For the first eleven years of my life, I did not have citizenship to any country. I was born in Riga, Latvia when it was part of the USSR, which classified me as a non-citizen. Yes that’s a thing, and yes it certainly had a massive impact on who I am today. Then my life went into a wild direction when my family decided to immigrate to Canada, where I received immediate citizenship and spent most of my life growing up, studying and working. The process of relocating and adapting to a brand new country has had further impact on me. I needed to learn a new language, new cultures, and build new relationships. This intensive experience has taught me what it means to “survive”, as I overcame challenges on a daily basis. What it also taught me, is that I am capable of so much more than I could have ever imagined. And I believe this applies to all humans on the planet.
When I was studying in university, I was still struggling to figure out what is my purpose and path in life. I had some ideas, but nothing felt certain. All I knew was that I wanted to see as much of the world as possible, and meet as many different people as I could. Eventually I decided to become an English teacher abroad, and after completing all the necessary schooling, I took the opportunity to live and work in South Korea. Those two years felt like living on a different planet, and it further fuelled my desire to see more of the world, to connect with more people, and learn as much as I can about humanity.
After enjoying my time in Asia, I decided it was time to explore a new continent, and I once again packed my things, and this time moved to Prague, Czech Republic. “Why Prague?” is the most common question I get from people, and I always answer “Why not Prague?” It’s a beautiful, historical city, with a vibrant energy, and the potential for a comfortable life. However, building a life from scratch in a foreign country, completely on your own, is no easy feat. It took several years of working, adapting, and developing, to feel like my feet are finally on the ground. Every laborous step was worth it though, because this is exactly the life I never knew I always wanted.
What I have learned from my life experiences so far, is that even though we all come from various places, and grow up in distinctly different ways, at our core, we are all the same. We want the same thing in life…to be happy. “Being happy” just comes in different forms and shapes for everyone. That is why it is so important for us to figure out who we are, what we want, and what will essentially make us happy. I realized that my “happy” was disguised in the form of ‘living my purpose’, so after ten years of working as an English teacher (which in itself influenced my personal growth and development), I decided to find out what exactly I am meant to do on this planet. I got myself a life coach to help me on the journey, and working with her eventually led me to where I am today.
I already had a feeling inside me that being a life coach felt right for me, and going through the coaching program brought that feeling on the surface and confirmed what my intuition was whispering to me. I did everything necessary to start the journey in reaching my dream, and I can genuinely say that I cannot imagine doing anything else but what I am doing now. I am living my “happy” every day, and I want to help others live their “happy” just the same!