May 6, 2025 • 16 mins
Graduation week is here, and it feels like the perfect time to reflect on what this milestone has taught me about trust, timing, and stepping into the next chapter with intention.
In today’s episode, I’m opening up about what earning my Master of Public Health taught me, not just about academics but also about trust, timing, identity, and honoring every chapter we move through.
In this heartfelt conversation, I share:
— What I learned on the road to graduation
— Why life after big milestones can feel both exciting and uncertain
— How I’m redefining success beyond external achievements
— A loving reminder to honor your own chapter, wherever you are right now
This isn’t just about finishing school, it’s about becoming.
If you’ve been feeling called to start, build, dream, or grow, this is your reminder that you’re already on the right path.
What chapter are you in right now, and how can you honor it? DM me and let me know!
Thank you so much for tuning in to Tea with Tanya! If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to rate and leave a review — it helps the show grow and reach more listeners. Join the conversation on Instagram using #teawithtanya #Teawithtanyapodcast, and don’t forget to tag us!
Visit my website at tanyakambrose.com for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @teawithtanyapodcast and @tanyakambrose, and sign up for my Tea Talk newsletter to stay updated with all things wellness and self-care!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Tea with Tanya.
I'm your host, tanya Ambrose,an average millennial navigating
life as a maternal healthprofessional, non-profit founder
and grad student.
Join me in the Tea Tasting Roomwhere we spill the tea on
finding balance and promotingpositive living while doing it
all.
(00:20):
Hey friend, welcome back to Teawith Tanya.
Thank you for joining me herein the tea tasting room for
another week of us sipping andspilling some tea.
Honey, okay, today's episodefeels extra special, but before
I get into it, I hope you havedone something for yourself.
(00:41):
Let me know what you have donesince we last spoke here in the
tea tasting room because you hadan assignment.
So let me know what you havedone for yourself within this
past week.
For me, it has been a me beingknee deep in final, the final,
final week of grad school, andI'm going to try not to cry
regarding this episode because,child, the feelings are.
(01:03):
The feelings are feeling rightnow.
Okay, but for me I have.
What have I done?
I have gotten a pedicure.
I did my nails because you knowwhat.
You know why today feels extraspecial?
Because I officially graduatethis week.
That's supposed to be a drumroll, but, yes, that's why today
feels extremely special.
That's why I was able to dosomething for myself the last
(01:25):
few days, because it'sofficially graduation week.
The cap, the gown, the proudwalk across the stage is all
happening this week and, if I'mbeing honest, I am still taking
it all in, to be honest.
But today I wanted to sit downwith you, my tea tasting room
family, and just share somereflections, not just about
(01:46):
finishing grad school, but whatabout this milestone has taught
me?
About trust, timing, identitythat's a big one and stepping
into the next chapter withintention.
So grab your tea.
I've got chamomile and gingertoday.
Get cozy and let's talk aboutwhat it means to honor the
moment you're in and dream aboutwhat's ahead.
(02:08):
All right, all right.
Graduation isn't about crossinga stage.
It's about crossing into a newversion of yourself.
At least, that's how I amimagining and I'm thinking about
it.
Looking back, I realized thisjourney wasn't just about
earning a master of publichealth.
It was about learning to trustmyself when the road got messy.
(02:32):
Showing up when I didn't feelready that was many times okay
Building discipline in seasonswhere motivation wasn't enough
and this was a struggle of mine,especially in the first year.
But that's what it was abouthonoring my boundaries and
protecting my dreams.
Because one thing I did I mayhave boundary issues in other
(02:53):
areas of my life, but when itcame to this aspect and just me
having to learn at the time, ittaught me really how to honor my
boundaries and protect mydreams.
And then also believing thatthe version of Tanya I was
becoming was worth the effort,even on the hard days.
The degree is going to bebeautiful, it's beautiful, the
(03:13):
photos will be beautiful.
Shout out to my girl, valeriathe photos don't want to drop
this week, my friend, they'regoing to be beautiful.
But, honestly, it's who I hadto become to get here.
That's the real win.
For me, the real success isn'tthe paper you earn, it's the
woman you become in the process.
(03:34):
Okay, my friend, that's one ofthe biggest lessons that I
learned.
When I think about the journey,you know what it was about.
Honestly, now I have to thinkabout life after big milestones
what is next?
But here's what no one reallytalks about throughout this time
here.
They don't talk about.
