2025 REFLECTIONS

 

It has been a very busy year! Starting in South Africa and ending in Sligo city in Ireland is not easy, along with my husband and a three-year-old girl. I want to reflect on the activities of this year, going through every month. I find writing very therapeutic. It's like having a debrief session with a therapist. Looking at the past events, appreciating the good moments, and learning from the mistakes. 

January: I remember dropping my toddler off at a creche on the 4th of January. They gave me a starter pack with some chocolate and tissue, knowing how anxious I would be. For a good three weeks, we had tears in the morning and afternoon. I would catch Aryana playing along with the other kids in the playground, and as soon as she saw me, she would run and cry. She settled in well. I received my registration with the Irish Medical Council that month. I attended a Robbie Williams concert on the 26th of January, and it was really fun, but it made me realize that both Robbie and I are aging.  

February: We started the month attending a very nice 35th birthday party and my colleagues' baby shower. I remember February was a very hot and humid month in SA. Work got slightly busier as two of our consultants went on maternity leave. I was thrown into a very busy obstetric unit, with a hectic clinic. There were days when child pick up wasn’t possible, and I would stress to make it on time to the creche. Mom had a small gynecological operation, and I accompanied her to it. All the back and forth was very stressful, and it was during my annual leave, which did not feel like leave at all. I managed to attend the SAMS conference as well. 

March: This is a time of the year when I feel very sentimental. The Persian New Year happens at the same time as spring. That is the time of the year that I miss home, Grandma, and spring, which none of them occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. We had a brief celebration with my husband in the Turkish restaurant. We celebrated the end of the fasting month with my in-laws. 

April: It was a relatively uneventful month. I stopped working on the weekends and started having a bit more free time. Most of the evening activities, like dinner dates, gym or paddle, were not possible with baby creche pick up, so I started going to the Gym mid-week before work and on the weekends, and would visit my best friend for brunch on the weekend at least once a month. 

May: I had an interview for a job at Sligo University Hospital, and I got the job. Things became very stressful. There was tons of admin that needed to be done. Paperwork with the medical workforce, work permit applications, and ACLS, BLS, and other mandatory online courses needed to be done. On the 31st of May, we attended a fun birthday party in a little gallery. All the guests participated in creating a Johannesburg skyline painting. It is hanging on the wall here in Ireland, and has a very special place in my heart. 

June: I had annual leave and yet, there was no fun activity, only running to Home Affairs to get Aryana’s Passport and renew my husband’s, and then another trip to my home country embassy to renew my own passport, which was no fun. We were invited to a very big birthday party for my colleague’s daughter. It was full of fancy food and drinks for adults, and games and activities for the kids. We really enjoyed it. Israel made an attack on my home country, and my dad’s flight back to SA was cancelled. I was very concerned. With my immigration plans coming closer, I needed him back in SA to take care of things and help my brother take care of Mom. 

July: The craziness of June continued into July. I had to attend ACLS and BLS the whole weekend, and it was freezing cold in that venue. I was trying to publish a peer-reviewed case report that had a special place in my heart. Some days I had to wake up at 4 AM to work on the peer review corrections and make the journal article ready for publication. I was enjoying work as I was working in a gynaecology unit which was less busy, and I would make sure my trainees got their hands onto something, and learn how to operate.  Dad arrived in SA on the 13th of July. It was a relief to have him back safely. I attended one of my friend's Book launches, and I was very proud. 

August: We were getting very anxious with the visa department. I was already on the Ireland work group chat, and I needed to break the news to my South African colleagues and start serving notice. My article was published in the Cureus Journal on the 8th! I got my Visa on the 13th of August and told my Boss I am leaving at the end of the month. Luckily, one of our colleagues was back from maternity leave, so it wasn't a terrible blow for the department. Little did I know that resigning from a permanent government post has its hectic admin. From the police affidavit to retrieving the pension fund, etc. On top of that, immigration was more than real. We had to get our tickets, sell everything and pack the rest, and go. I had a beautiful farewell party with my colleagues and they gave me an SA rugby T-shirt. My in-laws threw a fancy farewell and birthday party and spoiled me with gifts.

