The Best Version of Me

My name is Sonia Brown from Nigeria. I'm in my twenties and I love writing. My passion for writing was probably triggered by loneliness. Yea! I grew up in a lonely environment as I had spent my childhood living with my grandparents in the village.

We lived in an ostracized building and I hated staying there. My mum gave birth to me while she was unmarried so when she got married to another man she couldn't take me along with her. They lived in the city while I felt abandoned at my grandparents house. Initially, I tried relating with them but my grandma was so strict. She would punish me for every little mistake I made. I missed my mom alot and each time I wrote a letter to her so she could come pick me up, she never showed up.

Living with my grandparents came along with its challenges. Aside the loneliness which resulted to depression, I had to deal with fear. Yes! As a child, I often heard strange voices that made me feel our house was haunted. Many times, I tried sharing my fears with my grandma but she didn't believe me and told me that those ghosts only existed in my imagination. When my mom visited, I shared my fears with her but she also didn't believe me. They had concluded that I was only cooking up stories so I could relocate to the city. I remember contemplating on suicide but I'm glad I didn't give in to those thoughts.

As time went by, I found a friend who listened and believed all that I said. She loved me so much and we became inseparable. That friend was my diary. I had named her Cheryl. Day and night, I wrote down all my thoughts and listened as she spoke to me through a gentle and consoling voice. She was more of an imaginary friend. I remember each time I looked into the mirror, I saw her smiling at me. Being friends with her helped me develop my writing skills and I wasn't feeling lonely anymore.

Actually, Cheryl was replaced when I fell in love with Sam. I was sixteen then. I was so addicted to him and he often kept me busy with his speeches. He was such an excellent orator. Sam taught me how to make friends and share my ideas. All of a sudden, the once shy girl became an extrovert. Well, at that time my environment had changed as I had moved to college and there were many lovely people around.

I studied Behavioral Psychology in college and currently work as a counselor. My passion is to reach out to kids and young adults going through emotional distress. Are you aware that a good number of people who look happy and successful actually feel a great emptiness inside? To fill up the void, they resort to social vices such as drunkenness and drug abuse but still don't find happiness. This has been the cause of increased suicide rate amongst young people.

As a Psychologist, I give my clients tangible reasons why they should live healthily and happily. I love discussing relationships and I love weddings. Yea! I haven't turned down a wedding invitation in the past.

What are my beliefs?

I believe in love and freedom. We only have one life to live so each day should be enjoyed to the fullest. Be happy, show love, be free, and be strong. Whenever I encounter life's challenges, I don't let them weigh me down because I know they aren't meant to last forever.

How did I hear about Steemit?

Well, a friend told me about it sometime last year so I decided to sign up so I can make a positive impact on my audience. I look forward to following great minds and learning from them too. Finally, I hope to make new friends and enjoy the time spent over here.