Sorenna Elizabeth
I have just come back from visiting two of my sons, and playing joyously and full on with my 3 year old granddaughter Sorenna. As she grows quickly I see the amazing girl she is, and forsee the powerful woman she will become.
I watch Sorenna and see how absolutely at home she is in her body, her mind, and her playful and creative spirit. She is not afraid to be exactly who she is – in the moment. She operates from a place of full self acceptance. I yearn to be like her….
I often wonder why women – including myself at times – are frequently so hard on ourselves. By that I mean attempting to fit into a “square hole” of our cultures making with our rounded, and curvy bodies (even if you are thin you have curves!!), hearts, and psyches.
This week I was blessed to view two videos – both of which are here for you – that speak to acceptance in all of its many forms. Here are two stunning women bringing themselves out to millions of people. They are stunning because they both have a track record of saying yes to putting themselves out their within their particular creative art form, and they keep showing up to do just that.
One is a musician who has written many powerful songs for women as she speaks of her own life experience through her music, and the other is a young woman that very early on found her love of poetry and theater arts could be put together – and oh what a perfect fit for her!
The first is India Arie singing Gift of Acceptance at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert with a global message for all of us. We are in a time on our planet when we are realizing more deeply that what affects one of us affects all of us. I say that acceptance of ourselves at deep levels of loving care allow us to accept others as we do ourselves. Just what the world needs!
The second video is a brilliant TED2011 talk by Sarah Kay that inspired two standing ovations. “Sarah tells the story of her metamorphosis — from a wide-eyed teenager soaking in verse at New York’s Bowery Poetry Club to a teacher connecting kids with the power of self-expression through Project V.O.I.C.E. — and gives two breathtaking performances of “B” and “Hiroshima.”
To me this is not only especially inspiring for our girls and young women coming up….but also a reminder to us as mature women that with acceptance of all of who we are (warts, fears, wrinkles, sexual preferences, and all!), the best of our creative gifts are unearthed. It is within our uniqueness that our genius shines!
You will find it here:
http://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_daughter.html
Will you be the next to step up “on stage”? Dare ya!
OTHER BLOGS BY GAYE ABBOTT:
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