I Matter

I don’t know when I stopped mattering

I’ve tried to figure out when but it’s lost on me
I didn’t even know I didn’t matter anymore
Until I asked a question that opened my eyes

Dying isn’t only when you stop breathing
It shows up in the small, seemingly insignificant things
Like waiting for the other shoe to drop when something good happens
Like hearing good news and thinking the worst
Fighting to be happy
Fighting to be at rest

So I ask myself now, who are you, Vanessa?
What do you want for yourself?
Go and make it happen
Choose to make it happen every day
You deserve good, good, good
You deserve best, best, best

Published by Vanessa Emeadi

Vanessa Emeadi is a Media and Communications Specialist and storyteller passionate about youth advocacy, community development, and the future of work in Africa. With a background in corporate communications, public engagement, and social impact work, she uses storytelling and dialogue to help individuals and institutions communicate better, think more critically about development, and build systems that work for people. View more posts