International Women's Day today...

"International Women’s Day has been celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women." ~ UNWomen.org

It's Carnival Tuesday in Trinidad and Tobago... International Women's Day all over the world (in fact the 100th anniversary of celebrating International Women's Day). Am wondering how many Trinis are aware of the fact... how many of our women are celebrating being a woman and all it entails. Was most interested in the perspective brought forward in this post by Simone Leid, founder of the WomenSpeak Project. Am moved by the messages posted by the Executive Director of UN Women Michelle Bachelet and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

I have always been happy to be a woman (except at certain times each month when I'm not happy - but.. tolerant). I am comfortable in my own skin. I have been lucky in that my family is supportive - I am well-fed... well-educated... if there is anything I would like to do or anything that I would like to be I know that I would be supported (whole-heartedly by my mom... somewhat pragmatically by my dad). It is a gift that I appreciate. 

I've always been interested in learning about feminine principles - goddess culture, shakti. As a woman I am attuned to the movements of the moon - the cycles of the seasons. Perhaps it is the mystic in me. For me being a woman is about care-taking... of ourselves, our homes, our families, our work, our world. It is something precious.  

Today I celebrate along with everyone else the beauty of women. Happy International Women's Day 2011 :)

peace,

Ren