After you finish a big goal,whether it's graduating, getting
(03:57):
a promotion, moving to a newcity, you can feel a little bit
wobbly.
It's like, yeah, I made it, butalso wait, what now?
Can feel a little bit wobbly.
It's like, yeah, I made it, butalso, wait, what now?
And I'm realizing that.
You know that's normal, that isnormal.
Big milestone, big milestonesthey mark transitions, not
endings.
But I will say this you knowit's a bit of a, it's a
(04:18):
bittersweet one, because most ofmy identity was tied to me
being a grad student.
If I'm being honest, like ifyou ask me oh yeah, you know, I
work full time, I'm a gradstudent, I have this, I have
that.
But most of my identity hasbeen tied to grad school, not in
a negative way, to be honest.
It's just who I became because,again, I had a supportive unit
or supportive community withinmy grad school, on my grad
(04:39):
school journey.
But I am graduating with amaster's in public health and
anyone will tell you, okay, whenyou're thinking about what's
next, anyone can tell you thatit's a crazy time to be a public
health professional for so manyreasons because every time you
blink, some sort of funding isbeing cut from the government,
some funding is being cut,something is being this,
(05:00):
somebody is being fired and atthis point, public health is
being attacked right now.
If I can be honest with you fora quick minute.
So me, while celebrating, whilethinking about what's next, my
plan, if I can be honest reallyquickly, my plan was to do what
you got to do, get to graduationand you're going to apply to
this job, that job, you're goingto land your dream job as it
(05:20):
relates to you.
Know what your concentrationwas in?
And lo and behold, I now livein a country where people don't
care.
I don't want to say they don'tcare, but the head of said
country, who shall remainnameless, is just just doesn't
necessarily have any regard forthe feel of public health right
now.
So we're taking a hit, but youknow what, what I've been seeing
on my LinkedIn and just withthe people who I talk to, we're
(05:42):
taking a hit as public healthprofessionals, but it's also a
time for us to really doubledown, get all the strength that
we have to keep fighting for thecauses that we've been fighting
for everything.
So, even though we're gettingmoney pulled, somebody's getting
fired, showing up to work andcan't even use their key card.
Whatever the case may be, it isnow an even better time for us
(06:04):
for me, as public healthprofessionals, you know for us
to really double down and justtake charge.
Obviously, you know, if you'renot like me, you know I'm
blessed to have a job while ingrad school.
Some of my peers are about tograduate and there's a lot of
uncertainty, but again, now isthe time for us to come together
.
You know, volunteer, intern, dowhatever, whatever the case may
be for us to stay afloat,essentially as it relates to
(06:25):
where we are currently in thepublic health climate, you know.
So it is normal to think aboutwait, what do I do now?
Because I am even thinking itas somebody who's employed,
thankfully.
You know what I mean.
But what I am going to be doing,and I want you to do, is just
to give I'm giving myselfpermission to breathe, reflect,
dream bigger and trust that Idon't have to have every step
(06:47):
figured out today.
And that's what I want you totake away from this episode as
well.
Whether you're graduatingundergrad, high school, master's
, or you're just someone who youmay have gotten a promotion or
you know things are happeningwithin your environment.
You know, just really giveyourself permission to breathe,
reflect, dream bigger and trustthat you don't have to have
(07:07):
every step figured out today andthat doesn't necessarily go
towards me because I'mgraduating because there are
things that I one thing about meI'm going to breathe.
Well, I'm going to breathe alittle bit, but I'm going to
reflect and I'm going to alwayshave a bigger dream and I'm just
going to decide what I can takeon today and also understand
and remind myself that I don'tneed to have every step figured
out today.
And I have to remember I saidthat today too because, as a
(07:29):
nonprofit founder, we're gettingready events, and they're just
some things that I understand.
You know what, tanya?
Take a breath, let's reflectfor a little bit.
Let's see how we can pivot,what we need to do, because,
again it can be, there's alwaystomorrow.
You know what I mean, because,at the end of the day, life
moves in chapters.
When one chapter closes, youget to turn the page at your own
(07:50):
pace.
That's one of the beautifulthings about life.
When one chapter closes andit's like you know what?
What am I going to do next?
And I'm stressing and I'mworrying, here's what, my friend
you get to turn the page atyour own pace.
You are allowed to rest at thefinish line before you start
running toward the next dream.
That's it, and that's what I'membracing as I get ready to take
(08:14):
that step across the stage, theday after this episode airs, I
have my hooding ceremony, then Ihave my graduation ceremony.
