By Nikole Reaksecker
In honor of Women’s History Month, I would like to share two books that show the power of women
and girls taking action.
Wonder Girls was written by Paola Gianturco and her granddaughter, Alex Sangster. This beautiful book profiles girls ages 10 to 18 that are transforming our world and their stories are told in their own words. Their courage, determination and creativity are on full display as they work towards protecting the planet, creating peace, changing policy and championing equality. The photographs of these amazing girls taking action are powerful, their stories are inspiring. Each chapter ends with a challenge, presenting the reader with a list of tangible actions that they can take to help support the efforts of these remarkable young women. The collaboration between Paola Gianturco and her granddaughter is heart-warming, impactful and an important reminder that women and girls are connected across generations and that we can learn valuable lessons from each other.
Another book that I would like to share is Moonrise: The Power of Women Leading from the Heart. This compilation of stories was edited by Nina Simons, the co-founder of Bioneers. As I read Moonrise, I was deeply moved by the voices of inspirational women leaders sharing their hard-won wisdom. Joanna Macy, a renowned Buddhist teacher, eco-philosopher and longtime activist, whispers that the “voice that every person needs to hear is the voice inside of them” and expresses her view that observing your activities within a “frame that is larger than your own lifetime is liberating.” She propounds that protecting the planet for future generations and knowing that the actions we take today will dramatically influence the future can help us focus on the areas where we desire to make the most impact.
In these tumultuous times, it’s very easy to feel lost and overwhelmed. Working within the environmental movement, we may not always see the impact of our actions in the present day and the changes happening around us appear bleak. Despair weighs heavily on hearts, but I truly believe that it is within these darkest moments that we begin to see our true selves. In Moonrise, Rha Goddess shares her belief that it is through the “grounding of vision, purpose and the growing edge that we are able to discern what is divinely for us.” It is in these moments that we connect deeply with our true purpose. The pain we feel shows us what we truly love and want to protect, spurring us to action. Rha Goddess also encourages us to “think long and hard about who we aspire to be and how we intend to have our feminine-centered values reflected in our leadership.”
If you are longing to connect to your own power, to become clear on the impact you want to have on the world, and to chart a course of action, please join us on March 29th for the Envision Your Environmental Mission Workshop.
Happy Women’s History Month! We are here to support you in your endeavors. Let’s make history together!
All the best,
~ Nikole Reaksecker
