Women’s festivals worldwide serve as spaces for celebration, empowerment, and solidarity among women.

Here is a list of unique women’s festivals that celebrate and honor women, their achievements, and their contributions to society. These women’s festivals empower women, celebrate womanhood, educate us on gender equality and build communities.

Kumari Puja

Kumari, which translates to “virgin” in Nepali, is a young prepubescent girl believed to be the incarnation of the Hindu goddess Taleju. The tradition of worshipping a living goddess dates back centuries in Nepal, with its origins intertwined with Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. The Kumari is revered as a deity, embodying divine feminine energy, wisdom, and compassion.

The selection process for the Kumari is rigorous and follows strict criteria. Traditionally, she must belong to the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley, be from the Shakya caste, and meet specific physical attributes such as unblemished skin and the absence of physical defects. Additionally, she must display certain personality traits characteristic of the goddess, including fearlessness, serenity, and compassion.

Once selected, the Kumari undergoes an elaborate initiation ceremony known as the Gufa or Suwarna Kumari, during which she is taken to the sacred Taleju Temple in Kathmandu Durbar Square. Here, she is symbolically married to the deity Taleju through various rituals conducted by priests and elders.

Kumari Puja, celebrated annually during the Dashain festival, is the culmination of this process. The festival, which falls in September or October, is one of the most significant Hindu festivals in Nepal, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. During Kumari Puja, devotees from all over Nepal gather to pay homage to the Kumari and seek her blessings for prosperity and protection.

The festivities begin with elaborate rituals conducted by priests at the Kumari’s residence, known as the Kumari Ghar. The Kumari, adorned in traditional attire and jewelry, is seated on a throne as devotees offer prayers, flowers, and offerings in her honor. The atmosphere is filled with reverence and devotion as devotees seek blessings for themselves and their families.

Navratri

Navratri is a Hindu festival that spans nine nights and is dedicated to worshipping the Hindu goddess Durga, who symbolizes power and purity. Navratri indeed venerates the divine feminine aspect of the deity.

During Navratri, various forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped, each representing different facets of femininity, including strength, knowledge, prosperity, and wisdom. The festival is marked by vibrant celebrations, including fasting, dancing, and singing devotional songs. It holds significant cultural and religious importance in Hindu communities, particularly in India.

Navratri is a women’s festival that highlights the divine feminine energy and symbolizes the triumph of righteousness and the renewal of life.

Fête des Cuisinières

The Fête des Cuisinières, also known as the Festival of the Cooks, is a vibrant celebration that takes place annually in the French West Indies, particularly in the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. This festival honors the women who are skilled in the culinary arts and celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the region.

During the Fête des Cuisinières, the streets come alive with colorful parades, music, dancing, and, of course, delicious food. Women dressed in traditional Creole attire march through the streets carrying baskets filled with local fruits, vegetables, and culinary delights. There are also cooking competitions, where talented cooks showcase their skills in preparing traditional Creole dishes.

The festival serves as a way to recognize the important role that women play in preserving and passing down the culinary traditions of the French West Indies.

Nollaig na mBan

Nollaig na mBan, pronounced “null-ig nah mawn,” is an Irish phrase that translates to “Women’s Christmas” or “Little Christmas.” It falls on January 6th, which is also known as the Feast of the Epiphany in the Christian calendar.

Traditionally in Ireland, Nollaig na mBan is a day when women take a break from the household chores and celebrate with their female friends and family members. It’s a day for women to relax, socialize, and enjoy each other’s company after the busy holiday season. In some regions, it’s customary for men to take over the household duties on this day to give the women a well-deserved break.

The celebration often involves going out for meals, having gatherings, or simply spending time together. It’s a cherished tradition that honors women and their contributions to the family and community.

Moussem of Imilchil

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Great novels for women encompass a wide range of genres and themes, as women’s interests and experiences are diverse.

These great reads for women offer a diverse range of perspectives and stories, providing engaging and thought-provoking reads for women. The focus of these great novels for women has been to empower women.

Novels that empower women are important for several reasons:

Representation and Visibility: Women make up half of the global population, and their experiences, perspectives, and stories are diverse. Novels that empower women provide a platform for these stories, allowing women to see themselves reflected in literature. This representation is crucial for fostering a sense of belonging and validation.

Challenging Stereotypes: Empowering novels challenge and break down gender stereotypes. They depict women in roles and situations that defy traditional norms, showcasing the vast array of possibilities and potentials for women beyond societal expectations.

Inspiration and Empowerment: Reading about strong, independent, and empowered female characters can be inspirational for readers. It can motivate women to pursue their goals, overcome challenges, and assert themselves in various aspects of life. These stories can serve as a source of strength and encouragement.

Building Empathy: Novels that empower women often provide insights into the challenges and triumphs of female characters. This can help readers, regardless of gender, develop empathy and a better understanding of the experiences of women. Increased empathy can contribute to breaking down barriers and promoting gender equality.

Cultural Shift and Social Change: Literature has the power to influence cultural attitudes and perceptions. Novels that empower women can contribute to a broader cultural shift towards recognizing and valuing the contributions of women in society. This, in turn, can contribute to dismantling systemic inequalities.

Encouraging Diversity in Narratives: Empowering novels contribute to the diversification of narratives in literature. They offer a counterbalance to the historical dominance of male-centric stories and contribute to a more inclusive literary landscape.

Novels that empower women play a crucial role in fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse literary landscape. They contribute to societal change by challenging stereotypes, inspiring individuals, and promoting empathy and understanding.

Here are my favorite great novels for women.

Gross Anatomy: Dispatches from the front (and back)   Mara Altman

The Guardian reports that almost 10 million women in the UK are depressed because of the way they look. The National Organization for Women reports that 53% of American girls at age thirteen are not satisfied with their bodies and this grows to 78% at age seventeen. Glamour reports that 80 percent of American women feel bad just looking in the mirror.

Mara Altman analyzes, examines, and delves into the expectations that society has of the female body. She does a lot of research into this topic and has an amusing and comical approach. Her question is who decides that women should have a hairless body? What is cleavage? What is smell?

Mara questions the status quo, looks at her own body which is empowering, and realizes that she does not have to comply with anyone’s expectations. This is emancipation.

I am impressed by her narration, research, and questions about society’s preconceived notions, intolerance, prejudices, practices, and beliefs against the body parts of women. She encourages women to embrace every part of their body and hence I include it in my great novels for women.

The gifts of imperfection Brene Brown

Brene has studied empathy, courage, shame, and vulnerability.

I admire Brene because her motto is ‘Stay awkward, brave, and kind’. Brene wants every reader of her book to say  “My story matters because I matter.”

Her call to action is to live an authentic life and to stop pretending everything is ok.

The point I like the most is when she talks about not seeking validation from others, and embracing our imperfections and insecurities.

How to stop feeling like Sh*t  Andrea Owen

Andrea looks at the self-destructive habits that women engage in like binge eating, compulsive shopping, self-injury, impulsive sexual behavior, and gambling. She teaches you to stop being critical of yourself and to empower yourself to have a happy and fulfilling life.

Andrea is real and direct to the point and the book is meant to empower you to live the best life possible.

Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age  Katherine may

Enchantment is a feeling of great pleasure towards something beautiful.

Katherine May describes it as a ‘small wonder magnified through meaning, fascination caught in the web of fable and memory. It relies on small doses of awe, almost homeopathic: those quiet traces of fascination that are found only when we look for them’.

Katherine May has a ‘a craving for transcendent experience, for depth, for meaning-making. It’s not just that the world needs to change – I need to change, too. I need to soften, to let go of the tight empirical boundaries, to find a greater fluidity in my being’.

I like how Katherine takes us away from social media, the negative news about war, the challenges of the economy to the natural world and grounds us. We are empowered when we are surrounded by nature.

Big magic: creative living beyond fear Elizabeth Gilbert

Inspiration is the process of being mentally stimulated to do something creative.

Gilbert observes and understands the cryptic and enigmatic aspect of inspiration. She wants us to grasp our inquisitive mind and to do what we love and to face our fears head-on.

She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.

The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance—What Women Should Know Katty Kay, Claire Shipman

Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely Lysa TerKeurst 

This Christian self-help book explores the theme of finding worth and acceptance in God’s love, especially during times when one may feel rejected, left out, or lonely.

Lysa TerKeurst draws on her own experiences of dealing with feelings of rejection and inadequacy, sharing personal stories and insights to connect with readers who may be going through similar struggles. The book encourages individuals to seek their identity in God’s love rather than in the opinions or acceptance of others.

TerKeurst provides biblical perspectives and practical advice to help readers navigate through the challenges of loneliness, rejection, and feelings of inadequacy. The author emphasizes the importance of understanding God’s unconditional love and acceptance as a source of comfort and healing.

The book aims to inspire readers to overcome the pain of rejection, recognize their worth in God’s eyes, and live a life filled with love and purpose.

Ask For It: How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want Linda Babcock and Sara Las Chever

This book focuses on empowering women to become more effective negotiators in various aspects of their lives, including the workplace.

The authors draw on research and real-life examples to provide practical advice and strategies for women to navigate negotiation situations successfully. The book addresses the gender gap in negotiation outcomes and aims to equip women with the skills and confidence needed to advocate for themselves and achieve their goals.

I have added this book in the great novels for women as it emphasizes the importance of preparation, communication, and assertiveness in negotiations, offering a guide for women to navigate both professional and personal scenarios.

This is me: loving the person you are today Chrissy Metz

Embracing and loving oneself is a powerful and positive mindset. It’s essential to acknowledge and appreciate the person you are today, recognizing your strengths, accomplishments, and unique qualities. Self-love can contribute significantly to overall well-being and happiness.

In this memoir, Chrissy shares her life experiences, including her journey to self-acceptance and the challenges she faced along the way. The book provides insights into her struggles and how she learned to embrace and love herself.

The last black unicorn tiffany haddish

“The Last Black Unicorn” is a memoir written by Tiffany Haddish, an American comedian, actress, and author. The book was published in 2017 and became a New York Times bestseller. In this memoir, Haddish shares her life story, recounting her challenging experiences growing up in foster care, dealing with homelessness, and overcoming various obstacles to pursue a comedy career.

Tiffany Haddish is known for her comedic talent and has gained widespread recognition for her roles in films and television. “The Last Black Unicorn” provides readers with a glimpse into her resilience, humor, and determination in the face of adversity. The title itself reflects Haddish’s unique personality and her ability to find strength and humor in challenging situations.

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Hollywood produced a powerful movie on women’s empowerment Erin Brockovich. Directed by Steven Soderbergh and released in 2000, the movie is based on the true story of Erin Brockovich, a single mother who fights against a corporate giant for polluting the water supply of a small town in California. The movie highlights the strength and determination of a woman who, despite all odds, emerges as a champion of justice.

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Peggy Bodde believes the workplace is an important area where Christians can demonstrate their faith through their actions and attitudes. Christians can be a positive influence on their colleagues and contribute to the company’s overall success.

Peggy Bodde believes that, rather than professing their faith, one of the key principles that Christians can follow in the workplace is to demonstrate integrity in all their actions. This means being honest, trustworthy, and reliable in their work. They should not compromise their beliefs or values for personal gain and should always strive to do what is right, even if it is unpopular or difficult.

Christians can also exhibit respect for their colleagues and superiors by treating everyone with dignity and kindness. This means avoiding gossip, rudeness, or any other negative behavior that can undermine teamwork and productivity. They should also be open-minded and willing to listen to different perspectives and ideas.

Another important principle for Christians in the workplace is to prioritize the well-being of others over personal gain. This means being generous with their time, resources, and talents, and showing compassion and empathy to those who are struggling or in need.

Finally, Christians can demonstrate a strong work ethic by being diligent, dependable, and proactive in their work. They should be willing to go the extra mile to ensure that their work is of the highest quality and meets the expectations of their colleagues and superiors.

In conclusion, Christians can set an example in the workplace by exhibiting integrity, respect, compassion, and diligence in their work. These principles can help them build positive relationships with their colleagues and contribute to the overall success of the company.

Peggy Bodde transitioned from senior vice president at Petzl America to a full-time writer and small business owner. Peggy Bodde runs a foundation called Sacred Work that provides women with free career and leadership coaching. She loves using words to encourage and empower women.

Peggy gets real about her life, her career, and challenges and has some great advice on networking and asking for a raise.

Peggy Bodde, I want to know something unique about you.

I think my origin story is a little different from most. I was out on my own at thirteen after a failed adoption, but the foster system was never involved. My adoptive parents were avid churchgoers, involved in the community, and kept an immaculate home. They adopted me when I was less than a year old. Despite outer appearances, they were unstable, and home was a dangerous place. When I left their house, I bounced around to various families until I landed with the Browns. They had five children already but welcomed me with no questions asked. I stayed there until I left for college.

My adoptive parents adamantly refused to give me any information about my birth mom or even my nationality. As a kid, I always thought of myself as a mutt. My adoptive parents were American and Japanese, but I had no idea what I was. I searched for my birth parents my entire life, and I finally found my birth mom seven years ago! She’s half-Italian and half-Polish, and my birth father is Chinese. She never told him she was pregnant, and he moved to a different state not long after she found out. My birth mom and aunts have become the family I never had. They love and accept me, and we make up for lost time every chance we get. God has redeemed my childhood years, and I am grateful.

Walk me through your transition from a vice president to a full-time writer and small business owner. What were the challenges?

I have to say that fear was my first biggest challenge. God had been prompting me to make this career change for several years. My degree is in English, and I’ve always loved writing. Throughout my business career, I was the resident scribe in addition to whatever formal title I held. I wrote everything from ad copy to job descriptions to policies and procedures. But—that’s very different from relying on writing as an income. I was afraid of the unknown and afraid of losing my corporate salary. I had a million excuses, which all came down to trusting God.

God knew that, so He gave me the push I needed when I was passed over for a big promotion. I was scheduled to interview for a C-suite position and ended up having emergency surgery on my spine. While I was in the hospital, my boss awarded the position to the other candidate. He wasn’t straightforward about what had happened. I found out from someone at our company headquarters.

