Freedom Through Skills: Aakanksha Monga's Advice for Women

What if the sense of freedom was only just one skill away?

In a very heartfelt and inspiring message, Aakanksha Monga challenges women to unlearn the limitations that they've too often grown up with and reclaim their inner independence, not just metaphorically, but also practically. 

She also reflects on how girls are often subtly (or overtly) taught for what they "shouldn't do", such as riding a cycle, driving a car, or even swimming freely, just because these are often seen as "ladke wale kaam."

But Aakanksha strongly urges us to break that conditioning.

On her recent trip to South Korea, she and her friend cycled for about 70 kilometers a day, just two women navigating the new roads merely on their own. 

The experience wasn't just about fitness or distance, but it was also about the liberating joy of not needing anyone to lead the whole way. It was all about confidence, capability, and claiming the space in the world without any apology.

This isn't just only about cycling. It's also about learning life-enabling skills like swimming, driving, fixing a flat tyre, and navigating the solo travel, which allow the women to move freely through life on their own terms. 

For many generations, women have been denied these freedoms not because they're incapable, but because they were often told that they shouldn't.

Aakanksha's message is simple and powerful:

• Promise yourself that you'll learn the skills that the society once said weren't for you.
• Because every skill that you gain is a strong reminder that you are more than enough.

This isn't just about perfectly mastering a bike or a steering wheel, it's also about mastering your whole life.

When you learn the skills which you were told weren't for you, you can rewrite the whole rules for yourself and also for the women around you. 

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A post shared by Aakanksha Monga (@aakanksha.monga)

As Aakanksha says, promise yourself that you'll stop waiting for the permission and start for choosing power. Because one skill can merely change almost everything.

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