Allow me to introduce myself.
Did you know that that is a book title? A lovely book, at that — you should read it sometime.
Introducing yourself after you proudly announce your name is a herculean task for many people, myself included. In my mind, I have a lot of questions: Will they think I am dull and boring?
Do they really want to know all these things
about me? Are they wondering when I will shut up?
Anxiety-inducing situations.
Anyway, I am an HR professional — yep, the most hated profession in the
corporate world. For years, I sat on interview panels and asked hundreds of
interviewees that horrifying question: “Can you tell us about yourself?” Then I
would sit back and watch them squirm pitifully and start rambling away for
what seemed like hours. Nothing personal — it was business then. Now, as a
rule, I never ask anyone questions about themselves besides their name.
My name is Mary Wanjiku Gitagia. I will try not to ramble nervously like my
interviewees.
My friends call me Sheeko, or Sheeks. That should not stop you from calling
me Mary, Wanjiku, or Gitagia. My workmates at my last workplace fondly
called me Gitash, and I loved that name. Call me whatever tickles your fancy.
I am a mother of two adorable girls. A lover of life and laughter. An ambivert,
with the introverted side being extremely dominant (not many people seem to
believe that). I don’t have many hobbies — sorry to disappoint you on this one
— but I do love to take a nice long walk when the mood is right. I love to sleep
(yes, it is classified as a hobby).
I spend a ridiculous amount of time on my bed. I read from my bed, I write
from my bed, I watch fun shows on Netflix from my bed, I doom‑scroll for
hours on my phone from my bed. Maybe someday that will change, but for
now, it is just how it is.
My love language is nicknames. I love to give nicknames to the people around
me — people I care about and people I know I will always have in my life.
I am a lover of books. I am an obsessive reader, and once I start reading a
book, it takes over my whole being. I can barely focus on anything until I am
done with it. The power of hyperfocus and ADHD. I am a writer, too. No,
scratch that — I am a woman who loves to write. I am an aspiring author,
hopefully an obsessive one. If I wrote as much as I read, my story would
probably be different.
I may have started rambling, so I will stop now. Read my stories, and let’s go
on an exciting literary journey together. I look forward to writing stories that
stay with you and touch your life in some way.
Oh, and I bet you would love to ask me what my mantra in life is, right? Well,
this right here is my mantra, as a wise person once sang:
Que Sera Sera; whatever will be, will be. Don’t take things too seriously!