For those who weren't aware, March is International Women's History Month, and today is widely recognized as International Women's Day. I knew I wanted to write a post to commemorate the day, but when I really sat and thought about it, I had NO clue on how to discuss something as complex, wondrous, and beautiful as being a woman.
Do I take this time to highlight the achievements of women in history? Do I take this time to talk about the pros and cons of being a woman in today's North American society? Those topics could be entire blogs on their own, and I'm in a more free-flow writing mood, not a research and edit one. When I thought about how I wanted to recognize this day, I realized the best way for me to do that would be to recognize the women in my life. I'm a huge proponent of sisterhood, support, and friendship among women, and wished we did more to embody those traits with one another. I wrote a previous post about sisterhood, but I'd like to take it a step further today. If you'll allow me this moment, I'd like to tell you about the women I'm honouring for International Women's Day:
- I honour my sisterfriends: the women who truly understand what love, support, and consistency mean. No flakes in my space and no squares in my circle.
- I honour my blood sister, whose individuality and creativity inspires me to live life the way I want to.
- I honour the mothers who are raising the next generation, who are giving selflessly, and who are raising their children with the intent to make this world a better place.
- I honour the women who shattered glass ceilings or kicked in a door or two to make things easier for me.
- I honour the mentors who are not stingy with their guidance, who are not threatened by other bright women, and who are willing to teach, share, and motivate.
- I honour the women who dare to take risks, make their own rules, and create the lives that they've always dreamed of.
- I honour my female ancestors who raised children, supported husbands, and helped to bring home the bacon and the eggs and the goat and the donkey...
- I honour the women who haven't given up on love.
- I honour the women who realize the glaring flaws in the statement "I just don't get along with other females."
- I honour my mother, who is like a goddess to me. Her effect on my life cannot be described, but I live to make her proud and to know that her work has never been in vain.
- I honour myself: I am becoming the woman I always envisioned I would be - no, an even better version of that vision. I love myself and trust in my capabilities, strength and intelligence in ways that I almost never thought possible.
- I honour those who truly honour us. The world is full of enemies, but I honour the allies that us women have.
This International Women's Day, let's take the time to honour each other. Have dinner with your closest girlfriends. Call and check up on your mother, sister, or other close female relative. Compliment another woman. Look in the mirror and remind yourself that you're the bees' damn knees. Men, you can do the same today - if there is a woman in your life that you love, support, or admire, let her know. As is usually discussed during holidays and other specially assigned days, we should express these sentiments every day - but there's nothing wrong with acknowledging International Women's Day in a way that inspires us to continue beyond March 8th.
Happy International Women's Day! Who are the women that you honour? What is your wish for women? That we become more supportive to one another? That we acquire further equality? That we actually get to control our own reproductive health (yes - I've been watching a lot of the U.S. birth control pill/abortion debate)? Share it!