from the page to public speaking, even regarding sensitive personal topics. Val, as her friends call her, understands the assignment at hand. She is one of the volunteer members of CreativeMornings VB who has worked for the past year to find engaging and appropriate speakers for every monthly theme. When Valeria expressed interest in being a speaker herself, CreativeMornings VB host, Kate Pittman, encouraged her to consider Parallel, as she had some insight into Val's recent health and motherhood experiences.
Upon reflection, Valeria creatively organized her talk into relatable reflections of how she has lived in a Parallel life experience since her family first immigrated to America from Argentina when she was just 8 years old. Settling in Miami Beach long before her neighborhood became known as “Little Buenos Aires," Valeria shared, the move was filled with both excitement and fear. Her family moved to a place with no known friends or family to offer support.
Valeria, a young, talkative girl who had always been the kid who excelled in reading and writing, suddenly felt voiceless with a new language and no friends. She couldn't read or write in English, yet, and spoke and dreamed in Spanish at home. Struggling to find her new identity in English, she faltered. Those first months of school were excruciatingly alienating, she said. Even her name became unintelligible as it was constantly mispronounced by kids at her school. With glistening eyes, Valeria held up a small red journal. "My sweet mom bought me a red, faux leather-bound journal, and she also encouraged me to write letters to my huge extended family back home. So, I did," said Valeria. She had once devoured books and also pretended to write them in her home country. Writing once again became her outlet and source of creativity throughout her life.
It was a pivotal moment in 4th grade, when Valeria's teacher, Ms. Sabrina Lowd, wrote in her notes: “You are a writer, Valeria!” It ignited a spark in Valeria, a newfound purpose and understanding of her identity-- she would immediately commit to a career as a writer.
In high school, Valeria was editor of the school’s literary magazine and of her senior yearbook. As the daughter of immigrant parents who did not graduate high school and could not speak English, Valeria knew she needed to create her own stable future by going to college. After researching career paths and looking for a stable income, Valeria pursued a public relations career by acquiring a degree at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications. She went on to receive a Master’s degree in Strategic Communications.
Building a career on unearthing, crafting and sharing others’ stories, Valeria went on to work at two of the largest PR agencies in the world. "While helping my clients share their stories, I have continued writing my own…" she said, "in the form of observations and reflection, mostly short essays, some of which I have consistently published on a blog and contributed to a few magazines. All of these years later, journaling continues to tether me." Writing has been a witness to her life, Valeria shared.
"Challenging and beautiful, joyful and sad, in writing them, my experiences have become stories, not scars," Valeria said. In 2013, while relocating with her Navy husband to Virginia Beach, her mother fell suddenly ill and in a tragic twist of fate, died just six days after Valeria and her husband settled into Virginia Beach to build their new life together. Two years later, her father passed shortly before she took her oath to become a U.S. Citizen. Neither of her parents was present, but Valeria knew they would be proud. "Grief and gratitude, I’ve learned, tend to co-exist more often than we realize," noted Valeria.
Transitioning to a slide she called HEARTBREAK & JOY, Valeria shared that in March 2023, she learned she was finally pregnant after two miscarriages. This newfound joy was tested at 10 weeks, she discovered she had triple-positive invasive ductal carcinoma… cancer. Valeria was not yet old enough for routine mammograms, had no family history and was not even a trimester into her pregnancy. In what was supposed to be the happiest chapter in her life, expecting a baby, Valeria underwent a lumpectomy and port placement that, while successful, led to being intubated, unconscious in the ICU for three days. When she woke up, she learned that while fighting for her life, the life within her kept going. Next up, she faced 16 total rounds of chemotherapy. "I wasn’t going to let cancer take something else away from me, so I wrote… to my unborn daughter," said Valeria.
Valeria had been keeping a journal since she'd learned she was pregnant… so she kept writing. She wrote about their chemo infusions together. She wrote about the love and support they received from family, friends and strangers. She wrote about how much empathy and joy live within the walls of an otherwise drab chemo lounge. She wrote about the care they both received from their doctors and nurses. Those terrifying months were also a lesson in duality, Valeria explained. Cancer, yes, and pregnancy, too. And why not? Accepting that both could be true was liberating for Valeria.
InOctober 2023, three days after her eighth round of chemo and six weeks ahead of her daughter's due date, Valeria and her husband welcomed their daughter: healthy and absolutely perfect. Newborn life, postpartum life and cancer treatment life… more parallels, more gratitude. Sure, Valeria wished her experience would’ve been different, she said. But she gave herself permission to cherish it: the good, the bad, the in-between. In 2024, a year prior to this talk, Valeria rang the bell on 30 rounds of radiation and in September, Valeria officially completed all of her active cancer treatment, finishing 12 rounds of immunotherapy. "Anyone who knows anything about survivorship knows that while someone beats cancer, they never quite escape it… the battle is never ‘over’ per se, but it does feel conquered – and that’s something I’m so, so grateful for," said Valeria.
Closing her talk with LESSONS IN DUALITY, Valeria said, "I now believe more than ever that two things can be true at the same time. Our lives are made up of contradictions – joy and grief, heartbreak and gratitude, and so on… My parallel experiences have taught me so much about myself. I appreciate myself so much more deeply than I ever have. I give my spirit and my body way more grace than I once thought I could muster. I look at my scars with pride. I cherish my people. I am more certain than ever about what matters. I trust my intuition. I protect my energy."
2025 has felt like a rebirth for Valeria, who has written and shared her story publicly now for the first time. As she ended her talk, she encouraged listeners to consider how we are all living parallel stories… and how those stories also run parallel to our creative practice. Valeria said, "I call those our bridges. I encourage you to find the bridge(s) that connect your parallel journeys. How do those bridges connect with others whose journeys are also running parallel to yours?"
Following her talk, Valeria was asked questions regarding her writing practice and challenges when facing an empty page. Valeria encouraged others to start with simple observations of wherever they are when writing, as icebreakers to tap into the flow of writing. After the short Q&A, all 75 guests posed with Valeria for a group photo (seen here) and more time asking more personal questions one-on-one.
Join us monthly, every third Friday at The Garage VB in the ViBe Creative District to connect with your local creative community! Submitted by host Kate Pittman.
