i am inspired by your authenticity
for the love of Africa,
belief in its greatness
and pursuit of its potential.
I am inspired by your authenticity…
You know that girl who “does too much”? I don’t know about you, but my first thought is always, wow, what confidence. And I mean that sincerely.
The guy uploading his beats on SoundCloud? You go.
The person who got publicly shamed and still kept creating, still showing up?
I am inspired by all of them.
Here’s the thing: Do you.
You never know who is looking. You never know who is inspired by what you do.
I cannot count the times I have shied away from the spotlight because I feared others and what they would think about me. Or because I wanted to maintain the image they had of me (even that, I don’t fully know).
Truthfully, I was always the shy, quiet girl. People thought I was nice and sweet, and I unknowingly decided to keep up that image. I diluted the little spice, made her more bland and palatable, snuffed out the sparks in case they made a destructive fire, and suppressed the rebel in case she got in trouble.
And now I sit here thinking—for what?(?!!!)
For the guy in high school who saw me as lesser-than? For the person in middle school who still consistently sees my stories (why are you always there, by the way?) For others whose worldview I don’t care about, but for some reason still care about their perception of me?
To hell with it all. TO HELL.
I think of all my friends, especially my girls, who are so courageous in what they do. I am inspired by their pursuit to do them. In the way they do everything, there is a glimpse of them that belongs to them, their goals, their dreams, their soul.
I want to be more like that too. Owning me, despite what you or anyone else thinks. Am I doing myself justice?
So, again I say: do you.
In college, I remember a girl who wore a full face of makeup every day to class in college. In a school where some people showed up in pajamas, and outfits were not really a thing, one might think it’s a little much to wear makeup every day—full beat at that. Heck, I still think so. But you know what I think too? Wow. I love the dedication. I love how the makeup looks. I love how it matches the outfit, every time. I love the statement they are making for themselves. Anyone who thinks it’s too much, like me, can keep on thinking it’s too much.
Again, do you. For you.
I’m talking about the healthy kind of selfish. The kind that tells you to truly live as you know you should. Do right by you before anyone else. Be kind. Be you.
I am so proud of anyone trying. Anyone being authentic to who God has made them to be. Anyone ignoring the naysayers and reaching for the stars. Anyone striving for a positive and better tomorrow.
I am learning through all of you who are living authentically, honestly and vulnerably. You won’t be understood by everyone, and you don’t need to be. The people who are meant to see you will. The people who need your story will feel it.
There’s a quote from Marianne Williamson’s poem ‘Our Deepest Fear’ that says, “And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
If you think no one is watching, they are. They may be inspired. They may.
I am watching, and I want to say thank you for showing me that owning your light is beautiful.
So keep showing up as you are.
Keep telling your story with care.
