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“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” Marie Curie
Motivation Mondays: International Women’s Day #GenerationEquality #EachforEqual
UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS: International Women’s Day 2020 – United Nations Observance
Where there is a woman, there is magic. Ntozake Shange
The Generation Equality campaign is bringing together people of every gender, age, ethnicity, race, religion, and country, to drive actions that will create the gender-equal world we all deserve. UNWomen
A gender-equal society would be one where the word ‘gender’ does not exist: where everyone can be themselves. Gloria Steinem
True equality means holding everyone accountable in the same way, regardless of race, gender, faith, ethnicity – or political ideology. Monica Crowley
Give voice to what you know to be true, and do not be afraid of being disliked or exiled. I think that’s the hard work of standing up for what you see. Eve Ensler
It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent. Madeleine Albright
Women’s History Month: Today is International Women’s Day and the themes for this year are “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights” (UNW) and “An equal world is an enabled world #EachforEqual”(IWD) The first National Women’s Day was held in 1908-9 in New York City. It has grown from that first inspired outing, by a group of women who wanted our voices and needs to be heard, into a global event celebrated by women and girls around the world. UNWomen has always been a dedicated champion of the event and, since 1996, it has created themes to help us focus on key issues of paramount and international concern for our gender. The UN themes from 1996 to date are below. Do any of the topics or issues resonate with you or women you know? Do you even care about the subject? Why/Whynot? Over the years, these topics have had an impact on the lives of millions of women and some have had a direct impact on my life as well. By bringing these issues to the forefront, it has enabled UNWomen, NGOs, and government agencies to review their policies and make necessary changes. While some of the 193 member states of the UN might not have effective policies that support equality, many continue to create opportunities for gender equity and change.
UNWomen International Women’s Day Themes:
1996 Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future
1997 Women and the Peace Table
1998 Women and Human Rights
1999 World Free of Violence Against Women
2000 Women Uniting for Peace
2001 Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts
2002 Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities
2003 Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals
2004 Women and HIV/AIDS
2005 Gender Equality Beyond 2005; Building a More Secure Future
2006 Women in Decision-making
2007 Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women and Girls
2008 Investing in Women and Girls
2009 Women and Men United to End Violence Against Women and Girls
2010 Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All
2011 Equal Access to Education, Training, and Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women
2012 Empower Rural Women, End Poverty, and Hunger
2013 A Promise is a Promise: Time for Action to End Violence Against Women
2014 Equality for Women is Progress for All
2015 Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!
2016 Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality
2017 Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030
2018 Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives
2019 Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change
2020 I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights
Applying the Principles of Generation Equality and Each for Equal: In case you are wondering how to apply the principles of each theme to your life and within your community, I have some helpful tips to share. The IWD Each for Equal theme/campaign has suggested that we Use the hashtag #eachforequal to remind everyone that we are part of the solution to building a gender-equal world. It requires that we remember “Collective Individualism‘ as making individual changes for the collective, Strike the #EachforEqual pose to motivate others, Engage in a year-long activity and collaboration with others, Take collective action and shared responsibility for change, Amplify via social media, and Take decisive action to bring about gender equality dialogue and change wherever we are. It takes individual action to build and grow a collective.
The UNW Generation Equality theme/campaign offers 12 tips to help lay and sustain a foundation of gender equality in our communities and households. These simple everyday actions can bring about great progress; Share the care in your home by sharing chores and shifting ideas about gender-specific roles, Call out sexism and harassment without fear of recrimination, Reject the binary – It’s humankind. Not mankind, Demand an equal work culture, Exercise your political rights, Shop responsibly and pick eco-friendly products from socially responsible companies, Amplify feminist books, movies and more, Teach girls that they are worthy by not reinforcing gender stereotypes, Challenge what it means to “be a man” by seeing the whole person, not the stereotype, Commit to a cause and donate time/money, Challenge beauty standards that perpetuate unrealistic visions of femininity and, above all, Respect the choices of others.
READ:- Motivation Mondays: International Women’s Day – #IWD2019 #BalanceforBetter #InnovateForChange
Motivation Mondays: International Women’s Day #TimeisNow
Motivation Mondays: International Women’s Day #BeBoldForChange
Motivation Mondays: International Women’s Day #IWD2016
Across Women’s Lives: Major Issues Facing Females Globally
Motivation Mondays: Women’s History Month
Motivation 2020: Heart to Heart
“The one thing we can never get enough of is love. And the one thing we never give enough is love.” Henry Miller
Motivation 2020: Heart to Heart
History of the Holidays: History of Valentines Day | History
Swae Lee – Won’t Be Late ft. Drake (Lyric Video)
VALENTINE’S DAY: Happy Valentine’s Day! What do you know about Valentine’s Day? One thing I love about February is that it pulls together several subjects that are dear to so many hearts. It’s Heart Health Month, Black History Month, and Lovers Month, and Presidents’ Day also falls in the same month, reminding us that democracy and freedom of the press are paramount to global peace. On February 14th, in many countries around the world, lovers give each other gifts, cards and delicious treats in celebration of the love they share. According to historical sources, this popular love-fest is held in remembrance of possibly three (3) martyred Saints named Valentine: a priest, a bishop, and a Christian missionary in Africa. In some circles, it is believed that the special day was created by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496. Yet other accounts suggest that Valentine’s Day is an observance of Lupercalia, an ancient fertility rite, and that any ties to the aforementioned saints are merely coincidental.
