Finding hope with a role model
“THE case for women is not that they are inherently better or more moral. It is that they are half of humanity and should have the same opportunities and be judged according to the same standard, or not be judged at all... It does not have to be like this,” said Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, best-selling Nigerian author, novelist, non-fiction and short story writer.
Everyone is brave. To be brave is not about climbing Mount Everest, or going to the moon; being brave is every day things, standing up for yourself, being courageous, believing in yourself, fighting for what’s right, even just being yourself.
If you aren’t feeling thatbrave, we as Rock Girls understand the challenges women, children and everyone faces daily. You are brave no matter what anyone says.
“Be considerate in all that you do. Know what you like and go with your own instinct. Don’t just follow someone else’s path. Your drum is the one to beat. The greatest confidence of all is that which is done quietly, consistently and with grace,” said Kirsten Goss, internationally-acclaimed jewellery maker.
So just in case some of you incredible human beings are not feeling brave here are some words of encouragement:
So to start off you should know that everyone is brave.
You just need to know how to show it, braveness breeds within you deep inside your soul and even though you might not notice it you are being brave every day from the moment you wake up until you fall asleep.
Being brave is usually seen as jumping off a cliff or conquering mountains, but that’s not necessarily what being brave is. Being brave is possessing courage or determination, valuing yourself, accepting yourself, looking after yourself, understanding yourself and empowering yourself.
Especially to those ladies out there who don’t believe that they are as special, as well as those more well-known or famous.
You are definitely brave and to those guys who don’t fully appreciate them, think about the challenges they’ve been through; some examples are: we have endless patience, are responsible, we express our feelings, take care of the world, we build strong empires, we mature faster, we think of consequences before we decide and we accept defeat.
We should embrace our femininity because we raise the future and carry it too.
If you do not feel included then you should use your voice to speak out and express our point of view. Our goal as Rock Girls is to have our voices heard, respected, honoured and implemented.
These aspects are not just given to you though. You have to work for them; speak to people, say what you mean, escape your comfort zone.
“If you never get out of your comfort zone, it will keep getting smaller and smaller, until you can never escape it,” says Roz Savage, English ocean rower, environmental advocate, writer and speaker.
We do not have to be brave alone, so we shouldn’t be afraid to admit that we need someone to guide us with believing. If something is wrong, don’t keep it to yourself, speak out. HOPE is a girl who was bullied at a young age.
She lived with her uncle because her mother died giving birth to her. Her mother was raped so Hope has no clue who her father was.
Her uncle was an alcoholic, so she didn’t spend a lot of time at home. She would work very hard at school because she had to keep her scholarship.
She tried to fight pain with pain by cutting herself when the threats from others became overwhelming.
At the age of 14 she felt she had no purpose in the world.
Then one day at her school her life orientation teacher spoke about role models – and Hope soon declared that she needed a role model in her life.
That day she went home, ignored her drunken uncle and went out to search for her role model.
She tried to imitate many people, but one day she found someone she believed in.
She started remembering inspirational quotes from that person and using the wise words in her life.
“Spend your late teens getting to know yourself, who you are, what you care about, what gives your life purpose and meaning.
“That way it will give you an anchor and a compass in life.
“Peer pressure is real, but often misleading.
“Find out who you are and have the courage to be yourself.”
Hope is doing well now. She believes in herself, no matter what.