Today (March 8th) is International Women’s Day ( PS: Personally I think every day is a good day to honor women) and so when FTD.com reached out to me and asked me to collaborate with them to write this post for their #ilooktoher campaign and to mention one woman whom I think has inspired me in some way it was a no-brainer – yes of course I would say yes.
Long before female journalist Zoe Barns showed up on House of Cards, Murphy Brown (on the show of the same name) blazed onto the small screen in my house in the late 1980s. I was mesmerized by the character’s strength, take-no-prisoners attitude and ability to strive in a typically male dominated field. Every week I would watch Murphy as she strode into the office, shoulder pads squared and hair styled to perfection, her appearance immaculate. Furthermore, she was more than her looks and stylish attire. Smart, sassy and intelligent, she epitomizes the hashtag #likeaboss, even before such a thing existes. And so with such an inspiration I suppose I never doubted that women should make waves in the corporate sector or in business, doting boyfriend/husband completely optional.
Not only did Murphy Brown stride into the office in stylish slacks and blazers – defying the usual, boring and overly-girly attire seen on television back then – but she was on a par with any man in her professional realm. I wanted to be that character. Down to the neck-scarves and sassy retorts such as “And why do you guys need a movement in the first place? Tired of getting higher pay for the same jobs?” She was a beautiful, tough woman who refused to play by the boys-school rules.
At the same time, Murphy Brown treated her colleagues and friends as equals and with the sort of respect and warmth beneath her gruff exterior, that caused them to rally around her through thick or thin. What more could a young girl aspire to?
As we celebrate International Women’s Day today, I hope that you too will reflect on the women who influenced you, motivated you, and encouraged you. Do better than just reflect on them – if you can, tell them. Show them. Send them some flowers to say “thank you for helping me blossom into the person I am today.” If I could send them to Murphy Brown, I would. What kind of flowers do you think she’d like? I’m guessing some sort of orchid – blessed with a long-life and much stronger than its outward beauty implies.
Thank you FTD.com for sponsoring this post.
To follow the campaign on Instagram, search for #ILookToHer or follow me on Instagram here
