When I was younger, my role models included a whole lotta rock stars. I mean, who wouldn’t love a slice of the rock ‘n roll lifestyle? A chance to smash whatever you wanted. Say whatever you wanted. Be whoever you wanted. Run far far away and start again as whatever you dreamed?
But as I grew older, my ideals changed. My priorities changed and my perception of life did too. I became a wife (albeit for a short time) and a mother, and then a single mother. I became a very dedicated employee of an amazing company and business, and success, and economics became important to me.
So as I have experienced different life lessons, different pain, loss, joy, accomplishment, and pride, so my perceptions have changed, and so have my role models and who I aspire to be like. I realised that just as amazing as the musicians are, and just as they have accomplished much in their lives, so have I. So have so many other average women in the world. Who had odds stacked against them but just never surrendered or backed down. Those women who, despite gender based violence, sexual aggression or attack, family tree hurt, lack of support, lack of funds, have stood firm and FORCED the world to take notice. Have given back to their communities. Have uplifted other women. Have mentored. Coached. Taught.
Been the village that you needed, when you needed it. Those are MY role models. The world needs engineers, and architects, and strong patriarchs. The world needs incredibly smart men to lead us and lead with us. But the mommy, the sister, the daughter. The healers and the sacrificers and the nurturers. They are my heros. They are the lifeblood of our society and THEY are my role models.
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