Emma Rosa Ugarelli’s Author Blog

A moral compass is the inner guide that helps us recognize right from wrong. It is not based on popularity, money, ideology, or personal benefit, but on values such as honesty, justice, empathy, and integrity. Today, many people seem to be struggling between what is right and what is convenient.
Looking around today, I sometimes wonder whether many people have silenced that inner compass.
It seems that more and more people are willing to set aside their values in exchange for superficial rewards: fame, money, power, instant recognition, or influence. Success is often admired without asking how it was achieved. Wealth earned through dishonest or unethical means is sometimes celebrated rather than questioned. Lies spread quickly, manipulation becomes a strategy, and shortcuts are praised as signs of intelligence.
There was a time when society was more likely to condemn these behaviors. Today, in many cases, they are rewarded.
When dishonesty brings fame, when corruption brings power, and when unethical behavior opens doors instead of closing them, people begin to imitate what they see. The message becomes clear: if success is rewarded regardless of integrity, many will be tempted to silence their moral compass.
This problem is not limited to individuals. Institutions can also contribute to it. When organizations, businesses, or financial systems knowingly ignore unethical behavior because it is profitable, they reinforce the idea that success matters more than integrity. Over time, this attitude spreads from the highest levels of society into everyday life.
I once asked a friend why she intended to vote for a political candidate whom she believed was corrupt.
She answered, "I know she is corrupt, but I'll hold my nose and vote for her anyway. She's the lesser evil."
That response stayed with me.
Whether or not someone agrees with her political choice is not my point. What concerned me was her willingness to excuse behavior that she herself recognized as wrong. Once we become comfortable justifying what we know is unethical, our moral compass begins to lose its direction.
So how do we help society recover?
The first step is to recognize that there is a problem. We cannot solve what we refuse to acknowledge. If dishonesty, abuse, corruption, and deception are becoming normalized, we must be willing to speak about them openly.
The second step is more difficult: we must look inward and allow our values—not convenience—to guide our decisions.
But we must also understand what a moral compass truly is.
A moral compass is not about judging people because of their ethnicity, religion, nationality, wealth, gender, or political identity.
It is not defending one injustice while condemning another.
It is not speaking about freedom while spreading insults, hatred, or deliberate falsehoods.
It is not protecting only the causes that fit our personal preferences while ignoring the suffering of others.
A true moral compass is not selective.
It opposes corruption regardless of who commits it.
It rejects lies even when they benefit our own side.
It stands against abuse no matter who the victim is.
It values truth over convenience, justice over tribal loyalty, and human dignity over personal advantage.
A society cannot remain healthy if its principles depend on who is involved. Integrity that applies only to our friends, our political party, our religion, or our own group is not integrity at all.
The health of a society depends not on how loudly we defend our beliefs, but on how consistently we live by them.
Perhaps rebuilding our society does not begin with changing governments, institutions, or laws.
Perhaps it begins with each of us asking a simple question:
Is my moral compass guiding my decisions—or have I allowed convenience, fear, loyalty, or personal interest to replace it?
Only when enough people choose integrity over convenience can a society begin to recover its moral direction.

​A society does not lose its moral direction overnight. It happens gradually, through the small decisions we make every day: when we excuse dishonesty because it benefits us, when we ignore injustice because it affects others, or when we value success more than the principles behind it.
Restoring our moral compass begins with personal responsibility. It requires looking within ourselves and asking whether our choices are guided by truth, compassion, justice, and respect for human dignity.
A true moral compass is not selective. It does not change depending on who is involved, what group someone belongs to, or whether we agree with them. It asks us to apply the same standards to ourselves and to others.
The future of our society depends not only on the leaders we choose or the institutions we create, but also on the values we practice in our own lives.
The question we must each ask ourselves is:
Am I following my moral compass, even when doing so is difficult?

