Here's to being Female

"Being born a girl was probably the coolest thing ever." -Tinisha Shade

On this last day of March Friday night Thought Tale Hour, I want to make one final toast to being female. This month holds a day dedicated to women,(March 8) and the beginning of Spring. Here's a post from a couple of years ago that I wrote about my perspective on being female. As my dear friend, Tinisha states, it is one of the coolest things ever, and also one of the most challenging. As a mother and grandmother, I can now relate to the position of cheering from the sidelines while holding one's breath, slightly clenched fist behind your back. So I hope you will join me in a toast to being female tonight. We will be drinking a nice glass of Chardonnay called "Calling All Angels". Sometimes, it feels like that is all we can do. CHEERS.

More to the story...

It’s Friday Night, so it must be time for another Thought Tale Hour at the Henderson’s.  Tonight, we have the pleasure of being joined by our oldest daughter, Michaela.  As I was preparing for this evening and deciding what I wanted to toast to, I noted that today is “International Day of the Woman”.  As a woman born in the early 60’s, I am of the generation who realized the benefits other women who sacrificed much for things like the right to vote, and the right to be a part of the workforce of our choosing.  As I look at my daughters and the next generation of women, I am hopeful that the true intention of ‘equality’ will continue to benefit not just our gender, but truly all humanity.  We can contribute to this in ways that sometimes go unnoticed.

What does it mean to be female, and how do the attributes of femininity contribute to a stronger and more sustainable society?  These are important questions that go beyond ‘rights’ - no matter how important we might think those may be.

Raising children has certainly become more complicated, but raising a daughter has become tremendously so.  Women have more choices, true,  but society is not always ready for them to make them.  We don’t only have to raise our daughters to believe they can do whatever they feel is their calling, but also to be ready to face opposition regarding their path.  This is not only true for the woman who wants to put career ahead of having a family, but also for those who think a family is her sole calling.  For most of our daughters, there isn’t a one choice option.  Our standards of living have brought the reality that two incomes are needed to provide for even the basics.  Where does this leave our daughters?  Freer or even more burdened than ever before? Blossoming into their calling, or clawing at a desire?

Providing the tools to #makeithappen

Female bonds are powerful.

I believe my parents saw me not as a female only, but a person who had enormous potential.  But certainly, my ancestors did believe there were limits to what could come of the potential of a woman.  Perhaps the greatest gift my generation has given to our daughters is to demonstrate the removal of many of those limits, while still celebrating the fabulous ways a woman is unique. We were the first, following the crusaders of the baby boom gen, to test the waters of finding ways to 'have it all'. But we often found that some limits were there to protect the beauty of the unique parts of being a woman. From my perspective, sometimes we just simply tried too hard to be it 'all' vs. having it 'all' together.

My kind of woman.

For me, I found an example of true womanhood in a place where I find wisdom. The Book of Proverbs, written by an Inspired man,  offers the description of an amazing woman in Proverbs 31. From verse 10 on, it speaks of a ‘wife’ of noble character.  It goes on to talk about how she is a merchant, a homemaker, a farmer, an economist, a director, and a caretaker. It speaks of her in no way as being unique, but more of a sort of role model for every day living.  No limits in her life, and her spouse and children recognize her strength.  ‘Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting’ – focus instead on what is lasting and recognize what is truly eternal.  Wisdom that is thousands of years old, but still better than anything you’ll find out there. Still an inspirational example of not just a good woman, but a great and responsible human. She's got it together.... All of it.

So tonight, on this day of the Woman, we are toasting to our daughters, and the daughters that may follow in their lives. We are drinking a cocktail called “Pretty in Pink”.  Here’s to the amazing things they have and will accomplish, with a uniqueness that only they can bring.  CHEERS FRIENDS!

Joy’s ‘Pretty in Pink’ Daiquiri

2 oz Rum

2 oz Pom Juice

2 oz Milk

Ice

Blend together and pour in martini glasses.  Garnish with fruit.