LASTING IMPRESSIONS Dear Chosen Ones, It is not enough to believe in empowering women. It is not enough to say you empower women. It is not enough to have ‘empower women’ on your heart or on your ‘to do’ list. It is not enough. We must speak the words of our hearts through our actions. We must dig deep and reach higher. We must extend ourselves and pull up sisters striving to achieve. We must cease all conversation and action that holds a sister down and hold one another accountable to lifting — for when we lift a sister, we also rise. What have you done today to further opportunities for a woman in need? What have you done this week to encourage a young girl seeking confidence? What have you done this month to help a single mom in transition? These are the questions I ask myself every day. And these are the questions I encourage you to ponder, and then act. Learn your calling, find your purpose, and then use your precious gifts to blaze a trail forward for a woman who does not yet realize her strength. No good deed is too small. We sometimes feel ‘What can I do? I am just one person.’ One person is the start of a movement. One act of kindness is contagious. One step forward is monumental to someone sliding behind. Think of one thing you can do today to empower a woman and then act on it. Challenge yourself tomorrow to do the same, and before you know it, empowering women is part of your daily soulful giving. Maybe it’s a call or a text to a friend you know is facing challenges. Maybe it’s a donation to a women’s organization. Maybe it’s signing up to volunteer at a shelter or church women’s group. A strong woman stands up for herself. An empowered woman stands up for others. We cannot succeed when half of us are held back. Be the woman who wakes up with purpose and intent. Be the woman who shows up and does not give up. Be the woman who believes anything is possible and be willing to work for it. Be the woman who believes in her sisters — those she knows intimately and those she’s never met. Empowered women change the world, and I believe in a better place for us — I believe in equality for you, for me, and for the young women to whom we will pass the baton. So please, join me, join McQuetta, join the inspirational women featured in EnVision Proven Success and take the action to empower women! We are a movement in the making! “ A strong woman stands up for herself. An empowered woman stands up for others. ” VICKI BOWEN HEWES CEO — Life Leadership Legacy Founder Emeritus — Dress for Success Columbus ENVISIONPROVENSUCCESS.COM | 35
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