When Life Has Other Plans
Sometimes life unfolds in ways we never expected. You set out with a clear idea of where you are going — a career path, a relationship, a dream you have held close — only to find that somewhere along the way, the ground shifts. Circumstances change. You change. What once felt right may begin to feel heavy, or no longer fit the person you are becoming. This is life’s way of reminding us that growth is not always a straight line. We’re not meant to walk a single fixed path forever. Instead, we are invited to listen closely, to adjust, and to take new turns when the old ones no longer serve us. Changing direction is not failure. It is wisdom. It is the quiet courage of honouring your own evolution and allowing life to guide you where you are truly meant to be.
And for me, the turning point came with my health.
Back in May 2022, on the exact day of my 49th birthday, I found myself calling an ambulance after four days of unbearable pain. For even a year before that, I had been feeling unwell, but I brushed it off. I told myself it was just burnout, that with enough rest I would recover, so I kept pushing through. Deep down, I knew something wasn’t right. My body was giving me signs — I was constantly thirsty, my skin had became extremely dry, my eyes felt sore, and even the inside of my mouth was painful, making it difficult to eat. But I ignored them. I suffered in silence, convincing myself that if I kept going, things would eventually get better. The workaholic in me couldn’t step away. I didn’t want to leave my students, and I felt I had no choice but to carry on.
But my body finally said “enough.” That call to the ambulance led to a six-week stay in hospital. It was there that I was diagnosed with pancreatitis, diabetes, and gallstones. My life stopped in its tracks, and for the first time, I was forced to pause and face what I had been running from: I couldn’t keep living the same way anymore.
That moment in hospital became a turning point for me.
When I finally came home, I knew I couldn’t return to life as it was before. The first thing I did was shut down my website, Thai Language Tuition UK. That decision was extremely difficult — heartbreaking, in fact — because I had poured twenty years of hard work, love, and dedication into building that business. Letting it go felt like losing a part of myself. That was the reason I didn’t announce it to the world on my social media platforms. Deep down, I wasn’t ready to let go. I wasn’t ready to talk about why. And most of all, I didn’t want to admit — even to myself — that it felt like I had failed. At least, that’s what it felt like at the time.
I just knew I needed to step back. I needed space for healing, and I took another three months to care for myself and reorganise my life. Learning to live with diabetes was not easy. Injecting insulin every time I ate was emotionally hard, and the monthly hospital visits left me drained. It felt as though my entire world had slowed down, and for once, I had to let it.
After those three months, I slowly found my way back to teaching full-time. But I returned with a new perspective, knowing my health had to come first. To all my students, I want to say thank you — thank you for supporting me, for understanding my “why,” and for waiting patiently for me while I found my strength again. Your kindness gave me the courage to keep going, even when I felt I had nothing left to give.
In time, I began to see that closing Thai Language Tuition UK wasn’t a failure at all. It was simply a shift — One that life demanded of me.
Physically, I couldn’t take on more students. Some days I felt good, but other days I could barely function. I had to accept my new reality and find a gentler way forward. So, I kept working quietly behind the scenes. I continued teaching my current students, while slowly beginning to write eBooks. I had always told my students that my dream for retirement was to become a writer and live a life like Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote. They would laugh every time I said it, but after I returned to teaching, those same students encouraged me to go for it.
Their encouragement gave me permission to dream again. I even went as far as buying a bicycle similar to Jessica Fletcher’s — a small symbol of stepping into life I had imagined for myself, even if in an unexpected way and earlier than planned.
And that, I’ve learned, is how life truly works.
When life changes, you have to change with it. To resist is to suffer, but to surrender is to allow the universe to guide you. Just as tarot reminds us, every ending carries within it the seed of a new beginning. When a path closes, it’s not punishment — it’s reflection. It is Spirit’s way of nudging us toward the road that was always meant for us, the one only we can walk.
Sometimes, the tower has to fall before we can rebuild. Sometimes, the star only appears after the darkness. And sometimes, the path you never planned becomes the path your soul was waiting for all along.
