A mirror’s reflection

Today, we had our FINAL primary school assembly before the summer holidays and in the very beginning of the gathering, our school principal spoke about reflection.

He mentioned something about looking in the mirror, reflecting on the school year that is coming to an end and seeing how much everyone has changed and grown over the past 10 months.
Of course this message was geared mostly towards our young students, however it really got me thinking about what I would see if I looked in the mirror...

There was a time during this academic year

When I thought the conclusion to my UAE experience was near

My 3-year contract was coming to an end

And I really wasn’t convinced I wanted to extend

But things have changed

A new contract has been arranged

I’m staying on for yet another year

I’m making a commitment to persevere

I’m not ready to say goodbye

To this very special place called Dubai

My time here has allowed me to grow

While facing many highs and lows

I know that life’s a journey

Nothing is supposed to be easy

And being far away from my family

Doesn’t always make me happy

Luckily I have made some friends

A few of them, really good gems

They pick me up when things are tough

And stick by my side interestingly enough

Over here, I’ve been able to take action

With regards to exploring some of my true passions

I exercise quite regularly

Football, running and strength training particularly

Balance in my life is something I’ve learned to seek

It’s the best way to live every single week

“Work hard, play hard”

Is truthfully a thought not to discard

I’ve come to realize that I’m capable of much more than I ever thought

As long as I’m willing to give it everything I got

Risk taking goes a long way

When motivation and determination are on display

So, with all that said

What do I see today in the mirror ahead?

An honest, compassionate and respectful individual

Whose courage and confidence are becoming more and more visible

SEE YOU ALL AGAIN IN AUGUST!

Comments

Locked in.

“ 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...

In a World Full of Noise, Let’s Show Understanding

“Not everyone processes uncertainty the same way, and that’s okay.” The past few days have been unexpected. What started as a normal Saturday - coaching at the gym, breakfast with a friend, catching up on work with the TV on in the background - quickly changed when I heard a loud “boom” coming from outside my apartment. At first, many of us in the community assumed it came from one of the many nearby construction sites. But, within the next few hours, the loud sounds came again and again, and word spread that these were missiles and drones being intercepted in the sky. I’ve always felt safe here in the UAE, and believe it or not, to a certain extent, I still do. Like many other residents here, I have a lot of trust in the country I’ve chosen to call home for over 11 years. I’ve seen it overcome challenges in the past, such as COVID and floods, and I’ve witnessed how much the leadership cares for the residents, particularly over the last few days. That said, it’s no secret that I a...

Momentum Reset

"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...

One Rising Star

Search This Blog