International Women’s Day

Celebrating Women at Every Stage of Life

In honor of International Women’s Day, I want to give a nod to all of the women out there holding it together — no matter what.

The women who show up with a smile, even though they just cried in private.

The women who lean into their talents and fight for a seat at the table.

The women who quietly put their needs aside to make sure everyone around them is taken care of.

Women show up in so many different ways in our modern world. And the expectations placed on us? They’re endless.

I’ll never forget that scene from Barbie when America Ferrera broke down just how hard it is to be a woman and keep everything perfectly balanced.

It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don't think you're good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we're always doing it wrong.

You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin. You have to have money, but you can't ask for money because that's crass. You have to be a boss, but you can't be mean. You have to lead, but you can't squash other people's ideas. You're supposed to love being a mother, but don't talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for men's bad behavior, which is insane, but if you point that out, you're accused of complaining. You're supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you're supposed to be a part of the sisterhood.

But always stand out and always be grateful. But never forget that the system is rigged. So find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful. You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line.

It's too hard! It's too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault.

I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing women, then I don't even know.

When she said it all out loud, I sat there in the theater feeling so seen.

I wanted to shout: “Nailed it!”

And then something happened that I will never forget. My daughter leaned forward, looked over at me, and said: “Mom, you’re doing a great job.”

Oh. My. Gosh. My heart.

The fact that my daughter — who was only 11 at the time — watched that scene and immediately thought of me… wow.

Because the truth is, that scene really did nail it.

Women are expected to balance everything. To be strong, but not intimidating. Successful, but not threatening. Kind, but not weak. And present for everyone — all the time.

Shit. It’s not fair.

But life has never really been about fairness. It’s about showing up through every season. And the truth is, the seasons are constantly changing. And many women are living in multiple seasons at the same time.

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💻The CEO

You made it. You worked your ass off. You proved some people wrong—and some people right. Either way, you earned your seat at the table.

💪The single mom

You’re doing it all, and you’re doing it alone. Whatever it takes to provide for your family. Your kids may not fully understand how hard you’re pushing… but one day they will.

🤰The one praying to get pregnant

Everywhere you turn, there’s another baby bump, another baby shower, another stroller holding a perfect newborn. And you wonder quietly, Will it ever be my turn?

📣The cheerleader

You build people up. You see the best in others and make sure they see it too. Your encouragement changes more lives than you realize.

🔍The one rediscovering herself

One day you woke up and didn’t quite recognize the woman staring back at you. Maybe it happened slowly. Maybe it hit you all at once. Either way, you’re figuring it out—and there is something powerful about discovering your next version.

🚗The unpaid Uber driver

You practically live in your car. Meals are served there. Phone calls happen there. Meetings happen there. Wardrobe changes happen there. Sometimes you even steal a quick nap there.

🪹The empty nester

Your kids are gone. The house is strangely quiet. The laundry is suddenly… done. You knew the day was coming, but you couldn’t fully prepare for how it would feel.

✌️The peacekeeper

You work hard to keep the environment calm. You diffuse arguments. You make excuses for others. Sometimes you sacrifice your own peace just to make sure everyone else is comfortable.

🧵The one hanging on by a thread but still going

You’ve been through it. You’re exhausted. You’d rather be in bed. Everything feels heavy. But people depend on you, and responsibilities don’t pause—so somehow, you keep going.

🤣The goofy one

You are the mom version of the class clown. Making people laugh is one of your greatest joys. Sure, you hear “Stop, you’re embarrassing me,” but honestly… that just fuels you even more.

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To every woman in every season, please know this: you are seen and respected.

Today, I hope we can all take a few moments to share the love. Reach out to a woman you admire. A woman who might be struggling. A woman who is doubting herself. A woman who is winning in a big way.

Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can give each other is simply recognition.

Happy International Women’s Day.