At a Vancouver Peace Summit in 2009, his holiness, the Dalai Lama, declared that the world will be saved by the western woman. This statement has created quite a dialogue in online chat rooms and television talk shows. Is it controversial, or is it a highly valid argument? Or, as some have expressed, is it a bit too much pressure?
I can't help but agree with the old spiritual guru. The women in the west just may have the best chance at redirecting the course of history. Perhaps it's because compassion, affection and sensitivity to suffering are becoming trademarks of evolved societies. It could also be because women-owned businesses are on the rise, creating millions of morale-enriched jobs and empowering businesses globally each year.
We have a number of 'high-powered' executive females in every level of business imaginable, though, admittedly, not as many as there should be. We also have women who are being terrorized, denied education and, let's not forget, mutilated for absolutely no good reason whatsoever.
Human females are the only species that have been subjugated by the males, rather than revered for our abilities to bring new life into the world and to comfort anyone with our softness. I'm a huge fan of motherhood and not just because it's my right as a healthy female woman, but it's a privilege and an honour as a soulful servant.
Last week I sat, along with several hundred other women at the Women of the Year luncheon, listening to every word shared by Dr. Vianne Timmons, the event's special speaker. I went through such a wide range of emotions because of the picture she painted, about how far we've come but how we have so far yet to go, especially to empower women globally.
Dr. Timmons stated (and I whole-heartedly agree) that the most powerful women are usually the most humble and unassuming. That can certainly be said about the four winners, as well as the ten other nominees from this year's local Women of the Year awards.
The most powerful women are the ones who may not be seeking all of the attention, but once they have your attention, it's hard to look away and it's hard not to listen. It's impossible not to be affected by the incredible depth and magnitude of a powerful woman.
Women save the world every day, in their own ways. A woman, who is dedicated to a mate, a family, a career, a cause, or even to her own enlightenment, is taking responsibility for her own personal corner of the big picture. Whether she's singing to her baby and that's the only thing the world needs from her at the time, or she's flying a passenger jet across the ocean, she's got her heart in it.
I personally want to create a network for businesses owned by parents, mothers being most likely candidates, who want to work from home or run their businesses while also still raising their own children. When I started my cleaning business five years ago, it was because I knew I could be gone fewer hours than I would with my other options and that I could even take my son to work with me. I created an opportunity for myself out of vehement determination to keep my child close.
Anyone who wants to get involved in the Mama Bear network should contact me, as I'd love to have a brainstorming session with fellow visionaries. Of course, women in the rest of the world will stand to benefit as well. I'd like to see home-manufacturing of items that can be donated to third world women, such as the discretionary products my friend, Marnie Bernard, organizes to be sent to Kenya with her sister-in-law. It's creative, compassionate women who stand to make the biggest difference in the lives of others.
Super heroes are also humble and unassuming. They don't go around telling everybody that they're super heroes. They just conduct themselves, often secretly, in the most heroic ways. They have grace, honour, courage, strength, dignity, patience and perseverance, regardless of the circumstances. Hmmm.... sounds like a few women I know!
