International Women’s Day!   What does that mean to you?

What can you DO? What can we do together For a gender balanced world.  #balance for better. That means ensuring that feminism activism (women and men) centres and listen to the most vulnerable —- poor women, trans women, women of colour women with disabilities, queer women and women who are sexual survivors.  Today and everyday.

Everyone  has the right to speak up, to live in a violent free home and workplace.

Everyone deserves to feel safe in public spaces. Sadly that is not the reality for millions of women and girls.

Imagine fleeing your home, family leaving everything you know behind just because you are a girl!

Recently Canada helped rescue Rahaf Mohammed, who made her risky escape from Saudi Arabia to Canada in January. She  was one of the many women a secret  network have helped leave a country where a women’s freedom and life is not valued.   A private chat group of women help guide girls and women fleeing oppression in Saudi Arabia, UAE.

Social media has been used as weapon why not use as a tool for change. Positive change?

Everyone can make a difference. Think global and act local. One voice your voice can make a difference.  Speaking up, Finding your voice is not about the volume but in our actions and reactions.

Find your voice and be empowered.

An empowered woman does not judge or condemn other women for their successes.

An empowered women respects other women and their boundaries.

An empowered woman gives other women a hand up not a push down.

We learn from our mistakes. None of us is perfect!!  Never too late to try something new.

Today celebrate the beauty of you, the uniqueness  and stories of all women who are in your life. Learn to value your voice,    speak up for yourself and those who remain silent. There are women who suffer under repression, domestic violence in our own town. Ask yourself how can I empower others?

Take action. Yes you can!

Together women can make amazing positive changes that ripple around the world.

Mother Theresa, “ I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples”     This day is for you!

Today celebrate International Womens day, today celebrate you.