Learn AI as a Beginner: Why I Created Elle Lune Digital Inside ODIP
Learn AI as a Beginner: Why I Created Elle Lune Digital Inside ODIP Elle Suhardi December 13, 2025 My Journey to $100k Learn AI as a Beginner: A New Chapter Begins Learn AI as a beginner, that’s exactly where I am right now. If you’ve been following my journey here on Our Dreams In Progress, you already know one thing about me: I’m always learning. Always rebuilding. Always trying again. I spend a lot of time watching YouTube videos, going through tutorials, and even buying courses to deepen my understanding. I see it all as part of my learning investment. Even though I’m not yet making any sales, I don’t mind paying for good information. The learning itself is precious, and every new lesson helps me take another step forward. Why I Created Elle Lune Digital to Learn AI as a Beginner ODIP will always be my home. My personal journal. My quiet corner of the internet where I write honestly about rebuilding my life, my career, and my confidence. But when I began learning AI for my own digital business… When I started testing simple tools… When I realised how much easier AI made my daily work… Something shifted. I found beginner-friendly tutorials, tools, and resources that made learning AI as a beginner feel possible, even for someone like me. Who lived through the whole evolution from cassette tapes to iPhones, yet still found Canva confusing when I first tried it. I’ve never been naturally “techy,” and many of the tools everyone else seemed to understand instantly took me a little longer to figure out. One of those tools helped me build my very first one-page website from scratch (by myself!), which I documented here earlier: 👉 How I Built a One-Page Website From Scratch Seeing that little website come to life was a turning point. It made me realise: If I can learn this… other parents can too. And that’s when the idea for Elle Lune Digital clicked. I didn’t want a complicated tech brand. I didn’t want to overwhelm people. I didn’t want to pretend to be an expert. I just wanted a gentle, simple space where parents like me could learn AI, slowly, safely, and without pressure. And honestly, even if you’re not a parent, you could be a pet parent, a busy professional, a complete newbie, or even 89 years old and curious about AI, if you’re learning from scratch, this space is for you. What Elle Lune Digital Actually Is It’s not a new platform to replace ODIP. And it’s not a complicated, expert-level tech blog. It is simply: A dedicated series inside ODIP where I share everything I’m learning about AI, in a parent-friendly, beginner-friendly way. You’ll find things like: How I started learning AI as a 45-year-old mom who once struggled just organising her Google Drive (yes, still learning!) The easiest AI tools to begin with Simple tutorials and tips I wish someone gave me earlier My honest thoughts about courses I’ve taken How I’m using AI to build simple income streams from home Reviews of digital tools I’m currently testing* It’s still me. Still ODIP. Still my real journey. Just… “a new chapter of it.” Why I’m Keeping ELD Inside ODIP (Instead of a New Website) Many people would start a brand-new site for this. But for me: Elle Lune Digital was born FROM my ODIP journey, not separate from it. It’s part of my growth. Part of my learning. Part of my dream of rebuilding a digital career during this stage of motherhood. Keeping everything rooted in one home- ODIP- means you get: the behind-the-scenes the honest lessons the mistakes the experiments the tools I’m trying the updates in real-time Nothing split. Nothing hidden. Just one place where the whole story lives. All my AI content will live under one new category on this blog: 👉 Elle Lune Digital- Learn AI With Me What To Expect Next Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing: beginner-friendly AI tutorials AI tips for parents simple prompts I actually use faceless content ideas tools I’m testing digital income ideas for beginners reviews of helpful resources monthly recaps of what I’ve learned None of this is expert-level. It’s just one mom documenting what she learns, in real time. Exactly what ODIP has always been about. Thank You for Growing With Me If you’ve been here from the start, thank you for letting me grow in public. If you’re new here, I hope this next chapter helps you feel less alone and more inspired to try something new , even if you feel behind, even if you’re busy, even if you feel like you’re starting over. We’re learning together. Slowly. Quietly. But steadily. Welcome to Elle Lune Digital, the newest chapter of Our Dreams In Progress. If you’d like to follow along and learn AI with me, you can join my email list here (I send simple, beginner-friendly tips I’m learning each week). Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is Elle Lune Digital A. Elle Lune Digital is a beginner-friendly AI learning series created for parents and busy adults who want to learn AI in a simple, gentle way. 2. Is Elle Lune Digital a separate website? A. Not yet, it lives inside my main blog, Our Dreams In Progress, under its own category. 3. Can beginners really learn AI? A. Absolutely. I started learning AI at 45 with no technical background, and it’s been one of the most empowering things I’ve done. 4. Will you share the tools and courses you personally use? A. Yes, I’ll only share tools and resources I’ve tried myself and found helpful. 5. How can I follow your progress? A. You can join my email list or follow my updates on ODIP and social platforms. Facebook-f Instagram Recent Post Learn AI as a Beginner: Why I Created Elle Lune Digital Inside ODIP Over 40s Fitness for Busy Moms Who Love to Eat (Real-Life Guide) Mel Robbins Odyssey Questions
Over 40s Fitness for Busy Moms Who Love to Eat (Real-Life Guide)
Over 40s Fitness for Busy Moms Who Love to Eat (Real-Life Guide) Elle Suhardi December 10, 2025 My Journey to $100k Over 40s fitness for busy moms looks very different from our 20s and 30s. Especially when you’re juggling school runs, work deadlines, and a fridge full of leftovers that are just too good to waste. This is just my own version and what I go through in my daily life. I’ve always loved food. I love cheese and desserts! And bread! Cooking for my family, sharing meals, tasting new dishes, it’s part of who I am. I get lots of recipe ideas from Instagram and repost them on my stories all the time. I love sharing what I cook and bake. But somewhere along the way, I realized my body wasn’t keeping up the way it used to. I got tired easily. My cravings were nonstop. My clothes got tighter. And the idea of “getting fit” started to feel overwhelming. I hated how I looked in the mirror. I knew I had to make some changes. This blog isn’t about six-pack abs or cutting carbs forever. It’s about balance, the kind that lets you stay active, healthy, and confident without giving up the food that makes you happy. 