Aaronna Martin: Honest Motherhood, Loneliness & Finding Your People

Loneliness can be one of the strangest parts of motherhood. You can be doing school drop-offs, standing at the park, surrounded by people, and still feel like a real connection is missing.

In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Aaronna Martin, an HR professional, mom, blogger, truth teller, and founder of HR Next Door, for an honest conversation about motherhood, loneliness, burnout, identity, friendship, and what happens when women finally say the quiet things out loud.

Aaronna shares the pressure many mothers feel to be the “perfect mom,” how burnout can show up at home after giving everything away all day, and why social media can make real life feel like it is falling short. She opens up about being “one and done,” how an emergency C-section and early motherhood shifted her sense of identity, and why she began writing at 3 a.m. just to get the feelings out.

What began as private journaling became blogging — and when Aaronna shared her truth, other women reached back with the words so many of us are waiting to hear: “me too.”

We also talk about motherhood and entrepreneurship, including Aaronna’s journey building her consulting firm, HR Next Door. She shares why starting a business can feel exciting and lonely at the same time, the humbling reality of building from scratch, and why finding your people through mom groups, coworking communities, networking circles, and women’s friendships matters more than we admit.

If you are looking for honest motherhood conversations, postpartum loneliness support, women in business stories, mom burnout recovery, or a more human version of work-life balance, this episode will feel like a deep exhale.

Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for more real conversations with women who are telling the truth, building meaningful lives, and reminding others they are not alone.

Here are a few ways to reach out to Aaroona:

https://www.instagram.com/hr_next_door/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

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Transcript

Welcome And Guest Introduction

SPEAKER_01 0:16

Well, hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of Women Like Me Stories in Business. I'm your host, Julie Fairhurst, and today we are with a lovely lady, Irona Martin. So I'm going to tell you a little bit about her. So she is a mother, a blogger, an HR professional, and a truth teller who has used her voice to speak honestly about motherhood, identity, culture, parenting, and the things many mothers think but are afraid to say out loud. Aerona, welcome to the podcast. I'm so happy to have you here.

SPEAKER_00 1:01

Thanks so much, Julie, for having me.

SPEAKER_01 1:04

You're welcome. Okay, so let's get started. So uh can you tell us a little bit about yourself, who you are, and what is the work that you're doing today?

SPEAKER_00 1:15

Okay, who am I? That's actually the million-dollar question, even I've been asking myself. My name's Arona Martin. I am a other, a wife. I'm an HR professional. I volunteer. I'm a person that I would say champions community and connection. Right now, I recently just started my own consulting firm. So I'm the founder and owner of HR Next Door. So that has been really an interesting journey so far. But more so, how do I merge running my own business with also running a household and raising a beautiful daughter? I made the choice of just having one. And I think that was the first thing that I said to my husband when I saw him was, I'm never doing this again after I had my daughter.

SPEAKER_02 2:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:17

And it's the truth. We had only planned on having one, anyways. Yeah. I met my husband later in life. So, you know, we were enjoying each other when, you know, after we got married, we were, you know, typical, let's get a dog first. And I didn't have my my daughter until I was 36. So a little bit later in life, she is now turning 13. And we are still very we're one and done and so happy. And we have two dogs, and so that's

One And Done Motherhood Reality

SPEAKER_00 2:50

that's our family unit.

SPEAKER_02 2:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:52

Oh, nice. Yeah. I was actually born in Malaysia, I should say this. Born in Malaysia, and my family immigrated to Canada when I was two years old. So I've been basically raised, you know, all my life in Canada. And I am a proud Canadian. We're watching the soccer game. I'm wearing my I Love Canada shirt. Oh I'm just trying to do it all. You know, I know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but I'm trying to do it all. And the women and the friends that I've made throughout the community, we're all trying to do it all. And I'm observing them like some women just look like they have it all together and they can do it all. But the truth is it's hard. It is hard, staring very hard, yes, and it's lonely. And we, you know, social media and everyone wants the perfect picture, no one wants the double chin, you know, and it's getting the truth is getting distorted and lost. Yeah. Um, I'm just, I think at that age where I'm tired of hiding, I'm tired of pretending, you know, I don't have time for it. I just don't have time for it. And so I believe that there's so much abundance in the world and there's so much love and care, and I want to get that back because what's happening in the real world, or so we see on social media, is most times not good. And it's really truthfully has hurt my heart. It's hurt, you know, I think how I view sometimes other people. Yeah, and I'm an HR, I'm a people person, so I'm always looking for the good in people. But I gotta say, it's getting really, really hard. Gas, groceries, you know, seniors, you know, are our elders who fought for us for our freedom. You know, I'm watching like they have they can't afford to live. And so they're living in tents and they're living in, you know, the mental health community, you the mental illness that that's out there. It's really troubling to see and it's frustrating. And so the truth is, I think, like uh, you know, women like me, mothers like me, we don't want our children growing up and accepting this new normal. Because it's not normal. No, it's not no, it's it's not normal, you know, and it's frustrating because I only have one, and so you know, I uh yes, I'm gonna make mistakes, but there's like no do over. But like the second one or the third one, right how I see it, anyways. Yeah, yeah. So I just feel so sorry for the next generation. So I'm you know, I'm relying on you know the next generation to kind of figure it out and go like this isn't right, and be brave

