A journey from 54 Mountain Rise Road, Silverglen

In 54 Mountain Rise Road, Silverglen, the author spent the first 35 years of her life. As a child, she grew up in Chatsworth during the 1980s and was part of a typical middle-class family. Her mother, a housewife, and her father, a school principal, provided a conventional yet loving upbringing. The women in her life, including her mother and aunts, were the primary examples she had of what it meant to be a woman - wives, mothers, and caregivers.

These roles, while deeply meaningful, also came with a cost. Her mother, who gave everything she had, passed away at just 54 years old. As the author reflects on her life now, she wonders about the dreams her mother may have had, dreams that were never fulfilled. In her mid-40s, the author began to feel restless. She questioned who she was beyond the roles she had become comfortable with - Mrs Bagaria, and Shay and Luna's mother.

She decided to reconnect with her passions that had been buried under responsibilities and expectations. These included reading, writing, being active outdoors, and seeking adventure. Her journey began in the Drakensberg Mountains, where she found peace, tranquility, and a sense of self. She then attempted Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and finally, in 2024, Europe's highest mountain, Mount Elbrus.

Despite failing to reach the summit, she was determined to return. In 2025, she embarked on a five-day desert hike across the Namib Desert. The hardship and challenge of the experience were worth it, as it humbled her and made her feel alive. In 2026, she returned to Russia to climb Europe's highest point, the Caucasus mountain range.

The summit was not just about reaching the top, but about standing on a mountain she had once been forced to turn away from. Each of these journeys transformed her, leaving her renewed, recharged, and invigorated. The mountains and the adventures they brought became a constant source of inspiration for her.