1. Accept That Fitness After 40 Is Different In our 20s and 30s, we could skip meals, work out once, and see results in a week. Those days are gone. After 40, hormones shift, metabolism slows, recovery takes longer and in my case, perimenopause makes everything ten times harder. But it’s not impossible. I now focus less on how I look and more on how I feel. Strength, mobility, and energy, these matter more. I want to keep up with my kids, play outside with them, and still be active in my fifties. 2. Find Your Minimum Effective Dose You don’t need long workouts. Walking for 30 minutes counts. Lifting light weights counts. Doing bodyweight squats between laundry loads counts. My favourite hack? Walking videos on YouTube. I don’t have a treadmill, I don’t need one. I just put walking videos on TV and move. Even 10 minutes a day, done consistently, works better than a “perfect” 1-hour workout done once a month. My favourite channel: GET FIT WITH RICK Start small. Move daily. That’s it. 3. Eat Smart, Not Less As a mom who loves food, I had to stop punishing myself for enjoying it. Here’s my simple approach: Protein first Mostly whole foods Love your food, make it at home No guilt I eat cake. I just don’t eat cake every day. 4. Ditch the All-or-Nothing Mindset Moms fall into this trap: “If I can’t do it perfectly, I won’t do it at all.” But perfection doesn’t exist. If you can only walk for 10 minutes, do that. If you can’t prep meals for a week, prep for one day. If you take a break for a week, start again. No guilt. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is showing up, even imperfectly. 5. Make It a Family Thing My kids often join me when I move. Dance-offs in the living room. Walks after dinner. “Dance and Freeze” videos on YouTube. They don’t see it as exercise. They just see mom having fun. And because of that, they learn that self-care is normal, not selfish. 6. Focus on Feeling Good, Not Just Looking Good I started this journey wanting weight loss. But what kept me going wasn’t the number on the scale, it was: Better sleep More energy Better mood Feeling proud of myself Now, fitness isn’t punishment. It’s a daily gift to myself. If you’re a busy mom over 40 who loves to eat, welcome. You don’t need a strict diet or a perfect workout plan. You just need: movement mindfulness grace You can love food and love your body. You can be busy and be fit. You can be over 40 and just getting started. FAQ: Over 40s Fitness for Busy Moms 1. How do I start getting fit after 40? A. Start with walking and gentle movement. Build consistency first. 2. Can I lose weight if I love food? A. Yes. Focus on portions, protein, and home-cooked meals. 3. Best workout for busy moms over 40? A. Walking. Free, easy, doable anywhere. 4. How often should I exercise? A. Move most days, even 10 minutes helps. 5. What if I keep falling off track? A. It’s normal. Restart. No guilt. 6. Do I need to cut carbs? A. No. Balance, not restriction. 7. How do I stay motivated? A. Focus on how you feel, not how you look. 8. Is it too late to get fit after 40? A. Never. Your body can still get stronger at any age. Facebook-f Instagram Recent Post Learn AI as a Beginner: Why I Created Elle Lune Digital Inside ODIP Over 40s Fitness for Busy Moms Who Love to Eat (Real-Life Guide) Mel Robbins Odyssey Questions Reflections | What I Learned From Imagining 3 Possible Futures Categories My Journey to $100k Subscribe Our Newsletter Sign up today and get the Canva Course Starter Pack Freebie, plus access to my free newsletter filled with tips and inspiration. You can unsubscribe anytime, and you’ll find all the details in our Privacy Policy. Send You have been successfully Subscribed! Ops! Something went wrong, please try again.
Mel Robbins Odyssey Questions Reflections | What I Learned From Imagining 3 Possible Futures
Mel Robbins Odyssey Questions Reflections | What I Learned From Imagining 3 Possible Futures Kristina December 4, 2025 My Journey to $100k I listened to Mel Robbins’ Episode 339 on The Odyssey Questions during one of my quiet moments, and this became the start of my mel robbins odyssey questions reflections. And I will be honest, it shook me a little. This was not just another journaling exercise. It was not about goals or productivity. It was about imagining three possible futures and being brave enough to admit what I really want. As a 45-year-old mom restarting her journey while raising kids across three completely different stages of life, this exercise hit home. I realised how long I have been living reactively, not intentionally. This exercise forced me to think about my goals deeply. So I sat down and answered the three Odyssey Questions honestly. And what came out surprised me. Here is my reflection. Path One: The Life I Am Living Now (Part of my mel robbins odyssey questions reflections) What if I continue exactly as I am right now? If nothing changes, I will continue working quietly on my online business, juggling motherhood, the school runs, and the never-ending mental load. I will keep dreaming big but doubting myself between the chaos. I will probably grow slowly, maybe earn some income, but I will not reach my full potential because I am not allocating enough time to fully commit. I am constantly distracted by the kids, and now I see clearly where I need to make changes. And honestly? This version of my life is safe. Predictable. Manageable. But it is also painfully small compared to what I secretly want. Continuing as I am will mean I remain overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by bills that keep increasing. Overwhelmed by responsibilities. Overwhelmed by feeling behind. It means settling for “just okay”. It means the future might feel heavier because deep down I know I did not reach my full potential. It is not a bad life. But it is not the one I want to look back on at 60. Nope. I definitely want more than this. And by answering this question, it is clearer than ever that I need to adjust my schedule so I can concentrate better and work more efficiently. Path Two: The Life I Would Live If This Path Disappeared Tomorrow If my current life or responsibilities suddenly changed, what would I do? This question made my heart beat faster. Because if everything I am doing now disappeared, I know exactly what I would run toward. I would fully commit to building my digital business without hesitation. I would go all in on ODIP, Lune and Ivory, my digital product ladder, my YouTube channels, and my affiliate content. I would write every day. I would show up consistently, without guilt or fear that I am taking time away from someone else. I would stop second guessing. I would stop delaying launches. I would take risks that right now feel too selfish or too indulgent. This path showed me something