Emma Rosa Ugarelli’s Author Blog

Hi everyone,
Today I want to share a beautiful quote by Maya Angelou:
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
It’s such a simple sentence, but it holds so much wisdom.
So often, we’re taught to think of success as money, fame, or status. But what happens when we achieve all that and still don’t feel good about ourselves?
 Maya reminds us that real success is personal satisfaction--
Liking who you are, loving what you do, and being proud of how you do it.
Some people get lost along the way.
They take shortcuts or make choices just to impress others. They might reach what looks like success on the outside, but inside—they’re not fulfilled.
They’ve forgotten how to love themselves in the process.
I believe success isn’t about being perfect or being praised—it’s about being at peace with yourself, and living in a way that feels true to you.
 So, what does success look like for you?
Let’s reflect on that—and keep doing the things that make us proud to be who we are.
Visit eugarellibooks for more thoughtful reflections and emmasplace.ca for   educational resources.

Sometimes, the world aches so much it becomes unbearable. And when that happens, I find that ache turning into thoughts.
This is one of those moments.
Today, I want to share a reflection about freedom—what it means to me, especially in times like these. I’m not here to point fingers or create division.
My only wish is that these words might touch someone, even just one person, and remind us that:
We can think differently, and still respect each other.
We all have the right to be heard--and the  duty to listen.
Not to impose ideas simply because we can,
or because we feel entitled to do so.
This post begins a new section of reflections here on my blog and Facebook—words that come from the heart, especially when silence becomes too heavy to carry.
A Reflection on Freedom Inspired by Ribeyro
​“Freedom is not conquered once and for all; it must be conquered every day,” wrote Julio Ramón Ribeyro. And it’s true—freedom is more than just a beautiful word or an abstract concept. It is a fundamental right, a deep longing… and, too often, a broken promise.
We live in societies that, even while calling themselves democratic, impose rules, narrow discourses, and forced silences. There are regimes that speak of liberty while restricting opinions, placing the so-called freedoms of some above the rights of others. When the freedom of one group harms, humiliates, or silences another, we are no longer talking about justice—but about abuse.
Expressing a different opinion has become a risk. Fear of retaliation, cancellation, or stigmatization keeps many people silent. Today, many prefer to stay quiet rather than be targeted by extreme groups who believe they alone have the right to speak and define what freedom means.
To conquer freedom also means having the courage to say enough:

• Enough of crimes masked as causes.
• Enough of lies that destroy public trust.
• Enough of hollow ideologies that only sow division.
• Enough of pretending the emperor wears a dazzling robe when he’s clearly naked.

True freedom does not fear truth. True freedom is exercised with respect, with responsibility, and with the firm conviction that no one--absolutely no one—should be silenced for thinking differently.

​Imagination is not a distraction from reality—it’s how children begin to make sense of it. In stories, imagination gives young readers permission to explore without fear, to think outside the box, and to find creative ways to understand their emotions and the world around them.
When we tell children that only “realistic” stories matter, we limit the very tool that helps them build empathy, solve problems, and dream boldly.
At Emma’s Place, we believe children need stories that spark wonder—where animals talk, clouds whisper, and the impossible feels real. Because imagination isn’t optional in childhood—it’s essential.