Written by Mark Durieux, Sociologist and Educator Mark Durieux is a sociologist with over two decades of experience as a university instructor. Lead co-author of Social Entrepreneurship for Dummies, he lectures, researches, writes, and publishes in environmental, economic, urban, and public sociology as well as research methods. There is a moment most of us know intimately. It is a Sunday evening in a city of millions, and the silence in your apartment has a distinct texture to it. Or perhaps it is the family photo a cousin posts online that noticeably excludes you. Sometimes, it is the simple box on a hospital intake form asking for next of kin, where your hand hovers because the reality of your life is far more complicated than the paperwork allows. For decades, the dominant cultural narrative has insisted that if your blood-and-paperwork family is not there for you, the failure is yours. You are deemed too disconnected, too estranged, or too alone. Yet, that story is starting to look less like an accurate description of reality and more like the residue of an institution that no longer fits the lives most of us are actually living. Across the Global North, and increasingly in the rapidly urbanizing centers of the Global South, people are quietly assembling something that is both radically new and ancient. They are building networks of mutual care based not on descent or marriage, but on the simple, profound act of showing up. Sociologists call these networks chosen families. Far from being a mere backup plan for when the “real” family fails, these chosen bonds are increasingly serving as the primary architecture of belonging in late-modern life. From personal trouble to public issue In 1959, the sociologist C. Wright Mills offered what remains one of his most useful insights, a framework for reading our private misery as a map of broader public conditions. The sociological imagination, he argued, is the capacity to see how the personal troubles of our immediate environments connect to the public issues of social structure. When we apply that lens to the epidemic of loneliness, the diagnosis fundamentally shifts. Feeling as though you lack a reliable support network is not a personal defect. Rather, it is precisely what we should expect when several massive structural shifts collide. We are witnessing a profound thinning of traditional kin networks. Total fertility has fallen below replacement levels across most of the OECD, leading demographers to study the rising phenomenon of “kinlessness,” the projected increase in older adults who have no living children, siblings, or partners. The sprawling networks of cousins and extended relatives that our grandparents took for granted are statistically vanishing. In their place, solo living has emerged as the new normal. In Canada, for instance, single-person households became the most common household type in 2016, surpassing couples with children for the first time in the nation’s history. As Eric Klinenberg demonstrated in Going Solo, this shift is not a pathology but a modern adaptation, even as it generates a structural demand for new forms of non co resident care. Simultaneously, market logic has deeply penetrated the household. Decades ago, Karl Polanyi warned of the fictitious commodification of human life, and we are now living through its sequel. Care work, which was once a communal obligation, is increasingly outsourced to the market or absorbed by exhausted individuals acting alone. Housing markets physically push us apart, labor markets demand constant mobility, and the communal solidarity of traditional society corrodes a little more each year. For marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ people, migrants, disabled individuals, and those estranged from their families of origin, building a network of acceptance has never been optional. As Kath Weston documented during the height of the AIDS crisis, these communities transformed kinship into an active verb, making chosen family a vital survival strategy. The practice-based view of kinship These sweeping currents do not add up to a decline in human connection. They add up to a redirection. The fundamental human need for kinship has not disappeared, but it is actively seeking new forms. A chosen family is a network of non biological, non legal kinship bonds intentionally maintained for mutual care, recognition, and obligation. It is built on availability, the willingness to show up both materially and emotionally, rather than on descent or marital status. Sociologists advocate for a practice based view of family, recognizing that family is defined by what people do for one another, not what a state registry dictates. While the vocabulary of chosen family has gained prominence recently, the phenomenon itself has deep roots. Working class neighborhoods, immigrant enclaves, and marginalized communities have long built robust kinship networks without seeking institutional permission. What is genuinely new today is that the chosen family is moving from the margins to the center, becoming the rule rather than the exception. The many shapes of chosen kin The enduring strength of chosen families lies in their flexibility. They do not conform to a single shape or size. In major cities, we see urban tribes forming support circles among solo dwelling adults who share holidays, hold each other's spare keys, and serve as emergency contacts. For foster youth and wards of the state navigating fragmented care systems, chosen families often consist of safe adults, a former teacher, a coach, or a peer who has successfully aged out of the system. In these cases, the state’s bureaucratic version of family is rarely sufficient, whereas the chosen version provides genuine stability. Migrants and refugees, torn from their biological kin by distance or conflict, actively rebuild social capital through co migrants, faith communities, and diaspora networks. Transnational kinship shows how families now stretch across continents without snapping. Similarly, older adults without proximate kin are increasingly forming intentional households and identifying "chosen siblings" for companionship, caregiving, and advocacy in clinical settings. During crises, from the AIDS epidemic to the COVID-19 pandemic, chosen families have consistently provided the bedside care, advocacy, and bereavement support that biological families either could not or would not offer. Attachment and the hard work of choosing Chosen kin are not randomly assembled. They are carefully filtered through our internal working models of attachment, the templates of trust and reliability we developed long before we had the language to describe them. Those who are invited into our inner circles are usually the people who show up consistently, regulate conflict without weaponizing it, and accept the parts of us that our families of origin could not. Conversely, those who are edited out are often the ones who reproduce our original injuries, bringing unreliability, conditional love, or the demand that we shrink ourselves to be accepted. This process is never static. Membership in a chosen family is continually revised through the trials of divorce, migration, illness, and the slow, clarifying recognition of who actually rises to the occasion. This ongoing effort must be acknowledged as real work. In clinical and social service settings, the recognition of chosen family as legitimate attachment relationships is long overdue. This acknowledgment must extend to intake forms, hospital visitation rights, and the crucial determination of who is allowed in the room when life altering decisions are being made. A global phenomenon, not a western export It is tempting, though entirely incorrect, to read the Global South as simply lagging behind the Global North’s trajectory of individualized, atomized life. While market fundamentalism certainly intensifies individualistic logic everywhere, and urbanization destabilizes rural extended kin systems from Lagos to Manila, communities in the South are not passive recipients of this script. Many communities have retained and reinvented practices that the market assumed it had erased. Rotating savings and credit associations pool capital and mutual obligation in ways that formal banking systems cannot replicate. Communal land tenure and collective labor persist across Indigenous and peasant communities, often hybridizing with capitalist structures to ensure survival. Extended caregiving traditions remain deeply embedded in philosophies like Ubuntu in southern Africa and compadrazgo systems across Latin America, where the care of children, elders, and the sick is considered a collective default rather than an individual burden. These formations prove that communal solidarity does not simply die. It relocates into cities, social movements, and transnational networks that move money, labor, and love across borders. Translating recognition into action Recognizing the reality of chosen families is not the end of the analysis. It is the beginning of a necessary agenda. We must expand legal definitions of family to ensure that bereavement leave, hospital visitation, parental leave, immigration sponsorship, and next of kin decisions fully accommodate designated kin. Furthermore, we must invest in the infrastructure of mutual aid. Cooperatives, community land trusts, and peer support networks are not mere charity. They are the essential scaffolding that chosen families require to thrive. Clinical and social practices must also be updated. Therapists, social workers, and physicians need family mapping tools that recognize friends, ex partners, and community members as legitimate, primary relational figures. Finally, we must name market fundamentalism for what it does to human connection. Affordable housing, universal childcare, and a robust social safety net are not peripheral issues. They are the mechanisms that reduce the crushing structural pressure forcing individuals to bear the full weight of care alone. The chosen family is not a fleeting hashtag, nor is it a consolation prize for those who lack traditional ties. It is what human beings naturally do when the institutions designed to hold them stop holding. It is a profound bet, placed by millions of people every day, often without ceremony, that belonging is something we actively make, not simply something we inherit. In a world structurally designed to pull us apart, that bet is starting to look like the most realistic, resilient plan we have. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Mark Durieux Mark Durieux, Sociologist and Educator Mark Durieux is the developer of the increasingly popular Generative AI app, The Sociological Imagination, and the lead co-author of Social Entrepreneurship For Dummies. He has researched and written extensively on introductory, environmental, economic, urban, and public sociology, as well as on research methods. Mark works with communities and organizations in Canada and abroad to advance social entrepreneurship, equity, and democratic engagement. His mission is to democratize sociological knowledge, thereby inviting the public into critical, hopeful conversations about how society can change for the better.

