“And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.”
– Meister Eckhart

You could say that 2021 has been the most defining year of my life.

I decided to retire from the organisation I founded in 2003. An organisation that kept my heart beating, and gave me 1000 percent job satisfaction. The one that I chose over my marriage when I was given an ultimatum. The one that I would gave up my sleep, worked through many nights, to finish various projects on hand.

I have not shared with many people why I decided to leave the work that I love so much. My mom passed away when she was 70. When I approached 65, I started to suffer many headaches and dizziness. That started the cycle of worries and sleepless nights, thinking that I may have a major health issue and I was desperately hiding my worries from my one and only daughter who suffers from high anxiety. My decision to retire was based on my desire to spend quality time with my daughter for whatever years that may be left in my life.

With that determination, I pursued and found the right person to take over to lead the organisation and hired a specialist professional to replace me. As it happened, she was ready to take over from day one and I jumped at that opportunity to step back totally to allow her to blossom into her own. I was very proud that I was able to leave my successor with new office premises, new furnitures, new staff, and a new organisational structure, everything I knew she would need to find success in her new role.

During the last month, I was on my own to supervise the 3 person team who renovated the new office space and I had only one month’s time before the new school year would begin. With only one men helping me, the office furnitures were assembled, the cupboards were built, the rooms were decorated, the paintings were hung, the phones and wifi was installed, the carpet from my garage was placed at the welcome area and I got everything set and ready within the time frame to welcome the new school year. To show my appreciation, I bought a special coffee cup for my successor, and placed it together on her desk with a beautiful orchid plant and a birthday card as a welcome gift. I was very pleased to see all the happy and surprised faces of the new staff members and the parents on the first day when they arrived to the new office premises.

Despite all my efforts, my departure was not as smooth as I had hoped it to be. There are many lessons to be learned from this experience and I am grateful that it had strengthen me to become a better and stronger person preparing me to embrace the next chapter of my life.

By the time I learned from my doctor and the Ear, Nose and Throat specialist that I have a defected vestibular system on the right side of my ear and it was not something serious as I had feared that may have been causing all the dizziness and headaches, I had already made the decision to retire and I have no wish to change my mind. I believed in the synchronicity of all the events that had taken place and I felt that my decision to leave was the right one at the right time.

I have always been that girl who rooted for the other girls. I have always encouraged other women and girls to believe in themselves and their dreams. I am happy for others’ when they found success and happiness. In that spirit, I wished my successor and her new team a great success as I handed over all the keys to the offices and took my leave.

I will miss all the friends I have made here over the past 21 years and the community I have helped built and wishing success and happiness to everyone I will leave behind as I embark on my next journey.

For many years, I have used this quote on my email signature line. “Dream what you want to dream. Go where you want to go. Try to be who you really are. Because life is short, and often only gives one chance to do things.”

Life is what you make it to be. I am determine to leave footprints of love and kindness wherever I am and wherever I go. I am ready, let the journey begins ….