STEPPING UP INTO THE NEW

Annie, what a privilege to be amongst such magnificent women such as you, Terri, Caitlin, Jodi, Dot and Jean, thanks for including me.

The baton was passed by all these magnificent women and the many more who would fill the pages of many books, women who raised their hands admist the struggles and inequities of their times said 'YES", and now we all have said "YES".

Gladys McGary
Elisabeth Kubler Ross
Margaret Mead
Eleanor Roosevelt
Maya Angelou
Oprah
Marianne Williamson
Amelia Earhart
Susan B. Anthony and the women of the Suffragette Movement
Gloria Steinem
Rosa Parks
Princess Diana

They all Stepped Up into the NEW and decided who they were committed to being, to take themselves to the next level and we bless and have been blessed by their willingness, initative and fervor. Each of us in turn found our passion, our inner need that propelled us forward to continue to Step Up and be in the NEW.

As we gather with our "tribe" sending out a Clarion Call of "Yes We Can", the universe willingly places before us the people, events, issues and means to make a difference. No longer can we as a nation, as a community stand in the shadows in fear to raise our hands.

So my friends, Annie, Dot, Terri, Caitlin, Jean, Jodi and myself, we send out ribbons of peace, ribbons of connection, ribbons of hope and of faith to awaken our sisters, daughters, mothers, friends all around the world to the fact that they are not alone, that we stand beside them, sometimes we might carry them or cry with them and we encourage them to be whole and complete unto themselves. They in turn will pass their batons. We raise our hearts and hands in unison to form a more perfect union, to establish justice, to ensure domestic and world tranquility, to promote the general well-being, and secure the Blessings of Liberty for all who inhabit this magnificent universe.

We are blessed to pay it forward. I am blessed to be in such company as each of you.

Namaste,
Shirley