Celebrating Women

Its International Women’s Day today and it has me thinking. About all those women that inspire me, that aren’t afraid to tell the world who they really are and be proud of who they have become. All the things that I am not, or don’t feel that I can be. But we should all take that time to celebrate how far we’ve come.

 

So I may not have got to where I want to be, or done something huge, but I’m here. And actually I do have things to celebrate. This blog for one. Over the time I’ve been working on it, I’ve learnt a lot about myself and I’m proud of how it’s been perceived by others as well as allowing it to help me along my journey. That I had the confidence to share my words and not always on the good days. And perhaps that is even more important. To reach out on those bad days, tell someone how you are feeling. And challenge the stigma around mental health.

 

So maybe I take some of it back, that I can and have had the confidence to tell others who I am, but that I still have a way to go.  But I’m lucky to have some wonderful people behind me, through all of it and today I want to celebrate them. My mum, my sisters, my cousins, my closest friends and even some who are not. They have been there all the time, cheering me on, being honest with me and loving me for me. Something I need to learn to do for myself.  And I will, I’ll get there because of the amazing women I have beside me. So I celebrate them and all that they do, both quietly and physically, because they are all wonderful to me.

 

But today has also allowed me to thank those women who don’t know me. Whose power and confidence, whose words and bravery have inspired me to try and become someone of whom I can be proud.  So here are a just a few of those amazing women who I aspire to:

 

Jane Austen- She was a powerful writer long before her time and how her books are still testament to that even now. She gave up so much to do what she wanted to do.

 

‘It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do,’

 

Maya Angelou- for daring to say what she really thought and fight for what she believed in.

 

‘And still I rise’

 

Bryony Gordon-  for sharing her difficult and personal story with the world and helping me and others to see things differently and to overcome our fears, whatever they may be.

 

‘Bad things happen, but good things can come from them.’

 

Michelle Obama- for striving to become more than she was, and achieving that. Finding her voice so that others could follow in her wake.

 

‘Am I good enough? Yes I am’

 

Alex Scott- much the same as the above! For just being herself and following her dreams, and overcoming the barriers to getting there. For working on breaking down the barriers around mental health.

‘My hardest lesson has been my most fruitful, too: that when people don't believe in me, I can prove them wrong’

 

 

Scarlett Curtis- for continuing to work on breaking the stigma around mental health whilst also sharing her own story and tackling subjects that others don’t want to talk about.

 

‘Its okay to not be okay’

 

Fearne Cotton-  again for being so honest about her own struggles but finding ways to help others using her books and Happy Place podcast.

 

‘Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come’

 

There are so many more that I could mention, authors that I admire and whose books I will read time and time again, sports stars who continue to shine in their field, overcome adversity to reach their goals and actors portraying strong characters both on and off the screen. You are all amazing in my eyes and worthy of celebration, not just today, but every day.

 

Happy International Women’s Day!

 

‘For together, or alone, we are always strong’ (Emma Thorogood) 

#InternationalWomensDay #IWD2021 #ChoosetoChallenge