Shelf
Her Thoughts
XOXO, random ramblings and letters to the reader.
Note to Self: I Am a Role Model
There are so many things I wish I had known earlier in my life. So many decisions I wish I could remake if time and chance permitted. I probably long for that now because I am burdened by the weight of knowing that I will forever be someone’s role model. To be honest, I was a role model before I even realized it, and I guess I underestimated the impact I had on others. That cha
Dear Future Me...
To date, I’ve lived up to the expectations of the woman I envisioned myself to be almost three decades ago. I certainly had no idea that I would stick to that dream, but I did anyway. What I did was remember the woman I had set out to become. It’s funny how I had it all figured out, from the stages I was going to grace, the style of fashion I would gravitate to, to the kind of
Fighting Limitations
The world has a tendency of placing limitations on us before we have the chance to prove our capabilities. Sadly, we often give in and accept these limitations and sometimes even participate in gender discrimination by placing those same limitations on the next woman. In the end, many women never realize their full potential.
Dear Motherless Daughter...
Written by guest contributor Tatenda Rungisa She’s gone and your heart is broken. All that’s left is a cold, shattered life. It’s sad; it’s lonely, and it leaves a huge, gaping hole in your heart. It messes with your mind. It brings anger into your heart - anger that you never knew existed. "Why me?" you continuously ask yourself. “Why did it have to be MY mother?” Your friends
Dear Bud,
One thing I always try to tell every woman I meet is that the magnificence of every flower is only seen when it blossoms. Before a bud blooms, it has no footprint of any significance no matter how many people know of its potential beauty. I’ve heard many talented people say they’re waiting for the right opportunity to start making a living out of their gifts, and how they’re wa
Dear Wannabe It Girl,
Everything Is Just The Way It Should Be
Dressed in well-worn denim overalls and a white T-shirt, the carpenter walked into the shed and inspected the work of his hands. Scattered around in the old dusty shed were various pieces of furniture derived from different kinds of wood. Unlike the majority who were made out of prestigious pine or mahogany, I was cut from cedar. For weeks we had shared the same space and patie
I Am My Sister's Keeper
As much as I'd like to believe that my life is mine to live, I can't deny the power of my influence. I'm not a queen or first lady; I don't hold a scepter in my hand. I'm not the head of a Fortune 500 company, neither do I sit on the board of directors of your favourite charity. No one is banging down my door to get my autograph or running me off the road to take my picture. An
Dear Expectant Dreamer...
The struggles that women go through are no secret. The journey to success for a woman is not a stroll in the park. Tears will be shed, accusations will be carelessly thrown towards them, discouragement will become the norm of the day…the list is endless. Be that as it may, the assumption that women understand each other’s hustle better than men do and will, therefore, be more s
It's Not Personal, I Just Can't Save You From Yourself
One of the most important lessons that has had an enormous impact on my life is learning that I cannot change people.
Dear Fearless Dreamer...
Have you ever wondered why people will sometimes push you into doing something you strongly feel is far from what you’ve ever envisioned for yourself? Many people have nervously explored uncharted territory and discovered that this new venture is what they were looking for all along.
To the “They” Club...
I usually address my letters with some endearing salutation but I feel some type of way about you all and I prefer to be blunt rather than fake. All my life I’ve been cautioned about you - "What will 'they' think?" or, "What will 'they' say?" "They" Club, pardon me for being so brusque, but who are you people who seem to invisibly control what I and others do? I have often been