The women most inspiring past & present.
For Women’s International Day
This will be a short out of sync post to celebrate International Women’s Day. How else do you celebrate it but by naming the women that have most inspired me over the years and now in the present.
As I am writing this post on Substack and we are told to sit in the present -ok, not quite what is meant, but you know what I mean, stop digging the rabbit 🐇 hole Linney and get on with it. I am starting with the amazing women here on Substack who have supported me and kept me going with my writing.
Here goes - my list of inspiring women here on Substack. I recommend every single one of these Substacks. I have to start with the person who got me caught up in all this and subjected you to my ramblings.
who writes The Shoulds. Her Substack provides guides for living life our way. Followed by who journals everyday on Substack with really helpful prompts and runs incredible workshops in person and online. Tanya is my best midlife bird. Tanya organised an Unblocking Creative Workshop with. I have to mention Emma. The workshop and Emma were brilliant and did just that for me. As Emma’s Substack continues to do. for her Substack workshop in Kent, her monthly sessions and brilliant Substack which is amusing and for putting fashion into perspective for an old short legged curmudgeon. for Sparkle on Substack my go to for advice and tips. The two Hannah’s & both of whom have supported me in my writing and write wonderful Substacks. for her brilliant gardening Substack and for subscribing on a very bad day for me and giving me a smile and a lift. It got me weeding. whose Substack On Orchids & Daises is so open and honest. her Dear Reader I’m Lost is inspiring and can be so funny, particularly her letter to Terry. for inspiring me to write and for the wonderful daily journals, I may not read them all but they are so calming. I have to stop here, but there are other amazing female writers here are a smattering to name but a few.All of my subscribers are amazing I wish I had space to mention you all.
Other women who inspire me.
It is not all about famous people but those closest to you too.
You may no longer be with us but I can hear “Hi Ma,” in my heart and head every single day. You were the kindest, most caring, funny, beautiful woman who was a force of nature to be reckoned. You lit up so many lives. My daughter, Sarah.
My sister who is living and enjoying the life she deserves with an amazing family. My niece and niece in law who have both successfully succeeded balancing work and two amazing children each, in their own fabulous ways.
All the women I am honoured to call friends. They are all amazing, incredible women
I don’t want this to be a long rambling post so I am going to list some of the other women on the famous list, and leave it to you to find out more if you want. It is a random and eclectic list. A bit like me really. It is in no particular order:
Doreen Lawrence, Barbara Castle - Baroness Castle of Blackburn, Tina Turner, Hedy Lamar, Hannah Arendt, Dame Judi Dench, Michelle Obhama, All of the The Pankhurst sisters: Emmeline, Christabel, Sylvia and Adela, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, Malala Yousafzai, Josephine Butler, Greta Thunberg, Edith Cavell, Dolly Parton, Marie-Guillemine Benoist, Marie Curie, Octavia Hill, Helena Kennedy - Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, Tanni Grey-Thompson.
There are many more but these are just a few.
Name your three most inspiring women and why?
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Thanks for the Substack suggestions. I'll check them out. I always love to discover new treasures here on Substack (yours among them). The woman who inspired me most was my grandmother. She died decades ago, but I still think of her often. She was the kindest and most gentle person I knew. In her last weeks on this earth she shared her life story with me. Her childhood was marked by neglect, abuse, hunger, fear and a lot more. Despite of all of that, she was full of love and kindness. Not only did she bring up three of her own children (one of them my mum) but she also helped raising foster children. Later, she helped raising two of her granddaughters (one of them me).
This is so lovely, Jo – thanks for the inclusion! Happy belated women's day xx