Meet Women In My Life - Part 1 – Mom

Sultana Koriya

To celebrate International Women’s Day, on the 8th of March in 2019, I interviewed the women in my life to get their perspective on things. I included parents, siblings, cousins, aunties and even friends.

It’s no secret that we live in a male-dominated global culture and women are often at the shorter end of the stick, especially when they are more than capable to do what men can do in society, and often more! People are people, regardless of gender.

The coin does flip both ways so I look forward to doing one for the guys too, to explore how to help us men show up in an even more positive way for women in our lives.

For now, what better a place to start than with my mother. I’m her first born and she’s had quite the journey in life, from being born into a racially oppressive culture, never mind the gender bias. As people often say when they meet me on my touring and travels…

“Your mom must be an incredible woman to have raised someone like you!”

Interviews coming all month starting from today.

I asked all the ladies the same questions in 2019 and this is what they had to say…

So Mom, what makes you a woman?

The fact that I can withstand storms in my life and tackle any situation by facing the giants in my life head-on. I am a God-fearing woman.

Who is one of the women you respect the most and why?

My mom, because she raised us with a very strong foundation, and as a single mom today, I am where I am because of my mother. I have achieved a very big goal in my life… today I can proudly say that at 21, I bought a house and was a landlord at 21.

That was a big achievement considering our background of growing up on donations and social welfare as six children to a single mom.

What do you struggle with the most in life?

I struggle with people in companies who treat their workers badly and I think that is just not acceptable.

What do you enjoy the most in life?

I’ve always enjoyed working with people. To me, each day that I wake up is a special day. No matter where I am, whether walking or sitting at my desk at work, I like to make a difference in someone’s life you know, people are going through so many challenges.

A look, a touch, a smile, a word. Sometimes you can just say something to somebody that will impact them in a way that they’ll always remember who you are. That to me is achieving a result, If someone can come back to me and say “You know Mrs Koriya, remember that day when I came, you spoke to me, I was going through some challenges…”

I feel it costs you nothing just to be nice to somebody. Even sometimes walking out of a supermarket, you have the security guard by the gate. Bless him, even if it’s with a dollar. Buy him a coke; do something. Not that you have millions of dollars but I feel just have a giving heart and love unconditionally. To me each day, I can go home and put my head on my pillow and be grateful to have touched a life.

*Taking Mom along to my radio interview at ZiFM Radio Zimbabwe*

What one thing would you like to tell all the women out there?

Never give up in life no matter how many times you fall. Stand up and move on because God has a plan for you in everything that you do. What’s happening in your life is just a passing phase. You realise that in your day-to-day life, you face these challenges and they are there to lift you up to become stronger and to become who you really can be. In many cases it’s something that we don’t understand. You pray and expect a microwave oven reply. It’s not like that. The response is not so quick. Even though you could pray for one thing, God could answer it in another way which benefits you. I find that has kept me strong and kept me going.

What one thing would you like to tell all the men out there?

I’d urge them to be a father to their children and a loving husband to their wives. To cherish every moment with them. These moments won’t come back. A lot of men can make a child but may not actually be a father to the child. That’s where the difference is. You find that a lot of children grow up in homes where these qualities are not brought up as a parent or as a father, where it’s so difficult to say ‘I love you’ to your children or even to your wife.

These are a lot of the issues that keep coming up and as you grow up in such an environment, your own children then become that way. When they grow up they may also not know how to express love, even to friends or just to people around them. People grow up with this anger in them, yet if this was corrected from the word go, it could have a big impact on your children’s lives. That constant communication, talking to them, doing stuff together is very important as well. These children will grow up with very strong qualities in their lives and when they meet somebody else, all these qualities are already there for them.

What is your dream Momsy?

I like cooking and I make these pickles. I have a dream that one day I’ll have my own jars selling on all the shelves in these large supermarkets and chain stores. They will have my own beautiful label on them and it will be a billion dollar business! No matter how old I’ll be. In my sixties or whatever it will be, but my dream is one day I’ll be selling my already popular pickles and chilies beyond the inner community.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Struggles are part of success. Always remember that your present situation is not your final destination. The best is yet to come.
Stay focused.
Stay humble.
Stay blessed.

Thanks Mom xo

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Meet Women In My Life - Part 1 – Mom

Sultana Koriya

Meet Women In My Life – Part 2 – Taz