They say it takes a village to raise a child and not a truer word has been spoken. I think a ‘village’ can mean many things though. It can mean family, friends, local community and the world wide community too. It encompasses child care, schools, health & community services and governments.

Sometimes the ‘village’ isn’t always as tangible. Connections that can evoke a sense of belonging without it being a formalised service or a particular person or group can also be part of our village. Sometimes we can find the sense of a ‘village’ through random connections.

Recently I’ve had some really great chats with some awesome women about more than just the usual “what-cha-been-up-to” kind of stuff.

There’s so much I could write about, but what I took out of these pleasantly random conversations was that as women and mothers, although we are on our own paths, we are all sailing the same seas. We are sitting in our boats, holding our trusty oars and rowing like friggen champions.

We are all heading toward the same destination, but our challenges are unique. However, you can always count on the fact that someone you know is on the same trip, or has travelled those seas before you. There is also a lot to be learned from the ones who haven’t sailed yet, or who never will.

I don’t really know what I am trying to say but I have stretched the ‘sailing on the sea’ analogy way beyond it’s use as well as my knowledge of nautical things.

I guess what I want to write is that I really enjoy and appreciate connecting with other women who are open and real. Women who let their guard down a bit, and who talk honestly about their experiences are the bees knees.

We have so much to offer when we are a little vulnerable. We symbolically wrap our arms around each other at those times. We have the “oh yeah, me too” moments. We share the wisdom of seas already sailed (I’m back in my row-boat) and by surrounding ourselves with women of these kind, we create our own village where the symbolic arms are open, the ears are ready and the stories flow as freely as the wine.

If you’re lucky enough to have found some villagers of your own, hang on to them tight. They are your light house. They are your compass in troubled waters and will guide you home to terra firma.

 

Ps. That was a lot of sea sailing talk from someone who has the urge to throw up standing on a pontoon.

Thanks for reading…

M