Fortunate Life

Sometimes, the lessons that stick the most are the ones we learn the hard way. They come wrapped in frustration, disappointment, or even pain—and at the moment, we might curse them for happening. But looking back, those lessons often turn out to be the most valuable. One lesson I learned the hard way was about trusting my own judgment and boundaries . Early in my freelancing and training work, I would take on every opportunity that came my way. I said yes because I didn’t want to miss out, because I didn’t want to disappoint, because I wanted to prove myself. But saying yes to everything came at a cost. I was stretched too thin. I felt burned out. I delivered work, yes—but not always at the quality I wanted. I sometimes even sacrificed my own peace just to meet expectations. It was a rough, exhausting cycle. It took time, experience, and a few painful situations to realize that my yes is valuable, and my time is limited. Learning to pause, reflect, and say no when something doesn’t...

Failure used to feel like the end of the road for me. Whenever I got something wrong—whether it was a project that didn’t push through, a proposal that went unanswered, or a decision that didn’t work out—I would sink into self-blame. I’d ask myself: “Why didn’t I do better?” or “What’s wrong with me?” But over time, I realized something I never thought I’d say: failure can be a gift. One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned as a freelancer and trainer is that no matter how carefully you plan, things don’t always go the way you expect. I remember one particular project I was so excited about. I poured in resources, invested my time, and even put in my own money to make sure everything would run smoothly. I believed it would pay off. But then, things fell apart. The project got canceled, and just like that—I lost not only the opportunity but also the money I had put in. It hurt deeply. I felt foolish, like I had gambled and lost. For a while, I replayed the decision over and over in m...

Failure is such a heavy word, isn’t it? When we hear it, we often think of big, life-changing setbacks. But in reality, most of the failures we face are small, quiet ones—the ones that sting just enough to make us doubt ourselves. Like losing a project bid you worked hard for. Or preparing a pitch that never got a reply. Or planning your week in detail, only to watch everything fall apart by Tuesday. Or making a decision you thought was right, only to realize later it led to an outcome you never wanted. I’ve had my fair share of those. And every time, there’s this sinking feeling in my chest—almost like I’ve wasted time, effort, or hope. The voice of self-doubt quickly follows: “Maybe you’re not good enough. Maybe you should stop trying.” But here’s what I’ve realized: small failures are not wasted moments. They are training grounds for resilience. When I didn’t win a project, I learned to refine my proposals. When plans collapsed, I discovered the value of flexibility. When ...