powerful: My dream work is already in front of me. I just keep treating it like a side character because life is busy and I am scared of disappointing my family. But if everything was taken away I would choose the digital creator path in a heartbeat. That realisation alone made this exercise worth doing. And just to be clear, I am not wishing my family away. I love them deeply. It simply means I need to be more responsible with my time and give more dedicated hours to my work so I can build the future I dream of. Path Three: The Wild Card Life What would I do if fear did not exist and success was guaranteed? I loved this one. I let myself dream. This question brought tears to my eyes because it is the version of myself I rarely allow myself to imagine. If nothing were stopping me, I would build a successful digital empire under Titan Rose Group. I would create digital products that help women across Asia build online income.I would grow ODIP to millions of readers.I would build niche YouTube channels with consistent revenue.I would hire more VAs and build a small, beautiful remote team. I would travel often with my kids, not once a year, but every school holiday and more.I would be able to fly to Manchester for a few days every eight weeks just to see my eldest.I would send my younger two to the same international school their brother attended.I would take my parents and mother-in-law on lovely holidays.I would create a life where money is not a fear but a tool. And most of all, I would stop apologizing for wanting more.I would live boldly.I would trust myself fully.I would choose expansion instead of survival. The Wild Card Life made me realize something painful and freeing at the same time. I already know the life I want. I am just scared of claiming it. Mel Robbins said the Odyssey Questions are not about predicting the future. They are about giving yourself permission to imagine again. And that is exactly what I needed especially as I wrote these mel robbins odyssey questions reflections from a place of honesty and clarity. As mothers, we rarely allow ourselves to imagine bigger because reality has conditioned us to choose between career OR family. This exercise reminded me that my dreams are not unrealistic. They are simply buried under responsibility. And I need to take action. I need to stop making excuses. Because after all the roadblocks I have been through, and the ones I am still going through, I am still here. The Wild Card version of my life is not a fantasy. It is a direction. And I am ready to build towards it until it becomes my reality. FAQ: The Odyssey Questions (Mel Robbins Episode 339) 1. What are the Odyssey Questions? They are a three-part life
Thanksgiving Reflections of a Grateful Mom
Thanksgiving Reflections of a Grateful Mom Kristina December 1, 2025 My Journey to $100k Where I live in Southeast Asia, we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s not part of our cultural calendar, and there’s no holiday surrounding it. But I’ve always loved the meaning behind it: pausing to reflect, choosing gratitude intentionally, and looking back at the year that has just happened. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent the past year rebuilding my life, my business, and my confidence from the ground up. Maybe it’s because I finally understand what it means to be grateful in the middle of uncertainty, not after the success comes. And maybe that’s why these thanksgiving reflections of a grateful mom feel so meaningful to write this year. I’ve been thinking a lot about where I am right now. A mother of three in three different stages of life. A woman starting again financially. Someone learning new skills, building new income streams, and trying to create a future that feels both stable and full of possibility. And today, I want to write down the things I’m thankful for, not because everything is perfect, but because gratitude is the only thing that has kept me moving. 2025 started with such high hopes. I dreamed of earning $100K. I imagined momentum, progress, and finally breaking into the world of digital business with confidence. And today, I end the year with zero sales. But surprisingly, my heart is not discouraged. In fact, I feel… full of gratitude. More than I expected. Thankful for a Year That Didn’t Go to Plan This year didn’t unfold the way I pictured it. But maybe that was the point. Sometimes life doesn’t give us results first. It gives us lessons. I faced challenges I didn’t expect financially, emotionally, and mentally. There were moments I felt behind, lost, or overwhelmed. There were days everything looked messy and uncertain. And yet, these exact difficulties shaped me. They pushed me to look at myself honestly. They forced me to slow down and strengthen my foundation instead of rushing ahead. If the year had been easy, I don’t think I would be this prepared for what comes next. So I’m thankful for the plans that fell apart because they guided me to the paths I actually needed. Thankful for the Skills I Never Thought I’d Learn If someone told me one year ago that I would: Learn AI tools Build funnels Understand ads Manage multiple platforms Write blogs Create content Set up domains, DNS, emails, automations Start a multi-brand digital business …I would have laughed. But today, I can say I’ve touched every one of these skills imperfectly, but honestly. I tried so many tools. I broke things and fixed them. I learned through trial, error, and persistence. And even without sales yet, I have knowledge I didn’t even know existed before. This is why I’m thankful. Because one day, these skills will pay off in ways I can’t fully see yet. Thankful for the People Who Make This Possible My children, each in different seasons of life, teach me something new every day. My husband, who has seen all my breakdowns, still believes in every new idea I come up with. My helper, who keeps my daily world running so I can carve out time to learn and build this business. And my VA, who is no longer just a VA. Part therapist. Part cheerleader. Part accountability partner. Now a precious friend. And honestly, I’m thankful for AI tools like ChatGPT, communities of creators, and the entire online world that gives mothers like me a second chance. We don’t have to start perfect. We just have to start. Thankful for the Quiet Strength This Year Built in Me There is a different kind of strength that comes from a year like this. A strength that grows quietly beneath the surface. The kind of strength that says: “I didn’t get the results I hoped for, but I will keep going anyway.” Not everyone understands what it feels like to build something from scratch while raising children and learning an entirely new industry. I’ve had to cut back, adjust, humble myself financially. After years of comfortable spending, this setback was necessary. And painful. But