New Moon Coaching for Expat Women

There is a scene in the film Cabrini that stopped my breath. This frail looking woman, a force of nature, stands before the Italian Senate and declares: “The world is too small for what I intend to do”.

As an Italian woman living abroad, seeing Mother Francesca Cabrini’s story on screen filled me with an overwhelming sense of pride. She was the first American citizen to be canonized, but before that, she was a daughter of Lombardy who possessed a grit I recognized deep in my bones.

Yet, that pride was shadowed by a profound heartbreak.

The Heartbreak of the Past

Watching the portrayal of Italian immigrants in 1889—living in shacks, treated like animals, the ‘last of the last’—was gut-wrenching. It is a part of the history of many immigrants that is too often polished away. They didn’t just face poverty; they faced racism and prejudice. When you are treated as less than human, the greatest mental health challenge isn’t just surviving the environment—it’s resisting the urge to believe the world’s definition of you.

The Divided Self and the Bridge of Dignity

Cabrini’s mission wasn’t just about building hospitals and orphanages; it was about restoring the divided self.

The world saw problems and immigrants, Cabrini saw people with a divine right to dignity.

In my work with women today, I see a modern version of this divided self. We often move to new countries and feel the friction between our authentic identity and the limited labels the new society might place on us.

Bridging Two Worlds

Mother Cabrini didn’t just pray; she rolled up her sleeves and built a bridge between the Italy she loved and the America that was hostile to her people. She showed us that integration is not about erasing who you are to fit in; it is about bringing the best of who you are to where you are.

It’s ironic that we sometimes forget we were the ones crossing oceans with cardboard suitcases. But Cabrini’s large, tired eyes remind us that empathy is our most powerful tool for change.

When you feel divided—caught between your roots and your new life—remember that even when the world treats you like a problem, your internal compass and your heritage can be the very things that build a legacy.

Sometimes, a bit of immigrants’ grit is exactly what the world needs to see.

Have you ever felt that friction between who you truly are and how your new environment perceives you? How did you bridge those two worlds? Share it in the comment section.

Hi! I’m Cristina. As a European woman living in Colorado, I get the struggle of building a meaningful life abroad. I help expat women finding a sense of belonging wherever they are. If you’re curious to learn how I could be of service to you, book a free call clicking the button below.