Ways of Being

(Now 38 days to 40) The time is nearly here—I’m about to step into a new decade. It’s both a little scary, knowing that we only grow older from here, and incredibly exciting, as I continue to grow into myself, my power, and my purpose. On the morning of 25th February 1985, a little dark-skinned girl was born in a small village in Türkiye. She was welcomed into the world, though perhaps with a tinge of disappointment—she wasn’t a boy. This is one of my earliest stories, and it was very unhelpful. It’s never been easy to be a woman, neither in the country where I was born nor in others I’ve lived or visited. But despite the challenges, I am so proud, so grateful, to be a woman. My upbringing was deeply traditional and religious, yet my education was never questioned—it was simply part of my life path. And for that, I am endlessly thankful. Despite its flaws, my education is what enabled me to be where I am today. I shudder to think of what might have been if that opportunity had been tak...