needed. But I’m still here. Not giving up. Not stopping. Because without this year pushing me, I don’t think I would have discovered my resilience. The part of me that says: “Start again. And again. Even when you’re scared.” This reset made me braver. Sharper. More intentional. This year taught me patience. It taught me to believe in possibilities even when I can’t see proof yet. The hardships didn’t break me. They’re building me. Thankful for Gratitude Itself Strangely, the biggest blessing this year gave me is gratitude. Not gratitude tied to a big win. Not gratitude tied to sales. Not gratitude tied to milestones. Just quiet, steady gratitude for the life I have. Gratitude that I can still pay my bills. Gratitude for my health. Gratitude for my home filled with the laughter of my children. Gratitude for food on the table. Gratitude for stability, no matter how small. I’m thankful for: the difficulties that sharpened me the small wins no one sees the late nights learning the courage to start again in midlife the faith that kept me moving This kind of gratitude is soft… but strong. A Thanksgiving for the In-Between I’m ending this year without the results I wanted, but with the growth I needed. And I’m grateful for that. Deeply grateful. I’m grateful for the version of me that kept going when everything felt too heavy. I’m grateful for the resilience I didn’t know I had. I’m grateful for the dreams I’m still brave enough to chase. If you’re in your own “in-between,” here’s what I learned: You don’t need success first to feel thankful. You can start again anytime. And again. And again. You can be grateful for becoming the kind of person who will eventually create the
Reflections of an Older Mom
Reflections of an Older Mom Elle Suhardi November 27, 2025 My Journey to $100k Reflections of an older mom begin with this simple truth: having three kids with wide age gaps is one of the most beautiful, complicated blessings of my life. My oldest son is 18 and just left for university, my second turns 8 this month, and my youngest, my only girl is 4. Being an older mom (I had my daughter at 41) was never part of my plan, and I still have mixed feelings about it. I love having little ones around, but I also feel my age. In kindergarten, we immediately stand out as the older parents. Even my eldest gets looks from other parents, probably being mistaken for a very young dad when he picks up his baby sister. And honestly? Keeping up with them takes effort, real, physical effort. I tire easily. Some nights, I fall asleep before they do. And the future… sometimes it scares me. The Joys and Chaos of a Full House They do keep me young, though. Our home is filled with toys, laughter, and the kind of noise that only a house full of children can make. It’s Lego and Barbies all over again, and endless birthday parties. It’s rediscovering things we used to take for granted, like the usefulness of toothbrush timer videos on YouTube, and learning to keep up with whatever they’re watching on their iPads. It’s also learning their “young language,” full of new slang and trends that leave me wondering how to even keep up. It’s chaotic, yes, but also comforting. Still, I can’t help but think ahead. When my youngest turns 18, I’ll be 60. I’ll be the “older mom” among her friends’ mothers. I pray that I’ll be healthy, fit, and still full of life, that I won’t embarrass her, and that I’ll still look like “her mom,” not her grandmother. Most of all, I just want to be there. That thought alone often brings tears to my eyes. It’s a real fear. It’s something that keeps me awake at night and sometimes even triggers panic attacks. The fear of not being there long enough is real. Trying to Stay Strong for Them Because of that, I’ve made it a mission to take better care of myself, to eat better, move more, and do everything I can to maintain my health. It’s not easy. I’ve been overweight since the birth of my first child, and losing weight now, in my mid-40s and probably perimenopausal, feels like climbing a hill that keeps getting steeper. But I’m trying. I have to. For them. For her. I want to be strong enough to see my daughter graduate, fall in love, get married, and have children of her own. I want to see my sons build their lives too and share their families with us. I want to love my grandchildren and be the fun “Nana.” I want to be there through all of it. Motherhood in Different Seasons When I went to Manchester to send off my eldest, I was torn in every direction. On one hand, I was proud and grateful to share that moment with him , watching him step into his own life. But at the same time, I missed the two younger ones so deeply that every little thing reminded me of them. Sometimes, I worried that my son could sense it, that my sadness made him feel guilty for being with me. He shouldn’t have to feel that. None of it is his fault. Our family timeline just unfolded differently. Our second one came ten years apart by IVF, and our youngest was a complete surprise during the pandemic. You can’t plan everything in life; sometimes, it just happens in ways you never imagined. When Life Doesn’t Follow the Plan I’ll admit, there are moments when I’ve thought about how different life would be if we didn’t have the younger two, how we might have been free to follow our eldest to Manchester or travel more easily. I’m so glad we managed to do so much with my oldest during those first ten years. We travelled extensively and took every chance we could, road trips, museums, parks, and new countries. We enrolled him in the best school, and I attended every event, every swim meet, every concert, every school trip. Those were such precious years filled with lovely memories. These aren’t regrets, just passing thoughts that surface when I compare our life to that of other parents who are already becoming empty nesters. Meanwhile, we’re just starting kindergarten all over again. Can you imagine another sixteen years of school runs? Sometimes, even I can’t! And now, having to plan financially for all the years ahead feels like a heavy task. As unexpected as it all was, I still want to be responsible and give the younger two the same opportunities my oldest had , as best as I can. I carry that guilt sometimes, and maybe that’s why I’m pushing so hard to build new income streams online. And yet, deep down, I know this is the life meant for us, a noisy, love-filled, unpredictable one. Full of snuggles, cuddles, and giggles, and also tears and tantrums. Uni and potty training in the same year. Yup welcome to our household! Meanwhile, daily life constantly reminds me that while I may be older, I’m still growing, still learning, and still so incredibly blessed. And I’m praying hard that I’ll be able to experience it all in good health. Being an older mom comes with fears I never had in my 20s. It’s a strange mix of gratitude and guilt, joy and exhaustion, laughter and worry. But it’s also the purest reminder that time is precious and that every day with them is a gift I’ll never take for granted. FAQ: Reflections of an Older Mom 1. What are the biggest challenges of being an older mom? A. Balancing energy levels, health concerns, and emotional worries
