10 Things We Can Learn From Geraldine Ferraro
Part 9 of the HWA Series, Live Your Life Out Loud
Every day is an opportunity to learn life lessons from each other. After watching the news reports about the life and passing of Geraldine Ferraro, a pattern of strength and determination emerged.
Regardless of one's political position, as women, we can all learn from the way she lived her life.
1. She didn't change herself to satisfy an unfair double standard
2. She spoke her mind regardless of any impending backlash
3. She had the courage to face harsh criticism and keep going
4. She "unlocked" a large door for other women to kick open
5. She didn't retreat when actions by family members could have tainted her reputation
6. She kept going after a hard fight and an even harder loss
7. She stayed true to herself, stepping out of the shadow of her running mate
8. She maintained her own identity while raising a family
9. She successfully balanced public and private life
10. She didn't let a disease define her legacy
For Geraldine Ferraro, and the multitude of other women that have struggled to unlock the doors, thank you for helping the rest of us to live our lives out loud.
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@Donna Maria: Thank you. It's ironic that you highlight #8 because the trend of women losing themselves to marriage & motherhood was an impetus for this website. I kept meeting women who would say things like, "Where did I go?" or "When did I turn into only a 'mom'?" The Live Your Life Out Loud series is meant to support and encourage all women and I hope it helps the HWA readers who struggle with this issue. You are right, the more examples we have of women who manage to maintain this delicate and difficult balance, the better off the world will be.
Posted by: Luci Weston | March 2011 at 10:45 AM
Great post -- every point resonates with me, but today (every day is different ...), what speaks to me most is that she maintained her identity even as a married woman with children. This is often a difficult balance, and the more we see it lived out in the lives of other women, the better off we are as men and women trying to make the world a better place for all of us. Thank you Geraldine, and thank you Luci!
Posted by: Donna Maria Coles Johnson | March 2011 at 07:58 AM