But I want you to know itdoesn't matter what you're doing
in life, you are allowed torest at the finish line before
you start running toward thenext dream, right?
One thing I've learned is thisSuccess isn't about achieving,
(08:36):
it's about alignment.
Ooh, honey, let me tell youwhen I honestly had to, you know
, came to this realization.
Whether it's late or early, Idon't, it doesn't even matter
but I started realizing that,yeah, everything about it, a
girl you know, somebody saying,oh, you do this, you do that.
I'm like, yeah, okay, fine, youknow.
But I had to really dig deepand I realized, you know what
(08:57):
success Like?
What is success to me?
It's not about just thedifferent achievements that you
have.
It's honestly about alignment.
It's about waking up andknowing that you're moving in
the direction of who you want tobe, not who the world expects
you to be.
And I was having a conversationa couple of weeks ago with a
friend of mine, someone I holddear to my heart.
(09:19):
I don't know if she's listeningto this podcast because she has
no choice.
But we're just talking aboutwhere I am, how I'm feeling,
just testing the temperature ofwhere I am as it relates to just
school podcast and everything,and one of the questions that
she would have asked I had aquestion or statement are you
still not necessarily the exactwords, but are you still living
or showing up in this worldbecause of maybe your parents
(09:41):
may have certain expectations ofyou, or where you're from, I
don't know?
I said, girl, I'm not doingthat anymore.
I said maybe a little bit, butno, I'm doing me, I'm doing what
my heart tells me.
So, definitely, when I talkabout success again, not about
the achievement but about thealignment, and it's about
knowing you know what you are,moving in the direction of who
you want to be, not who theworld expects you to be, because
(10:06):
that's too much.
That's too much trying to liveup to everybody's expectations.
It's like I can't do it anymore.
For me, success looks likecreating impact through my work.
It's about honoring my body andmy boundaries.
It's about building spaces likeyou know, tea with Tanya and
Scrub Life Cares where othersfeel seen, heard and empowered.
It's about it looks liketrusting the timing of my dreams
(10:27):
, even when the world says movefaster.
I'm going to repeat thisbecause this last line just
really reminded me.
For me, success looks likecreating impact through my work,
honoring my body and myboundaries, building spaces like
Tea with Tanya and Scrub LifeCase, where others feel seen,
(10:47):
heard and empowered, trustingthe timing of my dreams, even
when the world says move faster,come on just now, move man.
I move man.
I move faster than I want tomove.
You understand me and guesswhat?
Guess what, my friend?
Success looks different foreveryone.
You don't have to follow someoneelse's timeline.
That's a big no-no.
We're not doing that.
(11:08):
Everything happens.
Nothing happens before it'stime.
First of all, you don't have toachieve everything by a certain
age.
When I failed at nursing school, I thought I'm like you know.
Oh, my goodness, I'm too.
I'm so old, I need to be doneby this, that.
And the third, because I wantto be married with kids by a
certain age.
Nah, we're not doing that, nomore.
You don't have to achieveeverything by a certain age.
You could be 45, 51, 75.
(11:30):
It doesn't matter.
But also, you get to definesuccess on your terms and you
get to change the definition asyou grow.
Hello, that's what I have done.
I no longer look for success ortry to match somebody else's
success because I don't knowwhat journey they're on, like
last week.
I mentioned about you know,your path being different than
(11:51):
everyone.
Someone else's I don't know how, what they did to get there.
You know it's like growing upwhen they say back in Antigua oh
, you see somebody havesomething.
Oh, you see somebody havesomething.
You don't know how they got it.
So why would you want to bejealous of somebody?
You know what I mean.
So that's literally a similarmindset.
You know you get to decide what.
You get to define success onyour terms and what that
definition looks like as youcontinue to grow.
(12:12):
The one thing about me you knowwe're all meant to keep growing
and evolving Like me today onthis podcast, and me in
September is not going to be thesame, tanya.
So you're going to be with mein my journey as I continue to
evolve and I change thedefinition of who I am and what
I want my success to look like,what I want some things to look
like within my environment aswell.
You know what I mean.
So, my friend, maybe you'recelebrating something big right
(12:37):
now too, or maybe you're in aquiet chapter building, healing,
resting, re-imagining.
Whatever chapter you're in, itmatters, it's worthy and it
deserves to be honored.
