Rise Up

Women will save the world.

I set aside a large part of myself during the past few years and I am only just beginning to realize the extent to which it happened. The human spirit works like this – powering up in the areas necessary to navigate the current chapter, while other valuable parts of ourselves remain idle and in the back seat.

This is in no way a recrimination of me or anyone else. It’s just how life works. It’s not as though those dormant yet valuable gifts and talents go away forever. They rise up when it’s time.

This past Saturday, I hired a talented photographer for a creative photo shoot specifically designed for ‘matriarchs’. I was drawn to her idea of honoring women my age, and wanted her to capture shots of me for my next chapter.

If you’ve read my recent writing, you know that I’m exploring ways to use my energy in positive, productive ways to meet our current moment in history. I want my grandchildren to know at some point in the future that I did not sit idly by while our constitutional crisis was occurring.

And the photo shoot inspired me! For almost every shot, I was wearing a crown. Now, I am not saying I’m a queen or anything, though it did feel quite natural to have that bejeweled crown on my head! Wearing it while also wearing a robe with fur sleeves and trim created a real sense of personal empowerment.

I needed this reminder of the power I possess, because it pointed me back toward the work I’ve done over the past many years to empower women. 

I realize the truth, that right now it’s more valuable than ever to re-engage in this work. Because women will save the world.

But don’t just take my word for it. In 2009, the Dalai Lame said 

“The world will be saved by the western woman.” He likely had no idea then what was coming.

He’s not the only religious leader to believe in women. In an article you can find here Pope Francis is quoted from his address on the day before International Women’s Day in 2024,

“Ours is a time seared by hatred in which our human family, which needs to feel the power of love, is instead frequently scarred by violence, war, and ideologies that stifle the noblest feelings of the human heart,” Francis said. “Precisely in this context, the contribution of women is more necessary than ever. For women know how to bring people together with tenderness.” …“women, in fact, with their unique capacity for compassion, their intuitiveness, and their natural inclination to ‘care’ are able, in an outstanding way, to be for society both “intelligence and a heart that loves and unites,” to bring love where love is lacking and humanity where human beings are searching to find their true identity.”

Doesn’t this express exactly what our society desperately needs right now? And I don’t just mean our female political leaders, though there are a few standouts right now who are rising up (AOC, Liz Cheney, Jasmine Crockett, Elizabeth Warren.)

I mean to say that all women have power, whether they are elected officials or soccer moms or grandmothers or single moms. We are loving, creative, empathic, intuitive problem-solvers enthusiastically cheering our children or teams or sisters on (at least when we aren’t confused about who we truly are.)

I was made for this moment, calling on love as a verb.

In my most powerful professional coaching work, I help women get clarity about who they truly are, clearing the path for them to live their life as a full expression of who they came here to be. It’s my gift to help women, especially in midlife,  clear away the clutter so they have the energy to make important differences at work, with their loved ones, and in their communities. I remind them of their innate creativity, and we practice it right alongside our life-changing conversations.

And when these creative, inspired channels open up in them, joy emerges. Women are inspired to rise up in their own unique way.

I’m opening up space in my life to return to this work.

It’s going to take all of us, no matter which politicians you voted for. Women's voices and actions are needed in order to save our children from the real, frightening possibilities we face in our future. We must set an example. We must use our gifts for the betterment of our society, and rise up — not just some of us, all of us..

I want to hear from you. What do you most need right now? What is the truth about yourself that is sitting in the back seat? I really want to know.