Our previous executive director Jen Amos has moved on, but you can check out her podcasts The Filipino American Woman Project and Holding Down the Fort. We’re grateful for her hard work and contributions.
Seasons Greetings and Happy birthday to all of the holiday babies! (As a December baby myself, I always find it important to make other December babies feel seen and loved during the holiday season.)
Three months have flown by since I signed on to be your executive director. I have to say, I’m very proud of the progress we’ve made in laying out a new foundation for The State of Women. We’re refining our mission, updating our membership benefits, preparing for our next conference, and much more. Our incredible team has been working hard, and we can’t wait to share what’s next for our community in 2022!
In the meantime, I often find the holiday season is the perfect time to slow down and reflect on the past year. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating and honoring everything you’ve experienced this year.
- When you felt overworked and unrewarded
- When you experienced a heartbreak too painful to describe
- When a series of significant events humbled you
- When you first admitted to yourself: “I am not OK. I need help.”
- When you finally decided to prioritize your mental health
- When you started to believe in your own worth and what truly matters to you
- When you found your voice
- When you moved through adversity despite every part of your being telling you to dwell in your sorrows
- When you kept the faith through what felt like an endless dark tunnel
- When you faced your fears and did the thing you never thought you’d dare to do
- When you realized who’s been there for you all along
- When you unexpectedly experienced a personal or professional breakthrough
- When you fell in love again, despite believing that you never would
- When you harvested the fruits of your labor — and they were greater than you expected
- When you embraced who you are as a multifaceted individual or a multi-passionate entrepreneur
- When you truly experienced the benefits of consistently showing up, working hard, and staying focused on your goals
- When you finally gave yourself permission to rest
Take pride that you made it. Another year complete. Bravo.
It’s often customary to receive and give gifts around this time of the year in America. But what I have come to find is the greatest gift one could ever receive is not tangible; it’s internal. I hope our shared time of reflection has reminded you of your worth and has emboldened you to love yourself more than before. Self love is important because love is contagious. And as the saying goes, “Empowered people empower people.”
However you feel about this moment, I believe we will look back at this one day and be genuinely grateful for everything that 2021 had to offer. I know I will. A mantra I’m ending the year with is: “I thrived because I survived.”
Happy holidays and have a happy New Year, everyone!
Warm Regards,