You don't have to rush to thenext thing and take it from your
friend Tanya, because one thingabout me I'm going to finish
(12:57):
something and then I'm on to thenext and then, before you know
it, anxiety is high, everythingis going haywire because, again,
I'm rushing into the next thing.
So it doesn't matter whatchapter you're in, it matters,
it's worthy.
But you don't have to rush tothe next thing.
You don't have to explain whyyou're moving at your own pace,
because I'm done doing that.
I can't do it anymore.
I don't have the words or theenergy.
You just have to keep showingup for your life with softness,
(13:22):
with strategy and with trust.
Every season you move through ispreparing you for what's coming
next, and I wholeheartedlybelieve this because I've been.
That's my testimony at thispoint in time.
Every season you move throughis preparing you for what's
coming next.
I want you to write this phraseon a post-it note and stick it
(13:43):
on your bathroom mirror.
Every season you move throughis preparing you for what's
coming next.
So today I want to leave youwith a question what chapter are
you in right now and, even moreimportantly, how can you honor
it, my friend?
Well, that's your homework.
Let me know what chapter areyou in right now and how can you
(14:03):
honor it, my friend, build,that's your homework.
Let me know what chapter areyou in right now and how can you
honor it.
That's very important.
So this week is graduation weekfor me.
This week is a reminder for me,and hopefully for you too, that
every step, every delay, everyyes, every no, every small
beginning, it all matters.
You are building somethingbeautiful, even when it doesn't
(14:26):
feel big yet.
Take it from me, my friend youare becoming someone powerful,
even when the work feelsinvisible.
Again, take this from me frommy experience you are already
enough, even as you grow.
So this week, my friend, take amoment to celebrate yourself,
where you've been and whereyou're going, write it down,
(14:48):
because you know how I feelabout writing things down.
Write it down, speak it outloud and share it with a friend
and, of course, dm me if youwant to.
Let's celebrate all of it.
Okay, I'll be raising my teacupclink, clink and my graduation
cap in honor of you too.
Until next time, my friend, staywhole, stay grounded and sip
(15:09):
slow.
I will be back to talk about myexperience walking across this
stage, but thank you, my friend.
By the time you listen to thisepisode, I will be getting ready
for my hooding ceremony and formy graduation, and my voice is
cracking because, lord, havemercy.
It's bittersweet for me, but Ilove you for listening and I
thank you for your supportthroughout this journey.
(15:31):
Again, see you next time in theTea Tasting Room.
Thank you for joining me foranother episode of Tea with
Tanya.
If you liked this episode, besure to share it with a friend.
Don't forget to follow onInstagram at Tea with Tanya
Podcast.
Be sure to subscribe to theweekly Tea Talk newsletter and,
(15:52):
of course, rate on Apple orSpotify and subscribe wherever
you listen.
See you next time.
I love you for listening.
Welcome to Tea with Tanya.
I'm your host, tanya Ambrose,an average millennial navigating
life as a maternal healthprofessional, non-profit founder
and grad student.
Join me in the Tea Tasting Roomwhere we spill the tea on
finding balance and promotingpositive living while doing it
all.
(00:20):
Hey friend, welcome back to Teawith Tanya.
Thank you for joining me herein the tea tasting room for
another week of us sipping andspilling some tea.
Honey, okay, today's episodefeels extra special, but before
I get into it, I hope you havedone something for yourself.
(00:41):
Let me know what you have donesince we last spoke here in the
tea tasting room because you hadan assignment.
So let me know what you havedone for yourself within this
past week.
For me, it has been a me beingknee deep in final, the final,
final week of grad school, andI'm going to try not to cry
regarding this episode because,child, the feelings are.
(01:03):
The feelings are feeling rightnow.
Okay, but for me I have.
What have I done?
I have gotten a pedicure.
I did my nails because you knowwhat.
You know why today feels extraspecial?
Because I officially graduatethis week.
That's supposed to be a drumroll, but, yes, that's why today
feels extremely special.
That's why I was able to dosomething for myself the last
(01:25):
few days, because it'sofficially graduation week.
The cap, the gown, the proudwalk across the stage is all
happening this week and, if I'mbeing honest, I am still taking
it all in, to be honest.
But today I wanted to sit downwith you, my tea tasting room
family, and just share somereflections, not just about
(01:46):
finishing grad school, but whatabout this milestone has taught
me?
About trust, timing, identitythat's a big one and stepping
into the next chapter withintention.
So grab your tea.
