Girls Rock!

What do you get when you take 200 women of all ages and cultures, mix them up with heaping handfuls of inspiration, celebration and motivation, throw in a dash of sultry flamenco and HEAT IT UP?? You get one of the most fabulous events I have ever attended...Celebrating Women: Creating Joy Within was presented by the Women's Development Portfolio of the Ismaili Council for BC this past Sunday and girl, it rocked! I am so proud to be a part of this amazing species of multi-dimensional spirits! I won't tell all our secrets here just in case some boys stop by and try to learn our ways, but I will tell you that it is a day I will not forget.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Susan Biali, but the word "speaker" seems too dry to describe such a dynamic being. Performer is more like it. She didn't just tell us her story, she showed us her story. I was there with her when she hit rock bottom as an Emergency Room resident doctor and then when she hightailed it out of that hospital to Cuba and remembered her childhood dream of becoming a dancer. I followed her to Mexico and danced for Sean Penn. I cried when she told her mom's story because I was right there , sitting beside her when her mom asked her to be brave. What a ride! I'd listen to her tell that over and over again. If you ever hear that she is speaking somewhere, please, BE THERE TOO! In the meantime, you can check out her website www.susanbiali.com and find her on facebook.

This was also a monumental day for me as I was honoured with the opportunity to share my story, too. Some of that story is documented on this blog (How I Got Here) but I went into a lot more detail when I spoke in front of, did I mention, 200 women there?! A few weeks ago, when I was first asked to share my story, I said YES right away. And then I realized that I didn't really think I had enough of a story to make a presentation. That night I could not sleep. I kept asking myself "What is my story? What would women want to know?". Finally, at 5 am I crept out of bed so as not to wake my husband. I snuck into my closet, which thankfully has a light and a little footstool - perfect for propping up my journal, of course. (I have no idea why I have a footstool in my closet.) Anyway, I let my eyes adjust to the light and then I wrote. And I wrote. And I wrote. At 6:30 am I emerged from my closet, to the sun sneaking its way into our bedroom through the blinds. And I had a story. Sharing it with a room full of women was one of the most humbling experiences I have ever been blessed with and my God, I want to do it again.

I was also asked to share a poem that I wrote, inspired by this event. It's no wonder I turned to the butterfly as my muse. When you read the poem, you'll see why. And of course, how could I honour "her" without giving a shout out to my mom...her name Nasim means morning breeze and jasmine was her favourite flower. Enjoy!

To Honour Her (Butterfly Wings)
By Taslim Jaffer

Don’t be fooled by the light, airy butterfly
Whose rice paper wings flicker
In the morning breeze.
She transformed her state
In a closed, dark space
And asked for the courage
To fly.

Don’t be fooled by her delicate legs
That rest on the white, starry jasmine.
They’ve crawled from the depths
Of a small, dreary place
And push her in the direction
Of heaven.

Don’t be fooled by your circumstance or age
Or the voices that say
It can’t be.
Believe in the strength of a tiny, winged creature
And that you have her gift
To fly.