Another year older, yet this one feels different - not because of the candles, but because of crystal-clear vision about my path, my people, and my purpose. Maybe you feel the same.
This time last year I was questioning everything, as anyone on this incredible journey called life does. Two doubts kept circling: Will my health let me build the life I have always pictured? Should I even bother building when tomorrow is never promised? Those are the questions that surface when you are navigating physical pain and emotional storms.
In a traditional existence model aging is a privilege granted to the fortunate, and the older you become the more priceless you are to the entire community. Every wrinkle on your face and every scar on your body or soul is living proof that humans are built to overcome. Your worth rises from sharing those battles, lifting others who are fighting the same struggles, and preparing the ones who have yet to face them. Have you looked at your scars and seen the remarkable hero you have become? In that traditional view, deeper wrinkles and deeper scars only magnify your value, and embracing them is a badge of honor. The next time you notice those marks, look closer, see your strength, and be proud.
Birthdays land differently when you stop counting years and start counting clarity. Today I turn thirty-three, and for the first time, I truly understand who I am, what shaped me, and why I move the way I do. That clarity is power. It lets me design the life I want instead of living in the shadows of my past. Have you paused to ask why you are who you are? Are you living on your own terms, or do old ghosts still whisper? Clarity brings hope. It is the foundation of becoming the person you choose to be, and that freedom fills me with joy no matter what life throws.
For years I have been building, dreaming, trying, failing, and learning in silence. Recently I realized it is time to stop hiding the process and start sharing the vision. If you are also tucked inside a comfort zone, afraid of judgment, consider this your invitation to dare. At school, they called me “Alice in Wonderland” because I am a dreamer, and I chose to keep dreaming while acting. Clarity gave me the courage to share my knowledge and my dreams, so I created AnnickThiombiano.com. That site is not just a page. It is a stage where we will share, teach, question, and build together.
When I was little, I watched my grandfather, the village king, solve problems for people who lined up for hours just to see him. Faces shifted from sorrow to joy after a single conversation. I remember thinking, “That is exactly what I want to do when I grow up.” Life since then has been joyful, challenging, and unforgettable. The memory reminds me to focus on what matters, and this website matters. It is for the doers, the dreamers, the builders who aim higher than themselves. I will write about community wealth, valuing people as our greatest resource, drawn from village life with my grandparents, as well as import-export insights and real stories from Africa.
Each year offers a choice. Stay in the same story or write a new chapter. This is mine. I am stepping into my roles as the community girl, the import-export girl, a woman reclaiming her health, and a future mother building a family.
If you are ready to question this modern life, to grow, glow, and go global, you are in the right place. Subscribe to my newsletter at AnnickThiombiano.com, and let us make this new chapter unforgettable, together, as one community. Your turn. Dare, and be bold.