This was a humbling, painful time, but God used it to show me that I had put my career on the throne. He had blessed me with my job to provide for me and my daughter, and I had allowed it to become an idol. Being passed over was a gift because it took me to a new level of surrender in my faith and propelled me into the career change God was calling me to make.

From that point, I mapped out a career transition plan with milestones, goals, a business plan, and a budget. In my last year at corporate, I started freelance writing on the side to make sure I could generate income. I researched all the necessary details and set up the framework for my business. After I resigned, I faced the next big challenge: chasing work. Because I wasn’t established as a writer, I aggressively pursued leads to maintain a steady income. I had saved a large chunk of money but chasing after work is stressful! Another challenge was trying to find my niche. I was writing and editing everything from fly-fishing articles to memoirs and web content. Finally, I settled into the educational publishing industry, and that is where I’ve stayed. I write textbooks remotely as my 9-5 job, and I write about the intersection between faith and work as my passion.

I love your tweets. You love using words to encourage and empower women. Talk to me about the power of words and how you are encouraging and empowering women.

Throughout my corporate career, I was passionate about mentoring others, especially women. I worked in a male-dominated industry for a male-dominated company, and I didn’t have access to female mentors. Early on, I made up my mind to fill that need for other women. I used my voice and words to encourage them, teach them, motivate them, and advocate for them. I spoke up on their behalf in the way I wished someone would have spoken up for me. I also equipped women to speak up for themselves: to negotiate, promote themselves, and deal with conflict.

When I left corporate, I knew God wouldn’t want me to shelve decades of business experience, so I founded a ministry called Sacred Work. Here, I provide free leadership and career coaching for women. I also help men, but most of my clients are women. I also just signed a contract with Moody Publishers for my first book: Sacred Work: A Christian Womans Guide to Leadership in the Marketplace. My hope is that this book can function as a pocket-sized mentor to women who need help with specific leadership challenges.

I find writing cathartic. What does writing do for you?

That’s interesting, Jerry because that’s the same reason I started writing! When I was a little girl, someone gave me a Strawberry Shortcake diary with a lock and key. I scribbled down everything that was happening in the home life that I didn’t understand. It was a way for me to process the world around me. I’ve continued journaling to this day. I also love that my journals are a written record of how big and how often God has shown up for me!

Who we are as followers of Christ informs what we do as leaders of people. I want to know more.

Too often, I think the faith community gets caught up in a scripted demonstration of what it means to be a Christian leader in the workplace. For example, always mentioning church when someone asks about the weekend or quoting the Bible to a coworker. Sometimes we put more effort into professing our faith than living it.

Leaders have to recognize that how we lead has the potential to make the biggest impact on God’s Kingdom. We demonstrate what it means to follow Christ with every decision we make, the words we speak, and how we treat our employees. Our relationship with Christ should prompt us to show excellence, broker hope, and love fully—this is how we embody Him at work.

Help me understand the Christian ethos of loving your neighbor at work.

Researchers say that over the course of a lifetime, we will have spent one-third of our lives at work. Whether we work remotely, in an office, or a combination of both—we spend big chunks of days and weeks engaging with our coworkers: over 2,000 hours a year. How we treat them is a much truer reflection of our faith than church attendance or going to a Bible study with friends.

There are simple actions we can take to love our neighbor at work:

Look for opportunities to encourage and support people: Ask God to open your eyes to those around you who may need help or a kind word. Then reach out. Send a message or an email. Make a call. Write a note. Buy the person coffee or lunch. Be present and listen.

Express gratitude: Thank people specifically and often. Is there someone who helped you meet an objective? Do you work with someone whose positive attitude is contagious? Did someone go out of her way to make your job easier? Be generous in giving recognition. Praise someone’s achievements in a meeting, to the person’s boss, or one-on-one.

Call out potential: If you notice employees with an aptitude or skill that may not be recognized or even official, let them know what you see. Encourage them to use their gifts, even if they work for someone else.

Invest time: Whether you’re a leader in your organization or not, choose to invest in the people around you. People who are new to the organization need to understand how the workplace culture works and could benefit from your experience. Informally mentor them to help them succeed.

A 25-year-old woman has been working very hard and wants to ask for a raise. Explain the process of how to go about it.

This is a great question. When I coach women through my foundation, they often ask for tips in this area. The negotiation process can feel overwhelming and intimidating, but it doesn’t have to. Here are the steps I recommend:

Have a macro understanding of what’s going on in the labor market, economy, and industry. Make sure you’re clear on how those factors are impacting your company.

Research and document salary ranges. I love spreadsheets! Document figures and sources. Be as detailed as possible. For example, you can’t just look for a marketing director; Drill down into marketing directors in companies your size and in your industry. Know how experience and education impact the range and where you fall.

Understand your company & total benefits package and how it compares to other companies. This will give you a well-rounded perspective as you enter into the negotiation process.

Document tangible accomplishments you’ve made for the company. Data needs to drive these accomplishments. What have you done to increase profitability, efficiency, or sales? How have you decreased turnover or increased engagement? What new responsibilities have you taken on? What were the measurable results? Quantify everything.

Identify your ask and what you’re willing to accept. Now that you have the documentation to back it up, name your number or a range. Then, make a list of three asks in priority order. Decide where you’ll draw a hard line. Remember, there are asks that fall outside of compensation (flexible schedules, education or training, title changes). Your list may include a mix.

Create a brief presentation to guide you through the negotiation process with your boss.

Schedule a separate meeting to present your request. Setting a meeting that’s outside of a standing one-to-one shows your boss that this is important: it’s a standalone topic.

If your boss needs time to think about your request, get a follow-up meeting on the calendar right then.

Networking is a big part of being in business. What are the dos and don’ts of networking for women?

This is an area I wish I would have paid more attention to when I was in corporate. I didn’t fully understand the value of networking. Many people are put off by the idea because it can feel fake and uncomfortable, but there are practical ways to do it.

Dos:

Reframe how you view networking. Every person has unique gifts and abilities, and no single person has every skill, talent, or depth of experience. We’re all better equipped to be our best and do our best when we’re connected to other people.
Identify your goal. Are you trying to find a job? Looking for a group of like-minded professionals? Selling a product or service? Searching for a mentor? Promoting a book? If you don’t set a goal, networking will never happen.
Create a plan. How will you spend the time you’ve set aside? This may change from week to week. You might use it to find in-person events, Facebook groups, or to make connections on LinkedIn. You can also use the time to follow up with contacts you already have. Before each week starts, create an outline of what you’re going to do based on your priorities and needs for that week.

Don’ts:

Be a taker and never give! You don’t want to be the person who only consumes content and asks for help or referrals. Engage with and support others. Proactively connect people who can help each other.
Fail to set up a system. Organize and document your connections. Some people use the Contacts app on their phones and others use a simple word document. Note the person’s contact information and other details such as where you met, or who introduced you. Jot down the date and something personal or helpful they shared with you or even a need they have.
Try to do it on your own. Find, join, or build groups with similar interests. One easy way to start is to look for groups that share the same goals. Choose keywords for an online search based on your goal. If you’re networking to find a job or meet professionals in your industry, search for groups on LinkedIn or Facebook.

