I am no bird
“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being, with an independent will; which I now exert to leave you. I am not an angel,' I asserted; 'and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself.” Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
What a time to be a woman, especially today.
Today is Women’s Day and I am celebrating. I am celebrating the life of my wonderful mother, my grandmother and all my girls who have found their way to me. Reflecting on the past, we have come so far in the fight for an equal world but there is still much more work to be done. However, I remain grateful. The story of us women is a tapestry of sisterhood, resilience and compassion. We are witnessing history in the very making and it thrills me to be a part of it.
It might sound cliché but my mom always says, “Don’t be ordinary, you are extraordinary.” I carried this with me when I moved away from home and offered it as advice to my best friends. I think I have a newfound meaning behind her words. Life is too short to be one thing, why not try to be everything at once?
Be careless but honest.
Be unapologetic but graceful.
Have fun but be respectful.
And most importantly, be kind always.
On a day like today, it’s difficult not to be with family. I would love to celebrate them in person and truly appreciate the lengths our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers went to in order to pave the way for us. But instead, maybe we can be the role models young girls need as well. It can be through academics or simply a helping hand.
We are all barbies in our own way.
Yes, there will be people saying we are doing it wrong. Our lives are somehow always up for commentary. But, when we reach our goal and look down to see what trials we went through, we know trusting our intuition never steers us wrong. In a world where companies try to pit women against each other, it is a cry to do the complete opposite.
Women united will never be defeated.
So, for today and every day try to show up as your best persona. Nothing will ever be more powerful than a woman in her truest form of divine femininity. And don’t forget to celebrate the women around you!