In honor of International Women’s Day, I’d like to take a moment and recognize some of the women in (and not in) my life:
To my mother, most obviously, who raised me, who nurtured me, who mothered me and taught me what it was to grow.
To my grandmothers, one delicate and sweet, one tough and powerful, who taught me what it was to be a woman, both feminine and strong.
To my sister, who also nurtured me, but fought for me too, until I could do so for myself.
To every woman English teacher I ever had, who brought me into the fold and let me flourished there, and showed me what I was capable of.
To my female peers and colleagues in all of the college courses I’ve ever taken, who have awed me with their brilliance and cowed me with their determination.
To every woman I have worked under, who has had a seat of power, who showed me that to be successful, people will call you mean names. Still, we will push on.
To my female friends, new and old, who have made a sisterhood for me to return to time and time again.
To every woman who I have only glimpsed walking by but knew that they were smarter, prettier, and more put together than me in that instant, who made me push for more.
To every woman who has gossiped behind my back, who has given me the strength to triumph against pettiness.
To any woman who goes out of her way to make others feel good, despite how she feels about herself.
To any woman who has ever been nice to me in a bathroom on a drunken night out with friends.
To any woman who thought they would never leave a bad situation.
To every woman who has ever fought, battled, won, died from a disease or mental illnesss.
To any woman who thought through their own problem and then applied it to the world.
To every woman who was pronounced barren.
To every woman who has raised a strong daughter.
Thank you. You have shown us all the way.
Bailey Dailey 