To Be a VoF: My First Thoughts
Jan 21, 2015
Story
I was waiting, like everyone else, for this day when the names of 30 women would be announced. The announcement (finally!) has happened and I am one of the 30. But instead of jumping into joy and celebrating, I am sitting here on my computer, writing this note. There are feelings - quite mixed - welling up within me and I have to pour them out.
I begin by saying the obvious - Congrats to WP team for taking this great event to its third successful year, to draw attention and raise hopes of thousands of women around the world to find a common place where they can be one voice and one soul. I also say 'Congrats' to the fellow VoF'11 - everyone in there. I share your joy and your dreams and stand by you in supporting every cause you are to bring up here.
But I said that I have mixed feelings. And so, here comes the truth: I am sad and also kind of afraid, because there's a thought in my head: what if I lose all those friends who are not in the final 30, but are women who were already winners for me?
How many names can I take? Choirgirl (Maria), Carlotta, Olanike, Rukamanqui, Yao, Osai, Udoka, Wendy, soulhavenlisa, Sibo, Teresa....If I wrote my assignments well, that's because you filled me with joy and inspiration. Will you still be just as active, bringing up stories that will be just as soul stirring? reaching out with words of love and encouragement?
Or will you go quiet? withdraw? Its this thought that pains me.
From the bottom of my heart, I hope things will remain just as alive, as vibrant with you all adding colors of ideas and strengths like you did earlier. Knowing you all has strengthened my own urge to broaden my boundaries; I take pride in the thought that I talk and listen to women in over a hundred countries now and I wouldn't let go of that! Not when I have just started to know you.
To go back to my vision of the future, I, a honeybee, need all my beeeeeeeeautiful sisters to stay by me, as I move forward making the beehive world. I hope, this will happen. Until then, here is all my love for all of you!
