I am not my sister’s keeper. I AM MY SISTER. – Iyanla Vanzant
LOVELY A’BROAD EXPERIENCES COMMUNITY:
On the last day of International’s Women’s (IWM) month, I remind myself I could have used every day in March to honor all the brave and beautiful women around the world, and still not scratch the surface of greatness. Instead, A'BROAD will honor some of the amazing women in the world and highlight some of the best advice shared during pivotal life moments - you know those moments, don’t you? That moment when you’re like, “Sh**, I am NOT ready for this…am I?”…and “Wait…why am I holding my breath? Can I do this?”. Whether moving abroad or having an intimate chat with your current self, CHANGE is hard. These little pearls of wisdom have come in handy during those moments of change while living, laughing, and learning in life.
Life is not a pass or fail. Often times, we can set up expectations in our (own) head. More often than not, these can also be limitations. Why? Essentially because you may not be able to see past your own expectations. Things could turn out completely different than expected, and end up being the best thing for all. Don’t believe me? Move to another city, state, or country. Then, just try and live your life…the way you did before…. I can promise you, the expectation of who you thought you were (your identity) will be challenged daily. See who you become. I promise you it will surpass any expectation you ever had of yourself.
I am not my sister’s keeper. I AM MY SISTER. I must admit this quote from Iyanla Vanzant might sound existential. Really if you think about it, this quote serve as an illustration that we (women) are ONE—whether you like it not. Your existence as female comes with a members-only privilege to a broader sisterhood. It also comes with responsibility. Think about it this way…if you carried your prestigious membership card with you daily, how would you approach other members differently? It can be especially be impactful when you see your actions carry responsibility broader than just you. Some A ‘BROAD community members describe this mind shift as changing them to think more, talk less. Offer less judgement, invite more kindness. One stated, “As different as I am from most, I can see myself in others”. A’BROAD is a community of women, near and far. It is for that reason, we understand this fact: we are not all alike. Paradoxically, embracing the “ I AM MY SISTER” quote does not mean we all agree, look, think, or live similarly. We are not all the same. Yet, with mutual respect and listening, we find understanding and even support. We are united in our experience of living, laughing, and learning abroad. More importantly, we are not alone.
Think about what YOU can offer someone, not just what they can do/offer for you. We might approach a situation by sizing up the opportunity to see what we can get out of it. The reality is you can offer way more than you think! It can be your positive energy, your experience, a recommendation, advice…sometimes even a smile. Now is not the time to underestimate your ability to offer and affect someone’s day. By the way, feel free to go beyond your own immediate tribe… work colleagues, the lady on the coffee line, male counterparts-they will all appreciate it; can promise you will get something out of it too.
NOW is your turn! What is one piece of advice you would share to the A’BROAD COMMUNITY? Share in the comments section below.
Check out our latest podcast here
Join our Facebook group
Share your photos on Instagram tag us and we’ll repost (with your permission) your living abroad pic.
If you want to contribute, share your story, or just want to say hi get in touch with us
We look forward to hearing from you.