On our drive home last night after seeing Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, my hubby reflected that the movie industry often creates strong female heroines by giving them masculine traits (see also, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The Hunger Games series). Makes for great entertainment, but these female characters remain simply movie characters and unlikely translate into role modeling the essence of a strong female.
My Aunt Donna transitioned back home to the spiritual realm a week ago (January 25th) at the age of 76. I didn’t see her much after my mom divorced my father (her brother), and then I “divorced” my father in my early teens, yet throughout my life, I have still felt connected to her and inspired by her life’s journey.
Donna was “wicked smart,” graduating high school and college each in just 3 years, and then was one of the first women to attend SMU Law School. She was confident as a person, and as a business woman, and yet not arrogant. She was kind to others and shared a special bond with animals, domestic and wild. I will always remember her unique and infectious laugh, and the feeling that she really cared for me, and I will always appreciate her efforts to stay in touch with me through the years. I adore the fact that in her late 40’s she went back to SMU to take dance classes, and that even into her more senior years she competed in country western ballroom dancing. And of course there is more to her, travel and gardening and triathlons and love of family...more glimpses into her passions and a life lived richly and fully.
Donna, thank you for living a life of love and passion and strength and kindness and compassion and generosity. Thank you for being nothing less than the beautiful loving you and role modeling what it truly means to be an authentically empowered female in this world.
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