Social Media Pressure And A Hard World

SPEAKER_00 6:10

enough to make changes.

SPEAKER_01 6:13

And well, with mothers like you raising strong daughters, yes, it'll happen, they'll change it, they'll figure it out. I'm sure that they're going to. Absolutely. Thanks, Julie. Yeah, so can you tell me what happened in your own life when you realized that mothers needed to have more honest conversations?

SPEAKER_00 6:38

I was feeling, and I do this, so suffocated. Where, you know, I was lost in the I'm a perfect mom, that's my goal, I should be doing this. I read all the books, I see other people do it. Why can't I? And I did it until I I think sometimes I still still do it. But the truth is, is again, I'm gonna say the word it's hard, and I'm not necessarily the nicest person at home. And that's where my love and energy should be the most versus coming home after I've given and given and given.

SPEAKER_01 7:26

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 7:26

And I rec the truth is I recognize probably the people that I should give my best to, I believe I'm not. Yeah. So that's the truth. The people that love us and are committed to us, I can show my ugly, but that doesn't mean it's right.

SPEAKER_01 7:47

No, no, of course. And I I can relate to you because I remember I was a single mom for 28 years with three boys. And I can remember going to work to my nine to five job that I had at that time and being so burnt out and stressed out that I would get sick every weekend. I would start feeling sick Friday, and then I would start feeling a little bit better sort of Sunday evening. But I would just be no good to my kids all weekend long because I just felt sick. And and I agree, I think it's

When Perfect Mom Becomes Burnout

SPEAKER_01 8:20

because as women, we give and we give and we give and we give. And eventually we're gonna burn out or slow down. And unfortunately, it's our loved ones who take the brunt of it.

SPEAKER_00 8:33

Yeah. And that's why I started to, and I don't want to say first block, I just started to type and journal my feelings out. And and it just happened to be like naturally organically created themes. And then I realized, oh, this is like good blog content. Am I brave enough to kind of put this out there? And and I did. This was back in, I started writing probably in 2018. And I think I had the courage in 2020 to start really blogging and and putting it out there. And I just gave myself one year. I was like, I wanted just to do it for one year just to like get it off my chest and just to see if I could do it. Um for no one other than me, but but then it I had other people reach out and be like I that resonated with me. Yes, and it's lonely. So the comparison of me starting my own HR next door consulting firm and the start of motherhood, the the the relationship, the parallels, I should say, yeah, is very, very lonely. Yeah, and that's the truth. I'm not prepared for the loneliness that had come with such incredible, it's supposed to be joys, right? Yes, seriously, like it, and it is, it's hard, but I don't think I ever heard, or at least the people around me, because we're all like, Are you doing good? Yeah, I'm good. Our newborn pictures, our family photos, or all the events we go to, it all looks good. But to be in a room or to be somewhere, just to be somewhere, which is check a positive, yeah, to still feel lonely. Yeah, that was new for me. I was like at a park, at somewhere, like I'm around people, yeah. So I'm not alone, but I still felt but the connection lonely.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

But the connection's been broken, yeah. Yeah. So do you do you think that comes from like you you were saying the lonely part of it was in motherhood as well? So tell me a little bit about that. Like be why would you feel were you like, did you find were you isolating yourself or what was causing your loneliness then?

SPEAKER_00 11:20

I think at the time it could have been postpartum. Yeah, yeah. You know, like I didn't I didn't know. I I didn't have like a comparison. Like I have a nephew and a niece, but they're much older.

