When I look back on my childhood, I see a beautiful dance between two deep loves that shaped who I became. I began drawing at an early age, enjoyed the magic of colors blending, and enjoyed discovering patterns everywhere I looked. For years, I dreamt of becoming an artist. However, somewhere around age nine or ten, I heard that haunting phrase: “starving artist.” Those two words planted a seed of doubt that would grow for years to come.
But life had another gift waiting for me. Around the same time, I discovered the elegant beauty of mathematics, especially algebra. This was during the exciting boom of the software industry, and suddenly I could see how numbers and logic could build entire digital worlds. I began to understand that I carried two distinct sides within me: the creative, artistic soul and the analytical, scientific mind. Both were equally real, and equally me.
What I didn’t fully grasp then, and am only now appreciating, is that I also navigated life as a child between two cultures, two countries, and two completely different worlds. Moving between the East and the West at such an early age meant constantly adapting, learning, and discovering several ways of being. Those cultural bridges I built didn’t just influence my identity; they enriched it in ways I’m still uncovering today.
My life naturally flowed on a scientific path, and I have no regrets about that journey. But recently, I’ve recognized something profound: that moment between high school and college wasn’t just a simple choice of what to major in, it was a crossroads filled with possibility. And here’s what I’ve come to realize: there are never wrong turns in life. Every decision shapes us into who we’re meant to become.
In fact, there is more than one fork in the road. Life offers us many, and my most recent one has led me back to that artistic, creative child I once was. How wonderful it feels to have come full circle!
I feel many of you are standing at your own crossroads right now, wondering which path to take next. Depending on where you are on your journey, that choice might feel easier or more daunting. But here’s what I want you to know: we make decisions based on what we understand in that moment, and that’s perfectly okay. It’s also perfectly okay to choose one road and change directions when new insights come to light.
Life isn’t a straight line. It’s a beautiful winding path with circles and curves that brings us back to forgotten dreams and forward to new discoveries. After all, how else would we experience all life has to offer?
What forgotten dream is calling to you today? What would it look like to take just one small step toward rediscovering that part of yourself? Do something that feels like play. Give yourself permission to explore without knowing where it leads.
We need your unique blend of experiences, perspectives, and dreams. So don’t be afraid to surprise yourself.
If you’d like some support on this journey, I’d love to explore how coaching might help you move forward. Book a complimentary call – no pressure, just a conversation about what’s possible for you: https://L2BAppointments.as.me/IntroWebsite
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