March 8, 2017
Written by Carmen Pitre, President & CEO of Sojourner
I invite you to #BeBoldForChange on behalf of all of the women who have helped and inspired you. On this important day, may you remember the women who made you who you are, who gave you your greatest gifts and those who held the light for you when you needed it most.
I am inspired by the women who carry on in spite of all that has hurt them in their lives. I am inspired by the women who find a way to make it through the pain and still find a way to show up for their lives, their children, and their families.
Trauma walks with us and has the potential to cast a shadow over our entire lives. Yet, the majority of us find the strength to get up and show up in the day-to-day moments of our life. This courage, this grace, and this miracle comes to us through other people who help us hold on and make it through the challenges of our lives. When we are broken open, we need to be able to count on others to be there for us.
Here are three things you can do to celebrate women and create change in your own life:
Be Bold, Remember, and Be Grateful
The first step to being bold is remembering your mentor’s names, who they were, and what they have given to you that has been of benefit to your life. Remember who paid you to be here and how much you have been handed to help you along your way. For me, salvation has come from a long line of women who refused to give up on me; Women who believed in me long before I could find any value in who I was or why I was sent here.
Be Bold, Heal, and Move Forward
I owe a debt of gratitude to the strong women (and men) in my life. Through their lives, example, and many sacrifices, I was shown how to move toward a better life. My ancestors want me to heal. They want me to have a full and joyful life. Who am I to deny myself this growth after they have paid the price for my moving forward? I can repay this debt by investing in myself, loving myself and making a commitment to heal all the things that I use to work against myself.
Be Bold, Speak Truth, and Help Others
While my own healing is critically important to my ability to show up in my life, it is also equally important for me to invest in other women. I must tell the truth of my life so that I can connect with others and help them move forward toward wholeness. Would it not be valuable if we stopped pretending about our lives? Let us tell the truth about who we are in our brokenness as a way of connecting and helping each other across the river of our lives.
#BeBoldForChange today on behalf of all the women you have known.
Sojourner is Wisconsin’s largest service provider for families dealing with domestic violence. With a multi-million dollar annual budget, Pitre leads a staff that provides crisis housing, system advocacy, and individual support to thousands of women, men and their children. Learn more about the work of Sojourner.
Know an incredible woman making change in our community? Nominate her for a P5 award
Looking to give back and unite with other philanthropic women in our region? Learn more about Women United.