Written by: Robin C, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. One of the learnings I brought home from my last trip in Mexico was deeper than expected. It wasn't just about the breathtaking landscapes or the mouth watering cuisine, but rather a profound shift in my perspective on death. Something I find extremely hard to even talk about. However, the Mexican celebration of Día de los Muertos illuminated a fresh, vibrant outlook—one that I had not anticipated. This celebration presented a joyous and colorful commemoration of departed loved ones, a stark contrast to the more somber approach I was accustomed to in Italy. The Italian tradition involves a visit to the cemetery on the first day of November. However, in Mexico, the Día de los Muertos is a burst of vibrant colors and joy—a true celebration of life and it almost feels like a street festival. The tradition They create beautiful altars for loved ones – including pets. The altars are adorned with marigolds, candles, photographs, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed. This practice transforms cemeteries into lively and colorful spaces, challenging the conventional gloom associated with it all. The central belief is that, for two days, the spirits of the deceased return to the realm of the living, offering an opportunity for a joyous reunion. It's not just a time to reflect on their lives; it's an invitation to celebrate and reconnect. And everyone should have a great time together again. People go to colourful cemeteries and, depending on the family tradición, it can actually mean dancing, eating – happy activities "with them"! The learning This unique perspective on death as a celebration was a revelation for me. It made the idea of being around death, discussing it openly, and even embracing it during those two special days of the year seem not only acceptable but powerful. It transformed death from a topic of sorrow to an occasion for relieving precious memories and expressing love for those who are not here. The Día de Muertos exemplifies the power of embracing life, and serves as a reminder that love and connection endure beyond the boundaries of life and death. It's a celebration that transcends cultural boundaries, offering a universal lesson in finding joy and beauty in the most unexpected places. Witnessing the celebrations allowed me to view death not as an end but as a continuation of a shared journey, where the departed are still present, if only for a brief moment. It's a beautiful perspective. So powerful. Follow me on Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Robin C Robin C, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Robin is a Travel Lifestyle Coach and the CEO of Our Connected World. With a background in Psychology and over 5 years of Marketing and Mentoring experience, she empowers women in life transitions to embrace a travel lifestyle of time, location, and financial freedom. As an educator and speaker, Robin draws upon her extensive knowledge to guide clients towards boundless possibilities. With a decade of experience as a student abroad, expat, nomad, backpacker, and immigrant, they understand the challenges and joys of a nomadic life. Through coaching, workshops, and speeches, Robin inspires others to break free from conventional living and create a life of adventure and fulfillment.

Written by: Robin C, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Business is business. Every successful venture starts from scratch, fueled by ideas, trials, and the pursuit of sustainability. What I've come to realize on my journey is that, at some point, I played it a bit dumb. Let’s rewind briefly. My business began as a content creation hub— a sanctuary for writers and podcast enthusiasts exploring travel, culture, languages, and personal growth topics. Initially, it was a secondary income stream, but over time, it evolved into my baby. However, I made a mistake. I fell into the trap of thinking that because my venture, Our Connected World, wasn't a traditional startup, the rules for online business somehow differed. I bought into the misconception online that side hustles were a quick ticket to financial success. In my eagerness to grow, I momentarily forgot the six years of valuable experience in business and marketing that I had. The truth hit me like a ton of bricks—a business is a business, whether it's a brick-and-mortar establishment or an online venture. The rules may have some nuances, but the fundamentals remain the same. And that's where I learned a crucial lesson: to succeed, you must treat your business vision, small or big, with the same level of dedication and strategy. Now, some of the ‘evergreen’ concepts I’d like to share with you: 1. Starting vs. Scaling Regardless of the nature of your business, the journey involves two primary phases: starting and scaling. Starting is about laying the groundwork, defining your niche, and understanding your audience. Scaling, on the other hand, is the strategic expansion and growth. Recognizing these distinct phases is essential, as each requires a unique set of strategies and considerations. 2. Customer journey Understanding your customer's journey is paramount. From the moment they discover your business to making a purchase and becoming a loyal advocate, every step matters. Map out this journey, identify pain points, and create a seamless experience that fosters trust and loyalty. In the realm of travel-related businesses, this could mean crafting content that resonates with the wanderlust in your audience and providing valuable insights for their journeys. 3. Content creation Content is the backbone of any online venture, especially in the travel and personal growth niches. Engaging and relevant content not only attracts your target audience but also establishes you as an authority in your field. Whether it's captivating travel stories, language guides, or personal development tips, consistently creating valuable content is key to building a dedicated audience. 4. Copywriting Crafting compelling and persuasive copy is an art that can significantly impact your business. From your website's landing page to social media posts, the words you choose can make or break a potential customer's decision. Develop a unique voice for your brand and use it consistently across all platforms to create a cohesive and memorable brand identity. 5. Other essentials Beyond the core principles mentioned, there are numerous other elements crucial to the success of your business. These include effective communication, adapting to market trends, embracing innovation, and staying informed about the latest tools and technologies in your industry. Keep in mind that staying relevant in the online business landscape requires continuous learning and adaptation. Conclusion: Applying foundations for long-term freedom If your goal is to travel more or achieve long-term freedom through your business, laying the right foundations is non-negotiable. The freedom you seek is directly tied to the strength of your business. The journey from scratch to success is a blend of art, science, and hard work. Whether you're dreaming of creating an online empire or a small business that fuels your passion for travel and your freedom, remember that the rules are not different just because it's happening in the digital realm. Follow me on Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Robin C Robin C, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Robin is a Travel Lifestyle Coach and the CEO of Our Connected World. With a background in Psychology and over 5 years of Marketing and Mentoring experience, she empowers women in life transitions to embrace a travel lifestyle of time, location, and financial freedom. As an educator and speaker, Robin draws upon her extensive knowledge to guide clients towards boundless possibilities. With a decade of experience as a student abroad, expat, nomad, backpacker, and immigrant, they understand the challenges and joys of a nomadic life. Through coaching, workshops, and speeches, Robin inspires others to break free from conventional living and create a life of adventure and fulfillment.

Written by: Robin C, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. In today's world, we often associate the concept of success or building a legacy with grandiose visions of creating the next tech giant like Apple or achieving immense financial success. While these aspirations are admirable, the reality is that legacy can be something much simpler and closer to home. It can be about making a local impact, influencing the lives of those around you, and fostering connections that extend beyond business. There is a common denominator for creating your own success though: leadership. True leadership, whether in your personal life, as a business owner, or as a human being, is about believing in wanting more for yourself and understanding how it affects your relationships with yourself, others, and the natural world. Leadership takes different shades as humans, business owners/careers, and in life. The three faces… The essence of leadership as a human Leadership, at its core, begins with our own selves. To be an effective leader as a human being, one must first embody the qualities and values one wishes to inspire in others. This means self-awareness, self-improvement, and a commitment to personal growth. The concept of building a legacy starts with the belief that we can create positive change within ourselves. It's about striving to become the best version of ourselves, not for external validation or success, but for our own well-being and personal fulfillment. This pursuit of self-improvement, whether through education, self-reflection, or seeking experiences that challenge us, is the foundation of leadership in our lives. Leadership as a human also involves fostering empathy and compassion for others. It's about being a source of support, inspiration, and understanding to those around us. Impacting others positively doesn't always require grand gestures; sometimes, it's the small acts of kindness, a lending ear, or a caring gesture that can make a profound difference. In the context of leadership as a human, building a legacy means leaving a lasting mark through our interactions, influence, and the values we embody. Leadership as a business owner As a business owner, the concept of leadership and legacy takes on a different dimension. While financial success is often the primary goal, true leadership transcends mere profits. It's about creating a sustainable business that not only benefits the owner but also has a positive impact on employees, customers, and the community. It’s about deciding to work on yourself and step into the person you want to become through your work. A legacy in business is about the culture you create. It's about treating employees with respect, fostering a workplace where innovation and creativity thrive, and giving back to the community through corporate social responsibility initiatives. This is also why it's essential to ensure that your business aligns with your personal values and vision. Building a legacy in business means striving for authenticity and staying true to your mission, even in the face of challenges. By doing so, you can create a sense of purpose and passion that resonates with both your team and your customers. In this context, leadership as a business owner involves recognizing that success is not solely measured by profits but by the positive impact you make on the world, near and further from where you are. Leadership in life: Making an impact beyond Leadership in life encompasses the understanding of your interconnectedness with nature and recognizing the responsibility you bear in preserving it for future generations. It is the inner journey. And by recognizing the ripple effect our actions have on our social networks and communities, we can leave a lasting legacy of compassion, kindness, and positive change. The concept of building a legacy in life encourages us to explore the world and experience the richness of diverse cultures, environments, and perspectives. It's about stepping out of our comfort zones, broadening our horizons, and gaining a deeper understanding of the world. By doing so, we not only enrich our own lives but also become better global citizens, promoting unity and understanding. Last reflections The idea of building a legacy is not limited to becoming the next tech giant or amassing immense wealth. True leadership is about striving to be the best version of yourself and believing in growth throughout the journey. Sometimes, the most significant leaps in life can be achieved through many small steps, and the legacy you build may simply be about feeling alive and creating a world that aligns with your values and the freedom you seek. And for all this, you need to step into your leadership. That is the inner journey. It is how you redefine your own success, creating a life that sets your soul on fire. Follow me on Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Robin C Robin C, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Robin is a Travel Lifestyle Coach and the CEO of Our Connected World. With a background in Psychology and over 5 years of Marketing and Mentoring experience, she empowers women in life transitions to embrace a travel lifestyle of time, location, and financial freedom. As an educator and speaker, Robin draws upon her extensive knowledge to guide clients towards boundless possibilities. With a decade of experience as a student abroad, expat, nomad, backpacker, and immigrant, they understand the challenges and joys of a nomadic life. Through coaching, workshops, and speeches, Robin inspires others to break free from conventional living and create a life of adventure and fulfillment.