I've got chamomile and gingertoday.
Get cozy and let's talk aboutwhat it means to honor the
moment you're in and dream aboutwhat's ahead.
(02:08):
All right, all right.
Graduation isn't about crossinga stage.
It's about crossing into a newversion of yourself.
At least, that's how I amimagining and I'm thinking about
it.
Looking back, I realized thisjourney wasn't just about
earning a master of publichealth.
It was about learning to trustmyself when the road got messy.
(02:32):
Showing up when I didn't feelready that was many times okay
Building discipline in seasonswhere motivation wasn't enough
and this was a struggle of mine,especially in the first year.
But that's what it was abouthonoring my boundaries and
protecting my dreams.
Because one thing I did I mayhave boundary issues in other
(02:53):
areas of my life, but when itcame to this aspect and just me
having to learn at the time, ittaught me really how to honor my
boundaries and protect mydreams.
And then also believing thatthe version of Tanya I was
becoming was worth the effort,even on the hard days.
The degree is going to bebeautiful, it's beautiful, the
(03:13):
photos will be beautiful.
Shout out to my girl, valeriathe photos don't want to drop
this week, my friend, they'regoing to be beautiful.
But, honestly, it's who I hadto become to get here.
That's the real win.
For me, the real success isn'tthe paper you earn, it's the
woman you become in the process.
(03:34):
Okay, my friend, that's one ofthe biggest lessons that I
learned.
When I think about the journey,you know what it was about.
Honestly, now I have to thinkabout life after big milestones
what is next?
But here's what no one reallytalks about throughout this time
here.
They don't talk about.
After you finish a big goal,whether it's graduating, getting
(03:57):
a promotion, moving to a newcity, you can feel a little bit
wobbly.
It's like, yeah, I made it, butalso wait, what now?
Can feel a little bit wobbly.
It's like, yeah, I made it, butalso, wait, what now?
And I'm realizing that.
You know that's normal, that isnormal.
Big milestone, big milestonesthey mark transitions, not
endings.
But I will say this you knowit's a bit of a, it's a
(04:18):
bittersweet one, because most ofmy identity was tied to me
being a grad student.
If I'm being honest, like ifyou ask me oh yeah, you know, I
work full time, I'm a gradstudent, I have this, I have
that.
But most of my identity hasbeen tied to grad school, not in
a negative way, to be honest.
It's just who I became because,again, I had a supportive unit
or supportive community withinmy grad school, on my grad
(04:39):
school journey.
But I am graduating with amaster's in public health and
anyone will tell you, okay, whenyou're thinking about what's
next, anyone can tell you thatit's a crazy time to be a public
health professional for so manyreasons because every time you
blink, some sort of funding isbeing cut from the government,
some funding is being cut,something is being this,
(05:00):
somebody is being fired and atthis point, public health is
being attacked right now.
If I can be honest with you fora quick minute.
So me, while celebrating, whilethinking about what's next, my
plan, if I can be honest reallyquickly, my plan was to do what
you got to do, get to graduationand you're going to apply to
this job, that job, you're goingto land your dream job as it
(05:20):
relates to you.
Know what your concentrationwas in?
And lo and behold, I now livein a country where people don't
care.
I don't want to say they don'tcare, but the head of said
country, who shall remainnameless, is just just doesn't
necessarily have any regard forthe feel of public health right
now.
So we're taking a hit, but youknow what, what I've been seeing
on my LinkedIn and just withthe people who I talk to, we're
(05:42):
taking a hit as public healthprofessionals, but it's also a
time for us to really doubledown, get all the strength that
we have to keep fighting for thecauses that we've been fighting
for everything.
So, even though we're gettingmoney pulled, somebody's getting
fired, showing up to work andcan't even use their key card.
Whatever the case may be, it isnow an even better time for us
(06:04):
for me, as public healthprofessionals, you know for us
to really double down and justtake charge.
Obviously, you know, if you'renot like me, you know I'm
blessed to have a job while ingrad school.
Some of my peers are about tograduate and there's a lot of
uncertainty, but again, now isthe time for us to come together
.
You know, volunteer, intern, dowhatever, whatever the case may
be for us to stay afloat,essentially as it relates to
(06:25):
where we are currently in thepublic health climate, you know.
So it is normal to think aboutwait, what do I do now?
Because I am even thinking itas somebody who's employed,
thankfully.
You know what I mean.
