As #Women's History Month approaches, it's important to remember that celebrating and honoring ourselves shouldn't be limited to just one month out of the year. Despite the progress we've made, there are still many challenges we face, such as gender bias, exclusion, unequal pay, age discrimination, and intangible barriers that hold us back.
Life throws curveballs we can't always predict or avoid, but we can control how we respond to these challenges and support one another through them. Prioritizing our mental and physical well-being is crucial, and it is a lesson I learned the hard way during my #menopause. That period taught me that my health must come before my job, a principle I now regard as essential. Jenny Woo, PhD, MBA, summed it up perfectly when she said, "Put on your oxygen mask first without feeling guilty." #Menopause marks a significant transition in a woman's life, yet it's often overlooked in professional environments. As women, we tend to put everyone else's needs before our own, sometimes to our detriment. (BTW, check out Womeness Community.com for menopause wellness products. Sally Mueller)
Finding a community of women who are navigating the same mid-life changes can be profoundly comforting and enlightening. Sharing our stories and experiences gives us strength and validation. By fostering this supportive network, we help ensure that no woman has to navigate this significant life stage feeling isolated or undervalued.
Living a balanced life is the secret sauce for real success. This means blending work wins with personal joy, strong social networks, and loving yourself. Plus, it's super important to lift each other up. For those who've already made it, thinking about mentoring or helping others up the ladder is a great way to pay it forward. Let's make it easier for women-owned businesses, pump up women's voices, and smooth the path to a fairer future. By cheering each other on and fighting for our spots at the table, especially considering the unique obstacles we face at different stages of our lives, we're setting the stage for a world that celebrates women every single day. Jenny Jing Zhu Paola Peretti Alice Kim#womensupportingwomen
Hope My LinkedIn Finds You Well!
1moOKAY! As a gen-X stuck in perimenopause for-friggen-ever, this is thrilling to see on LinkedIn.