Well, the day has arrived. I’ve just woken up in Incheon,  South Korea on January 20, 2017. While it may still be January 19th back home, we are, none the less, just a matter of hours away from when President-elect Trump will be inaugurated as President of the United States.

Sifting through Facebook this morning I saw a mixture of messages that grabbed my attention. From news postings of what the Trump administration will look like and clips of cabinet confirmation hearings, to selfies of women on their way to the Women’s March on Washington and feminist quotes of inspiration; scrolling through was a minute of empowerment followed by a moment of fear followed by a bit of inspiration. Much of what I imagine this year is going to look like.

Having said that, the part that I hope we can focus on is the inspiration and the empowerment that have filled women since November 9th. I hope we continue to lift each other up and strengthen one another. I hope that we find a way to listen to each other, as we each have our own story, wisdom, and individual journey to be shared and celebrated. I hope that we do not let fear settle in, but instead find a way to let our voices be heard. I hope that we are grateful for, and confident in, the power that we hold. And lastly, I hope that we are never content with the progress that has been made when there is still so much work to be done.

A friend sent me an article earlier in the week that stated it would be 158 years before the gender gap closed in North America. 158 years. Longer than in any other part of the world. At first I took this to be disconcerting, but what I later realized was that this could be our challenge. A challenge for multitudes of current and future generations to do everything we can to change this for our daughters, our granddaughters, our goddaughters, our nieces, our sisters, our friends, our students, our patients, ourselves.

With adversity comes determination. This inauguration should be a marking point, not of panic, but a time to come together. To band together regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, education level, socioeconomic status, or nationality, to stand up for our equality world-wide. To work as one team to close gender gaps across the world in our lifetimes. To make the change we want to see in the world and set that example for future generations of boys and girls to see.

. . .

Just after the election I found a quote from Hillary Rodham Clinton herself that I found to be completely inspiring. In her student commencement address at Wellesley College in 1969, she said, “Fear is always with us but we just don’t have time for it. Not now.” With that said, let us remember that right now is not at time to be afraid, but a time to inspire and guide one another as we continue our push for equality.

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