But what I am going to be doing,and I want you to do, is just
to give I'm giving myselfpermission to breathe, reflect,
dream bigger and trust that Idon't have to have every step
(06:47):
figured out today.
And that's what I want you totake away from this episode as
well.
Whether you're graduatingundergrad, high school, master's
, or you're just someone who youmay have gotten a promotion or
you know things are happeningwithin your environment.
You know, just really giveyourself permission to breathe,
reflect, dream bigger and trustthat you don't have to have
(07:07):
every step figured out today andthat doesn't necessarily go
towards me because I'mgraduating because there are
things that I one thing about meI'm going to breathe.
Well, I'm going to breathe alittle bit, but I'm going to
reflect and I'm going to alwayshave a bigger dream and I'm just
going to decide what I can takeon today and also understand
and remind myself that I don'tneed to have every step figured
out today.
And I have to remember I saidthat today too because, as a
(07:29):
nonprofit founder, we're gettingready events, and they're just
some things that I understand.
You know what, tanya?
Take a breath, let's reflectfor a little bit.
Let's see how we can pivot,what we need to do, because,
again it can be, there's alwaystomorrow.
You know what I mean, because,at the end of the day, life
moves in chapters.
When one chapter closes, youget to turn the page at your own
(07:50):
pace.
That's one of the beautifulthings about life.
When one chapter closes andit's like you know what?
What am I going to do next?
And I'm stressing and I'mworrying, here's what, my friend
you get to turn the page atyour own pace.
You are allowed to rest at thefinish line before you start
running toward the next dream.
That's it, and that's what I'membracing as I get ready to take
(08:14):
that step across the stage, theday after this episode airs, I
have my hooding ceremony, then Ihave my graduation ceremony.
But I want you to know itdoesn't matter what you're doing
in life, you are allowed torest at the finish line before
you start running toward thenext dream, right?
One thing I've learned is thisSuccess isn't about achieving,
(08:36):
it's about alignment.
Ooh, honey, let me tell youwhen I honestly had to, you know
, came to this realization.
Whether it's late or early, Idon't, it doesn't even matter
but I started realizing that,yeah, everything about it, a
girl you know, somebody saying,oh, you do this, you do that.
I'm like, yeah, okay, fine, youknow.
But I had to really dig deepand I realized, you know what
(08:57):
success Like?
What is success to me?
It's not about just thedifferent achievements that you
have.
It's honestly about alignment.
It's about waking up andknowing that you're moving in
the direction of who you want tobe, not who the world expects
you to be.
And I was having a conversationa couple of weeks ago with a
friend of mine, someone I holddear to my heart.
(09:19):
I don't know if she's listeningto this podcast because she has
no choice.
But we're just talking aboutwhere I am, how I'm feeling,
just testing the temperature ofwhere I am as it relates to just
school podcast and everything,and one of the questions that
she would have asked I had aquestion or statement are you
still not necessarily the exactwords, but are you still living
or showing up in this worldbecause of maybe your parents
(09:41):
may have certain expectations ofyou, or where you're from, I
don't know?
I said, girl, I'm not doingthat anymore.
I said maybe a little bit, butno, I'm doing me, I'm doing what
my heart tells me.
So, definitely, when I talkabout success again, not about
the achievement but about thealignment, and it's about
knowing you know what you are,moving in the direction of who
you want to be, not who theworld expects you to be, because
(10:06):
that's too much.
That's too much trying to liveup to everybody's expectations.
It's like I can't do it anymore.
For me, success looks likecreating impact through my work.
It's about honoring my body andmy boundaries.
It's about building spaces likeyou know, tea with Tanya and
Scrub Life Cares where othersfeel seen, heard and empowered.
It's about it looks liketrusting the timing of my dreams
(10:27):
, even when the world says movefaster.
I'm going to repeat thisbecause this last line just
really reminded me.
For me, success looks likecreating impact through my work,
honoring my body and myboundaries, building spaces like
Tea with Tanya and Scrub LifeCase, where others feel seen,
(10:47):
heard and empowered, trustingthe timing of my dreams, even
when the world says move faster,come on just now, move man.
I move man.
I move faster than I want tomove.
You understand me and guesswhat?
Guess what, my friend?
Success looks different foreveryone.
You don't have to follow someoneelse's timeline.
That's a big no-no.
We're not doing that.
(11:08):
Everything happens.
Nothing happens before it'stime.
First of all, you don't have toachieve everything by a certain
age.
