"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or objects." — Albert Einstein
I took last week off — did you notice?
It had been a busy week for me and I had things to finish that needed my total attention. Having worked
hard up until Wednesday night I was then able to relax and enjoy International Women's Day. I reflected on all those wonderful women who through the ages enabled my sisters and me to enjoy a life very different to theirs. I am reminded of the words of a song written by Carole Etzler Eagleheart, a Unitarian Universalist musician, workshop and worship leader, artist and activist. Unitarian Universalists are a women's heritage group that rejected the constraints of other Christian denominations, sought tolerance for themselves and freely granted tolerance for others. They fought for social change, abolition, temperance, woman's suffrage, pacifism, educational reform and environmentalism and more. It was in this song that I found strength on more than one occasion. These words went deep into the part of me that felt comfortable after many years standing beside women.
"These are the women who endured the struggles, to rise above put downs and strife. They served as they could, for humanity's good, and rose every time to go on. Standing before us, making us strong. Lending their wisdom to help us along. Sharing their vision, sharing a dream. Touching our thoughts, touching our lives, like a deep flowing stream."
It is my hope that as we celebrated many great women, we do not forget that we are all in this life together. There is nothing better for us as women than to be circled by loving, caring men as we live our lives together and raise the next generations. For me this is best said in the last verse of the song: "Stand strong and steadfast, stand brave and true. Others come after, depending on you. Sharing your visions, sharing your dreams. What will you give, what will you add. To that deep flowing stream."
My angels smile and remind me that only in making mistakes will we achieve and succeed. May success be before you my friends. Arohanui.
Shirley-Joy