Legacy: Importance Of Honoring Our First Mentors

A deep sigh as I finish reading my daily news and business updates on current world affairs.

And then it is Women's Heritage Month... as words of my friend still echo as he asks me what that means to me and why.

Honestly, I was deeply touched as it came from my male friend who genuinely wanted to learn, honor and celebrate me. Beautiful gesture as I was deep in thought who should I recognize this week in the Legacy Newsletter.

As I took time to reflect on today's global events, I couldn't help but think about where I came from and how far I have come on so many levels due to my upbringing - my foundation, my heritage, my first mentor.

My first role models were my mom Katarina and grandma Angela - both beautiful, strong, powerful women that I was so proud to learn from, grow up with, and have in my corner. Sadly, I lost them both way too soon.

My first life and leadership lessons and mentorship came from the teaching and influence of my grandma Angela. She forever changed my world and opened my heart in the most profound ways ever since. For that, I am beyond grateful!

She introduced me as four years old to philanthropic giving and the power of supporting others during their greatest needs as I was growing up happily in the former Yugoslavia. Exposure to Mother Teresa's charity and her work at that time in Africa and later in India taught me some of the most profound lessons.

I will never forget that first holiday when I received the package addressed to me with beautiful foreign stamps on the yellow paper as she handed it to me with a big smile.

As I opened the package, I instantly fell in love with beautiful children from Africa, and their smiling faces as color photos from their villages and school greeted me in addition to my first thank you letter filled with captivating stories. My eyes were full of wonder ever since captivated by the world's beauty and, more importantly, its people.

Through my eyes full of wonder, the world is so beautiful! ~ Izabela, The World Messenger

As you can imagine, I could not wait for the holidays to come fast enough as my world and curiosity exponentially got bigger. And somehow, I preserved that wonder within me despite tremendous changes ever since. I never lost my deep connection, love, and respect for my heritage and my first women role models.

As I fell in love with the world and its people so much, the world's history and geography became my favorite subjects in school. My fascination with Olympic Games became my obsession with a deep desire to be an Olympian.

But as many things in our lives don't turn in the way we expect, those values and foundations that we carry from our home help us tremendously along the way.

I never knew that I would travel to over 50 countries and work closely with people from over 120 countries in a million years. People from six continents!

But also, I never imagined that I would not only survive the war, torture, and genocide while helping others to do the same, a substantial contrasting reality from everything I expected or hoped.

I remembered and reflected on once again my grandmas Angela's profound stories of how she survived the first and second world war, never imagining that she will witness the third war in her life during the collapse of former Yugoslavia. A sad reality hard to accept and handle!

Then I recall all those brave girls and women that I met ever since I left my home and found myself on a long life journey of constant change, transformation, disruption yet most precious, beautiful, and loving exchanges despite how much each of us endured, suffered, lost.

A history that no woman on this planet wish or desires to experience or have! Yet, powerful woman handles it with the most profound grace and grit.

I can't but not help to acknowledge every one of you powerful, beautiful women that contributed so richly to my life by reminding you:

You are made with the most outstanding ability to rebuild, recover, regroup, and revive yourself and your life! ~ Izabela, The World Messenger

Happy International Women's Day & Women's Heritage Month, Beautiful Women Around the World!

Champions, please share about heritage and powerful women that positively impacted your life. Whom would you like to recognize during this Women's Heritage Month?

So looking forward to your stories and comments below.

Let's Live, Lead & Leave A Great Legacy!

???Izabela, The World Messengerer

Izabela Lundberg, The People Champion, is an ?International Best Seling Author,?Forbes?Contributor, TEDx & Keynote Speaker, Humanitarian,?Producer,??Podcaster?& Global Bussiness Leader.

Izabela is solving the global?"Great Resignation"?by creating a champion culture and thriving talent, teams, and organizations.

She partners with Corporate Executives to create champion high-performing teams, distinctive cultures, and legacy organizations.?

To discover more about how Izabela and her team can assist you and your organization, schedule a?Complimentary Consultation?NOW?at?Legacy Leaders Institute.