fivehundredwords: The 750th Time.

I am a woman.

I was born in affluence. 

I was born in a country where my voice not only matters, but is encouraged.  I was born in a place without restrictions.  I had the stunning realization a few years ago that with this freedom, I carry the burden of obligation to my gender. 

I am a living, breathing, beautiful, powerful woman who happens to have a pen in hand and a heart for women around the world whose lives are directly affected by lack of resources.  I can’t quite wrap my head around it all: women without access to clean water, medical attention, education, freedom?  Women around the world who die of things that most in my country wouldn’t think twice about like childbirth and TB?

You know how sometimes when you see the 700^th picture of a child in Africa, you become numb to the images?  I read the news for fun.  I read books about global issues like some read novels.  But I still waver.  I’m sad to say that sometimes I catch myself thinking, “yeah, I already know about that.”  But then something happens.  The next story I read, the next image I see sends me over the edge.  Suddenly I’m looking at a picture of a mother dying of AIDS holding her malnourished child who is about to be an orphan, and they are all that matter. 

Everything stops.

This woman is dying of a disease, that if she had access to very common treatments, she could live with.  Her child is dying from hunger…

I just    

there are not

how can  

no. 

tears.

But I must find my words again.  Not for me.  For them.  For us.  For women.  Elie Wiesel, in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech talks about how we are all connected.  “That while their freedom depends on ours, the quality of our freedom depends on theirs.”   I can go on with my life.  Listen to my ipod on the bus on my way to Urban Outfitters and grab a coffee on the way.  But these things don’t determine my quality of life. 

What determines my quality of life is the quality of life of women around the world.  Am I using my resources wisely?  Am I using my words powerfully?  Am I taking every opportunity handed me?  Am I keeping myself connected to the greater source of life and strength at the core of all women? 

I’m never going to fully understand the plight of these women.  But I’m going to try.  I’m going to try to acquire understanding, to build relationships and bring awareness.  I will tell you their stories 749 times so that when you hear it for the 750^th time, your heart will break and you will start to grasp the gravity of the situation.  It’s then that we will be connected, and our outrage and strength will overpower the factors at work against us.  

I’m going to use my words for the benefit of my gender, bringing to light our struggles and great triumphs.

What will you use?