When I am at the Shot@Life Summit I am with my tribe, my people, my girls. These are like-minded, smart, passionate women who yammer about the same issues at their dinner table as I do at mine. I suppose we annoy our families and friends in the same way, but when we are together there’s not an ounce of annoyance. We feed off each other, for better or for worse, and we all stand a little taller.
Raising our voices on the Hill advocating for causes we fiercely fight for is empowering. I see us glowing in a ravishing aura as we walk the miles between the Russell, Cannon, and Dirksen buildings going from House to Senate and back again. We lean on each other, literally and figuratively. To be among such confident, funny, bright women who fight to make their communities and the world better is simply refreshing. To be among them bolsters me in a way my daily life robs me of. The minutiae of routine makes advocacy harder from my kitchen table. Work, kids, deadlines, homework, laundry, bathroom cleaning…that’s what my regular days are made of. But when I have the luxury to be away from the proverbial daily grind, I can focus on what fuels me.
If only I could earn a living as an advocate. I’m grateful for my education, though I hate I will be paying off graduate school until I die. I took classes in myriad subjects and learned from some great minds in their fields. My education is robust in both books and experience. I studied History, English, and marketing communications, all things I love. Both my alma maters are wonderful schools, and I wear their colors proudly.
But… I shouldn’t have changed paths so drastically when I knew medical school wasn’t in my future way back in the day. There’s something about medicine that has always had its clutch on me. I do regret I didn’t study public health or something related when I thought my only option to work in medicine was to be a doctor. I wish I had recognized and leveraged my knack for foreign languages and pushed myself to go into foreign service. Imagine my life had the two fields intersected! Alas, I live a rich life. I use my talents to make a difference in small ways that in aggregate, add up to big change. Now pushing 50, I am a tish sad I missed my calling. But I make do volunteering and advocating for causes that make my heart swell and fist pump in the air. In my next life, I have big plans.
Wow. It’s like you’re telling my life story. I mean we are sexy beasts tryna make the world a better place, but there is that teeny weeny pang of regret for not following through with the dream to save the world. I can only hope that I live long enough to see a world that is polio free.
I feel the same way being surrounded by smart, like minded women who care so much about global issues! I am so grateful when I am with our “tribe”! It energizes me and helps me feel connected to some larger shared purpose. I truly believe it is never too late to pursue any dream, though the timing and resources have to be right. As much as I refuse to believe it is never “too late” for any of us (I’m almost 50 too) to do anything we set our minds to, the way we do them might have to be altered to fit our new path. You are helping people, raising awareness, and changing lives with the writing and advocacy work that you do. Right now with young families that is where we are, but who is to say that someday we won’t do something like get certified as a doula, or medical technician and volunteer abroad to teach others and use our skills to save lives first hand? Or perhaps our tribe will band together and form a non-profit that makes a more direct impact than the work we are doing now? Now that we’ve found our tribe, together we can do even more. When the time is right.
Well said ladies. It’s been a pleasure to watch and learn from all of you. Your enthusiasm and passion is contagious.
I don’t think you missed your calling which is to do it all and do it well and make the world a better place as you figure it out. The things you are learning as a mother and through your work will ultimately make you a more effective advocate.
Ilina, you are a powerful writer and a great person, I love your ability to express your thoughts in writing and your story. Love this post.
You make your father proud despite all his failings to raise you properly.