I am fascinated by some of your posts and sayings. So in 50 words, I want to know what you mean by:

When our “sometimes” moments discourage us: We’re all human! We make mistakes and missteps. We get discouraged and sometimes fail, but these instances don’t define who we are. I believe God gives us a new identity when we trust Him, and that identity is secure and unchangeable.

God is not limited by our limitations: Because we can’t understand the vastness of who God is, we tend to limit what He can and will do. We hold back on asking His help because we think there may be a quota, yet His ability is endless and so is His willingness.

God is good, but is He safe? In Scripture, God allows Satan to torture Job. John the Baptist was beheaded. Jesus was crucified. Do I believe God is good and sovereign? Absolutely. But the Bible makes it clear that suffering is expected. As a childhood trauma survivor, I accept God’s sovereignty, but the only safety guarantee is the eternal one.

Finally, what is your message for my readers for 2023?

All good things start with one step. Your dream job, a promotion, the book you want to write, the blog you want to start, the career change you want to make—all these big dreams are possible. You simply have to start!

The post Peggy Bodde: Using words to encourage and empower women appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Fuzia is a dynamic and robust organization that empowers women and has a community of 4.5 million people around the world, as well as 50,000 active contributors.

The goal of Four Columns is to empower women to lead balanced lives in the 21st century. Women empowerment is not a buzzword in Western society anymore. However, here are some scary statistics :

Globally, 750 million women and girls were married before the age of 18 and at least 200 million women and girls in 30 countries have undergone FGM. The rates of girls between 15-19 who are subjected to FGM  in the 30 countries where the practice is concentrated have dropped from 1 in 2 girls in 2000 to 1 in 3 girls by 2017. In 18 countries, husbands can legally prevent their wives from working; in 39 countries, daughters and sons do not have equal inheritance rights; and 49 countries lack laws protecting women from domestic violence. One in five women and girls, including 19 percent of women and girls aged 15 to 49, have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner within the last 12 months. Yet, 49 countries have no laws that specifically protect women from such violence.

Shraddha Varma and Riya Sinha are game-changers in the women empowerment landscape. They are the founders of Fuzia, which is a creative community driven by women all around the globe. The mission is not only to empower creative individuals but also to work towards women’s empowerment and gender equality.  They focus on shattering the glass ceiling, forming relationships, and creating change.

I wanted to know something unique about the founders. Shraddha Varma in all her humility says ‘Aside from being a management expert, an experienced marketer, and an ambitious entrepreneur, I’m a keen learner and a creative thinker with decent communication and leadership skills. I believe that economic freedom is necessary for women to be able to break out from patriarchal, pseudo-liberal patriarchal structures. In addition to leading Fuzia’s global marketing and operations as a Co-founder, I’m also a full-time mentor to my team in diverse cultural activities! Being a firm believer in gender equality, we have together driven a million women to represent their largest untapped talent pool! My notion is to reach out to every single woman to stay empowered in the challenging world from every minute to minute. Our organization, Fuzia intuitively influences global women to assist one another to grow, live their interests, chase their aspirations, and create their own identity, thereby promoting gender equality, feminism, and empowerment.’ 

Riya Sinha tells me ‘As an 11-year-old school student at Palo Alto High School in California, I was curiously intrigued with the intention of Fuzia for women, by Women. I’m currently in my second year at UC Berkeley, California, and work part-time for Fuzia. I’m mainly focused on initiatives like Fuzia’s public relations that is supported via television as videos and interviews with notable women and partnerships with other companies.’

Shraddha Varma talks about Fuzia and its various initiatives.

What was the motivation behind starting Fuzia? Did the success of it come as a surprise?

Fuzia sparkled up with a conviction for us to enlighten the stereotypical minds of society. Riya Sinha and I bonded over a cause of uplifting our sister women and defeating our mutual frustration at all orientations! At 11, when most of us were worrying about how our freshman year at high school would be, Riya Sinha had authored a book. Her short novel “Runaway Twins” at a local bookstore in Palo Alto destined a short fan moment when a kid came running to her and exclaimed that Riya’s book had inspired her to write and create; that she wanted to become a writer as well.

This incident laid the founding bricks of what Fuzia is today. I joined Fuzia in 2015 and am relentlessly devoted to empowering women worldwide. The small writing club, at the present, is an independent international online space for women to create and connect globally that I seamlessly manage.

We have reached significant milestones during the last five years. Over a year, we achieved 1 million users and supporters on social media. For our users, we launched a high-tech user-friendly app that marks the precise version of the Fuzia website. We have even received honors from prestigious organizations, such as the Women Economic Forum’s “Iconic Teen Entrepreneur and Innovator” award. Fuzia now has a community of 4.5 million people around the world, as well as 50,000 active contributors.

Empowering women through the fusion of cultures and ideas is your mission. Talk to me more about this?

Fuzia believes that talent shared is talent fostered, thus the outcomes are numerous campaigns and contests where women from all over the world participate and express themselves. They are also given training and employment opportunities in areas of their interests and expertise. At Fuzia, we broadly collaborate with our in-house talents and experts, including social media influencers, entrepreneurs, and inspirational women, to host interactive live sessions where women can have their questions answered and receive the training they need to launch their own businesses.

With the potential that many women possess, we ensure them to have economic assistance and opportunity in a variety of ways. Consequently, we indulge in preparing the individuals with their extraordinary skills tuned in such a way that benefits both the organization and its users financially. Our zeal of organizing a variety of interviews with strong women who share their inspiring experiences on Fuzia TV assists other global women to break free from their shells.

Empowerment is a new concept in many cultures where patriarchy, misogyny, and two levels of citizenship are hegemonic. What have been some of the challenges you have faced on the journey of Fuzia?

Fuzia as a community has always kept its focus on being a cultural organization that is gender inclusive. We strongly believe that gender inclusion is not just restricted to peripheral equality but also facilitates the breakdown of the very unconscious bias. We’ve tried and made our platform open to every individual, be it men, women, or people of other genders. Anyone who supports the cause of women empowerment, feminism, equality, and mutual support/upliftment has to be of our deciding interest. Fuzia also believes that true ‘Empowerment’ is incomplete without people of all genders supporting it. Therefore, we highly support and encourage gender inclusion, which as a concept transcends mere equality.

In North America, women are outperforming men in every area. There are more women in universities and in many careers. Do you see this happening in India?

The majority of men in India emphasize that women are befitted to being homemakers than at the workspace. They show fewer interests to encourage women who are striving to become a better version of themselves. This created a wall of hindrance for many men to participate in women’s empowerment. The patriarchal system also holds back men who care about the cause and want to empower women.

But this situation is gradually changing as we see many women breaking through barriers to live their dreams. A successful woman as a homemaker is also a multifaceted professional in every field establishing herself with ground-breaking achievements. Women have effortlessly proved to accomplish things that even men fail to do. This strong setback is emerging from both the rural and urban backgrounds embarking on the real adventure of women across her unending hurdles.

Walk me through what areas that women need to be empowered?