September: I turned forty on the first of September. My best friend took me on a spa trip to Mount Grace, and we really enjoyed ourselves. It was a very thoughtful gift. knowing I probably can not take goodies anymore in my heavy luggage. Packing for an air travel is very stressful, making sure the bags are not overweight, etc. We flew to Ireland on 08/09/2025. We arrived on the 9th in Dublin; drove to Sligo on the 10th. I was at work on the 11th! I remember taking a cold shower because the heating system in the new house was not working. I attended occupational health and did my blood tests. I went to the hospital and signed my papers, got my staff card to access the critical wards. The biggest struggle was commuting from Tubbercury to the city. I was often late for work and would get home around 8pm. Most of September was a blur. For the first two weeks, I could not touch patients until I was cleared by occupational health. The biggest pain was opening a bank account and making sure the first salary kicked in before our South African savings ran out. 

October: We slowly started settling; there was still endless administrative work. I quickly discovered the public libraries near me and enjoyed their vast collections of kids' and adult books. One of the first things was applying for a PPS number for hubby and child, mandatory training, learning the admin parts of work, and opening a Revenue account for Tax returns. We came to the conclusion that the long commute is not working; I was spending up to 700 euros per month to make it to work and back. We started house hunting again. My first night shift was on the 21 October. 

November: We moved into a new house on Friday, the 30th of November. All the unpacking was done, and I was on call on Sunday. As I was recovering from everything, they told me I had to prepare for the section statistic meeting, which was crazy stressful. I started not getting good vibes from work. I started feeling that they are pushing me away and they assume that I am not competent. I clearly did not leave a good first impression. 

December: Here we are getting closer to the Christmas festivities, which are beautiful. I really do not understand the concept of telling kids the gifts they are getting are from Santa and the tooth fairy. I was raised in the Middle East. If my parents got me a gift, they would make it clear that they were not some imaginary fictional character. all the Christmas decorations are expensive and once packed take up a lot of space, and with the Irish life of moving around, I am drifting towards being minimal. The demographics and the workload of Ireland is much lighter than SA. The hospital where I work is not very busy, but the level of supervision and micromanagement becomes a bit crippling and ruins one's confidence and independence. I tried counselling a difficult patient while the unit consultant was on annual leave. She made a fuss, and it escalated and led to a huge departmental issue. I now look at the difficult patients, and tell them that they need to speak to the consultant. I do not get involved. One more dramatic incident and the department will be on fire.  I have given up the ego and humbled myself to fit into the new system again. 

MATERIALISTS

 It is nice to forget about our day-to-day problems and dive into a good movie or a novel. I managed to watch this movie with my toddler, trying to bribe her with chocolates and snacks. I had watched the trailer with Pedro Pascal and Dakota Johnson, and I knew I wanted to watch the full movie. The story really touched me, because I had experience with a matchmaking company in my late thirties. It was not easy admitting I failed to meet my soulmate spontaneously, and now the time is running out, and I need the help of matchmakers. It was weird going for photoshoots, and having to fill out forms, and elaborate on what kind of match I wanted. I did not mind about a much older match, or the hairline, or their income. I really could not tolerate a guy who was shorter than me! I was brutally rejected because of my religion, then we decided that since I am not a practicing and strict Muslim girl,  we could put spirituality on the forms. After a couple of bad dates, the matchmakers suggested we consider the pool of divorced men. That is also a big no-no for me! especially divorced men with children…Anyway, I got bored with the matchmakers and went back to online dating and found my husband. 

Back to the movie tackling the challenges of the match-making business, where they have to find that handsome, rich, and tall guy in the dating pool. It was funny when Pedro Pascal bumped into Dakota Johnson; she called him a unicorn in the dating world.  Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a successful but increasingly cynical high-end matchmaker. Her razor-sharp instincts have led to nine marriages, yet her personal life is stalled. The catalyst for her crisis is a messy love triangle: on one side is John (Chris Evans), her broke, artistically ambitious ex-boyfriend, representing messy, genuine history and emotional depth. On the other is Harry (Pedro Pascal), the 'unicorn'—a suave, impossibly wealthy hedge fund manager who seems to check every box on the market's list of desirable traits.

Pedro Pascal’s performance as Harry is a masterstroke of charming menace. He embodies the perfect catch: handsome, generous, and sophisticated, he offers Lucy the lifestyle of her dreams—a penthouse, silk sheets, and freedom from financial anxiety. Pascal plays Harry with an effortless, seductive polish that makes it genuinely challenging for the audience to root against him, even when the film begins to reveal the transactional nature of their connection. His character is the physical manifestation of material value, forcing Lucy (and the viewer) to confront whether calculated security can ever truly replace spontaneous love.