Cada 28 de julio, los peruanos celebramos la Independencia del Perú, una fecha que nos invita a recordar nuestra historia, nuestras raíces y la riqueza cultural de un país lleno de diversidad y tradiciones.
En esta ocasión tan especial quiero presentar “La Niña Llamada Birú”, un cuento leyenda inspirado en el amor por el Perú y en la búsqueda de aquello que nos une: nuestra identidad.
La historia nos presenta a Birú, una niña simbólica, hija de un soberano y también del Sol y la Luna. A través de ella nace una leyenda que representa la conexión profunda entre el ser humano y la tierra que lo vio nacer.
Birú simboliza nuestras raíces, la memoria de nuestros antepasados y ese sentimiento que permanece vivo en quienes aman su país, incluso cuando están lejos de él. Su historia nos recuerda que la identidad no solamente está en un lugar físico, sino también en nuestras tradiciones, nuestros recuerdos, nuestros valores y en el amor que llevamos dentro.
Aunque han pasado muchas generaciones, Birú continúa entre nosotros como una representación del corazón de todos aquellos que valoran su cultura y sienten orgullo por sus raíces.
Porque Birú no pertenece solamente al pasado.
Birú vive en cada persona que ama el Perú.
Birú no es solo una niña de una leyenda… Birú es Perú. 
En estas Fiestas Patrias deseo que podamos celebrar nuestra historia, nuestra diversidad y todo aquello que hace del Perú un país único y maravilloso.
 ¡Felices Fiestas Patrias! 
La Niña Llamada Birú está disponible en formato electrónico e impreso en Amazon.

​I left London feeling tired but very happy. To get to St Pancras International and take the Eurostar train to Paris, I did not want to risk it again with an Uber driver, so I decided to take a traditional London taxi from my hotel.
During the ride, I started a conversation with the cab driver. He was a true Londoner, impeccably dressed, and very proud of his profession. It felt like a special moment because I had the opportunity to talk with him about the city, how it has changed over the years, and his experience as a taxi driver. He told me that he had been doing this job for more than twenty years and that he had studied extensively to become a traditional London taxi driver. That was fascinating to me and made me appreciate the dedication and knowledge behind this profession.
Another curious thing that would happen throughout my trip was the weather. Even when the forecast predicted rain, I was almost always lucky and stayed dry. I was prepared, though. In London, I bought an umbrella, which I unfortunately lost in Paris, and I also carried a raincoat that never even came out of the package. I was ready for anything!
The funny thing was that the rain seemed to have perfect timing. It usually started when I was inside a restaurant or back at the hotel, and the moment I stepped outside, it magically stopped. This happened in London and again in Paris. I wondered if this good fortune would continue throughout the rest of my journey.
It was my last experience in London before turning the page to a new adventure. Paris, I was ready for you!
At the train station, I met two lovely women from England who were traveling to Paris for the weekend. We had a wonderful conversation during the trip. When I arrived at Paris Gare du Nord around midday, I easily found a taxi at the station entrance and went to my hotel.
The hotel was close to many of the main attractions, only one block from the Seine River. Like my hotel in London, it did not have an elevator, but this time I was only on the second floor. It was a simple place, clean and comfortable, without many amenities, but it was perfect for what I needed.
I left my backpack at the hotel and immediately started exploring. I walked through Le Marais, visited Place des Vosges, discovered the Marché des Enfants Rouges, and enjoyed a beautiful walk along the Seine River.
For lunch, I tried traditional French food at a local restaurant. It was delicious, and as usual during my European journey, I enjoyed the local beer. On my first day, I also came across a protest by Droit Au Logement, which reminded me that social movements are part of everyday life in European cities.
The next day, I walked to the Louvre Museum. I was amazed by the beauty of the paintings and sculptures created by some of the most renowned artists in history. I spent three hours there, and even that did not feel like enough time.
Afterward, I took the hop-on hop-off bus and visited some of Paris’s most iconic places: the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Élysées, and Place de la Concorde. At night, I enjoyed a cruise on the Seine near the Eiffel Tower. Later, I had dinner at Alma Marceau and walked back to my hotel.
On my way, I stopped at a café for a coffee because I had been walking and walking nonstop, and my sneakers were almost ready to protest and ask me for a break. Something funny I noticed throughout Europe was how pigeons seemed to be part of restaurant life. One of them even sat with me in the empty chair next to mine, just like another time during my trip.
On my third day, I met my Italian friend at a restaurant, and together we visited Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame Cathedral. The beauty of the architecture, paintings, and sculptures was incredible. There was something very special about the atmosphere and history of these places.
After that, we took the Metro and went to the Tuileries Garden. It was such a beautiful and relaxing place to sit and enjoy the surroundings. However, I almost lost my phone there, which was a lesson for me. The next day, I bought a strap for my phone to keep it safer. Another thing I noticed throughout Europe was the popularity of motor taxis, something that is not very common in North America.
We continued our day visiting Place de la Concorde and then went up to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, where we had a breathtaking view of all of Paris. At Square Louise Michel, we admired more art and enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere of Place du Tertre.
There, we ate at a traditional restaurant and enjoyed French wine. It was one of the best meals I have ever had. No wonder French cuisine is considered one of the greatest in the world, together with Peruvian cuisine, which I proudly consider one of the best as well.
Later, we took the Metro back to the hotel. Paris has such an extensive subway system that I became a little lost and could not find the correct exit. I had to ask several people for help. Even though many people mainly spoke French, they tried their best to guide me, and I was very grateful. Before my trip, I had heard that people in France were not always helpful to tourists, but my experience was completely different.
The next morning, I woke up early, left the hotel, and headed to the airport for my flight to Lisbon.
I will miss Paris. I loved the food, the walks along the Seine, the art, the architecture, and the culture. Paris was not just a destination; it was an experience that I will always remember.

