What an amazing weekend. It was a whirlwind I’ll never forget and never want to forget but it sure gave me a lot of food for thought. Like you, when I have so much on my mind, sometimes I just need to spend five minutes and let it all pour out of my head.
Today’s optional writing prompt comes courtesy of the close of the Women in the World Summit. Look for many more posts in the next few weeks. Until then, I hope my brain dump gives you a little flavor for the thoughts swirling in my head.
Today’s (Optional) Writing Prompt: Have you reached the prime of your life? What do you want to be your legacy?
Here we go…
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If you’ve been watching my tweets or Facebook status at all for the past few days, you might have an inkling that I was at a Very Important Event. It was the Women in the World Summit (which I’ll write more about later in the week) and I attended as a guest of Toyota.
Some of the words that popped into my head as a result of the summit were: amazing, inspirational, fearless, empowered. I listened to story after story that left me either in tears or awe at how so many women around the world have been so brave for the causes that were so passionate, and usually very relevant to them.
The causes ranged from sex trafficking to world economy to women in power to genocide to forced marriage. It opened my eyes and made me realized how uneducated I am in the matters of the world.
And it made some other words pop into my head too like: unaccomplished, old, ambitious, delayed.
What do you do when you are surrounded by inspiration and greatness and it’s a good 10 to 20 years younger than you? What do you do when you’re older than all the rest but feel like maybe you’re just coming into your prime?
My mother always told me that Mary Kay started her company when she was 70 (or so). And Mother Teresa worked until her death. So many late bloomers. I just didn’t want to bloom this late in life. But after hearing so many amazing women tell stories of strength and resistance and courage, I feel like it’s my obligation to make my mark in the world.
One of my favorite lines from the conference was, “It’s time for women to stop being politely angry.”
41 comments
Your mother used to tell you Mary Kay started here business at age 63. I was wrong, it was in 1963, at age 45, older than you. Corrie Ten Boom was 54 when she started her mission in life, much, much older than you. You are making a difference, one life at a time. Sometimes we are not even aware of the lives we touch. Accolades come in many forms and sizes. You are special to many.
That was an awesome comment made only more awesome by the fact that it was said by my own mother.
Thanks, Mommie <3
Fadra, you are incredibly inspiring and wise and informative. I hope somewhere deep down you know these things. I hope you also know, from the wise words of your mother, that age is but a number. The number of years were are given is not as important as what we do with them, and you are doing plenty. 🙂
It’s hard for me to hear compliments, especially powerful ones. But thank you for yours. Sincerely.
Fadra, I’ve followed your Instagram pictures with envy! Such an amazing experience you had. Thanks for sharing them with us. Your prompt this week hits home a lot closer than you can imagine. 🙂
Hoping to catch up on my reading tonight (including yours!)
Remember what the late, great Aaliyah said: age ain’t nothing but a number.Â
How that sentiment echoes through my head frequently…
I love the blogs that talk of family and love and happiness – sure.
I love the ones that share their hearts from darker days so we know we are not alone in our fights.
But the ones that are there are there for the greater good – those are the most inspirational of all.
We can still be the change …Â
now cutting and pasting this for the beginning of my soc post today 😉
You know I loved your post but I am so happy you wrote your comment here. Gives me hope for my writing.
I’m linking up for the first time under my new blog with my new super secret identity 🙂 I think you’ll be able to figure out who it is, tho!! 😉Â
I gotcha 😉
Hoping to get to reading them all tonight!
What an amazing few days you had. I literally cannot wait to hear about it so can I call you? Patience is not my strong suit. Love how empowered you are feeling!
I totally want to plan an NC Blogger Meetup. So many people we could get together. Whaddya say?
Change can come at any age. As long as it makes a difference in your life.Â
Dominique – I LOVE this: “as long as it a makes a difference in your life”
You are a wise woman.
What an incredible event, I can only imagine the swarm of thoughts in your head and cannot wait to read about it! Age is but a number, it’s never too late! You’ve been so amazingly inspirational and have brought so many of us together here with this blog alone. Please recognize yourself for the strong woman you are! Much love!
T
Thank you for your amazingly kind words. Sometimes I shy away from responding to compliments but gosh, I take them all to heart.
I plan on the prime of my life lasting from 30 on. Does it really need to end, as long as we take good care of ourselves?Â
I like that. Prime keeps going.
Ya know, your post was one of the best I’ve read lately. It was all out there and inspiring to read. I do have to say I don’t think you’ve past your prime. You may very well be in it as you are still inspiring people as we type.Â
Thank you, thank you. Maybe we have multiple primes and this is one of them. Either way, I’m going to take the ball and run with it.
What a great idea. I needed a place to put some of this baggage…it was getting heavy. And maybe by dumping it a little bit here, a little bit there, I’ll be able to sort it out easier. Eventually? Anyway. Thanks.
dbstevens, kickingcorners.blogspot.com
Trust me. This exercise does a lot more good than just writing practice. Some of the most powerful posts I’ve read have come from a simple 5 minute brain dump. I’m glad you stopped by!
This has inspired me to get off my rusty dusty and get a move on my forty before forty list!Â
Too late for my 40 before 40. Hmmm, 50 before 50? Sounds scary 🙂
Sometimes those workshops are a great way to get remotivated to reach our goals!
I get motivation in a lot of ways. But it takes a lot to inspire me and I am inspired!
Really enjoyed reading your tweets. I feel so inspired to do something, no matter how small!
My goal is to help everyone who wants to do something figure out how and what. So we can all make a difference!
I LOVED all your tweets from this weekend. I can’t even imagine being in a room filled with such hope in changing the world! And that quote? LOVE!
It was amazing. Just amazing. That’s really the only word I can put on it.
“politely angry”…so much to think on that statement.Â
what’s your passion, fadra? the dream of your heart that just does it for you? that…go do that. and do it big.Â
i hope you realize what an inspiration you are, right now, in this moment. because you are. xoxo.
Alisha – I don’t know yet. I just know that when I left that summit, I wanted to make a video telling everyone to just wake up. Do something. Be something. And I wanted to yell it. Good thing I didn’t do that. Yet.
You are one of my faves, you know that?
Hmmm. “politely angry”. That’s where the catch 22 is for us, isn’t it. We’re allowed to be angry but we’ve been told we have to be polite about it. Wouldn’t want to be put in a position to be called names, would we? I agree that as women we have to speak up more about the things that matter to us, we can still voice our opinions in ways that won’t end up with us being labeled awful things. I’m glad you took away so much inspiration from the event. I appreciate all you do on the Internet, you are creating quite a legacy.
Thank you so much, Gabriela. I think there is a fine line between being angry with cause and just being an angry person. I do think the difference is education and tolerance. Something I plan to focus on.
Excellent point!
I love that last line. As for your question, ”
What do you do when you are surrounded by inspiration and greatness …” for a moment I get deflated feeling sorry for myself – then I snap out of it 😉 (at least once, I mean 5 or so times a month),Â
Kenya – you described it so perfectly. I’ve never felt so big and so small at the same time. But now that I’m back to my comfort zone, it’s easier to feel the big emotions and want to do something about it.
Fadra, I absolutely think you can do amazing things at any age, and it is a great thing for you to feel like you are coming into your prime. Don’t let the fact that you are older than some of the women you saw keep you from making your mark. Go you!
I really don’t feel that old (except when I step on the scale or sometimes look in the mirror) so I suppose it’s a little silly to think that should stop me. I’m ready to keep moving.