Embracing Cultural Journeys: A Mom’s Perspective

If you’ve followed my journey for a while, you know I’ve worn many hats—mindset coach, modern mom, mentor—but before all of that, I’ve been something even more defining: a woman shaped by many places.

I was born in Japan, raised in the Philippines, spent more than a decade living in Singapore with my husband and two daughters, and now I’m settling into life here in the United States. Each country I’ve called home has gifted me something different—some lessons loud and obvious, others quietly tucked into everyday life. But if there’s one thing that ties it all together, it’s this:

Living in different places opens your heart.

It gives you a deeper lens into people, a sensitivity to differences, and a surprising realization that—deep down—we’re all more alike than we are different.

A Tale Told in Color

When I first came across the concept of Tricolour Tales—a storytelling initiative rooted in the colors of the Indian flag—I was instantly drawn in. Not because I’m Indian (I’m not), but because I had spent many years in Singapore, a beautifully diverse country with a rich Indian community. I had Indian friends, tasted their food, admired their festivals, and soaked in their values.

And though I’ve since moved to the U.S., those years shaped my heart. They taught me to pause before judging, to listen longer, and to appreciate the layered stories behind every culture.

The Indian tricolour—saffron, white, and green—represents courage, truth, and growth. And the more I sat with those meanings, the more I saw how they weren’t just symbols of one nation… but colors I’ve lived by in my own life too.

Saffron: Courage and Sacrifice

When you move countries—especially with kids—you start to understand courage on a whole new level. Packing up a life in Manila, starting fresh in Singapore, and now beginning again in the U.S. hasn’t been easy. It’s taken deep trust, daily sacrifices, and a whole lot of resilience.

But the hardest part? Letting go of what’s familiar to grow into who you’re meant to be.

As a mom, I’ve chosen to stay home, raise my daughters, and now re-enter the world through a different lens—coaching, mentoring, and serving other women walking the same unknowns. Every decision I’ve made came with a quiet courage. Saffron reminds me of that.

White: Peace and Truth

White stands for peace and truth—and these two words feel like anchors in motherhood and mindset work.

Living abroad has shown me the value of inner peace, especially when the outside world feels unfamiliar or overwhelming. I’ve had to find peace in uncertainty, in shifting roles, in starting over in my 30s, and now as I rediscover myself in this new season.

Truth, too, has been a steady guide. The truth of who I am—not what culture, expectations, or past experiences tell me to be. I’ve learned to be honest about my boundaries, my burnout, and what I really want to model for my daughters.

And truthfully? We all crave belonging. And sometimes, that begins with belonging to ourselves.

Green: Growth and Prosperity

Green is the color of growth, and that’s the chapter I’m living in now.

From Manila to Singapore to Texas, every step has brought lessons I couldn’t have learned in books. Growth has looked like:

• Learning to parent with presence instead of pressure
• Starting a digital business while juggling mom-life
• Creating content that empowers women to find clarity and self-trust
• And lately, stepping into bolder dreams—like writing books, coaching, and building a community around mindset and balance

Growth doesn’t always feel “prosperous” on the surface. Sometimes it feels like pruning. But it always leads us somewhere better—if we’re patient enough to stay in the process.

When Cultures Collide, Connection Begins

Living in Singapore taught me that cultural appreciation isn’t just about knowing the festivals or eating the food. It’s about seeing people—really seeing them—and finding the shared humanity beneath it all.

Tricolour Tales reminded me that while our flags may differ, the values we live by often overlap. We all have saffron moments of sacrifice, white seasons of seeking peace, and green stretches of personal growth.

And that’s why I write. To connect. To bridge. To hold space for the stories that remind us we’re not so different after all.

What’s Your Tricolour Tale?

Whether you’re a fellow mom raising kids between cultures, or someone who’s just trying to find peace in your current season, I invite you to reflect:

• What courage have you shown lately that you haven’t given yourself credit for?
• What truth have you been afraid to speak—but need to?
• What growth are you being invited into, even if it feels scary?

You don’t have to be Indian—or Filipino, or American—to carry colors that matter.

You just have to live your story with heart.

This post is part of ‘Tricolour Tales Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters