A Weekend to Celebrate All the Women Out There
This weekend, we celebrated International Women’s Day. There were speeches given and markets displayed to show what women have been capable of. When seeing everyone come out and celebrate what amazing things we do as women, it shows how we can be united as one front. This weekend in Harrisonburg they had International Women’s Day March in Court Square where women of all gender, and identities gave speeches to empower those around them. I did not mean to go to this event but ended up seeing it when driving on my way to the Farmer’s Market in Downtown Harrisonburg. This is when I realized this is the march my friend was talking about the other day. So, I called her, found out she was there and heard many great speeches from a variety of empowering women in this community today. The women were amazing to hear from even just the few I was able to listen in on.
Today, I went to downtown Staunton, where they had an outdoor market going on. This market only had women business owners to support them during International Women’s Weekend. They had a both where one woman made bags, napkins, shirts, and other clothes items. I went to another where they made their own crochet animals and coffee cup holders. Then we went to a mother and daughter owned business at the same market. The mom started making her own jewelry while the daughter later followed pursuit. It was mentioned how the daughter had just gotten her business license and was truly flourishing on selling her own handmade jewelry. They both had lovely jewelry and I ended up buying a pair of earrings from them. I loved seeing all these amazing, growing, and even young women following their dreams. Even if it is starting small, they are making it somewhere with the help of others within the community of Staunton where they live.
It makes me happy to see women who feel confident enough to start their own business. They are not afraid of what others might have to say or feel about the business they are starting. Instead, they choose to branch out, take the risk, and start the business they have always dreamed of within their life. It might be a challenge in trying to do so, but they know this challenge is worth it in the end. It is very uplifting seeing other women helping each other while lifting each other up at the same time. It might not be about being the best in the business but simply having a thriving business of their own. This shows their community and the ones who doubt them along the way they are able to flourish. They can survive in the business world as a hardworking woman that they are in this moment. They did not let fears determine who they are or define them but rather make them stronger for it. This is how Women’s International Day helps in pushing women to be their best in whatever path they may choose today and in the future.
This board represented the names of all the women we find thankful to have in our lives.
This is the mother, daughter jewelry shop I mentioned earlier.
The link above is to another market in Bridgewater at the end of March, the image is below with more information.
ShoutOut! James Madison University 