For years I’ve struggled with following my heart and dreams vs. being a responsible individual trying to build a future. My dream: to fight for the rights of women all over the world. I’m passionate about civil rights, equality, the pursuit of the dream. And I’m totally and completely fascinated by the Middle East. I have always wanted to visit, more desire to live there for a period of time.
As much as I enjoy the Jane Green and Jennifer Weiner chick lit, my favorite books are those about women in the Middle East and Northern Africa. Their struggles, their victories. I become alive when I read about someone speaking out or rebelling, fighting against tradition and trying to pave the way for younger women. I want to do something. Anything. I feel like this is my greater purpose, yet the obstacle has always been…WHAT! What could I possibly do? I haven’t lived the struggle, I just want to help fix it.
I’m an activist inside. But probably more of an armchair activist than anything else. A few years ago I met someone who invited me to a US Human Rights conference on presenting human rights issues to the media. I was so excited by this opportunity to attend, but then, a day into it, I realized that US Human Rights are less my focus than international. Sure, I’m a die-hard ACLU supporter, but I’m not as interested in what happens here as I am with what happens abroad…where women have NO rights. Where they endure things like genital mutilation or aren’t allowed to drive or show their faces. These things infuriate me. But what can *i* do!? How can *I* fight!?
This has been my struggle for years. Wanting to do something – anything – and not knowing how to do it. I read these books and get heated, the fire building inside of me…there’s got to be a greater purpose for me. There has to be something I can do, someone I can help. But what? Who? How? These are things I haven’t been able to answer. I haven’t been able to find my place, fulfill my purpose. I fully believe this is it and not knowing how to do it is frustrating.
For a year or so now – since I went back to Corporate America – I have put my dreams on hold. I’ve refused to read the books that would ignite those flames inside me. I’ve avoided it all to re-build my retirement account, have health insurance again, put my knowledge of the securities industry back to work to pay for an apartment, dinners out, the start of a cupcake business. And while all these things are positive they aren’t what I want from life. There’s a greater purpose and by sitting back and feeling bad, watching and reading about the injustices in the world, I’m avoiding what my true purpose is.
It’s weighing on me now. I want more. I want bigger. I want to make an impact. And still, as I write this, I just don’t know how.
Try and volunteer. I would look at VolunteerMatch or google International Women’s rights in your local area. You could help write a newsletter or something simple to get started and as you learn more you can figure out how best to help, but at least you’d have your foot in the door and you could fulfill some of that desire to get involved.
Helping others is my passion as well. Good luck!!
Try talking to someone in the HR department of your work. They might know of a group you can get involved with or point you in the right direction. You can also see what your company is doing charity wise overseas. If your company doesn’t have a charity they support like this maybe you can be the front person for your company to get it more involved or at least get other associates involved.
My company is always looking for people to head up groups that go out and work with charities locally, nationally, and globally. I know not all companies are as involved as mine, but maybe you can help your company get there. Be the catalyst for change anyway you can.