I’m not scared. I believe in the women.
My friend Leslie and I were talking the other day about the state of the world and how the young women in our lives are filled with angst about it. Here’s how I see it:
Yes, it is easy to make a case that we’re basically fucked. Women’s right to choose being stripped away, climate change, the economy, racism, increasing divisiveness, on and on. It seems grim.
None of this is new. Every generation has had to fight these battles. They may look different, but it’s the same themes. And you know how we prevail? Because the women lead.
We may lead from underground - stitching quilts to show the map of the Underground Railroad for slaves to escape safely.
We may lead quietly - the witch in the woods that grows the healing herbs that other women come for after dark.
We may lead loudly - the suffragettes who marched for the right to vote. My great great aunt Nellie Dawson, pictured her, was among them.
The ways we lead will differ. The ways we’re repressed will differ. What does not differ is that women will not give up. We will band together. We will help each other. We will not stop. We will lead in whatever way we are called. We will figure out a way forward. I believe in the women.
We all have gifts to contribute and we need them all.
You may be the fighter with the picket sign at the State House (my niece).
You may be the one who pulls together the email of practical ways and templates to make it easy for others to voice their opinions on the issue at hand (my sister-in-law just sent a wonderful email about pro-choice action steps. LMK if you want it).
You may read the book about climate change and share practical ways that each of us can help (like my friend Dara just did).
You may move back to your family farm to regenerate the land and cultivate healthy food for your friends and family (like my sister is doing).
You may be called to be a support to those people by offering gatherings and energy healing (like I am doing).
You may be called to affect policy in DC (like my friend Rylin is doing).
All around me I see women stepping up to do their part to make things better. So what is the gift that you want to contribute? Because the world needs you, my friend.