Meet Leticia Sánchez Garris, a dear friend, founder of @afrohunting, and talented photographer creating captivating visuals spanning photojournalism, travel, and fashion and hear their perspective on life, mindful living, and personal style.
What about your profession lights you up?
I recently quit my 11-year job in tourism, and now I dedicate myself entirely to my project @afrohunting and photography/film. Photography and film are things I did as a hobby for many years, and now it is the only thing that I want to do.
Where do you find inspiration?
My inspiration comes from my reality. There's a quote I wrote on my mood board when I moved to Argentina in 2010: “Inspiration must find you working” from Picasso. To me, “working,” means working on what I know is good for me. Waking up early, meditating, going to the park with my dog, and having a big breakfast fuels me. When I have all that covered, I’m 99% inspired most of the time.
What interests are a large part of your identity?
I feel very lucky and blessed that the little pleasures in life make me happy. Like I said before, waking up early, a good cup of coffee, reading in my hammock, taking care of my plants, and playing dominos with my friends are all simple but very precious things to me and are a large part of my identity.
Where can we find you on the weekend?
If I am in Buenos Aires, I am probably at some Coffee shop or in the park with my dog. If I’m in Nigeria, I’m most likely hiking around the neighborhood or playing dominoes outside.
I always have music on. I smoke some weed, maybe I cook something nice, have something to drink, and I just try to go offline. I forget about my phone and computer for a while and go back to reading, dancing, talking with B, or just falling asleep while he watches something.
What slow moments do you savor the most?
My favorite slow moment is when I’m reading a book in my hammock. If I get to do that at least once a week, my lifestyle is in balance.
What moments bring you the most joy?
It has to be traveling. I was fortunate to travel for work for a long time. That gave me the ability to go places I would have never imagined when I was a kid. It is amazing to experience a different environment and add another scene to the movie of your life.
What does conscious living look like to you?
To me, it means turning off autopilot. We all turn it on from time to time. I choose not to judge myself for doing it and turn it off when I notice it’s on. Instead, I choose to be present, forgetting about past attachments and stopping the humming in my mind that is thinking about the future.
What steps do you take to show up authentically?
Getting older! Time can bring many amazing things to women. I think we have to start embracing getting old. Getting old means getting wiser, having experience, and living!
Do you have any rituals to keep your mind clear?
My habits are my rituals. I need them in my life. Every day I wake up early, meditate, go outside with my dog, have a big breakfast. Every Monday, I make a to-do list for the week. I take time to sit down and visualize what I want to achieve in the week. Some weeks I can get them all done, some weeks I can’t, and that is okay.
What does consuming thoughtfully mean to you?
To avoid buying things I don’t need, my mantra is to ask myself these questions:
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Do I LOVE IT, or just like it?
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Can I find this anywhere else, or is it unique?
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Do I need this now?
How did you learn to dress for yourself?
Fashion has always been a part of my family. I was born and raised in DR, and when I was a kid, my parents went to “Nueva York” from time to time. My sister and I always waited for them to come back home with some killer shoes and clothing for us. Most of the time, they bought us the same stuff in different colors or patterns, and we had to be creative to look different from each other.
What are you wearing when you feel the most like yourself?
Probably loose pants, a loose shirt, a kaftan, or a dress with pockets. Sandals are a necessity as a Caribbean gal. Accessories for sure! When I was a kid, my mom called me “Barajita”, the name of an urban legend in Santo Domingo. An old lady who wore a plethora of rings, bangles, bracelets, necklaces, headwraps, and sunglasses. I love wearing all that!