Women Re-Birthing the Future

This is a tribute to women as today is International Women’s Day. I don’t think many people celebrate this day. A few women mentioned it to me over the week. I heard some comment on radio about it but pitching it a way of ‘what do women do that men can’t’ so it came down to competition. I wasn’t that interested in that approach, I would have liked to have heard a deeper appreciation about having women in this world, outside of the stereotype. Women are the ones that meet you at the door and offer you a drink, they are often in the kitchen cooking making sure their guests have all they need. I love their hospitality. They ar the ones that support you when you are down and will give time if you feel desperate.

I have a deep respect for women and felt their kindness endlessly in my life. They have always been the ones I go to when I need to discuss ideas, share inspiration, work out problems or have a cry. They hold you up in a sisterhood, and it is a real experience. I felt it all over the world. When you are a woman you can see other women feel comfortable around you, they often smile and will engage you in conversation. I found women are the ones who positively comment on what you are wearing, saying kind words. I love that about women. I don’t see them as the stereotype as I am a woman and I don’t experience the stereotype with women. The world I see is of great strength and intelligence, that has been my experience.

I just heard a women speaking from the Maiti Nepal NGO last night about female trafficking, which is the abuse and rape of young girls. Maiti means ‘Mother’s home’. She has started a NGO to educate and rescued girls from brothels. Her care includes: taking them in, offering free legal advice, giving them education, teaching them life skills, work skills, support and counselling to help bring them back from deep traumas. She has hospice to heal their wounds. I found the woman standing before me very strong, she was slight but her voice was firm and committed. Her vision is a world without trafficking. She has helped 20,000 women. Maiti Nepal give them strength to go on. That is their power. Approximately $6,000 was donated last night but if you want to help women in real need go to www.maitinepal.org, I will post some infomation in the next blog.

Here is a poem dedicated to each and every one of them.

WOMEN RE-BIRTHING THE FUTURE

What is it to be a woman?
It is funny and sunny,
It can be a tough journey,
Open and intimate,
Unnoticed and lonely,
Light humoured and serious,
Hardworking and exhausting,
Flashy bright clothing or casual,
Wild earrings and fashionable,
Dependable and a solid state,
Keeping her bearings straight,
Making sure she is not late,
To meet you,
Where you are,
For she is your equal,
She is a star.

So many woman are running,
On empty,
Full throttle,
Making lists and ticking life off,
Exhausted she kicks off her shoes,
Puts on the kettle,
Settles to have tea with a friend,
Inquiring herbal or blend?
An ancient tea ceremony that all women share,
A moment to reflect and care,
Then the next job is waiting,
For demands are creating,
And there is much expectation on mothers to work,
For women are their brothers and sisters keeper,
They are the teacher that gives guidance and direction,
For they seldom let you down.

Whether a girl playing,
Young woman flirting,
Professional associate working late,
Mothers working part-time,
Or wearing multiple hats,
Life can be subliminal,
Surreal,
A balancing act between home and work,
For she seeks to make life easier for others,
To be all things to everyone,
Lovers under covers,
Cosy and warm,
A safe place to weather lifes storm,
For she will snuggle and huddle,
Cuddle up to you and squeezing your arm,
To remind you that love is not arms length,
For a woman cares how you feel,
She feels to tell you she cares,
To find out if you have healed,
That your family is okay,
She will stay and give her time,
As she leaves she will say have a nice day,
And mean it.

Women of the world host all,
They organise the teas,
They muster the working bee,
They see what needs to be done,
And get on with it,
They configure the platters,
Creatively with social chatter,
Aware of a myriad of needs,
Finding bandaids when it bleeds,
And as they talk,
It is the music of life,
For they are singing sweetly in each others ears,
Discussing fears, tears and cheers,
For women are the silent movers and shakers,
Behind the scenes.

Women are the upholders of moral codes,
They carry enormous loads,
Organising,
Feeding,
Nurturing,
Redesigning,
Recognising changes,
Practical,
Tactical,
Having a giggle,
Walking with a little wiggle,
Emotionally alert,
Not just a pretty skirt,
Communicating a wide range of information,
They are the relay stations,
That keep family informed,
The glue that keeps them together,
They are the social engineers,
Recreating the future.

Women are best friends,
They blend,
They follow the trends,
They are a godsend in times of trouble,
They will go into battle,
For what they think is right,
Without violence they find the middle ground,
Or set things right without a sound,
For they imagine how you feel,
And this is empathy,
They get involved for real,
This is support,
They act on what they know,
This is responsibility,
For they have many abilities,
That are seldom known,
Yet many seeds have been sown,
To bring peace into the home.

Women for me have been there for me,
endlessly,
They care and notice,
Pointing out what they see,
They check in on you emotionally,
They are upfront and straight,
Encourage you to stand up for what is right,
They stay and fight for the plight of their children,
No matter their age,
They can be fierce when on their stage,
Or desperate when stuck in lifes cage,
They sacrifice on scales you can’t believe,
Seeking to be fair,
They try to do it for all,
A free for all,
And when they fall,
They think they are not good enough,
Yet they are so tough,
They take seriously their role,
They bring you in from the cold,
I don’t know how they juggle this life,
How they keep families together and water tight,
How they weather the many storms,
Feeling forlorn they are the backbone of this world.

You can see their children are their world,
And they are the world for children,
Home schooling each precious life,
I fly the kite in celebration of their silent achievements,
For their multi-tasks,
For it is not a simple life,
For women are the wind beneath wings,
And when she sings for you,
She will sing your praises non-stop,
You will never crash land,
She is a light house in the darkest of times,
She is the fine wine that makes life worth living,
And of herself she is truly giving,
Living to give,
For free,
No GST.

She understands,
As she holds your hand,
Gently rocking and stroking your hair,
Whispering in your ear,
The words you need to hear,
Staring into your eyes with love,
She is the dove,
Her strength the rock of Gibraltar,
Rocking civilisations cradle
with strong competent hands,
She is the new land,
Re-birthing real hope for the future.