paulapwulWhen you read the heading, did a picture pop into your head? However vague that picture was, that was your future self, the you that you really want to become, the woman you’re becoming.
A few weeks ago, on my way back from the gym, I stopped at a store to buy some home essentials. At the store, there was a little girl who was with her dad directly behind me. There was really no payment line so they happened to finish their transaction before me and the girl’s dad told her to take the things home. My guess was, they lived within the area.
We all know that with African parents, “on my head” is a perfectly normal reply to a child asking “where do I put this”. But that day, the girl was asking “how do I take these things home?” Her dad said “on your head” and proceeded to let her know that her mates in the village were carrying water from streams that were miles way from home. She picked up her load and began what i guessed was a long walk home.
When I finished paying for my items, I drove slowly home, thinking about the little girl. I had an idea how she was feeling. By some stroke of chance, maybe fate, I saw the little girl was going my way. I stopped and asked her if I could drop her and she said yes and got in. It made me really happy to be able to ease the burden for her.
I could tell that she felt seen and honestly, my day could have ended there
She was 9 years old, she said when i asked and when I said that meant she would soon be a big Jss1 girl, her smile was wide and radiant. I could tell that she felt seen and honestly, my day could have ended there. I knew what it meant for an adult to see you, and validate your dreams at that age and it meant the world to be that adult for this little girl.
Her house was out of my way but i didn’t mind. And as i drove home, I found myself being grateful for the chance to make that girl smile and I hoped that when she found herself in the same position in the future, she would pass it on.
Not every type of impact involves money. I found helping a 9 year old girl not have to walk a long distance with a heavy load to be as fulfilling as working with a startup founder to position herself and confidently build influence with her brand. That is the woman I want to be. The woman that holds space for others. The woman that meets needs with what she has. The woman I needed as a little girl.
That is the woman I want to be. The woman that holds space for others.
That nine year old girl did something for me too. She showed me the woman I wanted to be and made my values even clearer. She showed me what ten minutes of going out of your way could do for the next person and she showed me that impact could be made in a million little ways.
Moving forward, I am embracing the woman I’m becoming with grace and I hope you do too. I hope that you pay attention and trust your gut. It is attuned to the million little ways you can make a difference in your world.
