“Women don’t realize how powerful they are.” – Judith Light

It’s  1:  00   PM on day 1791 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray,  read Matthew 23, publish my Disability of the Day feature, publish my Kid of the Week feature,  go to church – I really didn’t want to go but I woke up and made myself go (if we all did only the things we felt like doing we wouldn’t accomplish much of anything and besides we have time to do everything else why can’t we spend one hour a week in church) I’m glad I went from the sermon titled “The keys to abinding joy” I learned that happiness comes from happenings whereas joy comes from within – have breakfast,  learn one new thing –Male deer grow new antlers each year. – and promote my Educate Generations campaign – $3 441 raised so far (thanks for your support everyone).

Today is Women’s Day here in South Africa and in honour of that I’ve compiled a list of women I deeply respect and admire. Take a look:

26 Women I Respect and Admire

• My mother (she’s taught me more about strength, love and faith than anybody else on the planet).
• My grandmothers (both my grandmothers managed to give their kids a better life than they had something which I deeply respect).
• My sister (she’s driven and outspoken she knows what she wants and works her butt off to get it (even before she knew what she wanted to do she knew which university she wanted to go to) I really admire her outspokenness and drive to do well).
• My 6 aunts (being around my aunts I get the sense that they want my generation to soar to new heights I really appreciate that).
• My 8 cousins (all of them do different things but all of them are learning and growing in their respective fields I really admire their desire to know more and reach new heights).
• My physiotherapist, Gerda (I’ve known Gerda since I was 12 she’s one of the few people (outside of my family) who sees the person behind the wheelchair if I don’t do what I’m supposed to do she has no qualms about chewing me out and if I ask her opinion about something she will give me the brutal truth I love that about her).
• Our housekeeper, Cynthia (Cynthia works for my family 5 days a week and during the weekends she raises and sells chickens she hopes to grow her business and buy a car Cynthia’s ability to dream beyond her circumstance inspires me to dream bigger too).
• Malala Yousafzai (Malala rose to fame after the Taliban shot her for daring to fight for girls’ education Malala’s courage has forever changed me the Taliban shot her for fighting for girls’ education and yet to this day she continues the fight).
• Oprah Winfrey (Oprah has touched millions of lives with her talk show, television network and philanthropy the impact of her life will be felt for generations to come).
• Angelina Jolie Pitt (When Angelina isn’t acting, directing, being a wife or mother she travels all over the world meeting and speaking for people who most of the world has forgotten I love and admire her so much for that ).
• Catherine Constantinides (Catherine’s a humanitarian, environmentalist, Lead SA Executive and Executive Director of Miss Earth South Africa I get the feeling Catherine’s absolutely intent on making this world a better place in whatever way that she can and I absolutely LOVE that (there’s something really cool about watching the older, much prettier, version of who you want to be in action).
• Jacqui Mackway-Wilson (Jacqui’s a kickass entrepreneur, wife and mother she’s proof that women can do anything men can do and do it in heels too).
• Advocate Thuli Madonsela (Advocate Thuli Madonsela is South Africa’s Public Protector she stands up for what is right no matter who she has to stand up to she is literally scared of nobody, in fact, I think President Zuma may be a little scared of her).
• Taylor Swift (Taylor Swift is talented and business savvy but what I most admire about her is her humility and generosity (just recently she donated $50 000 to one of her young fans who is currently battling cancer).