I am a young girl and I refused to run after men for money, rather I choose to work hard for all I want. How does that make me a boring person? What is so wrong in being different?
I am a young woman and I choose to use my brain, more than my beauty. How does that make me a dumb person? What is so wrong in being different?
I am a young, single mother because I choose not to cut short the beginning of a new generation through abortion, rather I choose to brave it all by keeping and raising my baby. How does that make me wayward, dishonest, and worthless? What is so wrong in being different?
I am a career woman in a male-dominated field and I choose not to be intimidated, rather I choose to stand firm and unshaken by intimidation and oppression. How does that make me arrogant and stubborn? What is so wrong in being different?
I am a woman ripe enough for marriage and I choose not to bow to society’s pressure and jump at any available man, rather I choose to wait for the imperfect but right man for me. How does that make me a foolish person? What is so wrong in being different?
I am a wife and I choose not to sit down all day at home waiting for ‘oga’ to come home and give me money for ‘maggi’, rather I choose to work side by side with ‘oga’ to bring in money to our family’s pocket. How does that make me less submissive? What is so wrong in being different?
I am a mother and I choose to not sit down and watch my children go hungry because our ‘daddy’ is selfish and not responsible enough to cater for our children, rather I choose to all sort of odd jobs to feed and clothe my kids. How does that make me wayward? Why am I being tagged as a ‘prostitute’ all because I go out all day and bring in money in the night? What is so wrong in being different?
I am a married woman but I choose to not sit and die as a result of the physical, emotional, verbal blows, I take everyday from ‘oga’, rather I choose to leave to save my life and sanity. How does that make me foolish, wayward, and insane? Why I’m I being mocked? What is so wrong in being different?
Alas! I have realized that people judge you, not because you are different, but because they themselves are not bold enough to break out of their comfort zone and be different for a change!
Alas! I have realized that you can never please everybody. You can never be happy while trying to please everybody! Only the Creator can be pleased! Be you, for you!
-Written by Lydia Oladejo.