I found the line that sums it all up. I'm reading Find Your Extraordinary by Jessica Herrin, and even though I've only completed one chapter I love it. Jessica makes it quite clear that this isn't a book about gender equality. It is a book about finding success on your own terms.
I've heard gender equality talked about as an obstacle quite often, especially in this election cycle. But, it isn't something that Jessica focuses, and I when I sit and think about it gender isn't something I that I focus on either. And she has given me the quote that sums up all the thoughts I have had about me and men.
"I have never thought I can do anything a man can do--I have just always thought I can do anything." - Jessica Herrin
Can I get an AMEN! I grew up surrounded by farming and ranching. In those world's a lot would say it is a man's world. Not me. Maybe it is the way my mom and dad raised my sister and I but I have never once thought to myself I can't do that because I am not a man.
"I can't drive the tractor because I am not a man. I can't lift up that hay bale because I don't have the strengthen of a man." Instead I figured out how to recruit my sister into coming and helping me so we could get the job done together. I love driving the skid steer to clean the cattle pens (it isn't the most glamorous job, but it is fun!) I usually get the skid steer stuck or stalled at some point and the Boy comes and helps me, but that didn't happen because I am a woman. It happened because I probably got a little excited and made the wrong move. He got the tractor stuck big time this past weekend and that didn't happen because of his sex.
In my off the farm career I work along side men and woman and I never think "Well I better handle that because that is a woman's job or what will he think if I speak up." I just do it. I do the job because I truly believe I can do anything, and I take this mentality from boardroom to pasture.
That's ultimate equality right? Knowing you can do anything. And then also knowing that there are people around you, both men and women, that can help you out.
This is the first week of our book discussion. If you want to join our Find Your Extraordinary Book Discussion group come on in.
I love this! Unfortunately we all let fear on various fronts set barriers around what we think we can do. My motto is, "if you think you can or think you can't you're probably right". It's pretty gender neutral and always motivates me to just go for it!
ReplyDeleteInteresting thought. Maybe I need to read this book.
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