Posted: by Jo Thursday, 28 December 2017 @ 09:08
This year, we plan to talk to impressive women whom we admire, to find out if they have a mantra that they live their life by; and to learn about their role models and who inspires them.
To kick us off, I'm going to tell you about my own role models, and the mantras I try to live by. I personally have 7 mantras that I live my life by, but let me focus on two of them. These two mantras sum up the attitudes of the women who are my role models in life:
‘She who is brave is free’ and ‘When life pulls you back, aim forwards.’
Let me tell you about the women I admire, and why these mantras sum them up:
Amy Johnson: for sheer
fearlessness
In 1930, Amy
Johnson became the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia, and she set
a string of long distance records over her flying career. I loved flying when I was young – and reading
about Amy Johnson, she became a real hero to me. In a time when flying was
hugely dangerous, Amy never let fear of the unknown stop her.
Diana Nyad: for absolute persistence
Diana
became the first person to swim the 111 miles from Cuba to Florida, which took
53 hours through shark-infested waters. But what impresses me the most is that
she succeeded when she was 64, on her fifth attempt. She first tried aged 30,
and never gave up on her dream, making attempt after attempt. The very last
one, at the age of 64, was successful, which she attributes to her mantra, ‘Find
a way’. The inner resources Diana must have drawn upon are
incredible.
Louise Hay: for inspiring so
many
Louise
Hay had a challenging early life, marked by sexual abuse and violence; and
later, she was diagnosed with cancer. Rather than letting her life be dominated
by these events, she developed a philosophy of self-healing and
self-forgiveness, to overcome life’s difficulties. Her writings inspired
millions of people, the world over. She is a great lesson in not allowing
adversity to define you; and using your gifts to inspire others.
JK Rowling: for never, ever,
giving up
JK
Rowling inspires me for the same reason as Diana Nyad: no matter how many times
she failed, she just kept trying. JK Rowling’s Harry Potter stories were
rejected by 12 publishers, before Bloomsbury took her on. Her early life was
not easy - miscarriage, divorce, single-parenthood, depression, life on
benefits – but again, she did not let that give her an excuse. She didn’t let
adversity get in her way, or rejection demoralise her.
Beryl Matthews (my mum): for
putting up with adversity and never complaining
My
mum has always been an absolute inspiration to me, and a great role model. Though not well
educated herself – leaving school at 15 – she fully recognised the importance
of education, teaching my sister and me to read before we even started school.
Diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2016, she lost her eyesight and
mobility. She has never
once complained, or expressed bitterness, or asked, ‘why me?’ Her stoical
attitude of facing whatever life throws at you, and just getting on with it, is
a true inspiration, and she has become an even more powerful role model in my
life.
Personally,
I find role models – particularly women – hugely inspiring. When I was younger,
I definitely let fear of the unknown stop me trying things; I gave up too soon,
when the going got tough; and I let adversity get me down and convince me I
couldn’t do something.
Bringing
to mind any one of my role models reminds me that they did not let fear get in
the way; they weren’t defeated when things went wrong; and they never gave up
hope and positivity. A mantra can bring that feeling to mind, and keep you inspired and motivated in life.
Come
back later this month to read an interview with the first of our remarkable
women, and find out what their mantras for life are, and who inspires them.