Brace your identity

On self-love. There are dimensions to loving oneself. How do you identify yourself? Are you proud of who you are? Do you appreciate the gift of knowing other peoples identity while honouring yours?

I am an English speaker but I have a tribal language which I cannot speak it as fluently as I would English. By default and reality when asked, English is my first and native language even if by ancestral traits it is not. That is the circumstance I live in.

I grew up prioritizing English for my convenience. My parents tried teaching me other languages of value at least for my immediate community but I was completely uninterested. I never owned my true identity. One time, my Mum, her friend and I were on a trip and they were comfortably speaking our language. Guess what my problem was – shame. I felt they were embarrassing me but that in itself is shameful.

Now, I laugh at the memory realizing I was the one embarrassing myself by not knowing my true native language. If there is one thing I am changing, it is to own my identity; brace my life and love it for everything that it is. I still love the English language and very proud of it but I always encourage younger ones to learn their tribal language and any other language possible.

I admire people who who speak their own language and other languages and I wish that for myself. I have not given up, at least now I can understand my tribal language when spoken and I can speak in broken sentences. It is the effort that counts.

So darling, love yourself and extend it to all that you encompass including your identity.

With proud smiles,
Her Splendid Thoughts