Song cleverly uses this triangle to expose the transactional nature of dating, turning human connection into a set of quantifiable assets. The film's strength lies in its refusal to paint a clear villain or hero; Harry is genuinely kind, and John is genuinely struggling. The real conflict is internal—Lucy’s struggle to reconcile the idealistic passion of her past with the financial pragmatism of her present career.

Ultimately, Materialists is a brilliant and honest deconstruction of the genre. It's less concerned with providing a swooning, fairy-tale ending and more interested in the painful, adult compromises that underpin long-term relationships. The perfect relationship with Harry did not work out because, ultimately, love was not on the table, and Lucy drifted towards her struggling ex-boyfriend, where she found more comfort and freedom with him, and she knew they would be fine, because now she earns enough to look after things. 

MENTAL HEALTH

 Last week, we received the shocking news that one of my husband’s close friends had taken his life. All his friends and family members were devastated. I had met him briefly just before we immigrated to Ireland. He was moving between houses and staying with his sister. His bike was parked by my parents’ house for months. My dad was furious to get him to move the bike. His friends found him in his house when it was too late, with a note. 

I know this is a blog about women and women’s health, but today we want to dedicate this post to men and their well-being. We know that most men do not do well with life crises, especially going through a divorce, or loss, or a separation. They tend to keep their struggles to themselves, not to cry or talk to friends or family, because it is a sign of weakness. They often resist seeing a therapist. The easiest way out seems to be drifting to alcohol and substances, which makes matters worse. The studies show that 1 in 8 men experience mental health issues, and men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women. Only 1 in 4 men seek help for mental health concerns. 

As a health care worker, I fight for our patients’ well-being to make sure they recover from their physical ailments. Mental issues in women may be neglected in the process, especially if we are dealing with chronic illnesses such as polycystic ovary syndrome, which presents with irregular menstruation, weight gain, or infertility. Endometriosis is another condition that causes a lot of mental health problems due to chronic pelvic pain and fertility struggles. 

It is important to talk about mental health and break the stigma. Mental health is not a weakness;, it is a human issue. Suppressing emotions can lead to more anxiety and depression. Seeking help is a sign of strength not weakness. We should encourage open conversation about mental health, support friends and loved ones struggling, and create a culture where men feel comfortable discussing their mental health. 

GENITOURINARY SYNDROME OF MENOPAUSE

 Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) is a term used to define a compilation of signs and symptoms arising from decreased estrogenic stimulation of the vulvovaginal and lower urinary tract. The main signs and symptoms of GSM include burning, irritation, vulvovaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and urinary symptoms such as urgency, dysuria, or recurrent urinary tract infection. Labial atrophy, vaginal introitus narrowing, and clitoral atrophy may also be observed.

The Topic of sexual intercourse should not be something that we shy away from when consulting women in the 60s or even 80s. most women in this age category are very sexually active and suffer from vaginal dryness, dyspareunia. It should not be that way. They deserve to enjoy that aspect of life like younger women. 

Each symptom alone may indicate a specific diagnosis; however, in women undergoing menopause or perimenopause, it is important to consider the overall pattern of symptoms and rule out other potential causes of these symptoms. Isolated urinary symptoms should prompt a targeted evaluation of the urinary tract, including urinalysis with dipstick, urine culture, and ultrasound, to identify causes such as polyps or bladder cancer. Sexual symptoms, including reduced libido or dyspareunia, require assessment of the patient’s emotional and relational well-being, along with screening for depression or intimate partner violence. Similarly, genital symptoms appearing alone may reflect various gynecologic conditions, including infections, pelvic organ prolapse, and vulvar lichen sclerosus.

Using non-hormonal treatment for GSM, such as lubricants, may not be sufficient. Local hormonal treatment can then be considered the treatment of choice. Options include vaginal estrogen in the form of suppositories, rings, or creams, which restore vaginal pH, epithelial integrity, and microbiota balance. Dehydroepiandrosterone suppositories are also effective for vulvovaginitis and dyspareunia.

Systemic hormonal treatment may be required in selected cases. Tibolone has beneficial effects on the vagina and bladder. Ospemifene is particularly indicated for the treatment of severe dyspareunia and vaginal dryness.

CO₂ laser treatment is a nonhormonal alternative that has shown effectiveness, particularly for vaginal dryness and urinary symptoms. Treatment restores vaginal epithelium, microbiota, and pelvic vascularization.

