As I woke up this morning of the 8th of March 2022, I felt different!

Although International Women's Day has been a day celebrated for years all over the world, for some reason, I have never been concerned... Maybe because most of the articles out there in one way or another build their story on the weaknesses of men.

Today, as I unlock a new stage of my life, a stage where I am trusted and asked to empower girls through my speeches starting from the public schools in Australia, I suddenly feel a duty and a responsibility to share my views of being a woman for almost 4 decades...

Today, as I look back at my journey, I feel proud of the woman I have become. I feel proud to have a new sight of what a woman is and what a woman should be...

Part of my speech today is explaining to these girls aged 12-18 that they DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHT!!!

It is not about a fight: FIGHT implicates grudges, unfairness, hate, resentment and regret... 

My EYES along with my HEART have something else to say... A fight might be needed when you are taking back the control of something you lost... We did not lose... we have been in a natural progression, in a path for growth, where our talents are making a difference in this world…

WHEN YOU SHINE, YOUR RIGHTS WILL MEET YOU HAVE WAY!

It is not about numbers...

It is not about who does what...

It is not about your gender...

It is not about your colour...

It is about WHO YOU ARE in the first place...

Each one of us has strengths and weaknesses...

Each one of us can contribute to making this world a better place...

Each one of us when acting from a love and passion perspective will definitely succeed...

What is SUCCESS?

Is it really about competition?

Is it really about proving that I am better than YOU?

Is it really about how many women there are compared to men?

SUCCESS Is about achieving your goals.

SUCCESS is about making a difference.

SUCCESS is never fulfilled with one set of hands...

SUCCESS is when we all agree that we are all for one and one for all...

Today, on this INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, I sit and observe, wanting to highlight all the ideas floating in my universe, trying to convince you that:

EQUALITY is never about numbers...

EQUALITY is not imposed...

EQUALITY is a state where the effort you make as a person and the difference you make will put you ahead of everyone...

That difference can not be made as long as we talk from a victim's perspective...

As I mentioned before, it is all about evolution... When I look back at the history and compare it with Today, I always see that WOMEN'S added value has made a difference especially when they had self-love, self-confidence and dedication.

Women give a meaning and a feel to whatever they do... They have a touch distinct from that of a man and this is the beauty: They are an essential player in the success equation... 

You might disagree with me today... but TRUST ME, problems only began in any area of life when one group was trying to seek full power over another!

It is all about harmony...

It is all about balance...

It is all about inner peace...

It is all about self-Leadership...

It is all about self-awareness and Mindfulness...

WE ARE NOT VICTIMS...

Each one of us has a gift... that gift is our talent... we spend a lifetime worried and end up losing sight of our talent because we were too busy focusing on what is not working… We die not hearing the music that was playing inside…

IMAGINE if each one of us celebrated that gift and believed in the difference she can make in this world... If we gave time to our gifts as much as we give time to the fight, we would be that 10% who can change this world one heart at a time... 

A REMINDER on this 8th of March:

Be proud of who you are...

Be compassionate with yourself to become compassionate with others…

Do what you have to do today because tomorrow might never come...

Treat others like you want to be treated, whether men or women...

Fly high. It is one way to show everyone that a woman out there has made a difference... you will not be only celebrated by women but also by the whole of humankind.

As a woman, a mother, a daughter, a sister and a speaker, I feel proud to be on a journey of empowering other women early enough to guide them towards a future where they can live in peace in the middle of adversity. I grew exponentially because of the challenges life threw my way. And today, as I face one hurdle after the other, I smile and say: “I am patient enough to wait and learn a new lesson.”

Dima Istambouli