When life gives you lemons, sometimes they’re not the sweet kind you make into lemonade. Sometimes they arrive in the form of a guest complaint mid-flight, and suddenly your whole week tastes sour. I’ve been in one of those seasons lately, the kind where work feels heavy, misunderstandings slip into relationships, and even the small things seem harder than they should be.

It’s not a pleasant place to be, but I know life isn’t meant to be a constant flow. We all hit bottoms, sometimes harder than before, only to realise we’ve been there before and we can climb out again, stronger and wiser. It’s funny how we forget these moments when we’re back in the flow, feeling unstoppable.

I remember when I first started second-guessing my future and career goals. For those who don’t know, I was a professional showjumping rider before I got into aviation. I’ve been riding horses since I was five, and from that first ride, I could see my whole future. I wanted to be the best. My competitor’s mindset was born in those stable, the adrenaline, the speed, you can call me an adrenaline junkie.

Around Covid, like many people, I started questioning everything. I wasn’t happy anymore in what I was doing, and it showed. After moving to Italy, I landed a good job, and looking back now, I can see why I made the choices I did. Everything happens for a reason.

By the end of 2022, I was seriously thinking about my next step. The truth about the sport is harsh: unless you have your own financial backing or win every major competition, you work non-stop, seven days a week, because horses don’t take holidays. I don’t like to say I quit, because I’m not a quitter, but I did put it aside to see who I was without being defined by my job.

Since I was little, I’d always said that if I ever stopped riding, I wanted to be a cabin crew. So while in Italy, I worked hard to prepare my CV for a career change. A life without horses was a big change, but it felt freeing. I could finally breathe, take a day off without guilt, and see more of the world.

When I got my first aviation job, I relocated to Abu Dhabi. Training and probation were intense, everything was new: culture, friends, surroundings, work. I realise now that I’ve always used change as an escape when feeling stuck. But here’s the thing: if you’re not confident in yourself, you’ll never find peace, no matter where you go. You’ll always attract what you think and believe about yourself.

I’ve been here for almost two years now. It’s been full of ups and downs. And then came that big guest complaint. In aviation, service is personal. When someone isn’t happy, it’s hard not to take it as a reflection of who you are. My competitor’s mind hates losing, and a complaint feels like losing a round in a sport I didn’t even know I was playing that day.

But the truth is, not every guest will see you for the effort you put in. Some days, your smiles will be met with silence, and that’s okay. My worth is not defined by the mood of a stranger at 35,000 feet. Still, these moments plant seeds of doubt. Is this my path? Or is this just another stepping stone to something greater?

My heart keeps taking me to a future where I’m my own boss, where I build something that reflects my values, where my discipline and drive are channeled into something that’s truly mine. I’ve started to see these “dark energy” seasons differently, not as bad luck, but as life’s way of shaking me awake. Every challenge, every rough flight, every moment of doubt is preparing me for the risks I’ll take and the resilience I’ll need when my time comes.

If you’re reading this and you’re in your own “off season,” remember: it’s not the end of the story. The same way I once stepped away from the stable and found a new path, I know I can step into the next chapter when the time comes. For now, I’m still here, still learning, still building myself into the person who will be ready when that door opens.

Because if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this: I’ve been at the bottom before, and I’ve always found my way back up, stronger, sharper, and more certain than ever. And when life gives me lemons, I’ll make something far more powerful than lemonade.

Stay strong and safe travels 💕