Robin is a Travel Lifestyle Mentor and the CEO of Our Connected World. With a background in Psychology and over 5 years of Marketing and Mentoring experience, she empowers women in life transitions to embrace a travel lifestyle of time, location, and financial freedom. As an educator and speaker, Robin draws upon her extensive knowledge to guide clients towards boundless possibilities. With a decade of experience as a student abroad, expat, nomad, backpacker, and immigrant, they understand the challenges and joys of a nomadic life. Through coaching, workshops, and speeches, Robin inspires others to break free from conventional living and create a life of adventure and fulfillment. Robin C, Travel Lifestyle Mentor and Educator Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better. I'm Robin, the founder of Our Connected World and an experienced traveller. Exploring unfamiliar destinations, connecting with people and learning about the world is my passion. I have a love for both food and dance. No matter if it's on the street, in a bar, at home, or in a dance class. It brings joy, and that's all that matters. I'm also a fan of sports and outdoor activities. During winter, I like to ski, and during summer, I love camping and hiking. I don’t have pets. I’d like a dog once I settle down a bit more, but for now… I am a plant mum! And I love it. I am Italian, but I have been moving around the world alone for over a decade now. I have been a student abroad, an expat, a nomad, a backpacker and now I am an immigrant in Canada. Because of that, languages are another aspect of my life. From dreaming to even just speak English when I was a small kid to being fluent in four languages. I am a firm believer that languages hold real worlds within them and the key to connection – especially when travelling around. I'm a curious extrovert who also has some introverted qualities. I often think about things deeply and I enjoy writing. My journey began 12 years ago when I left my native land to explore the world by immersing myself in new cultures and learning new skills. I consider myself a continuous learner and an absolute personal growth junkie, and I see travel as more than a passion – it is a “School of Life”. What is the mission and vision of Our Connected World? Could you provide some insights into what inspired you to create this platform? Ironically, it all started during the pandemic. Slowing down with my travels actually gave me time to reflect on how my time living in 8 countries and visiting over 42 has led to unique opportunities and personal growth. Living overseas and experiencing different travel lifestyles has transformed my life and given me a new perspective. To “stay sane,” I started learning more about content creation and eventually launched a podcast called “Journeys Untold,” and I published a bilingual book I wrote. After one year of podcasting, I had a turning point. I wanted to do more: I wanted to help free-spirited individuals worldwide by making travel a part of their everyday lives, by immersing themselves in travel and gaining a deeper understanding of the world and themselves. I knew that helping the wanderlust spirits create financial security and flexibility was necessary for them to make their travel dreams a reality. That’s why I started OCW – to enable individuals to transform their vision board into a real-life adventure. Our mission at OCW is to help let go of everything that’s been holding you back and live an incredible life abroad – full of adventure & personal transformation. Can you explain the core features and functionalities of the Our Connected World platform? How does it enable individuals and communities to connect and collaborate? Our Connected World is a space that encourages people to connect with themselves, places, and others. At the heart of OCW are slow travel, remote work, language learning, and personal growth... The educational academy area is stocked with resources for travel and language courses... There are also mentorship programs that help create a work and travel lifestyle that aligns with individual vision and success plan. A secure and comprehensive hub for growth and networking through education for those who aspire to travel, work remotely, develop a travel business, and simply be themselves. What sets Our Connected World apart from other similar services and courses? Our programs focus on helping individuals transition into remote work with ease, while also enabling them to achieve financial stability and build their online businesses. With our dual-pronged approach, our clients don't just dabble in remote work or entrepreneurship but are deliberately preparing for the ultimate freedom of a travel-centric lifestyle. We recognize that transitioning to remote work can be overwhelming and creating a successful online business takes effort and commitment. Our courses provide direction on how to secure remote jobs, leverage freelance opportunities, or develop digital ventures to maintain a stable income stream while building the business. All through a step-by-step approach. Our clients can fund their travel adventures sustainably, creating a fulfilling and financially sound lifestyle. Secondly, we place a strong emphasis on building the foundational aspects of business and financial literacy. We firmly believe in empowering our clients with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed, steering them away from the misleading allure of MLMs and get-rich-quick schemes. By taking our courses, participants acquire fundamental business principles, comprehend personal finances, and establish a mindset focused on long-term success. Along with these distinguishing factors, we acknowledge how language learning can enrich one's travel experience. While not our primary focus, we offer resources and recommendations for effective language acquisition, enabling our clients to truly immerse themselves in the cultures they encounter during their journeys. If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? Shifting the industry’s mindset away from quick-fix solutions and get-rich-quick schemes is a change I’d like to make. I firmly believe in fostering a culture of genuine skill development, business acumen, and financial literacy. Prioritising foundational learning and sustainable strategies instead of shortcuts empowers individuals to align their businesses and careers with their travel aspirations. This shift would ensure that our industry contributes to personal growth, meaningful experiences, and long-term success, ultimately enhancing the authenticity and sustainability of the travel lifestyle we promote. Additionally, educating individuals about the importance of living abroad and immersing themselves in different cultures is crucial. Often, the allure of travel-centric lifestyles focuses solely on exotic locations, overlooking the valuable personal growth that comes from cultural immersion. By incorporating comprehensive cultural education, we enable travellers to understand and appreciate the places they visit, fostering authentic connections and meaningful experiences. Equally important is educating potential ex-pats about the obstacles associated with extended travel, such as complicated visa requirements, and developing a sustainable lifestyle abroad, which will aid them in making informed decisions and achieving a smooth journey. Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today. During my teenage years, my family moved to Germany, where I had the privilege of attending an international school. This experience fueled my passion for learning English and placed me in a diverse, global environment. Overcoming cultural adjustments and language barriers during the journey had a profound effect on me... My familiar reality had extended beyond Italy's borders, and I began to understand the endless possibilities that awaited me in the wider world. My love for languages became a real skill as I began conversing in languages other than Italian. The challenge of communicating with people who spoke different languages taught me empathy and how to embrace diverse cultures. This even went beyond mere linguistic differences, where I would often extend a helping hand to those struggling to communicate within our group. Through this experience, my perspectives broadened, and my mind expanded. The adventurous spirit that took root within me during my childhood in Italy was then fueling my desire to explore the world. Follow me on Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Robin C

Written by: Robin C, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Italy has always been a country that fascinates people around the world due to its rich history, captivating culture, and breathtaking landscapes. A beautiful country I can proudly call home. A country where, behind the romantic facade, a complex set of challenges has led to a growing trend of young Italians leaving their homeland. As an Italian myself, who has also made the choice to leave, I grapple with the decision of whether to return to a country of undeniable beauty but with economic and political landscapes that often feel daunting. "Why would you live in X when you could be in Italy?" is a question I often encounter abroad. Part of the answer lies in my craving for new experiences and a desire to explore the world. I've always been drawn to living abroad because of this international lifestyle, the opportunity to speak different languages, and the chance to learn about diverse cultures – all of which are integral to my identity. That unending thirst for learning and curiosity seems to be insatiable. But the other part of the answer lies in deeper sociological reflections. Disclaimer: This article is here to shed light on this, not discourage anyone from following their dream to go to Italy. Economic challenges: The unemployment quandary One of the most pressing issues that young Italians face is the specter of unemployment. Recent statistics paint a vivid picture of this concern. In May 2023, Italy's jobless rate dropped to 7.6%, a seemingly positive sign that belies the underlying reality. This decrease from the previous month's 7.8% might appear encouraging, but the backdrop of an economy still recovering from the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic tells a different story. This is perhaps one of the largest factors driving the 'diaspora' currently being experienced in Italy. More recently, I have engaged in discussions with other young Italians living abroad, which is what sparked the idea for this article. Most conversations like these revolve around the same roller coaster of emotions. The absence of a clear path to a prosperous and secure future, the decision to leave and learn a new language, the yearning for the wonderful aspects of Italy (lifestyle, food, climate, nature), and yet, these aren't strong enough reasons for us to return. This is due to salaries, jobs, and affording a normal quality of life. Education and foreign lands While the jobless rate is a sobering statistic, an equally significant aspect to consider is the percentage of Italians who hold a university degree. According to 2019 statistics, 55.4% of Italians with a degree fall within the age group of 25-34. This age group constitutes the majority of those leaving Italy: the youth. Forecasts estimate that by 2050, the population will dwindle to 54 million. Italy is among the 'oldest' countries in Europe. "Some 2 million young Italians – many of them educated and skilled – have left Italy since 2008[...]," says in an interview with NPR Nicola Nobile, an economist at the research and analytics consultancy Oxford Economics. The lack of job security at home, coupled with limited career growth opportunities, compels many to seek better prospects elsewhere. The allure of countries with robust economies and dynamic job markets becomes irresistible, offering the promise of professional advancement that may be elusive within Italy's borders. Economic and political landscape Italy'sintricate economic and political landscape casts a long shadow over the decisions of its youth. The paradox of a nation renowned for its artistic treasures, culinary delights, and unparalleled landscapes coexisting with economic stagnation and political uncertainty presents a puzzle that young Italians often find difficult to navigate. Italian politics have frequently made satirical headlines in international media. Unfortunately, racism has