Dear Benedetta...

Dear Benedetta,

Greetings from your future self, from the heart of the Middle East, far from home, family, and friends.

Don’t be alarmed, I am not here to warn you about what you should have done differently or how you ended up here. Rather, I just want to share with you a few tips to navigate your journey ahead.

If I know you well (nobody better than me), you are probably biting your nails while reading this and running multiple scenarios in your mind. Take a deep breath, you should be truly proud of where you are now and what you have achieved along the way. You may not understand all this advice just yet, but over time, everything will become crystal-clear.

Stay resilient and be mindful of yourself. Don’t let events and people around you diminish your self-confidence. You are the best judge of yourself.

Push your boundaries and test your limits. You will be surprised about what you are capable of.

Hard work and determination always pay in the long run. Stay driven, never lose track of your goals, keep always the fire burning in you no matter how steep the road ahead appears.

Be yourself and stay true to your values and beliefs. There will be times when you will want to conform. However, voice your opinion and don’t pretend to be someone you are not. People will see value in you and will cherish your professional and personal ethic.

Be open to change. Evolving is good. It can be scary sometimes, I can’t deny it, but you will thank yourself later. Embrace change, allow yourself to experiment, get involved, and you will be pleasantly surprised by how adaptive you are.

Surround yourself with people that empower you. Life is too short to spend time working for people who don’t believe in you and don’t help you to unleash your hidden potential.

Last but not least, life is like a rollercoaster – Make sure you enjoy the ride.

Benedetta (2022)