SPEAKER_02 11:38

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 11:39

Um I didn't have at the time, I did have one friend that we all of our experiences were also different. Yes. And so

Finding A Mom Tribe That Helps

SPEAKER_00 11:50

like I didn't, you know, and then I didn't realize like we weren't sharing the the truth, like the ugly part of it, right? Yeah, until a little bit later. Yeah. And what really I think saved me, and if this is gonna be out in the world, I really want to give kudos and mention the Tri-Cities mom group, which was started, I think, and had to have been in 2012 by a wonderful woman named Heather Hooton. And I'm still with the group and I still follow along. My daughter is almost 13, but I met some really wonderful women in that group. And I think that that saved me. Yeah, yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:36

I yes, I've I've never been much of a networker until about 2018, 2019. And and now I have my breakfast groups that I go to, I have my evening groups of women, and and we just need it. We need that, you know, we love our our families, we love our husbands, they're wonderful, but there's nothing the same as that connection that we can have with each other as females. Yeah, we totally agree. Yeah. How does it how so how does the loneliness then you were saying is now come into building your business?

SPEAKER_00 13:16

So again, finding it lonely because I'm the first employee, so to speak, of the firm, right? I'm starting it from the ground up. And no one at the time, although I talked to family about it, still at times I don't think they understood. And really, I'm I'm I'm learning myself. So I don't really understand. I'm kind of learning and doing at the same time. And so what I was experiencing was was personal to me. You know, I came up with the name, you know, I had to go online and figure out how to register the business name, how to trademark my logo, trademark my business name, figure out, you know, Excel spreadsheets and bookkeeping. But it wasn't until again I found a community, and I'm gonna give a shout out here to the Fountain Network Group. It's a co-working space in Port Moody. So I volunteer for HEP up here, and the founder, her name is Erin. She is wonderful. Her and her husband, Mike, they they work here as well, and they've created this awesome space for consultants, small business owners to to work out of. And so it's been refreshing to be able to be in an environment where I can then connect on a business level and to basically listen, observe, learn from others that have come before me. Um, but startings, it felt lonely. And I was again, maybe the I don't know if it was ashamed or maybe it was my pride that I wasn't being honest, to be like, this is freaking hard. And extremely humbling to do cold calls, emails, uh, you know, to have no response back. And then, oh, maybe you get a response. Yeah. But then it was really making an effort to go out and network. And and again through other networking

Starting HR Next Door From Scratch

SPEAKER_00 15:35

groups, I've met other women and other moms doing the things that I aspire to do in business, as well as you know, other moms that are just starting as well. So now I'm finding multiple layers of connection and it's not as lonely. Yes. It's again not easy. And I know other people, you know, share the same challenges. I can't be the only one that feels this and thinks this. So I knew that, but it was just like, who can can I connect with? Like to find my people that did understand what I was going through. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 16:18

It is, you know, it's in the last five seven years, I guess, since COVID, life changed so much for so many of us. Yeah. And it's um it is hard. Many, I I've talked to so many women who are isolated because they're they're doing their own business, they're working from home on their own business, and they spend a lot of time alone while they're working. So it's just, I think you're doing the right thing. I think, and I, and that's what I did for myself as well, is like find those, find those tribes, women that can support you and and and help to lift you up because we all need that, or we can crash and burn.

SPEAKER_00 17:06

Yes, yeah. Yeah, yeah. And so that's something else that I'm learning to do is now that I'm away from the nine to five, it's like I can I have that flexibility of when I want to work, how long I want to work. Yes. You know, right now I'm doing this podcast with you, but in about half an hour, you know, my family's gonna join me and we're gonna, you know, go for dinner and probably a walk around Rocky Point area. It's like I can, I can now I understand the potential of when people say, like you can really have it all, you know, you really can. And this is this is the truth. It's not a lie, it's the truth. You really can. You just have to be smarter about your time and smarter about where you want to expend your energy to do. Yes, and I want to expend the expend my energy for like my family. Obviously, I need a livelihood, so you know, the work and the others that don't serve me or I can feel negative energy, I'm just gonna move on. You don't allow that in my space anymore. I don't need it and I don't want it.

SPEAKER_01 18:19

Yeah, you don't need it to take up space. No, no. So why is honesty so powerful between women, do you think?

SPEAKER_00 18:29

When we are honest with each other and vulnerable, I think women just want to help. Yeah. You know, even when like I physically and emotionally and mentally don't have the capacity, there's this willingness to like want to help. It's almost like a mirror, you know, it's because like you help me, I'll help you in any way, shape, or form. And those are sometimes the best relationships and friendships.

