"THE case for women is not that they are inherently better or more moral. It is that they are half of humanity and should have the same opportunities and be judged according to the same standard, or not be judged at all... It does not have to be like this," said Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, best-selling Nigerian author, novelist, non-fiction and short story writer.
Everyone is brave. To be brave is not about climbing Mount Everest, or going to the moon; being brave is every day things, standing up for yourself, being courageous, believing in yourself, fighting for what’s right, even just being yourself.
If you aren’t feeling thatbrave, we as Rock Girls understand the challenges women, children and everyone faces daily. You are brave no matter what anyone says.
“Be considerate in all that you do. Know what you like and go with your own instinct. Don’t just follow someone else’s path. Your drum is the one to beat. The greatest confidence of all is that which is done quietly, consistently and with grace,” said Kirsten Goss, internationally-acclaimed jewellery maker.
So just in case some of you incredible human beings are not feeling brave here are some words of encouragement:
l So to start off you should know that everyone is brave.
You just need to know how to show it, braveness breeds within you deep inside your soul and even though you might not notice it you are being brave every day from the moment you wake up until you fall asleep.
l Being brave is usually seen as jumping off a cliff or conquering mountains, but that’s not necessarily what being brave is. Being brave is possessing courage or determination, valuing yourself, accepting yourself, looking after yourself, understanding yourself and empowering yourself.
Especially to those ladies out there who don’t believe that they are as special, as well as those more well-known or famous.
You are definitely brave and to those guys who don't fully appreciate them, think about the challenges they've been through; some examples are: we have endless patience, are responsible, we express our feelings, take care of the world, we build strong empires, we mature faster, we think of consequences before we decide and we accept defeat.
We should embrace our femininity because we raise the future and carry it too.
If you do not feel included then you should use your voice to speak out and express our point of view. Our goal as Rock Girls is to have our voices heard, respected, honoured and implemented.
These aspects are not just given to you though. You have to work for them; speak to people, say what you mean, escape your comfort zone.
“If you never get out of your comfort zone, it will keep getting smaller and smaller, until you can never escape it,” says Roz Savage, English ocean rower, environmental advocate, writer and speaker.
We do not have to be brave alone, so we shouldn't be afraid to admit that we need someone to guide us with believing. If something is wrong, don’t keep it to yourself, speak out.