10 Simple Things I Do to Stay Motivated When Life Gets Tough
10 Simple Things I Do to Stay Motivated When Life Gets Tough Kristina November 21, 2025 My Journey to $100k How to stay motivated when life gets tough is something I ask myself more often than I’d like to admit. There are days when I wake up already feeling behind, emails waiting, unfinished projects, kids to send to school, meals to prep, and a never-ending list of things I “should” be doing. And then there are the heavier days, the ones where motivation just disappears. The days when I stare at my screen, question everything, and wonder if all this effort is even worth it. If you’ve ever felt that too, just know you’re not alone; I feel it a lot more now, and honestly, it scares me sometimes. I don’t know if it’s age, anxiety, or maybe the early signs of a panic attack. But I’ve learned something important: these moments don’t mean I’ve failed. They’re simply signals telling me to pause, breathe, reset, and reconnect with my “why.” So instead of forcing myself to push through on empty, I do small things that refill my energy and help me find my rhythm again. Here are 10 simple things I do to stay motivated when life gets tough, especially on the days when everything feels heavy. 1. Move My Body (Even Just for 10 Minutes) Movement is my mental reset. On tough days, I open YouTube and play one of Rick Bhullar’s “Get Fit With Rick” walking workouts. They’re fun, easy, and surprisingly effective. By the time I reach 5,000 steps, my mood always lifts. Sometimes I “double dip”, I play his walking workout and listen to a podcast at the same time. That combination makes me feel productive and re-energized. Watch here: Get Fit With Rick – 5000 Steps 2. Escape Into Something That Makes Me Smile When I need a soft escape, I watch Disney World livestreams, guilt-free.I grew up with Disney movies, and my all-time favorite will always be The Little Mermaid. The music, the sounds of Main Street, the nostalgia, it instantly makes me feel lighter. I even stream it on Sunday mornings while the kids eat breakfast. They shout out their favorite rides, and the whole house fills with positive energy. 3. Bake Something Sweet When my mind feels cluttered, I bake. Measuring flour, scooping dough, waiting for cookies to rise, it grounds me. And the smell? Instant mood booster. Try this recipe if you want something soft, chewy, and comforting: Sally’s Baking Addiction 4. Tidy One Small Space Instead of cleaning the whole house, I choose one tiny area. A drawer. My desk. My bedside table. Or the kids’ drawer filled with Kinder Egg toys, that one gets messy fast. Cleaning one tiny space gives me a sense of control again. 5. Watch Shark Tank People laugh when I tell them this but Shark Tank motivates me. My favorite Shark? Mr. Wonderful, Kevin O’Leary. I love his honesty and clarity. Watching entrepreneurs pitch reminds me why I started. Success requires persistence, courage, and clarity, things I’m still building every day. 6. My Afternoon “Reset Drink” Ritual Every afternoon, I make myself a hot drink, usually tea, since I gave up coffee. English Breakfast Tea with milk is still my comfort drink, but lately I’ve been obsessed with fruit teas. I sit by the window, no phone, no noise, and just breathe. Five quiet minutes. Me reminding myself: “You’re doing your best. That’s enough today.” Dipping cookies into it is optional but recommended. 7. Write It Out Writing is my therapy. When I feel overwhelmed, I open my journal or my laptop and just write,no filter, no rules. Sometimes it’s a brain dump, sometimes a heart dump, but it always helps me process what’s really going on. Some entries end up as ODIP blog posts. Others stay private. But writing always brings clarity. 8. Talk to Someone Who Understands This journey feels lonely sometimes, especially when people around you don’t understand what online business feels like. That’s why I’m grateful for the people I can message, like my VA Kristina, or friends who are also building something from scratch. Just saying “I’m having a rough day” brings relief. Being understood is healing. 9. Step Away From Screens It’s too easy to swipe endlessly on my phone. When nothing flows, I close my laptop and step outside. Water the plants. Take a slow drive. Stand on the balcony. The world moves whether I post or not. That reminder grounds me. 10. Reflect on My “Why” This is the anchor that pulls me back to center. When I want to quit, I remember why I’m doing this, my family, our future, the freedom I want us to experience, and the trips I dream of giving my kids. This turns frustration into fuel, reminding me that every small step counts. There’s no perfect formula for how to stay motivated when life gets tough. Some days I still cry, pause, procrastinate, or crumble a little and that’s okay. What matters is having small rituals you can return to. Rituals that reset you. Rituals that remind you of your strength. Rituals that pull you forward even when you feel stuck. Try one small reset today. Go for a walk. Make your favorite drink. Or simply breathe and remember how far you’ve already come. Even when it feels hard, you’re still moving. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What’s the first thing to do when I lose motivation? A. Don’t force yourself to keep working. Do something small that helps you feel grounded, like walking, journaling, or listening to music. 2. How do you stay consistent with these habits? I don’t overcomplicate them. These aren’t “systems”; they’re small comforts I return to naturally because they make me feel better. 3. What if I feel guilty for taking breaks? Remind yourself that rest isn’t quitting. You’re recharging so you can show up again stronger and that’s still progress. Recent Post 10 Simple Things
10 Motivational Quotes When You Feel Like Giving Up
