I love women.

Given the title of this post, you potentially thought I was going to tell you I am a lesbian or something, that is very far from the case. I do however love women and the forgotten and side-cast power they possess and here's why:

For the last two hundred years women have been undermined, underestimated, abused, misunderstood, and misused. We still have a long way to go around the world, but here, in my life, I couldn't be more proud of the outstanding, amazing, women who house more power than the electricity required to light Times Square, that I have had the absolute pleasure of knowing, no matter how briefly it may have been for...and the incredible little girls drenched in potential that I've been fortunate enough to get to speak into their lives as well. 

Even as I write this I am surrounded by strong women of whom all have very different, unique, and specific gifts, talents, and insights that on my own I couldn't dream of owning. But that's what's so cool, I don't need to be as bold as Amanda, I don't need to be as wise as Wanda, I don't need to sound as beautiful as Alisha, I don't need to know everything there is to know about history like Meghan, I don't need to be well-read like Kate, Faith, or Nadine... I don't know if you've gotten the point yet but what I'm saying is I just need to be me all the messy, artsy, little, loud, gentle, clumsy, parts of me, that's all I need to be. 

Now, don't get me wrong, there are days that I wish my hair would look as great as Trina's, or that I'd be as funny as Sara H., or have a heart as big as my aunt Deb's, or that I had the energy that Nicki mysteriously finds. But those aren't for me to muster, they're not qualities for me to contribute to this world. 

In this, I've definitely come to know women that I share qualities with and I can only hope that I can walk in those qualities with a percentage of the confidence they do. The bravery of Sara, Anne's creativity and taste in music, the might of Krissy, the organization of my mom, the detail Sarah Y. puts into everything she does, the loyalty of Erin, the skill of Jenean, the fire that Dani has.. I could go on for hours..  I haven't even told you about Mindy, Lynda, Becci, Michele, Jen P, Jen M, or Jen K. I haven't mentioned Sarah J, Penny, Sarah B, Alanna, Linda, Lindsy, Kimmy, or Gail. I have a list a mile long.

Regardless of the names I type out here or the ones that I don't. If you've touched my life, or had an impact, I've tried my best to make sure you know. 

As a reader, know that I look up to all of these women: my mentors, my family, my peers, and even the girls I get the privilege of mentoring myself, they teach me so much all the time. Jude teaches me about compassion, Brianna about being tough and silly, Aislin about being kind, Mya about walking to the beat of my own drum, and Madi teaches me that it's okay to be the quiet and a little bonkers - that you can be both of those things and that's okay. I look up to these women because they are beautiful, confident, and strong. 

Growing up, I thought I was dumb and a total freak and that there's no way I'd be able to graduate high school, forget about going to university or college. I thought there was nothing worth loving about me, especially because I didn't have one unique, noticeable, marketable skill. I was mediocre at best in a lot of things -- why would anyone want me? Well my friends, I let comparison be the thief of so, so much in my life.  So I beg of you, ladies, go stand in front of the mirror and stand there until you can list qualities that you love about yourself: both externally and internally. Do it.

Don't leave that mirror until you can say "I'm more than okay, I am good. I am talented. I am beautiful. I am important. And I can do this." 

I have so much more I'd say if I could, but I've run out of time. 

Women, you are power houses. Don't doubt yourselves. You are enough.

And when you forget that, you can come to me for a reminder.

To all of you who have been a part of my life at one point or another for any length of time, thank you.