Jean Darnell: Awaken Librarian

For #InternationalWomensDay, a Literary Hub author Jess Decourcy Hinds, selected librarians who inspire her...and I MADE THE LIST! 🥰 Truth be told, this mention lifted my day above the clouds. I overwork, overthink and overanalyze just about everything I interact with so much so that I deplete my energy reserves without regard to rest. But this...the title and all of my peers included within the article speaks to the fearlessness librarians and women MUST have to endure in this world led predominantly by those who want to silence us. Normally, I'm celebrating the accomplishments of women who inspired me for Women's History Month, but this time, the table's turned. I embrace the honor and present to you: "8 Badass Librarians We Need to Celebrate This International Women's Day"

Happy Women's Herstory (not HIStory) Month! I've often discussed the "glows-n-grows" of being a woman, therefore, I will keep my thoughts brief. Every woman walking this earth, lived inside her grandmother, as women are born with all the eggs she'll ever release. Having said that, I ache that I never birthed a daughter to continue the tradition of holding my daughter/grand-daughter within my being to transfer any bit of extra love and support I could muster as a mother. Through miscarriages and unsurvivable births, I know the importance of the female body and the strength it takes to carry, birth and nourish life. Women and only women know that magnitude of humanity. Let us excel in equality, endurance and empathy. We're a profession of healers, nurturers and parents. Every bit of our essence is worth its weight in gold...and the world must reflect, uplift and value women. Period. Enjoy this month's newsletter and treat the women in your life to a ...

I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts on Women's month. I won't lie to you, growing up, I was a tomboy. I learned at an early age, men had the power and women served them. I began rocking that mentality immediately...a rebel with a legitimate cause. As a woman, I've enjoyed being such and loathed being such. I hate that women have to work 24/7. I work as the sole-provider of my family. I take off of work, when kids are sick. I work while sick. No work, no money. I grind harder than any man and make more sacrifices than most...just to make 80 cents on the dollar compared to a man, who does less work...has a society that caters to HIS needs...and very rarely has to be in the position to lose pay because he chose his kids over his job....and I'm Black (which is it's own win and woe in today's times). Therefore, the acknowledgement from our President that there must be equity, equality and an END the gender paygap , I felt a little more SEEN and HEARD...

In honor of Women's Month, we celebration with Golden Shovel Poems!