10 Motivational Quotes When You Feel Like Giving Up Kristina November 17, 2025 My Journey to $100k There are days when I feel like I’ve been trying for years with little to show for it. Between building businesses, raising kids, and learning new skills from scratch, the road can feel endlessly uphill. It doesn’t help that I get easily distracted online, my curiosity pulls me into new courses, new methods, new ideas. Tasks get pushed aside, sometimes abandoned, and the overwhelm hits fast. Whenever I reach that point when I truly feel like giving up, I go back to the motivational quotes that have carried me before. I keep a small folder of them on my phone and inside my journal. Reading them reminds me that slow progress is still progress, and even if it feels easier to quit, I’m still here, still learning, still trying… even with zero sales. If you’ve ever felt tired or discouraged too, I hope these motivational quotes bring you strength. 1. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” — Confucius This quote reminds me that there’s no deadline for success. Even when things move slowly, forward is forward. I remind myself of this almost daily. 2. “Do not wait. The time will never be just right.” — Napoleon Hill There’s no perfect moment. If I waited for the “right time,” I’d still be waiting today. Starting imperfectly was still a start and our dreams really are in progress. 3. “She believed she could, so she did.” — R.S. Grey Belief is the beginning of everything. Some days, I lose that belief, but this line helps me choose faith over fear again. 4. “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” — Mary Anne Radmacher Soft but powerful. Courage isn’t always dramatic — often, it’s private persistence. 5. “Everything you’ve ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear.” — George Addair Every time I push through fear, launching a blog, starting a digital business growth always waits on the other side. 6. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill Wins are temporary, losses are temporary. Showing up again is what matters. 7. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” — Arthur Ashe Progress doesn’t need perfection. This reminds me to stop getting lost in distractions and work with what I already have. 8. “One day you will thank yourself for not giving up.” — Unknown I think about future me, the version who pushed through and I don’t want to disappoint her. 9. “You don’t have to be extreme, just consistent.” — Unknown Consistency beats intensity. This one keeps me from burning out by chasing perfection. 10. “Be proud of how far you’ve come and have faith in how far you can go.” — Christian Larson This brings me back to gratitude. We’ve already survived so much, why stop now? I don’t always have it all together. Many mornings, I question everything. But these motivational quotes remind me that I’ve come too far to quit now. If you feel slow, behind, or discouraged, breathe, take one small step, and keep going. You don’t have to be fast. You just have to keep moving. Frequently Asked Question 1. How do motivational quotes help when you feel like giving up? A. They give you a mental reset. Sometimes one sentence is enough to shift your mindset from doubt to possibility. 2. How can I use these quotes daily? A. Set one as your phone wallpaper, or write one on a sticky note near your workspace. 3. What if motivational quotes feel cliché? A. That’s okay. Sometimes they are but when one hits you at the right moment, it becomes powerful, personal, and healing. Facebook-f Instagram Recent Post 10 Motivational Quotes When You Feel Like Giving Up I’ve Tried It All: Learning from Failure in My 40s Build a One-Page Website from Scratch: My First Website Journey Categories My Journey to $100k Subscribe Our Newsletter Sign up today and get the Canva Course Starter Pack Freebie, plus access to my free newsletter filled with tips and inspiration. You can unsubscribe anytime, and you’ll find all the details in our Privacy Policy. Send You have been successfully Subscribed! Ops! Something went wrong, please try again.
I’ve Tried It All: Learning from Failure in My 40s
I’ve Tried It All: Learning from Failure in My 40s Kristina November 3, 2025 My Journey to $100k A story about learning from failure in your 40s* To be honest, learning from failure in your 40s feels like a lifelong marathon. I’ve tried it all: traditional businesses, Amazon FBA, MLMs, and more online courses than I can count. I’ve been hopeful, disappointed, motivated, burned out, and back again. While part of me still feels embarrassed about some of my choices, another part of me knows this: I’m a lifelong learner. I’ve made mistakes, procrastinated, and and given up too easily at times. But I’m done hiding, and I’m done feeling ashamed because all those failures were lessons that led me here. Now in my 40s, as I work hard to earn enough to support the lifestyle I want for my family, I’ve decided: no more guilt. I’m choosing growth instead. Yes, I could save more, cut expenses, and live more frugally, but that’s not the solution for me. I will make responsible adjustments where needed, but ultimately I’m learning how to earn more. That’s my mindset now: hopeful, determined, and unashamedly committed to living fully. How It All Began A little background: I grew up in a comfortable household; both parents had successful careers. I’ve been an entrepreneur all my adult life, not by choice exactly, but because my parents asked me to help set up a family business after I graduated. At the time, they said it was for their retirement, but in reality, they were going through a difficult marriage and wanted me home. My siblings were studying abroad, and I had just finished university with dreams of becoming a banker like my father. Internship in Singapore or London with a glass‐office skyline in mind. But that summer I was called home suddenly. My parents wanted to start a flower shop. I knew nothing about running a business, but I said yes. That “yes” became my first real career. Looking back now, that experience shaped everything about how I see work, creativity, and risk. The First Chapter: Building from Scratch That flower shop became my life. I taught myself floristry, built a floral style, and worked hard. This is where I started the love for flowers (you’ll see evidence of it in my pictures!). It took years. Through weddings, events, and word-of-mouth. In the first decade I learned to hire the right staff and attract better-paying clients. I expanded tailoring service, food stall, self-taught, fuelled by curiosity and courage. Those early years gave me undeniable proof: I could make money from my own ideas. For a while it worked. My businesses paid bills, funded travel, and gave my family the lifestyle I was used to. Then came decade two, my “big project” years, and that’s when things got messy. We grew our family with IVF help. I also took on something too large and too risky; it crashed hard. I lost a lot of money, a huge debt I’m still paying off. But I kept what I could and continued running my remaining businesses. They supported my family, paid for private education, and allowed the home we have now. I seldom talk about that period. The hurt. The loss. But writing about it now brings memories I’ve avoided for years. One day I’ll unpack it fully. I’m grateful that even in the hardest times, I kept moving. Loss, Change, and Learning to Begin Again Then came COVID. Business slowed. Soon after, I lost my beloved brother to sudden illness. It broke something