First We Rise, Then We Build

I wrote the words below a few years ago after living through and rising above a difficult time in my life. It seems particularly meaningful on this day, when we celebrate women throughout the world. Last year, during the Women's March I was taken by the number of references on social media to the word "rise". And, of course, this took me back to the marvelous Maya Angelou's poem Still I Rise.

You see, this is what we do. We rise. When people tell us that we couldn't or shouldn't do something, we may outwardly acquiesce to their narrow view of our worth or talent but on the inside those words stoke a fire that burns fierce with flames that dance around our hearts and souls. And we know that the thing we had only hoped or wished for moments ago has just become the thing we most desire and we will not be stopped. We are determined. We are strong. We are fierce. We will rise. And so we do.

But we are not and cannot ever be content to just rise. No, we must also build. We must build bridges and ladders and staircases so that those who are younger than us, less fortunate than us, or frailer than us can also rise. There is more work to be done, there is more building to be done, and we will do it together or not at all. Let us raise one another up. Let us reach out a hand to those who are struggling. Let us draw strength and encouragement from our sisters. Let us tell the world that we are here to take what is ours.

To all my fierce momma bear friends who run their families, their companies, their offices, and their own lives every damned day, keep rising, keep dreaming, and keep persisting. We've got this.

Phoenix
I was prepared for the worst
I wasn’t waiting to be rescued
How would anyone even know where to begin?
Where was I?
Where was my spirit?
Then you came to me
Were you looking for me or did you just stumble upon the path that led you to my soul?
You didn’t arrive with heavy machinery to tear down the walls of my prison
You simply sat quietly outside the door
You talked
You listened
You wiped the tears when they came
And you were there on the day when I realized that the door hadn’t even been locked
You held my hand as I walked into the sunlight…enjoying the freedom that I thought was lost
You lit the torch and handed it to me
I touched it to the prison wall and it sparked
I stepped back and we watched in silence as the flames leapt high above the walls and onto the roof
Later as the ruins smoldered you held me close and kissed me softly
I sighed
You smiled
We slept peacefully…the sleep of the just
In the morning you took your leave but I knew that you would return
I walked through the ashes and began to lay down the stones of the new foundation
Yes, I will build it here