What is it about birthdays; especially when we are over 40, that tends to make us so reflective? My March birthday sent my mind into a swirl of memories, reflection and unanswerable questions. As the dust is starting to settle on my mental tornado I am left standing in the middle of it all; just me with no roles, descriptives or excuses.
And now a few weeks later there is the untimely injury and subsequent death of Natasha Richardson. A writer from the National Post noted how unseemly it was that she was being referred to as Liam Neeson’s wife in the headlines. While those words may attract the readers attention; Natasha Richardson was so much more than that one characterization.
As women we all willingly embrace our roles, positions and accomplishments; however we need to make sure that we are also defining, improving and taking care of the individual being that we are. As it is from that singular person named Jill, Natasha or Mary that everything else emanates.
There are points in time when she, as our individual self will see another year go by or sadly lose her life and it is she who must be celebrated and remembered at that particular moment. In honour of my birthday, Natasha Richardson; (board member of Amfar, tireless speaker on AIDS & HIV, gourmet cook) and International Women’s Day, I want to share with you the accomplishments of four women who have stood in the center of their life and chosen their path.
- Vivian Glyck, Founder of Just Like My Child
- Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi
- Kay McElroy was forever changed by one sick cougar cub
- Environmentalist, Sheila Watt-Cloutier
It is through working on ourselves as women that our life takes the shape that we want it to and in turn we pass that on to those around us.
