I can't remember how old I was when my mother first handed me a book called "Kindred," but I loved that book til the edges wore thin. Octavia Butler, the author, created a world that grew in me a desire to dig deeper into understanding and relating to who I was as a young, Black girl. It was only natural to seek out more of her works that fostered that exploration.
The next book I read was "Wild Seed." In this book, Anyanwu was who I wanted to be when I grew up. She feared no one as she was so powerful with abilities to shape-shift, give birth to tribes, absorb bullets, fiercely protect and heal herself, and others, of any disease. Yet she was nurturing and benevolent. I saw a graceful, and beautiful woman able to balance with ease, life and death; love and hate; pleasure and pain. I wanted to see myself in this image of a woman.
As a wife, mother and teacher, I constantly search myself for ways to grow; ways that will serve those around me best. My family and students give me opportunities daily to find those places where I should focus in myself. I practice prayer, meditation, eating healthy, and learning about the different approaches to incorporate these things and more into my life so I can give more of myself.
I know there's no shape-shifting in my future but Anyanwu is an example of what I want to offer as a woman to this world. Its a minute-to-minute goal to be a better me. My husband, my children (born of me and those not) and my community inspire me every second of the day to take that journey. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast.
Proverbs 3:18
