No girl must ever live life in limbo...

More than ten years of having fought for my own identity, my financial independence, and the freedom of choice, and yet here I stand at a strange crossroads. I look back and (this may sound boastful), but I marvel at the courage I had in me to come this far... and then I marvel at how I have changed this year.

People told me constantly I would never be complete without marriage, I laughed in their faces. They said, I must be a mother, without which I would never be complete. I said, if I wanted to, I'd adopt. They said there is a role for women that society has defined, and all those who dare cross it shall suffer. I said, to hell with you, I'm just as capable.

So I fought. And fought. and continued to fight. In the process, I forgot to tell myself I didn't need to be a superwoman. I could be vulnerable, and vulnerable doesn't mean weakness. I could fail, and that's ok. I could feel lonely, and that's natural.

And this year, I let all those people back in my head again... And slowly, I lost the true essence of my soul. Like rust to a boat, these thoughts whittled away at my identity... No girl must ever live life in limbo... Live to your fullest, and what is meant to be, shall be. Be the best version of yourself, anything less is slow death.

Jo, respect yourself enough to be the strong, individualistic, beautiful woman you are. Don't try to conform, it's not for you.

Crossroads

This week has been intense emotionally. While I have always known that my parents and my extended family want me to choose a life partner, settle down, (whatever that means), I seem to have underestimated how worried they are.

These are the same people who've stood behind me in every venture, telling me I can achieve anything I set my mind to. Now suddenly, I see the effect of many of my decisions, good and bad.

So what does the future hold? At this juncture, more questions than answers, more joy than is believable, more sadness that I hope will be countered by joy.

At this point, a girl who was so sure of everything in her life, has let her mind and soul to the mercies of time and love, leaving herself vulnerable. She can only come out stronger, and free.

For it is in the expression, that true freedom lies for her soul.