For the Ladies.....

Today, as I was sitting in class, we were reading from a book of a woman who is considered one of the founders of the field of social work. While we were reading and discussing, I found myself distracted and had a "moment" - I guess you would call it.

I have never taken the time to REALLY think about what a great gift I have in being born when I was. I realized today that I take my education, voting rights and right to work for granted many times. It was only 1920 that women were finally given the right to vote as men had been participating in for YEARS in this country. Women have only had the right to vote for 88 years now. How that pales in comparison to the years that our country has existed. I don't often think of the women who marched, fought, spent time in jail and sacrificed the comforts of their lives to make my life so privileged and comfortable.

Even in today's standards, how lucky am I to be working on a Master's Degree?!?! There are many women who will never get a chance at a college education, let alone, a master's degree. There is a small part of me that would love to have causes to march to like those women had. There are many things I could march to and support now, but I guess I haven't taken the time to consider what social justices I feel so passionate about. What can I do today that will enhance my niece's life when she is my age? What can I do for the women of the world who have little or no rights? I am sure this is a question everyone searches out many times in their lives, and I guess it is my time in the spotlight to consider such things.

So to the women of the past, present and future who did, will continue and will inspire me to be thankful for my rights to speech, thought, voting, education and the right to be an equal human being - THANK YOU. I hope my life and daily actions will be an appreciation of those rights others have fought so valiantly for. Whatever your passion or journey in this life brings to you or has already begun in you, may it inspire you as deeply as the women who marched and struggled for equal rights for me - without ever seeing my face or knowing my name!

I leave you with this quote:

"Remember our heritage is our power; we can know ourselves and our capacities by seeing that other women have been strong."

-- Judy Chicago

(taken from http://www.betterworld.net/quotes/women-quotes.htm)

Please feel free to leave your thoughts and what inspires you. I would LOVE to hear it!!