I had another post ready to go today, expressing gratitude that student activism is alive and well. This was in response to seeing high school students jumping into the election fray to help get a budget issue passed in a local school district. I really was thankful to see the students get involved.
Then, while skimming my morning updates, I read a post about International Women’s Day, written by daughter, Heather Whaling, aka @prtini. Inspiration took over, and here is the result.
Two years ago, I wrote a post called Is International Women’s Day Still A Good Idea? bemoaning the fact that – or at least questioning why – there is still a need for this day.
Today, my daughter’s post, Ladies, Get Our Of Your Own Way, explains why there is.
Today (and every day), I am thankful that Heather Whaling is my daughter.
Heather is a wildly successful entrepreneur, founder and president of Geben Communication. Her business is growing daily, it seems. She is an excellent public speaker; she really knows her stuff. She is an expert writer on all things public relations, especialy in today’s social media world. She has been published numerous times on well-known industry sites and publications, and her blog is a resource for many. Heather co-moderates PR2.0 chat on Tuesday nights and frequently speaks to PR classes at local colleges. She truly is an expert in her field. She doesn’t just talk about “communicating…connecting“, she lives it.
Heather has a heart for those in need and takes action to help. She visited Haiti to see firsthand how the Heart of Haiti program is helping local Haitian artisans rise above the earthquake horrors. When she lived in another state, she served on the board of a battered women’s shelter. Here locally, she supports The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio. Over the years, she has offered countless tips and hours of help to various non-profits whose missions she believes in.
As her Mom, all of the above are reasons to be proud of her. But, she’s much more. She is joyful, compassionate, and dedicated. She’s comfortable in nearly any social situation. Heather is both intelligent and wise. She loves politics (Election Day is her favorite day of the year!). Heather loves the New York Yankees, red wine, vegetables and off the beaten path restaurants. And shoes. She has a strong marriage to a wonderful guy, who is also a successful entrepreneur. Heather and Mike are a perfect match for each other. They do not “complete” each other – they support each other’s greatness and give the other the space in which to shine. Her friends are outstanding people in their own right, and I’m honored to know many of them.
So, why am I blabbering on and on about Heather? To answer the question in the last line of her post today.
What women in your life will you celebrate today?
