Arise and Shine!!!

ARIZE AND SHINE

You are amazingly wonderful, but nobody told you yet. You might not discover your capability or all the talents you are given by nature. I know why you are so quiet and look sad for others. But I see a fire in your heart. Many of your brothers had been telling you:  “You are the weakest creature in the world. You can’t contribute to the community anything useful. All you can do,…may be…to find a mate and give him a child or children…in case you succeed in that.”

Then you heard all their critics, and accepted it. Your other sister is sitting in the house waiting for the fate to take her somewhere. I wonder why you ladies here what others saying about you and decide to live by their rules. Why you give your lives leadership to others? Why you pay attention to people who think you are useless, hopeless and desperate?

But, what I see in you is, a great courage. Who you really are is not the one they see in you. Let me ask you something. Which one of your assessor can bear a child for nine month? Who can suffer from morning sickness, change of moods, lost appetite to bring a beautiful baby to this world?

The saddest thing on this earth,

- A man is underestimating a woman who brought him to this world

- A brother condemning his sister all the time

I want all the guys to stop this now. You know, 99% of the world population is not from rich families. In these families, girls suffer a lot. Mother takes the lion’s share in serving the family. All girl children help in cooking, washing, cleaning the house, fetching water, helping in the farm, collecting fuel wood …etc. I can give you an example from next door. There are twin brother and sister and they’re 8 now. I moved to this flat last year this time when they’re seven. Every day after school, the little girl cleans every room, wash the toilet, wash her father’s socks, washes their one year old girl sister nappies and clothing, cooks meal sometimes on an electric oven taller than her. While she is struggling to work in the house, her twin brother plays football downstairs. I used to open my gate and asked her: “Why doesn’t your brother help you?” her answer was I don’t know. I talked to their mother but, …I went down and tell the little boy to help his sister, because she deserved to play as well. My life had been like that. I was much better than my lawyer brother in academics, but I had a sickly mother, almost all the house chores loaded on me. After all, nobody noticed what we scarified to the family.

In all this, I am here standing my head up. My other brother went to the University and did literature, but I wrote books, poem, and articles and published them. I was not sent to a fashion school, but I design dresses, bags and jewelries. I didn’t go to any Art school, but I paint. I didn’t take any business or marketing class but worked as export manger, and joined the leather business.

May be, some of you are saying:  “If I had been in that country…., If I went to that school,…If  I didn’t marry early,…If I do this in that, I could be this type of person.”

Do not regret your past; it is eating your present. You live for today, nobody knows about tomorrow. Your time is now, not even today. So, Use it!

Discover what you have in your hand. Remember we are all given something when we are born. All of you are very special. All of us are very unique. Look at the flowers, they have their own beauties. Look up to the sky, all the stars are surrounded by their own different lights. Don’t give ear to people who spoke about you negatively and don’t chew on it in case you listen to them. I distance myself from all kind of people, place who try to inject me with negative energies. No more discussion, phone calls, meetings or work with toxic friends.

When you prepare yourself to bring an impact in your life or in the community, you must prepare yourself first. Then, new opportunities appear from a place you never expected before. You will see new friends who are walking in same path with you. Once you dare to turn around and face life in different direction, all will be changed.

Last Thursday, I went to a Rehab I use to volunteer. I invited a nurse from another country who applied to volunteer there but couldn’t get the chance. I helped her to get admission from the director of Fistula Hospital Rehab. On the time we prepared to leave the place (it is 17 km away from my city) I was introduced to a young man. The young man is a cousin of the Rehab’s director. He drove to Addis to us. After we drop the Kenyan Nurse at her place, we started discussing business. He is promoting my products now. Friday, I was doing my paper work, emailing and sending documents to this new friend. On Saturday I went to a 3 hour prayer meetings in the morning. After the service, I call my Cameroonian friend who is pregnant, just to check if she is home. She is about to give birth. Her husband came to the road and guided me in. We went to eat lunch at their friend’s house from Angola. The guy is a diplomat and he is the best cook. We ate lamb chops. My friend’s husband introduced me to the Angolan friend: “Tell your people, this lady can deliver any type of leather product, leather material and jewelries to you.”

The Angolan friend said:  “Madam, we are going to sign a contract here, today.”

I receive such a major order from Angola on Monday, that’s yesterday.

 You see, it is you who change your view. Don’t waste your time around useless agendas. Give to the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you. You are a shining star, don’t let anyone hides that light in you.

I was beaten by harsh words of family members, gossips of friends and neighbors, I cried until I discover who I am. When troubles troubling you too much, that means there is a lot you can do. There is a lot you’ll give to this world. Don’t be afraid of the criticism, stand up and shine. Don’t try to act, speak, work, or behave like other do. Be who you are. Show who you are. Walk differently, because you are made different.

ARISE and SHINE!

NOW is your time.