Emily Wale-Koya took to LinkedIn to share a heartfelt story about how she initially rejected her husband’s proposal twice before finally accepting.

In her post, Emily revealed that she turned down the proposals not because she didn’t love him, but because she wasn’t ready to settle down at the time.

She explained that at age 27, she was still in the process of building her life, and didn’t want to lose her identity or purpose in the name of becoming someone’s wife.

She wrote: “My husband proposed to me twice.
And on both occasions, I said NO.

Not because I was punishing him.
Not because I was trying to be mysterious.
And definitely not because I didn’t love him.

I just wasn’t ready.

I was 27 at the time…
Some would say “young enough to wait,”
But it wasn’t about age, it was about clarity.

Clarity about who I was, where I was headed,
and what I was building with my life.

It’s one thing for a man to know his purpose,
it’s another thing entirely for a woman to know hers and own it boldly.

Far too many women lose themselves in “wife.”
They disappear inside “mother.”
And one day, they wake up wondering,
“Who even am I anymore?”

I didn’t want that.

So I waited…

Not for a perfect man

But for peace in my spirit.
For alignment in our paths.
And for assurance that I could become all that I was called to be without apology.

That’s the woman I wanted to be:
1. Strong in purpose
2. Soft in love
3. Unshakable in identity

And that’s the kind of man I chose to marry.

One who wouldn’t just “allow” my purpose…

He would protect it.

It’s our 16 year marriage anniversary today and I celebrate the man I met 22 years ago. ❤️💍”