How do we live fully authentic lives?

Serena Williams’ “evolution” away from playing professional tennis full-time has got me thinking about parenting and the decisions that women have to make during various seasons of their lives. If you’ve read Serena’s interview in this month’s Vogue, you’ll hear her in voice the struggle that I and many other mothers have felt.

How do we live full authentic lives as women, mothers, partners, siblings, and adult children?

How do we balance early motherhood with completing our educations and launching jobs and careers? How do we meet the economic needs of our families with their emotional, physical, and psychological needs? How do we achieve motherhood when we are met with reproductive challenges? How do we establish and maintain healthy intimate and personal relationships?

How can we be fully ourselves and fulfill all the roles we play?

These are the questions I hear on the minds of the women, and I want you to know that if you are asking any of these questions, or more, you are normal and you are seen. One of my favorite quotes (which I am unsure of the author) is essentially that “there is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” One of our most powerful features as women is our ability to connect and build community. This creates “social support” which is the number one mediator for depression.

Women sharing their stories and supporting each other matters and lifts us all up.

Last night when I was watching the post-match tribute to Serena by Billie Jean King, Billie Jean highlighted Serena’s commitment to elevating, role modeling, and committing to social justice issues for women and BIPOC women in particular. When girls see women succeeding and leading, not perfectly, but with grace and tenacity, it has a huge impact. These girls see what is possible and think “I could do that or more.”

So, during the month of September, I encourage you to listen to women’s voices, celebrate their accomplishments, see their struggle, and extend your support to the girls and women in your life. You will lift yourself and all of us up.