Women in the modern world stay super dynamic to dust off their routine starting from domestic chores to the documentation at the workplace. Many other women are silently enduring their pains as a part of their existence. Discriminations, failures, false hopes, negativities, character assassinations, and many more are dragging them to the dome of darkness. Taking this forward, Fuzia anchored firm affirmations in every woman to surpass the series of discouragements.

The Fuziaties testimonials evidenced that a larger introvert community has benefited the most from what Fuzia offers to every single woman in the world. Women empowerment needs to be focused on women’s sense of self-worth, their right to have and determine choices, and get unlimited access to opportunities and resources. More importantly, enriching their ability to influence the direction of social change to create a more just social and economic order, nationally and internationally.

Help me understand how men can empower women in their lives?

Fuzia believes that men can act as allies to women by showing support for the women’s empowerment movement. They can increase their share in domestic work and family responsibilities. They need to promote gender equality when fighting for women’s access to jobs, rights, and opportunities. Men need to understand and listen to the unhidden voices of women and truly give a solid secure space for them to unleash their inner potential. Genuinely appreciating their best efforts will encourage them to perform even better at home and in the workplace. We must also understand that women’s lives would be much easier with a supportive and attentive partner by accepting their scars and making women feel worthy about who they are.

Talk to me about the cities you are from? I want to know the food scene and why should one visit them? (You can take Mumbai and Delhi).

I am heading from Mumbai, a city that never sleeps and is beautifully located in the mid-western part of India. With a population of over 18 million people, Mumbai is popularly known as the “jewel in India’s crown” is a merging pot of religions, customs, food, and thriving trade. Mumbai’s cultural diversity can be reflected in the city’s gastronomic diversity, which includes street food with Muslim, Gujarati, South Indian, Parsi, and Maharashtrian influences. Dishes with these flavors, colors ,and textures burst in your tongue without breaking the bank. If you’re a foodie, you’re in luck if you’re in Mumbai because there are so many great spots to munch over street cuisine!

The other city I can’t skip bringing up is Delhi, the country’s perennially intriguing capital, that works as a magnet, drawing visitors from all over the world. The city has its distinct charm and diverse culture that encompasses all of India. The city is proud of its rich history and possesses many well-preserved historical monuments. With its vibrant and bustling marketplaces, Delhi is also a shopper’s delight. Delhi is also known as the cuisine capital of the world, with a cornucopia of delectable street food such as parathas, chaat, butter chicken, kebabs, chole bhature, biryani, nihari with a slew of contemporary eateries. One of the things that keeps the Delhi culinary scene alive is street food. Eating on the streets of Delhi is a crash course in the city’s history and culture, which is unparalleled in its richness.

The post Fuzia: Shattering the glass ceiling for women appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Muskan Khanna has broken human, social, and financial capital barriers to start an organic Tea Studio.

Female entrepreneurs are women who run a business. Female entrepreneurship has increased and given rise to self-made females like Oprah Winfrey, Meg Whitman, Diane Hendricks, and Coco Chanel.

Muskan Khanna owns a boutique organic Tea Studio that is run entirely by women.  Muskan Khanna is a game-changer in the male-dominated tea business. She plays by different rules.  She talks about tea and corporate social responsibility. Muskan left the advertising business to create unique teas for the discerning, international palate.

Muskan, please tell my global audience a little about you?

I was born in Assam, the heart of tea. After that, we moved to Dubai when I was four and later to Colombo during my teens. I graduated from Birmingham in media studies. I worked in Mumbai and Delhi in advertising for two years and then joined my dad in the tea business. In conclusion, it has been a process and a journey to get to my calling being involved in the tea business.

Walk me through the tea club? 

Our specialty tea unit is called the Tea Studio.  A unique one of its kind, tea production facility where teas are not manufactured industrially, but creatively crafted.  Every one of the 12 teas we create in the Studio is one-of-a-kind, stand-alone tea.  Not grades, but individual.

I have heard of Darjeeling, Sri Lankan, and Assam tea. Tell me a little about tea from the Nilgiris?

Teas from the Nilgiris have a distinctive character and a uniqueness.  These are all high grown teas (our Studio is at an elevation of 6,300′ above MSL) which can be recognized by the Nilgiri logo which is assigned to teas from this district.

What is unique about these teas?

Each of the 12 teas manufactured in the Tea Studio is made up of a whole, unbroken leaf. In regular factories, be it orthodox or CTC the teas are graded into different lots. Here at the studio one tea leaf will make one particular type of tea, no grading and no sorting are required as we have 0% dust.

What are the different ways we can drink tea?

There are plenty of different ways to drink tea. Tea can be consumed as a hot or cold beverage. Tea can be brewed with milk and sugar, just milk, just sugar, some people put cane sugar while others make it with a mix of spices and herbs.

Can tea be used in cooking? 

Off course. For instance, green tea cakes and green tea flavored biscuits. My personal favorite is a green tea-infused roast chicken. It consists of a marinade of ginger, garlic, olive oil, thyme, and rosemary. The tea is in a foil and placed inside the whole chicken and cooked in the oven for about 40 minutes. As a result, once you cut the chicken, you get the aroma of tea and can taste it in the chicken itself.

What are some of the qualities required to be a tea sommelier?

One needs to be passionate and dedicated to the craft and love it.  A tea sommelier is like an artist, creating while working not with ‘dead’ or ‘lifeless’ material such as wood, paint, or clay, but with a living and alive part of a plant.  The Tea leaves.

What is the difference between organic and normal tea? 

Organic teas emanate from fields that are organically cultivated in which no chemicals, pesticides, or inorganic fertilizers are used.  Organic teas simply take one back to nature and to the way crops were cultivated before humans started degrading the soil.  The teas produced in the Studio are all deemed organic since the starting point of these teas is the natural organic raw material (the leaf).  In conclusion, purity.

How are your practices sustainable and how are you corporate and socially responsible?

We are the only factory in India that runs on 100% LPG, which means we use no coal or firewood like regular factories making us totally environmentally friendly. We are a 100% women-run organization, from the head of operations to the tea maker and the workers are all women. We have employed the women from the local villages around, helping the community and empowering women all the way through.

Tell me a little about the food here and your favorite dishes?

Indian food is usually quite spicy and full of flavor. My favorite dish of all time is Biryani. Biryani is a dish made of rice and meat, it is cooked for a couple of hours and is eaten with curd and pickle.

Tell me a good joke about tea?

What do you call a talkative drink?

Chai Tea.

Photo Credits: Ian Wagg Plush Design Studio THE 5TH Loverna Journey Alisa Anton Joanna Kosinska  Micheile Henderson Katrin Hauf Raychan

The post The Game Changer in the Tea Business appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

An important quote to empower your daughter by Amy Tenney.

‘The world needs strong women. Women who will lift and build others, who will love and be loved. Women who live bravely, bother tender and fierce. Women of indomitable will.’

Jean had been accepted as an intern for 8 weeks in a nonprofit in another city. It was the first day of her work and I was dropping her off at the train station. It was a two-hour ride to another city. She would work from Tuesday to Saturday and be living with someone.

My heart was in my mouth. As I came back to the car, my wife was crying. She was scared.

Jean was confident, excited, and looking forward to this new adventure. She is only 17.

