That's wonderful! I just saw that it's Women's History Month! I didn't even know it existed until just now, which I think is a little sad.

What a wonderful way to celebrate womanhood!

Awesome!

Wow, great holiday!!

Wonderful Holiday!

I hate the fact that there is not an International Man's Day!!!

My mother was the most inspiring woman in my life. She was the one that taught me that it is ok to be different from my sisters, and that sometimes in my life that even though I march to the beat of my own drum, I can still swim with the current if the goal I am reaching for is the same as everyone elses.

I'll start out posting about a woman in my life: my mother.

My mother has put up with a lot of crap from me. She handled my rebellious teenage phase well, and even when the "rebellious behaviors" still continue (like dyeing my hair hot pink) she still treats me with respect and like the adult that I am. When my husband and I needed someplace to live after where we were on our own fell through, she let us both move back in rent free, and this was while he was still "boyfriend." She's continued to let us live at her house rent free so that we can pool our resources and save up to put a down payment on a house of our own. My mother is one of the greatest women I know, and I am a better person for having her in my life.

I think it's sad I've been hearing about it being self harm month but not women's month. Not that it's not important, but women's issues keep getting erased.

Even though we no longer speak, my mother is also the most inspiring woman in my life. She taught me to be strong-willed, independent and to always chase my dreams. If she hadn't have been independent and just as strong as I am, I wouldn't have half the life skills that I do. It's unfortunate that we don't see eye-to-eye anymore.

Even though I have only known her for 5 years, it is my Mother in Law. She took me in when my parents were sick of my "attitude." When I got pregnant and had a miscarriage, she was there hugging me and trying to make me feel better. She has help our family financially while my husband was laid off. And she has been a wonderful friend to me. I really admire, love, and adore her. She is a wonderful women!

I also think I owe some appreciation to my mother even though she was not the best mother. She dealt with my crap and birthed me, so she does deserve some appreciation. We are currently working on that relationship, but there are a few things I find hard to be forgiving about, however she does still deserve some credit for providing for me for 18 years.

I have never heard of this. How sad is that, since it's been going on since 1909!

I have to tell you about my grandmother. I call her Nana. She has raised me since I was just a minute old since my Mother was otherwise occupied with her own addiction problems. I can't thank my Nana enough for always being there for me. She calls me her last daughter even though she is only my grandmother.. but she is the only mother I knew and I do think she is as close to a mother as I will ever find. She is even better. Growing up, I had it all. Iceskating lessons, camping, horseback riding lessons, going to soccer practice, having that PERFECT dress for every homecoming dance, having a shoulder to cry on when a boy broke my heart, telling me she loved me with all her heart, and dealing with my never-ending attitude as we all get in the teenage years.

She is the strongest woman I have ever known and she has taught me to be strong too. She has had a hard life and took the responsibility and took it upon herself to raise another child, me. She is now 62 and still being the inspiration of my life. After I finished college.. I got sick. Medically, it isn't good. She told me to pack my things and move back in with her until we figure it all out even though I was very independent, I know I needed her and she knew I needed her too. She takes me to every doctors appointment, holds me even as a 21 year old when I cry and scream at the world and tells me that it is me and her against the world and somehow we will get through this.

I hope everyone has someone like that in their lives. I can't praise her enough. I love her so dearly. I just wanted to share that.

This is the first time I have even heard about this. I will do my utmost best to inform every woman I know.

Amazing stories! And a really nice holiday indeed! Here it is even a national holiday, a day off, and is widely celebrated. We went to the mall today, it's such a chaos... crowds of people, everyone is buying chocolates and potted flower plants

I want to thank you all so far for sharing your stories with us!

One of the women who has influenced me most in my life, is my great grandmother. Though was so young when I met her that I barely remember, her life is an inspiration.

Not only did I inherit my name from her, but also, much of my attitude. She took every struggle she ever encountered, and used it as a springboard to help others. She risked so much to provide a good home for her family, and to help her community. After losing 3 children, she made it her life's work to help women deliver their babies, safely and calmly, and nursed many sick babies back to health while mothers were not able. Though her husband was an avid social climber, she never had any inclination to clime, she simply wanted to love and care for those around her. When her marriage finally ended, she refused to leave and give up the home she had raised, and was still raising her children in, and stood firm against an abusive husband until she got it. She raised her grandchildren like they were her own, when their mother was too busy attempting to follow in her fathers footsteps, and if it weren't for her, no woman between her and I would be who they are today.

Thank you, great gramma Emma, I love you!

Nude Calendar Published to Celebrate International Women's Day

The women in the U.S. and Canada and other progressive areas of the world have it a little easier in regards to expression of sex and sexuality than women in the Middle East and to draw attention to this, a calendar is being published to scream in the face of the violence, rape and oppression of women in these societies. It is comprised of photos sent in by women with a small quote meant to encourage women to not be ashamed. The calendar is $20 and is downloadable or you can buy a hard copy of it.

I'm so proud of these women, it just makes my heart sing!

I'm going to break the rules a little here today because my inspirational story isn't about a woman, it's about a man. He helped me become the woman I am today and he is amazing. He helped me through some of the roughest patches in my life and helped teach me that I am a strong beautiful person. I decided to go back in my 30's to school to gain my very first degree in Nursing. He stayed up long hours helping me study, he refused to let me back down when my true terrors came up (Math and Science) and helped me over come them and graduate a straight A student.

At graduation he told me "I am SO proud of you, thank you for allowing me the privilege of seeing you realize what I have seen in you all these year, a beautiful, strong smart woman. I am so happy that you see it too now"

Thank to my dear husband for helping me see myself for the woman I am!