08/29/2026
𝟑 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐈 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦.
When I came to Canada, I had a very clear picture of what success looked like: work hard, build a career, earn a good income, and provide a better life for my family. I became an accountant, worked long hours, and made many sacrifices because I believed that was what responsible motherhood looked like.
But becoming a mother made me question some of the beliefs I had carried for years.
𝟏. 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮.
For a long time, I followed the traditional definition of success without really asking whether it aligned with the life I wanted. Go to school, build a career, work hard, earn more, and keep going. There is nothing wrong with that path, but I eventually had to ask myself: Am I building a life that looks successful, or a life that actually feels meaningful to me?
𝟐. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝.
This was one of the hardest realizations for me. I was working hard for my children, but there were moments when I was away from them, leaving them at daycare, working long hours, and feeling like I was constantly trying to balance everything. I started asking myself: What is the point of working so hard to give my children a better life if I am missing some of the moments that make that life beautiful? My children need more than what I can provide financially. They need my presence, my time, and the memories we create together.
𝟑. 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭.
It is easy to tell ourselves, “I will enjoy life when…” When the finances are better. When the children are older. When work becomes easier. When everything finally settles down. But life continues while we wait. Our children grow, seasons change, and time doesn't come back. I realized I didn't want to spend my entire life preparing to live it. I wanted to intentionally create a life where providing for my family, being present with them, and enjoying the journey could coexist.
That realization is a big part of what pushed me to explore a different path through my online business. Not because I stopped valuing my career, but because I gave myself permission to ask a more important question:
“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐈 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝?”
And perhaps that's a question worth asking ourselves more often.
Because sometimes, the first step toward changing our lives isn't having all the answers.
It's having the courage to ask better questions.
