27 years ago, on August 2, 1986 I said good-bye to my best friends, my mom, my sister and my miniature puddle and boarded a Soviet built plane for a trip to America. I was only 19 years old, a fresh high-school graduate and one of the lucky ones who got an American visa.
At that time I spoke four languages but not English! French, because of my aristocratic upbringing, Italian, because I wanted to marry an Italian, Russian, because it was imposed on us in schools and finally Polish, my native language. English was not on my list and I had to learn it fast.
I was young and unsure of my future. I didn’t get into Warsaw University where I wanted to study French and African culture. All my friends were leaving Poland, getting scholarships to universities throughout Europe. It was 1986, the time of Solidarity paving the way towards Polish independence from Soviet Union. The borders were opening-up slowly, young people had more and more opportunities available to them.
I decided to stay.
In 1992 I graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a marketing degree. I did, because it was “the” major, but I had no interest in it. I spent many more years trying to discover what was right for me, many years torn apart between two continents not knowing my place.
Today I am celebrating my choice which for many, many years seemed like a very bad one. I missed home. I missed my mom, my sister, my sense of security and belonging. I’ve lost my identity. It really took years and a lot of tears to finally embrace my decision and become appreciative. Once I did, everything changed.
Today I am grateful for my freedom of being who I want to be without being judged with sarcasm.
Today I am grateful for opportunities this country gives to anyone who wants to become more then they already are no matter where they come from and how old they are.
Today I am grateful for the “I can do it” and “I am good enough” mentality.
Today I inspire women at all stages of their life to feel beautiful and glamorous inside and out so they can love and respect themselves without toxic thoughts, products and behaviors!
Today I teach about food sensitivities, hormones, beauty and life’s purpose. I am able to speak about my Artist Sister who had Down Syndrome, to a society that embraces diversity.
Today I am happy because,
Today I am HOME.
Joanna