When I failed at nursing school, I thought I'm like you know.
Oh, my goodness, I'm too.
I'm so old, I need to be doneby this, that.
And the third, because I wantto be married with kids by a
certain age.
Nah, we're not doing that, nomore.
You don't have to achieveeverything by a certain age.
You could be 45, 51, 75.
(11:30):
It doesn't matter.
But also, you get to definesuccess on your terms and you
get to change the definition asyou grow.
Hello, that's what I have done.
I no longer look for success ortry to match somebody else's
success because I don't knowwhat journey they're on, like
last week.
I mentioned about you know,your path being different than
(11:51):
everyone.
Someone else's I don't know how, what they did to get there.
You know it's like growing upwhen they say back in Antigua oh
, you see somebody havesomething.
Oh, you see somebody havesomething.
You don't know how they got it.
So why would you want to bejealous of somebody?
You know what I mean.
So that's literally a similarmindset.
You know you get to decide what.
You get to define success onyour terms and what that
definition looks like as youcontinue to grow.
(12:12):
The one thing about me you knowwe're all meant to keep growing
and evolving Like me today onthis podcast, and me in
September is not going to be thesame, tanya.
So you're going to be with mein my journey as I continue to
evolve and I change thedefinition of who I am and what
I want my success to look like,what I want some things to look
like within my environment aswell.
You know what I mean.
So, my friend, maybe you'recelebrating something big right
(12:37):
now too, or maybe you're in aquiet chapter building, healing,
resting, re-imagining.
Whatever chapter you're in, itmatters, it's worthy and it
deserves to be honored.
You don't have to rush to thenext thing and take it from your
friend Tanya, because one thingabout me I'm going to finish
(12:57):
something and then I'm on to thenext and then, before you know
it, anxiety is high, everythingis going haywire because, again,
I'm rushing into the next thing.
So it doesn't matter whatchapter you're in, it matters,
it's worthy.
But you don't have to rush tothe next thing.
You don't have to explain whyyou're moving at your own pace,
because I'm done doing that.
I can't do it anymore.
I don't have the words or theenergy.
You just have to keep showingup for your life with softness,
(13:22):
with strategy and with trust.
Every season you move through ispreparing you for what's coming
next, and I wholeheartedlybelieve this because I've been.
That's my testimony at thispoint in time.
Every season you move throughis preparing you for what's
coming next.
I want you to write this phraseon a post-it note and stick it
(13:43):
on your bathroom mirror.
Every season you move throughis preparing you for what's
coming next.
So today I want to leave youwith a question what chapter are
you in right now and, even moreimportantly, how can you honor
it, my friend?
Well, that's your homework.
Let me know what chapter areyou in right now and how can you
(14:03):
honor it, my friend, build,that's your homework.
Let me know what chapter areyou in right now and how can you
honor it.
That's very important.
So this week is graduation weekfor me.
This week is a reminder for me,and hopefully for you too, that
every step, every delay, everyyes, every no, every small
beginning, it all matters.
You are building somethingbeautiful, even when it doesn't
(14:26):
feel big yet.
Take it from me, my friend youare becoming someone powerful,
even when the work feelsinvisible.
Again, take this from me frommy experience you are already
enough, even as you grow.
So this week, my friend, take amoment to celebrate yourself,
where you've been and whereyou're going, write it down,
(14:48):
because you know how I feelabout writing things down.
Write it down, speak it outloud and share it with a friend
and, of course, dm me if youwant to.
Let's celebrate all of it.
Okay, I'll be raising my teacupclink, clink and my graduation
cap in honor of you too.
Until next time, my friend, staywhole, stay grounded and sip
(15:09):
slow.
I will be back to talk about myexperience walking across this
stage, but thank you, my friend.
By the time you listen to thisepisode, I will be getting ready
for my hooding ceremony and formy graduation, and my voice is
cracking because, lord, havemercy.
It's bittersweet for me, but Ilove you for listening and I
thank you for your supportthroughout this journey.
(15:31):
Again, see you next time in theTea Tasting Room.
Thank you for joining me foranother episode of Tea with
Tanya.
If you liked this episode, besure to share it with a friend.
Don't forget to follow onInstagram at Tea with Tanya
Podcast.
Be sure to subscribe to theweekly Tea Talk newsletter and,
(15:52):
of course, rate on Apple orSpotify and subscribe wherever
you listen.
See you next time.
I love you for listening.
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