Unlucky for Some. A Little Magic for Others.
It's Friday the 13th!
For some people, that means bad luck, broken mirrors, black cats and perhaps being a little more careful about walking under ladders. But I've never really seen Friday the 13th that way.
In fact, I tend to believe quite the opposite.
I've always felt a connection to the cycles of the moon, the signs we sometimes encounter along the way, and the possibility that the universe might just have our backs — especially when we're not entirely sure where we're going.
And perhaps that's why today feels like a perfect opportunity to talk about something that sits at the heart of Emotional & Mental Wellness Week: how we navigate life's unexpected turns.
You may have heard the phrase, "Fall Seven, Rise Eight." If not, it's one I really enjoy chanting in my mind when I find myself face down in the mud.
The disappointment. The self-doubt. The questioning of our abilities, our worth, or the direction we thought our lives were taking. I know those feelings all too well.
Sometimes the Unexpected Creates New Possibilities
When I look back on my life, I can see how certain experiences shaped not only my decisions, but also how I understood myself.
Losing my dad. Navigating difficult professional relationships. Experiencing unexpected career changes.
And one particular disappointment that changed my direction.
After nearly 30 years of professional experience, I didn't get a job I wanted, in part because I didn't have a master's degree. I was in disbelief really - I wasn't even screened in! 30 years of professional experience and those feelings of "you're not smart enough" flooded to the forefront of my brain, echoing down the corridor of pathways long forgotten.
And then my defiant side. The one that say - 'hang on a minute, don't count me out' rose louder. Oh, I don't have the credentials you need - a little piece of paper - well - I made a decision in that moment....
I was going to pursue my master's degree.
I registered for the Master of Arts in Leadership program at Royal Roads University within the week and began school just a few short months later. What I hadn't anticipated was that the most significant learning wouldn't necessarily come from the textbooks.
It would come from looking inward.
Through my studies, I began examining my values, identity, perceptions, and the expectations I'd carried throughout my life. I began questioning how much of my sense of self had become connected to my professional identity, and how easily that identity could be shaken when circumstances changed.
During that time, we were going through workforce adjustment and I found myself demoted (adding insult to injury). Yet, this unexpected change in my circumstances allowed me to work from home, care for my mum during her health challenges, and complete my studies.
It wasn't an easy period. There were moments of anger, frustration, sadness, uncertainty, and plenty of questioning. And I wouldn't suggest those difficult experiences were necessary, or that I'd choose to repeat them.
But I began to understand that my circumstances could change without changing my worth.
I was still me.
Not a job title. Not a credential. Not someone else's assessment of my abilities.
Just me.
Me.
A woman with experiences, values, relationships, imperfections, and something meaningful to contribute.
And slowly, I began recognizing what mattered most. My family. My relationships. My wellness. My values.
I started thinking about how much emotional energy women spend holding everything together while trying to appear as though we have it all figured out.
What if we created a space where women didn't have to pretend?
Where we could take off our masks, acknowledge our struggles, celebrate our strengths, and talk openly about the things that affect our well-being?
And somewhere along that journey, Fauxvember was born - and so was this Fauxylady!💋
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