Substance

Picture this: You’re at a dinner party, sitting across from a woman who, despite looking like she walked straight out of a Pinterest board, has nothing interesting to say beyond her skincare routine and a vague complaint about the cost of oat milk. Imagine being her. Horrifying, right?

Look, life is too short to be basic. And no, I don’t mean that in the “avoid pumpkin spice lattes” kind of way (because let’s be real, they are amazing). I mean in the sense that if you’re not actively striving to be a woman of substance, you’re missing out, not just on impressing others, but on living a life that’s actually exciting.

Let’s get something straight: being attractive is fun. It opens doors, gets you free drinks, and makes strangers suddenly very interested in your opinions on niche topics like Scandinavian interior design. But here’s the thing... looks fade, and at some point, you’ll want to be interesting enough to hold a conversation without relying on your eyeliner doing all the work.

A few years back, I spent a summer in Italy, armed with a questionable grasp of the language and an unshakable confidence that red wine counted as a full meal. I could have just taken cute photos and called it a day, but instead, I threw myself into the experience - learning the culture, mastering the art of dramatic hand gestures, and making friends with an old Italian woman who taught me more about life over espresso than any self-help book ever could.

That’s what I mean by substance. It’s about filling your life with experiences that make you richer, not just in Instagram content, but in actual knowledge and perspective.

Now, when it comes to daily lifestyle. I have some bold opinions. Look, I have nothing against a steady job. In fact, I enjoy knowing where my next meal is coming from. But what I don’t enjoy is the idea that my entire existence should be confined to a routine that leaves no room for adventure.

Too many women are conditioned to think that success means securing a stable career, a mortgage, and a partner who occasionally remembers their favourite wine. But what about passion? What about curiosity? What about shaking things up just for the thrill of it?

A woman of substance doesn’t just exist... she lives. She takes risks, tries new things, and refuses to let life become a monotonous blur of spreadsheets and small talk.

Here’s a secret: people who are truly captivating don’t just happen. They cultivate themselves like a fine wine or, in my case, like the perfect espresso martini. They read books that challenge their perspectives, travel to places that push them out of their comfort zones, and engage in conversations that actually make their brains light up.

So go out there and be the woman who can debate philosophy one moment and dance on a table the next. Be the woman whose stories make people lean in, whose mind is as sharp as her wit, and who never ever settles for mediocrity.

So, ladies, this is your reminder that you are allowed to want more. More knowledge, more adventure, more conversations that make you feel truly alive.

So learn that language. Book that solo trip. Read books that challenge you. Say yes to experiences that scare you. And if a man ever tells you that you’re “too much,” smile sweetly and tell him he’s not enough.