also crept in due to recent political changes. This is a phenomenon that extends beyond Italy's borders, and the rise of extreme right-wing parties is not unique to Italy within Europe. It's a cycle of history that demonstrates how neglecting lessons from the past can lead to perilous outcomes. Knowing what a not-so-distant generation from mine went through (our grandparents), reading such news—whether abroad or not— definitely leaves the heart…with a “bitter taste” [un sapore amaro]. For those of us who have left, the decision is not simply about abandoning our roots; it's about finding more opportunities and ‘care’. Places that enable youth, instead of creating roadblocks around it. Personal dilemmas and emotional ties As an Italian who has chosen to leave, I am intimately familiar with the emotional turmoil that accompanies such a decision. The persistent question of whether to return to a homeland that tugs at our heartstrings clashes with the stark reality of economic instability. The internal conflict between the desire to be part of Italy'sbeauty and culture and the practical need for financial security creates an emotional dilemma that many of us grapple with daily. Conclusion The exodus of Italy's youth is a multifaceted issue rooted in economic challenges, education disparities, and the pursuit of better opportunities. Italy's beauty remains undeniable, yet the economic and political landscape can present an uphill battle for those wishing to remain. It's essential to recognize that the diaspora of young Italians isn't abandonment; rather, it's a quest for growth and stability. In a globalized world with increasingly fluid boundaries, the stories of those who depart can serve as testaments to resilience, ambition, and the pursuit of a better life. It's my hope that the homeland we hold dear will evolve into a place where opportunities flourish, drawing back not only its own but also those who have left in search of brighter horizons. I often dream of having a house in my own country someday. A second base or a retirement spot. However, I sometimes wonder if happiness would persist if nothing changes if I would truly 'fit'. After living in many places, one becomes a global citizen—finding a sense of home in various locations and cherishing nostalgic memories of past homes, all while loving there turn to one's home country. Time and life will reveal whether I'll continue navigating dreams or embark on another chapter in Italy that can become a reality. Follow me on Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Robin C Robin C, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Robin is a Travel Lifestyle Coach and the CEO of Our Connected World. With a background in Psychology and over 5 years of Marketing and Mentoring experience, she empowers women in life transitions to embrace a travel lifestyle of time, location, and financial freedom. As an educator and speaker, Robin draws upon her extensive knowledge to guide clients towards boundless possibilities. With a decade of experience as a student abroad, expat, nomad, backpacker, and immigrant, they understand the challenges and joys of a nomadic life. Through coaching, workshops, and speeches, Robin inspires others to break free from conventional living and create a life of adventure and fulfillment.

Written by Kimberly Ross-Glasper, Author, Transformation Coach & Advocate Kimberly Ross-Glasper is an author, transformational speaker, and emotional healing advocate who helps individuals break generational patterns and reconnect with their authentic selves through inner child work and emotional resilience. Visibility is a transformative tool, especially for women, single parents, and caregivers. It's not just about showing up, it's about stepping into your purpose with clarity and confidence. This article explores how visibility can be harnessed to create lasting change and build meaningful connections. The power of visibility: Why being seen is a catalyst for transformation Visibility is more than exposure. It is more than posting online, showing up to events, or sharing your story. Visibility is a spiritual, emotional, and strategic decision to stop hiding the parts of you that were designed to lead, heal, and influence. For women, single parents, and caregivers, especially those raising children and adults with special needs, visibility is often the missing link between purpose and impact. Many are powerful, gifted, and deeply wise, yet remain unseen because life has conditioned them to shrink, survive, or stay silent. But here is the truth: Your visibility is not about ego. It is about assignments. When you allow yourself to be seen, you give others permission to rise. This article will guide you through how to step into visibility with clarity, confidence, and intention without losing your authenticity or peace. How to harness the power of visibility 1. Start with inner permission Visibility begins long before the world sees you. It starts with the moment you decide you are worthy of being seen. Begin by acknowledging one area where you’ve been hiding. Then ask yourself: What am I afraid will happen if I show up fully? Replace that fear with truth: My voice is needed. My story carries power. Visibility is an internal “yes” before it becomes an external action. 2. Clarify your message People are drawn to purpose, not perfection. To create a powerful connection, ask yourself: What do I stand for? Who am I called to serve? What transformation do I help create? Your message should be simple, authentic, and grounded in your own experiences. When you clearly communicate your purpose and the impact you aim to have, your visibility becomes magnetic, naturally attracting those who resonate with your mission. The clarity of your message is what turns passive viewers into engaged followers. 3. Share your story purposefully, not just publicly Visibility doesn’t demand that you share every detail of your life, it requires you to share what is purposeful and meaningful. Healthy visibility focuses on authentic sharing, where the message adds value and inspires others. Instead of simply showcasing your experiences, frame your visibility around key lessons: “Here’s what I learned,” “Here’s how I grew,” and “Here’s how this can help you.” This approach shifts the focus from performance to leadership. You’re not just presenting your story for the sake of attention, you’re sharing insights and growth to guide others on their own path. 4. Build a consistent presence Consistency is the foundation of trust, and trust is what ultimately builds influence. To establish a strong presence, choose platforms that resonate with your energy and mission. Whether it’s social media, community groups, podcasts, speaking engagements, online memberships, or faith-based or advocacy spaces, select the avenues that align with your values and allow you to make a genuine impact. By showing up regularly, providing value, offering encouragement, and remaining authentic, you create a space where your presence becomes a guiding light. Your consistent visibility will not only attract those seeking guidance but also build a loyal following that trusts you and your message. 5. Create safe visibility boundaries While visibility is essential, it should never come at the cost of your peace. To protect your well-being, it's crucial to set clear boundaries around several key areas. First, decide what you are comfortable sharing, ensure that it aligns with your values and protects your privacy. Next, determine when to share, ensuring you aren’t overextending yourself by feeling the pressure to be constantly visible. It’s also important to define who has access to you to maintain control over your time and energy. Finally, consider how you will protect your emotional and spiritual well-being, ensuring that visibility doesn’t leave you drained. When your visibility is intentional and aligned with your boundaries, it becomes a powerful tool, allowing you to engage with others while maintaining your inner peace. 6. Collaborate and connect Visibility thrives within a strong community. To expand your reach, actively seek out partnerships with like-minded individuals or organizations. Guest features on reputable platforms allow you to share your expertise with new audiences, while interviews give you a chance to showcase your knowledge and insights. Participating in panels provides a space for meaningful discussions, and engaging in cross-platform collaborations helps amplify your message across different channels. When you align with others who share your values and vision, your message naturally expands, often reaching far beyond what you could achieve on your own. Collaboration enables growth without the constant need to push, allowing your impact to spread organically. 7. Let your work speak for you Visibility goes beyond simply showcasing your skills, it’s about highlighting the impact you make. One powerful way to demonstrate this is through tangible examples of your work. For instance, publishing articles can share your insights and experiences with a broader audience, while creating valuable resources adds lasting value to your community. Leading workshops allows you to directly engage with others and make a meaningful difference. Sharing testimonials from those you've helped further solidifies your credibility, and documenting your journey offers an authentic narrative of growth and learning. When you consistently showcase these aspects of your work, you create a living portfolio that reflects your purpose and values. Your actions and contributions speak louder than words, providing a clear picture of who you are and the change you're creating in the world. 8. Embrace courage over comfort Visibility will stretch you. It will challenge old beliefs. It will require you to step into rooms you once felt unqualified for. But courage is not the absence of fear, it is the decision to move anyway. Every time you choose visibility, you break generational silence and create generational possibility. Final thoughts: Your visibility is a ministry Whether you are a mother, a caregiver, a leader, or a woman rebuilding her life, your visibility is not optional. It is part of your calling. When you show up, someone finds hope. Someone feels less alone. Someone discovers their own strength. Someone realizes healing is possible. Visibility is not about being famous. It is about being faithful, and the world is waiting for the version of you that refuses to hide. Join the Raising Resilience SKOOL Community If this message spoke to you, if it reminded you that you are worthy of support, worthy of healing, and worthy of being seen, then I want to personally invite you into a space created with you in mind. The Raising Resilience Skool Community is where women, single parents, and caregivers gather to grow, heal, and rise together. It’s a place where your story is honored, your voice is valued, and your journey is supported with spiritual grounding and practical tools. Inside the community, you’ll find: Weekly soul-care teachings. (Podcast companion lessons, Reflection prompts & healing practices) Supportive conversations with people who understand your world. Workshops, challenges, and upcoming programs designed to elevate your spirit and strengthen your resilience This is more than membership. It’s a movement. A home. A safe place to land and a powerful place to rise. If you’re ready to step into visibility, purpose, and emotional strength with a community that truly sees you, I’d love to welcome you inside. Join the Raising Resilience Community. Your healing has a home. Your growth has a community. Your next level has a pathway, and it starts the moment you say yes. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Kimberly Ross-Glasper Kimberly Ross-Glasper, Author, Transformation Coach & Advocate Kimberly Ross‑Glasper is an Author, Transformation Coach, and Advocate who empowers women, young ladies, and special‑needs families through faith‑centered teaching and practical tools for healing and authentic growth. She leads a SKOOL Community for special‑needs families, creates E‑Learning courses on Teachable, offers coaching and meditation sessions, and hosts the Sacred Healing Podcast. Honored with the 2026 Global Achievement Award in her category, Kimberly is recognized for her unwavering commitment, her impactful leadership, and her dedication to helping others heal, evolve, and walk boldly in their God‑given purpose.

