First of all, Happy New Year!
The last two years were difficult years for me. In 2014, my mother was diagnosed with advanced cancer. In 2015, the cancer took her life. I’m grateful for the new year.
When my mother was diagnosed, I didn’t write for several months. Instead, during those months, I spent my days researching terminology such as oncology, histology, dilatation, strictures, cytology, adenocarcinoma, resections, laparoscopes, neoplasms, bilirubin, remission, cytostatics, tumour markers and dysplasia. My mother accused me of being insane for doing that, but she also understood it was in my nature to try to become an “expert” in cancer terminology in order to deal. Yet she would beg me to please, please write. But truth is, I did not know how to unite the me who was illiterate in cancer language with the me who speaks it proficiently.
By contrast, to cope with the loss, it has been essential to write. I’ve filled a lot of the past seven months with words.
Much of that writing – about life, love, death, growth, hope and faith – does not feel ready to share yet. But no doubt it influences the commentary about Africa, feminism, social criticism, philosophy and popular culture, which I look forward to continuing with this year.
There are few things that I love as much as sitting down in front of my computer to write a new blogpost. To share something exciting that I have researched, to provoke, to advocate a cause, to entertain, to envision, to learn, to teach, these are all zeniths of my existence. I have a clear sense of ‘me’ when I blog.
So my 2016 resolution is to keep expressing myself – for my dear mother, and everyone who visits this blog. My thanks to you.
I wish you all good things for 2016.
Image is Caspar David Friedrich – Woman before the Rising Sun (Woman before the Setting Sun)
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Happy new Year Minna! Thank you for beeing the voice of many women of african descent in and out Africa. I wish you all the best for this year and the upcoming years. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! <3
Yes!! Keep expressing your light on to the world <3
My sisi Eko! Thank you 😀
Happy New Year Minna!!! Keep expressing. It’s the best one can do. All the best. Greeting from Spain
Thanks and the same 🙂
Dear Minna, I look forward to your varied perspectives but I’m must say that my listening skills have been honed by your writings. As time moves on..I find that how you listen and how you pose a question are just as important as the written word. Peace and blessings to you for 2016 and beyond.
Gratitude, Carolyn. Means so much to me. Godbless
Happy New Year
Happy New Year Lesley!
Thank you for sharing your voice Minna! It is a powerful one, and is definitely a necessary voice for our generation. It is when I blog that I too feel closest to me and to my truth. Even though I don’t make as much time for it, I know that I can always come on here and find words of inspiration that will allow me to get to the place I need to. Thus, keep on giving!!!!! It’s nice to know you:)
Thank you for the kind words Eleanor. You’re an inspiration to me as well. Hope all going well at team OURS.