I was once having a conversation with someone, and I told him how difficult it can be to be a woman, especially when you think about something as simple as the menstrual cycle.
He casually looked at me and said, in that very Nigerian tone,
"Shey you're the one that chose to be a woman. What happened to being a man?"
I laughed so hard.
And I replied, "Well, if there is another life after this one, I'd still choose to be a woman."
He looked at me like I had completely lost my mind.
But honestly?
That's me.
As much as being a woman comes with its fair share of drama, expectations, pain, hormonal chaos and responsibilities, I genuinely love being one.
I just don't know how to properly explain it.
There is this little joy that comes with being a woman that I believe only another woman can truly understand.
It's in the little things.
There is something beautiful about growing from being a baby girl, to a little girl, to a teenager, then eventually becoming a woman. Each stage comes with its own experiences, lessons and challenges, but somehow, there is still something special about watching yourself grow into who you are.
And then there is the strength that comes with womanhood.
Physically, you may not always be the strongest person in the room, but somehow, women have this incredible ability to influence, nurture, organize, build and hold things together.
There is something fulfilling about knowing that you can create a home, nurture people, comfort someone who is hurting and become a source of strength to the people around you.
And if life allows it, there is also the incredible possibility of becoming a mother someday.
The thought that a woman can carry an entire human being inside her and eventually bring that person into the world still amazes me.
Yes, womanhood can be exhausting.
There are days when you question your body, your emotions, your responsibilities and sometimes even why things have to be this complicated.
But even with all of that, I wouldn't exchange it.
I love being a woman.
I love the little things that come with it. I love the journey from girlhood to womanhood. I love the strength, the softness, the complexity and even the drama that comes with it.
Maybe I can't explain exactly what makes it so special.
Maybe that's the point.
Some experiences don't need a perfect explanation.
You simply have to live them to understand them.
And I'm grateful that I get to understand this one.
