Miriam Valdez: "Your Reality is Not Your Destiny" The Life and Heart of a Successful Businesswoman.
Miriam Valdez was only five years old when her mother, Lucía Rivera, made the bravest decision of her life. It was a November morning in 1986 in the village of Cuerámbaro, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, when "Chía"—as her loved ones call her—mother of six, with two already living in California, took her four younger children and led them into the mountains under the cover of darkness to escape her abuser. The family had no idea what awaited them, but at that moment, the fear of the unknown was less terrifying than staying under the control of her oppressive husband, who had threatened her life.
For Miriam, the youngest of the six siblings, that journey into the unknown was her first major step into a harsh and challenging world. For years, they lived from house to house, moving frequently to stay safe, but each new stage brought more difficulties. Poverty was extreme, food was scarce, and the places they took refuge in could hardly be called homes. They adapted to every shelter they could find from an unfinished, abandoned house to a room made of tin with a dirt floor and communal bathrooms. Their safety often relied on their small dog, who slept tied to the door to alert them of any danger.
A dreamer's spirit
Miriam was a curious, creative, and dreamy child, with a vivid imagination that flourished despite the bleakness of her reality. Chía worked tirelessly to keep her family safe, taking jobs as a domestic worker and leaving her children alone for long hours. Miriam was cared for by her older siblings but often sneaked away to one of her favorite places, the municipal dump, a place where others saw trash but where she saw a land full of “treasures” to explore.
“When I let insecurities take hold, when my reality blocks me, I invoke that little girl and go back to that place where I had nothing but wanted everything, where I had nothing, yet in my manifestation, I already had it all.”
With enthusiasm, Miriam sifted through piles of waste, finding candy and other items to spark her creativity and make her own toys. One day, among the treasures waiting for her in that unusual place, she found what seemed like a notebook with a soft leather cover (a checkbook with used checks and one blank one). In that bleak environment, she would close her eyes and imagine herself signing checks and handing out money everywhere. For years, she played with that checkbook and envisioned herself changing lives as if that simple object held the promise of a different future.
“Without knowing what manifestation was, at that moment I was already manifesting my life; that little girl already knew what she would become,” Miriam shared.
Chía returned every night exhausted but never gave up. To her children, she was a silent heroine, a strong woman who had left everything behind in search of a better future.
A life-changing shift
After five years of continuous struggle, the family had the opportunity to migrate to the United States, thanks to the support of the oldest brother. The journey was arduous, and Miriam unknowingly crossed the border illegally. Arriving in Virginia on December 24, 1991, her mother’s dream began to take shape. Though they still faced challenges, the family had left behind hunger and the constant threat of fleeing.
Over the years, Miriam grew into a determined woman, inspired by her mother's courage. Her life veered toward success, and at 22, along with her sister and a friend, she founded a company that achieved unimaginable success. However, she was not credited for this achievement due to her immigration status, a fact that marked her and fueled her resolve to one day create her own company.
This sentiment pushed her to make several decisions that would change the course of her life. One of them was volunteering for "Mexicanos sin fronteras," a nonprofit organization that fought to prevent the implementation of an anti-immigrant resolution that would affect thousands of residents. For years, Miriam devoted her time, resources, and knowledge to this movement, where she met two people she calls the angels of her life: Nancy Lyall and Larry Bell, thanks to whom, 21 years after arriving in the U.S., she obtained her American citizenship, enabling her to achieve all her dreams.
Since 2005, she has been a volunteer with the Woodbridge Workers Committee, an extension of Mexicanos sin fronteras that helps provide food, clothing, rent assistance, and immigration support to immigrants and vulnerable individuals in Prince William County.
Just three months after adjusting her immigration status, Miriam founded her company, United Title & Escrow LLC (UT&E), as the sole owner. This real estate closing company, licensed in Virginia and Maryland, now serves as a platform for motivating and inspiring professional talent. Day after day, she signs checks like those she dreamed of in her childhood, but now she does so in reality, touching and improving lives and turning UT&E into one of the most successful real estate firms in the area.
Her family, her Greatest priority
Miriam is the mother of two adult children, whom she affectionately calls Mirin and Nonon. Her pride as a mother is evident when she speaks of them: “My children taught me true and unconditional love. Being their mother has been my greatest blessing and privilege. They not only taught me how to be a mom but also a better daughter. My children know my whole story and that of their grandmother. My goal is to leave them a legacy that honors Chía’s efforts and makes them feel as proud of me as I am of her,” Miriam shares.
“Our reality is not our destiny.”
Miriam considers herself a professional manifester.
For everyone: “I want to be a Chía, a Nancy, a Larry! An angel, a beacon of light, hope, and motivation for anyone in need.”
For myself and my family: “I’ll be a doting ‘Glam-Ma’ to my grandchildren. I see myself retired in a place where I wake up to the sound of ocean waves. That’s where I’ll start nurturing the creative side that led me to dream freely as a child.”
Professionally: “I will grow my business organically, ensuring my team develops until they no longer need me to lead the company.”
For Miriam, those memories at the dump are proof that even the most improbable dreams can come true. The little girl who once dreamed big has become a woman who inspires and continues to move forward, honoring the strength and sacrifice of her mother, that brave woman who gave up everything to give her and her siblings the chance to dream and achieve.
“When your heart moves you to give, you’ll be amazed at how full your heart becomes”