Why Women’s Honesty Hits Different

SPEAKER_00 19:00

Yes, you know, it's it's different than you know, having that relationship with your partner or your spouse. It's women to women, and that just it's it's just different and it's powerful. And when we can all be together, it's like supercharging and manifesting, yeah, like the love and like we're gonna be okay. We're gonna be okay, yeah, you know, and life has been easy for anyone, yeah. I'm together, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:33

I love I love my spouse, and and I can tell you love yours, and we all love our spouses, but uh sometimes we just want we want them to listen, but they want to fix everything. They're fixers, and so you know it's it's when we get in that in that group of networking women, they're their their advice is different. It's it's right, you know what I mean.

SPEAKER_00 20:01

It's just um yeah. And being honest with each other, like it's important because then it's like, okay, you're actually kind of being this, yes, you know, or how about you try this? No, it's like, oh, it's the other people, oh no, no, no. It's let's look inward, Arona. And you have true honesty and and good friends, then they're gonna tell you that. Yes, right. You I can't figure out to be better if I'm just alone and not seeing like why is this happening? Why is this happening? Why is this happening? And so honesty, I think, and being vulnerable, yeah, it's it's powerful if you want to move forward and get unstuck.

SPEAKER_01 20:41

Yes, for sure. You know, I want to talk to you a little bit about your writing, because of course, women like me, we're all about writing. And so I'm curious. So when you so you you did your your blog for about a year. Yes. And so what what brought you to do it? What was that nudge that that made you want to do it?

SPEAKER_00 21:07

I know because again, I I do this, is because I felt really suffocated. And you know, I didn't feel comfortable to share with my husband at the

Blogging As A Lifeline And Letting Go

SPEAKER_00 21:20

time. I didn't think he could relate because he's like, I don't like, you know, gear and headlight look. Yes. You know, we were new to parenting. And so every time I felt like I had something to say, but like it was like 3 a.m. and that's like you know, there's I don't want to wake anybody up, I would just start writing. You know, there was just and it just came out like just okay, here's the content and then save. It was just very easy for me to just be real, unleash my truth. Yeah, I think I started calling that. I just like I just need to unleash my truth somehow, where like, and and it was just writing for me, yeah. And then it became about like mama's truth, like the ugliness, or not necessarily ugliness, it wasn't all bad, it was love to, but like some of the things you know that I experienced for the first time. Time was like this feels like a blind date with another mama. So you meet someone, you know, in in a networking, like community group, you set up a play date, and sometimes it's not a fit. And sometimes it's like you get dumped, or you're the one that does the dumping, or the oh, it doesn't, you know. And so I think I wrote a blog post about like going on a mama's blind date. We were so lonely that we're just anybody, anybody like you know that sounds like an amazing blog.

SPEAKER_01 22:48

Where so what were you doing with your blogs? Were you posting them online?

SPEAKER_00 22:52

I was posting them online and then that was it. And so just posting it, whoever read it read it. It wasn't like I was trying to advertise myself. No, no, like I'm just gonna be brave enough to put it out into the world. And if people read it, they did. If they didn't or whatever, they didn't care, then whatever. I wasn't making money off of it. Yes. Um, you know, but it did get some readers, and people have reached out and and went, me too.

SPEAKER_01 23:22

Yes, you know, and that's what that's what it's all about, yeah, is is getting it out so that it helps you to heal and gets more clarity, but then there is that second part of it that's so important, and that's the reader. Because there's a woman out there who needs to hear what you have to say, what I have to say, what all women have to say. And and it and it can help, it can really help. So, what did you learn? What what what do you think was your number one thing you learned while you were while you were blogging?

SPEAKER_00 23:58

That I started writing to share my truth or just to get it out because I felt so lonely and I didn't like who wants to hear like sub story, right? People are like, let me see the baby. And so and so I started that just to like unleash what was in me, yeah, just to get it out. Yes, then it filled it made me less lonely because I put it out there, and then I had a few people that you know had reached out to me, then it wasn't so lonely. And I didn't feel like I was delusional for thinking these things, yeah, uh for wanting to be one and done. Yeah. And I never felt that anyone was like, oh, you know, as soon as I had my daughter, it was like, well, when's where when's number two? And I didn't that honestly, the first thing I said to my husband when I was, when it was, you know, I delivered my daughter, yeah, was I don't want to do this again. Yeah. And I loved being pregnant. Yeah, I did not have a good birthing experience, which led to an emergency C-section. So there was a lot of, I think, traumas happened. And yeah, it was a different kind of heart.