Written by Eva M. Gordon, LCSW, Psychotherapist and Mental Health Consultant Eva Gordon works with individuals, families, and organizations to promote safety, well-being, and self-care. Eva is the founder and director of Life Guide LCSW, P.C., a mental health practice providing psychotherapy and community mental health education. There are several ways to improve our mental well-being and our lives. Some methods include exercising, psychotherapy, healthy eating, sunlight, and sleep. Building on this, it is important to understand that mental health encompasses the well-being of our emotional, psychological, and social lives. The focus is on how you feel inside. Mental health influences how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. When we manage mental health, it prevents us from having serious mental health issues. In addition to traditional methods, as a psychotherapist, I have my clients use writing at times to enhance their mental health and treatment. Writing allows a person to write without judgment, a dictionary, an academic grade, or anyone else’s opinion. Writing gives us a warm space to be ourselves in a world that feels lonely and cold at times. What is journaling? Journaling allows you to slow down, process your thoughts, and reconnect to yourself through writing. You express feelings or thoughts that need clarity or the release of suppressed ideas. Journaling is great for thinking about moments of gratitude and what is happening in your life daily, weekly, or monthly. It allows for self-reflection of our experiences, sorting out our feelings, and creating self-awareness. Related article: 10 Journaling Prompts for Better Mental Health What is expressive writing? Expressive writing is a technique that allows people to write about stressful experiences. The method is to write for 10-20 minutes a few times a week to release emotions or thoughts that have been replaying in a person’s mind. It is best to do this 3-4 times a week. Related article: Speaking of Psychology: Expressive writing can help your mental health, with James Pennebaker, PhD Now that we have explored the types of writing for mental health, let us explore how writing improves your mental well-being in the next three steps: Writing is good for mental clarity. Writing provides insight for problem-solving. Having more insight improves your confidence and helps you make healthier choices for your life. New perspectives are gained on current or old issues or experiences. Allow yourself to explore your unconscious mind and brainstorm solutions for a problem. Studies show that when people write for 5-10 minutes before a therapy session, they feel more focused and express themselves clearly in sessions. Writing improves your physical health. Writing helps with stress reduction, including your blood pressure and breathing. One study showed that 50% of people with rheumatoid arthritis and asthma had “clinically significant” improvement after using expressive writing for 4 months. Writing can also help boost your immune system. Journaling what bothers you or causes you stress helps reduce the risk of disease or illness. Research states that managing stress can reduce the risk of illness. Writing is a container for your emotions and spirit. There is a cleansing and release that happens as writing gives words and language to a highly stressful state. When you give language to an experience or feeling, a definition is made that makes way for the healing process. It provides a container for your feelings, instead of burdening your spirit. Writing creates a place to release your emotions. The famed psychologist, Ira Progoff, says, “Journaling allows us to savor the beauty and stare straight into the pain.” In my private practice, many of my clients struggle with anxiety, or the “what if” of life. When we focus on our worries too much, it impacts our functioning. Keeping our emotions bottled up can result in depression and anxiety. People who have had traumatic experiences show better health outcomes when they do expressive writing for 10 minutes a day for 4 days. When we think about writing, we often think we must be a novelist or a poet. The reality is that writing belongs to all of us, since we all learn to write as a source of communication. The beautiful thing about writing, mainly journaling or expressive writing, is that you are in control and no one is there to judge you. There’s something powerful about reclaiming your power when you feel it’s been taken away by a highly stressful experience, and your emotions get the best of you. So, whenever you think about self-care, or not feeling well emotionally or mentally, open one of the millionth notepads you receive for your birthday or from your job. Start writing for your heart’s content and not worry about spelling or grammar, but release the load of thoughts you have been carrying. If you would like to learn more about writing or other methods to improve your mental health, schedule a consultation with me and see how we can work together. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Eva M. Gordon, LCSW Eva M. Gordon, LCSW, Psychotherapist and Mental Health Consultant Eva M. Gordon, LCSW, is the founder and director of Life Guide LCSW, P.C., a mental health practice providing psychotherapy and community mental health education in the New York City area. Her focus is on providing mental health treatment to the Black community as a source of healing and hope. She mainly works with Black professional women ages 30 and up who struggle with unhealthy relationships. The goal is to help these women recognize that self-care is their birthright and not a privilege. Eva uses several strategies, including exploring behavioral patterns, emotional management, and understanding how multiple factors contribute to a person’s mental health during their lifespan.

Written by Jamee Culbertson, Senior Instructor, Teacher Trainer Jamee Culbertson integrates Taoist practices, the Alexander Technique, and spiritual healing for transformative experiences. She is a Senior Healing Tao Instructor teaching Tai Chi, Qigong, and Taoist meditations at the Universal Tao Boston School of Taoist Practices. Jamee is a teacher trainer certifying teachers in both disciplines. What if lasting change does not begin with trying harder, but with seeing more clearly? The Alexander Technique offers a practical way to understand how perception, habit, and awareness shape our experience, and how learning to notice these patterns can open the door to profound change. Just recently, I was reminded how quickly habit can shape perception. The other day, I stepped into an elevator on my way to the Gay Pride Parade in Boston. An elderly couple was in the elevator as well, a gentleman leaning against the wall and a woman looking at her phone. She said, “It’s so busy here today.” I spoke up, “Many people are going to the gay pride march in Boston today.” She did not look up from her phone. Upon reflection, I noticed how I immediately thought she held disdain for gay pride, and I felt myself separate from her. After what felt like a very long moment, she looked up from her phone, smiling, and said out loud, “Oh, the gay pride parade is happening in Boston today.” She said it as if she had just read it on her phone rather than having heard me tell her about it. There was no disdain in her discovery or remark. My judgment was totally based on my own past experience and not on the present reality. I’m glad I could recognize that. I felt my body soften, and I returned a smile. We don't see the world as it is, we see it through ourselves Have you ever been convinced someone was upset with you, only to discover later that they were simply distracted? Or perhaps you've tried to improve your posture, speak more confidently, stop a habit, or stay calm under pressure, only to find yourself doing exactly what you intended not to do. Most of us assume that we experience reality directly. We believe we see what is there, feel what is happening, and respond accordingly. Yet F. M. Alexander discovered something surprising: our perception of ourselves is often shaped more by habit than by present reality. He called this faulty sensory appreciation. This does not mean our senses are defective. It means that familiar patterns of thinking, feeling, and reacting can become so normal that we mistake them for truth. What feels right may simply be what feels familiar. Over time, these habits become the lens through which we experience ourselves and the world. The challenge is not that we have habits. The challenge is that we often do not realize we are looking through them. Habit is more than repetition Habit is intelligence that has stopped updating itself to present conditions. What once served us well can continue long after the circumstances that created it have disappeared. What feels right may simply be what feels familiar. When most people think of habit, they think of repeated behaviors. The Alexander Technique points to something deeper. Habit is not merely repeated behavior; it is repeated interpretation. My system is trying to help me using old information. Our nervous system learns to anticipate what experience means before experience is fully present. Eventually, these interpretations become so familiar that we stop recognizing them as learned responses. They become the lens through which all new experience is filtered. A person who has been told for years that they are shy may continue to experience themselves that way long after the evidence suggests otherwise. Another may believe they have poor posture and spend years trying to "sit up straight," unknowingly creating more tension in the process. The challenge is not that we have habits. The challenge is that we often cannot see the assumptions embedded within them. In this sense, habit is intelligence that has stopped updating itself to present conditions. Because perception and action are deeply intertwined, habit is never only physical. It influences how we interpret situations, how we anticipate outcomes, and how we experience ourselves. We do not simply repeat movements. We repeat ways of perceiving. Why trying harder often doesn't work Many of us assume that change requires more effort. If something is not working, we try harder. If a habit persists, we apply more discipline. If we feel stuck, we push. Yet effort alone often produces frustration because it operates within the very patterns we are trying to change. Alexander observed that people frequently use the same habitual responses to solve the problems those responses helped create. Trying harder may strengthen a pattern rather than reveal it. This is one reason genuine change can feel elusive. We are attempting to solve the problem from inside the assumptions that created it. Inhibition: The freedom not to repeat the familiar One of Alexander's most important discoveries was what he called inhibition. The word is often misunderstood as stopping or pausing before action. In practice, it is something more subtle. Inhibition is the ability to notice a familiar response without immediately following it. It is the moment of freedom that appears when we become aware of a habit before fully committing to it. Not stopping. Not suppressing. Not forcing. Simply becoming available to another possibility. This shift may be small, but it changes everything. It allows the nervous system to reorganize rather than automatically repeat what it already knows. The moment we become aware of a habitual pattern without immediately obeying it, something new becomes possible. When interference falls away When habitual patterns are not constantly reinforced, something remarkable begins to happen. Breathing adjusts naturally. Balance recalibrates. Movement becomes easier. Attention becomes clearer. What once felt like effort often reveals itself as unnecessary interference. This does not mean becoming passive or doing nothing. Rather, it means discovering how much intelligent coordination is already present when we stop trying to control every aspect of experience. The