Happy International Women’s Day you wonderful, brilliant, creative, sassy, caring, sharp, beautiful, gracious, stubborn, inspiring, loving, deciding, growing, striving bunch of people. We don’t always turn to the one another and say, “You are a role model to me.” So please let me say it today.

In many different ways, I have learned from the women in my life, and the women beyond my life. Whether it was a friend’s compassion, a writer inspiring me with her story, learning business sense, another’s search to be free, strength despite loss, telling hard stories, bull-headed stubbornness, nursing through the night, creativity in the face of violation, personal sacrifice, authentic leadership, gentleness with humour, confessions over tea, big aspirations, building communities, long ago lessons . . . whether it’s any of these moments that have taught me so much, or many others I can’t even begin to list – I find inspiration from you all.

You are my role models. Just so you know.

Here’s to the ladies.

~Catherine