The Future Is Full of You

As the new year unfolds, we stand at the edge of possibility, peering into the unknown. My dear friend Ana Oliveira Pinto sent me a beautiful poem by Maggie Smith, a gift of words that feels like a gentle nudge to embrace the boundless potential of what lies ahead.

In her poem, Smith writes:

"The future is a waiting cup, and for all it knows, you'll fill it with milk instead. You're thirsty. Every minute carries you forward, conveys you, into a space you fill. I mean the future will be full of you."

These words are a reminder that the future isn’t predetermined, nor is it limited by the expectations of others. It’s not a rigid map or a pre-defined path. Rather, it’s an empty cup – a vessel waiting to be filled with the essence of who you are and everything you dare to dream.

For many of us, especially conscious, high-achieving women navigating the complexities of modern leadership, the future can feel daunting. We’re often burdened with societal pressures, internal doubts, and the weight of expectations that weren’t designed with us in mind. But this poem invites us to shift our perspective. The future isn’t something to fear or shrink away from; it’s an open space, a blank canvas full of promise and potential.

Every step you take, every choice you make, and every word you speak in this moment is shaping what comes next. The future isn’t some distant, abstract concept—it’s right here, just one step beyond the one you’re taking now.

The beauty of this realization is that it puts the power back in our hands. We get to choose how we fill that cup. Will it be with the limitations and doubts we’ve carried from the past? Or will it overflow with courage, authenticity, and the unapologetic pursuit of what sets our hearts on fire?

This new year, I invite you to embrace the unknown with confidence. Redefine success on your own terms. Step boldly into the space that only you can fill. The future is waiting for you—not the version of you shaped by societal boxes, but the real, unfiltered you. As Maggie Smith says, “The future will be full of you.”

For me, this message resonates deeply with the work I do as a leadership coach and women’s empowerment advocate. I’ve seen time and again the incredible transformations that happen when women dare to break free from their inner glass ceilings. When we stop trying to fit into molds that were never meant for us, we find the freedom to design a life that aligns with our values, passions, and dreams.

To all the remarkable women reading this, I want you to know that the future is yours to shape. It’s not defined by the past or limited by the expectations of others. It’s an open field, a waiting cup, a space that only you can fill.

So, as we step into this new year, let us pour our truest selves into that cup. Let us fill it with intention, joy, and the milk of our wildest dreams. Let us trust in our capacity to create meaningful change, both in our own lives and in the world around us.

Here’s to the future—full of you, your power, your potential, and your unique brilliance. And here’s to the present, the precious moment where every possibility begins.

Thank you, Ana, for sharing this beautiful poem and inspiring me to reflect on what lies ahead.

To all of you reading this: May 2025 be the year you step fully into your power and create a future that is unapologetically your own.