Alexander Technique is not primarily about adding something new. It is often about removing what gets in the way. What neuroscience is beginning to confirm Modern neuroscience increasingly describes the nervous system as predictive. Rather than passively receiving information, the brain continuously generates expectations about what is likely to happen next. Perception is not simply taking in reality. It is an ongoing process of prediction and updating. When those predictions remain flexible, we adapt well. When they become rigid, we begin responding to expectations rather than to present circumstances. Seen this way, learning is not merely the acquisition of new information. It is the discovery of where existing interpretations have become mistaken for reality. Consider someone learning the Alexander Technique. They may feel perfectly upright while actually pulling their head back, tightening the neck, and compressing the spine. When they discover a more coordinated way of organizing themselves, it often feels wrong at first. Not because it is wrong, but because their perception has adapted to the familiar pattern. This was Alexander's great insight: feeling by itself cannot always be trusted when habit is involved. Faulty sensory appreciation does not mean our senses are defective. It means our interpretation of sensory information has been conditioned by habit. The system is not malfunctioning. It is relying on an outdated map. The space within action We often imagine that perception comes first and action follows. Real experience is rarely that simple. Perception and action continuously influence one another. The way we see affects how we move. The way we move affects how we see. What matters is not finding a perfect moment before action. What matters is becoming sensitive to the quality of attention within action itself. This sensitivity does not interrupt life. It changes how we participate in it. Taoist wisdom and effortless order The Taoist tradition points toward a remarkably similar understanding. As the Tao Te Ching states: "The Tao does nothing, yet nothing is left undone." This is not a call to inactivity; it points toward action without unnecessary interference. A tree does not strain to grow. A river does not force itself to flow. Living systems possess an inherent intelligence. When excessive control softens, a more natural order often emerges. Change begins with curiosity Most people approach change with judgment. They notice tension and try to get rid of it. They notice a habit and try to fix it. They notice discomfort and try to overcome it. The Alexander Technique invites a different approach. Instead of asking, "How do I fix this?" we begin by asking, "What am I doing that contributes to this experience?" Curiosity often reveals possibilities that effort cannot. Learning to see anew Perhaps the greatest gift of the Alexander Technique is not improved posture, reduced tension, or greater ease of movement, although all of these may occur and are a welcome benefit. Its deeper gift is the possibility of seeing ourselves more clearly. Most difficulty arises not from a lack of intelligence but from interference with it. Much of that interference comes from interpretations that have become so familiar we no longer recognize them as interpretations. We mistake our conclusions for reality, our expectations for perception, our habits for ourselves. The good news is that perception can be educated. We can learn to notice our assumptions. We can learn to recognize when habit is speaking louder than present experience. We can become curious about reactions we once took for granted. In Alexander's work, this is not achieved through force or self-improvement. It begins with observation. The moment we become aware of a habitual pattern of being without immediately following through with it, something new becomes possible. We discover we are not condemned to repeat the past. We can learn to see anew. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jamee Culbertson Jamee Culbertson, Senior Instructor, Teacher Trainer Jamee is a Senior Instructor at the Universal Tao Boston School, teaching Tai Chi, Qigong, and Taoist meditation. With nearly 40 years of experience, she integrates Taoist practices, the Alexander Technique, and spiritual healing. She is an internationally certified Alexander Technique Instructor and teacher-trainer at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Jamee has taught at Harvard University, Mass General’s Home Base program for veterans, and community wellness events like Rosie’s Place. Her work blends ancient wisdom and modern techniques to support healing, balance, and self-awareness.

Written by Aleta St. James, Energy Healer and Life Coach Aleta St. James is a globally renowned energy healer, intuitive, bestselling author, and transformational coach. Known as the “Indiana Jones of the Soul,” she has spent decades helping people achieve greater success, vitality, abundance, and purpose through her pioneering energy transformation methods. For decades, society has taught us to fear aging. The stigmas facing us as we get older are everywhere. We are told vitality fades. That our best years are behind us. That after a certain age, life somehow becomes smaller, quieter, or less meaningful. It’s become a subconscious fact of life, getting older is a tragedy, but does it? As the woman who famously gave birth to twins at 57, making worldwide headlines in 2004, and who is busier and more vibrant than ever at 78, I do not believe that. I believe in winding up, not down. It’s my vision, my purpose, and passion to bring this message, energy and reality to the masses. To be sure, I have faced plenty of naysayers in my life. One recent example truly shocked me. I was rocking the crowd at a recent “Own Your Worth” conference in Las Vegas, with my signature Chakra Balance activation, where I channel high frequency energy and personally guide everyone through a release, clear, and recreate meditation with light, drumming, movement, and positive affirmations, designed to release trauma, shatter limiting beliefs, and align them with their highest self. As the rhythm built, the room was electric, people were feeling a sense of unlimited possibility, making breakthroughs, and experiencing a sense of agelessness and empowerment. But nothing prepared me for what came next. A colleague who had witnessed the life-changing energy in that Vegas ballroom was so moved that she shared a video of the event with a well-known therapist, a woman in her seventies. Expecting a rave, this was the woman’s response, “She’s dangerous. She’s afraid to get old and die.” My colleague, who had seen countless breakthroughs in my work and in her own life, was stunned. When she told me the story, the words hit like a thunderbolt. When I had my twins at fifty-seven, I endured plenty of naysayers. What unsettled me this time was the realization of how fiercely our culture clings to the belief that aging equals decline. What one woman interpreted as dangerous, thousands in that ballroom experienced as liberating, imagine that. The result was that this made me even more determined to embody my message of agelessness, empower others, and shatter societal stigmas. People often ask me, “How is it possible to live agelessly?” My answer is always the same. Agelessness is not a number. It is a mindset that creates a higher frequency. Here’s what I mean by that. Everything in life carries energy, our thoughts, emotions, beliefs, relationships, environments, habits, and the stories we tell ourselves every single day. Over time, many people unconsciously absorb frequencies of fear, stress, resentment, limitation, disappointment, hopelessness, and emotional exhaustion. These energies affect not only the mind but also the body, vitality, relationships, confidence, creativity, and overall well-being. But at any age, a setback can come in many people’s lives when they begin to disconnect from themselves, their passions and joys, and surrender to the negative feeling that it’s all over. I have seen people in their thirties who already feel emotionally defeated, uninspired, disconnected, and old. I’m sure that some of you can relate. One woman in her mid-30s recently came into my healing studio in Manhattan for a session, saying she wanted to realize her dream of marriage and children, but she was already too old. I broke the ice by laughing and saying, “Hey, I had twins at 57, and now they’re old enough to drive! You’re 35, you’re still a baby!” She looked at me for a moment, then she laughed, and said, “You don’t look your age at all!” I replied as I always do, “And I never will.” During our session, I scanned her energy and identified the issue. She had a trauma around a life tragedy, her mother dying of cancer in her late 20s. So this woman unconsciously identified herself as already too old for marriage and children. But the subconscious blocks are not logical, but they’re 90 percent of how we function. Through the healing light energy I channel, breath, and emotional release work, I helped her let go of that trauma and sadness from her heart center. Then I asked her to imagine “what else is possible?” She released that vision of being too old, and started to believe she could attract the life she wanted, with a husband and children. Over the weeks, I worked with her to magnetically attract the perfect partner, which ultimately led to marriage and the birth of an amazing child. In my work, I have found that many people are not truly exhausted because of age, they are exhausted because they have disconnected from their life force, which is fueled by living in a reality of joy, love, and gratitude. So many people live entirely inside stress and survival mode that they forget how healing creativity, beauty, music, laughter, movement, nature, spirituality, meaningful connection, and passion can actually be. Here’s a powerful way to connect with your life force energy. Right now, I’d like you to jump in and experience one of my quick shift exercises. Imagine a gold sun six inches above your head. If you can’t see the color, imagine something that’s the color gold. The power of gold light is that it transforms energy and you will connect with it. Take a deep breath and feel that this gold light is connecting with the breath, and coming in through your nose, to the count of four. Now hold anything that’s stressful or negative, then breathe it out through your mouth for the count of six. Do that until you feel calm and clear. Then say to yourself, “Isn’t it wonderful that now I am.” and add whatever joy and self-loving thing you want to focus on. This immediately gets you into a more optimistic, high-frequency place and elevates your mood. It puts you immediately into that “anything is possible” joy. Agelessness is not about pretending to be younger than we are. It is about remaining connected to your vital life force of curiosity, creativity, openness, purpose, inspiration, emotional aliveness, and the ability to continue evolving at every stage of life. It is about refusing to surrender your spirit simply because society expects you to. I look forward to sharing more of these insights, success stories, and the latest in longevity breakthroughs and ancient practices combined with neuroscience, so you can learn the secrets of living an ageless life. If you’ve ever wondered whether your best years could still be ahead of you, I promise you, they can. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Aleta St. James Aleta St. James, Energy Healer and Life Coach Aleta St. James is a world-renowned energy healer, intuitive coach, and author who helps people transform their lives from the inside out. For over 30 years, she has guided clients to attract love, enhance fertility, grow their careers, increase financial flow, and embody ageless living and vitality at any age. Aleta embodies the rare ability to awaken, balance, and transform energy fields at the deepest level. Her unmatched vibrancy is living proof of her mastery in energy work and longevity.

