A Mother's Journey:

Navigating Life, Business, and Family — One Day at a Time

How I Almost Made My Biggest Ever Mistake Yesterday

Yesterday taught me one of the most powerful lessons of my life.

I was sitting at the kitchen table with my eldest son, my 15-year-old, giving him what I thought was “good advice.”
The kind of advice we mothers give because we want our children to be safe, stable, and secure.

I told him he should take a job he doesn’t really like — simply because it pays well.

Even writing this now… it hurts a little.
Because the moment the words left my mouth, I could feel the old patterns speaking.
The patterns of fear.
The patterns of “be responsible,”
“be practical,”
“choose safety over joy.”

But my son looked at me calmly and said:

“Mom, I want to do something that’s fun and something I can earn money with.”

In that instant, I felt the world stop around me.

The 45-Year Gap Between Knowing and Living

I spent 45 years trying to give myself permission to do exactly that — to earn money doing what I love.
And only a few months ago did I finally walk away from my corporate identity and step fully into my mission as a therapist and coach.

For years I told my three boys:

“Choose happiness over money.”
“Choose purpose over pressure.”

Yet I wasn’t living it myself.

And yesterday, for a moment, I almost passed that limitation down to my son.

That was the moment it hit me:
I wasn’t talking to my 15-year-old son…
I was talking against my own 15-year-old self.

The girl who wanted to skydive, snowboard, bungee jump, explore the world…
Not sit in a meeting room.
(Not to offend anyone — this was just my truth, the truth I ignored for too long.)

Luckily, my son didn’t back down.
He kept explaining what he wants.
He still plans to go to university.
He still wants a future he can build on.
But instead of working in the local shop, he wants to be a snowboard instructor.

And before our conversation ended, I realized something powerful:

He wasn’t being irresponsible.
He was being true to himself.
He was doing what so many adults — including me for years — are terrified to do.

What Would You Tell Your Child?

If your child came to you and said:

“I want a life that feels like mine.”
“I want joy, not just survival.”
“I want meaning, not just money.”

What would you tell them?

Most mothers would say:
“I want you to be safe… but I also want you to be free.”

The truth is…

✨ We can only teach our children to choose themselves
when we have learned to choose ourselves.

✨ We can only empower them to follow their passion
when we stop apologising for ours.

✨ We can only raise emotionally free adults
when we stop living as emotionally restricted ones.

My son mirrored back to me a truth I had forgotten:

When we reconnect with who we truly are, we unconsciously give permission for our children to do the same.

Why I Share This With You

If you are a woman in your 40s…
Maybe in a stable job, a marriage that feels “fine,” a life that looks good from the outside…
But inside, you feel something missing…

Then this story is for you.

Because your children learn far more from who you are
than from what you say.

Living your truth is the greatest legacy you can leave them.

You don’t need to quit your job tomorrow.
You don’t need a radical change.

But you do deserve to remember yourself.
To rediscover your own desires.
To reconnect with that younger version of you — the dreamer, the explorer, the free one.

And when you do…
Your children feel it.
They see it.
And they follow it.

Your Journey Matters — And It’s Never Too Late

Whether you’re rebuilding confidence, redefining your identity, or navigating a major life transition…

Your healing becomes their permission.
Your growth becomes their compass.
Your happiness becomes their courage.

This is why I work with women like you.
Because when a mother rises —
the whole family rises with her.

A Gentle Call to Action

✨ If you’re ready to reconnect with who you really are…
✨ If you want to live your passion without guilt…
✨ If you want to become the mother who leads by example…

…I invite you to explore the tools, sessions, and programs on Rise2Shine.me.

Because your story matters.
Your happiness matters.
And your children deserve a mother who chooses herself — unapologetically.

Thank you for being here with me, for walking this messy, meaningful path, one day at a time.

With love,

Anita

Anita Keszthelyi
Founder, Rise2Shine GmbH