in me. The years that followed were heavy emotionally, financially, and mentally. Sales halved. Savings drained covering expenses. For the first time, I realized I couldn’t rely on the old ways of doing business. The world had shifted online and so did I. So I did what I always do: I started learning again. I took courses on Amazon FBA first. Thousands of dollars. I learned a lot, but it wasn’t for me. My coach wasn’t as supportive. The system required investment in stock and ads. But I don’t regret it: it opened my eyes to what’s possible online: global business, U.S. banking, and borderless income. That curiosity changed everything. Then came dropshipping and social-media money-making courses. Promises of earning thousands from your phone. I believed it. I spent more, optimistically thinking I’d recoup and more. But the real lesson? It took time, patience, and consistency. I’d get excited, start strong, then lose motivation when things didn’t move fast enough. Even through all that trial and error, I learned. The Long List of Tries I’ve joined MLMs that cost friendships. Bought courses promising instant success. Spent sleepless nights on business models I barely understood. Every time I started over, I told myself: “This might be the one.” And each time it wasn’t, I felt embarrassed, especially towards my husband, my biggest supporter. He stayed with me through every rise and fall and never made me feel small. That kind of love gives strength. Looking back, every experience taught me something: MLMs taught boundaries. Amazon taught structure and systems. Dropshipping taught marketing. And AI, my newest love, taught clarity and confidence. Most importantly, they taught me: I am the common denominator. If something didn’t work, it wasn’t always the business model. Sometimes it was my lack of consistency and grit. That’s a truth I can finally admit without shame. The Turning Point Somewhere in the middle of all that failure, something shifted. I realised I wasn’t failing, I was learning. Every mistake became part of my data showing me what doesn’t work for me. Then I started using tools like ChatGPT. Things clicked. For the first time I could organize ideas, research properly, and bring structure to creativity. AI became my quiet coach, patient, and ready. So much value for USD $20/month vs. thousands I spent. Then the breakthrough: I registered my U.S. LLC, opened a U.S. business bank account. Doors opened Stripe, PayPal, global opportunities.
Build a One-Page Website from Scratch: My First Website Journey
Build a One-Page Website from Scratch: My First Website Journey Kristina October 24, 2025 My Journey to $100k Build a one-page website from scratch- tonight, I did something that might look small to most people, but to me, it felt huge. I built my very first website. Okay, technically it was just one page. But I had never done anything so complicated before, and I did it from scratch, not from a template! I aimed to build a simple page to link in my IG bio for one of my new brands, Elle Lune Digital, which focuses on affiliate marketing. My plan was to create a mini-website replacing tools like Linktree or Beacons, this time connected directly to Funnel Freedom, an AI-enabled funnel system, so anyone who clicks can subscribe instantly, and I can collect emails into my own system. Some Background Funnel Freedom is an all-in-one funnel-building and marketing automation platform that helps creators design landing pages, manage emails, and connect offers in one place. While it’s not purely AI like ChatGPT, it includes smart tools that simplify setup, follow-ups, and marketing for beginners. I discovered Funnel Freedom during my OfferLab training and decided to try it for a month (I’ll share a full blog review soon). When I first opened it, I realized: this software isn’t just for funnels—it’s a powerhouse. I found affiliate links, bridge page templates, automation tools, and even full website builder capabilities. Although powerful, I knew I’d only scratched the surface. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I decided to lean in. I forced myself to learn by doing, step by step, mistake by mistake , until I figured it out. That is how I ended up creating my first one-page website from scratch. Learning with AI by My Side Here’s the truth: I wouldn’t have made it far without ChatGPT. Even though Funnel Freedom came with training videos and live calls, I often found myself stuck on tiny steps most tutorials skip: how to resize an image without breaking the layout, where to paste a link, and why my logo looked distorted. Or that time everything froze and I lost my work because I forgot autosave , a real disaster, yet I stayed calm because I knew I was saved by ChatGPT. Instead of giving up, I took screenshots of every single step and sent them to ChatGPT. And somehow, it always understood. I didn’t worry about asking silly questions. I couldn’t find a button; I sent another screenshot. It told me which tabs to open, which buttons to click, and how to adjust image proportions when nothing looked right. It felt like a silent teacher: patient, precise, and judgment-free. The Beauty of Learning at Your Own Pace The most freeing part of this experience was realizing that learning doesn’t have to be fast to be meaningful. When I used to follow online tutorials, I always felt left behind, pausing, rewinding, and squinting at cursors trying to keep up with people who made it look easy. But learning with AI allowed me to move at my own rhythm. I typed, “Wait, I don’t understand,” and it explained again, differently this time, simpler, slower. I could ask a question three different ways and it never lost patience. When my whole project froze and everything disappeared, I didn’t cry or panic. I reopened the ChatGPT thread, found all my screenshots, and rebuilt the page in minutes. Because I’d documented everything without realizing it, every instruction, screenshot, saved line of code, or text. It was like my own digital backup system built on patience and conversation. That is the real AI advantage. AI isn’t here to replace us. It’s here to teach us differently. It allows us to learn endless topics and skills we never thought we could master. I’m in awe that I can learn so much in my own home, in my time. That is a privilege, one to take advantage of. Create your space to experiment, fail quietly, rebuild quickly, and grow confidently. What I Learned from Losing Everything There’s something poetic about losing your work and rebuilding it better. When my browser froze and the screen went blank, I felt that sinking feeling, hours of effort gone in an instant. But instead of frustration, I felt calm, because I knew this time, I had help. I reopened the ChatGPT thread, scrolled through it, and there it was: every instruction, every step I’d followed earlier. I simply retraced