By Cheryl Mattox Berry
I can’t.
Whenever those words pop into your head, think about 16-year-old Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl who was shot in the head a year ago by the Taliban for advocating the education of girls.
After Malala’s recovery, she resumed her campaign to raise awareness about the plight of girls in her country. She lives outside London now but speaks to audiences worldwide about the assassination attempt, and educating women and girls.
The youngest nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, Malala didn’t win the prestigious award. However, she has become an international symbol of peace, bravery and strength of the human spirit.
Malala is an inspiration to every girl who thinks that her voice doesn’t matter. It does. It’s okay to go against the grain and speak up for things that you think are unfair.
Listen to the little voice. What is it telling you to do? Often, concern about what others might think holds you back. Take a risk. Some people might criticize you, but others will be supportive.
It’s okay to be scared. There were times when Malala was afraid, but fear didn’t keep her from opposing the rules of the murderous Taliban. Don’t let it stop you either.
When I was growing up, the words “I can’t” got a strong rebuke in my house. My mother’s response was, “Why not, you got a brain and you’re able-bodied?” That forced me to think through why I was unsure of myself. Knowing that someone else thought I was capable – my mother in her roundabout way – boosted my confidence.
If you don’t have anyone to fill that role in your life, let Malala be your inspiration. Read her memoir, I am Malala, see the film about her and eight other extraordinary girls, entitled Girl Rising, and face your challenges head-on.
Malala…smart…beautiful…unique…fierce…She’s all that!