Today we celebrate women, and I heart that so much! As a 100% women-owned business and single mom, I appreciate the amazing women who came before me and who continue to inspire me today. I’d like to honor today by recognizing a few of them.
Mae Jemison
“Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.”
Mae Jemison
I’m going to be completely honest here – I didn’t know who the heck Mae Jemison was until 2017 when I heard her speak at a Girl Scout event. She completely blew me away. The one thing she talked about that struck me the most was that we all belong at the table. This was a huge mindset shift for me, because Imposter Syndrome is real, people! Having her tell me (and the few hundred other women and girls in the audience) that I have a voice that deserves to be heard, that my experiences and opinions count, and that no matter what the conversation was about, my voice should be a part of that conversation, woke up something inside of me that I didn‘t know was dormant. Now she’s someone who inspires me on a regular basis.
Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan
“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”
Helen Keller
“Keep on beginning and failing. Each time you fail, start all over again, and you will grow stronger until you have accomplished a purpose – not the one you began with perhaps, but one you’ll be glad to remember.”
Ann Sullivan
As a child I remember doing a report on Helen Keller. Something about her always fascinated me. As an adult reflecting back on my childhood, I think it wasn’t just that Helen overcame some incredible odds, but she did so because of one person who believed in her. Helen’s teacher, Ann Sullivan, refused to give up on this “wild child,” and isn’t that all that we want – someone who believes in our abilities despite what our pasts might suggest? Someone to be patient and guide us and help us realize our full potential? Their story is so inspiring, and I also love strong independent women in any time period, but especially during the late nineteenth century.
Maya Angelou
“Have enough courage to trust love one more time, and always one more time.”
Maya Angelou
One of the most prolific poets and writers in my lifetime, Maya Angelou’s words are literally plastered across my office, including the quote above. I have a weakness for inspirational quotes, and Maya had no shortness of them. Here are a few of my favorites:
- “If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”
- “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
- “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
- “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
I could literally write an entire blog post just using her amazing words of wisdom. She was truly a legend.
Amelia Earhart
“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”
Amelia Earhart
I have this quote on a keychain that’s hanging in my office as a reminder to live my life as a great adventure. Amelia Earhart is one of those women who simply refused to bend to the will of those around her. She stood up for what she believed in and for the life she wanted to live, and to hell with those who didn’t like it! Amelia not only forged forward in pursuit of her happiness, she reached out behind her and extended her hand to help other women through the Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots founded in 1929.
Kamala Harris
“My mother would look at me and she’d say, ‘Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last.’ That’s why breaking those barriers is with it. As much as anything else, it is also to create a path for those who will come after us.”
Kamala Harris
Just over a month ago, I watched history as Kamala Harris was sworn in as our nation’s first female Vice President, and I did so as tears ran down my face. I love the sound of another glass ceiling shattering, and on January 20, 2021, that sound was deafening. As the mother of a daughter and a son, I find myself grateful that they are growing up in a world where a woman holding the second-highest office in the nation is being demonstrated and the highest office seems within grasp. Kamala’s words at the inauguration and before are inspiring to me and countless other women around the world.
Juliette Gordon Low
“To put yourself in another’s place requires real imagination, but by doing so each Girl Scout will be able to love among others happily.”
Juliette Gordon Low
Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout! I was a Girl Scout for 12 years as a child and served as a leader for my daughter’s troop for years, so it’s safe to say that the Girl Scouts of America has held a pretty important role in my life. Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts in 1912 and it has served as the springboard for female leaders ever since. I loved growing up learning that I was capable of whatever I wanted to do, all I needed to do was learn how. Sharing that message with my daughter has been powerful as well.
Carrying On Their Legacies
It’s up to us to continue the legacies of the women that came before us, past and present, and I invite you to continue that journey with me.