Over the past few weeks a lot has been on my mind. We all have those weeks of stress and anxiety, followed by a week of relaxation and bliss. After yet another deep life talk at Starbucks, I was left pondering the fact that we always ask ourselves if we are enough.
Am I enough? Am I worthy of this position? Why am I the only woman in the room? Why am I the only Latina in the room? These are all questions that have sprung up into my mind the past few months. In a world filled with selfies and the need to be "facey" to survive sometimes, these are questions that go through my head all the time. They are negative thoughts that I fight to get rid of, because I know they aren't real. Deep down, I know I belong and I am worthy of all of my achievements. Yet there are always those people that make you feel inferior or see you as less than because of your race/ethnicity, gender, and/or sexual orientation.
During a time where harassment stories come out every day, assault is even more prevalent than before and women are fighting to have their voices heard, I want to take a moment for the strong women out there. Stop listening to the voices that question how good you are, why you got that promotion or treat you as inferior. Speak up and speak out against harassment in all areas. Know that you are enough just the way you are and that you deserve every job, promotion or position you attained through hard work and determination. The world needs you. It needs you and your strength to make it better for those to come. It needs your grace, empathy, love and mercy to change its course and pave the way for the next generation.
Don't the culture of the way you look and how many men are after you replace the love you have for yourself. Don't let it seep into your brain and make you question whether you do belong in that interview room or in that class. Encourage your fellow sisters and build them up with grace and dignity, so that they too may give their gifts to the world. The world is waiting for us to band together use our strength and our grace to change it.