In conclusion, GSM affects most postmenopausal women but remains undertreated despite the availability of effective treatments. General practitioners play a key role in the detection of this condition, and early management can improve symptoms and quality of life.

MY FIRST DAY IN IRELAND

 There are those moments in life that we will probably never forget: the first day of school, the first day of university, the day I had my baby, or the day I had a miscarriage. It was September 9, 2025. The plane was about to land. The flight from Doha to Dublin was about 6 hours from midnight to early morning. Aryana slept for most of the flight; she had neither eaten nor had a nappy change. I dragged myself to brush my teeth and freshen up. The good thing about flying with children is that the flight attendants serve the children first, and when they don't eat the food, which is mostly the case, we tired adults end up eating it. 

After a short wait, it was time for us to exit the plane. The line at the passport check was quite long. We presented our visas and my work permit, took some photos, and entered the other side of the airport. I almost cried when I saw that I had to climb down another escalator with a child and my heavy hand luggage. My mother-in-law was bragging to me about how she always travels light with only one handbag on the last day. I was not impressed with that comment!I am immigrating with my husband and child, for goodness' sake!

waited with our eight big bags, my husband’s snowboard, and my Persian carpet for an Uber van to drop us at our hotel in Dublin. It was my husband’s idea to have a stop at Dublin, eat, shower, and then drive to Sligo to our new home the following day. We had another round of breakfast, and we waited to check into our room at 2pm. We had a good shower, baby had a very pleasant bath with her bucket and favourite toys. While daddy and baby had a nap, I decided to do some admin on my computer. My husband woke up and ordered some takeaway food. We ate, Aryana was watching some TV, and I passed out. I could not remember anything until the next morning. According to my husband, Aryana continued to watch the kids' channel, and while I was fast asleep, he managed to slip out of the hotel room to have a couple of drinks in the Pub across the road. It is not easy to leave your family, your home, and your job and end up in a country you have never been to. Thanks to the internet these days. you are able to look at YouTube and watch videos of places you have never been. With Google Maps, we can navigate the streets, and with FaceTime and WhatsApp, we can stay in touch with our loved ones. 

THE BOOKS I READ IN SEPTEMBER

 It has been a crazy month, with the family relocating to Ireland. During the busy times of settling with family, going to work, and doing a million admin tasks, I came across a beautiful public library in Sligo City, as I was walking from my Hospital to the Antenatal Clinic. The public libraries in Ireland are very big with a great supply of new and classic books. We can join for free, take up to 12 books per card, my toddler can even have her own library card, and there is no fine for late return of books. I took one novel for myself and three children’s books for my toddler. 

The first book I picked was by Fern Britton, The Beach Cabin. It was the easiest read I had ever had. It was printed specifically for people with dyslexia. It was a contemporary story tackling problems of modern families, when teenagers are always grumpy and hard to impress, on their iPad all the time, and are picky with family dinners. While all these things are happening to the kids, the parents are having their own personal and career challenges. In the middle of all this, the father decides to bring the family to a beachside vacation, and a lot happens. 

I read a book about a balanced lifestyle in the modern world. It was short, and I read it mainly on the bus commuting to work. I did not take a picture of the cover or record the author's name, and the book is back at the library. It started with basic family values and appreciation, and inner peace, to later work on other interpersonal relations. 

The third book, which I was very excited to see in the village library, was by Stanley Tucci, What I Ate in One Year. I follow him on social media, and I know he has cooking programmes here and there. I always enjoy his movies, even though he is usually playing a very influential supporting actor. He starts writing on the second of January 2023. His writing is simple and has a good sense of humour. He portrays his day-to-day life. The challenges of acting, rehearsals, and constant travelling. He also has young children. He tries to be a hands-on father, trying to prepare kids for school and make them breakfast and dinner. There are recipes that he shares in the book. He is originally Italian and his favourite dish is pasta! There are many other Italian dishes that I didn't know and had to look up. I was impressed that he still incorporated regular Pilates and yoga with his instructors to try and stay fit. He stays in the UK, and I was impressed that he is a Harry Styles fan; they dine together whenever he is not busy or on tour. It was a very interesting read, even though I am not a fan of Italian food, but it is interesting to have a glimpse of the celebrity lifestyle. 

