Woman, Thrive!

I’m still not used to being called for speaking engagements, I always go through that whole “who me? Talk about what” so this was no different. I received an email from Allen of CivSource Africa, asking if I was available on Saturday morning for a couple of hours to share Vessel is Me’s journey with a group of ladies. Now, I want y’all to note that all I did was write a book about my journey on lack of mourning etiquette around neonatal deaths. I shared my story out of confusion because many women around me had gone through this loss but they remained silent. There was no African narrative to this loss, it’s mentioned in one or two books but there was no comprehensive book telling me that at some point I’m going to hear a baby crying even though I stay in a house with only adults or that out of this particular grief my thought would be suicidal every night. So, I wrote it.

When I get calls to come speak, I’m perplexed because I feel I poured everything I have onto those pages. I don’t feel like I have anything new to share, given that this book was published on 1st December, 2018 but I do recognize that awareness is an everyday job so I put on my lipstick and go tell-it-on-the mountain. The Woman Thrive Brunch caught my eye because of the theme: Health, Healing & Planning. I love such gatherings. Gerry Opoka, a Mental Health Advocate and Sole Proprietor of Soul Fitness said, “there’s such magic that happens when women gather to heal and nurture each other” and I couldn’t have said it better. We are magic, and we need such gatherings to remind ourselves of the light that exudes through and around us. Read more