It’s been a while since I have felt motivated to write anything.
Reading my daughter’s blog today gave me much pause for reflection.
In my heart, I was a feminist when feminism was a dirty word. I strove to raise my daughters to be strong, independent women, fearless women who would take on the world without fear. I wanted them to be all they wanted to be and live life without regrets. But I didn’t know how to be truly independent – that independence was finding myself, being true to myself, being confident in myself, loving myself. I only knew that I wanted more for them, as women, than I had.
The focus of my daughter’s recent blog was social justice and the power that we have to effect action and change. I have spent the better portion of my life, and am still very active, in the pursuit of social justice and change. But, I believe, with every fibre of my being, that we cannot effectively advocate for others unless the true spirit of feminism burns within us. I believe a feminist is a Goddess and a Warrior.
As I have already stated, I have spent a major portion of my life advocating for those marginalized members of our society, but, in retrospect, I was not coming from a point of inner strength and confidence – I was doing it because I felt a moral obligation to help those less fortunate than myself. Helping others filled a void in my life and helped me justify my existence.
Selfish reasons.
I am not saying that activism for self-serving purposes negates the accomplishments. I am saying, for me, being a feminist is not feeling the need to justify your place in this world. Being a Goddess and a Warrior means moving through this world with compassion, with courage, and great love for yourself and your fellow (wo)man.
Justice will surely follow.
My journey, over the past sixty-seven years, has been challenging and the flame, for most of those years, has been weak, but now it burns brightly and today I am a Goddess and a Warrior.
Reading my daughter’s blog today gave me much pause for reflection.
In my heart, I was a feminist when feminism was a dirty word. I strove to raise my daughters to be strong, independent women, fearless women who would take on the world without fear. I wanted them to be all they wanted to be and live life without regrets. But I didn’t know how to be truly independent – that independence was finding myself, being true to myself, being confident in myself, loving myself. I only knew that I wanted more for them, as women, than I had.
The focus of my daughter’s recent blog was social justice and the power that we have to effect action and change. I have spent the better portion of my life, and am still very active, in the pursuit of social justice and change. But, I believe, with every fibre of my being, that we cannot effectively advocate for others unless the true spirit of feminism burns within us. I believe a feminist is a Goddess and a Warrior.
As I have already stated, I have spent a major portion of my life advocating for those marginalized members of our society, but, in retrospect, I was not coming from a point of inner strength and confidence – I was doing it because I felt a moral obligation to help those less fortunate than myself. Helping others filled a void in my life and helped me justify my existence.
Selfish reasons.
I am not saying that activism for self-serving purposes negates the accomplishments. I am saying, for me, being a feminist is not feeling the need to justify your place in this world. Being a Goddess and a Warrior means moving through this world with compassion, with courage, and great love for yourself and your fellow (wo)man.
Justice will surely follow.
My journey, over the past sixty-seven years, has been challenging and the flame, for most of those years, has been weak, but now it burns brightly and today I am a Goddess and a Warrior.
so glad to see you back.
ReplyDeleteI can quote the words of a great Pope: "Whoever wants to realize Paradise on this earth will bring it only hell.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot eliminate the social injustice because this is our human life.
What most of all matters is the inner strenght and interior peace.
The book I have recently written may help in this direction and I want to draw it to your attention, as you may be interested in it. Thje title is "Travels Of The Mind" and it is available at http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TravelsOfTheMind.html
If you have any questions, I am most willing to offer my views on this topic.
Ettore Grillo
Email: ettoregrillo@inwind.it
I don't,for one minute, believe social injustice will ever be eliminated, but that does not stop me from doing what I can to make my community a better place. I could not find inner peace if I did nothing because I equated social injustice with human life.
ReplyDeleteHerBad Grandma
I'm with you; I will not stop doing what I can to make my community a better place either, along side you, with you, spurred on by your resolve, thank you for that reminder. Thank you for your resolve, and I'm glad to hear that your flame is strong. You go Goddess/Warrior, you go; and we'll go right along side you.
ReplyDeleteI keep on coming back, and was so happy
ReplyDeleteto see that you had written. Happier still,
to read the content. Bravo. Truly. No wonder
I kept on coming back, I was waiting for your
words. And what a warrior/goddess you are.
I'm right there with you - side by side -
I used to say that I was 7 going on 70 ;) yet
it has taken these years to actually, maybe
presumptuously ? .. really understand what you
are saying (my perception, of course).
You do make a difference, in more lives than
you know. Thank you.
Cathi
We shall go into the night burning brightly until all is lit as the day...we shall walk amongst our fellow (wo)man and cause no harm...we shall offer our hands in assistance where needed no matter how great the need be...and with all of us together we shall be free.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you back. Love this post, and to some feminist is still a dirty word. But not with me. Social injustice will always remain within society, but I will do my best to fight for and make right what I can. I hope I have instilled this drive in both of my children, and as my daughter matures, and is now graduating from high school, I have seen that she has the fire as well. It is a wonderful thing.
ReplyDeleteOnce again I'm glad to see you back.
much love from a fellow Goddess and Warrior.
I hope you are doing well and can have a very Merry Christmas and happy holiday season with your family.
ReplyDeleteGood thoughts and prayers to you and to all you love.