Our mothers are often among the most influential people in our lives. It may be why so many of us think of them, with certainty, as our role models. Yet, as Maria Popova writes in her newsletter The Most Important Thing to Remember About Your Mother, they are neither saints nor saviours.
I’m back with Sheena, the last but not least character of the main cast.
A character, briefly introduced: Sheena
Sheena—runs a farm, wife, mother—is the maker: loves deeply but also wants independence without losing belonging. She carries tenderness, but never at the expense of herself.
Though the story is told in overlapping perspectives, she is the central female figure. Her struggles with motherhood, personal agency, and career aspirations offer a multifaceted portrayal of modern womanhood.
What impresses me most is her sense of self. She “marches to the beat of her own drum.” She remains anchored even when faced with criticism or changing environments; she refuses to conform. A calm aura emanates from her because of her self-awareness, authority without harshness, focus, and quiet strength. Does she sound perfect? She’s as flawed as they come!
A line Sheena might say: I have learned that loving others should not require abandoning myself.
A small beauty I noticed along the way: the beauty of women who make room for others and still remember to keep a room within themselves.
A question for you: What does it mean to love others without losing the shape of yourself?
P.S. You may have noticed that I’ve been pairing these character introductions with flowers. Partly because it is spring, yes! But also because the goal was to employ the language of flowers to echo the emotional and moral texture of each post. For instance, for George I chose a purple iris to suggest a move from anger toward a more truthful, compassionate seeing. For Sheena, I chose the protea, South Africa’s national flower. To me, it carries regal elegance, bold femininity, and the quiet resilience of an independent spirit — all qualities that feel true to her.
All right, I’m done with introductions. You’ll hopefully meet the rest of the characters between the pages of the book when it comes out… in just two weeks.
Next week, I’ll share a lesson from René Rilke… Till then, thank you for reading!
PPS. Photo by David Clode on Unsplash.
