One Rising Star

  “Until you spread your wings, you’ll never know how far you can fly.” For as long as I can remember, there has been a relentless pull within me; a desire to fly away, to explore beyond the boundaries of familiarity, and to immerse myself in the cultural richness of our world. It all started over 15 years ago with a pivotal moment: my first international trip to the Dominican Republic for humanitarian purposes. Little did I know then that this remarkable trip ( *along with teaching in a challenging multicultural school ) would set the stage for a life defined by adventure, discovery, and personal growth. Since that transformative experience, my life has been a whirlwind of movement and exploration. I've been blessed with the opportunity to experience living and working abroad, both in the UAE and in Vietnam, and along the way, I've had the privilege to traverse more than 40 countries, each offering its own unique blend of culture, history, landscape and perspective. Looking

“Where the mind goes, energy flows.” Our lives are shaped by what we choose to focus on. The mind is a powerful tool, directing energy and attention to whatever captures its interest. This fundamental truth ‘Wherever the mind goes, energy flows.” means that our emotions and experiences are deeply influenced by our mental focus. Consider the stories we create in our minds. These narratives can lead us on a roller coaster of emotions, affecting how we perceive and interact with the world. A mind filled with anxiety and overthinking often twists reality, leading to a restless and agitated state. This internal chaos can strip away from our inner calm, making it difficult to live productively, instinctively, and in the present moment. Many of us are familiar with the ever-turning wheel of thoughts that can trouble an overactive mind. We seek control, believing that managing every detail will bring peace. Yet, on the contrary, this desire for control can heighten our anxiety, pulling us furt

 “Success and progress happen when you fail and keep going, when you fall and get back up, when you mess up and don’t quit, when you are tired and push through...” Over the last 7-8 years, I have been pretty committed to exercising. Sometimes, I think that with my level of dedication over the years, I should be a lot stronger and fitter than I am. I hit the gym on average 5 times a week (in addition to doing other activities, such as soccer/football, running…) and quite honestly, I very rarely take more than a few days off. I actually hate missing a workout! There is no doubt that I have put in a lot of work, and that I have come a long way since the beginning of my fitness journey, however it has not all been an upward trend. Many factors can come into play when it comes to making progress and succeeding. It can be a bumpy and curvy road. For me personnally, my job, my health, my travels, some minor injuries…have, at some point, impacted the trajectory of my progress and success athle

 “Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.” I once had a dream Cherry blossoms would be seen So, in springtime I flew away To finally chase this unique display I began my journey in Korea With a very simple idea Walk around as much as possible And look out for something phenomenal After Korea, I went on to Japan With a very similar plan Sakura still on my mind More I was determined to find There were never any guarantees That I’d get to see these beautiful trees A bit of luck was on my side Nature seemed to have complied Of course, Hanami isn’t all that I appreciated On route, I was often deviated Some main attractions also needed to be viewed And certain food stops, I just had to include Like any trip, this one had its highs and lows That’s all quite normal I suppose No regrets whatsoever I now have memories to last forever

 “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life; it turns what we have into enough, and more.” I may not have the husband, the family, the house or the job I once dreamed of having.  I may not be the fittest, the trendiest or the most sutnning and confident woman around.  However, I am well aware that I have so many things to be grateful for; including my family, my friends, my safety, my health…and so much more! Some of us sit around from time to time feeling sorry for ourselves.  We feel overwhelmed, frustrated, unhappy, then suddenly we spiral into a negative vortex. We beat ourselves up for making certain choices, and/or for not being who and where we think we should be at a certain point in our lives.  We are constantly being told to aim high, to set goals, and to keep bettering ourselves, but unfortunately, while we’re so busy striving for more, we often forget to enjoy the present moment, and all that we already have.  Of course, we should always try improving ourselves, but more impor

 “Don’t underestimate the power of a PAUSE; it allows you to reflect, recharge and refocus.” We live in such a fast pace world. These days, when people ask how we’re doing, we regularly say “I am so busy!” and “I am so tired!” When we are not occupied, we think something is wrong, we feel lazy, and we immediately try to find things to do to fill up our time. We’re constantly looking to move forward; to go, go go and to do, do, do. Why is it so difficult to stop and take a break? For me personally, when I am in ‘work mode’, my routine is pretty consistent; work, gym, eat, sleep, repeat. In the past, I was really hard on myself when I didn’t feel productive and accomplished, but over the last few years, I have really tried to look for and embrace ‘down time’. Now, I am more aware of my needs and my boundaries. I am capable of laying on the couch and watching TV without feeling guilty. I can also turn down weekend plans if I don’t feel like socialising and would prefer to have a restful n