If I could tell all women one thing, it would be this: women like you are rare; never forget how extraordinary you are. 

This March, as we honor National Women’s Month, I’d like to recognize your courage, resilience and the impact you’ve had on everywhere.

I may not be aware of your ‘HERstory’ or the hardships you have faced in recent years. I’m not sure how many times you’ve felt like quitting, or how many fights you’ve battled simply to keep going. But what I know is that in this imperfect world, we all experience difficult moments, days, and even years.

Just in case no one told you — you’re not an almost. Not almost good enough. Not almost ‘the one.’ Not almost worthy. You are a full-body yes. You are an answered prayer, the light that breaks through the darkest nights. You are not a maybe. You are a miracle. A breathtaking blessing. A hidden gem that the broken road has been leading to all along.

Self-love is difficult to achieve. Yet this is the most valuable relationship any of us will ever have. If there is one thing this writer has learned from years of being single, it is to set boundaries. 

You are not choosing to stay single; you are simply choosing not to settle. I learned that one day, there will be people who understand the language of your heart and what you have gone through, and they will be patient and understanding as you heal. Your emotions, anxieties and trauma are not a burden to those who love you, and you are capable of giving and receiving love despite anything. 

To my girls, I hope you could understand how deserving you are of wonderful things, genuine love, deep connections and happiness. I wish you could leave your thoughts for a moment and see everything you deserve. You are worth far more than the way you have been made to feel in the past, and your past experiences do not dictate your future or your capacity to love and to be loved. 

I wish you the strength to let a little love back into your heart and open it up a bit more every day. 

Because you have been looking for magic in the world outside of you all this time, I hope you start to see all the things that are meant for you to come your way and realize that you deserve it all. It’s you who are the magic.

Every woman owes this much to herself. Abante, babae!