Today is International Women's Day. While it's not as widely celebrated in the USA and Canada (yet), there's definitely a swell of support for the holiday and the attention it brings to women's concerns globally. In many cities, like New York, women took today to gather together and raise awareness for their concerns.
{International Women's Day celebrated in Spain, photo courtesy Wikimedia}
We'd like to celebrate the holiday by bringing attention to inspirational women, and asking you to think about the women who have inspired you in your life. Whether your inspirational woman is public figure or your mother, grandmother, aunt or sister - today is a day to recall how the example she set has helped you become who you are.
Several other blogs have similar posts today, and in particular, I like the post on Cisco's blog (the computer technology company) about inspirational women in the Middle East. Also, the blog post on the Huffington Post by musician Madonna (herself an inspirational woman for her longevity in the music industry) is worth a look.
Who is a woman that I find inspirational?
Personally, I'm drawn to Depression-era photographer Dorothea Lange. She used her significant artistic skill to turn attention to those less fortunate in a compassionate and emotional way. Lange also overcame significant personal challenges, in her personal life (in terms of health and family issues) and her professional life (working in a specialty dominated by men). I believe there's much to be learned from Dorothea Lange, in the way she tied her professional pursuits to a larger cause.
Have you told your inspirational woman what she means to you? Maybe today is the day! Whether you send her a gift, make a phone call, write a letter or simply try to pass along the inspiration to someone else in your life, take the initiative today!