It is 2021. There is a tectonic shift away from patriarchy. Women are detaching themselves from stereotypes and creating their own unique path to success, happiness, and existence on their terms. The question I have for parents. Are you ready to support and empower your daughter as she navigates the 21^st century?

Here I lay down some words of advice on how we can empower our daughters, build confidence, create healthy self-esteem and cultivate motivation. An empowered daughter is secure in herself, takes action, makes positive choices about her life, and does positive things for other people. She thinks critically about her environment, expresses her feelings, and acknowledges the feeling of others.

I want Jean to be unique, self-reliant, fearless, and confident that she can achieve whatever she sets her mind to. Remember your daughter is barraged by the media that is all about her looks and weight. This negative message is a hindrance to her achieving her destiny. The stimuli damage their self-esteem and make them feel inadequate. As a parent, you need to compliment her ethics, values, morals, ideals, and talents not just looks.

‘Character. Intelligence. Strength. Style. That makes beauty.’ – Diane Von Furstenberg

Empower your daughter by loving her unconditionally

I love Jean unconditionally. I give her hugs and am affectionate toward her. I always tell her ‘I love you.’ Since the beginning, I have always made time for her. I went to her graduation, dance practices, volleyball games, and date nights. We always spend quality time playing games, watching movies, and talking. One area where I needed to get better was talking to her rather than lecturing her. It is important for parents to love their daughters unconditionally and not based on performance.

Be authentic and vulnerable with her

Try being human, real, vulnerable, and authentic around your daughter. Humans make mistakes. Admit your own weaknesses and mistakes. Communicate what you learned from those mistakes. Your daughter will make mistakes. Let her know it is part of life.

Stick to your promises

Never say you will be somewhere or take her somewhere if you will not be there. Just be open and direct about your schedule. It will help her not be disappointed.

Empower your daughter with encouragement and less discipline

Discipline is important. However, it needs to be done with love, encouragement, and focus on the outcome of discipline. If your daughter is always late or is not telling the truth, then you need to deal with it. Talk openly about how you overcame obstacles and challenges and how it was the discipline that got you through. Talk about her being late is a lack of respect for other people and how her actions impact other people.

Do not live your life through your daughter

Your daughter is unique. She was born at a different time. The biggest mistake you can make is living your life and dreams through her. This will create bitterness and anger in her. You have to find out what she is passionate about. Match her skills, and strengths with her activities. The biggest gift you can give your daughter is to allow her to be herself. It was important for her to make constructive choices about her life.

I love soccer and swimming and wanted Jean to do that. At age 4 she said she loves art and dancing. She has been doing that for thirteen years. She has thrived in expressing herself.

Do not shove your culture down her throat

If you were born in another country, it is important that you appreciate why you moved and the positive aspects of the new country. Introduce your culture to her, but also let her embrace the new culture also.

Empower your daughter by asking for her opinion

‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent’ – Eleanor Roosevelt

As your daughter becomes a teenager she will become aware of herself, her feeling, and her thoughts. She is wired to communicate. It is a season of so much physical and emotional change surrounded by social media. It is a delicate time of being insecure. Talk to her about her opinions on different issues and listen to understand.

Help her to have healthy boundaries

I told Jean early on that she does not have to be liked by everyone or become the most popular only to lose herself. She needs to be aware of her feelings, emotions and not agree to something that goes against her ethics and moral values. This is very important otherwise you are setting her up to be codependent.

She needs to move past her comfort zone

‘I say if I’m beautiful. I say if I’m strong. You will not determine my story. I will.’ – Amy Schumer

In order for your daughter to grow, she needs to get out of her comfort zone. She should be encouraged to take risks and follow her passions. We can learn a lot from them.

She needs to be exposed to strong female role models

One of the things I did like about the internship was that not only was she working with women from Montreal and Paris but she would be trained by women from Hamilton, Ottawa, Newmarket, Halifax, and from the States. She saw female leaders in action. She participated in many activities where she was valued and it increased her sense of self and confidence.

Identify values that are important to the family

Jean knows that it is important to have meals together, spend quality time together, and also have times where we sit and talk. She knows our family values.

Travel with her

I have taken Jean to Cuba, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Panama Canal, Belize, Honduras, New York, Montreal, Halifax, Ottawa, and Frankfurt. The exposure is great for her as she sees different cultures, food, and ways of doing things. It opens her mind.

Volunteer as a family

‘People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But, people will never forget how you made them feel.’ – Maya Angelou

Jean has volunteered with me in Cuba in visiting schools and homes. In Toronto, she helped me greet people for a non-profit center. This is bonding time to show her that there is more to life than social media and that a lot of good can come out of volunteering.

Do not solve her problems

The goal is to create an independent, empowered woman and not a co-dependant. Your daughter needs to solve her own problems and issues. This will help her develop coping skills and strategies to deal with situations in life. There may be times when you disagree with your daughter but it gives her a sense of control and she needs to take responsibility for her decisions.

It is ok to disagree

‘The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.’ – Albert Einstein

When you raise an independent, empowered girl, it also means you have to live with her. She has to stand up for herself and learn how to do it in the future. She needs to stick with her convictions and not be a people or crowd-pleaser.

Know the difference between glamour sex and healthy sex

At some point, you have to talk to your daughter about sex. She needs to be aware of it. Also, the difference between sex in the media and in real life. She needs to know the difference between sex in the movies and what sex is in a loving caring relationship with emotions, feelings, intimacy, and unconditional love.

Help her to appreciate food

It is important to give your daughter fresh and healthy food. She will appreciate fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, salads, fresh meats, and dairy. Keep fast and processed food away from her.

The importance of money

You do not want your daughter to go to college or university and have no clue about money. From an early age, I taught Jean what is debit and credit. I taught her how money works. A few months back, she sat down with my financial adviser at the bank who gave her the basics of a savings account, checking account, mutual funds, credit card, and how to save money. Your daughter needs to respect money.

The post Empower Your Daughter appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Muskan Khanna is the embodiment of the 21^st century.  She is fearless, thinks outside the box, makes the rules, a game-changer who has broken the glass ceiling and aims for the sky. She gets it. To grow your footprint in a global environment, you have to have a unique value proposition, have a competitive advantage, be green, use sustainable farming methods, use corporate social responsibility and invest in the local community. She empowers women by only hiring them. Is it any wonder that her first interview is one of the most liked on my blog. She is not your quintessential sommelier. I give you Muskan Khanna.

Muskan, Four Columns welcomes you back. Your first interview was one of the most read and liked posts. As a result, let’s talk about tea again. Tell me about the health benefits of tea?

Wow! I did not expect that. There are quite a few health benefits, but in my mind, these are probably the top 5:

Tea contains antioxidants, which help keep us young, skin looking better, and even protects us from the damage of pollution.

Tea has less caffeine than coffee, almost up to 50% less! And we all know the negative effects of caffeine.

Tea helps boost the immune system.

Tea also helps soothe the digestive system – so it’s a good thing to have after a heavy meal.

And lastly, for you weight-conscious people out there, tea is calorie-free!