Jelle Pieter van der Tas is the founder and CEO of AIVAS, a Singapore-based AI infrastructure company building the interaction layer that enables machines to see, hear, and understand humans in real environments. Noisy food courts, busy airports, multilingual hospitals. Having moved from the Netherlands to pursue his vision in APAC, he is on a mission to solve what he calls AI’s three fundamental blind spots: environmental failure, emotional blindness, and identity fracture. In this interview, Jelle Pieter shares why today’s AI falls apart the moment it leaves the demo room, how AIVAS’s AI Interaction Model (AIM) gives any AI the social skills it’s missing, and what it takes to build technology that truly adapts to humans rather than forcing humans to adapt to it. Jelle Pieter van der Tas, Founder, AIVAS, Conversational AI Solutions Can you share the story behind how discovering generative AI inspired you to leave your corporate career and start AIVAS? I always had this problem where I’d come up with a new business idea every week, but never had the resources to actually build it. When vibe coding was born, I suddenly had the ability to make the visions I had a reality without needing a team of devs. So I started using my spare time to build and didn’t stop till I had something I felt proud showing. I started asking for feedback and it came to a point where I thought to myself, why wait? I had made a promise to myself that year: “I would live a year without fear.” So I made the decision to quit my job and move to the other side of the world. No safety net, no promises, just me, my laptop and a good amount of discipline. I started out in Vietnam, worked in the middle of the rice fields of Hoi An and had a great time. Then, through a mutual acquaintance, I was invited to meet a potential investor in Singapore. Without any guarantee or prior conversations, I just packed my stuff and flew over for a meeting. That meeting changed my life. They liked what I’d built and decided to invest in me. Together, we founded AIVAS. What sets AIVAS’s AI Interaction Model (AIM) apart from other AI systems, especially in environments that are unpredictable or multilingual? Currently, all the big players are focusing on making AI smarter. We are trying to make it more human by giving it the senses and social skills it lacks. The problem I had was that whenever I wanted to show someone a conversational AI solution that I’d built, I had to ask everyone to be quiet because it doesn’t understand who is talking and when. It just listens if it hears someone talk, and as soon as there is some silence, it thinks it needs to respond. This isn’t human at all and is exactly the problem we are solving. Our AI can not only hear but also see you and understand who is talking and when. We do this by giving it eyes, ears and interaction intelligence. These three things combined allow our model to perform in any unpredictable environment. It can be loud and messy. The AI understands who is trying to speak with it by mimicking human behaviour. Is the person looking at me? Are their lips moving? Do I hear the person speak? Our AI knows when it’s being addressed, when it needs to respond, and when it needs to shut up. It can do this in any language, for any application and any environment. If there is a human trying to interact with AI using their voice, there is a need for AIVAS’s AIM model. We are the layer that sits in front of LLMs, which makes us model agnostic. As LLMs get better, we get better. How do you envision the future of AI evolving in physical spaces like hospitals or airports, where traditional systems struggle? AI adds a lot of value in busy airports, hospitals, schools and other unpredictable, loud environments. But these are exactly the environments where the current stateless, emotionally blind, noise-sensitive AI fails. The next five years will look like this: AI moves from being a new way to Google stuff to helpful, humanlike friends. You will build relationships with AI that come eerily close to the ones you have with humans. Imagine you’re walking around a big shopping mall looking for a good restaurant. You see a robot and walk up to it. It sees you approach, understands you want to ask it something and greets you: “Hey there, can I help you?” You say: “Yeah, I’m looking for a good restaurant.” The robot replies: “Anything you’re craving?” You respond: “I could go for some good pizza.” The robot says, “Mamma Mia has some great pizza, want me to walk you there?” You agree, and together with your newly made friend, you walk over to the restaurant. But it doesn’t stop there. While walking, it asks your name and where you’re from. You have a little chat, and after arriving at the restaurant, you say goodbye. Now, the following week, you happen to be in a different mall to check out Apple’s latest MacBook. You see another robot, and to your surprise, when you walk up to it, it greets you by name. It even asks how the pizza was. Confused, you ask how it knows. The robot explains that the AIM model it runs on can remember and recognise faces. No matter where you are or what product you interact with, as long as it runs AIM, it remembers you. AI is often critiqued for being too rigid in understanding human emotions. How does AIVAS integrate emotional awareness to create more authentic interactions? We train our model on hundreds of thousands of interactions. The current models focus on the voice sounding human, but not on actually being human. Because we train our model on how we talk and not on how we sound, it becomes much more natural and empathetic. Just like us, our AIM model uses all vocal and visual cues to understand not just what you are saying but how you are saying it. This makes it able to understand if you are being sarcastic or serious, whether you’re saying something in a sad way or an angry one. Our AI has learned all the small nuances that we humans have evolved to understand. This allows it to be much more emotionally aware than the current models. In what ways does AIVAS address the challenges of working in diverse, multilingual environments across APAC, especially with languages like Singlish and Hinglish? APAC is the hardest place in the world to build voice AI, and that’s exactly why we built here. In a single food court in Singapore, a customer might order in Singlish, switch to Mandarin for the aunty behind the counter, and check with their kid in English. All in one sentence. Most global AI is trained on clean, mostly Western data. It breaks the moment you introduce real Singlish, Hinglish, or any of the hundreds of dialects that actually live across this region. Our approach has two parts. First, because we are model agnostic, we can support 100+ languages, including the ones that rarely get first-class treatment. Second, and this is the part that compounds: every kiosk we deploy feeds real-world, noisy, multilingual data back into the model. Every frustrated customer, every aunty, every rushed order makes AIM better. By the time a Western competitor realises APAC matters, we’ll have years of training data from environments they never even attempted. As someone who’s moved from the Netherlands to Singapore to pursue your entrepreneurial vision, how has that international experience shaped AIVAS’s approach to AI solutions? Being an outsider makes you see things differently. This can work for you and against you. But in my experience, even though there are small nuances everywhere in habits and customs, humans tend to be the same everywhere. This is also baked into AIVAS. “What makes us human is not defined by language, it’s how we interact with one another.” This is why we focus on interactions instead of language. We believe that the way we communicate is much more than the words we use. That’s why we focus on making our AI both emotionally and culturally aware. An AI that communicates in a Western way might feel very out of place when you put it in an Asian food court. Our AI adapts. You’ve mentioned that privacy is a right, not a luxury. How does AIVAS ensure privacy while still delivering seamless, human-like AI interactions? In a world where privacy can no longer be guaranteed and companies are hard to trust, AIVAS wants to be transparent. We don’t store audio or video. We translate everything into numbers and train our models on a combination of metrics that is completely anonymous. But in our vision, we do want AI to recognise you for your own convenience. This, of course, needs your consent as a user. So as long as you haven’t agreed to us creating a personalised profile, we won’t store any data. What personal growth habits do you rely on to stay grounded, and how have they influenced your leadership at AIVAS? My most important habit is hitting the gym. Even though it’s hard to stay consistent when your life is anything but consistent, it’s the thing that will always keep me grounded, gets rid of my cortisol and keeps me healthy. It also motivates me to keep my diet in check, and whenever I do let go for a bit, I don’t have to feel guilty. Besides the gym, continuous learning and staying curious are two of the most important things to improve yourself each day. I tend to take long walks and listen to audiobooks, read and watch a lot of YouTube. This keeps the mind sharp and open to new ideas. Finally, journaling before bed is an amazing habit, and having a clear set of values and rules you live by keeps you stable and sound whenever you have to make decisions or deal with difficult situations. You have to program your computer, a.k.a. your brain, so that it can follow a script and you don’t have to overthink everything. That allows for living a life with a lot less stress. Looking ahead, what’s the one takeaway you’d like to share with entrepreneurs or tech leaders about building AI solutions that truly make a difference in people’s lives? The most important thing is asking yourself why. Why are you doing what you’re doing? If you had to do it for the coming 20 years, would you still do it? Then there are all the other W questions. Who are you solving it for? What does it solve? When do they want it? Where do they want it? Then, when you have an answer to why, who, what, when, and where you’re building, and you’ve decided you still want to do it, the most important thing is to focus. I think one of the most common mistakes of entrepreneurs is not focusing on the right thing. But most importantly, sometimes you get a client who wants something you could offer, but it’s not what you’re trying to build. Too many founders pivot because they want to make money and leave their vision behind. “Sometimes you must do the hard thing and say no.” Keep your focus on the original vision if you believe it’s the right one. For me, this has worked. For others, the pivot is what saved them. But then you’ve got to ask yourself: was the original idea even sound? I think as an entrepreneur, you have to have the natural gift of knowing when and how to change strategy and when to stay the course. But if you don’t believe your vision, no one else will. Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Jelle Pieter van der Tas

