Yevhenia is 79 years old, and her words are filled with wisdom and vitality. Throughout her life, she has held management positions, overseeing not only production processes but also her team’s well-being. She is a strong, caring, and intelligent woman who, despite facing challenges, has remained true to herself. Today, she shares valuable advice worth paying attention to.
“I have always cared for others. They called me ‘Mother Teresa’. But now I understand that you cannot forget about yourself. That is the main thing I would like to say to young people.”
As a child, her parents taught her to rely solely on herself, and this principle formed the foundation of her character. As she grew older, she adopted another equally important rule: “You must value yourself. Surround yourself with decent people — friends you can depend on, people who won’t betray you.”
Yevhenia’s life path is an example of inner freedom. She refused to stay in a relationship devoid of respect. “If the person you love doesn’t make you happy and you’re always there for them, you have to leave,” she states. She openly acknowledges her desire for a family and children, but things didn’t work out as planned. Nevertheless, she accepted her journey with dignity and without regret. She was present for her partner’s children, helping to raise them, and considers those years significant.
“I want to live until 92, like my mother. However, what matters most is not the number of years, but the quality of life during those years. I want to remain active, think clearly, and live with dignity.”
The profession of civil engineering was not her dream. However, her father, a builder himself, insisted that she pursue it. As with everything else in her life, she approached this path with honesty, strength, and responsibility. She built not only physical structures but also strategies and systems — working in ministries and managing teams along the way.
Her strength lies not in her position, but in her understanding of what is important: “I didn’t need power. I just knew I had to do everything right. For myself. For the people.”
“Courage is not about grand gestures. It’s about everyday decisions to be yourself. To be honest with yourself.”
She recalls dozens of stories that could fill a book. From working in ministries during the Chernobyl accident to rebuilding her own house with her own hands and helping others. Her philosophy in life is not to look for someone to blame, but to look for solutions. And always to maintain dignity.
«“He didn’t drink, smoke, or fight — and he didn’t love.”
Her humor and self-irony are striking. She speaks openly about difficult relationships, bad choices, and at the same time — about love that came unexpectedly. About the person with whom she had a warm connection. She is not afraid to feel, not ashamed to talk about love — even if it was short-lived. Her stories are like a good movie: a little bit of bitterness, a lot of light, and definitely about life.
“I have something to remember. And I am grateful that I lived.”
Yevhenia is one of those people about whom one wants to say: she lived a great life. Not always easy. But definitely meaningful. With sincerity, with care, with dignity.
Thank you for sharing your story with us. We listened with admiration.