Upon starting a new novel this week entitled "Not That Kind Of Girl," I was enthralled. This seemingly harmless book I picked up Sunday at Barnes and Noble was actually filled with raunchy sexual encounters and frank conversations about (the author) Lena's past experiences. I was particularly entranced by her chapter entitled "Girl Crush."
Lena states that she is "not jealous in traditional ways-of boyfriends or babies or bank accounts-but that she does covet other women's styles of being." I so strongly empathized with that statement. This is probably because I experience that feeling on a daily basis, I just couldn't put it into words as gracefully as she did. After seeing it written on paper, a lightbulb went off. I'm not sure whether my connection to Lena's comment was a result of my my hour long conversation with The Odyssey's powerful new CMO Lisa or the fact that I spent the last half of my day stalking a beautiful female blogger, but after today powerful women had me inspired.
It got me thinking just how much influence women possess to inspire others individuals, especially other women. Although I feel as a young woman in our current society we do, in fact, support each other, my feelings after today take admiration of other females to another level. Each individual woman is inspiring in their own unique way.
One of my girl crushes, workout sensation Kayla Itsines, is motivational to every young woman that has encountered her workout guides. Kayla promotes a healthy, happy, and confident lifestyle and leads by example to other women. After recently attending her NYC Bootcamp I got to experience her energy and excitement first hand. She's one of the only people that has the ability to get me to work out at 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning.
(credit: Kayla_Itsines instagram)
The next, the author of my current novel Lena Dunham expresses herself unlike any other. She's not afraid to recount her most embarrassing moments. She wrote her entire life story with her personal horrors and embarrassment so her readership could learn something from her.
(credit: TimeOut.com)
Not to mention Lisa, The Odyssey's new CMO. How many women do you encounter in the workplace that have such an amazing background? Lisa has her undergraduate degree from Harvard Law School, spent 20 years working at Goldman Sachs, she has decided to pursue her passion of working with entrepreneurs. She's found her new home here at The Odyssey and has worked to improve our culture and innovative thinking.
(credit: LinkedIn)
In sum, this week has given me a new set of 'girl crushes' and I felt the need to personally reflect on what that term actually means to me. As Lena Dunham states, it's a desire to covet another woman's sense of being. From workout guru inspiration Kayla Itsines, to the bold and adventurous Lena Dunham, to the prestigious and credible CMO Lisa, I have been left feeling more inspired than ever. If each of us were to maintain this sense of inspiration rather than feel threatened by powerful women, we would be more likely to be successful and less likely to doubt our self worth.
