By: Natasha Archary
Feel Good with Andy Maqondwana posed a deep question on Girl Let’s Talk this week, “If you were to celebrate yourself with an award, what would your accolade be for?”
The question may seem like such a light one but it’s a deeper one because most women are busy putting everyone else first that there’s no room left for herself.
While we may have days like International and National Women’s Day reserved to acknowledge these strong women in our lives, they seldom celebrate themselves.
Whether it’s starting over after a divorce, overcoming the many hurdles as a single mother, studying whilst working, taking your first holiday, surviving every day that was meant to ruin her, a woman should be celebrated. What’s more, she should be putting a crown on her own head every day because, Queen recognise that you made it.
Listen to the Feel Good Good conversation:
Some reasons Feel Good listeners celebrate themselves:
- I live my life to the fullest because I owe myself happiness and love and I will give myself an award for accepting whatever comes.
- Give me the same award that Mother Theresa was given, because I am always help people. If I had the R22 million Nathi Mthethwa wants to use for the flag, I would just feed all the people who are hungry. The second award I would give myself is for my ability to forgive people. With or without an apology, I forgive you for myself.
- The biggest heart award should go to me
- I will award myself the accolade of putting myself first, I’m done with the expectations that society places on women to put her husband and family before herself. I did that with my ex-husband, so no, never again. I come first!
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Having an army of strong women who empower and support each other is one of the ways to conquer the world. But even if you are in this alone, remind yourself that you are magical and teach yourself to embrace and own your worth.
Don’t just celebrate yourself for the titles you achieve as a woman, that of wife, mother, sister, daughter, but for the myriad of roles you fill without expecting anything in return.
There aren’t too many women who will turn a blind eye to someone who is hungry, not when nurturing comes standard for many women.
Celebrate yourself every day
For a woman who is taking on life solo, there may not be anyone around her to thank her for the little strides she makes each day to better herself. She may not hear a “thank you” from her kids often enough and probably beats herself down every day for not doing enough or not giving them more.
This is why she should give herself a pat on the back for holding it together when she is herself falling apart.
- Celebrate getting through every day with grace and strength
- Give yourself a break
- Be kinder to yourself
- Forgive yourself
- Own your worth
- Embrace every perfect imperfection
- Stand in your power and use your voice
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