Welcome back to '12 Months of Giving'!
Until around 11 hours ago, today's post was a ready-to-upload informative piece about another worthwhile charity. But after waking up this morning, checking social media, and stepping into my waterfall of thought, my cave of cleanliness, my palace of inner-peace (my shower!) I realised I had a lot more to say on the subject of today than the trending hashtag and a dancing girl emoji I posted on social media.
Today is 'International Women's Day', and today I offer my congratulations to both the men and women who have made and have taken, and are making and taking choices and actions working towards the equality of genders each and every day. The fact that 'International Women's Day', a day dedicated to honouring females, exists is incredible. The fact we have come so far in the process of gender equality is definitely something to celebrate. However, there is still such a long way to go. Some women, in many places, do not have the freedom to truly be them, the environment to express themselves, the ability to speak out. So this month, I just wanted to use this space to express my freedom, to express my voice, in hope to raise awareness to the importance of this day and to highlight how amazing it is that this day exists!
In my opinion, 'International Women's Day' should not only be a day to celebrate the progression of gender equality, but be used as a fundamental reminder. Just as 'Valentine's Day' acts as a reminder to appreciate loved ones, 'Mother's Day' reminds us to thank our Mothers, and 'Father's Day' is a reminder to fist pump our Fathers' 'International Women's Day' should be a reminder to women everywhere to celebrate each other. We have so many strengths; we can bear children, work the heels, endure the pain of waxing, and make a house a home, but whilst trying to do all of these things to the best of our ability, we forget to celebrate each other.
Some of us, thankfully, have the freedom to use our voices to say anything, so why not use the small extent of it to compliment one another. We use this day to celebrate our progression as a unit, so why not celebrate our progression as individuals. We are evolving, marking our place, creating our space in society, so surely that space can be however big we want it to be, a space that is big enough to celebrate females in all their forms; height, weight, needs, personalities, ambitions, dreams.
Today has reminded me to use my energy to support and celebrate the strengths and weaknesses, perfections and flaws of all the women in my life. My great grandmothers, my grandmothers, my mother, my sisters, my aunts, my cousins, my godmothers, my friends, my past friends, my family's friends, my teachers, my neighbours, my hairdresser, my optician, women in the news, women who pass by me each day, women who I am yet to meet: I celebrate you, and I offer my first compliment of many on this personal challenge; you are amazing, and you do not need to find flaws in others to make yourself perfect.
Please accept this challenge that I have set not only for you, but myself also: appreciate your rare, free voice and use it to define your worth, by highlighting each other's.
Kizzy x
