“Sisterhood is a bond between women who share common goals and come together to move the agenda forward.” – Karmetria Dunham Burton
I’m a little late in cracking open my November copy of Glamour magazine, but tonight I grabbed my magazine and headed off to soak in a hot bath with coconut oil epsom salts. After I settled into the tub, I flipped open to page 14 to see seven group photos of the staffs of the Glamour U.S., Mexico, U.K., Italy, Brazil, Netherlands, and Iceland with headline, “We are #PoweredByWomen”. This month’s issue was truly powered by women — “every word, every photo, every Glamour worldwide, created by women.”
Inside, several Glamour editors answered the question, “What does Sisterhood Mean to You?” I loved how positive and supportive their answers were, and how each of them mentioned that to them, sisterhood means “lifting women up” and “inspiring women around me, encouraging each other.”
It got me to thinking about what sisterhood means to me, and although I agree with the editors at Glamour, I would have to add that it’s a state of mind. I don’t have a whole lot of “girl friends”, but the few I have are very precious to me. For instance, I had dinner with my good friend {and former office manager} Marcy last night and even though it had been months since we last met for dinner, it was great to reconnect with her and enjoy a great meal. I know that she supports me in everything I do, and I hope she knows that I support her as well. She is someone I look up to, because she is truly a class act.
Sisters come in all shapes and sizes, ethnicities and genders, and I’m not just talking about the kind of sisters that were born into the same family. I’m talking about women who share common goals, who choose to be sisters rather than born as sisters. Earlier this fall, my niece, Kalista, was tapped to join a sorority at the college she attends. When she found out that she was selected by the sorority of her choice, I told her that her new sorority sisters will become her lifelong friends. Now they are her sisters, and together, they make up her sisterhood, her tribe.
Having a tribe is crucial. It means having people that you can rely on and that rely on you, that you can laugh with and cry with, that will lift you up with you are down, that will encourage, support, and inspire you to be your best self.
I love this video, featuring Dame Helen Mirren, supporters Elizabeth Debicki, Emma Grede, Jude Wanga, Hikari Yokoyama, and Executive Director Brita Fernandez Schmidt, who ask ‘What is Sisterhood?’, in a new short film by Women for Women International. “The film celebrates the power of sisterhood with one simple message: it’s time to stand up and be counted with our sisters.”
I found a website called Sisterhood Agenda, and it had a quiz called, “Who is Your Celebrity Sister?” I answered the questions {twice} because I could have answered some of those questions one way or another.
The first time, my answer was Zendaya, who just so happens to be the beautiful cover model for the November issue of Glamour. “Like your sister Zendaya, you follow the beat to your own drum. You both create a lot of laughs but maintain your intelligence by going below the surface. One may say that you are wise beyond your years.”
My second answer was Shakira. “You are both bold and make big first impressions on others. The two of you are also confident and usually the first ones on the dance floor. Sexy and self-possessed, you can say that your hips don’t lie!”
These two “celebrity sisters” of mine are both beautiful and inspiring women, and I will now include them in my sisterhood.
What does sisterhood mean to you? Have you told her sisterhood how much they mean to you? If not, then call them up, give them a word of encouragement, send them flowers “just because”, or take them out for dinner and just let them talk, just listen to them. Just be a lady cheerin’ on other ladies!
Yours Truly,
Vanessa
