In a world that begs you to follow the crowd, lose yourself, please your friends and everyone else around you, silence your voice and dim your light, choose you. Love YOU!
I didn’t get here overnight and it’s still a slow and steady journey. I’ve had to lose friends to gain new ones, learn intolerance in order to embrace tolerance, be quiet in order to speak out, isolate, in order to elevate.
I’m still on this remarkable journey. God has absolutely kept me going, my son has shown me an incredible version of love that has steadied me and my family has been patient with me.
It is not easy. I’ll say that again; it is not easy. It is not overnight. I have and will continue to mess up but ultimately I’m choosing me, because I will spend the rest of my life with her.
If you’re reading this, feeling uncentered, down and unlike yourself, take a moment each day to do one thing that rings true to you. Speak out about issues that affect us on a daily basis, because the more of us that do that means we accelerate change. Get involved in a project, dig into your purpose, look a little closer at yourself. Don’t cower to trolls and people who misunderstand where you are coming from.
Faith.
Family, whatever that form takes to you.
Focus.
Focus.
Feel. Be. Cry it out, laugh out loud. Read. Roam. Build. Lend your voice or skills because someone always needs them.
Say a prayer and lead the way to your destination.
36 comments
Ciru
October 19, 2017 at 8:48 am
Good one. Took me a while to get here too. It’s been a journey. But I’m glad that I’m finally able to put myself first.
Janet Mbugua
October 19, 2017 at 9:47 am
Good on you Ciru! It’s a difficult journey for anyone but truly fulfilling as you go along ?
Christine
October 19, 2017 at 9:08 am
I am learning to choose me every new day cus I learned i am going to live with me for the rest of my life which is a long time to come…it’s a journey; and i am happier now as compared to where i was sometimes back….. These days I will always look at myself in the mirror every damn day just to admire myself and remind myself just how beautiful I am! It has taken me all the energy I can gather to just appreciate myself and tell me I am the best there is…
Great post as usual
Janet Mbugua
October 19, 2017 at 9:46 am
Thank you Christine and what beautiful words of wisdom from you! ❤ You get it!
Eunice
October 19, 2017 at 9:20 am
This is so timely!for a long time i have been lost between choosing my ownself and torelating other people’s mistakes!i have lives with fear of choosing me in every situation .this post is soo timely for a whole night i could not sleep because i have been thinking of letting go and prioritising my own being and my son other than suffocating under other people’s armpit!i know i will get the courage to make a choice of choosing me!
Thank you janet i feel this was literally for me
Janet Mbugua
October 19, 2017 at 9:45 am
Thank you so much for resonating Eunice! I know, it’s not easy. And at times even when we find our way the struggle might creep up on us! But embrace you, and ultimately you’ll feel more fulfilled. God bless ❤️
PEREZ
October 19, 2017 at 10:22 am
Awesome read!when you choose you there is a lot that comes with it..self value,confidence ,being comfortable with who you are among others….For me to be happy I choose to be me…
Janet Mbugua
October 19, 2017 at 12:49 pm
??❤
Nyatichi
October 19, 2017 at 11:41 am
Most of us doubt ourselves enough without further evidence being presented. I used to feel safer in crowds, safer doing things because everyone else was doing it. Not until I realised that it was robbing me the opportunity to be and to do me. There is always a first time for all of us to embrace who we truly are and the sooner you realise it and gather the courage to be,then you are in a good space.
Janet Mbugua
October 19, 2017 at 12:48 pm
I absolutely love what you’ve said and I think a lot of people can resonate with it! So true, that trying to fit in means you could compromise the essence of who you really are! Thanks for reading post!
Gakenia
October 19, 2017 at 12:03 pm
For some reason idk I’ve never read this blog but this particular piece I could not have read at a better time??? Thanks Janet, regarding the idea of plunging into projects, any suggestion on an initiative that incorporates the youth? I’d love to join one. Again thanks, truly God uses people I even the littlest of ways to touch others ?
Janet Mbugua
October 19, 2017 at 12:47 pm
Wangeci dear, thank you for reading my post and I hope I’ll inspire you soon again ❤❤❤
Brenda
October 19, 2017 at 12:38 pm
Wow! I think I really needed to read and hear this today. Thank you
Brenda
October 19, 2017 at 12:39 pm
Wow! Thank you so much…. I really needed to read/hear this message today.