SPEAKER_01 25:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:20

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:21

So what why did you stop blogging? What was the reason that you stopped? Because you said you did it for a year and then you decided just to stop. So why did you stop? Why did I stop?

SPEAKER_00 25:32

Because I think after that it wasn't lonely anymore. You know, so like after a year, I you know, I went back to work, I was like connecting with women within my community, made some friends, even till now. My daughter was like uh exceptional, but I have nothing to compare it to, right? Yeah, she slept well, she ate all we did things together. That was always our thing, was like even till now we share hobbies together. And so when she was older, then she could stay awake, we could do more things together. It wasn't like I'm looking at this little baby who's like sleeping 90% of the time and like stop moving and stop talking. And so that actually, you know, I'm not gonna say, like after I held her for the first time, that there was an instant connection. Like it was, you know, I just come out of an emergency C section, and oh you know, I if anything, I think my husband had a better connection in the beginning because he's the one that was able to hold her right away. Oh, I didn't get that chance. Yeah, you know, so and it was I stopped after a year because then I didn't all my truth was already out. Oh I had met people, yeah, I could just share my truth that I didn't need to write write anymore. Yes, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:56

I think I think Arona, what I love about about this conversation and about you talking about the your your your blogging experience and is it and it goes to show so you did that and people and you were and you were raw and you were honest and people related to you, and the next thing you know, you brought your tribe to you. It's like you put that out there and then they found you. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 27:23

Well, I found them too, right? Like there was an intention that I was maybe secretly hoping to be like, I'm just doing this, but I'm like not hoping for anything, right? But then, you know, I look back and it was like maybe subconsciously I was. I was like, but I didn't know who to turn to. You know, I went to a lactation specialist, yeah. And I looked at her and for some reason I was like, do you have any kids? And she said no. And then that honestly turned me off. So I struggled with that. You know, no, no, you know, I ended the appointment very quickly because I was like, oh, you can't relate. So it was it was hard that way. And so it was just wanting to relate and to connect and to be like, okay, am I delusional or like is there something wrong with me that I'm thinking these things? No, and I found out no, I wasn't delusional. Yeah, there are other moms that you know had thought that.

SPEAKER_01 28:25

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So did you ever worry about being judged? Because I know one of the biggest concerns that the women who write in my books have is when I put it out there, it's gonna be judged. So were you worried about your writing being judged at all?

SPEAKER_00 28:44

No, because it was my truth. Uh, I didn't honestly give a crap. Like it's not like I went and did like an editor spell check, like it was just it came out. Yeah, and yes, I saved it in a Word document, but it was just like once I figured out, okay, like a basic like to put up on the blog site, I just copied and pasted it. Yes, you know what? I was actually more concerned with like the images and the photos I want to use and the content and the writing itself. That I was strong on. Yeah, it's just like the things that was like shouldn't have mattered, like matter, but no, I wasn't the content part, no, because it's my truth. So it's my truth, yes, yes. So no, I wasn't fear, I wasn't afraid of being judged on that because that was just what was. So I was strong in that.

SPEAKER_01 29:37

Yes, yes. Well, what has social media taught you about women's need for connection?

SPEAKER_00 29:47

Social media, women, that's

Social Media As Connection Not Performance

SPEAKER_00 29:50

an outlet that can be an outlet, right? So for the mompreneur or for the mom that started her home business is working out of her home, that cannot, for whatever reason, work outside of the home because she has a young baby, da-da-da. It's a way for them to now unleash their truth and to share and to be vulnerable and to be like, F it, I don't care. I'm not gonna meet you on the street, I'm not gonna, you know, and it takes bravery to get up and be in front of a camera. But what I guess is right, like even doing this, yeah, kind of setting here. But yeah, but I found that the more these moms using social media, the larger the the scope of how we can help each other. And that has been amazing to see. And again, like kudos to all the mom groups that are out there and the ones that like really keep it going. I think the Tri-City Moms group is maybe up to like 15, 16, like thousands. And you know, you really have to be raw uh to put yourself out there, you know. So they did it in a different way to really help other moms, and and and it's it's now grown. And you know, I I'm I'm grateful. I I don't probably say it enough directly to them, but if they see this, like you don't know what you've done for me, for me personally. Oh and I have met some really wonderful women through that. Yeah, wow.

