Celebrating International Women’s Day

Friday, March 8th is International Women’s Day, some choose to protest and others choose to celebrate womanhood.

It is a wonderful day to show our love and respect for the women in our lives.

Started in Italy in 1946, the mimosa flower became the custom flower to celebrate this day. The mimosa flower grows as an invasive shrub and the blooms are often used for oils and perfumes.

In the streets in Europe, you will see locals filling their trunks with bunches and bunches of mimosa to bring to the local markets or to sell on the side of the road. Women will purchase bouquets for themselves or for their female friends to show their love and respect for each other. Men will also line up to purchase these beautiful cheerful blooms for the women in their lives.

It was actually chosen because it was one of the few flowers that bloomed in March and, because it is an invasive shrub, it was quite economical to harvest and sell.

I love that the mimosa flower was chosen as the official flower for International Women’s Day.

It is a true representation to the strength of the female soul. The bright yellow blooms look delicate, but they are very strong and resilient.

Happy International Women’s Day to all of you.

Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them

They say they still can’t see.

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need of my care,

‘Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

How do you celebrate the women in your life? Share it with us in the comments!