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| A woman carrying a heavy load in Konso, Ethiopia |
> Strength is not only the
presence of unwavering loyalty, unflinching grip and steady pace at the
crossroads, or impermeable and stubbornly sturdy physique, but of
unconditional love against all odds.
> Courage is to be vulnerable at
the hills of mountainous pride and at the trough waves of norms.
> Sacrifice is to be of
service to others before self, the yearning to give, to please and nurture; the
ultimate definition of a woman.
Women, you are love.
I sat in front of a great woman last
year, with a table full of food between us in a fairly remote place. Right next
to us, a man in his 50s sitting in the next table with another man. Boastfully he
started expressing his interest and waving hundred dollar bills at a young lady.
He was trying to convince her to go with him for the night. The young gal
seemed as though trapped between two hard rocks. For her, the distance between
yes and no, seemed light years away.
In that moment, helpless shiver took
over me, as the great woman in front of me, started to choke in her own words. Indignant
at what was happening. Her solidarity in sisterhood, her love burning inside,
her sympathy rolled up in tears, her courage to stay still and allow the young
woman to decide for herself, while her empathy raced down her tender cheeks…its
magnetic force so strong, impossible to resist it pulled me in.
Women, you are love everyday.
We celebrate you on this International
Women Day and everyday.
Daniel: March 8th, 2016
