12h (edited) • General discussion
A Bit About My Story
For you to know me better, I'd like to share with you a bit about my story and why I'm passionate about my mission as a soul coach for teens and parents.
I’m blessed today to be living a fulfilling life as a mompreneur and a multi passionate creative. My sacred work allows my family and me to split our year between the UK and New Zealand. But growing up, I was an empathic child, chasing big dreams in a country famous for wars, political assassinations, and electricity shortages.
I was born in Lebanon during its long civil war.
I grew up in a mountain village away from areas of conflict but within reach of the war's negative impacts on society and economy. Fuel and electricity shortages were normal, and people relied on local farms and homegrown food. They went about their daily lives, sending their kids to school but constantly worrying that things could blow up at any minute.
I was always a very sensitive child, bright for my age, I was told, but with ideas too big for my head. I had big dreams of travelling the world, of sightseeing in faraway places, of experiencing new cultures. I dreamed of living an abundant life surrounded by beautiful nature and peaceful people. But I was told I must be practical, and others called me “naïve” and “too trusting” whenever I talked about my wishes.
As I grew older, I used to feel guilty about dreaming of travel when I knew other people were struggling to keep a roof over their heads or were grieving for loved ones recently lost in the war. I learned to keep my mouth shut and my thoughts secret. I turned into “that shy, quiet girl” after finding convenience in being an introvert.
My mother disapproved, however. She had good intentions when she pushed me to be more social, to speak up, to stand out. But that only made me feel misunderstood, miserable and out of place.
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I come from a loving, middle-class family with hardworking parents. I was the eldest child and I had three siblings. My parents taught me and my sisters the power and freedom of being an educated woman with an established career. They always invested in our education and had high expectations in return.
Some of my classmates called me “privileged,” a word I hated because it was filled with envy. I felt I had to earn my worth and prove myself in some way, so I doubled down on studying to get the highest grades. It seemed at the time that my grades were the only things in life I could control.
As a teenager, even though I was the top of my class, I was very anxious and self-conscious. There were days when I felt unbearable pressure from all around. I took life very seriously and found it difficult to wind down.
I also struggled with negative self-image issues, especially after puberty when I experienced hormonal upsets and extreme acne on my face and shoulders. I fell deeply into the trap of comparing my body with other girls', thinking that something was wrong with me.
But my big dreams kept me going.
While my head was full of negative self-talk, my heart continued to dream about travelling and exploring ...
My heart continued to yearn for something more …
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Today, I’m grateful that I chose to trust my heart’s calling and follow my big dreams.
I’m grateful for my teen self who had the big dreams in the first place. That’s why I pay it forward to teens today.
Our children are the young big dreamers today, the leaders of tomorrow!
Much Love,
Nadine
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A Bit About My Story
