One of my favorite movies is called “The Mighty.” It’s about an awkward boy with learning disabilities and an unmistakably large stature and his friend who is riddled with birth defects, plaguing his ability to stand and even walk on his own. The two rely heavily on each other to fill in their personality and learning gaps.
They share their strengths so together they can be stronger. Maybe you have a friend like that, too.
When I think of Women’s History Month, I can’t help but think of “The Mighty.” Looking back at history and all of the people who carried others on their shoulders to help fill in the gaps, I am amazed at all of those mighty women who had the courage to do the things most of us only dream about.
Those mighty women dedicated their lives to a cause and shaped the future. Those mighty women were committed to being better tomorrow than they were yesterday. Who’s shoulders did they stand on when they needed the lift? Look around you and you’ll see. We are each given encouragement, support and strength from those around us. Not just women, but men, children, mentors, parents, teammates, bosses and subordinates.
When I look to the stars at night, I stand on Sally Ride’s shoulders. She was the first American female astronaut to go into space.
When I stare into the clouds, I stand on Amelia Earhart’s shoulders. She was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean and the first person to fly over both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
When I think about women serving their nation, I stand on Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught’s shoulders. She was the first woman to deploy with an Air Force bomber wing and sponsored the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Washington.
When I think about having the courage to change things, I stand on President Harry S.Truman’s shoulders. He signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948. That law opened the services up to women as permanent, regular members.
When I think about battling the norm, I think about our international partners who send their NCOs to Kisling NCO Academy to develop their leadership skills. Kisling’s first international student was a female NCO from Romania, Plutonier Diana-Cristina Mireuta. She set the stage for many other nations to follow suit and created a thirst for enlisted education the U.S. Air Force provides like no other and shows the importance of diversity in military forces around the world.
When I think about creating the tipping point of change, I think about the women in the KMC’s Let’s Connect group. They are making a difference in me and countless other women in our community and across the Air Force by donating their time and sharing their experiences freely with others, no strings attached. They are servant leaders committed to leaving a legacy and positively impacting women.
Ordinary people do extraordinary things, pushing us further beyond any measure of our imagination and stretching our minds to be better, bigger and mighty. Women continue to build our story, the saga of a dream, the legacy of character, courage and commitment.
“The Mighty” closes with this: “When someone so great once was, then someone so great will always be.” This is true with the legacy you build, the dreams you share, the shoulders you lend. It is enduring. Don’t just celebrate women’s history for one month. Celebrate the mighty every day, because they’re changing your future and so are you. Lift someone up on your shoulders so you can pay it forward to those who will come tomorrow and the days that follow.
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One of my favorite movies is called “The Mighty.” It’s about an awkward boy with learning disabilities and an unmistakably large stature and his friend who is riddled with birth defects, plaguing his ability to stand and even walk on his own. The two rely heavily on each other to fill in their personality and learning gaps.
They share their strengths so together they can be stronger. Maybe you have a friend like that, too.
When I think of Women’s History Month, I can’t help but think of “The Mighty.” Looking back at history and all of the people who carried others on their shoulders to help fill in the gaps, I am amazed at all of those mighty women who had the courage to do the things most of us only dream about.
Those mighty women dedicated their lives to a cause and shaped the future. Those mighty women were committed to being better tomorrow than they were yesterday. Who’s shoulders did they stand on when they needed the lift? Look around you and you’ll see. We are each given encouragement, support and strength from those around us. Not just women, but men, children, mentors, parents, teammates, bosses and subordinates.
When I look to the stars at night, I stand on Sally Ride’s shoulders. She was the first American female astronaut to go into space.
When I stare into the clouds, I stand on Amelia Earhart’s shoulders. She was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean and the first person to fly over both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
When I think about women serving their nation, I stand on Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught’s shoulders. She was the first woman to deploy with an Air Force bomber wing and sponsored the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Washington.
When I think about having the courage to change things, I stand on President Harry S.Truman’s shoulders. He signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948. That law opened the services up to women as permanent, regular members.
When I think about battling the norm, I think about our international partners who send their NCOs to Kisling NCO Academy to develop their leadership skills. Kisling’s first international student was a female NCO from Romania, Plutonier Diana-Cristina Mireuta. She set the stage for many other nations to follow suit and created a thirst for enlisted education the U.S. Air Force provides like no other and shows the importance of diversity in military forces around the world.
When I think about creating the tipping point of change, I think about the women in the KMC’s Let’s Connect group. They are making a difference in me and countless other women in our community and across the Air Force by donating their time and sharing their experiences freely with others, no strings attached. They are servant leaders committed to leaving a legacy and positively impacting women.
Ordinary people do extraordinary things, pushing us further beyond any measure of our imagination and stretching our minds to be better, bigger and mighty. Women continue to build our story, the saga of a dream, the legacy of character, courage and commitment.
“The Mighty” closes with this: “When someone so great once was, then someone so great will always be.” This is true with the legacy you build, the dreams you share, the shoulders you lend. It is enduring. Don’t just celebrate women’s history for one month. Celebrate the mighty every day, because they’re changing your future and so are you. Lift someone up on your shoulders so you can pay it forward to those who will come tomorrow and the days that follow.