Mentors, Miracles and More - Joan

          When people would say, “Be the Miracle,” I was always intimidated. After all, I was brought up back in the day when Divine Intervention was at the root of all miracles. At the time, the concept that any of us could be a miracle for someone else eluded me. Now that I am older, I have a different feeling.

          In thinking about Women’s History Month and the women we celebrate, the notion of being the miracle for someone else has become a lot more understandable. As we commemorate the accomplishments of women in history, it seems that so many of these women were miracles of their time. It is important to applaud their contributions and how they impact us still today.
 

          As I consider the other women who have impacted my life, I think back to my 29-year old self, when I was applying for a job that was lots bigger than I was. Not to worry, the woman who interviewed me said. “I think you can do it.” Over the last 35 years this woman has been a mentor, a friend, a confidant and huge supporter. In essence, she is a miracle in my life.
 

          I think the mission of being a miracle for others calls us to be a mentor, a teacher, a supporter and cheerleader for those around us. Not just for our family and friends, but for those we meet along the way. We are called to be leaders, friends and advisers. The Old Boys Network has been around forever. What we women are called to do is to create our own empowering network. I am inspired by the Chinese Proverb, “When sleeping women wake, mountains move.” 
 

          Women can relate to each other. We understand the many balls we have in the air at any one time. We are called to find our similarities, not only our differences. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies as we tend to be hard on one another. We must also remember that we are called to celebrate our successes with one another. While we don’t need to agree all the time, we do need to be willing to listen and to take seriously the thoughts and aspirations of those women we champion as well as those who cross our path.

 

          When I think about the women who have been instrumental in my own life, my mother, mother-in-law, special aunts, a sister, daughter and my co-author friends, I am challenged to think about how to have an impact on other women. It will require time and effort. It will also require openness and vulnerability. Women’s History Month reminds us it is time to be the miracle for someone else. It’s time to move mountains.