my path. I almost immediately went back, started over, and my page was back, even better than before. That moment taught me something important: AI doesn’t just help you do things, it helps you learn how to think. It trains you to approach problems differently, to stay calm under pressure, to find solutions logically instead of emotionally. The Power of Doing Things Yourself There’s a special kind of confidence that comes from creating something with your own hands, or in this case, your own clicks. Seeing that one-page website go live felt like a small miracle. Not because it was perfect, but because it existed. It was proof that I could learn something completely new, something so technical and outside my comfort zone, and actually make it work. And now, I can proudly say: I have a working link in my Instagram bio that leads to my very own website. A simple, one-page website that collects emails, introduces my digital brand, and represents a piece of me online. This may sound small, but it’s a massive step in my first website journey as a digital creator. The True Gift of AI: Learning Through Doing If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this entire experience, it’s this: AI isn’t just a tool for productivity; it’s a teacher for courage. It’s the reason I didn’t give up when my screen froze. It’s the voice that patiently explained what a pixel ratio meant. It’s the quiet nudge that said, “Try again, you’ve got this.” And most of all, it’s
Letting Go as a Mother to My Firstborn — The Hardest Goodbye I’ve Ever Faced
Letting Go as a Mother to My Firstborn — The Hardest Goodbye I’ve Ever Faced Elle Suhardi October 17, 2025 My Journey to $100k Letting go as a mother especially to your firstborn is something no one truly prepares you for. We spend years loving, nurturing, and giving everything we have to our children, only to one day face the very purpose of it all: letting them go. It’s one of the great ironies of motherhood. We spend years pouring our hearts, time, and energy into raising these little humans, knowing that one day they’ll leave to build a life of their own. But when that moment actually arrives, nothing truly prepares you for the ache of it. A few weeks ago, I sent my firstborn off to university, all the way across the world in Manchester. And though I told myself I was ready, the truth is, I wasn’t. Between Work and Motherhood We left in mid-September, just me and him. My husband had to stay at home with our two younger children. It was always decided that I would be the one to go, and I wanted to be the one to send him. Prior to that, I had already been feeling anxious but tried to brush it away amidst the chaos of preparing to leave. I was also confident that I could keep up with my work online because I thought that without my usual daily distractions of school runs and mummy duties, I could actually commit to doing more work and finish the projects I had planned. When we were there, I was still trying to keep up with my work online, checking in with Kristina, replying to messages, and doing what I could in between moments. But my heart and mind were somewhere else. The truth was, no matter how much I had planned to stay productive, I simply couldn’t dedicate the time I thought I would. My son needed me fully, and I knew that. We spent those days doing the real-life things that prepare a young adult to live on their own. We went shopping for everything: pillows, sheets, towels, and kitchen essentials. We made multiple trips to grocery stores and supermarkets. We walked around the city together, learning the routes to his university, figuring out how to get around independently, and navigating buses and trams for the first time. At home, he never had to walk or take public transport. We always drove him. So this was a whole new world for him. He already knew how to cook simple meals, but we still practiced using his new kitchen equipment, making sure he was comfortable cooking on his own. We set up his bank account, got his phone sorted, stocked his fridge, and organized his small dorm room to make it feel a little more like home. It was exhausting, emotional, and I was so grateful for that time together. It was a precious chapter that marked the transition between his childhood and adulthood and between my old version of motherhood and the new one I’m still learning to grow into. The Farewell in Manchester When it was finally time to leave, I told him not to come to the airport with me. I didn’t want to have that emotional goodbye at the gate. So instead, I kissed him goodbye at the hotel, and he left in an Uber back to his dorm while I took another one to the airport. I cried silently the entire ride. The city blurred past the window, but my thoughts were loud. Every street we had walked together flashed through my mind. Every errand, every moment, it all suddenly felt too short. All the worries came crashing into my mind. Will he be okay? What will he eat? What if he gets sick? My heart filled again with all those worries, but there was no turning back. This was the time to let go. When the plane took off, I felt my heart drop. The realization that I was leaving him behind, not just for a few days but for months, hit me hard. I’m sure the person next to me saw me crying, but I’m glad they gave me space and just let me be. I had done everything to prepare him for this, yet I had no idea how to prepare myself. Coming Home Without Him Coming home was bittersweet. I was happy to be back in the arms of my husband, to snuggle my younger two, to be surrounded by family again. But everything felt different. His voice wasn’t echoing through the house anymore. His chair at the table was empty. I went into his room and cried on his empty bed, breathing in his scent and engulfed with tears. I missed him in all the small ways: when I was cooking all his favorite meals, when I saw his favorite snacks at the grocery store, no more waiting for him to come down for dinner, no more after-tuition Saturday coffee runs. Fast forward to now: It’s been almost a month, and I’m happy to report he is doing well. His calendar is full of activities, and he has settled in and made good friends. I am so grateful. I do still feel sad when something reminds me of him, but I’m grateful to know he is okay. Motherhood doesn’t give you a manual for this part. You spend years giving everything of yourself, and then one day, you realize the very purpose of it all was to help them not need you so much anymore. Finding Comfort in the Bigger Picture In those quiet moments, I remind myself of the bigger picture. He’s there to learn, to grow, to earn his degree, to find his place in the world. This is exactly what we’ve been preparing him for all along. Letting go doesn’t mean losing him. It means trusting that everything I’ve poured into him will carry him through, the values,