Choosing Joy After Loss: Ricardo Viso’s Story of Resilience

The Moment Everything Changed

When Ricardo Viso was ten years old, his mom dropped him and his brother at a local bowling alley. She promised she would be back in an hour. But she never came back. That single moment shifted the entire trajectory of his life.

For most of us, childhood is filled with routine and safety. For Viso, it became a reminder that life can change in an instant. Instead of letting that loss define him in despair, he eventually turned it into a foundation for resilience and purpose.

Grief Looks Different for Everyone

One of the most striking parts of Ricardo’s story is how he and his brother processed the loss in completely different ways. Ricardo talked openly, cried when he needed to, and leaned on his grandmother for comfort. His brother, on the other hand, withdrew. He stayed quiet, avoided talking about their mom, and built his own walls.

It was a reminder that grief never shows up the same way twice. Even within the same family, each person creates their own path through loss. Ricardo’s willingness to speak about his mom’s death became one of the earliest signs of how he would later help others – through honesty and conversation.

The Cancer Diagnosis That Changed Perspective

Years later, Ricardo faced another life-altering moment when he was diagnosed with cancer. At first, the news carried the same weight it carries for anyone: the fear that cancer means death. But he made a conscious decision not to dwell on statistics or probabilities. He asked his doctors to tell him only what he needed to know about treatment, not percentages of survival.

Ricardo even gave speeches to mothers of children with cancer in Mexico. Many of these women had almost no resources, little outside support, and yet showed up every day to fight for their kids. He called one of his talks “The Gifts of Cancer.” To him, the diagnosis was awful, but it also provided perspective and an opportunity to live with intention.

“Joy is not natural. You have to practice it, the same way you practice exercise or nutrition.”

That line from Ricardo stuck with me. It reframed joy not as a spontaneous feeling but as a discipline we can strengthen over time.

Joy as a Daily Practice

Today, Ricardo calls himself a joy architect. It is not just a catchy title. It reflects a hard-won truth: joy is something we build. He compares it to exercise or eating well. It rarely comes naturally, but with practice and intention, it becomes part of who we are.

He founded Joyful Living Lounge, a space designed to help people unplug from negativity and reconnect with what matters. Through his RIC Method, Ricardo guides individuals and teams to rediscover passion and purpose in their work and personal lives. His goal is simple but powerful: help people enjoy life without waiting for a tragedy to wake them up.

Why His Story Matters

Hearing Ricardo speak reminded me of my own experience with loss and how it shaped me in different ways. His story reinforces that while pain is universal, the way we carry it is deeply personal. He shows that resilience does not mean ignoring grief. It means learning to choose joy in the middle of it.

Ricardo’s journey is proof that tragedy can become a teacher. From the bowling alley moment at age ten to a cancer diagnosis decades later, he has lived what it means to face hardship and keep choosing joy anyway.