My stepdad is 87 years old. He is delightful and kinda old school Italian. He observes a lot. He is also pretty introverted: unless you are talking about football. He likes to ask the big questions. And one of his favorites of all time, comes up whenever we are around more than 2 women (i.e. a restaurant, a holiday party, a swimming pool) he always (and I mean always) asks “what do women talk about? They talk and talk and talk for hours...about what?”
I am hard pressed to answer because, well, women talk about everything…which isn’t the same as talking about nothing.
And let me clarify…by women I mean anyone who identifies as one for any reason and in any way. All are welcome here…
Yesterday I decided to take the day off*. And, after laying in my bed for too long looking at my stupid phone (I know better than to start my day like that) I packed up and headed out to my favorite coffee shop, where I know there is lots of outside space, shade, and breakfast burritos.
On this morning, I observed two young women at the table next to me. Both dressed in short flowy sundresses to help tolerate this Colorado heat. Blue dress woman had a little baby in a stroller, resting sweetly. Sparkly black dress lady was sharing about her new promotion at work and how she was both excited and suffering from (what I call) imposter syndrome.
On the one hand she knew she deserved it and on the other hand she was expressing, so genuinely, her fear of not being accepted by her colleagues and how the promotion was exacerbating her deep seated belief that she must constantly work to get to the next level in order to be enough. The deep sigh that she exhaled spoke volumes. It said, I am exhausted. When will I be enough? Will I ever rest?
Blue dress woman nodded in agreement as she recalled when she got her first promotion and then was never able to reach the benchmarks again and felt like it was a set up. They speak freely. Honestly.
At the other table next to me, a small group of lovely women trickle in and settle at a big round table in order to find some shade. It is obvious, by the introductions and sense of closeness that they don’t all know each other, yet they were so warm and welcoming to the newcomers. From what I can gather they are quite a collection of journeywomen: the Skincare one, the Energy one, the Marketer, the Shop Owner, the Mom with a story to share, and the Chemist.
They sit and collaborate, ask for feedback, listen, share, support, and generate ideas. They have a story. And a product. They want to help other women, and respect nature, and honor the elements. They use herbs and potions and maybe magic, I don’t know.
The Mother speaks without shame about motherhood and depression and anxiety and loneliness. Suddenly other voices chime in, speaking the unspeakables.
They talk. Like women do. When they circle up.
This is when women are cool. This is the best of women. All women. Whatever part of woman-ness that you identify with. Women are cool when sitting in a circle. Creating. Caring. Supporting each other to realize a singular and collective vision.
Pulling down from the abstract and manifesting it into being.
So yeah. Women talk. Maybe even a lot. About everything. And it’s powerful.
If you are yearning to belong to a circle, to be seen, and heard, and supported...then sign up for my mailing list, or reply to this email…’cause I am coming for you. Dates TBA soon.
xo
bk
*whatever that means these days