With modeling, I'm thankful to have so many work options. But

When Bianca Balti speaks the words, “With modeling, I’m thankful to have so many work options. But you do have to be able to say no. In reality, everything would be yes because every gig pays more than any normal job. But you still have to keep your priorities straight in life. And my priorities are my girls,” she reveals the eternal struggle between opportunity and responsibility, between the glittering rewards of the world and the quiet, enduring duty of family. Her voice is not merely that of a model, but of a mother, a woman who has seen the seductions of wealth and fame yet chooses to bow her heart before the higher calling of love.

Her words shine first with thankfulness. She does not dismiss her profession or its blessings, but acknowledges the abundance it has given her — many doors open, many paths to choose. This gratitude is the foundation of her wisdom, for to despise what one has been given is to live in bitterness, but to appreciate it while not being enslaved by it is to live freely. Balti knows that opportunities without discernment can become chains, and thus she teaches us that gratitude must be balanced by clarity of purpose.

The heart of her teaching is in the phrase, “you do have to be able to say no.” Here lies the power of restraint, a virtue often neglected in the pursuit of success. In the ancient tales, we are reminded of Odysseus, who had to resist the tempting songs of the Sirens in order to reach his homeland. So too must Balti resist the siren call of endless jobs and riches, lest she lose sight of what truly matters. To say no is not weakness, but strength — the strength to protect one’s soul from being consumed by endless striving.

She acknowledges the worldly truth that “every gig pays more than any normal job,” yet she does not let this fact enslave her. Her eyes are not blinded by the glow of wealth, nor her spirit clouded by ambition. Instead, she chooses to fix her gaze upon her priorities. And what are they? Not fashion, not fame, not fleeting applause, but her girls — the children entrusted to her care. In this choice, she becomes greater than a model: she becomes a guardian, a nurturer, a living example of love triumphing over vanity.

History gives us echoes of her wisdom. Recall Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome, who though surrounded by power and empire, wrote in his Meditations that wealth and fame are fleeting shadows compared to the cultivation of virtue and the tending of one’s family and soul. In the same spirit, Balti reminds us that success is hollow if it comes at the cost of those we are bound to protect. For what use is gold if it leaves our loved ones impoverished of our presence and care?

Her words offer us a powerful lesson: priorities must be guarded fiercely. The world will always tempt us with more — more wealth, more recognition, more opportunities. Yet not all of them lead to life. We must learn to weigh each choice not by its reward, but by its alignment with our deepest values. For some, it may be children; for others, it may be integrity, service, or faith. Whatever it is, let it stand as the compass that guides your steps, even when the winds of opportunity blow hard against it.

And so, the teaching to pass down is this: Be thankful for the blessings that come, but never be enslaved by them. Learn the sacred power of saying no, for in doing so, you protect your soul and preserve what matters most. Keep your priorities straight, and let love, not wealth, determine the path of your days. In this way, like Bianca Balti, you will live not only as one who succeeds in the eyes of the world, but as one who triumphs in the eyes of eternity.