2nd July my Marae, Pikitu, held a wananga followed by a celebration for Matariki. This date was also significant for other reasons 1. It is my birthday 2. We lay my partner to rest a year prior on this date. I explained to my whanau that I needed to leave early and could not make the Matariki celebrations. I needed to honor a part of my past and my ♥. I felt compelled to attend the wananga as a way of lifting the vail of mourning and to find a way forward. My aunty simply said its the best time. This made my heart sing🎶🎤. I travelled back to the urupa and spent time, just me and my darling💜. My cousin organised a birthday dinner where we ate, laughed and cried. We talked about the wananga I had attended, the hopes and aspirations we have for our tamariki, our hapu and our iwi. These are my first baby steps forward. Manawatia a Matariki