Given the chance, 600 million adolescent girls in developing countries can unleash the world’s greatest untapped solution to poverty. This is the Girl Effect. If we can release girls living in poverty, they will do the rest.
On this day honoring the power of enabling young women around the globe, I reflected on my own “Girl Effect” and where I’d backed away from truly owning my power to create change.
From the moment of my conception, I was swimming in the amniotic fluid of revolutionary change. Barely a year old when Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, I still cry every time I hear his powerful words. That same year, 1963, Betty Friedan published “The Feminine Mystique” which my mother discussed in hushed tones over coffee with her friends holding my newborn sister on her lap.
When I was 3, my parents marched on Washington to protest the Vietnam War and, although my two younger sisters and I stayed with our grandparents, we felt ourselves swept up in the enthusiasm of the belief that our voices mattered. At the age of 7 I could barely contain myself as I stayed up late one night watching Neil Armstrong walk on the moon on our tiny black and white TV.
In that moment it seemed to me that the human race was capable of miracles. Anything and everything was possible.
As I got older, I was convinced my generation was forging a new world order of peace, justice and equality. In elementary school, my parent’s had us bussed to the South side of Syracuse in Upstate New York to support integration. Although at times I awkwardly stood out as a white girl in a sea of black children, I felt it was my responsibility to be strong and fulfill my parent’s dream. My certainty that we were doing the right thing was never greater than when we gathered for assembly. Our budding little multi-racial community would sit in a circle on the polished gymnasium floor holding hands singing “We Shall Overcome” at the top of our lungs, beaming at each other with wide smiles, as if the power of our voices could heal generations of prejudice, injustice and pain.
Soon all our heroes and role models were slain. My uncle returned from Vietnam a shadow of his former self. The South Side became a dangerous hotbed of rioting and unrest, and my parents decided to move us back to neighborhood schools, fear damping down the fires of change.
The teenage years crept in. My parents got divorced. After college I moved to New York to try to make a living on Wall Street with all the other ’80s graduates. But something nagged at me.
For a while I volunteered at homeless shelters, taught writing to young kids from Central America, traveled to third world countries, gave my support to the Ugandan Literacy Project to swap books for education for young women. Then 9/11 happened and, shell-shocked, I burrowed further into my nest. I recently supported a project in Haiti to build a school for young children, but it’s different. I’m an observer. I’m no longer on the front lines.
In the pursuit of my career, a happy marriage, paying the bills, surviving each economic downturn and market correction, I realized I’m hiding out — playing it safe. I’ve taken distance from the battle. The young revolutionary in me got scared — don’t stick your head out too far or it’ll get blown off.
But I can feel a new revolution emerging. One that comes from a place of love, not fear. One that wants us to find solutions together, not battling each other. I am hoping, not only for the young women of the world who so desperately need the education we take for granted, but for all of us, that together we can find a solution to some of the world’s most pressing problems.
As Rumi says, “Outside of ideas of right-doing and wrongdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.”
What is calling to you? Where are you playing it safe? How long are you going to wait?
This post is part of a collaborative effort of hundreds of bloggers coming together to write about The Girl Effect, how young women can change the world. Your support, your voice and your action – that’s what it’s going to take to wake up the world and make a real difference. You can be part of that change. In fact without you it won’t happen. Join the conversation and let the world know what the Girl Effect is capable of. Talk it up. Spread the word. Blog about it or read others who are blogging about it – find out more here
So touching, Laura. Playing it safe is so…..unsatisfying, has a dull edge to it, numbing ~~~ we are meant for more in our immediate and extended world ~ it’s the ripple effect and the passion and purpose of millions of girls changing the world is EXCITING! Rock on and let’s support them!
Let’s not “play it safe” in this world…let’s pull our heads out of the sand or down comforter or whatever is coddling us and make a difference for girls, boys, babies, and their future. Thank you Laura!
I hear ya Tamara, thanks for posting here!
Laura – I loved learning more about you and your activist spirit. I think we all begin to hide a bit as our lives change. Thank you for your willingness to bring it up and calling us to action with this inspired post.
I recently saw the movie “The World’s Fastest Indian”, about Bert Munro, an elderly fellow who showed up at the Bonneville Salt fields to run his converted Indian motorcycle to speeds exceeding 200mph. Everyone thought he was nuts, but he was not willing to play it safe. I was deeply moved by his commitment to acting on what was alive in him. I can see that same energy in my granddaughter. I for one want to nourish and support the girl effect. I never have been really good at playing it safe anyways. I get too bored. Thanks for the reminder Laura!
