What advice would you give? Would you want?

The last two weeks while in Italy, I was swept away in the best romantic story.

A dear friend unexpectedly met someone while traveling internationally far from home and texted, "I might have met my husband."

The wrinkle is that a life with him means a major fork in the road, leaving possibly forever things she's loved, and for various reasons the decision is going to be made quickly.

When you have a major life decision, how can you be confident you won't regret whatever you choose?

Over hours of voice messages back and forth I reflected:

• The advice I'm giving her is so much different than I would have 10 years ago.

• What I learned from my IVF, surrogacy, and book journey that gave me wisdom.

• What we really want to know, and are never going to.

• How to avoid self-shame/blame if it doesn't work out.

• The biggest difference between taking risks in your teens/20's vs your mid-30's and beyond

The questions I guided her through, I found myself asking myself in the very different scenarios I'm walking through personally today.

This is the grown-women's approach to love and life choices that (thank goodness) has less draining drama and more delightful drama that makes life exciting yet empowering.

Curious to hear on Instagram @HilaryRushford what advice you'd give after you listen? If you share it on Stories tag me so I can see!