MY BIRTHDAY MONTH

 It is September! It is my birthday month. I am turning forty this year. It is a great milestone. I am surely getting older and wiser. becoming a mature woman. It has been quite a busy year for me. Receiving a job offer in Ireland in May changed many things. Between having a full-time job as an OBGYN, we had to start renewing our passports and apply for a new passport for my daughter. Apply for ACLS and BLS courses, which require a lot of preparation and a dedicated full weekend of hands-on training. By the end of June, I had received my work permit, and the online Visa application was done, and we were waiting. By mid-August, we had our Visas and we had to book our tickets, organise accommodation abroad, pack our bags, and move as soon as possible. 

While the full-time stressful job is going from 7:30 to 5pm, along with the baby drop off and pick ups from school. I was going through a huge emotional turmoil with my own family. My work family still did not know about my plans. My colleagues and my Boss found out about everything at the beginning of August. By mid-August  I was submitting my resignation letter and sorting out a million things with the human resources department. Long story short, tickets were booked for the 8th of September. and I started packing bags and shipment boxes. I had to look at all the sentimental items in the house and decide what needs to be packed and what goes to the box, and what needs to be donated. 

All this happened, and still, friends and family made my 40th birthday special. My best friend took me to Mount Grace for a lovely Spa day. It was an amazing drive and a relaxing day. We got together with my family and the in-laws at the end of August and had a beautiful farewell lunch. and I got very beautiful gifts. My colleagues got together at work and threw a farewell party at which made me cry. We spend more time with our work colleagues than we do with our families. The last day of work was the 31st of August and everything went smoothly. My packing was finalised, the house furniture was sold, and some last-minute paperwork was done. Looking at the empty house made me feel sad, but it is a sign for a new beginning. I am looking forward to my new adventure! 

DAYDREAM

 It is a random Saturday, and I am at work in the hospital, going through the handover and a big antenatal ward round that takes the whole day. I would probably not be at work, and then my imagination started going wild, wondering where I actually want to be! I would definitely need a Spa day, probably on my own. I definitely do not want any family members or friends with me. I want to relax, have a fancy massage, then swim in the heated pool. After swimming, I want to relax in the steam room. After the relaxation is over, there comes one of the real joys of life, which is food. I would like a green salad, grilled prawns, some sushi, and fruit to eat. I love my tea, preferably some black tea. I want to sit and sip on my tea and read my new book, and get lost in the story without worry,  rushing, or interruptions. 

What I like about Spa days is that they give a brief break between the day-to-day hustle. They do not need extensive planning, packing, and travelling. I have a little baby and I do not want to be away from her for too long. So a little half-day break on my day off will be manageable. 

I love my little daydreams! They help me escape the brutal, non-stop working reality of life. They allow me to drift away and go to places and do the things I want to do. One of my favourite things to do is to travel back home to Grandma’s house. Imagine that it is around lunch time, when we usually just eat lunch and watch TV at the same time. I really don't care what grandma is watching, as long as we are together. It will feel good. It is September now, and extremely warm back home, but us Middle Easterners do not care; we should still have our tea. I miss the relaxing days of sitting with my grandma and listening to her stories. I miss her house and the old furniture. 

Even though we have circumstances in our lives where we can not change, we can change the way we think and drift away every now and then. 

MEMORIES OF MY CHILDHOOD

 I have been very nostalgic and sentimental recently. I am planning to move abroad. I sit and empty out the cupboards most nights, trying to figure out which items are going with me, which items to be sold, or to be donated. I came across a very special box which had very precious photos, some cassettes and CDs which I am keeping. My school uniform tie from Jeppe Girls was signed by my friends. Beautiful and tiny crochet baby boots! The baby boots really blew my mind. It humbles you knowing how tiny a baby is until it grows up. 

My first childhood memory goes back to around the time I was 5 years old. I had vague memories of Cyrus, my brother, when he was born. I remember Dad’s mother visiting us, and the house was full of visitors. It was quite disturbing. I remember trying to help my mother set the table or take the dishes to the kitchen to be washed. Up until now, I haven't liked guests, especially the ones who sleep over. I feel like they invade my space,  eat all my food, and make my house messy! I prefer to meet up with my friends in a restaurant. You will never find me trying to cook fancy food and set fancy cheeseboards to try and entertain people in my house in my adult life.             