Ian, love that movie! I am hoping this campaign can nudge us all to contribute to young women whose education would mean the difference for so many. And being aware of our power to make a difference. Thanks for being a guy who cares!
Laura, as always, your words and personal stories fascinate me and draw me in. I enjoyed reading about your childhood (and I was born the day Neil Armstrong landed on the moon!). I love the way you reflected on your own “Girl Effect” and where, in your words, you have backed away from truly owning your power to create change.
I must admit, I had similar reflections when writing my post. The first version of my post was all about me. It wasn’t really coming together in a coherent way and I felt self-conscious about it. So I put it aside. I backed away from standing in my experience, publicly, and from the possibility that my experience might matter. Thanks for sharing your story so eloquently and for the invitation to notice how we play it safe. I might need to write a Girl Effect Part 2. 😉
Laurie – more synchronistic connections! Thanks for sharing about your own experience and I can’t wait to read more!
“There is a time for departure even when there’s no certain place to go.” – Tennessee Williams
Change frightens us because it is often moving into the unknown. Anything outside “our Tribe” is the unknown, It’ s been said , you have become truly conscious when you don’t know who you are anymore. Because most of our idea of who we are, comes from our family’s projections.
I love what you have written here. I’m sure it must be frightening for these young girls to move in a new direction But with guidance and strong support, they will have the opportunity to discover themselves in a whole new way!
Pat, beautiful quote, thank you for adding to the discussion during this powerful week of awareness. I love what you said, “It’ s been said , you have become truly conscious when you don’t know who you are anymore.” Some days I am truly in wonder about who I am and who I am becoming, so this comment reassures me that I am not completely nuts! With strong women like you supporting this effort I know we will have an impact on these young women!
your voice and all of our voices matter! we need to remember that! i am totally crushing this post b/c i too grew up thinking and knowing my voiced matter, my mom was the one that always reminded me of that when we first migrated to america, and even now, she reminds me and i remind my daughter, in fact my lil one’s voice is so loud i am surprised you don’t all hear her! haha! what an empowering week this will be!
Laura, Thanks so much for sharing your story! Got to know you so much better! What’s calling to me is to go do work in India – so I’m going! No holding back!
Tanya – you GO girl, can’t wait to hear what you discover!
What an amazing post! This whole campaign has me digging deep and thinking. I know we have all been provoked to take action and I am sure that all of us have made a difference in some way. To be able to work collectively on ending poverty, educating girls, and moving forward in many other ways to enhance our dear mother earth.
I know Nasrine, pretty incredible what we can do when we put our collective super powers together!
Thanks for posting Laura. It’s inspiring to read more about your story, and also to see the dialog your post has sparked. I’m personally writing and thinking this week on stepping into my own power, so your words couldn’t have come at a better time!
So glad to hear you are inspired LeeAnn, can’t wait to see what emerges as a result!
I’ve read nearly 10 posts for the Girl Effect…and each one is amazing and brilliant in its own wonderful way. This post is no different. Your personal journey and path are inspiring – what a wide array of experiences that you just shared. Thank you so much for sharing this path with us – and how it connects with the future and the Girl Effect.
Isn’t it amazing how we each resonate with this topic in our own ways…
Loved that you included your personal story in this Laura. I feel like I know you on a whole other level. I’m not playing it safe anymore. I’m stepping out as the leader I know I am. I have things stirring in my magic pot and will be sharing them soon. Thank you for being a woman of change.
xoxo
Alara K. Castell
http://www.alaracastell.com/hello
Thanks Alara, glad to share myself more with you!
Deeply insightful and touching! I can related soul sister. Thanks for the reminder to stay on the front lines.
Yes, Samantha, I am glad to be there with you!
It’s amazing my friend. It was really touching for me as well.
Thanks Nathalie, I really appreciate you checking out the blog and giving me your perspective.
Laura, your blog is inspirational for men as well as women. Since reading your story, I’ve thought hard about where I’m holding back and playing it safe. My calling is calling.
I am so glad you pointed this out Bob. I am very strongly drawn to the concept of integrating male and female perspectives – we all need everything we have to bring to the table to solve the big issues in our lives these days.
Laura, this is a very inspirational post! You have me thinking…….