Your worst fears have come true, and you have survived. They didn’t kill you. They shook you but they didn’t kill you. You survived because you’re a warrior. It’s in your blood, it’s in your gender, its engraved in you. You’re stronger than you thought you were.
The fine lines on your smooth face tell of your wondrous journey.
Do you remember the fears and uncertainty of turning 30, not sure of adulthood but also wondering how the years had so desperately gone by? Taking with them your youth, beauty and innocence.
Do you remember the imposter syndrome you suffered when you decided to follow your dreams? The doubts that consumed you all those nights that you lay in bed wondering if you had made the right decisions. Wondering if you would end up happy.
Do you remember all the times you sulked and asked God why at 30 you weren’t married and raising children like all your age-mates? Or why you didn’t have that good job like all your mates? Why you couldn’t travel and post photos on the “gram” like all your mates.
Do you remember how many times you stood in front of the mirror and counted your stretch marks, called them by name. All the times you tucked in your stomach and wished that it wasn’t as big. All the times you wished your back fat could disappear just so you could have the perfect body.
Do you remember all those tasteless dates you went on where you sold yourself so short, so you don’t intimidate your suitors because “you’re 30 and time is going by”? Dates where you didn’t speak least you come off as knowing too much.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
But look at you now. Wisdom oozes through your veins, you’re the most brilliant, beautiful, courageous woman to ever exist. Glass ceilings shatter in your presence, the ground trembles when you move, the world moves to your rhythm.
All your fears came true, and none of them could destroy you. Look around you, you’re standing in the middle of your dreams. You made it.
It gets better.