Why I Wrote a Biography at 25 : A Story of Courage, Healing, and Self-Belief.
At 25, I wrote and published my first autobiography not because I had it all figured out, but because I had hit rock bottom and chose to rise above it all. Crossroads is the story of a young woman who used writing as a form of healing, defied the belief that age defines impact and dared to believe in herself when no one else did. This is a reflection on growth, self-belief, and the power of choosing yourself even when the odds says you shouldn’t.
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How could you write an Autobiography at just 25 years old? “Your life is just starting out and whatever you’ve experienced thus far is only the beginning of your life’s journey”.
I’ve heard these phrases countless times than I can remember ever since I wrote Crossroads.
What most do not understand is the fact that, I questioned myself as well when I started writing.
Who would read this book?
Wouldn’t they judge me for being too young?
For not having experienced as much as they have?
For not having lived long enough to have something meaningful to say?
After all, biographies are typically written by those in their late 40s and beyond. So how could I, a 26-year-old, think and dare of writing one? You see, I began the writing process when I was 24years of age, so imagine how many questions I asked myself back then.
Still, I pushed through with my belief because I realized that the mission of me writing this book is bigger than any doubt or judgments that could ever exist. Making bold decisions is part of who I am and it is what has gotten me this far so yes, I pushed on and wrote it anyway.
Writing to me back then was not just for the sake of publishing a book. At the time I typed the first words of the manuscripts, I used writing as a healing tool from when I had hit rock bottom in my life. In order to not lose my conviction, writing became my salvation. Some would say it was therapy. The pain I experienced during that period of my life, was excruciatingly painful. Though I could not explicitly state them all in the book due to legal reasons.
As I wrote the book, I thought to myself:
Imagine the countless people out there who are going through what you’re going through, or even worse, with no one to talk to or hold on to. Imagine if your words could reach them; to tell them that...,
it’s okay to struggle.
it’s okay to hold on and decide to let go
it’s okay to fight on.
it’s okay to have no one believe in you.
it’s okay for and when things go south
it’s okay to be vulnerable
and it’s completely okay to reach or cry out for help.
As long as we do not give up, there is always a finish line to every circumstance. Just like the seasons come and go, everything else has its moment and then they eventually come to an end. A good example would be the life we live; It is my believe that we all are here for a purpose and that someday we shall make path for those to come after us, just like the ones who did before us.
So I wrote the book to further prove and open more people to the idea of possibilities, especially to those from where I come from - a minority country. I am pretty sure my ancestors or those before me, who probably were living in the colonial times, would be shocked to have seen that someone from their lineage made it this far. She dared to create impact in her own way and the best way she knows how to.
She went after everything she wanted and never stopped till she got it. You see, she did not just easily get to the Roses. She had to find her way through the thorns to get to the destination. And when she finally reached the roses, she thought to herself…
It is not so special up here... more people can actually reach the roses if they are consistently, persistent long enough.
She’s here to remind people that if we have the courage to accept, embrace and let go, just like the phoenix rising out of the flames;
We will rise again! stronger than ever.
That is why she wrote Crossroads.
If you are at an edge, contemplating whether to take that decision and uncertain or afraid of the outcome I understand you, and I’ve been you. You see, every action and inaction of ours has a consequence to it, so wouldn’t it be great to make that decision anyway? Because that’s what I did, and it worked out great. Back then, I looked at myself in the mirror and wanted better. After this realization, I then bet on myself and never looked back.
As such, you can become and do anything you want to as long as you believe in yourself strong enough. Do it even, when no one else believes in it because no one can believe in your vision better than yourself.
That’s the whole essence of Crossroads to instill in others the spirit of self-belief, courage, consistency, and authenticity.
Thanks to this process, I got inspired to start this movement and reach even more people through the stories of others.