Congrats on being innovative, sustainable, being corporate socially responsible, and investing in women. You have just released some new brands like White, Oolong, Green, Black and Roasted Green. What are the similarities, differences, and uniqueness of these teas?

These teas are unique in their own way, the process of each type of tea is different, different machines using different temperatures all tell these teas apart from one another.

The similarity between ALL the teas produced here at the studio is the raw material – one leaf and a bud.

Muskan, I have been drinking tea all my life. I am your typical heat the water, dip an orange Tetley tea bag, brown sugar, milk, and cardamom kind of guy. Teach me some innovative ways to expand my horizons of tea and how does tea help us in our moods and different settings?

Gosh! What you’ve been drinking sounds very little like tea to me Jerry.

The best way to drink any tea be it white, green, oolong, or black is to brew it in hot water by itself – that’s how I drink it anyway.

Teas such as Nilgiri Platinum Needles and Nilgiri Baimudan contain the most amount of caffeine, so this is a good wake-up tea to have, whereas teas like our Nilgiri bamboo and Nilgiri Kukicha has the least amount of caffeine, so these are good bedtime tea recommendations.

Does the tea come in bags or separately and what is the difference?

Our teas are sold in 250gm loose leaf pouches. No tea bags for now.

Help me understand how tea is grown and the whole process from seeds to the time they are harvested?

There are two ways of growing a tea bush, you could either plant the seeds (a much longer process) or you could plant saplings, which have been taken from existing bushes.  Once planted the bushes take approx 5-6 years to grow and are ready for plucking on a regular basis.

The Camellia Sinensis plant is actually a full-grown tree, so one has to make sure it remains at table height so it easy to pluck. The bushes are also cropped in such a way that they are flat, which allows more buds to shoot up.

For teas like ours, which uses very high-quality leaf, the plucker has to go back to the bush every 7-9 days and pluck off the one leaf and a bud and then wait another 7-9 days for the buds to start shooting up again.

Once these are harvested, they’re brought into our factory in small bamboo baskets so as not to damage the leaf.

Talk to me about the caffeine content in tea and do you have decaffeinated tea?

As I mention before tea does contain caffeine but much less than coffee, and every tea has different levels of caffeine. For example, white and green tea contain 1/3 of the caffeine as compared to coffee, and oolong and black have less than ½ of the caffeine content as coffee.

It might also interest you to know caffeine is a natural component in Camellia Sinensis, so all teas will have caffeine.

The longer a tea is brewed for, the more caffeine it loses.

And caffeine from tea is thought to absorb in the body more slowly.

The post Muskan Khanna: Fearless in a Man’s World appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

What is the meaning of life?

I have known Mayple Dorrington since I started my career at Scotia Bank. Mayple was Director, Communications and Change Management at Scotia Bank.  Mayple recently wrote a book called Finding: The Oasis in my Soul. It is a journal, an encouraging journey through the spectrum of real-life experiences of trials and triumphs. As you read her book, you can relate to it. You will see a reflection of your own experiences. The book asks some relevant questions about having an empty void within us, do we have doubts about our gifts, weaknesses,  our purpose, and our identity?

I am a big fan of gratitude, and this book challenges my thinking to transform my mind and to get a deeper conviction of love and purpose in my life. If you are struggling with insecurity, fear, uncertainty, or anxiety, get the book, become empowered, lead an authentic life, and transform yourself into what you are intended to be.  This is the first of a two-part interview.

Mayple, a true honor to have you talk to four columns. Tell my audience a little bit about you?

Jerry, firstly I want to thank you for the opportunity to participate in your blog. I’m deeply honored to be having this dialogue with you and your audience.

Born on the beautiful island of Jamaica I grew up in a happy, loving family cushioned in a viable business environment.   The business became a casualty following the aftermath of the 1970s economic downturn in my country and the outcome later triggered my family’s immigration to another beautiful country, Canada. With a business mindset, I later pursued that area of study and embarked on an amazing career in the financial industry that spanned 3 continents with direct access to over 27 countries.  Alongside my banking occupation of choice, I am an author and a motivational speaker.  My professional designations include an economist, chartered banker, high school teacher and a personal financial planner.

I am a devout Christian who anchored my beliefs, decisions, and hope in the power of the risen Jesus Christ.  With my teaching discipline, I constantly volunteer my skills for mentoring and coaching and by my mentees’ own admission, I have the knack to identify, develop and empower countless persons in reaching their personal goals.

Having said that, my passion is primarily centered around the relationships I forged working with people drawn from across the globe and living in the most multicultural city in the world. Through these experiences, I learned how to coexist with people, understand their behaviors, outlook, and preferences, and dispense greater tolerance, acceptance, and compassion in helping others. An area that keeps me growing is to intentionally embrace the power of mindfulness. This awareness constantly provokes and inspires me to challenge my mind, peel away layers of obscurity, to look deeper and wider for insights toward the path in finding truths.

Finding: The oasis in my soul. It is an intense name for a book. How did the book come about? What is the main message? Who is the audience? What is unique and different about the message?  

Jerry, there’s lots to unpack here… yes,  the name is indeed intense. You may notice I deliberately said “Finding” and not “Find” or “Found” because it’s a journey, not a destination. My book chronicles an inspiring journey through the lens of my real-life experiences of trials and triumphs and using what I have been through to come to a place of what I now know for sure.

Strangely the genesis of my book was drawn from my wanderlust nature.  Traveling to many countries, living amongst diverse nationalities, and conversing with numerous people from different walks of life, age, and outlook; hearing their stories, the many dreams realized, the hardships overcame, and bouncing back from mistakes, I realized how much we all have in common.

I wrote the book to expose our human commonality and to express how I cultivate the power to confront and stare down the debilitating state of uncertainty, worry, and fear.  How like myself, we can overcome our shortcomings and elevate our talents and self-worth to be the best.

During my speaking engagements, after sharing my story, which is often intertwined with slices from the lives of many others, seeing the visceral reaction of agreement from my diverse audience, I validated how we all want to feel valued, loved, and accepted. The main point is to have a positive self-image of not who I am, but who God intended me to be.  How I claim truth and confidence from the backdrop of biblical examples of trust, faith, and obedience.  Each chapter illustrates a meaningful life experience, which is brutally frank about what I learned, the impact of the practical application, and my spiritual transformation. Each reader will walk away with valuable nuggets to build their confidence and self-worth.

My core objective and the key message are to challenge the readers’ thinking and arouse a sense of gratitude, wonder, and introspection, allowing us to draw from an ever-renewing Oasis where we can replace worry, fear, and doubt with the joyful assurance of God’s promises and faithfulness.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive that this is exactly the response it evokes. I painted a graphic picture of my experiences, whether illness, a hero to zero career moves, friendship betrayal, family choices, to be transformed, to come to a place of rest, not a place of stop, but resting on the dependence and assurance of God’s love while seeking new adventures to spread my wings.  The overarching message may not be unique or different, but it’s worth reinforcing to keep us building self-awareness on how we can draw inspiration and hope from seemingly common encounters and events in our lives. It about seeing and acknowledging God’s love and handiwork in all aspects of our lives.

Explain to me what does women’s empowerment means to you?    

