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Thank you to all of you for all of the wonderful birthday wishes!

Today as I embark on a journey back to my Beloved continent (this time Rwanda) on the precise day of my birth (I was born this same Monday a few decades ago), my heart is full with gratitude for all the messages you are sending me. They remind me that the journey is worth it. I am very grateful to my grandmother who raised me with a tremendous feeling of confidence and boundless opportunity.  Her words and example inspire me when I want to give up.  When I am upset at so many in the world for thinking that Africa is permanently the land of tribes and rural villagers (how charming!), I remember her confidence in me and I vow not to give up. She used to tell me that I was special, that I came to this world with “something” special,but I had to discover that “something” for myself she said. And I believed her! So much that I started to explore life, to find my “something”. she used to tell me she could see the Universe and the stars in my eyes. It is true that I reside in my dreams :)

Often I get asked why I did not take the “easy route.”  Entrepreneurship is very hard work with tremendous uncertainty.  It took me a while to understand that the “easy route” is the conventional route.  At some point, I had to accept the fact that my life will never be easy, because I refuse to settle for conventional. You can’t reach the stars if you settle for Earth, after all. Behind all the glitters and the glam, there has been (and continue to be) a lot of sacrifices, hurts, losses, doubts, fears that I cannot begin to express here. Just trust that they are here. Some days are good, some days are challenging, but I have learned that my job is to show up, everyday, relentlessly. I still complain more than I would like, but I am getting better at being more courageous. I do what I do because of my love for Humanity. In my culture we say, “Nit Nitey Garabam”, meaning “Man is the cure for Man”as in “Humanity is the cure for Humanity”. Thank you to each and all of you for being my cure and balm along the journey I have chosen.

Much love,

 

Magatte