IN HER THOUGHTS

Varun Gaba Once upon a time in a small time, there lived a young man named Simon. He was a brave soul, he wore his heart on his sleeves filled with big dreams. However, little did he know his journey would be overshadowed by the pressure and expectations society placed upon him simply because his shoulders were broader and wore pants.  The weight i carry, t he curse of being a man! From an early age, Simon was taught that he must be tough and showing/expressing emotions was a sign of weakness. He was expected to provide for his family, protect them from harm, and be the pillar of strength in the times of trouble. But what about him? This is where his inner battles emanated from, to keep a balance between societal expectations versus preserving his carefree nature. These expectations weighed heavily on his shoulders as he grew older. The more he lost touch with his true nature . As he entered adulthood, the pressure to succeed became overwhelming. Society dictated that he must climb...

  In the depths of a troubled mind, a battle unseen,   Where shadows dance and whispers meet.   A fragile soul, burdened with despair,   Lost in a maze of thoughts unfair.     Mental Health, a delicate thread to hold,   The journey embarked, and only you can make the journey.   It’s scary and adventurous.   In this realm of darkness   Lies haunting thoughts if it is all worth it.     Like a hurricane, emotions crash against each other,   Disappointment opens, like an endless wave.   Eventually, you give up and bite the dust.   We cannot avoid this reality; we must shed some light.     In the depths of despair, there are strengths to be found,   A glimmer of hope that it could reunite.   Reach out to those who are falling,   Because together we remain united through it all.   Let empathy be our guiding star, ...

Do you ever speak to yourself? Have conversations with yourself in the mirror Yes, I mean the ISSA RAE on Insecure vibes I do a lot, of ... Things i never say out loud but constantly struggle with: I always feel like an impostor Uncertainty heightens my anxiety My insecurities makes me overthink I struggle with self validation My scope of potential is limited to people's validation It's not complaining it just has been suppressed for a little too long   So when i get an ear i offload all to feel the relief just for a day Until the cycle begins again Negative words are labelled bad. Don't speak too little of yourself they say. But how can you be good without confronting the bad. Isn't it just pretending? I recommend mirror conversations, talk to yourself. Be comfortable with your own company.

  To be loved and to love wholly, with no restraint nor self-deprivation. A place of saying what you mean, how you feel and how it makes you numb. We find ourselves agreeing to somethings out of pressure or rather in the name of being the bigger person. Letting go of what is constantly hurting you because of the fear of confrontation – a vicious cycle that unleashes a can of worms or Pandora's box.   That is where I draw the line, I will never be a cool girlfriend, relative or colleague either.   Been there, done that… I answered every whim, going above and beyond what I was asked for. I was a typical COOL go-to-person. The one that fed on claims of being mature. At that point what phased normal girls somehow did not strike a nerve. Or so I thought? Rather I had signed myself up to a prolonged excruciating death, leaving myself dead inside to an extent that my cup ran empty and there was not much to give anymore.   We don’t say this enough but being ...

Because i'm a black woman. The color of my skin is my curse, I carry it like a burden, A reason to be slut shamed in the streets, Or a man feeling entitled to this black body, A symbol of a price to be won. We traded hurt words and white supremacy curiosity, To be violated by our own, flesh and blood, The same, the same (sigh) blood cruises in our veins, Yet GBV is still on the rise, Young girls are being raped, sold to be a sex symbol for old arrogant dudes, old enough to be their fathers, It is a curse we carry, the melanin pigment that shines bright, We should be celebrating it, yet we lie low, Hide our daughters, h ere they come, Pain has become our birthright, bitter they call us but what do they expect, Every action has a reaction,  Sorry if we offend you but we are just being defensive to protect ourselves from this cold cold world.

"If Kim Kardashian can't escape this, then what chance do normal women have?" -Trevor Noah. One in three women worldwide has experienced some form of violence or harassment. Yesterday, a man touched my bum on a pavement in the heart of CBD! For the first time in years, I felt powerless. How can someone have that much entitlement over my body? The group walked away with a smack wide-grin-of-victory plastered on their faces.  I had two options, either confronting these men and probably getting assaulted or walking away. I walked away with disgust and resentment because it felt safer. "It's never their fault anyway, right. It is always how we dress, act or walk?" It is deeply disturbing that this pervasive behaviour against women is appropriated, it is somehow a "social norm". You cannot walk freely or interact online without your looks being judged, bullied or slut shamed. And when you react you are either "seeking attention or the angry black w...