SPEAKER_01 31:33

Well, what do you wish every woman knew? What's one thing you wished every woman knew?

SPEAKER_00 31:43

That you're not alone. You are not alone, and it doesn't matter if you have nice hair, makeup, if you're you know, a plus size or size zero, if you're making six figures or not, yeah, we're not alone. Like all that stuff is just like noise that we can still find connection because of motherhood, yes, and again, we're stronger together as a community, yes, than versus being alone. So why suffer alone? So I I I want other moms and new moms, you know, to know that you if you feel alone and you feel like, man, you know, this really sucks, and it's like it's so hard. There is another mom that's in your exact same shoes. There is another mom that is out of those shoes, but can now reach and pull you out and take you on the path. And so it's just wonderful to see that. And you know, this group has been around since like 13 years. So I've seen the growth, right? Yes, yeah. You know, maybe 400 and you know, where it's like thousands and thousands, and so I've seen the growth of this mom community, and um just really grateful for it. You know, at the time when I was writing, I did have, you know, some friends, and then I was just like, but even then I was like, I don't know if I want to share this like this. So if they somehow find it, because I think they called it Mama's Truth, but it wasn't like my identity, right? Right, um I didn't put it out, you know. I don't think at the time that I, but then it got traction, so it might be out there in the Google world, yeah. But yeah, and then at that point I was like, I don't care.

SPEAKER_01 33:47

Yeah, because it is what it is. Well, what is one lesson you hope women take from listening to your story today?

SPEAKER_00 33:59

Get your feelings out somehow, whether you're writing it,

Get It Out Connect And Legacy

SPEAKER_00 34:05

whether you're recording it, just get it out if you can find another person, another mom, another parent, but just having one that maybe is outside of your home, right? You know, because sometimes if you're all in it together, then you only see what you see. And and sometimes it's nice to have someone external be able to come in with a different lens, yes, and have some uh objectivity too um to help you.

SPEAKER_01 34:40

Yeah, yeah. Well, how can people connect with you and how can they follow you? Where can they find you?

SPEAKER_00 34:49

Yeah, I do have an Instagram called Mama's Truth. And then you can email me through my HR next door email. So I'll provide you the the details.

SPEAKER_01 35:03

Okay, yeah. Well, so yeah, so everybody, if you're interested in all in connecting with her, you will find the information in the show notes. So we'll have all of that. She's gonna send me all those links. I'm gonna pop them in there for you, and then you'll know how to how to connect with her. And if you're a mom, if you're a woman who's working on her own at home, reach out to her, reach out to Marona. You know, she's she's been there and and maybe she can connect you with the group she's she's involved in with as well.

SPEAKER_02 35:37

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:38

So let me ask you one last question. What legacy do you hope to leave?

SPEAKER_00 35:46

What legacy do I hope to leave? That I've shared all of my experiences, my truth, my love to everyone that has meant me. I want to be the light, I want to be the spark for other people because there are dark times. And I feel that I am that connector. I I I love people, I love learning about different people, and I love business, which hence is why I'm an HR. And so, however much I can share, spark, ignite, light, be your cheerleader. If you feel like you have no one else to contact me. You know, there I feel like I, you know, and I've said this to some other moms, I was like, what is going on in the world? Like, you know, have people seem to have lost civility. Yeah. Like what happened to human kindness? So, yeah, my legacy is to, you know, if you think of me, think that, you know, I'm just a bright energy and I love hard and I care.

SPEAKER_01 37:01

That's beautiful. Yeah. So yeah. Well, and it's and and that was so kind of you to share that because you know, we don't know who's watching, we don't know who's listening. And and it's if I was in need, I would reach out. Yes, thank you. You just do yeah, you're a sweetheart, absolutely. Thank you so much, Julie. Oh, you're welcome. Well, everyone, thank you for being here for this episode of Women Like Me Stories and Business. You know, sometimes I can just go on and on and on, but you know, we have to shut her down eventually. So, Arona, thank you so much for being willing to do here and share your wisdom with us and and your heart. You're a lovely, lovely, lovely person. And and yeah, I think you your your family's lucky to have you.

SPEAKER_00 37:51

Thank you so much, Julie. I'm so glad that uh we had this opportunity to chat today. Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:57

Okay, everybody. Well, we'll see you again on the next episode of Women Like Me Stories and Business. Take care, everybody. Bye bye. Thank you. Bye.