My name is Anelisa Mtengwane, a young woman who loves writing and reading, music, art, and fashion. I believe in the intimacy between thoughts, the pen, books, and nature.
The inspiration behind my picture essay is the journey of my life: who I was, who I am, and who I am becoming. It reflects the experiences I encounter and how they continue to shape my identity.
Life has been nothing but a bittersweet journey. It feels like yesterday when I was a little girl, full of life and joy. I never really cared about what anybody said, I simply embraced being myself. I saw the world in bright, breathtaking colours that matched my soul, with laughter I could feel deep in my bones. Then time, watching quietly from a distance, decided it was time for me to grow. To change the lens through which I saw the world and begin to understand it for what it truly is. In that process, you can become confused, amused you almost losing yourself along the way.
Some days, I wonder whether that little girl who was joyful and full of life would be proud of who I have become. Then there are days when I finally put my armour aside, and I see her standing beside me, offering me flowers with a smile that soothes my heart.