ON THE JOURNEY TO WHERE I WANT TO BE__LOH#311

I will answer prompt 1: I invite you to see yourself where you want to be, and not where others have placed you.

This question hit me deep.

Before, I did not have my own mind. I was just following people. If I saw my friends going to church program, I would go. If they said we should not go to school that day, I would stay at home. If they said this hairstyle is fine, I would do it even if I did not like it.

My parents would say, you must be a shy and quiet girl. My family would say, you must not talk too much. My friends would say, you must dress like us to belong. And I followed all of them.

My life became a reflection of other people's opinions. I was living in a place they built for me. I was not happy, but I was afraid to come out.... I thought if I choose my own way, people will laugh at me....u know.

One day, I looked in the mirror and I did not see myself.....💔 I saw a girl that others created.

That day I asked myself, where do YOU want to be? Not where your mother wants you to be. Not where your friends think you ought to be..... But where do you want to be?

I did not have answer at first. But I started searching. I started saying no to things I did not want.... I started saying yes to things that give me peace..... Small steps. I started reading, praying more, choosing friends who encourage me.

Now I am still learning, but I can say I have figured out my own life small small. I now decide where I want to be. And that place is where I have peace, not where people place me...yeah.

I finally chose myself, and it feels good.......😊

IMAGE SOURCE AI