Some believe the tradition dates back to the time of Claudius I, when young men sacrificed by going to war instead of staying home to raise a family; the celebration honored the wish of those left behind for the safe return of their loved one. The wistful sentiments that arise on this day prevail as lovers return to share a gift or a special moment and memory with their beloved. How you choose to spend this day is entirely up to you. Yes, love ought to be an everyday affair, but take a moment to let your loved ones know you care by giving them a little extra attention. Please, don’t forget to indulge yourself a bit too. Self-care and loving others go hand in hand… Enjoy the life you have and LIVE! Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Valentine’s Day! ENJOY THE MUSIC! 😉
A Valentine – Poem by James Russell Lowell
Let others wonder what fair face
Upon their path shall shine,
And, fancying half, half hoping, trace
Some maiden shape of tenderest grace
To be their Valentine.
Let other hearts with tremor sweet
One secret wish enshrine
That Fate may lead their happy feet
Fair Julia in the lane to meet
To be their Valentine.
But I, far happier, am secure;
I know the eyes benign,
The face more beautiful and pure
Than fancy’s fairest portraiture
That mark my Valentine.
More than when first I singled, thee,
This only prayer is mine,-
That, in the years I yet shall see.
As, darling, in the past, thou’ll be
My happy Valentine.
James Russell Lowell via Poemhunter
The Gardener By Mary Oliver
Have I lived enough?
Have I loved enough?
Have I considered Right Action enough, have I come to any conclusion?
Have I experienced happiness with sufficient gratitude?
Have I endured loneliness with grace?
I say this, or perhaps I’m just thinking it.
Actually, I probably think too much.
Then I step out into the garden,
where the gardener, who is said to be a simple man,
is tending his children, the roses. via thenaturewithinus
READ: Motivation Mondays: Beyond Valentine’s Day
Motivation Mondays: LOVE Is… #HappyValentinesDay
Motivation Mondays: Valentine’s Day Tips
Motivation Mondays: Happy Valentine’s Day
“There comes a time when silence is betrayal.” Martin Luther King, Jr
Motivation Mondays: Silence Is Betrayal – #MLKDAY
Motivation Mondays: Silence Is Betrayal – #MLKDAY
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. | The View
MLK Talks ‘New Phase’ Of Civil Rights Struggle, 11 Months Before His Assassination | NBC News
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.
Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.
We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.
Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Martin Luther King, Jr
Silence is Betrayal:– As we approach both Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday on the 15th and the 25th anniversary of the Federal government designated holiday – MLK Day on the 20th, I’ve decided to revisit some of his words of wisdom on the subject of SILENCE because they are applicable to all areas of our lives. Even though Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spent less than 13 years, from December 1955 to April 4, 1968, as a key leader of the modern American Civil Rights Movement, he left behind an impressive, inspired body of work that remains a timeless legacy of his passion for peace, unity, and equality. His vision, his philosophy, and his quotes are infused with the same degree of passion and advice he had for us as a community of people who share a common inextricable destiny as humans on this planet. If we consider his message on the dangers of silence, we soon realize that being silent about evil or injustice will inevitably have an impact on our lives. To turn a blind eye in the face of evil and pretend it is not happening or to wish it away is not going to change the situation.
How are we using silence to negate ourselves and others? As a matter of fact, the more we ignore an issue, the more we resist a condition, the more it persists and festers. When we refuse to be silenced by our oppressors in the workplace, at home, our schools and elsewhere, we are taking a stand to end the abuse against us and also against others. Every time we stand up and speak out against acts of violence, discrimination, and the negation of our existence, we are also speaking for the voiceless and facilitating change. When we see something and say nothing, we might give an excuse that it is none of our business but, the actions we ignore can someday lead to more pain and suffering for people close to us or, frankly, for us. To be proactive about ending violence, workplace harassment, and other forms of abuse/discrimination, we must all become engineers of change. Each of us must answer the following questions and search our conscience on why we choose to sit back and turn away from the suffering and denial of basic rights and aid for others: What are you doing for others? How is the tyranny of silence affecting our relationships and other areas of our lives? Read the quotes, poems and watch the videos and reflect on them.
To Be or Not to Be SILENT: Please do NOT confuse the silence discussed here with the silence we observe when we are being contemplative or reflective about issues that need to be carefully weighed. Let’s not confuse the silence explored here with the silence I wrote about in another blog post on SILENCE or Haiku on the POWER of SILENCE. This post is completely different from those posts because this is written in the context of Dr. King’s legacy, the Civil Rights Movement, and his efforts against racial discrimination, poverty, and inequality. We can choose to be silent whenever we want. The points being raised here have to do with oppression, discrimination, and abuse. There is NEVER a good excuse for remaining silent in the face of oppression, discrimination, and hate. Come Back For More!
READ:- Motivation Mondays: Reflections on #MLKDAY 2019
Motivation Mondays: Walk in the Light #MLKDay 2018
Motivation Mondays: Why Does #MLKDAY Matter? 2017
Martin Luther King, Jr. at Columbia | Columbia Magazine
Breaking The Silence by Lovina Sylvia Chidi
Shush! Silence
I’m breaking the silence
As I finish this sentence
Six months ago
My heart said yes
My head said no, go slow
In my silence I hid the truth, expressing fear
In my silence I hid my feelings, registering no care
In my silence I hid my thoughts, refusing to share
Any of my ideas
Prosperous is the silence
Abundance of it can turn life
Into a nasty experience
Shush! Silence
I’m breaking the silence
As I finish this sentence
Ceaselessly I’ve combated with my conscience
Endlessly in silence, I exposed my defense
Allowing all to penetrate my territory without a valid license
I should have said no with my voice
I should have asked why by making some noise
In silence, I created an air of suspense
And they capitalized on it in my absence
In silence, all my thoughts mingled
Some of which should have been singled
Shush! Silence
I’m breaking the silence
As I finish this sentence
Silence I demand
Give back to me my independence
