One Rising Star

 “It’s not about escaping your thoughts; it’s about moving through them.” Mental health is something I care very deeply about. Just like many others out there, I’ve experienced some dark moments; times filled with anxiety, stress, spiraling thoughts, self-doubt, and a lack of confidence. And while I still experience ups and downs, I’ve learned that movement, and the people who ‘walk’ beside me, help me rise up, time and time again. Movement, for me, isn’t just about fitness. It’s a way to remind myself of what I’m capable of. When I push through a tough workout or do something I didn’t think I could, it builds more than strength, it builds belief. Every extra rep, round, or kg on the barbell, along with that constant push forward…it all becomes proof that I can do hard things, even when my mind tells me otherwise. In those moments, my thoughts quiet. The noise fades. It’s just effort, breath, and presence, and that’s often all I need to reset. With that, what truly helps to keep me...

 “Have you ever stopped and thought: “Wow. I prayed for this. It’s here. It’s happening.”? I recently received a message from an  old student from my very first school in Canada. It was a simple note, but it sparked reflection in me about where I’ve come from and everything that’s happened over the last 15–20 years. At my age, I often look around and see many of the people ( my age ) settling down; getting married, having kids, buying homes ( A dream for many, especially women. ). And sometimes, I can’t help but  ask myself: what am I doing with my life? However, that message from my former student reminded me of something I often forget: I’ve already been living a dream. When I left my first teaching job in Canada, it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. I absolutely loved my students, and together we had built a really special bond. But at that time, I had a dream to travel the world; to immerse myself in different cultures and to learn from people whose li...

"Momentum doesn’t just return; you rebuild it, one choice at a time." Before summer began, I was feeling a little low. The tipping point came when I found out my HYROX competition partner’s visa had been denied, meaning we wouldn’t be able to compete at the HYROX World Championships in Chicago. Deep down, I knew it wasn’t the end of the world, but I was still pretty bummed. I thrive when I have a goal, something to work toward, and for nearly two months, I’d been all-in. That training gave me momentum, purpose and energy. When that goal disappeared, so did my drive. Suddenly, my energy shifted in the wrong direction. I slipped into autopilot, stuck in the routine of daily life, work, and thought patterns that were becoming more and more negative. Social media didn’t help. It felt like everyone else was out there doing so much, and I had nothing exciting happening. I would catch myself comparing and as my thoughts spiraled, my body started responding, and not in a good way. Th...

“ The successful warrior is the average (wo)man , with laser-like focus. ” Life’s been feeling a little dull lately, but there’s one thing keeping me fired up; the experience of a lifetime is just around the corner. In just four weeks, I’ll be heading to Chicago to compete in the Hyrox World Championships, and I’m locked in. For many competitive and athletic kids, the dream is to make it to the Olympics or stand on a world championship stage in their sport. While Hyrox may not be the Olympics, for me, this is kind of that moment. This is my ‘world stage’; I can’t wait to soak it all in and add it to the list of things I’m proud of. This idea sort of started on my 40th birthday this year. While most people celebrate with a party and cake or a getaway, I made a wild choice: I booked my place in the Hyrox World Championships with my doubles partner. Bold? Definitely. Crazy? Probably. Worth it? Without a doubt. The last time I pushed myself this hard was back in 2019 when I trained for a C...

“You don’t have to be perfect, just prepared enough to wing it!” I competed in Hyrox this weekend, and while I’m proud of the outcome ( 1st place in our age category (40–49) for the women’s pro doubles division ), I’ve been having mixed feelings about my personal performance. Truthfully, things didn’t quite unfold the way I’d visualized them in the lead-up, and I wasn’t as sharp as I’d hoped to be on race day. I also worked out two days before (S hould’ve known better!) , so my legs were still feeling it. That said, my partner and I still pulled off the win, which speaks volumes about the work we’ve each been putting in individually. It was exciting ( and a little intimidating ) to compete alongside some big-name CrossFitters in the region, but we held our own and that felt pretty good! Over the past few months, I’ve been consistent and disciplined with my training. Thankfully, I stayed healthy this time around, unlike last year, which already felt like a small victory. But, I didn’t ...

“ It means no worries for the rest of your days; it’s our problem-free philosophy.🎶 ” As a teacher who juggles a heavy workload throughout the academic year, I truly look forward to the times when I can take a break and escape this reality through travel. But as a solo female traveler, there’s always that nagging feeling of nervousness. Despite my extensive research, it’s hard not to feel anxious when I’m heading into the unknown alone. This spring break, I had thought to stick with what I knew, perhaps a revisit to Bali or Sri Lanka, but deep down, I craved something new. Kenya had been calling me for a while, especially because of my love for African vibes. Having been to Tanzania before, I didn’t feel the need for a full safari adventure. Instead, I was more drawn to the coastal city of Mombasa; I remembered an old colleague from there and how she spoke of it so lovingly, so I thought it would be great to explore the place myself. Mombasa turned out to be just what I needed. I ...