Kicking Ass at Home is a reflective and inspiring essay about reinvention, courage, and purpose during times of uncertainty. Julia Melim explores how crisis can become a catalyst for self-discovery, gratitude, and new beginnings. Through personal experience and universal reflection, the text invites readers—especially those rebuilding life abroad—to reconnect with long-forgotten dreams. It is a call to action for living with faith, intention, and authenticity.
By Julia Melim
Home became more than a place; it became a renovation for the soul
If you’re like me—and like so many people—you may have felt that December became the time for a new beginning. It was as if New Year’s Eve arrived early for all of us. This became the year of embracing the unknown.
Usually, people wait until January to write down resolutions, goals, and wishes, reinventing themselves as the calendar turns. But this year was the year of reinvention itself. We were all called to embrace change, adapt, evolve, and rethink a life we once believed was stable, yet proved to be fragile—“like a candle in the wind,” as Elton John once sang.
When Structures Fall, Reinvention Begins
Many of the structures we built began to fall apart, forcing us to find innovative solutions. We left behind lives, relationships, jobs, careers, and situations that simply were no longer working. Let it go.
Yet, every crisis carries a silver lining. This year also became the moment when many people finally followed their passion projects, their heart’s desires, and the life they had always dreamed of—sometimes because there was no other option.
It was life’s second chance.
A Home Renovation for the Soul
This year invited us to look inward, like a home renovation long overdue. We unclogged the pipes, replaced what no longer worked, and gave ourselves a fresh coat of paint.
Sometimes this was literal—never before had the world spent so much time at home. But it was also metaphorical: your home as your soul, your body as your temple.
It became a year of rethinking choices, of saying: “I’m sorry. I love you. Please forgive me. Thank you.”
It was a year of gratitude—one that pushed us toward a new level of awareness, the next chapter of our lives.
The Year We Found Courage
We discovered courage we didn’t even know we had—whether it was driving cross-country, moving to a new city, leaving a job, or simply finding the strength to live with uncertainty each day.
This became the year of courage, faith, and love.
It was a year of trusting the universe, of turning inward, of allowing the Law of Attraction to raise our consciousness. For many, that meant changing morning routines—adding meditation, journaling, or walks in nature.
At last, we stopped to smell the roses.
If you believe, the years to come can be extraordinary
Self-Reflection and the Legacy We Leave Behind
This has been a year of deep self-reflection. A year to ask: What legacy do you want to leave behind?
Maybe there’s a passion project you’ve always wanted to start from home but never found the time. Or a dream career you postponed—until now, when backup plans no longer exist.
This is your moment. It’s time to go after your daydream. It’s time to release your ideas into the world. This is the last call for your dream life.
My Own Reinvention
For me, like so many others, this year was about reinvention. I went from working red carpets, hosting a live show on a cruise ship, and traveling the world—to not being allowed to leave my house for six months.
It became a time to reassess life choices and understand what could be done differently.
What stood out most for me was gratitude, being of service, and helping others—especially women—during a time of uncertainty. Helping them reconnect with the dream careers they once left behind and realize that many of those dreams can now be rebuilt, even from home.
Fear, Faith, and the Power of Belief
Often, we don’t follow our dreams because we feel scared, ashamed, insecure, or simply not ready.
But I truly believe that if you believe, then next year—and the years to come—can be extraordinary years.
* Julia Melim is a Brazilian actress, TV host/reporter and writer. She lives between Rio, Los Angeles, New York and Miami. She is a long-time Soul Brasil contributor writer – www.juliamelim.com
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the main message of Kicking Ass at Home?
The essay highlights how crisis can lead to reinvention, self-awareness, and the courage to pursue long-held dreams.
2. Who is this text especially relevant for?
It strongly resonates with Brazilians living abroad, particularly in the U.S., who are rebuilding their lives and careers.
3. Why does the author focus so much on home and introspection?
Because physical isolation led to emotional and spiritual reflection, turning “home” into a metaphor for the soul.
4. Is this essay based on personal experience?
Yes. Julia Melim weaves her own professional and personal reinvention into a universal narrative.
5. What does the text say about fear and dreams?
It suggests that fear often delays dreams—but belief and courage can unlock extraordinary new paths.
