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Because I am a girl, I should be a girl. Because I am a girl, I should do what girls do. Because I am a girl, I should be soft & calm. Because I am a girl, I should speak soft & gentle. Because I am a girl, I shouldn’t compete with boys. Because I am a girl, I shouldn’t engage in activities termed as dangerous. Because I am a girl, I should be feminine. Because I am a girl, I shouldn’t have or do anything considered to be masculine. Because I am a girl, I shouldn’t talk too much. Because I am a girl, I shouldn’t think too much. Because I am a girl, I shouldn’t aim too high. Because I am a girl, I shouldn’t be like a man. Because I am a girl, I should know my place. Because I am a girl, I shouldn’t ride a bike or bicycle. Because I am a girl, I should only do jobs meant for females. Because I am a girl, I shouldn’t drive like a man. Because I am a girl, I should know how to cook & clean. Because I am a girl, I should love household chores. Because I am a girl, I shouldn’t be

To be a man means a lot To be a man has different meanings To be a man is used in different situations To be a man involves a lot of responsibilities To be a man requires a lot from a man To be a man makes a man anxious To be man is a form of bondage for a man To be a man gives freedom to a man To be a man is an excuse for a man To be a man is an insult to a man To be a man puts pressure on a man To be a man is a curse for a man To be a man a lack of emotions is needed To be a man a display of emotions is unwanted To be a man having emotions are unnecessary To be a man you must be a man You always have to be a man But who defines what being a man is? What makes a man not man enough? Who created the rule book on how to be a man? Why do you have to be a man? Most importantly, what is being a man? Photo credit: Ilias Chebbo on unsplash.com

I remember when I was a teenager and someone said to me, "You are beautiful", guess what I did. I looked him in the eye, looked away and walked away. Well, technically, I couldn't walk away because he then said, "Stop there", and for some weird reason, I stopped and looked at him. He said, "When someone tells you, You are beautiful, courtesy demands you say, Thank you". I was shocked, so I said to him, "Thank you", and he replied, "You are welcome" and walked away. You may be wondering why I am sharing this, it is because I learnt a few lessons I would like to share with you. This remarkable event taught me the following: 1. It taught me how to react to compliments. Statements like: You are beautiful, You are cute, You have a nice build, are compliments and all it requires is a thank you, a smile, nod, or any reaction to acknowledge the speaker; and to be comfortable receiving compliments.  2. Not everyone is comfortable receiving c