On Friday the 13th, I was privileged to join and lead a group of students from Friends University in helping out with a collaboration between the Pando Initiative and Legacy Gardenworks in Wichita, Kansas. These organizations are two of my favorite in Wichita, and to say I was pumped to work alongside them and their missions is an understatement.
My friend Nichole and I were planning for this day months in advance, and leading up to the day I had dreams about how things would go. I really had almost no expectations, as I wasn't exactly sure how they would use our team, but boy oh boy, did my God play a huge role that day in transforming our lives and the lives of those around us.
In the morning, our team began a few projects, one of which involved digging up trees that were growing where they shouldn't be. To do this, we had to dig down to their roots, axe them, and proceed to rip up the rest of the tree. By the afternoon, our team consisted of five powerful girls, and let me tell you, the five of us worked tirelessly and passionately at getting those trees up.
My friend Isabella (AKA axe-mama) would axe, Aubrey and Nichole would help dig, I would jump on top of the roots to try and loosen them, and Rachel would hold my hand as I did so. I am pleased to announce that we felled somewhere around three trees that afternoon, because girl power.
In this same spirit, with the help of my friends, I have gathered a list of 29 things that girls can do.
1. Cooking
Duh.
2. Cleaning
This one should be obvious.
3. Nurturing children
What else were women made for?
4. Sewing
Men are incapable of needles.
5. Decorating
Holidays, parties, homes, only women know how to make things look good.
6. Gardening
The feminine form of landscaping.
7. English and the arts
Creativity belongs to those who have extra estrogen.
8. Nursing
One of the most acceptable women's jobs.
9. Baking
It is not the same as cooking.
10. Clothing and hair and fashion
Women must look good while doing everything.
11. Crying
Only women can share their emotions, but they certainly do this "way too often."
Oh yeah, and...
12. Preaching or leading
Yes! Women are allowed to preach and lead people. I'm not kidding.
13. Building things
Women can be construction workers, too. It's okay for them to be strong and dirty.
14. Math, science, government, and history
Women don't have to be limited to the arts and English...they too can be involved in the important issues around them.
15. Cars
The car advice that I use on the daily just happens to come from a grown woman.
16. Politics
BAM. History, government, leading, all wrapped into one.
17. School
Girls don't have to pretend to need help. They can do their schoolwork all by themselves. I'm not joking about this one.
18. Business
Yes!! Kick some butt. Be fierce.
19. Engineering
Maybe this is a surprise to you, but it is fact. Laura does those things.
20. Being a doctor
My boss is a doctor. My boss is a woman.
21. Drumming
Peep the gender equality in the photo above!!
22. Athletics
Ballers, shot-callers, whatever you call them, women can do that too.
23. Teaching
And contrary to popular belief, women can teach people other than children also.
24. Running
That's my friend. She is killing it.
25. Being police officers
I'm serious about this one, whether you believe it or not.
26. Farming
Women can like animals too.
27. Rock climbing
Muscles!!
28. Outdoors
Look!! I'm doing it all by myself mom!!
29. Digging up trees
There we are!!!!!!!!
If you haven't caught on, here's your chance: PSYCH! Guess what?
Girls can do ANYTHING that boys can do! Boys can do ANYTHING that girls can do!!
I am not kidding. Aside from things like breastfeeding and bearing children, boys can do the emotional/feminine things, and aside from anything anatomically impossible, girls can do strong/masculine things.
Women have testosterone and men have estrogen! Seriously, it's just fact.
Girls: You can do ANYTHING, but you don't have to do EVERYTHING. That's right. You don't have to take care of everything, but you can do anything that your heart desires.
Go freaking dig up some trees. Go freaking change the world.
