And, because of the life that I shared with these two amazing women [her mother and maternal grandmother] and the hardships and struggles that I saw them overcome, I learned an invaluable lesson, and that is that women can do anything we set our minds to... and then some!

Gloria Estefan

Motherhood is... difficult and... rewarding.

Gloria Estefan

mothers-day motherhood inspiring

We must feel the pain before the pleasure, only then can we tell them apart.

Gloria Estefan

pleasure sadness pain

You can put things off until tomorrow but tomorrow may never come.

Gloria Estefan

tomorrow-may-never-come tomorrow may

Whatever it is your heart desires, please go for it, it's yours to have.

Gloria Estefan

calming desire heart

You've got to believe. Never be afraid to dream.

Gloria Estefan

dream believe

It's not so much for me where you come from, who you are, what race you are. We're just human beings that are still a work in progress and there's a lot that we've got to overcome, so that we can all be equal.

Gloria Estefan

progress race overcoming

The most beautiful thing about music is that it transcends most anything.

Gloria Estefan

beautiful-things music-is beautiful

You never know what life has in store for you, but I believe there are certain things one is meant to go through

Gloria Estefan

stores certain believe

Everything that an artist does is a risk. Some people want you to stay the same. If you want to evolve, they want to keep you in a certain place.

Gloria Estefan

risk artist people

I'd like them to see that those things that set us apart or make us different can be wonderful contributions to the world around us. I'd like them to see that size and color are irrelevant to the dreams we envision for ourselves. And I'd also love for them to see that life is a journey, and every step of the way, we can learn something and become stronger and wiser.

Gloria Estefan

color journey dream

I think we should all live the moment. But you also have to think ahead. You have to think, 'Am I going to be happy with this five, ten years from now? Is it going to let me evolve and grow, or am I going to grow to one day wish I had never done it?' Sometimes you just have to think a little bit ahead.

Gloria Estefan

live-in-the-moment years thinking

You don't have to give up who you are to be successful just because you're different.

Gloria Estefan

giving-up different successful

I'm very comfortable in my own skin now. I started just being myself more and more. For women, this happens as you get older. I loved my 40s - I thought they were fantastic. And I'm loving my 50s. I'm going to love everything because you're either older or dead!

Gloria Estefan

being-myself just-being skins

The separation of families to me is very close to my heart because we lived that as immigrants. I strongly feel that we all connected, and having felt people's love and support first-hand through difficult moments in my life, makes me feel it's our responsibility to help one another. I am privileged to help in some way, and I will always take that opportunity.

Gloria Estefan

responsibility heart opportunity

My favorite process is writing, from day one. The songs I have written throughout the years were a real great opportunity for me to communicate, because I think tha'ts my prime objective on this planet.

Gloria Estefan

real writing song

You want your fans to like what you do, because it's coming from your heart and soul. You write it, you produce this thing. It's like your baby.

Gloria Estefan

heart writing baby

All I tell artists is, 'Do what you love. Never let anybody talk you into changing what your musical idea is just to try to get a hit, because you're chasing your tail that way. It's not going to happen, and if you're successful, you have to do it the rest of your life. Stay true to it and do it for the sake of the art.'

Gloria Estefan

successful ideas art

For I've finally realized that I could be infinitely better than before, definitely stronger. I'll face whatever comes my way, I'll savor each moment of the day, love as many people as I can along the way. Help someone who's given up, even if it's just to raise my eyes and pray.

Gloria Estefan

stronger eye people

I wanted to talk to very young kids about self-image and about being different and how that can be your strength, especially from the immigrant perspective.

Gloria Estefan

perspective self kids

I majored in Psychology in college. I was going to be a child psychologist.

Gloria Estefan

psychology college children