I will not die an unlived life
I will not live in fear
of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days,
to allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid,
more accessible,
to loosen my heart
until it becomes a wing,
a torch, a promise.
I choose to risk my significance;
to live so that which came to me as seed
goes to the next as blossom
and that which came to me as blossom,
goes on as fruit.
Poem credit – Norhayati Maziland
This is the poem that gave me the impetus to help the people that I had met online in 2021 during the pandemic. I was feeling lonely, like many people were at that time. Cut off from working, social situations, and even restricted from seeing the grandchildren at Christmas time, made me feel lonely and isolated. Talking to the Africans I met while gaming or checking my Instagram gave me purpose during the pandemic days. My debut memoir shows how important purpose and human connection is in our everyday lives.
As I got to know the characters introduced in the book, I felt a strong connection to each one of them, even though they are all very different. I have the utmost respect for the people I met, especially when I learned of the many obstacles they have to overcome in order to make a success of themselves. They are very motivated, hardworking and resilient in the face of adversity. I admire them and am happy to call them my friends.