A little over a month ago, I was asked to speak at @iac.edge , a major opportunity to share my story as an Israeli girl in NYC. Fluttered yet terrified, I decided to finally to open up about my journey- which starts with a loss. Most of you don’t know this, but I grew up with a mentality ill dad. A truly good guy who made some bad decisions. But it wasn’t his fault. He was sick. I haven’t seen him since childhood, when he was hospitalized and a restraining order was put into place. I had to accept the fact my father was no longer part of my life. Lucky for me, I grew up with a lioness mom, who taught me courage, resilience and unconditional love. She gave me all the tools I needed to be successful in life. Tools that have guided me through life and fueled my decisions including, moving to the other side of the world, building up a successful career in fitness, and starting over in a foreign country entirely on my own. Two days before this speech, my dad has passed away. I chose to neglect, because how can I cry over a person I don’t even know? But you can’t escape grief. And being home just a few weeks after, allowed me to finally break. I cried for every childhood pain and every trauma. I felt the loss of the father I had & the father I never had a chance to have. Some might see others break as a weakness, but I’ll argue differently. Because every time I break, I come back a little more alive, a little more vulnerable & a lot more authentic. I find a new sense of strength and resilience that could be used to do something truly great in my life. *I am inviting you to listen to my talk to know more about it Pain is an opportunity to grow, and if you’ll follow my mom’s 4 rules, dig deep & do the work. A beautiful work of art will made out of those broken pieces. Thank you IAC Edge for the opportunity to share my story. To my dear friends who guided me through this process of writing, and to those who showed up to support during the event ❤️ This is a reminder to find the gift in every heart ache, and use that to search for your powerful potential. Life is too short to waste on fears. Time to start living.