Why Am I Even Alive? | Muniba Mazari Speech | Inspiring Women of Goalcast

Summary

Muniba Mazari, a Baloch woman from a conservative family, faced a tragic car accident that left her with a spinal cord injury, ending her marriage and dreams of motherhood. Despite the despair, she found solace in painting, which became her voice. She overcame her fears, including divorce and infertility, by adopting a child and advocating for women's and children's rights. Mazari's resilience led her to become a TV anchor, a UN Women Pakistan Goodwill Ambassador, and recognition by BBC and Forbes, proving that self-acceptance and gratitude can transform life's lemons into lemonade.

Takeaways

• 👰‍♀️ Early Marriage: The speaker was married at 18 to a man chosen by her conservative family, leading to an unhappy marriage.
• 🚗 Life-Changing Accident: A car accident resulted in severe injuries, including a spinal cord injury that changed her life forever.
• 🎨 Art as Therapy: Despite physical limitations, she turned to painting as a form of emotional expression and healing.
• 🚫 Loss of Abilities: The accident led to the loss of several physical abilities, including the inability to paint, walk, and bear children.
• 💔 Emotional Resilience: She faced emotional devastation but chose to fight back by overcoming her fears one by one.
• 🏡 Divorce and Liberation: Overcoming the fear of divorce, she liberated herself and found emotional strength in the process.
• 👶 Adoption as an Alternative: Unable to have her own biological child, she adopted a child, embracing motherhood in a different way.
• 🌟 Public Life and Advocacy: She became more visible in public life, using her story to advocate for women's and children's rights.
• 🏆 Recognition and Achievements: Her story and work led to recognition, including being featured in BBC 100 Women and Forbes 30 Under 30.
• 🙏 Embracing Life: She encourages embracing life's challenges, celebrating every moment, and finding happiness in gratitude.

Q & A

How old was Muniba Mazari when she got married?

Muniba Mazari was 18 years old when she got married.

What cultural background does Muniba Mazari come from?

Muniba Mazari comes from a conservative Baloch family.

What happened in the car accident that Muniba Mazari was involved in?

In the car accident, Muniba's husband fell asleep, causing the car to fall into a ditch. While being rescued and dragged out of the car, she sustained a complete transaction of her spinal cord, leading to multiple fractures and injuries.

What were the consequences of Muniba's spine injury as told by the doctors?

The doctors informed Muniba that due to her spine injury, she would not be able to paint, walk, or give birth to a child again.

How did Muniba Mazari cope with her situation in the hospital?

Muniba coped by asking her brothers to bring her colors and a small canvas to paint, which became her therapy and a way to express her story without words.

What was Muniba Mazari's biggest fear that she decided to overcome?

Muniba's biggest fear was divorce, which she overcame by liberating herself and becoming emotionally strong.

How did Muniba Mazari address her fear of not being able to be a mother again?

Muniba addressed this fear by adopting a child from an orphanage, which led her to become a mother to a baby boy named Neal.

What steps did Muniba take to increase her public presence despite being in a wheelchair?

Muniba increased her public presence by painting, modeling, and joining the national TV of Pakistan as an anchor person.

What recognitions has Muniba Mazari received for her work and advocacy?

Muniba Mazari was featured in BBC 100 Women for 2015 and is one of the Forbes 30 Under 30 for 2016. She also became the National Global Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women Pakistan.

What message does Muniba Mazari convey about life's challenges and failures?

Muniba conveys that life is a test and a trial, and that it's okay to be scared and to fail. She encourages embracing every breath, celebrating life, and not giving up.