This blog isn’t going to be about my travels. Today I have decided to write it on life and not just my life but the life of women. Today is the great day known as International Women’s Day. A day were women are hopefully celebrated but that isn’t all today is about. Growing up I never knew the back ground of this date. So thankfully in today’s world we have the amazing power to find out but a few clicks.
International Women’s Day was actually started in 1909 when Theresa Malkiel was urging women to campaign for a change. They wanted women to campaign for equality. They wanted women to be equal to men. 15,000 strong, beautiful women showed up in New York demanding for voting rights, shorter work hours and better pay. Luise Zietz had the revolutionary idea to celebrate women every year on the same day around the globe. March 19th was originally chosen in the European countries but in 1914 March 8th was chosen as International Women’s Day.
It’ s hard to believe that women were fighting for equality way back in the early 1900s. It amazes me that there was strong enough women to start the fight. I am and will be forever grateful to them. Every day women battle a challenge. They battle not being paid equally to men that work the same job as them, they battle their self-worth, their self-image, they battle being told they can’t do something and oh so much more.
In my life I have always been very blessed to have had a dad that never told me I couldn’t. Actually one of the things he always told me when I used the word can’t is “Can’t never did anything.” Looking back now I’m grateful for him telling me that because if there was something I wanted to achieve I knew that the words (I can’t) wouldn’t apply to me. It helped build me into the strong indepdent woman I have grown to be. But for so many women those words hold them back. Sometimes there is situations or people in your life that hold you back. I believe that every women in this world is equal. I believe that if there is something you want to do go for it. If you have a dream follow it. Don’t ever let anyone man or woman hold you back.
The #metoo campaign was offically started in 2017 by Alyssa Milano but it was Tarana Burke who originally used the term “Me Too.” There was some controversy with this campaign and movement. But this was a way for women to vocalize the problem that many women come in to contact with unfortunately. Sexual harassment and assault is something that no one should make light of. So many victims sit back and don’t say a thing because they feel ashamed. I personally found it amazing that so many women were coming together to make it known that they weren’t alone. To me the numbers are saddening. 1 in 6 women in the United States has been sexually assaulted. 1 in 6 women! That number saddens me and infuriates me all at the same time. Next time you are in a group of women look around. Most likely one of those women have been sexually assaulted whither it was complete rape or attempted. This number is far to high. And I am not taking anything away from the other side. 1 in 33 men are also sexually assaulted. But when did this become the normal? When did no stop being no? When did people stop looking at others as human beings and not care? It terrifies me to think about my nieces and nephews that are growing up in this world. I have nine beautiful nieces and two amazing nephews that I pray will never go through sexual assault. I pray that they will never go through the pain and the shame that goes with it. So next time you see the #metoo take a moment to think about what that person has gone through.
Women need to stick together. Men need to have our backs as we need to have theirs. No one should ever be told they can’t. No woman should ever have to look herself in the mirror and feel shame. Every woman is built differently, every woman is strong and every women is powerful! Don’t ever let someone tell you that you aren’t pretty. Don’t ever let someone talk you into something you don’t want to do. This is your life! Take control of it. Find your happy. Find your tribe that will help you be the best you that you can be. Make your mistakes and own them. But above all LOVE yourself because in the end you make your own happiness.
I am also so grateful for my tribe. My tribe has amazingly strong, beautiful, compassionate women in it. We all bring something to the table. We are all different. We all learn from one another. I know they have my back when and if I need them. I have their backs. Today we celebrate women because of the strong women that took that first step to say we are equal and we can do anything we set our minds to. Follow your dreams and be you! 
Liz's Gypsy Journey 