International Women’s Day 2018

With so many unofficial celebrations swirling around cyberspace it is usually easy for me to ignore most of them. Yesterday was different – yesterday was International Women’s Day (IWD).

IWD has been celebrated for over a century now but it is the first year that I have noticed the impact this topic has within the world today.

We are all born equal

Gender equality (especially in the workplace) seems to have pushed its way through the deluge of newsworthy items to become a forefront global issue. More and more female celebrities are beginning to speak openly about their salaries and the issue of equal pay has led media outlets to pursue this theme all the way down to big business. Just googling the term ‘gender pay gap’ give me news stories within the last few hours such as ‘Deloitte gender pay gap jumps to 43%’ and ‘Finance has a shocking gender pay gap’.

Whilst money does indeed matter, I don’t believe this is what IWD is solely about. If you are look on the IWD official website, (something I had no idea existed until today), you will find a more comprehensive meaning.

IWD 2018 seems to want to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and this got me to thinking about the women who influence and inspire me? I’ve decided to share my top five with you here.

This is not a post designed to stroke egos or blow the trumpets of others. Today’s post is merely to celebrate, (as IWD intended), and to support and encourage a few select women. I think it does the world good to be humble and give a little show of gratitude now and again.

My 2018 inspirations

Liberty Billington

‘Lib’ and I go way back. 2009 saw us working at a then thriving events company specialising in Christmas grottos. We bonded over Bombay mix and questionable music tastes and have never looked back since. When Liberty left the company she took her knowledge of events and mixed it with an insatiable passion and unstoppable work ethic to create Fish Out of Water Events. Lib inspires me daily because she has a creative talent that only few possess and she has made it work for her. She continues to survive in the UK’s ‘cut throat’ business world and she consistently puts herself out there with new ideas in order to attract new and re-occurring business. Liberty is a prime example of just what women can achieve in the career world when they put their mind to it and I applaud her

Sarah Abbott

Sarah is ‘mad as a brush.’ I met her through my then significant other back in 2014 and I thought “Now this is a girl who is comfortable in her own skin.” Isn’t that something we all wish to achieve?

If you ever have the luck of meeting Sarah you see that she is a ray of sunshine. She bounces in on a little cloud of happiness and brings the ‘f’ in fun with her.

Last year, she embarked on an adventure that set my little ‘wanderlusting’ heart aflame – she went to work in Australia. She managed to leave her nice stable life here in the UK and create a new one abroad.

Sarah is currently exploring South East Asia and blowing my mind with every update she shares. She is a constant source of comfort as I share my worries and fears about my upcoming trip. She inspires me daily and her advice and encouragement is hugely appreciated as I get ready to leave for the great unknown.

Lynne Sharples

I can’t remember where or when I met Lynne but it would have definitely been at something Ronan related.

Lynne is one of those people who tries to please everybody in life (sometimes to her own detriment.) Lynne has overcome so many obstacles during the time that I have known her – I can’t believe she is still going! This year Lynne took on a deeply personal battle with her weight, something that she has struggled with for some time now. I know that she won’t mind me sharing this with you, (I have asked her!), because she is smashing her goal and winning like a champion! Lynne helps to remind me that we are all fighting personal battles and should never judge anybody by appearance. Well done Lynne, keep going!

 Annmarie and Eveline Zweistra

Now before you send me back to school to learn maths I know there are two names here. Whilst Annmarie and Eveline might be two people they come as a package deal – they’re twins.

I have never met two girls so comfortable with each other in my life. I might need to start paying Ronan a finders fee because it is thanks to him, (again), that I met these lovely ladies. We connected not only on a musical level but on a life level. They’re my kind of people! We love discussing life over coffee, (many coffees), and planning travels.

These two ladies run their own business together and it is a lot of work! The one thing I admire about them both is they have the correct balance between work and play. These girls remind me to live in the present and to embrace life and take chances. They are two of the most calming influences I have ever known and they are genuinely happy in life. This is all thank to their own determination to be happy in life – something which is to definitely be celebrated on IWD.

My Mum

Last but by no means least is my Mum. My wonderful mother offers unconditional love even when I am at my most challenging. She comforts me in times of sadness and delights in my happier moments. She worries for me as only a mother can but never seeks to prevent me from doing anything. I respect her immensely for the sacrifices she continues to make and I love her dearly.

IWD 20I9

What do I for-see for IWD in 2019? I predict they will continue with their efforts to recognise all the amazing women of the world and their achievements. Will we see the gender pay gap reduced? Will women feel more empowered not only in their careers but also in life? I hope so! I hope for many many things over the coming year but nothing more so than love. Love for myself, love for my family, love for my friends, love for the whole wide world.

Photo Credits: Sandra Day, Sarah Abbott, Lynne Sharples, The Zweistra Sisters, Tom Gordon