My own path to wholeness and freedom began early. I was born and raised in the Middle East, in a culture shaped by suppression and rigid control—especially for women. At 13, while traveling in Europe, I ran away in search of something I didn’t yet have words for: freedom. That choice cost me everything familiar—my culture, community, and language. But I followed an inner knowing I couldn’t ignore.I spent my teenage years in Amsterdam, growing up alone. It shaped me. I learned strength, resilience, and how to trust my instincts. But it also taught me pain, loneliness, and what it truly takes to survive.By my mid-twenties, I had built a life that looked good on paper—my own apartment, a steady job, travel, success. But inside, I was performing. I had buried my pain, tucked away the disappointments, and masked my trauma with distraction. I became a chameleon, a people-pleaser, always adapting to feel safe. My self-worth was paper-thin—even though I knew how to “do” life.