Just saying the word freedom stirs up all kinds of emotions in women, from euphoria to anger to sadness. Freedom and human rights for women have been challenged or abused from the beginning of time as we know it The culprits, whether political parties, religious institutions, or individuals were usually on one mission: to gain control, power, or money. Horrific events are still going on today around the world against women, from Chinese baby girls being killed to Middle Eastern women being routinely raped or sexually mutilated. A report issued by the United Nations Development Fund for Women found one in three women globally is likely to be raped, beaten or otherwise abused in her lifetime. All of this seems so far away, however, we need only look out our own back doors to witness freedom of women and girls being challenged every day, right here in America. Bullies in the schoolyards, sexual harassment in the workplace, crimes of hate, protests against gay marriages. These and countless more offenses chip away at freedom like a gold miner’s ax digging out and separating the most precious and shiniest pieces of a woman’s essence.

What business is it really of anyone (male or female) to tell a woman what choices to make in her life—religious, sexual or otherwise? Think of how much easier and less frustrating life would be if we stopped wasting all that time trying to dictate how others should live. As long as someone is not harming another person, why can’t we let her worship who she wants, love who she wants and be who she wants? After centuries of suppression, we should be entitled to make our own choices and exercise our own free will. We should also extend that freedom of choice to others as well.

You are a Goddess with a free spirit and the right to choose your own beliefs, habits, and affiliations. Countless women in history have fought for your rights. Susan B. Anthony is recognized mainly for her role in giving women the right to vote, but she also was against slavery, worked as an advocate for women and children who suffered from alcoholic husbands, and fought for equal pay for women. It’s easy to take these rights for granted when you haven’t fought the battle yourself. It’s the difference between making an apple pie from scratch (growing the apples, picking them and kneading the dough) as opposed to walking into a store and buying it ready-made. It wasn’t that long ago you didn’t have a luxury. After all, it was only about 150 years ago that Emma Snodgrass was arrested in Boston for wearing pants!

Remember to exercise your freedom every day—get involved, speak-up, stand up for your rights, vote—and support that freedom for women around the world. Life is wonderful thing—ask anyone who is dying. Freedom in life is even more wonderful—ask anyone who doesn’t have it.

5 Ways to Honor Freedom

• Support women’s rights in your own neighborhood and around the world (through making donations, starting petitions, and lobbying our politicians).

• Instill confidence, power and equality in your daughters and all young girls.

• Speak up if you see anyone’s rights, including your own, being violated.

• Learn about the challenges and atrocities women face all over the world—use this knowledge to appreciate your own freedom or to get involved on a larger scale.

• Give others in your life the same freedom of choice that you enjoy everyday.

Excerpted from the book: The Goddess of Happiness, A Down-to-Earth Guide for Heavenly Balance and Bliss

Debbie Gisonni, aka The Goddess of Happiness™, is an author (The Goddess of Happiness: A Down-to-Earth Guide for Heavenly Balance and Bliss and Vita’s Will: Real Life Lessons about Life Death & Moving On), speaker, happiness expert and columnist for iVillage.com. Contact: http://www.goddessofhappiness.com

Copyright, All Rights Reserved, Debbie Gisonni

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