The women I love

It's International Womens Day today. It's a day I didn't really think about until I ran an IWD event. This was when I worked at a local council in event management. One of my key events during the contract was a breakfast for the community in celebration of IWD. We had a great event, fantastic speakers, so many door prizes it wasn't funny. And no-one came. Well, next to no-one. And I was bummed about it. Why weren't women my age interested in celebrating IWD? Why didn't we gather to appreciate and commemorate the women who have come before us, making some of the most important inroads towards where we are today? Why didn't we take the time to remind each other how much support, or inspiration, or joy we get from each other?

I've wanted to run an event of my own for IWD every year. Unfortunately, time and other commitments have meant it hasn't happened. But I do mark the occasion by taking the time to connect to other women in ways that I find meaningful. This year I'll do the same. I've just been reminded though, that I really do know (and love) some exceptional women.

One of my dearest friends has just been accepted into the NYU Stern Class of 2011. This is no mean feat. And frankly, this is probably not the most remarkable of her many achievements. Another of the girls I love most is just about to embark on another solo show in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. She's made choices in her life that other people wouldn't have dared to make; she's had an 'it' job that looks great from the outside, but it didn't fulfill her. So she followed her heart, and she's doing something she loves and working hard at. In a man's world, no less. I watched a talented, gorgeous friend come out at our homophobic all-girl's religious high school and hold her head high despite other people wanting her to hide or be ashamed. Women I admire have gone out on a limb to produce magazines and media which has challenged the current landscape and offered a unique creative outlet for themselves, but always others. We all benefit from their work, but they do it for the work, not the kudos or the limelight.

My mother has faced, and overcome, breast cancer twice in the last five years. My grandmother, who passed away just over a year ago, defeated breast cancer with a mastectomy, survived a brain tumor and dealt with Alzheimer's bravely until she was unable to anymore. My aunt lost her infant to SIDS, but went on to have two healthy, happy daughters that she is able to love wholeheartedly and without reservation. She works a job she doesn't necessarily love to give them the education she values and to make sure they never grow up in the poverty she did. A high school girlfriend gave birth to a healthy baby girl last week, taking on the challenge of a highly demanding career and motherhood combined. Another of my oldest friends is a single mother who has just completed her PhD while raising the most centred, happy four year old I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. I have two sisters-in-law. One is an artist of amazing talents, who continues to create and express herself regardless of her MS or the challenges of juggling mothering, creativity and daily life. The other is happily childless by choice, following her career path with gusto and constantly amazing me with her down to earth supportive, practical involvement in everyone else's life whether she agrees with their choices or not. My cousin is the first, and only, accredited female glazier in Australia and has just taken time off after the birth of her daughter.

The women in my life are strong in the face of mental and physical illness and disability. They work, study, volunteer, support their spouses, extend friendship, manage families, nurture others, keep their creative sparks alive, follow their dreams and support other people's dreams. They inspire me. Not to compete or measure myself against them. Just to keep believing that even with all the obstacles in our way, we should strive for equality on all fronts. For ourselves and others. We shouldn't be discouraged, because individually and collectively, we're amazing. Sometimes it's easy to feel detached, but really, I'm part of this community of women, and I'm prouder of that than I am about anything else I can think of right now. My mother doesn't think she's a feminist, but she instilled in me every value that makes me proudly identify as feminist. It may sound corny, but just this one time per year, I like to remind myself that I am part of a community of women, and we stand together.

Thanks to the many female bloggers who help me to feel part of their experiences, and to participate in a community of women who help me to face my own challenges*. From the Hoydens to The Dawn Chorus, Blue Milk, Sorrow at Sills Bend, Eglantine's Cake, Audrey Apple, Kate Harding, TigTog's Feminism 101 Blog, The Rachel Papers, Bye Bye Pie, Mel Campbell, Jess Friedman, Courteney Hocking, Amoir, Blossom Creations, One Red Robin, Ink & Spindle, Hollabee, Meet Me at Mikes, Mizu, Instinct & Grace, Polka Dot Rabbit, Green Renters, Boobook, Postcards From Insanity, Busy Intersection, Mallee Native Plants, and One Good Thing to mention but a few of my daily doses... thank you. I admire each and every one of you. Thanks for keeping me inspired.

Thus ends the sap. I'm so not a sappy person, but I get like this about these women. Sometimes you just have to share the love, y'know?

*It must be stated that I am a serial lurker, and find it difficult to introduce myself in the comments sections of blogs, so many of these women probably don't even know I read them every day. I do. I've probably also read their entire blog from the very beginning, just because I'm obsessive like that. Not stalker style. Just curious about other people's lives. That's my excuse, anyway.