Written by Nelia Camara Pereira, Founder, Carnelian Heart™ Nelia Camara Pereira is the founder of Carnelian Heart™ and creator of the Soul-First™ philosophy. Drawing from her own journey through loss, reinvention, and personal transformation, she writes about identity, conscious leadership, authentic living, and what it means to remain human in an increasingly AI-driven world. There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that doesn’t come from doing too much. It comes from doing it as someone you’re not entirely sure is you. If you’ve ever felt strangely invisible inside a life you worked hard to build, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken. You may simply have been performing a role for so long that you forgot there was another option. We were shaped before we could choose Childhood locked away my soul and I wore survival as a costume. It took me a lifetime to understand what that sentence meant, and longer still to stop wearing it. Most of us were never asked who we were. We were asked to be good. To be quiet. To be grateful. To be appropriate. To be what the room needed us to be. We learned (very early, before we had words for it) that belonging meant compliance. That love had conditions. That the self was something you managed, not something you expressed. We were not broken by cruelty. Most of us were shaped by ordinary life by families doing their best inside their own fears, their own unmet needs, their own inherited roles. But the effect was the same. We learned to perform before we learned to exist. The role arrives before the self does There is a role waiting for most of us before we are born. The responsible one. The peacekeeper. The achiever. The invisible one. The one who holds it together. The one who causes no trouble. We did not choose these roles. They were assigned, through expectation, through silence, through the things that were praised and the things that were not. Because we were children, because belonging felt like survival, we wore them. We wore them so consistently, so completely, that eventually we forgot they were costumes. Psychologists have long understood that identity formation in early life shapes the foundation for adult functioning. What’s less often acknowledged is how many of us built that foundation around a role we were handed, not one we chose. Developmental psychologist Erik Erikson described identity formation as one of the central tasks of human development. In his theory of psychosocial development, the stage of Identity vs Role Confusion explores how individuals begin forming a sense of self separate from external expectations. Yet for many people, that process becomes entangled with the roles they learned were necessary for belonging. The achiever. The caretaker. The peacekeeper. Over time, adaptation can become so familiar that it feels like identity itself. Sociologist Erving Goffman suggested that much of human interaction resembles a performance. In his dramaturgical theory, people learn to present versions of themselves that fit the expectations of the environments they inhabit. While these performances help us belong, they can become so familiar that we forget they are performances at all. What began as an adaptation can slowly become an identity. This is not a childhood wound story. This is a human story. Because the roles do not end when we leave home. They follow us. Into our relationships. Into our careers. Into the way we show up in rooms where we feel we must earn our place. Into the decisions we make from fear of judgement rather than from the truth of who we are. The obedient child becomes the adult who cannot disappoint. The invisible one becomes the professional who over-delivers and under-speaks. The peacekeeper becomes the one who holds everyone together while quietly disappearing from their own life. The world rewards this. That is the difficult truth. The world gives trophies to people who perform their roles beautifully. The achiever becomes the person who mistakes exhaustion for purpose. The responsible one becomes the person everyone depends on, but no one asks about. The good one becomes the person who can sense everyone else's needs while remaining disconnected from their own. The verdict disguised as concern I became a mother at nineteen. Before I had time to find my footing, the opinions arrived. You’ll never get anywhere now. What will people think. What will people say. These were not questions. They were verdicts. Delivered with the particular confidence that comes from people who have never had to question their own assumptions. Something in me knew (even then, even young) that I refused to become only what that moment said I was. But refusal is not the same as freedom. You can resist the role the world assigns you and still be trapped inside the roles you assigned yourself long before that. I did make something of my life. By many measures, considerably. But some things took longer. Not because I wasn’t capable. Because I didn’t yet know which parts of me were truly mine and which parts were performances I had rehearsed so many times they felt like identity. Survival is not a soul There comes a moment (for many of us, it arrives through loss, through stillness, through a life event that strips the noise away) when the question surfaces that we have been outrunning. Who have I been? Not who am I. Who have I been? It is a different question. Quieter. More honest. It asks you to look back at the roles, the performances, the choices made from fear, the sacrifices made for belonging, the voice you lowered so others could feel comfortable. It asks you to consider the possibility that what you called strength was sometimes survival. That which you called selflessness was sometimes self-erasure. That's what felt like your personality was sometimes a costume you had been wearing so long you forgot there was something underneath. This is not about blame. Not of the people who shaped you, not of yourself. This is about recognition. Because you cannot unlearn what you have not first seen. Research published by Wood, Linley, Maltby, Baliousis, and Joseph (2008) in the Journal of Counseling Psychology found that self-alienation, the experience of feeling disconnected from one's true self, is consistently linked to lower self-esteem, reduced life satisfaction, and poorer psychological well-being. Conversely, people who report living authentically demonstrate measurably higher well-being across both subjective and psychological dimensions. The research is unambiguous: the distance between who we are and how we live is not neutral. It has a cost. The work is not what you think People hear the word unlearning and assume it means dismantling. Tearing things down. A painful excavation of everything you thought you were. It is not that. Unlearning is the quiet, courageous act of returning to yourself. Of asking (gently, honestly, persistently) which parts of how I live actually belong to me. Which choices come from my own truth and which come from the fears of others that I absorbed so young I mistook them for my own. It is learning to trust yourself as a source. Not the expectations of the room. Not the verdict of people who have never had to sit with your particular life. Not the inherited beliefs that were handed to you before you were old enough to question them. It is choosing, perhaps for the first time, to live from the inside out. A question worth sitting with I am not asking you to abandon your life. I am asking you to look at it with honest, compassionate curiosity. Which roles are you still performing? Not because you chose them consciously. But because they were there when you arrived, and you have never stopped to ask whether they still fit. Whether they ever fit. Your soul was not lost. It was not broken. It was set aside quietly, necessarily, in the way children do when belonging feels more urgent than becoming. The work of a lifetime is not achievement. It is not success as the world defines it. It is finding your way back to what was always there. Waiting. Patient. Underneath everything you were told to be. Find a quiet moment You don't need a journal. You don't need a structured process. You need ten minutes where no one needs anything from you. Sit with the question below and let it surface whatever it surfaces. There is no wrong answer. Ask yourself one question Which version of me shows up most often, and did I choose them? Notice what comes up. Not to judge it. Not to fix it. Simply to see it. Recognition is where everything begins. Stay with what you notice If something shifts in you as you sit with that question (a tightness, a sadness, a quiet relief) that is not a problem. That is information. Your nervous system has been holding this for a long time. You are simply giving it space to be acknowledged. You don't have to do anything yet Unlearning is not urgent. It does not ask you to dismantle your life or make dramatic decisions. It only asks you to begin seeing (clearly, honestly, without self-blame) what has been true for longer than you realised. That seeing is enough for today. If something in this article felt familiar That recognition (the quiet discomfort of seeing yourself in the roles, the performances, the cost of them) is not something to scroll past. It is the beginning of something. The Unlearning™ is a book about exactly this. About the survival identities we form before we know ourselves, and the slow, courageous work of returning to who we actually are underneath them. It releases on 1st July 2026. If this is the conversation you've been waiting to have with yourself, it's almost time. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Nelia Camara Pereira Nelia Camara Pereira, Founder, Carnelian Heart™ Nelia Camara Pereira is the founder of Carnelian Heart™ and creator of the Soul-First™ philosophy. Following the death of her mother in 2017, she began a profound journey of self-discovery that would inspire her writing, teaching, and life's work. Today, she writes and speaks on identity, personal transformation, conscious leadership, and authentic living. She is the author of Seeker of Light, Soul-First™, and The Unlearning™, and is passionate about helping people reconnect with who they are beneath the roles, expectations, and survival patterns that shape their lives. Her mission is simple: to help others remember who they were before the world told them who to be.