International Women’s Day
Sheri Lynn Fella
On Valentine’s day this year, my niece sent me this pic of my great-niece – sweet, strong, fun-loving, Hallie.
Strong Girls Make a Strong World!
This little girl is something else… she is full of energy and emotions and possibility. Every kid should have an opportunity to experience their potential which includes exploring all of their possibility – as humans. Gender should not be a constraint for Hallie or any little girl, but an accepted and appreciated part of her unique humanness.
The International Women’s Day was first celebrated in 1913. That was over 100 years ago and the fight for equality continues. This fight is an important one… the more stories that are told of women and the roles they have played in history – from scientific breakthroughs to democracy activists, to life-changing innovators, to putting a man on the moon – we learn how essential the possibilities that are within each woman are to the human race.
Imagine if those possibilities were unleashed freely rather than having to be fought for. So much more energy that could be utilized for progress forward rather than fighting for a chance to contribute.
It makes me see red out of anger and frustration for the many women in my own orbit who are marginalized, diminished, shut down and pushed aside. And it makes me see blue too – out of sadness for me and all of us who miss the possibility of their potential. Maybe that is why the color of the International Women’s Day this year is purple – a beautiful mix of both red and blue. A beautiful mix of all emotions and all people coming together to ensure Equality for ALL.
My bedroom walls are coated in a deep purple, and tonight I am going to fall asleep dreaming of equality for Hallie and all of the little girls and boys that come after her. We must do better… we all deserve better – especially the babies of today who will be our leaders tomorrow.
And tonight, as I fall asleep to that dream of equality, I will go through my list of gratitude prayers for all of the strong men and women who raised me to know that equality for all is not a political issue, but a moral one. Because each woman and girl deserves the right to pursue her own life of possibility as much as any man or boy.
Keep fighting for the right… and don’t forget to thank all of those strong women of possibility around you who continue to light the way through even the darkest moments of the fight.
Hallie is right… strong girls make a strong world!
Your great auntie loves you and all of your possibility my strong lil Hallie, and we will keep fighting for you.
#eachforequal
