March 8, 2023 is International Women’s Day. How fitting it is in the month of March, Women’s History month. There is a long history of Women’s Days celebrated in various countries around the world. March 8th is linked to the women’s movement during the Russian Revolution of 1917. The first National Woman's Day was observed in the United States on February 28

in honor of the 1908 garment workers strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions. Officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977, International Women's Day first emerged from the activities of labor movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe.

I looked up International Women’s Day 2023 and discovered there is an organization devoted to this idea. They have a theme for this year: Embracing Equity. They talk about the difference between equality and equity. Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances, and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. “Equal opportunities are not enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action”. So here we are in 2023 celebrating women around the world to admire, inspire and acknowledge the accomplishments of simple women achieving amazing things. I think about the women in Afghanistan who keep hope alive to attend school in the open. I think about the women of Africa who walk miles to fill water jugs for their families. I think of the women in Ukraine who live their daily lives surviving in a war zone.

I know there are histories of women who have been made famous by the telling of their stories. I focus on the amazing attributes of these people and realize they are the same attributes in women I live with every day. I admire ‘grit’ in the arms of grace, kindness, determination, honor, loyalty, curiosity, love and a willingness to see everyone as ‘family’ (and not all in that order). These are my sisters.

Nikken has a rich history of opening their doors to women around the world. We have 18 flags representing the countries we do business in. The idea behind this company is ‘doing business for yourself but not by yourself’. The core of success in this business is making money knowing you offer an opportunity to others to feel better in Mind, Body, Family Community and Finances. We support each other. We care about each other. It’s a worldly community of authenticity. I welcome you to connect with me and in turn, I may be able to connect you with the world of opportunity. Discover it, Live it.