Hand me the world on a silver platter, and what good would it be?

I've stepped more into my womanhood, I'm a mother now, I'm having a beautiful relationship as a wife and as a friend.

My mom always said, "Don't date a guy who thinks he's prettier than you."

I just wanted to be who I was, which was like so many other girls I knew. We grew up in the city, had a hard edge and obstacles to overcome, but we were still young and beautiful. I didn't want to be all dressed up, all made up - I wanted to be myself, which hadn't been done before.

Moments are so fleeting; I want to hold on to the good ones. When I am truly present, I feel alive, and I want everyone around me to share that feeling so we can make the most of that moment together.

Maturity and experience are part of my liberation.

The climate of today is not really focused as much as it was then on being able to speak about different cultural issues or different situations that were going on politically.