It is done.

On the morning of International Women’s Day I’m thinking of a lot of things all at once. I’m thinking about women all over the world and how different our lives are. I’m thinking about what this day offers and highlights and gives women around the world. Thinking about the beautiful invitations I’ve seen in my local area and of how there will be rooms full of women connecting, sharing, celebrating and supporting each other all over today. Then I’m thinking about my days of work ahead today and tomorrow. The lunch I would love to be able to go to today but also the perfection in spending this IWD with women in an outreach support role for Radiance Network South West. The perfection in being part of a community event (Captivate Capel 2024) tomorrow with South West Women’s Health and Information Centre and a team of incredible women, that highlights sustainability and nurturing our community and Earth. Representing two organisations created by women for women that offer and deliver so much to the local community where I live. Almost twenty years ago, I sat discussing and contemplating a research project. After a grad program with rotations in Orthopaedics and Aged Care I said, “I want to work in Women’s Health.” I wanted to do something that would lead me in that direction but I wasn’t sure what or how and neither was the person sitting across from me. It was years before I was a mother myself, before I had any idea of how or what or even why I wanted this. I had no idea (or control over) how I would get here or what this was going to look like but it started with a knowing about something that I wanted for and in my life. It happened because of countless other women who stepped in along the way to support and believe in me and because of a million little moments of trust that it was meant for me. May women everywhere today have conversations about what they want for themselves and their lives. About what is meant for them. May they meet other women who will believe in them and lift them up along their journey. May life and the universe carry the words spoken today, the thoughts and wishes, on the wind into a future where women realise everyday that their lives are just what they once asked for. May we all watch and notice the magic that happens as each of these realisations ripples out into the world to create more and more and more.