When I met Anna for coffee at Starbucks recently, I was struck by how much -and how intentionally- her life has taken shape. Now 29, Anna is living in her own apartment, raising her two daughters, working full-time and going to school to become a dental assistant. Her days are long, carefully choreographed, and powered by a determination she once didn’t realize she had. 

Anna’s day begins before the sun rises. After working through the night as a third-shift elevator operator, she picks up her daughters from the babysitter at 6:00 a.m. They share breakfast together—simple, sacred time—followed by prayer. Then Anna drops one daughter at kindergarten and the other at preschool. While the rest of the city is ramping up, Anna winds down. She spends the late morning and early afternoon sleeping, then transitions into coursework for her online dental hygiene program. Education isn’t just a goal—it’s a bridge to a more stable future for her family.

By afternoon, Anna is back in mom mode. She picks up the girls from school, plays with them, talks about their day, and sits down for dinner together. As evening approaches, she brings them back to the babysitter, gives hugs and reassurances, and heads out again—reporting to work at 10:00 p.m. It’s a cycle that demands endurance, but Anna has learned how to pace herself, protect her energy, and stay focused on what matters most.

Over coffee, Anna reflected on how far she’s come. “When I was still, I realized my power was missing. I didn’t know it.” That realization changed everything. Anna made a conscious decision to reclaim her voice and her agency—to stop focusing solely on what she had been through and instead do the work to get herself out of the hole. For her, that meant finding her drive, ambition, and motivation—and honoring the importance of self-care along the way. “You have to make yourself feel good and look good to feel happy and whole,” she shared. That self-respect now shows up in her confidence, her boundaries, and her willingness to say no when she needs to.

Anna’s life isn’t easy, but it is hers—built with intention, resilience, and hope. She is raising her daughters with love and routine, investing in her education, and modeling what it looks like to regain your power one choice at a time. Her story is a reminder that progress doesn’t always look dramatic; sometimes it looks like showing up, again and again, for yourself and the people you love.

Read more about Anna’s Story