Empowerment is about acting on my own volition, having options, having the autonomy to make choices.  Really, Jerry, it’s to emancipate me from the sense of powerlessness, to become self-determined, being able to take charge of my life by owning my decisions, circumstances, hopes, and dreams, growing stronger, wiser, and more confident.

Having said that, for me, I do not believe women’s empowerment is independent of the influence of men. I strongly believe men and women were created with different, but complementary traits. When working in unity, we unleash the freedom to both look outward, naturally curious in opening ourselves to the universe, feeling supported to take risks, and to reimagine possibilities based on the imagery of how to think, rather than the limitation of what to think.

I have countless examples of gender neutrality during brainstorming, problem-solving, and trouble-shooting that delivered the optimum results, mainly because women are allowed the latitude, civility, and respect to explore and articulate their thoughts without judgment or fear. This type of liberation allows me to embrace and benefit from a diversity of thoughts; to see ideas from various points of view, despite differences reaching common ground, by filtering everything through what is pleasing to God. Why, because like all good things, true and authentic empowerment comes from honoring the will of God.

I am a big fan of being authentic and leading a transparent life. Help me understand what you mean by living an authentic life?    

Yes, Jerry, authentic and transparent are two buzz words presently tossed around a lot! Irrespective of the scholarly definition, at the core, this is about living one’s truth, what we know for sure, which can be shaped by our many experiences.

For me, it is when my values and beliefs are compatible with the integrity of my doctrine, actions, and words. It’s about self-awareness, knowing myself at a deep level, accepting my multi-faceted traits, my strengths, and imperfections; having the desire to continuously grow as I reconcile my good, bad and ugly qualities, which are common to all of us. I find that oftentimes, with increasing societal pressure, we lean into what the world prescribed as a success.  Whether to gain wealth, fame, alter our appearance or job aspiration, we can compromise who we are created to be which often leads to self-loathing, and unhappiness.

To justify my point, let’s take a look at the billions in revenue generated from cosmetic industries, fake content, scamming, Ponzi schemes, and the like. You see, in our humanness, our hearts are deceitful, full of pride, and can easily trap us in a state of denial and falseness to elevate ourselves. I am not immune to this pretense, but growing in spiritual maturity and wisdom, I try to be deliberate in not allowing this malignant state to frighten or paralyze me, but to be powered by my dependence on the spirit God graciously places within us.  As I summon the courage to live from a place of acceptance, growth, humility, and inner peace, only then, I can be the best expression of myself, which will be evident to impact others as I attract, influence, and sustain meaningful relationships.

The post Mayple Dorrington: Finding the Meaning of Life appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Paula Eriya migrated from Jamaica to Toronto as a young girl and spent her teenage years in New York City, where she was exposed to a wide canvas of fashion, culture, the arts, and beauty. Paula’s time in New York inspired her to make her own impact in the beauty industry, and she has since worked with fashion designers, musicians, and artists to encourage them through mentorship to cultivate their own style and expression in their respective fields.

A devoted mother of four, Paula has turned her time and talents toward giving back to her community. Her greatest passion is serving widows, single mothers, and young adults, and she has put together a team to assist single mothers to dress for success and confidently re-enter the workforce. As well, she has held events to showcase young entrepreneurs in fashion, music, and the arts. Paula and her family have had the life-changing opportunity to take part in the yearly Hope Worldwide of Canada events, which help raise funds to support many community organizations.

Paula is known for her impeccable taste, style, and progressive techniques, which impress her clients and foster a relationship of lasting trust.

Paula congrats on the success of the Beauty Lounge Salon and Spa. Walk me through your thought process about how you started the salon and spa?

Jerry, I have been in the business for over 28 years. I have this burning desire to help people look and feel their best. I had five salons before this one.  I wanted to merge my faith along with my services to my clients in the best way possible.  I decided to go back to school in 2012. Funny enough, I went to Tyndale for 4 years to get my undergrad in Religious Education. I found the structure of my study helped me in many ways to deal with my diverse clientele on a day-to-day basis.  Beauty Lounge Salon and Spa came about while I was in my final year in school. I wanted to get back in the business right away and the opportunity presented itself.

What were the initial challenges?

My initial challenge was start-up cash. I was in school for four years not working. Banks could not loan us any money as we had no collateral. God opened doors. I had a very kind investor and two friends who also invested as shareholders in the business. I got enough to purchase the business outright and a small amount for operations, we had to go through a few bad employees to find the right ones.

Did you take a course in business and hair styling or it is something you learned along the way?

I went to school to train in Salon business operations. I learned some practical skills along the way.  I have had a love for this business since I was 15 years old.

Talk to me about what it means for women to be empowered in the 21st century?

It is amazing to be among the empowered women in the 21st century. Today, women have a voice in politics, media, schools, and the corporate world altogether. We are entrepreneurs, leaders, lawyers, doctors and so much more. Women are making legislative laws and impacting society on a whole. I am grateful to live in a country that recognizes women for their contribution in the various sectors, and for the women’s movement that advocates for the needs of the sick, children, and the elderly. I think overall women’s role in the 21st century has advanced beyond what we hoped for and expected.

What are the hairstyles and trends for 2019?

For 2019, big hairstyles, big eyebrows, and loud colors are back like in the movie, Hairspray. Some people are into trends and fashion while others are into the more classic look. Multi-color, Balayage, and really whatever the customers like. Trend or no trend, people like what they like and I like to fit my client into the area and lifestyle they live in.

Why should my female audience come to your salon?

Your female clients should come to me because:

1. We are an environmentally friendly salon, we are Green Circled certified, which means that we recycle 90% of all waste in our salon.
2. We offer many services; our Salon and Spa are a one-stop-shop to meet all your beauty needs (from head to toe).
3. Our product is mostly Vegan, Organic, and Natural.
4. We offer 4 choices in our nail polishes, Vegan, Natural, Organic, and regular nail polish.
5. We offer skin tightening, skin resurfacing, Micro-Needling, in other words, nonevasive skin treatments.
6. Our hair colors are natural and ammonia-free, as well as some of our bleaches. Jerry, I can go on, but I would like for you to check it out for yourself.

My daughter is 17 and if I want to bring some of her friends for a hair, do is that possible?

Our environment is definitely teen-friendly. We have high school girls come in all the time with their friends, they love the atmosphere and the services because we are attentive to their every need.

What do you look for in staff when you hire?

Our staff must be driven, honest, peace-loving, and kind. They must have the drive and the desire to exceed the client’s expectations in any and all of our services. They must have excellent communication and customer service skills.

How are food, faith, family, and finance important to you?

Food is very important to me. My body is God’s temple.  I need to keep it clean and healthy. I try to eat what is best for my body.

My Faith is extremely important, in this fallen world. I believe faith is the only thing that is constant in my life.

My family is of great importance to me. They are a gift to me from God. A gift-worthy of respect and love and most of all gratitude. I live every day grateful for the blessing of my faith and my family.

Finance is crucial to our survival. This is of great importance to me, without it we cannot accomplish our goals, feed our family nor take care of ourselves. A balanced financial life is a bliss. I am working on becoming debt-free and financially secure as this is a necessity.

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