I’m just a few days into March and I’ve already read many inspiring posts and facts about women throughout history.
The President even signed a proclamation that says, “I call upon all Americans to observe this month and to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2019, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.”
Every day is Women’s Day for me. I’ve been female since February 10th, 1956 and decided that this year I’m going to make my own proclamation and have my own “appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities” — every day and for the rest of my life. In fact, I’m not going to wait until March 8th. I’m starting today with this post. As for my other programs, ceremonies, and activities:
- I’m going to continue to educate people around me about ageism and champion women in technology, and help foster more cross-generational collaboration — through writing and speaking.
- I’ll continue to celebrate successes with the women around me and will avoid gossip, trash-talk, and other forms of jealousy, cattiness, and general mean girl behavior.
- I’ll floss regularly, get close to 8 hours of sleep whenever I can, and take better care of my body and skin because I plan to live to 125 and want to be healthy and active.
- I’ll hold on to my sense of humor.
- I will aspire to educate the men in my life about what really goes on in women’s heads (or at least my own) so they can be better partners, co-workers, bosses, brothers, and investors.
So, if you’re a woman (or you spend a lot of time with women):
Think about your own personal proclamation this month. You don’t even have to be >50 to start — because someday you will be and you might as well get in the habit now of respecting and celebrating.
Think about where you’ve come from and where you want to go.
Think only in terms of accomplishments and wins…not in terms of regrets or fails.
Think about all those women who came before you and what you can learn from them. They paved the way for opportunities and new ways of thinking. They created some terrific things (including this media platform). They gave birth to kids and raised them to adulthood while creating and running businesses. We know a lot of things.
And, because she said it better than I could I feel compelled to end with a great quote from one of my favorite bad-ass women. I have a feeling she’ll pave her own way for many years to come.
Lady Gaga
Returning to your family and where you came from, and your history… this is what makes you strong. It’s not looking out that’s going to do that – it’s looking in.