Womankind

Womankind

We are women and we are kind! I do like to start my blogs with a song where I can and this one made me think of John Lennon's 'Woman'. I mean, we must be good if John Lennon wrote a song celebrating us!

I have shared and read fab posts today for International Womens day and felt inspired to write a little blog to celebrate the amazingness of women supporting each other and working together. I shared the above lovely post from pinterest and it is so true. A collective group of soul sisters, supporting and lifting each other up. Again, men do this too. I will write a blog for your day! Life is hard and if we can support each other through it, it makes it a little easier! If we can be our own woman, without tearing another down, then that is so much a better way of living. If anything, change their lightbulb with them and increase the wattage through complements and praise!

There were so many great quotes that showed up on my memory. This one has always been a favourite. So clever! We put our capes and high heels on daily and face the world, together! I am less of a heel wearer now, since I am so clumsy, but whether in heels or boots, we attack the day!

I love this quote too. Sometimes we have to remember we all wear a crown. Some days, it might be crooked or have fallen off altogether! Other days, it can be standing tall, diamonds gleaming!

When we are struggling and our crown has fallen, it is amazing to be surrounded by women who help you pick it back up, straighten it out and polish it. I love this quote and also the one where other women help you figure it out, without telling others you had a problem and needed help. This quiet support is wonderful. You can sit back, crown on head and continue without others judging. 

I love this quote too. When women meet who are on the same page and 'get' each other, take each other's stuff on and are there for each other, maybe their crowns are in their souls?

I remember watching the funny Mike Myers in 'So I married an axe murderer', back in the 90s and he was doing performance poetry. He did a poem, 'Woman' and kept highlighting the 'Woe man'. It was a fab film but that stayed with me. We may be faced with crap and feel woeful at times, but we are very good at covering the woe, looking on the bright side, laughing off things and facing adversity. The nurturing side to us, readily tries to see every situation as 'half full' and we are constantly looking for solutions, cheering folk up and looking on the bright side. 

Dolly sang how it can be 'hard to be a woman' and yes, I totally agree. But it can also be blooming brilliant too. Surrounded by our sisters,  supporting each other. Inspired by our women who came before us and have left a guide book for us to follow, filled with anecdotes, advice, stories, love and belief in us. Full of hope for our women and girls who will follow on from us. We all gain strength from each other. I love this from Emmy Lupin Studio on instagram and facebook. Such a talented lady. 

You see, in our own unique ways, we are all Wonder women. We all add something to the world and to the lives of those we love. We do matter. In all our different shapes and sizes, the outfit fits! 

We may have cellulite and wrinkles. We may have aged bodies on the outside but yes, Christina Aguilera style, we are 'beautiful in every single way'. We may not always feel it, we may compare ourselves to the thinner, prettier, designer folk. Especially in this social media age. But we have our folk reminding us. I love it when my friends of facebook update their profile pictures and receive compliments and positive comments. I love writing them and I also love receiving them! A compliment goes a long, long way. Women need to hear these. When they meet a friend, get ready to go out or have done something at work. We naturally question and doubt ourselves. We know our mistakes and do not need reminding of them! Remind us of what we got right!

Two fabulous ladies I follow on social media are Donna Ashworth, who is such a talented writer. I have her book 'Growing Brave' and her journal, 'Words to live by'. She has recently written a book, celebrating us all called 'To the Women' and looks amazing. I would love to meet her at a book signing. 

The other author is Alex Light and her book 'You are not a Before picture' looks really good. My lovely friend introduced me to both women and we were discussing this the other day. I had never seen it like that before. I have been to numerous slimming groups over the years and we have this feeling of losing our Before. Yes, for health reasons. But our Before is actually our Now. Some of us constantly bring ourselves down because, in our heads, we are not good enough. We have not reached the After version yet. Perhaps we won't reach the picture we have in our minds? Does that make us not worthy? The Now us needs to look in the mirror and give herself a smile. I am trying to cut down and eat better but for health reasons. Not because I want to look like a model or look 20 years younger! Or not because I want to be accepted in a certain social group. Embrace your Now ladies!

Another fab Woman song is 'A woman's work' by Kate Bush. And no, it is 'never done'! It is one cycle of family, housework, job, pressure, smiling through gritted teeth, moving crap out of the way to take insta ready photos, worrying if packed lunches look healthy enough or whether your arm pits will go another day without being shaved! Amongst this, though, there is help and there is laughter and understanding, from others on this perpetual cycle! There are lovely moments of solidarity and of 'I've got your back' from family, friends, school mums and colleagues. I even told a lady she had toilet paper sticking out of her jacket the other day, in a cafe and she was so relieved I went and told her. See? We are always looking out for each other! 

Women working together is blooming amazing! We are like a fail proof recipe, all adding different ingredients. All mixing together, at an optimum temperature and creating a Masterpiece! Made with love. And a bit of sweat and tears! Individually we are strong and stand in our own right. Together, building on each other's skills and confidence, we are so much stronger. I was a teen when 'girl power' was thrown onto the scene with the Spice Girls and 'Wannabe'. That feeling is still with me now, in my 50s! Gain confidence with your mates, through each decade. That teenage girl is still in you! 

There are so many of us who sometimes forget our worth. The new mums who don't know what day it is and are sleep deprived, the working mums who are so busy they forget it was fancy dress day. The women who are too shy and would love to get up for that karaoke song. The women who want to go back to college but can't afford it. The women who are juggling so many roles they don't feel they succeed in any. The women who are hormonal, emotional and shattered. The women who do not feel worthy as they don't fit a prescripted size or shape. Well, we are all worthy! 

I am proud to be a part of womankind. I am proud of my femininity. I am proud to stand among my sisters, supporting each other. I am blessed to live in a time where brave women have fought for my rights before me. I am blessed to be able to hold a career/job and have a family, to have choices and chances other women in the past could not readily have. I remind myself of how my generation are lucky and thankful of the amazing women who fought so hard to give us more independence. My friend shared this from On the board and shows how grateful we are to all women.

I also think of the change in female role of the Disney princesses, from needing to he saved, to saving themselves. A very powerful message to young girls. One of my fave being Merida, who did indeed, use her own resources to stand up for herself.

I love this quote. Supergirl becomes Wonder Woman!

The 'happy ever after' became less of a she's married off to more of a she's walking into the sunset with her books and her dog! We still need help from people, of course, but it's not about waiting around for a shoe to fit. My feet are wide anyway! It's not about laying asleep in a forest, waiting to be saved. It is about finding the secateurs yourself and cutting the branches down! Instead of waiting for that dashing prince on his stead, ride the horse yourself! Or ride the horse together, side by side.  I love this quote from pinterest!

I do love words and puns. I love finding words within words. This quote is fab! So, Bonnie Tyler, you needed to look within yourself too as there is 'her' in 'hero'! 

Like every special day though, we need celebrating and reminding of our strengths every day. We need support weekly, not just every now and again. We can give that to each other. How better to compliment than criticise your fellow worker? How nicer to see the successes, than the failures? How much more rewarding to help and guide each other, than to make someone feel more of a failure? Next time you see a woman's hair or jewellery and you like it, tell her. Next time you are helped in a shop or cafe, pass it on to their manager. Compliment and encourage each other. Make this a habit. You will both be lifted up by it! I am surrounded by strong, supportive and kind women. Let them know what they mean to you.