Mimi

When I was a little girl, I grew up believing that I could do anything coupled with hard work and determination. As the youngest in my family, who grew up surrounded by strong independent women, I was able to build my future with insight and perseverance. My first role model in my life was my grandmother, who my older sister, Megan, and I called "Mimi." She was always bold enough to take "the road less traveled," which is why my sister and I looked at her with awe and admiration.

A small Southern farm girl from Virginia picked up and moved to the New York not knowing what to expect, but knew she had to go as she did not want to spend her life on a farm. She wanted an adventure and a life of her own, which she created with her amazing individuality, sense of fashion, confidence and heart. Her two lessons by which my sister and I abide are the foundation to our past, present and future. As I fashion a new life in New York City, I can not help but reflect and share her lessons.

Mimi Lesson I. Carve Your Own Path

My grandmother, "Mimi" was born in rural South Boston, Virginia on a 300-acre tobacco farm with nine siblings. Growing up the youngest after losing her little sister to a bus accident, she had a drive and determination to see life outside of her tobacco farm, because farm life was too provincial for her and more importantly she didn't like picking tobacco. So Mimi set out to be the first in her family to go to college, which she accomplished at Longwood, which was a part of the University of Virginia in the late 1940's. She completed extra schooling in order to pursue a career as a licensed x-ray technician. The bold endeavor for her was moving up north by herself to Summit, NJ. She came a long way from a small southern farm to make her mark, but her beauty, brains and remarkable audacity equipped her for the path that lied ahead.

As I embark on a new life, I will keep my Mimi and her life lessons close to my heart. She showed me that each individual has the opportunity to define their own path and create their own future.

Mimi Lesson II. Always Be a Lady

Mimi learned early on that she could take circumstances that were far from glamorous and invent her own style and path as she went along. Whatever she touched she refined, carrying a tradition of elegance my sister and I aspire to keep in the family. Over cocktails at our summer home in Twin Lake Village, known to close family and friends as "TLV" or "the villa," Megan and I were able to catch up with Mimi's girlfriends who would always say she was, "such a lady." We even brought them to tears as they learned what an impact she had on our lives as a glamorous grandmother. My mother had recently divvied up her jewelry, giving my sister and I her vintage jewelry that we can never seem to part with. My sister was able to carry on her fashionable legacy with Mimi's gold inscribed high school class ring with her initials "KJB" for Kathryn Jean Boyd. Also at home my sister keeps her Chanel No. 5 perfume to remind her of my grandmother's signature scent.

I found it very fitting that my grandmother would wear Chanel as she was also known for her strong, unrelenting heartbeat of courage. My special piece from her jewelry collection would be her gold Gucci vintage bangle watch with a pearl face. I love vintage as every piece comes with a history and a story so I know that I always keep a part of her with me. I was given the watch along with her chic cocktail rings that I rarely leave the house without. Her jewelry is always noticed and complimented on- in particular by men. I feel fortunate that as my fashion style changes; her pieces will always remain classic staples.

As I embark on a new life in New York City, I will keep my Mimi and her life lessons close to heart. She embodies an independent woman of great compassion for people and great joy for life. She showed me that each individual can follow their heart and with determination and grace make her dreams come true. My grandmother was a great inspiration for me and her lessons have been stepping-stones from childhood to womanhood. Mimi is a precious part of my history and heritage, whose timeless lessons I will always take with me, as I move forward in the city, where a farm girl found adventure and romance 60 years ago.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emmie-twombly/mimi-lessons_b_888415.html

5 Ways Women Can Make Changes Across Generations

        The women of Vital Voices are dynamic, bold, daring risk takers, in fact even putting their lives on the line. The five award winners, Global Trailblazer Award winner and the women behind Vital Voices are transforming the notions about women, and most importantly, their connotations with power and leadership. These women were recently honored at the Kennedy Center by Ben Affleck, Candice Bergen, Sally Field and Diane Von Furstenberg because they are defining success on their own terms in their own countries, organizations and families. Each woman is championing her own cause, but the women who graced the stage showed that we are all individuals working together for a common goal. Hillary Clinton stated this goal in 1995 at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing: "Human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights." After attending such an inspirational event I felt that owed it to other generations to share 5 way women can make changes across generations.

1. Educate Yourself. "Knowledge is power, no one can take education away from you." Sadiqa Basiri Saleem brings hope to Afghanistan and a new generation of women. Sadiqa and three other women pooled their money together after the Taliban fell to found a learning center, which provides uniforms, supplies, and funding for 36 girls to study in an abandoned mosque. Sadiqa said her "dream is to see my sisters well-educated in a peaceful Afghanistan. They should be able to raise their voices to get their rights since I can't stand seeing them tortured and murdered in the name of honor anymore."

2. Be Bold and Brave. Chouchou Namegabe Nabinut and Marceline Kongolo-Bice brought issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the international stage. Chouchou used her powerful voice as a journalist to shed light on women, health and human rights issues. At age 23, Marceline has shown her strength and courage time and time again. At 13 she was imprisoned for refusing a military order to marry a local commandant. She also lost her older brother and father to murderous soldiers and witnessed the use of rape as a weapon of war. She then founded an NGO, SOS Femmes en Dangers to heal and rehabilitate rape victims, and how to empower themselves by knowing their rights so that they can defend themselves, supporting one another so their voices are heard.

3. Invest in Others. Temituokpe Esisi of Nigeria started her own tailoring company to benefit her country's economic empowerment as well as her own. She serves as a role model to leaders across the globe, since she invests in her employees, in their future and in their education. She works to inspire other women throughout Nigeria and beyond with her success.

4. Follow Your Heart. Somaly Mam of Cambodia was forced to work in a brothel, where she endured rape, beatings and humiliation by her bosses and clients. After one of her closest friends was murdered by a pimp, she escaped. She then showed her bravery by sharing her story and rescuing young girls and women from her brothel. She never had an education and just "gave love." She is a visionary who shows that you have unlimited potential by following your heart.

5. Keep Moving Forward. How did these women move beyond the traumatic events and brutal atrocities which the award recipients experienced first-hand? This is a question that has been resurfacing in my mind since I left the event in Washington, D.C. On its face it seems to not make sense that women are still forced to overcome rape as a weapon of war, lack of education and lack of opportunities. The five amazing women who accepted their awards at the Kennedy Center showed that even though they were given significantly fewer opportunities for achieving leadership positions, they still prevailed, and so can the rest of us.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emmie-twombly/5-ways-women-can-make-cha_b_212764.html