Celebrating women across tthe globe: IWD2021

Life is though and so you are darling.

Hello reader, I wrote this for you, hoping you will be a female and it will resonates through the core of your being and believing if you are male, you will make a good use of this to appreciate every woman you come in contact with in your daily activities.

To commemorate the International women's day, I looked back and think about all the women I have come in contact with since the last one year and how much efforts they put everyday to challenge the status quo.

The International women's day holds every 8th of March to celebrate women's achievement and raise awareness about women's quality and the theme for the year is choosing to challenge.

I obviously will not be able to recollect all this wonder woman but I will remember the memories I had with each of them. The most important thing a woman can do is expanding the other's sense of possibility, I am here to make emphasis on the word "possibility"- making or marring you, women will always open you to possibilities.

To start with, from the exceptional woman who birthed me, to the ones I was birthed with, to the sister-girls, to acquaintances that leaves footprints and finally to the little community I am building are ranges of woman whose experiences I have bookmarked.

I am celebrating all this women who are choosing to silence the culture that didn't favour us, who have choose to stand and fight for the right of women to equalize opportunities, safeguard maternal health, promote sexual health/right, stop gender based violence, eradicate child marriage and female genital mutilation amongst others.

Thinking out loud, I will start with my mum, a wonderful wife and mother, who sacrificed herself to keep us here, to my sisters who didn't allow their past to reflect in their future -to a woman and half, a safe harbor for women who are ready to give it all it takes to live a life of purpose- to the girls on the street who no matter what are ready to give life all it takes and then down to myself, for my resilience so far; there is nothing stronger than a broken woman who rebuilt herself.

Moving forward, I remember my very good friend, who choose me as a confidant to tell me she is not ready to allow life hurdles limit are potential, to my very known friend whom I have keenly observed for beating life to it's game as everyday passes so as not to become a liability.

I think about one of my soul sisters whom despite all rejections is not ready to relax her wings, to the many women who despite all are giving love chances and getting married. While thinking, I remember my girlfriend who recently invested all her savings into her business and how much effort she is putting everyday to make it yield.

Today I remembered the market woman I sat with few months ago, she was going to render me a service which I negotiated and had a common agreement with, I ended up wanting to pay her more for what she makes is lesser compared to what she offers but she had to do that, to keep the mind sane.

I also think about the conversations I had with older women in my neighbourhood who only are after feeding their children for the day. I think about the last time I was at the hospital and how the agony of a laboring mother reached deep into my bone and how right there, a woman was lost to childbirth.

Right before writing this, I think about the many women dominated groups I belong to and how we bond in sisterhood and friendship and the many many amazing things they are doing to make a difference, it also took me back to memory lane of how I met my awesome friends.

Lastly, I remember the millennials women who are my everyday evidence of courage e.g Mrs Ibunkun Awosika, Glory Abah, Adaora Mbelu, Arese Ugwu, Chimmanmada Ngozi Adiche, Toke Makinwa, Lara Kudaisi and the likes whose diamond shines even without the sun.

All of this, is my constant source of inspiration and dedication to living a purposeful and impactful life so that in the years to come, there will be a safe space for women to converge, make plans, explore and expand.

You are a pride for the woman race, let no one tell you otherwise.
Happy International women's day.

I ChooseToChallenge to not limit my belief just because people will not accept that a girl/woman can do it.
I will like to hear from you too, what do you ChoosetoChallenge?

Kisses and hugs
Teni❤