Back in those days, we did not use disposable nappies. There were white cloths that had to be washed, disinfected, dried, folded, and stored in the cupboards. Another vague memory is when mom used to wash my brother's bump in the basin. He was definitely under six months. I went to school from the age of 3 years. I definitely was a very depressed child who had separation anxiety. I did not play with anyone; I hardly had friends. I would skip most of the school days. I was crying most of the days when I was in grade one in primary school. I remember Grandma was in charge of me during that time. Mom would drive me to primary school, and my brother to my old playschool. Grandma would help me with my homework, and most nights I would sleep in her bed, which was very fun. 

My brother grew up and became more fun. We would spend our days running around the house and the yard, screaming and shouting. We had a two-story house with a big basement. I remember I always enjoyed going to the basement area where my uncle used to study. Granny and Grandpa used to tell me I must not go there because there are rats there! One day, I went there all determined, shouted to keep the rats away,
and went to the basement, feeling very triumphant. My mom had to take us to the parks so we could play and have fun. I remember my first bike ride on the street. My dad was showing me how to keep the bike balanced, and I was very excited!

EXERCISE IN PREGNANCY

 This is a question I am often asked in obstetrics consultations regarding exercise in pregnancy. Most of the women we see take part in some sort of recreational physical activity, but only 15% of them exercise at the recommended level, which is 30 minutes of moderate activity every day of the week. 

Most women believe that pregnancy is the time to eat everything and gain as much weight as possible. Too much pregnancy weight gain can lead to problems such as Gestational Diabetes, large for gestational age babies, and a higher rate of caesarean section. We know that the woman's body changes during pregnancy, for example, her blood volume is increased by 40% and the stroke volume by 10%. There is decreased vascular resistance to enhance the placental perfusion. The growing uterus can shift the center of gravity and cause lumbar lordosis and back pain in 50% of pregnant women. The ligaments of the bony pelvis also become lax and can lead to severe discomfort. 

Moderate exercise can have multiple benefits for the mom and the baby. It can decrease the gestational weight gain and decrease the rates of pre-eclampsia, insulin resistance, and gestational diabetes. The guidelines suggest that overweight women should not gain more than 10% of their body weight in pregnancy. The recent trials have not found an increased risk of preterm birth or low birth weight in women who exercised in pregnancy. 

In summary, moderate exercise is encouraged in uncomplicated pregnancies. There is no evidence that moderate exercise can harm the mother and baby. We do not recommend exercise for women with chronic diseases such as severe anemia, cardiac disease, intrauterine growth restriction, or extreme morbid obesity. Forms of exercise such as horse riding, scuba diving, or skiing are also not recommended. I personally found moderate walking in the third trimester very helpful, although I was in so much pain and felt that my symphysis pubis in ripping apart. I tried to bounce on the gym balls as well, although I did not go to spontaneous labour and required induction of labour, but my labour progressed well, and I feel the exercise played an important part. 

FRECKLES

 I am back to reading fiction, and I am enjoying it. Back in the day, I used to enjoy novels from local authors, Jane Austen and Agatha Christi. In my late 20s, I decided to strictly read non-fiction books about politicians, famous people, etc. I think the last non-fiction book I read was Laura Bush’s memoir. I came across this book in the library, and the title suggested it must be a girly story. I finished it in less than two weeks! It was a beautiful and touching story about a girl who grew up in a boarding school from the age of five. She would spend time with her dad on weekends. They stayed in the rural parts of Ireland on Valentia Island.  Her mother left her after she gave birth. The book describes the girl's relationship with her dad beautifully. He has always been there for her and understood her. She had her freckles from her dad’s side. 

After finishing school, she moved to Dublin to pursue a career and to find her biological mother. Her struggles in Dublin are described in detail, and how she is shy and awkward around people. She comes across a guy who tells her she is the average of the five people she spends most of her time with. She is trying to find those people amongst influential celebrities, and starts writing to them. For sure, she knows her dad is at the top of the list of influential figures in her life. She even tries to find that popular girl from her school days that she always wanted to be friends with. At the end, she realizes she has enough friends and influential figures around her already who inspire her and love her. 

The moment of truth in the book is when she finally introduces herself to her biological mother, and it is quite a surprise. Another touching moment in the book is when she is in a hair salon, and her biological mother is doing her hair, and she is loving it! I enjoyed reading contemporary fiction where people post things on Instagram, send emails, and have smartphones. She is a hardworking girl trying to figure things out while trying to build her self-confidence and pay her bills. There is a lot of growth in her throughout the story, and her love for her father is as strong as ever. It is quite unique because he is the one who wanted her and raised her.