“The equality and empowerment of women and girls is truly the moral, economic and humanitarian issue of our time.” – Marie Forleo
Marie’s quote was going thru my mind as I was pushing thru the pain in my morning yoga class at Eat Pray Doula in Nyuh Kuning, Bali. Gabby, our beautiful teacher, kept saying move thru the pain, go deeper, move, move move, breathe breathe breathe. Her words not only ring true to the physical stretching we were doing, but also emotionally and spiritually. As a woman, we all have our own pain, past grief, loss, and in many cases, trauma. We must first heal ourselves, and in doing that, we give ourself the gift of love and empowerment. As we push thru and past our pain we become healers, ready and able to serve other with our example, to share our love and compassion.
On International Women’s Day, my honoring and celebration starts personally within, and expands to how each one of us can help bring respect, dignity, and honor to every girl and woman.
You can make a difference. How often do you read something and think it is too much to take on. You don’t have the time or money? Someone else will do it?
Int
ernational Women’s Day is a day that I urge you to take a stand! You can make a difference in many simple ways to help empower women and girls. You may already be doing this in your own family or community. If not, now is the time to begin. To begin with yourself. What do you need to do to feel your power- to “Awaken Your Inner Wisdom?”
The Face of Birth Documentary The women of our Eat Pray Doula Workshop will be part of the global screening of “The Face Of Birth”– see our recent blog post “The Issue of Homebirth in Australia” to learn more about this film about Birth as a Human Rights Issue and find your local screening. http://www.faceofbirth.com/
No Woman No Cry Another important film that will be screening on facebook today at 11am eastern time is from Every Mother Counts is “No Woman No Cry” This is a powerful documentary from Christy Turlington-Burns of the tragedy of maternal mortality around the world.
Half the Sky Have you read or seen the documentary Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide ? This powerful book and film is on my must read for everyone! It looks at the tragedies 
of women enslaved in sex trade, dying from preventable causes in childbirth and more. While hard to read at times, I encourage you to open you eyes and heart to what is happening globally to women and girls. The co-writers and husband and wife team, Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, show us how in each case just one person made a difference and transformed a girls or woman’s life. You will cry, smile and move to action!
Video “Most AMAZING INSPIRATIONAL Transformation” by Sun Gazing While this video clip is not about women, it does show how our determination to push past our pain, past our beliefs can create miracles in our own life and touch other’s lives by our examples. Grab a tissue and watch.
IMBCI There are many organization that are dear to my heart that are working to improve the lives of MotherBaby in childbirth. Two I would like to share with you and encourage you to visit and support today are The International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization– a human rights framework around quality care with a heart for all pregnant and birthing women around the world. As Chairperson of IMBCI I know first hand the difference your donations will make!
Bumi Sehat Bali I am writing this from Bali where I am working with Katherine Bramhall and Ibu Robin Lim a CNN Hero as they raises awareness and money for Gentle Birth at Bumi Sehat Bali. Please give $1.00, just one dollar, or more… you will make a difference in the lives of women today. Bumi Sehat is the Global Birth Fair Spring Featured Organization. This month purchase a pair of adorable Bumi Baby Booties & all proceeds go to Bumi.
I am thinking of you today, celebrating every girl and women of the world. Join me in standing for every woman right to respect and dignity in life and in birth!
As www.womendeliver.org say – “Invest in Women- it pays!”.
Love and blessing,
Debra
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