Converse to inspire

I’ve been thinking about a wrist watch I was given together with a poem called Refrain by an old lady who used to visit my mom’s office – I used to call her “granny”. So I went to our store room to see if I can’t find my Refrain anywhere but with no luck. 

It was on a Friday afternoon in 2004 when she came to my mom’s office with a gift wrapped up in pink paper and with an A4 laminated page and in it was her poem to me – Refrain.  She walked in the office and was excited to see me there and said to me “I have something for you”. She sat me down and said: “I love both you and your mother as my own. So I thought I should buy you this watch.” 

Astounded me sat there and couldn’t stop smiling. She gave me a box wrapped in pink paper and said: “open it”. I opened the box to find a beautiful gold watch. I just couldn’t stop smiling. Tears started rolling down my cheeks as she said “I also have a poem for you and I will read it out loud so everyone would hear.”  She started reading and the words that stood out and were engraved in my heart that moment were: “never lose yourself by trying to be someone you’re not.” It is that day that I embraced being me – a woman.

Refrain has been the cornerstone in my life. It has helped forbear from many things that could have been the end of me. I am the woman I am today because of that poem that was given to me nine years ago. I am a woman of honour and trust. I am hardworking, uniquely different, smart individual who’s passionate about inspiring young girls to become women of great calibre no matter what their circumstance.

In this month dedicated to celebrating women, I challenge all women to have at least five young girls to inspire and be there when they need someone to talk to. I engage quite frequently with young girls who just need to vent about what’s happening in their lives. All they need to hear is: find something to keep you motivated and you will be okay.

 

So for every girl you will be talking to this month, remember India Arie’s Talk to Her lyrics:

Now when you go to her
Speak truthfully
Honest as you can be, from your heart
You're in a situation
But you're losing patience
Take your time and look her in the eyes
When you just can't find the words you want
And it's hard to reach a point
Where you both can understand
Don't just tell the truth
But tell the whole truth
It'll make a better man out of you

Come on hardworking ladies, talk to a young girl and save a life – your task for women’s month.

Much love!