Two women, in particular, shaped my life as I grew up. My mother and a good family friend, Norma, helped me see what was important both in life and in my self. Both represented the best of the Christian religion that was important to them but without ever using it as a way to make me or anyone else feel lesser. I don’t remember thinking much about the fact that each had careers before they birthed five children, were married to strong-minded men, or whose full-time jobs “were keeping house” as it was then dismissively called.

The “Golden Rule”—do unto others as you would have them do unto you—was foundational, both in their everyday lives and in the large world views they each had. They lived their faith in everything they did, with kindness, joy, and inclusion of all they encountered. The love they had for life, demonstrated so clearly, unknowingly became the cornerstone of who I am.

There was a period in my early adult life when I was much more focused on “me” than anyone else. In a career that primarily involved men, I often saw women as if on a page without the rich dimensions of life each of them actually had. Gratefully, that began to evolve to better fit the reality of life. My awareness of the limits I’d long put on my own perceptions continues to grow as I see women simply for who they actually are. For that I am thankful. I’ve often quipped that without the women in my life, especially Liz who I have known now for more than 55 years, I would be dead. It is more clear to me than ever that, in fact, that statement is true.

That men have been conned into believing women came from one of our ribs is such nonsense when it is blindingly obvious we all came into this world after living inside their bodies. Now we have a great opportunity to honor women by electing one to be our next President. Not only is she incredibly smart but she also creates joy all around us. Her vision of our world is one I too see, unlike the horrors that Trump envisions. And then…the other amazing women in our big world—Michelle Obama pops right to the top—and the literally millions in the greater world, women who we leave to deal with the destruction and hunger we, mostly, men continue to cause.

I honor my mom and my dear mentor, Norma, today as well as Liz and our daughter, my sisters, my daughter-in-law, my granddaughter and grandnieces, friends, greater family and on and on. Please continue to help the rest of us see the way forward and please for for more JOY in our lives.

27 Oct This entry was published on October 27, 2024 at 11:31 am. It’s filed under John Snell, John Snell Photographer, People, vote, www.johnsnell.photography and tagged Christian, Golden Rule, Joy, Kamala Harris, life, mental-health, relationships, war, Women. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.