If there’s one thing I hope you take from my story, it’s this: trust your path, even when it twists in ways you never expected. The universe will sometimes close doors you weren’t ready to walk away from, but only to guide you toward the ones that are truly yours. If you find yourself in a season of endings, know that it’s not failure — it’s transformation.
Like the cards in tarot reminds us, cycles of death and rebirth are part of life’s rhythm. The wheel keeps turning, and every turn brings with it new lessons, new beginnings, and new light. So when life shifts beneath your feet, don’t be afraid to shift with it. Don’t see it as losing your way, but as being guided toward your way. Because somewhere on the road ahead — with patience, courage, and a little faith — you will find that you are exactly where you’re meant to be.
Like me — This where I am meant to be
Still teaching, still sharing my knowledge with the world, but in a new way. My path may look different now, yet the essence of who I am has not changed. In fact, it has deepened. It might have taken me three years to figure out how I could continue doing what I love — teaching and sharing knowledge — while also honouring my health and my spirit. But every pause, every detour, and every moment of uncertainty was part of that process. The long pause wasn’t wasted time; it was preparation.
And here I am now, ready to step fully into this new chapter. I’m still a teacher, but my classroom has expanded beyond four walls. I’m writing eBooks, creating digital courses, and building space where Thai language and the language of tarot can meet — where I can share not only knowledge, but also wisdom, creativity, and soul.
This is where I meant to be now. After walking through endings, after learning to let go, I am stepping into beginnings with more clarity than ever before. And as I continue forward, my plans for the future are rooted in the same passion I’ve always carried — to teach, to guide, and to connect — but expressed in new ways that align with the life I am now called to live.
Looking ahead, I am excited to share what this new chapter holds.
My work will continue to revolve around teaching, but in ways that are more flexible, creative, and soul-aligned. I’ll be creating eBooks and guides that make learning both practical and enjoyable, giving learners tools they can use at their own pace. I’ve launched an online store, a space where learners and readers can explore and purchase resources to support their learning journey. From Thai learning eBooks to digital courses to inspiring tarot guides, The Shop is designed to make learning accessible, enjoyable, and meaningful.
I’m also building a community space where like-minded souls can come together to learn, practise, and support one another. The community will features different groups so that everyone can find a space suited to their interests — whether it’s language learning, tarot exploration, or a blend of both. While this is a paid membership, it is designed to provide real value: a space for guidance, connection, and growth where people with shared passions and curiosity can flourish, share their journeys, and support each other in learning, exploring, and expanding together. Your membership also helps make it possible for me to create and share free learning resources on The Blog, making knowledge accessible to learners all around the world.
And because my journey has shown me the importance of balance and self-care, I’m embracing a lifestyle that allows me to keep teaching while also honouring my health and spirit. Every lesson, every story, every guide I create will come from a place of presence and heart. Great things take time to bloom, and while everything is still coming together, I invite you to be patient and walk alongside me in this new chapter. While you wait for the bigger offerings to unfold, explore the free learning resources on the blog to keep your learning alive and your spirit uplifted.
This is my new path — a path that honours the past, embraces the present, and invites the future.
I am deeply grateful to each of you for being here — walking this path with me, learning, exploring, and dreaming together. To those who have been with me from the beginning, thank you for your patience and trust. To those who are just arriving, welcome — I’m truly glad our paths have crossed. This is a new chapter, and I would be honoured to have you walk alongside me as it unfolds.
I’m still trading under my beloved business name, Thai Language Tuition UK, and you can always reach me at support@thailanguagetuition.com. The only thing that has changed is the domain — not the heart, passion, or care behind everything I do. This means, all emails from me will come from support@thailanguagetuition.com. To make sure you don’t miss any of the valuable updates, resources, or little sparks of inspiration I send, please add my email to your contacts or whitelist it in your inbox. That way, everything I share will arrive safely, ready for you to enjoy.
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For now, enjoy your weekend, and thank you once again for being here, for reading, and for walking this journey with me. See you in the next post!
With all my heart, 💛 — Urai
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