I arrive in New York City and the excitement is building as I finally get to meet the woman I admire most, Gloria Steinem. It took me forever to pack clothes, toiling over what to wear to this luncheon. I think it should be something business casual, not stuffy just a comfortable blend of my style.  Should I worry about what I wear around Ms. Steinem? As a woman in 2010 I am free to wear what I want and I pity the person who would try to tell me what to wear. We’ve come a long way from that.  I don’t think Ms. Steinem is going to be judgmental...still I can’t help thinking about first impressions.

My stomach keeps jumping every time I think about it, what am I going to say when we meet? I want to be my authentic self, which I’m encouraged to be as a 21^st century woman; just let it flow. However, that hasn’t stopped me from pondering what my first words might be. It’s definitely not good to start with “I’m honoured to meet you, I admire you so much.” That is too predictable, I mean, how many times has she heard that one? I certainly can’t borrow from Oprah’s line “You make me proud to spell my name W O M A N. First of all she would be on to me because she knows Oprah and I’m thinking it is a little overused. I don’t want to just break down into the ugly cry and begin to give some life story of how I came to follow her. No, that’s not me and I don’t think sets the right tone for our meeting. I’m sure it will come to me in the moment.

I have read many of her books and they have special placement on my bookshelf. I’m not a big reader in comparison to most people I know, but I settle in nicely with life according to Gloria. What is odd is that I actually liked the titles of her books, you know how sometimes the title just doesn’t encapsulate the content, hers does. Books like: Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions; a collection of her essays. Moving Beyond Words brings the past and present together with articles and thought.  Marilyn - Norma Jean, a book that is so thoughtful I understood Marilyn Monroe was being sensitively protected and honoured by both Steinem and George Barris. Doing Sixty and Seventy I haven’t purchased yet for my collection which covers aging, mortality and more, it just seems right to talk about these life markers.

Revolution from Within; a book about self esteem and social change  sheds more light on who she is beyond the public persona and was so helpful my copy is full of reminder tags.  She must really have a healthy self esteem and self confidence as it always amazed me how her name sparks great reactions positively and negatively. It occurred to me that people with the most negative reaction probably don’t know they are benefiting from Ms. Steinem’s contributions.  I’m not sure I would have what it takes to do what she does, as her critics can be brutal and her calling can at times be a thankless one. She is the one woman I noticed could be celebrated and vilified simultaneously. Not like some of our high profile peoples and political figures who were celebrated and then fell from grace by some scandalous event. Ms. Steinem just is and that is enough to land her on one side of the fence or the other.

With International Women’s Day being celebrated this month, it seems only fitting I get this once in life time opportunity to see this woman who transformed the way I moved through life and career. One quote I remember was “I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.” It is so true; but here I am still trying to help women do just that, combine marriage, parenthood and career.  I never have that discussion with male clients, its funny the more things change the more they stay the same.  

Due to her influence in the 60’s and 70’s many women went on to further education and into careers not previously even open to females. I remember going into automotive class in high school, not car maintenance which was for girls, but automotive! I was one of two girls who signed up. I felt so good about the opportunity and the challenge; it was a big deal to put on the coveralls and take my place in that shop. Ahh, the smell of grease, the handling of tools, the rebuilding of an engine, it is coming back to me now. Later in my early twenties I enrolled in a college program which was open to women who wanted to explore alternative work and trades opportunities. I still have the tool box I made in carpentry class and sitting in my hall closet is my steel toe boots. I can’t help thinking one of the people I may need to acknowledge is Ms. Steinem and all the other women and men that set it up so I could participate in these classes. I know my older sister and my Mum wouldn’t have been able to even consider it.

Wading in on topics like daycare, maternity leave, proper compensation and support for women (and men) who choose to be homemakers and/or raise their children; she is one of the champions of those causes too. Judiciously she has lobbied on behalf of so many worthwhile changes socially it is hard to imagine a life so full and well lived. I look at my own ability to negotiate on behalf of myself personally and professionally and affect change in others. Would I have felt I had a voice at all if it wasn’t for her and others like her?

I don’t know. All I know is I’m moments away from meeting a very influential woman, who seems quite grounded and clearly intelligent. This is it...what would you feel if you were in my shoes? Think about that person you have been dying to meet, to stand in their presence. Who influenced you? What did she say that perked your interest? How did she move through her life? What significant contribution came from her and flowed outward into the world? Are you living as she did, with great purpose? Does she make you want to open more doors and which ones? If you had the chance to meet her, what would you say? WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

When we met, I didn’t hesitate, I didn’t care what was appropriate or not; I simply reached out to cup her hand in mind and I looked straight into her eyes and I said “Thank you.” It was two simple words; I didn’t back it up with “Whys” and “Hows.” In fact, I really didn’t need to walk into my past or hers. The present was just fine and we had plenty to chat about. A woman’s life is like that, full of things to observe and to share.  Not much gets by us, we are incredible beings. We take things for granted and others can take us for granted but in the company of other women I am always reminded how strong we are, how far we’ve come and in this case how imaginative.

It had been such a long day, it was fun to lie on my couch and fantasize about my dream day, lunch with Gloria Steinem.