“The Dilemma of the Poor Lies in Having No Chance to ‘Make Mistakes’ or to ‘Choose’”
When I was a little girl, every day after school I would walk home under the sun, passing by the large warehouse where my father worked.
There, a group of laborers sweated under the scorching heat, carrying heavy loads.
I would look up, searching for my father, and when I spotted him, I would call out, “Papa!” to give him encouragement.
But deep inside, my heart ached seeing him work so hard.
I made a silent promise to myself: one day, when I grow up, I will give my parents a better life.
In my parents’ generation, life was about frugality and sacrifice.
They had no chance at education; they started working young, doing odd jobs just to survive.
Born into difficult family environments, they had no choices.
Feeding the family came first—dreams, mistakes, or even second chances were luxuries they could not afford.
“The Reluctance to Accept an Ordinary Life”
At 16, I did not dare to dream. Dreams, after all, require money to sustain.
So I chose to drop out of school early, leave my hometown, and work to lessen my parents’ burden.
With no background, no academic excellence, and only a few hundred ringgit in hand, I stepped into the 9-to-5 working world.
The character “work” (工) may not point upward, but it taught me independence.
During my youthful years, I experienced it all—mad joy, laughter, tears, pain, betrayal, and loss.
No matter how strong the storms, how tough the challenges, I refused to fall so easily.
I learned to stand strong, to protect myself, and to keep my emotions from drowning me.
A child without an umbrella has no choice but to keep running.
I worked hard, refusing to accept mediocrity.
By day, I worked; by night, I did part-time jobs, saving every cent.
I invested my small savings into a deposit for a professional beauty course.
With every spare moment, I offered facial treatments to clients at home to pay for tuition and living expenses.
Though life remained difficult, I carried within me the courage and strength to rise above the ordinary.
Those years of youth taught me to never stop learning, to stay curious about the unknown.
They shaped me from a lonely runner into a leader who could inspire others to run alongside me.
“A Life in Full Bloom”
At 27, I started my own journey in the beauty and wellness industry.
The business went through ups and downs, with struggles, betrayals, jealousy, and politics.
At the same time, I walked out of a failed marriage.
Marriage, I realized, is a spiritual practice of forgiving others and freeing yourself.
If you cannot save yourself, no one else can.
In my youth, I chose the wrong person, walked the wrong path—but so what?
Marriage is only one part of life. Its failure does not mean the failure of my entire life.
As a single mother, I faced gossip and judgment.
By day, I smiled and fought on the battlefield of work; by night, I quietly stitched together my wounds.
Thankfully, my family was always my support and my shield.
“Transformation and Creation”
For a time, loss, helplessness, and regret made me retreat into isolation.
But I refused to surrender.
I chose to bear the pain, to carry responsibilities without complaint, and to search silently for a new beginning.
I am a daughter.
I am a mother.
I am a father too.
With these roles comes greater responsibility, and to carry it, I needed greater strength and capacity.
“The Awakening of Self-Worth”
I am forever grateful to my mentor, who redefined for me the meaning of life, who guided me to walk out of the shadows, and who taught me to become the master of my own destiny.
In this blooming life, I found the courage to meet a better version of myself.
I learned that life’s value is something we must create.
I discovered how to use my talents to fulfill my dreams and visions.
With this encouragement, I made a life-changing decision:
In 2016, I founded Muses Wellness Academy Sdn Bhd, providing holistic wellness and skincare solutions—from retail to wholesale—tackling the pressing issues of modern health and sub-health.
In 2017, I joined the Mrs. Malaysia Tourism Queen pageant—my first pageant experience.
It was my way of breaking through, of affirming my worth, of reigniting my confidence.
I walked away with three awards.
“Shift Your Mind, Shift Your Life”
I continued sharpening my abilities, believing that everything would get better.
During the pandemic, I launched my own livestream channel, interviewing international entrepreneurs and thought leaders.
I currently serve as Vice President of the International Business Entrepreneurs Association (IBEA), while also giving back through charity work as the Executive Chairwoman of Amal Bakti, a foundation supporting underprivileged elderly.
In 2023, through years of experience and research, I was accepted into and successfully completed my Doctorate in Business Management.
“The Second Half: Towards Fulfillment”
In this next chapter of life, my focus is to honor my parents, to do good, and to become a better person.
Health is the foundation of all pursuits.
Only with a strong body and joyful spirit can everything else be possible.
I continue to learn emotional stability and inner calm—because this protects my energy and strengthens my presence.
For women, determination and financial independence define the quality of our future.
I am on the path toward building a complete and fulfilled life.
“Awakening New Strength”
Awakening is never easy.
It comes through a thousand cuts, deep pain, despair, and collapse—only then can we be reborn as someone new.
As the saying goes:
A heart that hasn’t tasted bitterness cannot open to wisdom; a body that hasn’t endured hardship cannot hold great blessings.
Change doesn’t come because we are not good enough—
It comes because we know we can be even better.
Today, I dedicate myself to helping women turn their dreams into reality, to awaken their self-worth, and to become the masters of their own lives.
To love yourself.
To be yourself.
To honor yourself.
Women of strength,
Have the respect for your own life,
The courage to overcome fear,
And the readiness to embrace happiness at any time.
I am Dr. Anniey Lai.
Be Brave. Be Great.
Proudly, one of the inspirations behind She Rises.