Sisterhood

Two more of my gorgeous nieces, an army of witchlings growing…

Musing on sisterhood on International Womens Day and the world our girls are growing up in as they seek their far horizons and look to shape their world. I stole a precious hour last Sunday with two of my beautiful nieces, both boldly walking that sometimes shaky bridge between girl and woman, shielded by their lioness mothers - my sisters - as they begin make their way.

We teach our girls by our own example: by how and who and what we love, protect, care for, fight for. By how we feel and speak about ourselves and others. By extending untrammelled freedom to these beautiful buds to bloom into whatever shape or colour they choose. Because we can. Because they can, and will.

The generation on whose shoulders I stand fought for equal rights. The ones prior fought to vote and to be considered part of the conversation. Before that women fought for education, for recognition, for their very freedom. Many in this world are still fighting for these basic rights while I'm still watching ads about pocket money made by banks who don't pay equal wages or have equal corporate governance or representation. On the one (one!) day of the year it is in their interest to do so.

So yes, there is still much to do. We can change the world little by little, starting with the patch we inhabit and those who fill it. Then come the ripples as we join hearts and hands and the message spreads like the wildfires we are. Sisterhood is the trunk that supports and nourishes all the many branches as they grow strong. I am so grateful to all those who are my sisters, who hold me up and cheer me on and share my grins and grimaces. I'm learning how to be grateful to those who don't, for what they still forge and fire in me. And I'm beaming at these great girls so wonderfully on their way and watching for how they will continue to weave and craft this world.

Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it, possibly without claiming it, she stands up for all women.
~ Maya Angelou

Words c. Kerrie Basha, 2016