Claiming Our Power on International Women's Day

A young women on the right in dark silhouette is leaning against a wall at the edge of an infinity pool, looking out hopefully at a beautiful sunset over the expansive ocean.

International Women's Day is a critical time to celebrate intergenerational women's leadership power. I had two recent reminders that women's strength has no age boundaries. The first was with my mother and the second was with my daughter. My mother at 77 years old felt called out of retirement to take on the role of head interim pastor at a multi-cultural church. I've been checking in with her constantly to see how she's doing, concerned that she might be too tired or stressed out. The honest truth? She is having the time of her life. She says that helping other people again, using all of her trainings and experiences in new ways, is lighting her up inside.

Recently, my 12 year old daughter decided to stretch outside of her own comfort zone and try out for our community's youth musical. We took a walk together before opening night and I had a chance to ask her if she was nervous. "Of course I am!" she said. "But if I don't try, I'll never know what I'm capable of."

I am incredibly proud of both of them. Taking on a new, powerful role can be a scary prospect for women at any age. Recent extreme changes in my country, the United States of America, are propelling many of us into new leadership roles or career changes that we had not previously envisioned. The ripple effects are global, however. US foreign aid has been almost completely cut. Organizations are closing. Foundations, local governments and businesses around the world are being asked to step up and fill the gaps, and will be stretched thin. On this International Women's Day 2025, we need women around the world of every age to step into their power. Writer Marianne Williamson reminds us that "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." It's true. Because to step into our power means to take on new risks, to expose ourselves to potential ridicule, to fail at times. But to quote my daughter, if we never try, we'll never know what we're capable of. The honest, scary truth is that we might just be the change that we've been waiting to see in this world.