Happy New Year Of Women
It is said last year was the year of women with the full swing of the Women’s March, the #MeToo movement, women in the workplace, gender equality. You name it and women attacked and conquered on so many levels last year. Well, 2019 is definitely keeping that stride going. Last week I posted the Vanity Fair picture of some of the powerful women, who have since been sworn in as members of the 116th session of Congress. The most diverse slate of women ever seen in Congress but put in office to convey and pass laws as it applies to their respective constituents who elected them. Not to mention that regardless of your party affiliation, you have to give props where they are due with Nancy Pelosi, who has been re-elected as Speaker of the House. But, there is something bigger currently at play here – more and more women continue to unapologetically seize this defining moment in history going after the life, career and world they envision. I even dare say this year feminization must continue in politics, the workplace and beyond! Whether it be small or big here 4 quick actions where you can add your personal touch to advancing the women’s movement:
1) Seize – your moment to make a difference in your life and the greater community by assessing and addressing where you are and where you want to be. Is your job a dead end? Is your relationship old and tired? Is there a part of your life that’s great and the other part not so much? There’s nothing wrong with taking inventory to decide if things are fine where you or in need of an upgrade. Action is necessary to grow.
2) Step – into the spotlight and advance your agenda. We, women tend to put everything and everyone else in front of us. Many of us are natural nurturers and tend to care for our families, jobs, and communities at the price of ignoring ourselves. It’s time to, as my Nana Mabel would say, “take care of you.” Self nurturance is so important in order to be that bright light to others.
3) Do – things that feed your passion and ignite your soul. Stop delaying the things you want to do with the things you need to do. Figure out a plan to do both. I understand you may need that 9-to-5 but if catering or makeup excites you, do it as a side hustle until it can become your main hustle.
4) Give – a step toward a world you’d like to see and pass along that great energy. This involves starting women’s empowerment groups, volunteering at women’s organizations, mentoring. Inspire others by using your gifts to pay your own empowerment forward.
To advance our agenda as women in a global society we must also handle the little things that make our individual selves look and feel better however we define that. We have so much to offer both personally and professionally. Natural change-makers, who births societies let us all continue to voice our concerns, channel our gifts to and push for gender equality, equal pay, workplace change and accountability. It is daily steps you take up to be a part of the bigger picture and make a difference. We are power, we are women, we are 2019!
I am someone who sees incredible potential and opportunity in places where some people don’t think to look, in minority and female candidates, who have been and are still marginalized in the working world. I believe in our interconnectedness as a human race and strive every day to use my gifts to empower great people. I rarely bet on certainty and always root for the underdog because after all, those are the best stories to tell.
