To honor this anniversary, I’m sharing one question and reflection per day for seven days, one for each year of this journey.
Today is Year Seven. The last one.
Day 7 – Year 7 The Year I Found My Reflection
This year was about grief, discovery, building a relationship, stopped drinking and going deep, deep into myself, through life and through the life coaching school I attended from April to the end of August, followed by a bonus month in the Business Launchpad.Looking back, I truly believe that school gave me the tools I needed to walk through this year with presence and perspective.
Over those months, we practiced coaching with each other in class. We showed up vulnerable, curious, open. We were hungry to understand what coaching really mean, and in return, we got coached, for free, with full honesty and heart. I began practicing coaching myself.
Having this abundance of connection, surrounded by genuinely positive, compassionate people, was the best thing that could’ve happened after leaving the place I had called home for five years.Through those months, I began seeing my blind spots. My beliefs. My pain. My awareness expanded.I understood what The Awareness Effect really meant. Because once you see something… once you hear the truth in your body… you can’t unsee it.And suddenly, you start noticing your parents’ behaviors, your reactions, your patterns, and realize where so much of it comes from.
I’ve always been fascinated by people. Curious about how they see the world and themselves. That curiosity helped me understand myself too, because we are all mirrors.If you want to change the world, it begin with you. Right?
My parents came to visit for a month and met Caine, and Hawai’i. I bet they miss it. I miss them. We can’t have everything, but we are all doing the best we can with that we have and making sure that we are happy with ourselves.
I think these posts have gotten longer, haven’t they?I hope you’ve been enjoying them as much as I’ve loved writing them. Thank you for being here, for walking through this challenge with me, and, in your own way, through this healing journey too.
2025 is when I started to open back up to the world.I made my first friend in Hawai’i, Katia. I have my paid clients. Some of them pro bono.
After writing this, I’ll be heading out to do a little gardening.
Nothing is perfect.I’m an immigrant, and because of what’s happening right now, I have to stay quiet.But if you have a heart, I don’t need to say much more. You’ll understand.It brings back memories of the pandemic, when my visa was banned.I grieved from the first 5 years, but my nervous system is still in NYC.
Thank you for following me and for celebrating, directly or indirectly, these seven years of transformation.
I’m going to take a little break, but I’ll be back.My goal is to write a post every two weeks. Let’s see if I can keep that goal.
Now that you know part of my story, I’ll begin sharing more about my journey, and about the topics that matter to women who are navigating or longing for a life transition.Things like confidence, empowerment, clarity, emotional resilience, making bold decisions, building a life that aligns with your values… and stepping into the version of yourself you've been quietly dreaming of.
Last question from a member of my family:
What brought you the most joy, and also the most sadness, while living in the USA?
The injustice brought me the most sadness, then, and still today.And my heart, it got even bigger while living in NYC, surrounded by people.
I have so much empathy that sometimes it hurts. I’ve had to learn how to put boundaries in place to protect myself. So if I ever seem distant, it’s not because I don’t care, it’s actually because I care so much.It’s because I care that I help my clients create lives they’re proud of.Lives that feel like theirs.No pressure. No squeezing into a box they never asked for. No doing things just to please others. No society-induced guilt.Just… them. Their truth. Their voice.
But to come back to the question, the injustices are what bring me the deepest sadness.Where did justice go?Where is our shared humanity?Where is the love?
These questions give me perspective on my own situation. And while I have my struggles, I know I can’t complain. I can only be grateful—and use that gratitude to keep helping more people.
As for the joy?The people.
The USA is the home to some of the most incredible humans I’ve ever met.Big-hearted. Smart. Funny. Warm. Caring. Encouraging. Extravagant. Bossy. Sweet.People of every race, gender, background, and origin.I'm very grateful for them. Grateful for my family of blood and heart, thank you for your support.
With love,NinaThe Awareness Effect Coaching