Janet Mbugua
October 19, 2017 at 12:45 pm
??❤
kate
October 19, 2017 at 1:26 pm
I really love this article, i have lost so many friends just because i chose to be me, i am not turning back, thanks Janet for sharing
Janet Mbugua
October 19, 2017 at 8:32 pm
Amen to that Kate! You’ll lose some, you’ll gain others. Just take it a day at a time and stay true to you ✨?
Maryann munyingi
October 19, 2017 at 1:28 pm
Janet you are an inspiration to me and many women.. I was once afraid of other people’s opinions and it took me time to learn to love myself ,thanks so much for this message. God bless you and your family
Janet Mbugua
October 19, 2017 at 8:31 pm
Thank you so much my dear! I think as women we especially find it hard not to please everyone. But you suddenly find yourself drained and its only when you start listening to yourself that the liberation follows. Prayer helps a lot too! Bless ?
Nduta
October 19, 2017 at 1:43 pm
The absolute kind of reading I wanted. Thank you Janet!
Janet Mbugua
October 19, 2017 at 8:30 pm
Oh thank you Nduta! You’re welcome! Bless ?
Lucy
October 19, 2017 at 1:46 pm
Thanks so much Janet, it has come just at the right time.
It’s not an easy journey
No reverse gear, working on it asap.
Janet Mbugua
October 19, 2017 at 8:30 pm
Absolutely Lucy, certainly not an easy journey but let’s brave it together. We are many! ??
VIOLET MUKAMI
October 19, 2017 at 1:49 pm
This resonate with me so well…i so love the article.Keep on keeping on Janet.Let your light shine sis!!
Janet Mbugua
October 19, 2017 at 8:29 pm
Much love Violet! Thank you ?✨
Sheeh
October 19, 2017 at 7:20 pm
Thank you Janet I have been inspired by you articles and still waiting for more from you dear…. Yes it’s not easy the journey is slow but sure, worth it…. Wao
Janet Mbugua
October 19, 2017 at 8:29 pm
Bless you Shee! Thanks for being inspired ❤
Abdikadir
October 20, 2017 at 12:53 am
Le me start by saying you just have to trust yourself when everyone else doubts you. And Janet, I conquer with you when you say it is not easy and it is not overnight… It will take days, weeks, months and even years before you reach where you want to see your self. So keep moving….if there is something I learned in this life is that we are not born with a certain amount of resilience, it is a muscle and that means we can all build it.
Keep going Janet. #CHOOSEYOU
Nice piece BTW.
Faith
October 20, 2017 at 8:05 pm
Phew! This right here is all i needed. As a woman, battling with the imposter syndrome can be draining and daunting! There’s always so much going on in our lives we forget to choose ourselves! But today, I CHOOSE ME
Janet Mbugua
October 22, 2017 at 4:03 pm
I hear you Faith! Imposter syndrome is difficult to deal with! More power to you for choosing you! ??
msoh
October 23, 2017 at 10:31 am
just read this when i actually needed it desperately,thank you am gonna choose me from now on because its only me i am entitled to spend the rest of my life with.most of them seems just temporal in my life have been questioning myself if am enough for them but i now know i don’t need to anymore…..thanks so much for this article Janet God bless you
Janet Mbugua
October 23, 2017 at 10:54 am
God bless you too dear and yes! Choose you always!
Marion
November 12, 2017 at 9:16 pm
I am a campus student and I wld really like to meet you in person. Its like am obsessed with your writings,am a writer too, coz I keep on reading n re_reading your blogs. I have a daughter and I wish you knew how much you inspire me everyday especially when I feel like I want to give up but of course I don’t,you are always there to shout at me n tell me to wake up. I love you so much Janet and thank you a lot.
Mercy Kangsy
December 11, 2017 at 8:30 am
‘I have and will continue to mess up but ultimately I’m choosing me, because I will spend the rest of my life with her’ – I pick this and live with it.
Eve Wandaka
April 21, 2020 at 11:32 am
You know in a recent video you uploaded you talked about removal of you from a pedestal… But I’d like to say that you are one of the few people I’ve looked up to who has not disappointed me. I have met you on several occasions and you continue to inspire growth, peace, tranquility and some sort of sense in a world that seems to just be in constant motion. I have to say you have maintained a lot of your grace and composure and it’s good to know that you are still on that journey of choosing.. Another lesson a different day.
Janet Mbugua
April 21, 2020 at 12:43 pm
Thank you so much! This is really kind and gracious of you to say. I hope you are staying well and safe ??