I never imagined I'd be the mother of girls. I never wanted girls. What a terrible thing to say, I know. That is the ugly, painful truth. I always wanted boys... they just seemed cooler. Rougher. Funner. All that. I wanted to BE a boy... not a girl. I never had any sisters growing up and I never had (or have) time for 'girlie' melodrama. I just couldn't imagine myself compatible the complicated needs of girls.
But then I had girls.
Three of them.
And they are so awesome. I want to cry when I think about how they have changed my life. My heart was blown wide open and I take back all the ridiculous reasons I didn't think I wanted girls.
Girls are, in fact, some of the most amazing creatures in the world. They way they love. The way they laugh. The way they play. They way they communicate and relate and nurture. The way they dream... They have changed the way I think about girls. And women. AND MYSELF. Not a day goes by that I don't say a silent thank you to the Universe for giving me exactly what I didn't want...
because it is truly what I needed.
I'm learning. I'm loving. I'm trying. I'm failing, too. But, I aim to be an example and a leader... I'm trying to be graceful in failure + gentle in defeat. I'm humbled. I'm hopeful. I LOVE LIKE A GIRL. And that is amazing.
It's a strange world that we live in when we are taught all our lives that we should try NOT to cry like a girl or run like a girl and squeal like a girl... or love like a girl. Nevermind the places on this earth where unspeakable atrocities are done to girls. Shame on us as collection of people who don't see, cherish and nurture the amazing spirits of girls. (And boys!)
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Anyways. This has become a long, jumbled way to say that I love my girls so much my heart is cracked. I have learned to truly LOVE girls. To see them for the amazing personalities they are. To think about what I can teach and what I can share - what I think girls should learn and what, at their core, they need to believe in. In this process - I have come to love myself and cherish the girl that I am, too. And to be very proud. I think that's really, really cool.
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A month ago I was given a gift. It was a small silver bracelet with the symbol for girl. It's beautiful and delicate and powerful and meaningful. Like a girl. I wear my bracelet with pride and I smile when I catch a glimpse of it throughout the day.
The bracelets are gorgeous 925 silver and are designed and created by the talented Hilary Druxman. They are called Girl Power. They are not available through her shop, and are intended to be sold as a way to raise money for charities that support and empower girls. Not only do I think that's amazing - it's something I want to be a part of. And share.
The bracelets are available in my ART SHOP for $15.
AND... The first 20 bracelet orders* will receive a Special Edition mini-print set with five 5x7 K.Barteski prints. None of these prints are available outside of this set. Nor will they be, but they are the prefect gift to share important messages about LOVING girls, BEING girls, and GIVING like girls.
The bracelets are available in my ART SHOP for $15. 100% of the proceeds go to girleffect.org. They would be PERFECT gifts for ANYONE. ANY AGE. Daughters, girlfriends, mothers, aunts, grandmas, cousins, bestfriends. Birthdays. Just because. Weddings. Graduations. Anything. There are 50 bracelets in total and they will go very fast. I can feel it.
*****EDITED: WOW! The 50 bracelets sold out in 90 minutes! NO WORRIES. I've contacted Hilary to order more. Plenty more. AND, in the spirit of your awesomeness - I've made 20 MORE Special Edition mini print sets and will extend the offer of a free set with each bracelet order until they are gone. GO GIRLS!
******EDITED AGAIN: Holy cow. The bracelets are going like crazy. I've ordered more and will keep filling my ARTSHOP until Hilary Druxman runs out (which is probably soon). I have printed 20 MORE Special Edition mini print sets (for a total of 60 free sets) and thank you all.
(*There will be ONE Special Edition mini print set included for each ORDER. For example, if your order includes 4 bracelets you will receive only ONE set of Special Edition mini prints.)
Today: I am prepping files in Spanish + counting down the minutes to Happy Hour. This has been a long, busy, stressful, and awesome week. ;)
GO!
