Empowering women

Two wonderful meetings today. One with Jemma from Paperbirds Theatre Company who are planning a new show about different stages of women's lives and the journeys we make through life. Paperbirds are a wonderful company of young women telling stories that blend personal experience and issues particularly affecting women. This new venture seeks to reach out to women at different ages and stages. I paused for a moment to think about myself as a mother, sister, daughter, partner and creative worker woman - how these roles blur and collide to shape my life. How lovely it is to be given time and respect for what you do - regardless of how little time and respect it seems to get in the wider world. The BiDiNG TiME journey has been such an important voyage of discovery - driven by restless dissatisfaction and a need to take action but also powered by hope and a belief that we can do better.

The second meeting was with a wonderful Brazilian artist, Regina Mendes who plans to make at least 700 dolls to help heal 7 billion people. She wants to find a space and set up a sweatshop for love and reflection, inviting people to join her make dolls. Ideas are still forming, clouds taking shape, but her intention to get started, take action and help heal people through activity and a regular appointment to make these very simple human figures. The idea of sewing and talking and sharing is beautifully joyful. Its not about money or being with the right people or trying to get ahead. Its a process and this also chimes with BiDiNG TiME. 

It was a cold clear day on the south bank and I left happy and inspired. You can't ask for much more than that and I am grateful to these women and their time.