As a Mom with two young curious daughters, I often get the “Why” and “What” of everything that goes on in their worlds. If I was a site on the worldwide web, it would be “AskMom.com”. However, this questioning often brings me to realisations that have been stuck in the back of mind and are then portrayed – some may say this is ‘visionary’, especially when it comes to business. My girls make me more aware and often teach me a thing or two.
With Women’s Day here, we should all ask ourselves, “What” does this day, 9th August, mean to Women in South Africa?
On 9 August 1956, 20,000 women staged a march on the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act (commonly known as the pass laws) of 1950. They left bundles of petitions containing more than 100 000 signatures at prime minister J.G. Strijdom’s office doors. Outside they stood silently for 30 minutes, many with their children on their backs. The women sang a protest song that was composed in honour of the occasion: Wathint’Abafazi Wathint’imbokodo! (Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock.). In the 54 years since, the phrase (or its latest incarnation: “you strike a woman, you strike a rock”) has come to represent women’s courage and strength in South Africa.
Personally, as a woman, an entrepreneur, with a growing successful Travel & Tourism business, I give tribute to the women that came before me, that stood strong, enabling me to be able to be an entrepreneur with my own business. As Women’s Day is not about being stronger than our men, but that we can be strong for ourselves as women, in business, in our homes and in our communities.
One special tribute I would like to make this year, is to my very special Mentor, Trish Difford, who has mentored me over the past year and with retiring has referred many of her clients to me. As a very successful woman in her own right, in the Travel Industry, Trish has guided me and advised me when ever I have needed her. A HUGE ‘Thank you’ Trish! You are a fabulous extraordinary woman!
Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal!
Keep your dreams big …
and your aspirations high …
Happy “Women’s Day” to you!
With love from your “Travel Planner”,
Marina.