“You can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page.”
This quote reminds us that sometimes the hardest part of writing is simply beginning.
Many people have ideas, feelings, and stories inside their minds, but they hesitate because they think what they write will not be good enough. They fear making mistakes, choosing the wrong words, or creating something imperfect. But if we never fill the blank page, we will never discover what we truly want to say.
Write anyway. Write for yourself. Write without judgment. Let your thoughts find their way onto the paper.
Even if later you erase everything, you may discover that one word, one sentence, or one idea was worth keeping. That small beginning can become the seed of something meaningful.
A blank page holds nothing. A written page, even an imperfect one, holds possibilities.

​About the author: Jodi Picoult is an American novelist known for her thought-provoking stories that explore complex human relationships, moral questions, and the choices that shape our lives.

​"Society did not begin with prejudice. Prejudice begins when individuals learn to judge people by labels instead of character. In the same way, society will only change when individuals choose to do the opposite."

People often ask me what I mean when I say I am "color blind."
For me, it has nothing to do with ignoring people's differences. I know that every person has a unique story, culture, beliefs, experiences, and background. What I choose not to do is judge their worth because of those differences.
When I meet someone, I do not care about the color of their skin, their race, where they were born, the language they speak, the God they worship—or whether they worship one at all—their social status, their wealth, the way they dress, or who they love. Those things do not tell me who a person truly is.
I begin with the same principle for everyone: respect, courtesy, and kindness.
I have often observed that young children naturally approach others with curiosity rather than judgment. They may notice differences in appearance, language, or culture, but those differences do not automatically determine who they choose as friends or how they treat one another. As they grow, they gradually learn the beliefs, stereotypes, fears, and divisions that exist around them. Somewhere along the way, many of us stop seeing people simply as people.
I believe we should recover that childlike ability to meet others with an open heart while adding the wisdom and responsibility that come with maturity.
Then my Color Blind Alarm begins to work.
My alarm is not triggered by someone's identity. It is triggered by their behavior.
The moment I see someone bullying another person, humiliating others, abusing power, manipulating people, acting with arrogance, or treating others without dignity or compassion, my alarm goes off.
At that moment, I stop seeing the labels that society often focuses on. I look directly at the person's character.
It is not the color of their skin that becomes visible to me.
It is the color of their actions.
That is where I discover whether a person possesses integrity, humility, kindness, and respect—or whether they have chosen cruelty, selfishness, dishonesty, or abuse.
I have met extraordinary people from every culture, every religion, every economic background, and every walk of life. I have also met harmful people from those same groups. Goodness and cruelty do not belong to one race, one nationality, one religion, or one social class.
They belong to individual human choices.
My Color Blind Alarm reminds me never to confuse identity with character.
Money cannot make someone honorable.
Power cannot make someone worthy.
Being part of a majority or a minority does not automatically make someone virtuous or unfair.
Only our actions reveal who we truly are.
I believe we would live in a kinder society if each of us exercised this inner alarm every day.
Imagine meeting every person with respect instead of prejudice.
Imagine refusing to judge people by labels while holding everyone equally accountable for how they treat others.
Real change does not begin with governments or institutions.
It begins with individuals.
When individuals change, families change.
When families change, communities change.
And when enough communities change, society changes.
It all begins with one person choosing to see the human being before the label and to judge only what truly deserves to be judged: our choices, our behavior, and the way we treat one another.
That is what my Color Blind Alarm means.
It reminds me that every human being deserves respect, but every action deserves accountability.