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“As women, we often navigate a labyrinth of expectations, challenges, and transformations. My story, probably like yours, is a tapestry woven with threads of ambition, loss, love, and reinvention.
Être enseignante d’allemand au collégial m’apporte beaucoup de joie et j’apprécie partager la beauté de ma avec de nombreux Québécois en tant que directrice pédagogique des Écoles allemandes du Québec.
As a teen, I dreamed of living abroad, imagining a life filled with new experiences and opportunities. That dream became a reality when I moved to Canada, a bold step fuelled by a desire for independence. And also, a trip to explore my roots as the daughter of a courageous woman who got on a boat at 18, lived here for 15 years and returned to her home country where I was born her own child when she was over 40.
My own emigration became yet even more important for me to achieve with the sudden death of my mother. Her passing taught me about the fragility of life and taught me the importance of resilience.
Having my first child was an unexpected gift from heaven, but also shadowed by the challenges of motherhood as I was not living with the child’s father at that time. The baby blues hit hard, amplifying insecurities and fears I believed had long been battled. Yet, through this tumult, I discovered an unyielding spirit that pushed me to seek help, to connect with other women– many of whom who are still my friends today– and to share my experiences.
Years full of hope followed, when I moved to live with my partner on his small farm, dreaming of living off the land and leading a sustainable life of self-sufficiency. We had a second child and always new projects.
My professional life brought its own set of trials. As it became more and more clear that the farm was not able to pay for our life, I shifted aspirations and started to work in the family-owned business of my partner’s stepfamily. Trying to climb the ladder and the struggle for recognition in a male-dominated environment was not easy. I found myself confronted by misogyny (“you’re too bright for your own good”) and finally hit the infamous glass ceiling.
As I realize today, this moment of stagnation became a catalyst for change, and after separating from my life partner just some months later, I had the chance to reinvent myself once again.
All these transitions, though some were painful, became an opportunity for rebirth. I realized that I could carve out my own identity, separate from my past, my roles, and others’ expectations. I sought new passions, moved to a new neighbourhood and embraced the discomfort of starting over. I learned that the journey of self-discovery is not linear but filled with twists and turns, each one offering a chance to grow stronger.
Today, as I reflect on my journey thanks to Mireille’s incredible project, I feel that being a woman over 40 is a pivotal time in our lives, it is a moment when we can shed the weight of past expectations and embrace our true selves. We have the wisdom of experience and the power to redefine our narratives.
Let us celebrate our resilience. In our pursuit of joy, fulfillment, and purpose, let us have no regrets.It is never too late to chase new dreams or to try out new paths. Together, we can uplift one another, share our stories, and inspire a generation of women to embrace their strength.
This is our time. We are not defined by how we fall but by how we rise.”
MIREILLE WU photography is an exclusive modern portrait studio for women and men in Montréal and surrounding areas! I am dedicated to providing a safe, empowering, and all-women environment where you can truly shine. Whether you’re here for an editorial, sensual, personal branding or a family photo shoot, I ensure a comfortable and supportive experience from start to finish. Join me and discover a space where you can feel confident, beautiful, and unapologetically yourself.
MINI SESSION – MAY 10 + 11 – 20 MINUTES – 5 IMAGES
MINI SESSION – APRIL 12 TO 14 – 20 MINUTES – 5 IMAGES