As we walk through life, each of us takes on multiple roles. We are the heroes and heroines of our narratives, the villains to some, the supporting characters in others, and often, the silent observers of the spectacle that is life. Over the years, one truth has dawned on me, growing steadily more resonant with each passing day – we must learn to clap for ourselves.
In my earlier years, I strived for the applause of others, basing my worth on how loudly the world clapped. My achievements, my sense of identity, my value, they all depended on how the world perceived me. Eventually, a sobering realization hit me: the world’s applause, as intoxicating as it might be, is fickle. It waxes and wanes with trends and bias. My performance didn’t always align with the world’s whims, and often, I found myself standing in a silent auditorium.
In the silence, an echo reverberated, an echo of self-validation. This realization found its way into my sanctuary, my writing. Words have always been a refuge for me, a stage where ideas come to life and emotions find a voice. Yet, I found myself at a point where my blogging trail had gone cold, my spark, lost in the silence.
And then, I found clarity. You see, the essence of writing, I realized, was not in the resonance it created, but in the solace it provided. I didn’t need to write for applause; I needed to write because it was good for my soul. It was an outlet, a sanctuary where I could express my thoughts and emotions freely. Whether or not my words echoed in the world outside ceased to matter.
Armed with this revelation, I began to write again. But this time, for myself. I wrote about my experiences, my struggles, my victories. Each word, each sentence, each paragraph was a testament to my journey. With every journal entry, I clapped for myself, recognizing my courage to brave the pages, to express, to exist in my truth. Writing became my silent ovation, a celebration of my thoughts and experiences, a soothing balm for my soul.
In the wake of this self-validation, I realized the fallacy of my previous approach. Was my value solely determined by others’ perceptions? The answer was a resounding “no”. That moment was a turning point, a juncture in my journey where I understood that I needed to clap for myself.
Clapping for oneself is not about vanity. It’s about acknowledging our triumphs and efforts, even when they go unnoticed by the world. It’s about embracing our unique rhythm and melody, about taking pride in our performance, irrespective of whether the auditorium is filled or silent.
The journey towards clapping for myself was not an easy one. It required me to build a sense of self-worth independent of external validation, a daunting task in a world steeped in likes and shares. But I found that self-validation fostered a sense of self-compassion and resilience. I learned that my mistakes and failures were stepping stones in my journey, not blemishes on my performance.
I began to see the beauty in my journey and my efforts – the late-night efforts, the early morning rises, the persistence amid adversity. I realized that they all deserved recognition, an ovation from the one person who witnessed it all – me. This self-recognition has been empowering, propelling me to take on new challenges and experiences with the assurance that my performance matters, regardless of the applause.
One profound lesson I learned while clapping for myself is that I am enough. My worth is not tied to my productivity or achievements, nor the amount of external applause I receive. I am worthy simply because I exist because I am me. This self-love and appreciation have allowed me to revel in my own company, to savor the joy of being alive.
Dear reader, if there’s one thing I’d like you to take away from my ramblings, it’s this: learn to clap for yourself. Embrace the beauty of your journey. Acknowledge your effort, celebrate your progress. You are enough, you are worthy, and you deserve your applause.
As I embraced the art of clapping for myself, of acknowledging my journey in its entirety, I found the courage to return to my long-lost refuge – writing. So here I am, showing up on this blog after an almost 3-year hiatus. As I pen these words, I marvel at how time has slipped away, yet left a trail of transformation behind. Next year will make it 10 years since I established this blog. It has grown, transformed, and evolved with me.
Once, there was an emphasis on events and building a community outside the confines of this blog. And it was all beautiful, a spectacle of shared experiences and stories, an embodiment of the world clapping together. But as I learned to clap for myself, my perspective evolved, and so did my vision for this platform, FemmePowered.
In this new future, this iteration of FemmePowered, I wish to return to the core essence – writing. I want to focus on sharing my stories, my journey. But not just mine, I yearn to share your journeys too, dear readers, those of you who dare to be vulnerable and tell your truth and stories. This space will evolve again in the coming weeks, reflecting the growth and transformations of life.
I hope you’ll join me for the next chapter of this journey – a journey of self-discovery, embracing our unique stories, and learning to applaud our own triumphs. I aim to not just share my stories, but also highlight others’, bearing witness to the diverse experiences in our evolving narratives.
I haven’t yet hammered down a writing schedule, but I see a pattern emerging. It seems my creative muse loves the late hours of Friday evening, when I’m leisurely scrolling through TikTok or re-watching episodes of Law & Order, with a glass of wine in hand. It’s as if the culmination of the work week ushers in a serene space for unwinding, introspecting, and contemplating. In tune with my muse’s current schedule, I’ve decided to embrace these Friday evening to Saturday writing sessions.
Await fresh insights every Saturday, as we raise a toast to our collective experiences, victories, and evolution. I look forward to seeing you on the blog next Saturday, and all the Saturdays that follow. See you then.
Talk to you soon in my next post.
Until next time,
Carlana
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