Vidyamala’s online course, “Mindfulness for Women: Declutter Your Mind, Simplify Your Life, Find Time to ‘Be’,” starts on January 1. Enroll now!
After Donald Trump became President in 2017, we witnessed an incredible surge of activism that led to the Women’s March on Washington, along with numerous Sister Marches worldwide. These events brought millions of peaceful protesters together.
Watching these gatherings unfold on the news was incredibly moving. While social media often gets a bad rap for spreading fake news, bullying, and controversial tweets, it’s also a powerful tool for good—as seen with the Women’s Marches.
The movement started with Teresa Shook from Hawaii. The night after Trump’s election, she posted on Facebook simply suggesting that people should march. Her idea quickly gained traction. By the next morning, her event page had gone viral, thanks to its spread in various online groups.
From this small beginning, the Women’s March grew into a global phenomenon, largely facilitated by social media. This shows us the incredible potential of using our voices and platforms for positive change, particularly against violence and discrimination.
Women in the West have made significant strides in recent decades, but there’s still much work to be done, especially for women in developing countries who face severe discrimination. In my book, “Mindfulness for Women,” I highlight some alarming statistics on this issue.
Many are advocating powerfully for women and girls, like Michelle Obama with her “Let Girls Learn” initiative and Malala Yousafzai. While we might not all be as high-profile as these remarkable women, everyone can contribute in their own way.
History teaches us that significant changes are often the result of countless small actions. The Civil Rights movement in the USA, for example, succeeded because of numerous individual efforts that collectively brought about monumental societal changes. Similarly, the suffragettes’ persistent campaigning led to women gaining the right to vote in the UK in 1918. Less than a century later, women are leading nations.
South African social rights activist Desmond Tutu once explained that social change happens through the connections between individuals, which grow into coalitions and then movements. This was the case with the overcoming of apartheid, and it’s what we’re seeing now with the Women’s and Sister Marches.
To keep the momentum going, we must continue to engage, connect, and act. This is something truly worth celebrating, and we must keep up the good work.
Learn more about Vidyamala’s online course, “Mindfulness for Women: Declutter Your Mind, Simplify Your Life, Find Time to ‘Be’,” starting January 1.