Christine is the first of three children. She grew up in an unpleasant environment. Her days were full of misery and loneliness, going as far back as when she was four years old. Her parents would fight in her presence; her father was an ill-mannered drunkard. Seeing her mom cry all the time broke her heart. There is no day she saw her parents happy. It was always arguments and fights. She hated her father. This forced her to skip school sometimes.

At the age of five, her parents got divorced and her mom was thrown out of the house. Christine then lived with a stepmother—the Cinderella kind. Her father didn’t seem concerned about what was happening. Life was hell.

She couldn’t concentrate in class anymore; how could she even pay attention in class on an empty stomach? It got worse. She tried to commit suicide at the age of 20.

As time went by, she found a man who loved her and made her forget her past. No one in her life has ever appreciated her like this. He saw an angel in her.

He taught her how to believe in herself. They are getting married next year in March. Her past is now history.

Society and the people around you can make you feel worthless. However, have some faith in yourself. No matter how hard the situation is, believe that one day, it will be okay.

There is always something to be grateful for. The fact that God has blessed you with life to this point is worth celebrating.

Self-worth is key to happiness. According to Elite Daily, an online news platform, "Self-respect is the most crucial aspect of one’s life. If you do not understand how to appreciate yourself and your worth, how do you expect others to?” All in all, it starts with you. You can’t give what you lack.

Learn to love and support yourself, that way, you will be in the position to do the same for others. Forget about the times life never made sense, don’t cling to the past. The future is waiting—how best can you make the world a better place?

Let yourself learn new things that will help you grow and add value to the world. Give someone hope, share your time with the sick in hospital. Exercise, eat healthy, read a book, go for a walk or catch a movie with friends, have some alone time to meditate in order to grow in mind and spirit.

Don’t let bad days and disappointments put you down. Do good by people but don’t force yourself to please them. What matters is spending time with people who make you feel good about yourself. Don’t be where you are not valued.

Appreciate the great milestones in your life. Get enough sleep. Sleep will help you grow and glow. 

editor@newtimesrwanda.com