Dear 14 Year Old Sarah,

It's International Women's Day, 2021.  You are older now.... much older, but we won't get in to that just yet.

Be courageous, 14 year old, Sarah.  You can, you can, you can.  Check out some of the things that will happen in your lifetime:

Next year, in 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor will be appointed to the Supreme Court.  She will become the first female justice on the Court.

In a few years from now, in 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be appointed to the U. S. Supreme Court.  (Yes, that's TWO women on the Supreme Court... glad you're paying attention.)   RBG is a champion on women's rights and you will be wearing her T-Shirt's proudly.  (Oh yeah, she's got her own clothing line... or did... she passed away in 2020 which is a helluva year, but I don't want to even tell you about that right now)

In 2004, Condoleeza Rice will be the first African-American woman to become the US Secretary of State and the first female National Security Adviser for President George W. Bush.

 

In 2012, a 15 year old girl, Malala Yousafzai who was shot by the Taliban for being an outspoken young girl, went on to receive the Nobel Prize at 17 years old to recognize her activism.

And that's just a small list of amazing women you will hear about.

You can, you can, you can.

I know that you are going through quite a lot right now.  I mean, those friggin' braces, right?  GAWD!  I know you have to ride that bike to and from home to the grocery store you work at just to pay for those things yourself because Mom doesn't have insurance.  I want to apologize for the @#$^& Manager at the store who treated the girls like crap and threw a football around the store with all the boys.  He was a dick and no, it's nothing that you did.

I know that you are a little overweight right now, but I want you to know that in about 10 years from now, those arms of yours will hold the most precious thing in the world to you that has ever breathed.  Your son Colin is now 27 and living 10 minutes from you and yes, he still lights up any room for you.  Your thighs will give you strength to hold your Mother up when she needs help going to the bathroom.  You provided her with dignity, humor and respect.  So, go easy on those thighs.  They're pretty awesome.  I'm sorry about those girls who teased you about your weight in school.  They are three times divorced, I hear.

I know that you've just realized that Dad is never coming back.  No, I can't say that he returns physically in 2021, but what I can tell you is that not only is he with you all the time, but you have amazing men in your life who really see you and love you the way you should be loved.  I want to apologize for all the heartbreaks you've had.  Most of them were just trying to get through life, like you, so try to forgive them.  Except that one guy.  He was a sociopath.  Geezus.....

I also know that you are going through something right now that will shape you for many years to come.  I want to say that you're going to be okay.  You're going to be more than okay, actually.  Mom and Dad told you that you could do anything you want in this lifetime, so believe them.  Well, not about that flying Karate kick you attempted in 1997 at the martial arts school.  You can't do that.  Don't do that.

Although you will make many mistakes because of your life so far, you are now in a great place in life.  You have other amazing women surrounding you who feel the same way about each other.  Don't worry, 14 year old Sarah, you're gonna kick ass, so get ready, we're just gettin' started.

 

 

Oh and by the way, we are 54 now.  Screw it.  We should be able to shout our age from the Mountaintops because, baby, we earned it.

Check out more amazing women here.  

#speakyourmindevenifyourvoiceshakes

#thankyouellaandaggieandhazelandshirleyandjosephine

LOOK: 50 photos of American life in 2020

These 10 NH Places Bring Back the Best Memories

 

More From WSHK-WSAK 102.1 & 105.3 The Shark