Unexpected Turns

Hello, and thank you for reading this post, that looks like a dense update. It’s been a while since the last blog post and newsletter. I’ve been busy recovering my energy and reinventing myself again after moving from Canada to California.

If you have the patience to read to the end, I think you might find something useful for yourself. These are the days at the heart of Autumn (or Fall, as you like), and what I’m telling you in this post is deeply connected with this particular moment.

For those who missed it, my husband got a job In California several months ago, so he moved first, and I followed him 6 months later because I needed to sell the house in Canada first, and wait for our son who was working all summer in the north.

Finally, I moved in September, and I save you from the "relocation tale" (a lot of work!). But I'm going to share what happened next!

So, about my relocation to California, on one hand I can tell you that California is wonderful, and I could not be happier. The Nature and the weather are so beautiful, we moved to an area in which we had friends, and I feel like I belong to this place - so I feel blessed for the opportunity to live here. This is really a wish that came true.

On the other hand, I needed not only to recover because the amount of work right before my relocation was intense and challenging (physically, mentally, and emotionally) but also to take some time because of the “surprise” I found as soon as I arrived in the US.

Due to a misunderstanding, my husband was sure I was allowed to work here.

But…no.

My visa depends on his visa, and our kind of visa doesn’t allow me to work as a self-employed professional, or run a business of any kind.

Of course, I “can” work, but I can’t be paid, and I am not allowed even to receive donations or gifts.

I consulted with a lawyer expert in both immigration and taxes, and she confirmed that the only source of income I am allowed to get is the royalties from the sales of my books and online courses, which cannot happen from my website or from me directly, but only through platforms like Amazon, Udemy, Teachable, etc.

I even had to close my Etsy shop, because Etsy would need more activity from my side, and it would mean “business”.

This news disoriented me a bit, but I didn’t panic.

In many years of work on myself, I learned that I can turn a perceived obstacle, challenge, or limitation, into an opportunity.

So, while reflecting and meditating on this apparent “limitation”, I took also the time to reconnect with and attune to my deepest needs - and self.

And I realized that for the first time, Life is reminding me kindly that I need to take a break from “doing" to allow a deep upgrade and reset.