Here’s to some of the strongest people in the world..

I’ve been wanting to write something for a while now, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity. Today, on International Women’s Day, I would like to honour and appreciate all the amazing women around the world who have been a source of joy and inspiration to so many.

Women manage to juggle many roles at once, those of working women and executives, mothers, wives, sisters, daughters.. And all this while having a smile on their face, even when faced with difficulties, opposition or even abuse. I don’t mean to undermine the roles that men play, but because the world takes them more seriously than it does women, they have it slightly easier.

To the mothers and wives, you have been the glue holding families together, raising generations to be good people, have a better and easier life than you had, with no thought of any return or reward.. You have not had an easy life, but you’ve done the world a great service. And you achieve all this, while struggling to hold on to your own identity.

To the working women, you have made it just that much easier for another generation of girls to strive and gain their independence, and to dream higher than they ever dared to before. You have grown to be amazing, inspirational leaders and managers, in the face of sexism, harassment, family and workplace opposition, taunts, and so much more. Whatever profession you are in, whether it be a leader of a country, teacher, doctor, soldier, pilot, engineer, a CEO or pretty much anything else, you have been shining examples of intelligence, competence, courage, hard work and unflagging patience.

We have all, at some point or another, have had to fight hard battles, either for us, or those we love. It has not been easy, but it does bring us closer to the ultimate dream: a world where everyone lives as equals, where beauty, bravery and courage are shown their due, no matter where they come from.

So, thank you. Thank you for all you have done, and continue to do. Here’s to you.

What Does The Light Look Like?

What does light look like?
What does real happiness feel like?
That picture, that feeling belonged to a version of her
Who she can't quite remember.

That version of her who was not afraid,
Who dared to dream and had a path ahead,
Who saw visions of a happy life,
A life lived on her terms, with no strife.
She was not afraid to be alone, because she knew alone did not mean lonely,
Where everyone just let her be!
She welcomed the light like an old friend,
And even if the darkness came, she knew light would always come back in the end.

And now, life seems like an endless night,
With no prospect of a silver lining in sight.
Every day seems like a painful chore,
The days going by like waves on a shore.
She's forgotten how to hope,
All she can dream of is escape!

Escape from the nightmare that is her mind,
She's forgotten what it is to be kind.
Kindness seems like an alien concept,
Especially when it applies to herself.

What does the light look like, she asks.
Life seems like an endless night, without the comfort of stars.
Maybe, someday, she'll learn to know the light again,
And accept both, light and dark, as lifelong friends.