2015 is the year I came back to myself; it is the first year I felt like myself in more than 5 years. Courage was my theme for 2015 – courage to dream big, work hard, and to be vulnerable.
I am thankful that this theme bolstered by a conviction to step out in faith helped me regain many of the values I have always believed in, but lost along the way.
I learned courage is simply “to move and to choose,” because faith and fear both demand of you to believe in something you cannot see. I learnt it is my choice to move and to choose.
I learned I’m not a victim, and I refuse to make myself out to be one. I have a deep well of creativity and support, and they afford me the grace and ability to climb out of any valley and to stand out.
As a woman and especially as a black woman, I am not your victim or your statistics. I have my fears, failures and insecurities, but these things make me a fighter and a victor, but never a victim.
I learnt that little birds dream, eagles do and vultures turn up their noses waiting for little birds and eagles to die.
I learnt that a slow pace is not a bad idea, and sometimes it is okay to get rid of the timeline. I decided to define my own success by living life on my term not on the terms of my culture, society, family, friends or a random Instagram comment from a stranger.
Yes, I get a rush of joy from the hustle, but I get an avalanche of peace doing it in my own lane and in my season.
I learnt to choose freedom, peace and joy over and over again.
I learnt it is okay to give people the grace to be themselves whether or not I agree with their lifestyles and identities. In reverse, I give myself full latitude to be myself and to make mistakes.
I learnt to stop dimming my shine; there is room for us all to be bright.
I learnt something inside of me dies every time I sit still and say/do nothing when war breaks out or another sex trafficking, police brutality, or racism story hits the news. I have a voice and a platform, and I need to use them.
I also learnt debating the issues, sharing on social media, praying and changing my profile picture will NEVER weigh more than rolling up my sleeves.
These lessons propel me into 2016, and my hope is to stay courageous and to be obedient to the call on my heart and on my life every day. 2016 is the year of obedience.
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30 Days of Gratitude is a month-long series curated by Leading Ladies Africa. It chronicles the unique experiences of different African women, and presents them the opportunity to share their, life-learned lessons, dreams& aspirations, and their hopes for the future.
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