We choose people to idolise and respect in our lives. I remember dancing around my small bedroom to the tune of Sunday Girl by Blondie, and imagining a huge crowd out front who were standing clapping their hands and singing along to the beautiful elegant clarity of my perfect windpipes. Downstairs, my long suffering mother would say nothing, while the ceiling light must have danced to the rhythm of my elephant like thumping feet.
Fast forward a few years, to certain realisation that the closest I would ever get to a standing ovation, would be the mourners at my funeral.
Are pop stars and celebrities the true inspiration for us?
Looking back, I wished I had spent more time as a youngster with my grandmother. Without her, I wouldn't be writing. Without the support, the help, the back-up and the frank exchanges of my opinionated and bright mother, I wouldn't be writing.
Who do we choose to celebrate and why?
International Women's Day on March 8th is all about celebrating womanhood globally. Some countries have even nominated it as a national holiday. Maybe we should drop a hint to our Government, that our economic, political and downright wonderful women, are just as deserved of the recognition as countries like China, Russia and Bulgaria.
Personal inspiration
As a child, I saw my grandparents as extra parents, because they lived very close to us. With the recklessness of youth, I didn't have the time to listen to my grandmother's stories, her childhood or her history. I have learned some of her history from my own mother, but I wish I could ask more. Born into a fishing family, her life was tough and her work was hard, yet never once did I hear her complain. To say that I remember her as a saint fit for a pedestal is an understatement.
Without our women of the past, where would we be? We certainly wouldn't have the choice to be respected in our population and we wouldn't have the vote. Women's day pays homage to the work of the women who successfully campaigned on our behalf. Could you imagine a world where we couldn't vote? I can't.
How women feel when they have no rights is hopefully something I will never know. Shouldn't we all deserve some respect?
Encourage the elephants
The inner elephant exists in all of us. Why do we mostly idolise the wealthy and the pampered, whose job it is to fundraise and to raise awareness of public issues?
I want to take this one step closer to home. Even closer than the local heroes, who spend their time helping charities and working on our behalf behind the scenes. We need the public figures and we need the local heroes, but we also need the people who encouraged our inner elephants. Those women are the biggest inspiration that our world has.
Recognise the glue
The women in my family have been the glue that held their generation together. For you, the glue might have been a parent, a family friend, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, or simply a neighbour who looked out for you. Did they encourage your elephant feet? Did they help you to grow and develop into a responsible adult?
My elephant feet didn't extend the same positive effect to my brain, and my long standing memory tended to forget that the women in front of me were the women who deserved my respect. We lost my grandmother 10 years ago and most of her stories will never be told. I have recently found out that she was a hip chick in her time, and ruled the roads on a motorcycle. I wish I had got to know her better.
Joining in
There are many events around the world to celebrate International Women's Day. You can search events from around the world for something close to you, and if nothing is suitable, why not celebrate at home, with your own favourite inspirational women.
