Imagine a world filled with women of solutions...

...Invading our web and non-web world. I want to see a world where women are being the change. We are being hammered with desperate statistics: “From 1/5 to 1/2 of women worldwide experience domestic violence during marriage.” “Women represent 2/3 of the more than one billion illiterate adults who have no access to basic education. The majority live in rural areas.” We're not just a statistic. Women form coops. They grow food, cook, work, nurture, and advocate together. And I'm on a quest to find all these innovative women of solutions and tell the stories of women who stopped/ helped prevent domestic violence, of literate rural women who helped build a school... I want to find the sisters who build through perseverance.

Speaking of sisters, I recently received an email forward. I don't like forwards because they usually come from the same serial email forwarders and it always has something to do with somehow, if you don't forward the email on to everyone in your contact list within three minutes of opening said forwarded email, you will have bad luck for 7 years. I normally press delete when that type of email lands in my inbox. But, the following email forward didn't get trashed. I gave it the time of day. It was titled: “Sister-chicks”.(Ok, I don't particularly like the word chick so I've removed it.) But, the forwarded email goes like this:
“WE SISTERS NEED TO STICK TOGETHER - LOVE AND PRAY FOR EACH OTHER - STAND WITH AND FOR EACH OTHER - SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER - YEP - THAT'S WHAT SISTERS DO BEST!!!
YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES TO TELL 10 sisters THAT YOU LOVE THEM (INCLUDING ME)
BECAUSE TOMORROW'S NOT PROMISED ... I LOVE YOU! GO!!!!”

Not really sure why this one got to me! Maybe it is because I learned more sad news today. I learned that a “sister” (former colleague ) suddenly passed away at age 30 last Saturday. So I stop to think, this could have been me. I'm always trying to keep myself busy, work, work is the order of every day. My struggle is to stop for a moment. Just stop. Do something that I haven't done for a while. Like, hanging out with my mom and my ailing 85-year-old grandma. (I love them so. I grew up with just these two female role models but I don't take the time to just have a nice long hang out and tell them thank you and I love you.) So, if someone has the solution for workaholics ... let me know :)

Maybe it is also because I feel that throughout this experience with World Pulse and the Voices of our Future process, I have learned that, encouraging and supporting one another is INDEED what “sisters” do best. And, I feel that being part of this World Pulse (WP) community is empowering on its own. It's amazing how, when you find like-minded women who inspire you, you not only feel but you KNOW that you WILL achieve what you set out. Voices of our Future starts now. It should actually be, “Voices of Our [present which will change and better our] Future. Being a correspondent on WP would help me find those solutions I so desperately seek (with mentoring because, I sometimes lack the motivation to get going.)

So, if you have time (as the forward asks), please take a moment to support a sister to find a solution. It might be through your continuous encouragement on World Pulse and/or it might be through a real-world helping hand. Or, it might be through supporting a local campaign for women's empowerment.

Speaking of empowering women, please support the World March of Women in your community and throughout the world. There will be women marching to demand equal rights for women all over the world on October 17. I'll be at an event in my region. Keep your eyes peeled for stories of a special march in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support women affected by war. Check out: www.mmm2010.info )

As I move forward from my feminine support forwarded email, I'd like to thank you all. For your friendships, your comments, your virtual nods...but mostly, your courage.

You are the change and don't let anybody tell you otherwise...especially not statistics!