A few years ago I started on a journey of self discovery;this ritual comes highly recommended for anyone who wants to live a worthwhile life. I realised I was lost in the crowd.I started tracing my life back to when I was young and innocent, when I cared less about the opinions of people, when I was true to myself and bold enough to stand for what I believed in. Indeed, this is how kids are. They are free and bold.

I came to the realisation that along the way I got disappointed. I realised life was not exactly as I had perceived it. It occured to me that the  hurdles of life and socialisation had slowly shrunk me into obscurity. I had missed the plot and told myself I had to be like everyone else. Where did this leave me? In confusion, despair, lack of passion, bitterness, resentment; the list is endless. And then…light!

I was responsible for all this. I had to snap out of it. Instead of throwing pity parties and playing victim I set out to find myself; to find the little Onalenna and what made her tick. Believe me, I loved that little girl. Whereas the journey was long and uncertain in the previous years, 2016 was more action oriented; hard decisions were made.

So the following are some of the questions I constantly ask myself:

• Who am I?
• What do I want?
• What do I prefer?
• Can I live with this decision?
• How will it affect those I care about?
• Does it make me happy?

These questions have replaced:

• what will people say

I must say being true to myself and purpose has been the best gift I ever gave myself in 2016. There is only one me. I love being me. God loves me. Being me brings out the best in me. I AM ONALENNA.