• AnchorFm

On this International Women’s Day I bring to mind the many women in my life. The many overcomers, the many who inspire.

Women who inspire

• My mother
• My mother-in-law
• My Grandmothers. Immense fortitude. One of whom I never met, but feel I know.
• My daughter – not enough words!
• The many young women I am fortunate to know through our young folk.
• My sister-in-law
• My siblings
• My aunts
• My nieces
• My many women friends close to home and around the world, whose tenacity, kindness and resourcefulness never cease to amaze.
• The many, many of whom are women of faith.
• The gifted women who I interact with in the blogging community.
• I could go on and on and on…

Grateful for friends

Thank you to all the wonderful women I know. I have learnt so much from you, and continue to. There are SO many names I could list! To those women who stuck with me as my health collapsed and have continued to.

Understanding

I recently watched the Drama ‘Mrs America‘. I have to say I was transfixed by all of these women eloquently fighting for the cause dear to their heart. And how complex and intertwined it became as causes overlapped. One of the parts that saddened me the most was that women were fighting each other. I’m not niave to suggest that this doesn’t happen any longer. One only has to check in on twitter, and swiftly check out again. And we have to be honest and at times need to just agree to disagree minus vitriol.

‘International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.‘

#choosetochallenge

Excerpt from
http://www.internationalwomensday.com

Finding our voice

But I think it’s about more than that. A line that I love from the film ‘Moonstruck‘ (yes, I know) is delivered by Olympia Dukakis – “I know who I am“. She stood her ground, and I love that. I don’t want young women to have to wait till they reach their 50s to finally understand who they are, their gifts, their amazing qualities. Gone are the days of girls being taught to make a bed at school, whilst being denied access to woodwork, physics or technical drawing. But I acknowledge, still for many young women an education isn’t a given.

In conclusion

I for one am for women. When I lived overseas, women helped women. No matter our background, culture or beliefs. Our daily struggles were the same and we were there for one another. And I was blessed by that, and with the knowledge of how to do that for another woman. If we can in some small way help improve the life of another woman young or not so young, understand, help move it forward. Whether that be through encouragement, being a listener, practical help or the giving of resources by ‘*Spending Your Privilege‘. It has to be worthwhile.

Happy International Women’s Day

Be blessed

Penny @hopefoundinme

*Phrase ‘Spend Your Privilege‘ from Amber Navran of Moonchild